join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories
Even after getting out of the bath and walking into the living room wrapped in a towel, Sawara Kiri was still studying the usage rules of Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Is the so-called 'activation factor' referring to the part that replaces 'Shikai'?"
Sawara Kiri still had some impression of how abilities were unleashed in Shinigami.
If he remembered correctly, most of Shinigami's abilities relied on their Zanpakutō to be deployed.
After the so-called 'information localization,' this part of the ability was corrected into the 'Jutsu' form unique to the Ninja World.
"Hand seals, characteristics, incantation."
Sawara Kiri muttered to himself, while tentatively forming a single-hand 'Tiger' seal with his left hand.
At the same time, the 'Hand Seals' section on the panel showed the same hand seal pattern as his.
At this point, he immediately understood how to set it up.
"Set the characteristic to the action of 'eye contact.'"
"As for the incantation, it can be the same as the original."
Sawara Kiri thought, raising the corner of his mouth, feeling a subtle sense of imitating an anime character.
"Onii-san?"
While he was fiddling around, he saw Sawara Yuki suddenly poke her head out from the kitchen, her small face looking at him in confusion: "What were you just saying?"
"Yuki."
Sawara Kiri suddenly called out.
Yuki subconsciously looked at his clear blue eyes.
At the same time, Sawara Kiri formed the Tiger seal with his hand and whispered:
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
Almost at the exact moment the words fell, Yuki's expression suddenly froze, and a momentary blankness flashed in her eyes.
The next second, she seemed to react, saying with dissatisfaction:
"What? Kiri just loves to scare me."
"Idiot big brother!"
However, the girl did not notice that while she was speaking, she was consistently facing a dark corner on the other side, not looking at Sawara Kiri at all.
After only a short while, Sawara Kiri silently dispelled the Jutsu.
Throughout the entire process, Yuki did not realize that her senses had been distorted in any way.
Sawara Kiri quietly felt the consumption of Chakra within his body.
Even when facing Yuki, he could only maintain it for less than five minutes?
He frowned slightly.
Looking at it this way, this skill still has a lot of room for improvement...
For now, it seems it can only be used for one-on-one, or short-term one-to-many situations.
However, even though Sawara Kiri still seemed somewhat dissatisfied, for most ordinary Ninja, this was simply a divine skill that surpassed the Sharingan.
One-on-one, sure to escape.
A mere three-tomoe Sharingan could achieve such a reputation in the Ninja World.
If the true effect of Kyōka Suigetsu were to spread, it would probably attract many people to covet it, right?
When performing in front of others, he would have to try to conceal the effect.
"Kiri, do you want some fruit?"
"It's already cut."
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, Hidden Mist Village.
The coastal Village at dawn was always buried under a thick layer of mist, the entire street silent in a haze, with few sounds or figures.
Only faintly, one could glimpse one or two figures flitting in the distance, indistinct.
Compared to Ninja Villages with better natural conditions like Konoha and Kumogakure, the entire Hidden Mist Village had few ordinary residents; dense bloodline Ninja clan buildings were concentrated in the center of the Village, while other non-bloodline Ninja residential areas encircled the outside, with only a few scattered ordinary settlements on the slopes closer to the mountains.
Just like the power structure of the entire Hidden Mist Village.
Yagura Karatachi strolled along the misty streets, taking in the dawn scenery, subconsciously comparing it to the streetscape of Konoha.
He sighed inwardly.
The upper structure of Hidden Mist Village was deformed.
Since the Third Mizukage took office, he had been trying to balance the conflict between bloodline and non-bloodline Ninja, even resorting to some rather radical methods.
However, the power of the bloodline families was simply too immense.
In the past, during the first Five Kage Summit in the entire Ninja World, the five Ninja who stood at the pinnacle of the Sengoku period all brought their chosen successors as deputies.
That meeting was not only to achieve peace among the five nations but also for the handover between the next generation of leaders.
As a result, while the Second Hokage of other Ninja Villages took over their Villages, the Hidden Mist Village experienced a huge problem.
The First Mizukage Byakuren, overly confident in his own strength, died during an assassination plotted by a bloodline family while on an overseas visit.
Master Ihara, who was originally designated as the Second Mizukage and stationed in the Village, was simultaneously ambushed, leading his trusted followers to break out of the Village, even becoming a wanted man, unable to return to the Village for several years.
At the same time, multiple bloodline families immediately launched a controlled election, and Hōzuki Gengetsu quickly ascended to the position of Second Mizukage.
This widespread coup completely changed the Village's situation originally established by the First Mizukage. The bloodline families became dominant, and the advancement channels for ordinary Ninja were extremely narrow, leading to intense internal competition, even forcing them to decide advancement through mutual slaughter.
Extremism became the main theme of Hidden Mist Village.
Even after Hōzuki Gengetsu died in the Great Desert of the Land of Wind, and the Third Mizukage, Master Ihara, returned to his loyal Hidden Mist Village, almost completely isolated, he could not completely reverse the current situation of Hidden Mist Village.
Furthermore, in such an extreme environment, he could only use even more extreme methods to cope with the attacks from bloodline Ninja.
In recent years, even the outside world has begun to spread the name 'Bloody Mist Village.'
In this situation, all far-sighted individuals could realize that Hidden Mist Village had to make some changes.
But...
As if thinking of something, Yagura Karatachi shook his head slightly and quickly walked into the Mizukage Building.
"Elder Genji."
As soon as he entered the office, Yagura Karatachi knelt on one knee.
Sitting on the meditation cushion was a thin, old monk tightly bound in a monk's robe, looking aged and frail.
On his lap rested a snake-shaped scepter.
This elder was a powerful figure from the same era as the First Mizukage Byakuren, now over seventy years old.
As one of the few non-bloodline individuals among the high-ranking officials, Elder Genji held the position of elder due to his wisdom and influence. He was the oldest among the current elders, even having the authority to act as Mizukage, holding an extraordinary status.
At the same time, because of his non-bloodline Ninja background, he naturally held the same stance as the Third Mizukage, and was therefore greatly relied upon.
However, in recent years, due to the Third Mizukage's overly radical policies, some friction had arisen.
As time dragged on, the reformist faction led by the Third Mizukage gradually split into two groups: the radical faction and the moderate faction, with the two of them at the head.
Clearly, Yagura Karatachi belonged to the moderate faction.
Therefore, after the mission was completed, the intelligence was naturally presented here first.
"Oh..."
After a while, he seemed to notice that there was an extra person in the room, slowly opening his eyes, his tone leisurely.
"It's Yagura."
"Has there been news from that side?"
"Yes!"
Yagura Karatachi's expression was respectful, and he respectfully presented a transcribed intelligence scroll with both hands: "It has been confirmed that Tsunade's actions in Konoha are not targeting our side."
"Is that so..."
Elder Genji seemed to have anticipated this news and showed no reaction.
He slowly smacked his lips, pondered for a moment, and then, as if just remembering something, he spoke again: "That child, Sawara... is still very capable."
"These past few days, Ihara has indeed been too oppressive. He was too impatient."
"Yagura."
"I am here." Yagura Karatachi kept his head bowed.
Elder Genji asked casually, as if chatting: "What do you think of that child?"
Yagura Karatachi pondered for a long time before cautiously speaking: "He possesses extraordinary talent, has made immense contributions to the Village, and holds a crucial position. In this era of great conflict, he plays an irreplaceable role in the Village's confrontation with Konoha."
Elder Genji chewed on his words, thought for a moment, and then re-emphasized:
"I'm asking about your personal feelings towards that child."
Yagura Karatachi pursed his lips, maintaining his bowed posture.
During this period, Yagura Karatachi, who controlled the entire Konoha intelligence network, had already thoroughly investigated the network and reorganized the intelligence operations.
However, he still had no clue how the previous two intelligence chiefs had disappeared.
But often, the absence of clues itself was the biggest clue.
Throughout Konoha, only one or two people could achieve such a feat.
After a long wait, he finally heard him speak in a low voice:
"Prolonged tenure leads to disloyalty, and rewards and punishments are difficult to implement."
"Sawara, I fear, already has the intention of raising bandits and establishing himself."
...
Upon hearing this, Elder Genji still maintained his calm and composed demeanor, seemingly not at all surprised by the statement.
"That is only natural."
The old monk quietly took a sip of tea and calmly said: "If the Village treats everyone as expendable pawns, then who can feel a sense of belonging to the Village?"
...
Yagura Karatachi did not speak.
After waiting for a while longer, Elder Genji took out a scroll that had already been prepared from behind him and handed it to him:
"Where there is reward, there must be punishment."
"Yagura."
"Yes."
Elder Genji looked at him profoundly, and said gently: "Occasionally, you must let that child feel the presence of the Village, too."
Yagura Karatachi was slightly startled at first.
When his gaze met the old monk's, he seemed to suddenly realize something and nodded: "I understand, Elder Genji."
"Go."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence: 9 Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories