Over the next several days, Aoki Yoru challenged nearly every dojo within the capital of the Land of Iron. From sunrise to dusk, he moved from one training hall to another, testing his blade against countless swordsmen.
At first, he had been filled with anticipation.
The Land of Iron was renowned throughout the Ninja World for its swordsmanship. As a nation governed by samurai rather than shinobi, it was said that their mastery of the blade had reached extraordinary heights.
But as the days passed, that anticipation slowly faded.
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
Out of all the dojos he visited, only a handful offered techniques that were truly worth studying. Most of the others relied on flashy movements, exaggerated stances, and superficial strength—impressive to the untrained eye, but hollow in substance.
By the time he left the final dojo, Aoki Yoru could not help but sigh.
Walking through the streets with a faint frown, he muttered to himself,
"It seems this is all there is to gain from the Land of Iron… Someone like Isshin is truly one in a million."
His footsteps slowed as his gaze gradually lifted.
In the very center of the capital stood a towering pavilion, its structure grand and imposing, overlooking the entire city like a silent guardian.
That was the residence of General Mifune—the supreme leader of the Land of Iron.
Aoki Yoru narrowed his eyes slightly.
That place… was his true objective.
The star-fallen mysterious iron he needed was very likely within those walls.
However, unlike his earlier encounters, he had no intention of acting recklessly.
Breaking in by force was not an option.
Even if he succeeded in obtaining the material, the consequences would be severe. The Land of Iron was a permanently neutral nation, and Mifune was a figure respected by all major powers.
Stealing from him would not simply be a personal crime—it would be interpreted as a political provocation.
And if that happened…
Konoha would inevitably be implicated.
"Danzo would probably laugh himself to death," Aoki Yoru muttered with a cold smile.
The thought alone was enough to make him abandon any idea of brute force.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So… what's the best way to approach this?"
Walking directly to the gate and requesting an audience was clearly unrealistic.
"I'm Aoki Yoru from Konoha. I'd like to meet General Mifune."
He almost scoffed at the imaginary scenario.
"They'd throw me out before I even finished the sentence."
The Hokage himself might have such privileges—but certainly not him.
By the time night fell, he still hadn't come up with a perfect solution.
Left with no better option, he returned to the inn to rest.
Nightfall
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale silver glow over the quiet city.
The once-bustling streets had fallen silent, with only the occasional sound of footsteps echoing in the distance.
At this hour, Aoki Yoru stood hidden in the shadows near the general's residence.
His appearance had changed completely.
Through a Transformation Technique, he now looked like an ordinary middle-aged man—plain and forgettable.
Leaning against a wall, he carefully extended his perception.
His senses spread outward like invisible threads, probing every corner of the compound.
"As expected…"
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"The security is airtight."
Every blind spot was covered.
Every patrol route was precise.
There were hidden sentries positioned at critical points, their movements disciplined and coordinated.
Sneaking in without being detected… would be nearly impossible for most people.
But Aoki Yoru was not "most people."
A flicker of confidence appeared in his eyes.
"They may not use chakra… but that also means their perception is limited."
As long as he moved faster than their eyes could follow—
They would never know he was there.
Infiltration
Without hesitation, Aoki Yoru made his move.
His figure blurred—
Then vanished.
Using the Body Flicker Technique with extreme precision, he slipped through the outer defenses like a gust of wind.
At several points, he encountered guards positioned in unavoidable locations.
But each time—
A faint breeze would pass by.
The guards would pause, frown slightly, and glance around.
"…Strange."
Yet finding nothing, they would simply continue their patrols.
Step by step, Aoki Yoru advanced deeper into the residence.
Finally—
He reached the inner quarters.
Standing before a closed door, he extended a thin strand of chakra from his fingertip.
The chakra thread slipped silently into the lock mechanism.
Twist.
Click.
The door opened without a sound.
Aoki Yoru slipped inside.
The Unexpected Encounter
The moment he entered—
His entire body froze.
A sharp chill ran down his spine.
There, on the bed—
Sat a man.
General Mifune.
He was upright, fully awake, his hand gripping the hilt of a long sword.
His gaze was cold.
Focused.
Locked directly onto Aoki Yoru.
For a brief moment, the air itself seemed to freeze.
Then—
Aoki Yoru exhaled slowly.
He bowed slightly.
"Good evening, General Mifune. I apologize for the intrusion at such a late hour."
Mifune did not relax his grip.
"If you know this is an intrusion," he replied calmly, "then explain your purpose."
His voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable pressure.
Aoki Yoru straightened.
"I've come to make a trade."
Mifune's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A trade?"
"Yes."
Aoki Yoru met his gaze directly.
"I know you possess a piece of star-fallen mysterious iron. I would like to obtain it."
The room fell silent.
Mifune slowly rose to his feet.
"You have quite the information network," he said.
Then his tone turned sharper.
"Yet you come in disguise."
He stepped forward.
"Does that not make your 'sincerity' questionable?"
Aoki Yoru paused for a moment—
Then nodded.
"You're right."
The Transformation Technique dissolved instantly.
His true appearance returned.
Mifune's eyes flickered with recognition.
"So… it's you."
Aoki Yoru frowned slightly.
"You know me?"
Mifune gave a short laugh.
"It would be difficult not to."
"You've stirred quite a commotion in the capital these past few days—challenging dojo after dojo."
He paused briefly before adding,
"And Isshin spoke highly of you."
Aoki Yoru raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"He said," Mifune continued, "that you may one day surpass him… perhaps even surpass me."
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Mifune stepped closer, his gaze sharp and penetrating.
"A young man with such skill cannot be without a background."
"Who are you?"
Aoki Yoru cupped his hands respectfully.
"My name is Aoki Yoru. I am a ninja from Konoha Village in the Land of Fire."
Mifune nodded slowly.
"I see… Konoha's 'Kirin.'"
Recognition dawned in his eyes.
The Duel Proposal
Without another word, Mifune turned and walked toward the door.
"If you want the star-fallen mysterious iron," he said calmly, "then fight me."
Aoki Yoru blinked.
"…Fight?"
Mifune stopped at the doorway.
"Let me see your worth."
The door opened.
Outside, guards immediately noticed the presence of a stranger.
Weapons were drawn.
"Stand down," Mifune ordered.
"I will spar with him."
The guards hesitated—
Then retreated.
A space was cleared.
Moonlight bathed the courtyard.
Aoki Yoru sighed softly.
"So it comes to this after all."
He drew his cracked ninja sword.
Despite its damaged state, the blade still emitted a faint, cold gleam.
He steadied his breathing.
Cleared his thoughts.
General Mifune was no ordinary opponent.
This was a man whose swordsmanship had once been acknowledged even by legends.
If he made a single mistake—
It could cost him his life.
"Please guide me, General," Aoki Yoru said.
The Clash
Mifune placed one hand on his sword.
In the next instant—
A flash of light erupted.
His blade left the scabbard in a perfect arc.
A classic Iai Slash.
Fast.
Clean.
Deadly.
Aoki Yoru reacted instantly, raising his blade horizontally.
Clang!
The impact rang out sharply.
The force pushed him back two steps.
His arm tingled from the shock.
But he did not counterattack.
Instead—
He observed.
Every movement.
Every detail.
Mifune's stance.
His breathing.
The subtle shift of his center of gravity.
The exact moment his fingers tightened on the hilt.
The second strike came.
Faster.
Sharper.
This time, Aoki Yoru sidestepped.
Avoided the edge—
And continued observing.
Third strike.
Fourth.
Their blades clashed repeatedly.
Each exchange was brief—but intense.
Gradually—
Aoki Yoru began to understand.
The rhythm.
The flow of power.
The seamless coordination between body and blade.
And then—
Without realizing it—
He mimicked it.
His stance lowered.
His grip adjusted.
His blade moved—
Drawing in a swift arc.
Clang!
Their swords collided mid-air.
Mifune's eyes widened slightly.
"…You learned it?"
In just a few exchanges—
This young man had grasped the essence of his technique.
Recognition
Silence followed.
Mifune slowly sheathed his blade.
"That's enough."
Aoki Yoru lowered his sword, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
He had hoped to learn more.
But Mifune simply looked at him steadily.
"Your strength… and your comprehension… are worthy."
He paused.
"The star-fallen mysterious iron—"
"I will give it to you."
Aoki Yoru froze.
"…For free?"
Mifune nodded.
"Yes."
Confusion flickered across Aoki Yoru's face.
In the Ninja World—
Nothing came without a price.
And yet—
Here it was.
Freely offered.
He stared at Mifune, unable to fully process it.
"Why?" he finally asked.
Mifune's gaze softened slightly.
"Because talent like yours… should not be wasted."
He turned away.
"And because…"
"A blade like yours deserves better material."
Aoki Yoru fell silent.
For the first time—
He felt something unfamiliar.
Not suspicion.
Not calculation.
But… respect.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)