A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-ar4ngel
-Lord_Clamiral
-Cain
-Ryan biggins
-Kreios
-Sabo
-Goha21
-Cherudim
-Splendid
-Jacob Mooe
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
The formulation of the Akizuki Plan allowed Midorima to witness the capabilities of Kirigakure's Anbu in strategic planning.
A team leader must unite the squad and maximize each member's potential based on their individual strengths.
In Konoha, there were plenty of skilled individuals like this—Hatake Kakashi, for instance, or the Nara father and son.
Kirigakure should have such people too. At the very least, Midorima believed Mei Terumī could become one.
To bring out the full potential of every squad member, the leader needed to know them inside and out—their ninjutsu specialties, taijutsu proficiency, movement speed, even their personalities. Any of these factors could determine the success or failure of a mission.
But Akizuki was not like that.
Perhaps, in his mind, he was the only one who could face Katsuramaru head-on. The others were merely tools—some high-grade, some low-grade.
"I've already told you, he knows Wind Release… the Hidden Mist Jutsu might not work on him," Mei said urgently.
She and Midorima had suffered losses in their previous battle with Katsuramaru.
"Don't lump me in with you two. Just because you think a technique is useless doesn't mean it's unusable. It's all about timing. All you need to do is follow my lead. If you keep arguing, you can sit this one out. My patience has limits."
Mei clenched her teeth, swallowing her words.
"Neither of you needs to think—just obey. Hold him off for ten seconds, and I'll kill him. Don't disappoint me. Check your gear. If there are no issues, we move out. We only get one shot at this..."
"Is this the hideout that sensor-nin supposedly discovered? Is Katsuramaru still there?" Mei asked.
"You ran into him?" Akizuki sounded surprised.
"Yes. Midorima used up a lot of chakra trying to save him."
"He…" Akizuki paused, his voice heavy. "He reported intel once, then never contacted me again. I thought he'd returned to Kirigakure. Was he badly injured?"
"He's dead," Midorima said. "I tried to save him, but…"
"Tch… too far… the medics are too far from the front lines," Akizuki muttered. "This is exactly why I didn't want you two involved… This is war. You have to be prepared to die."
"We came here knowing we might not return," Mei said firmly.
"Good. Then get ready—we move out!"
---
The sky gradually darkened, and a light rain began to fall. But for the Kirigakure shinobi, this wasn't a bad thing.
The more water there was, the stronger their Water Release techniques would be.
If anything, this was an advantage.
Midorima and Mei followed Akizuki as they swiftly descended the mountainside. However, given the enemy's strength, all three moved with extreme caution, avoiding any unnecessary noise.
Truthfully, Midorima still had many doubts.
The biggest one was: "If Katsuramaru already knows Kirigakure is after him, why hasn't he fled?" But with the battle imminent, there was no time to dwell on it.
Akizuki's plan was straightforward—lure the snake out of its hole.
Draw Katsuramaru out of hiding, then surround him in a triangular formation. Simple and direct, yet effective.
But there was a problem: 'Who would be the bait?'
The plan was for Midorima to lure Katsuramaru out, after which Mei would provide support while Akizuki moved in for the kill.
When Akizuki first proposed this, Mei had objected, insisting that Midorima was the weakest of the three and hadn't fully recovered his chakra. She volunteered to take his place.
But Akizuki refused.
"I don't trust you."
"..."
Midorima forced a hollow smile.
From Shūsaku to Akizuki, it seemed like people always enjoyed pushing him into impossible situations.
The sea crashed against the rocky shore, sending waves several meters high.
Fighting Katsuramaru here would indeed give them an advantage. But if Katsuramaru also knew Water Release, they'd be in just as much danger. Someone as slight as Midorima could be killed in a single strike.
The night was so dark that Midorima could barely see the rocks beneath his feet. Meanwhile, Akizuki followed closely behind, carrying a ninjato nearly a meter and a half long.
Midorima was afraid Akizuki might accidentally cut him, so he moved quickly.
Balancing caution against speed—avoiding loose stones while staying ahead of Akizuki—left him distracted.
Just as he leaped onto a large boulder and prepared to choose his next foothold, a hand suddenly clamped around his wrist. Before he could cry out, Akizuki's voice hissed in his ear:
"Quiet. It's Katsuramaru."
'What?!'
Midorima's eyes snapped forward. In the darkness, a shadowy figure stood atop a jagged outcrop. The distance was too great—at least fifty meters—and without careful observation, it would have been easy to miss him.
'This… I didn't even have to lure him out? What kind of luck is this?'
"You escaped last time, only to bring two more to their deaths. Kirigakure's methods are as disgusting as ever."
Katsuramaru's voice was hoarse, weak.
"My injuries have healed. What about yours?" Akizuki pointed his sword at Katsuramaru. "You talk about righteousness as if Kirigakure is some den of corruption. But weren't you once one of us? Wasn't it you who cut off your comrades' heads and cashed in the bounties?"
"I'm a bastard. A monster. That's why I ended up like this. Yes, I took the heads. Yes, I took the money. But I gave it to their families. That was our agreement. I should've died three years ago. At least I killed the traitor who sold us out… Life means nothing to me now. Dying in my homeland is the only wish I have left."
"Your only wish?" Mei stepped forward, landing on a rock beside Midorima. "Then what about my comrades? The ones you killed? They weren't even full-fledged shinobi! If you could cut off your teammates' heads and give the money to their families, then why not cut off your own head and pay for theirs?!"
"Hah? You two?" Katsuramaru burst into laughter. "I thought you were Anbu. Turns out you're just a couple of brats. Hey, Anbu kid—has Kirigakure gotten so desperate they're sending children after rogue ninja? Let me give you some advice: the Anbu are darker than you can imagine. They'll do anything to complete a mission. No—sometimes, if you're just in their way, they'll remove you themselves!"
Midorima instinctively glanced at Akizuki, hoping to gauge his reaction. But in the darkness, all he could see was the white mask.
Water coiled around Akizuki's blade—then, in the next instant, he shot forward like a shadow, charging straight at Katsuramaru.
The battle had begun!