Chapter 10

Night descended upon the world, and cold wind passed through the forest, creating a frightening melody. Despite that, Suigetsu was smiling, laughing, and burping while taking huge bites of the deer he had caught recently.

"Oh, how did I miss this taste!" Suigetsu smiled, eating like a wild boar. Beside him, a man was sleeping against the tree, his features hidden beneath a cracked mask. Blake reeked both of sweat and blood, but Suigetsu didn't find the smell disgusting.

Instead, he felt respect for the man. Whatever he had gone through, it was tough.

"So?" Suigetsu suddenly turned towards Blake, smiling. "Are you going to say anything? I know you are awake."

With slow movements, Blake turned towards Suigetsu as their eyes locked with each other. Suigetsu felt his blood boil with excitement. He saw a true killer, a predator in his eyes. It was hard to keep himself from attacking right this instant.

"Why did you save me?" Suigetsu controlled his desires. "Did Sasuke perhaps send you?"

"I saved you to save myself," Blake answered with one line, as he slowly raised to his feet. The pain was gone. There were barely any injuries on his body. He was in almost perfect condition.

Blake clenched his fist, feeling the power flowing through his veins. He was quite lucky that Suigetsu wasn't a complete psycho, and grabbed him once he was escaping. However, he also felt quite mad at himself. He didn't want to always rely on luck. It felt bad.

"Thanks," Blake added to Suigetsu, who seemed to still be contemplating his earlier words. Suigetsu nodded and then continued eating the meat, seemingly not interested in further conversation.

Blake stepped away from the campfire, walking into the darkness of the forest. Before he had completely disappeared from sight, Suigetsu shouted from behind. "I have also taken your axe! It doesn't seem to be in the best condition, but it is still a weapon."

Blake glanced back, noticing an axe stuck in a tree. It truly didn't seem to be any good anymore, but Blake still grabbed it by the handle. Suigetsu stared at him for a while before saying. "I am going to leave soon."

"Where?" Blake asked, looking around.

"There was a guy called Zabuza once, who used a sword I have always wanted to get, and his grave just turns out to be not far away from here. It is in the Land of Waves, which I also believe is the closes town to here."

Blake nodded, clearly understanding what the last part implied. In the town, he could rent a mercenary to drive him somewhere, and go off on his own journey. He cared little about that Zabuza guy.

"I will come back after half an hour." Blake walked away as Suigetsu followed him with his eyes. Usually, he was more of a loner and didn't enjoy company, but there was something distinctive about Blake.

Suigetsu felt like traveling with this man would be more fun.

While Suigetsu continued to devour his meal, Blake walked through the forest, noticing a lake in the distance. He walked up to it, glancing at his own reflection in the water.

He was a...mess. There was dry blood on his mask and entire body, while his hair was greasy and unkempt. The clothes had holes in them, revealing muddy skin underneath.

Blake stripped down to his underwear, feeling the coldness of the night. He then also removed his mask, taking one moment to glance at his face. Painful memories resurfaced within his mind as he closed his eyes, taking one long breath.

Then, he dived into the lake. It was cold, yet at the same heavenly. Removing all this dirt from his skin felt so good that he couldn't even describe it in words. He could finally relax, even if it was just for half an hour.

Blake spread his limbs out, appearing in the middle of the lake. His dark eyes glance into the sky, skimming through the thousands of stars and one enormous moon.

He felt lost. No. He had been feeling lost even back in his world, but there he at least had a purpose. Now, however, even that lost meaning. He was in a completely different world, and could basically do whatever he wanted.

Yet, he didn't know where to start. Back in his world, he had always wanted to experience the mundanity of life, and become like everyone else, but would that be possible here?

The obvious answer was no. His transportation here was definitely not just a coincidence. Someone was pulling the strings, and that someone wanted something from him. Furthermore, there was this Ruthless Heaven, the screen that followed him whether he went.

It granted him power, but there was no free meal in the world. In return, it could practically control him with those quests, which made Blake both annoyed and angry.

That screen clearly stated that those that don't complete the quests will have to face a fate worse than death, and so far, everything it said was true. Even that deadly poison was removed from his system with no difficulties.

There were so many factors at play, so many things that made Blake confused, so much unknown. However, there was one thing that Blake understood damn well. The stronger he was, the less likely he was to die.

It was a rule that could be applied everywhere.

Blake focused on the screen in his mind.

-

[Quest: Help Suigetsu retrieve Zabuza's sword Kubikiribōchō]

[Description: The Demon of the Hidden Mist has died, but his legacy remained. Help your new companion retrieve Zabuza's sword before others get their hands on it!]

[Reward: Spirit Weapon!]

-

This quest appeared once Suigetsu mentioned that sword, making Blake confused once again. Were quests just randomly popping, were there some unknown conditions, or was it some entity that was manually creating them? He didn't know, but he couldn't decline them.

From being used by the government, he is now being used by this hellish screen, such was his fate, wasn't it? Blake felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he walked out of the lake.

This quest didn't seem too difficult. He should wrap it up promptly and then see what else will fate bring his way. Moreover, getting a new weapon didn't sound too bad, whatever that 'spirit' thing meant.