Chapter 173. Spoils of War

Chapter 173 - 173. Spoils of War"How do you plan to deal with it?" After finishing her tasks, Tsunade walked up to Hanekawa. "I don't know," Hanekawa replied, handing her the scroll. "Sensei, do you want it?" "I'm a medical ninja," Tsunade shook her head. "I don't use ninja swords." "I'll hold onto it for now," Hanekawa said after a moment's thought. "If nothing else, I could exchange it with the Hokage for a reward." "The Hidden Mist Village would definitely pay a hefty price to get these swords back," Tsunade remarked with a sudden smile. Hanekawa's eyes lit up at her suggestion. The five great villages were always fighting and negotiating, alternating between conflict and peace. Once the war ended, they would return to relatively peaceful relations. In other words, the Hidden Mist Village would inevitably seek to negotiate with the Leaf Village. After all, these ninja swords were highly significant. Hanekawa had already decided to reforge the Thunder Sword: Kiba. As for the remaining six swords, he had no use for them and could sell them for a good price. As for the possibility of the Hidden Mist refusing to negotiate because one sword was missing—well, they had no other options. It was either reclaim six swords or get nothing. "How did you defeat Kuriare?" Tsunade, watching the busy crowd, casually asked. Though she was mostly curious out of boredom, she did have some genuine interest. "With Five-Element Ninjutsu," Hanekawa briefly explained the battle. To be honest, he was surprised himself. Combining the five elements had proven to be unexpectedly powerful. Looking back, the reason he hadn't noticed before was likely due to his opponents not being strong enough. This time, faced with Kuriare, Hanekawa's swordsmanship had been suppressed, forcing him to rely on Five-Element Ninjutsu. "You're becoming more and more like the old man," Tsunade commented after hearing the story, unable to hold back her sigh. "No way," Hanekawa coughed lightly. "At least I'm better-looking than him." "Watch your mouth," Tsunade glared at him before breaking into laughter. "He's my teacher, after all. Show some respect." "You don't respect him yourself," Hanekawa retorted. "Do you want a beating?" Tsunade clenched her fist and waved it in front of him, her tone threatening. "Not at all!" Hanekawa quickly grabbed her fist, a serious expression on his face. "I've always respected Lord Hokage!" "Let go," Tsunade said, looking at her hand, now held by him. "Sensei, I heard the Hokage can use composite ninjutsu?" Hanekawa released her hand without drawing attention and asked. Tsunade's earlier words had reminded him of Sarutobi Hiruzen's composite ninjutsu, particularly the Five-Element Grand Annihilation, a terrifyingly powerful technique and a signature move. "Yes, he can," Tsunade replied with a smile. "Why? Interested?" "Very!" Hanekawa didn't bother to hide his eagerness. "If you want to learn, it's definitely possible," Tsunade said after a moment of thought. "You've located the Hidden Mist's base and killed Kuriare Kushimaru. Your contribution is significant." "When we return, I'll ask him for a reward," she added. Hanekawa immediately understood. With his status and this achievement, obtaining Sarutobi Hiruzen's composite ninjutsu would not be an issue. "If he refuses, I'll make him give it to you," Tsunade said nonchalantly. "You just said to respect him," Hanekawa remarked, blinking. "You brat! Who do you think I'm doing this for?" Tsunade, annoyed, flicked his forehead hard. "You're the best, Sensei!" Hanekawa said with a broad grin. In a way, he was indeed benefiting from Tsunade's support. Though she wasn't rich, her intangible assets were plentiful. "That's more like it," Tsunade huffed, letting him off. At that moment, three lines of text suddenly appeared before Hanekawa, catching him off guard. He had gained a new entry at this moment? [B-Rank Talent Entry: King of Blades] [Trigger Condition: Defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.] [Effect: Swordsmanship or blade-related techniques gain a 100% power increase.] Hanekawa's eyes lit up after a quick glance. What a fantastic reward! The effect was much more straightforward than the "Rain God" entry he'd earned from defeating Hanzo the Salamander, which had conditions attached. S~eaʀᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Compared to the "Swordsmanship Chunin" entry, its scope was broader, not limited to the Leaf's swordsmanship style. But why was it only B-Rank? After all, this involved the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—seven elite Jonin. Hanekawa thought about it and realized he had only personally defeated Kuriare Kushimaru. For the remaining six, his role was at most supportive. Still, earning the "King of Blades" entry was an excellent outcome. If he faced Kuriare Kushimaru again, his swordsmanship would no longer be suppressed, thanks to the 100% increase in power. --- On a secluded island... Mei Terumi stood in front of a map, contemplating her next move. Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached her tent. "Lady Mei!" A young ninja entered, his voice filled with panic. "You need to come outside and see this!" "What do you mean?" Mei Terumi was momentarily stunned, unable to process the young ninja's words. Still, she followed him out of the tent. When she looked toward the distant sea, her face filled with disbelief. Scattered Mist Village ninjas were fleeing toward the island, their expressions full of fear and their bodies riddled with various injuries. It was as if they had suffered a crushing defeat. The problem was, Mei Terumi knew these ninjas were stationed at the main base. An alarming thought forced its way into her mind—a thought she dared not believe. "Go meet them!" Mei gritted her teeth and gave the order. "Yes!" The young ninja quickly organized the others to rescue the injured Mist Village ninjas. "Lady Mei," a fortunate, uninjured Chunin walked up to her. "What happened?" Mei asked urgently. The Chunin recounted how the Leaf and Sand Villages had launched a surprise attack, wiping out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. "W-What?" Mei instinctively took half a step back. The situation was worse than she imagined. Not a single member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had escaped? This was undoubtedly a humiliating defeat for the Mist Village. "Lady Mei, what should we do now?" the Chunin asked hesitantly. "Retreat to the Mist Village," Mei said after a long sigh, closing her eyes. With the death of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, there was no way to stop Tsunade and her forces. "Yes," the Chunin replied reluctantly before nodding. Though unwilling, retreating was the only viable option. Revenge would have to wait. "You're dismissed." Mei turned and walked back into her tent. She slumped into her chair, lost in thought. The Chunin's explanation was detailed, mentioning how Hanekawa had single-handedly killed Kuriare Kushimaru. It was only now that she realized how much strength this monster had hidden during their fight. "Is there really any chance of defeating him?" Mei's voice echoed softly, full of uncertainty. Two weeks ago, they had been brimming with confidence, convinced they could conquer the Leaf or Sand Villages. Reality, however, was brutal. In the blink of an eye, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had become history. The Mist Village, once renowned for its Seven Ninja Swordsmen, now had its reputation stolen by Tsunade and Hanekawa. They themselves had become the laughingstock of the ninja world. --- The former main base of the Mist Village was now occupied by the Leaf and Sand Villages. Although there had been sacrifices, the gains far outweighed the losses. Aside from the corpses of Mist Village ninjas, they had also seized numerous classified documents, ninjutsu scrolls, ninja tools, and other supplies. Tsunade, ever fair, divided everything evenly between the Leaf and Sand Villages. This generosity earned her the gratitude of the Sand Village ninjas, especially Baki and his team. After all, their contributions to capturing the Mist Village's main base amounted to less than one-fifth of the effort. The greatest credit, of course, went to Hanekawa. Now, apart from being Tsunade's student, his strength had gained widespread recognition. In both the Leaf and Sand Villages, his name was quickly gaining prominence. Of course, his notoriety in the Mist Village must have skyrocketed as well. Hanekawa now resembled figures like Kakashi Hatake and Shisui Uchiha from the original story—famous warriors who made their names during the Third Ninja World War. This time, however, Hanekawa had stolen the spotlight. "Hanekawa!" Kurenai Yuhi spotted him and quickly ran over, accompanied by Rin Nohara. "Thank goodness you're alright!" Kurenai sighed in relief. When she first landed on the island and saw the battlefield littered with corpses, she had been deeply shocked. It was her first time seeing hundreds of bodies piled up, a sight that left a strong impression. From another perspective, it also highlighted how intense the battle had been. Her immediate reaction was to worry about whether Hanekawa had been injured. "I wanted to join the fight with Lady Tsunade, but she didn't let me," Kurenai huffed, clearly displeased, though she understood Tsunade's intentions were for her safety. "I've got something for you," Hanekawa said with a smile, noticing her pout. "What is it?" Kurenai asked, her curiosity piqued as she looked at the scroll in his hand. "A trophy," Hanekawa replied, opening the scroll. "It contains the Mist Village's Hidden Mist Jutsu and Mist Body Flicker Technique." "These two jutsu?" Kurenai was visibly surprised. The Hidden Mist Jutsu and Mist Body Flicker Technique were iconic to the Mist Village, well-known across the ninja world. "Water-style techniques are rare in the Leaf Village, so Tsunade-sensei handed these to us," Hanekawa explained with a smile. "The Hidden Mist Jutsu is especially useful in battle—it'll significantly enhance your strength once you learn it." In battle within thick mist, most ninjas—apart from those with Byakugan or specialized training—would find themselves at a disadvantage. "Got it!" Kurenai Yuhi happily stored the scroll. It's worth noting that the Hidden Mist Technique falls under Water Release. It doesn't directly create the mist with chakra but instead converts Water Release chakra to produce it. "Tsunade-sensei." Rin Nohara, who had been listening to the conversation, noticed Tsunade approaching and quickly greeted her. "We've just received intelligence. All of the Mist Village ninjas have abandoned the island," Tsunade said with a smile. "Does that mean we'll be able to return to the Leaf Village soon?" Kurenai asked excitedly. Rin also looked expectant. They had spent half a month in the Land of Rivers, constantly battling due to the Mist Village's harassment tactics. Both their bodies and minds were exhausted. "Not yet," Tsunade shook her head. "We don't know if the Mist Village will make a comeback." "How long will we have to wait?" Kurenai asked impatiently. "About one to two weeks," Tsunade replied after some thought. "If the Mist Village makes no move, we'll head back to the Leaf Village." "Yay!" Although one to two weeks felt long, Kurenai saw a glimmer of hope for returning home. "Sensei," Hanekawa suddenly thought of something and asked, "Did we find Kurosuki Raiga's body?" "No," Tsunade replied. "Both Kurosuki Raiga and Biwa Juzo died half a month ago. Their bodies were likely sent back to the Mist Village." "What a shame," Hanekawa sighed. "I was hoping to study Kurosuki Raiga's Lightning Release techniques." Kurosuki Raiga's Lightning Release techniques were tied to the Lightning Blades, and some were notably powerful. "When the Mist Village offers to trade for the ninja swords, you can request those techniques," Tsunade said after a brief pause. "But for now, focus on mastering the Strength of a Hundred Seal technique." "Understood!" Hanekawa stood straight, his expression serious. In fact, besides fighting, he had been dedicating his time to learning the Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred Technique. However, S-rank jutsu were notoriously difficult to master, requiring at least several months of effort. Still, compared to the Yin Seal, the learning time was relatively short. "All right, go get some rest," Tsunade said with a faint smile as she looked at Hanekawa's determined expression. --- Dusk At the Hokage Office in the Leaf Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi was reviewing Orochimaru's battle report. His brows furrowed as he read. Against the two Jinchuriki from the Hidden Cloud Village, alongside A—who was nearly as powerful as the Third Raikage—the situation was proving challenging. Fortunately, Orochimaru's vast experience, coupled with support from the Sand Village's Rasa and Pakura, kept the situation balanced. Additionally, the Third Raikage had not joined the battlefield and remained in the Hidden Cloud Village to guard against the Hidden Stone Village, which was making moves. With the Hidden Stone potentially targeting either the Leaf or Cloud Village, the Third Raikage couldn't afford to leave his position. When Hiruzen flipped to the final page, his expression turned grim. Danzo Shimura had proposed deploying the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, to assist in their efforts. After a moment of contemplation, Hiruzen rejected the request. It wasn't yet a matter of life and death. Moreover, deploying the Nine-Tails would likely provoke the other villages. Just then, an ANBU operative named Haru entered the room. "Lord Hokage," Haru said. "We've received Lady Tsunade's battle report." Hiruzen's eyes sharpened as he took the document. After skimming it, he froze briefly, then broke into a wide smile and began laughing heartily. Haru, startled by this rare display, stood in shock. It was a highly unusual sight. "Spread the word!" Hiruzen said, still grinning. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have been wiped out, and the Mist Village has retreated!" "Yes!" Haru quickly responded, still processing Hiruzen's joy. It wasn't surprising that the Hokage would be so elated. "Emphasize this in the announcement," Hiruzen added. "It was Hanekawa who discovered the Mist Village's main base, and Tsunade led the elite Jonin in eliminating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen." (1.000 Power Stones, LFG) _ Patreon.com/rashta 1. 310 adv ch of Talent System In Naruto 2. 560 adv ch of Qian Renxue's Younger Brother 3. 270 adv ch of Uchiha Madara's Cousin 4. 163 adv ch of WDQK: Divorcing Ling Qingzhu (Complete) 5. 470 adv ch of This Danzo Is Weird