Chapter 21 (Patreon)

The Land of Waves was a small island nation surrounded by the sea.

Until the bridge was completed, the only way to enter or leave the country was by boat.

That meant whoever controlled its maritime trade effectively controlled the nation’s wealth, government, people—everything.

A small sailboat moved quietly across the water, concealed beneath a thick blanket of fog as it approached the Land of Waves.

During the journey, Tazuna finally revealed the full truth behind the mission to Kurenai.

When she learned that the Land of Waves was under the control of Gatō, one of the wealthiest shipping magnates in the world, her expression immediately became troubled.

With Gatō’s wealth, hiring criminals and mercenaries would be effortless. There was also a strong possibility that powerful missing-nin were working for him.

They had already encountered two chūnin-level attackers on the road.

The chances of Gatō having a jōnin-level shinobi under his command were extremely high.

After considering the danger, Kurenai nearly decided to terminate the mission.

However, Tazuna told her about the suffering of the people in the Land of Waves and what would happen if the bridge remained unfinished. His words left Kurenai caught between her responsibility to protect her team and the knowledge that abandoning the mission could condemn an entire country.

In the end, after Mihawk persuaded her, she decided to continue.

Mihawk, meanwhile, had remained in a state of barely contained excitement ever since they boarded the boat.

Unable to suppress it completely, he kept his eyes closed so Kurenai would not notice the change in his expression.

The reason was simple.

[You killed the Demon Brothers and gained 0.12% experience.]

[Your Hawkeye Template has been unlocked to 49.2%.]

Six years after activating the system, Mihawk had finally discovered a second method of gaining experience besides completing his daily missions.

Killing enemies.

No—more accurately, defeating enemies to level up.

The two notifications that had appeared after he killed the Demon Brothers finally allowed Mihawk to understand the nature of his system.

Just as he had once suspected, the system operated according to game-like rules.

In simple terms, it was as though the real world were a game and Mihawk was its only player. Everyone else could be viewed as characters inhabiting that world.

In a game, players gained experience by defeating enemies or monsters.

Mihawk’s situation was remarkably similar.

The only difference was that he did not possess a visible status screen, an inventory, or any of the other functions normally associated with a game.

He was not a collection of numerical data.

He was still a living person made of flesh and blood.

The experience he gained only accelerated the unlocking progress of his Template.

After finally discovering a second source of experience, how could Mihawk possibly remain calm?

His daily mission rewarded him with only a pitiful 0.02% increase.

Even if he completed it every single day, three hundred and sixty-five days would only provide 7.3%.

Six years had passed, yet the Hawkeye Template had still not reached fifty percent.

If another six years passed at the same rate, the great conflict awaiting the shinobi world would already be over.

Whether he would even survive until then was uncertain.

Even hiding deep underground would not protect him from the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi once it reflected from the moon.

Without another method of gaining experience, by the time the final battle arrived, Mihawk would be no more than a supporting fighter on the level of the Five Kage.

After spending years developing the heart and pride of a true swordsman, how could he possibly accept such an outcome?

Now that he had discovered another path, how could he not be excited?

The Demon Brothers were nothing more than insignificant chūnin-level missing-nin, yet killing the two of them had rewarded him with 0.12% experience.

That was equal to six days of daily missions.

Then how much experience would he gain from defeating Zabuza Momochi, an elite jōnin-level missing-nin known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist?

Mihawk was now certain that drawing his sword earlier had been the correct decision.

Had he shown even the slightest mercy, he might never have discovered this second method of advancing his Template.

By the time Mihawk finally calmed his thoughts and opened his eyes, the sailboat had already passed beneath the unfinished bridge and reached the Land of Waves.

Tazuna’s house, however, was still some distance away.

As the group travelled along a deserted forest path, the atmosphere among Team 8 had changed completely.

Now that they knew their next opponent might be a jōnin, Kurenai, Hinata, and Shino all wore grave expressions.

Hinata kept her Byakugan active as they moved, constantly surveying the surrounding forest.

Suddenly, she spoke.

“Kurenai-sensei, someone is approaching from ahead.”

“Defensive formation. Protect Mr. Tazuna.”

Kurenai trusted Hinata’s Byakugan and immediately gave the order.

A moment later, she also sensed a presence rapidly approaching from the direction Hinata had indicated.

Whoosh!

An afterimage shot out of the forest and landed on a tree branch directly ahead of them.

The newcomer was a tall, black-haired man carrying an enormous sword across his back. A Kirigakure forehead protector covered his brow, while bandages concealed the lower half of his face and neck.

He was a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Zabuza Momochi—the Demon of the Hidden Mist.

“Well, well…”

Instead of immediately drawing the Kubikiribōchō from his back, Zabuza stared at Hinata with open interest.

“A member of Konoha’s famous Hyūga clan. Are those the legendary Byakugan?”

His visible eye narrowed.

“No wonder you noticed me.”

Kurenai immediately drew a kunai from her pouch and held it in front of herself.

Her expression became solemn as she identified the man before them.

“A Kirigakure missing-nin… Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.”

“You don’t look familiar.”

Zabuza barely spared her a glance.

“I know the notable jōnin of Konoha listed in the Bingo Book, and I’m certain I’ve never seen you before.”

His gaze shifted past Kurenai and settled on Tazuna.

“How about you hand over the old man?”

Zabuza’s complete disregard for her caused Kurenai’s eyes to narrow.

She immediately formed a sequence of hand seals.

“Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!”

As the final hand seal was completed, Zabuza felt branches growing beneath his feet.

They twisted around his legs and torso, binding him tightly to the tree.

Zabuza frowned as the illusionary branches continued to restrain his body.

“So that’s your specialty.”

His voice remained completely calm.

“You’re a genjutsu user.”

The corner of his visible eye curved slightly.

“Too bad. You chose the wrong opponent.”

Boom!

A violent surge of chakra erupted from Zabuza’s body.

He formed a hand seal and forcefully disrupted his chakra flow, shattering Kurenai’s unfinished genjutsu before it could fully take hold.

“Hiding in Mist Technique!”

Thick mist immediately poured into the forest.

The clear, sunny surroundings disappeared beneath the spreading fog, reducing visibility to almost nothing.

“Kurenai-sensei, his chakra is moving quickly!”

The veins around Hinata’s temples bulged as she followed Zabuza’s movements with her Byakugan.

“Stay alert!” Kurenai shouted. “Keep Mr. Tazuna protected!”

Her red eyes moved through the mist as she continued.

“He specialises in Silent Killing. Mihawk, protect Hinata and Shino.”

Mihawk tossed the red paper parasol aside.

His hand settled calmly on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

“He’s already here.”

Whoosh!