Chapter 40: A New Era For Swordsmen!
Biwa Juzo knows Hoshigaki Kisame.
A rising star among the younger generation.
Known alongside Zabuza as the "Bloody Mist's Twin Stars."
Biwa Juzo also knows that Hoshigaki Kisame is a friend of Uehara Soma.
However, when it comes to the word "friend," Biwa Juzo lacks trust.
In the shinobi world, betrayal among friends is as normal as can be.
Especially in the Hidden Mist Village.
Under the Bloody Mist Policy, countless friends have killed each other.
But when Biwa Juzo saw Hoshigaki Kisame's reaction to hearing about Kaguya Hikari causing trouble on Forging Island, his level of trust in Hoshigaki Kisame suddenly increased.
"Kaguya Hikari causing trouble on Forging Island?"
"For what reason?"
But soon, Hoshigaki Kisame realized.
"Because of Kiriichimonji?"
"Soma, are you alright?"
Uehara Soma shook his head.
"I'm fine. At that time, Juzo-senpai was guarding outside the forging room, and the ANBU Ninjas sent by the Mizukage-sama arrived in time. Kaguya Hikari didn't get a Ninjato from me, so he turned to the Thunder Swords."
Biwa Juzo said, "If Kaguya Hikari got the Thunder Swords, the Mizukage-sama would know about it. Raiga shouldn't have any trouble, otherwise, there would definitely be news spreading."
"I just hope Kaguya Hikari won't tarnish the Thunder Swords."
As he spoke, Biwa Juzo couldn't help but think of the Executioner's Blade.
Quietly in his heart, he said — I wonder who will be the next wielder of the Executioner's Blade?
Receiving the Blue Rose Sword, Biwa Juzo was very pleased.
Biwa Juzo felt that the Blue Rose Sword was much stronger than the Executioner's Blade.
However, after all, Biwa Juzo had been with the Executioner's Blade for so many years.
Over time, there would always be emotions.
They had experienced success together, and also faced failures together.
Biwa Juzo didn't think the Executioner's Blade was an impressive Ninjato.
But he also didn't want the Executioner's Blade to fall into the hands of an incompetent ninja.
"Juzo-senpai, does this mean that Raiga Senpai has given up his identity as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
"Perhaps."
"So now, with Kaguya Hikari's departure, isn't it just you and Fuguki Senpai left as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
Biwa Juzo shook his head.
"The era of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has passed. I don't know about Fuguki's current situation, but I am no longer one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
Hoshigaki Kisame was stunned for a moment.
Biwa Juzo continued.
"My current identity is the guardian of Forging Island."
"Additionally, I have returned the Executioner's Blade to the Mizukage-sama. Now, I use the Blue Rose Sword, which, like Kiriichimonji in your hands, was also crafted by Soma."
At this moment, Hoshigaki Kisame noticed that the sword beside Biwa Juzo was not the Executioner's Blade.
It was a sword he had never seen before.
"Soma, have you successfully crafted a second Ninjato?"
Hoshigaki Kisame showed an excited expression.
"Amazing!"
"Very amazing!"
Uehara Soma nodded.
"The materials that Juzo-senpai helped me obtain were quite good. After successfully forging it, I let Juzo-senpai try it, and it happened to fit perfectly with him."
After a pause, Uehara Soma continued.
"Kisame, your return couldn't have come at a better time."
"A third commission has just appeared at the Forging Master Spiritual Land."
"With you and Juzo-senpai helping me, there shouldn't be any problem completing this commission."
Upon hearing Uehara Soma's words, both Biwa Juzo and Hoshigaki Kisame's eyes lit up.
With the materials obtained, Uehara Soma could forge shinobi tools.
Successful forging meant the appearance of a third shinobi tool.
As the contractors of Kiriichimonji and the Blue Rose Sword, they were both eagerly anticipating this.
"Soma, when do you plan to undertake this commission?"
Uehara Soma said, "Kisame, you've just returned to the village after a long journey. Your condition might not be very good right now. How about tomorrow morning? Tomorrow morning, Kisame, you can come over again. Tonight, just rest well."
"Or perhaps, Kisame, you can just stay overnight on Forging Island tonight."
"There are plenty of vacant houses here."
After hearing the news about the closure of Forging Island, most of the blacksmiths moved out.
But they couldn't take their houses with them.
With a simple cleanup, they could be moved into.
Hoshigaki Kisame hesitated for a moment.
"Then I'll stay here tonight."
"Okay."
Arafuni helped with the cleanup.
As Uehara Soma's blacksmith assistant, Arafuni now did more odd jobs, but Arafuni didn't complain. Instead, he did all the miscellaneous tasks very well.
Arafuni greatly admired Uehara Soma's Forging Technique.
He really wanted to learn the Forging Technique from Uehara Soma.
Moreover, when Arafuni was initially apprenticing as a blacksmith, he started by doing odd jobs, and Uehara Soma allowed Arafuni to enter his forging room.
He participated in the early stages of preparing shinobi tools.
This already made Arafuni very satisfied.
...
With the return of Hoshigaki Kisame and Zabuza, the achievements they obtained on the battlefield quickly spread within the Hidden Mist Village.
Naturally, this was part of Third Mizukage's arrangement.
Because Third Mizukage's goal was for this to happen.
With the situation on the battlefield turning against them and the dismal defeat of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the momentum of the Hidden Mist Village had reached its lowest point.
At this time, something was needed to boost the village's morale.
And the situation in the Hidden Mist Village was indeed dire.
In terms of top-tier ninjas, there is simply no advantage.
The middle generation cannot support it at all.
The only hope lies in the younger generation.
"Momochi Zabuza defeated Sarutobi Asuma!"
"Hoshigaki Kisame defeated Hatake Kakashi!"
"Our Blood Mist Twin Stars from the Hidden Mist Village completely surpass the twin stars of Konoha."
"This is really great."
"In the current era, it's Konoha, but in the future, it's us, the Hidden Mist Village!"
"As long as we persevere now, the ones who will ultimately achieve victory will surely be us."
"Give the younger generation time to grow."
Under the instigation of those arranged by the Third Mizukage, discussions about the Blood Mist Twin Stars quickly swept through the entire Hidden Mist Village.
It can be clearly felt that the atmosphere in the village has changed.
From extreme negativity to now, there is a glimmer of hope.
And the change in the village's atmosphere was also reflected on the battlefield. The momentum of the Hidden Mist ninjas on the battlefield had significantly improved compared to before, and the situation had stabilized.
In many areas, they even gained some advantage.
The victories of Hoshigaki Kisame and Zabuza might not have been significant victories in themselves.
But for the morale of the Hidden Mist Village, having hope and not having hope were completely different.
The consecutive failures the Hidden Mist Village faced before had dealt a heavy blow to the village.*
Third Mizukage looked at the report files from the ANBU ninjas in his hand and let out a long sigh.
"The atmosphere in the village is finally not so oppressive."
"Thanks to Kisame and Zabuza."
"Thanks to Soma."
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