Chapter 54: Kinoshita Jirō's Decision
With Chōjūrō's official announcement, Ranmaru, wielder of Shibuki, was unanimously recognized as one of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
At that moment, Ranmaru returned to his harmless, childlike demeanor.
He wore a bright smile, both hands gripping the handle of the heavy blade as he clumsily dragged it toward the row of seven seats prepared for the swordsmen.
Watching the amusing sight before them, the crowd no longer bore the mocking expressions they had shown at the start.
A true powerhouse, no matter where they stood, would always earn respect.
Nearby, a Hōzuki clan chūnin quickly approached, wearing a respectful expression as he spoke to Ranmaru.
"Lord Ranmaru, this is a sealing scroll. You can store Shibuki within it for now, and take it out again when needed in battle."
Lord Ranmaru?!
The title made Ranmaru's face flush bright red, and his whole body tensed with nervousness. It was the first time in his life anyone had ever addressed him so formally.
Sensing his nervousness, the chūnin said no more. There was nothing wrong with the title anyway.
The moment Ranmaru inherited the name of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, his status had already changed.
That title represented not only strength but also prestige—standing as a symbol of the entire Hidden Mist Village.
The chūnin formed three hand seals, then, as if worried Ranmaru might forget, repeated them twice before handing the scroll carefully into his hands.
Ranmaru nodded in faint understanding, placed the scroll atop Shibuki, and performed the same sequence of hand seals.
Poof!
With a light sound, the blade vanished, and a large character for "sword" appeared at the center of the scroll.
Ranmaru's face lit up in joy. He quickly clutched the scroll to his chest, holding it tightly as if afraid someone might steal it.
Watching from nearby, Chōjūrō felt a bead of cold sweat slide down his temple.
Looks like he doesn't even know the most basic sealing methods… I'll need to find time to teach him the essentials.
"Didn't expect that kind of strength from you, brat. You really surprised me."
Ameyuri had appeared some distance away, her tone filled with amusement and excitement.
Ranmaru instinctively shuffled a few steps closer to Chōjūrō, clearly intimidated by the older kunoichi—especially knowing she was the one who had slain Raiga Kurosuki.
The selection for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen continued, but aside from Ameyuri and Ranmaru, no one else passed.
As for Hōzuki Suigetsu, he had already been found by his clan. Yet he stubbornly insisted on wielding the Kubikiribōchō, refusing to take the Kabutowari unless defeated by Zabuza himself.
The Hōzuki jōnin overseeing the trials sighed helplessly, though a flicker of relief crossed his eyes as he glanced toward the two remaining swords.
Neither the Kiba, with their lightning-based power, nor the Shibuki, with its volatile explosions, suited the Hōzuki clan's nature-based abilities. It didn't bother them that these two had already been claimed.
As for the remaining Nuibari and Kabutowari, they held little consequence for the clan.
Regardless, the Hōzuki clan would always hold a seat among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. If not for the fact that Suigetsu had been personally brought back by Lord Yūto—and the clan head had insisted he be given priority—the remaining swords might have already been reassigned.
…
Hidden Mist Village — Mizukage's Office
While the selection of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen neared its end, Yūto and Mei Terumī had just concluded their own meeting.
A Kinoshita clan elder slowly rose from his seat, bowing respectfully to both of them.
"Since the matter has been settled, Lord Yūto, Lady Mizukage, I shall take my leave."
He gave a quiet sigh and turned toward the door.
Only after the elder's footsteps faded did Mei Terumī clap her hands softly.
Moments later, two ANBU operatives entered, each gripping the arms of a man as they escorted him inside.
It was Kinoshita Jirō. His expression was pale and drained of life.
"You must have overheard our earlier conversation," Mei said coldly, her tone flat and composed. "I assume you have no objections to the decision."
Kinoshita Jirō nodded blankly. From the moment he failed, he had already known that death awaited him—it was only a matter of when and how.
"You now have only two paths before you," Mei said calmly, her expression as unreadable as ever. "One is to refuse, and the other is to accept. Both end in death, but the difference lies in what your death represents. I believe you understand that much."
Seated beside her, Yūto watched Kinoshita Jirō with quiet curiosity. He wanted to see what decision the former clan head of the Kinoshita clan would make.
One path was to die as a missing-nin, branded a traitor.
The other was to die possibly as a hero—though only possibly. If he failed, his death would still be that of a traitor, executed without honor.
Whether or not that outcome changed depended entirely on the strength and capability of the man before them.
Jirō fell silent for a long moment. Between dying as a missing-nin or dying as a hero, the choice should have been simple for most people.
But he knew better. If he chose the first path, his death as a mere renegade would bring some damage to the Kinoshita clan's reputation, but nothing irreparable.
If he chose the second, however, a single failure could utterly destroy the clan's future—leaving them with no hope of recovery.
Of course, if he succeeded…
His eyes shifted slightly, glancing toward Lord Yūto out of the corner of his vision. If he succeeded, the Kinoshita clan would rise to become the foremost noble family in the Hidden Mist Village.
After a long silence, Jirō slowly lifted his head. Determination gleamed in his eyes, the pride and bearing of a clan leader returning to his expression.
"I no longer have a choice… do I?"
He smiled faintly as he looked toward Mei, his tone calm, even gentle.
"As expected of a former clan head," Mei said softly, letting out a quiet sigh of admiration. She reached into her desk and tossed a scroll to him.
"Inside is the mission dossier. Review it, then destroy it immediately. You have ten minutes to prepare."
Jirō caught the scroll without a word. As his eyes skimmed its contents, a flicker of surprise crossed his gaze, though his face remained emotionless.
Two minutes later, he closed the scroll and, before both Mei and Yūto, destroyed it completely.
"The Land of Waves… is it?" he murmured under his breath.
A heartbeat later, he leapt through the window and disappeared into the mist.
Ten minutes later—
Clap. Clap.
Mei's expression hardened as she brought her hands together sharply.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
The sound of rushing air filled the room as ten ANBU operatives appeared in unison.
"Spread the order throughout the entire shinobi world," Mei said, her voice cold and steady. "The Kinoshita clan head has gone missing. Whoever can provide information on Kinoshita Jirō's whereabouts will receive the bounty of an S-class missing-nin."
Her faint voice lingered in the Mizukage's office, heavy and final.
(End of Chapter)
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