The Hidden Mist Blacksmith, forging the glory of the Ninja Sword Style!

Match rate: Excellent.

The Nautilus's abilities have been enhanced to some extent.

Congratulations, host, for obtaining an excellent-level Water Release talent.

The system detected that the host already possessed a perfect-level Water Release talent and began talent synthesis.

The host's Water Release talent has been enhanced, but it has failed to break through to the next level. There is still one excellent level of Water Release talent needed to break through to the next level.

Uehara Shu's heart stirred.

Uehara Shu already knew that talents could be synthesized.

After all, we've already gone through it once.

Two excellent-level talents were combined into a perfect-level talent.

As for the level of talent, Uehara Shu had previously guessed that there were even higher levels above perfection.

Because in the original storyline, some ninjas displayed an even more exaggerated level of Water Release talent than Uehara Osamu did when he had perfected it.

"To advance to the next level, I'm still one excellent-level Water Release talent away."

"In other words, two perfect Water Release talents can be combined to create the next level of Water Release talent."

"They are all made up of two pairs."

"Two 'good's' make one 'excellent'."

"Two excellences combine to make one perfection."

Uehara Shu looked down at his palm.

"A perfect level of Water Release talent is already very strong; most Water Release techniques can be learned in one go."

"It can also naturally give rise to the feeling of simple hand seals."

"I wonder how strong the next level will be."

Uehara Shu wasn't worried about not reaching the next level.

Kirigakure lacks everything, but it doesn't lack water-style ninjas.

There are also quite a few Water Release talents who have reached the excellent level.

The three Mizukage, Mei Terumi, Yagura, and now, in front of Uehara Osamu, Hozuki Mangetsu.

No, Hozuki Mangetsu's Water Release talent is more than just excellent.

The compatibility between Nautilus and Hozuki Suigetsu is high.

Uehara Shu received an excellent level of Water Release talent from Hozuki Suigetsu.

The Nautilus and Hozuki Full Moon have extremely high compatibility in terms of attributes.

This proves that Hozuki Mangetsu's Water Release talent is even greater than Hozuki Suigetsu's, and even more outstanding.

Without making a sound, Uehara Shu took the nautilus back from Hozuki Suigetsu's hand.

Hozuki Suigetsu's expression changed, and he looked aggrieved.

However, Hozuki Mangetsu didn't suspect anything, thinking that Hozuki Suigetsu was just unhappy because he had lost a "toy".

I don't know, but Hozuki Suigetsu's loss was not just a simple matter of losing a "toy".

The moment Uehara Shu guided Nautilus and Hozuki Suigetsu to form a contract, Hozuki Suigetsu, just like the previous Ninja Sword Contractors, felt a strong sense of closeness to Nautilus.

For Hozuki Suigetsu, the nautilus was not so much a "toy" as a "partner".

Uehara Osamu carefully put the nautilus away.

"Hozuki Mangetsu, you said before that most members of the Hozuki clan want to use the Seven Ninja Swords to rebuild the clan's glory. Is your idea different from theirs?"

Hozuki Mangetsu hesitated for a moment.

“My ideas are different from theirs.”

"Those seven ninja swords were indeed forged during the tenure of Senior Gengetsu. The wife of that great blacksmith was also a member of our Hozuki clan. However, I do not believe that the seven ninja swords are the property of our Hozuki clan."

"I believe the Seven Ninja Swords are the common property of the village."

"The fact that the Hozuki clan can reclaim the Seven Ninja Swords will certainly enhance the overall strength of the Hozuki clan."

"A ninja who obtains a ninja sword will have his strength increased."

"However, they may not be the most suitable ninjas for using the ninja sword."

“There are likely more suitable ninjas in the village.”

"Otherwise, the Seven Ninja Swords wouldn't be in the hands of someone outside the Hozuki clan."

"This would result in the village having seven stronger ninja sword users instead."

"However, due to the narrow-mindedness and selfishness of the Hozuki clan, the village could only have seven weaker ninja sword users."

"Sacrificing the village to benefit the Hozuki clan is not a good choice."

"Furthermore, I think that if the Hozuki clan can only maintain its strength by relying on these ninja swords, it proves that the Hozuki clan has completely declined and is no longer viable."

"Even the existence of ninja swords can make the originally ambitious members of the Hozuki clan become complacent."

"These ninja swords are like a potent poison to the Hozuki clan."

"You can gain power the moment you eat it."

"But over time, the toxicity will surpass the power that the Hozuki clan initially gained."

At this moment, Hozuki Mangetsu's expression seemed somewhat familiar to Uehara Shu.

It was yet another expression of someone struggling between their family and their village.

Just like Uchiha Shisui.

It's like drawing real water from bamboo.

"Hozuki Mangetsu, may I ask you a very presumptuous question? If you mind, I won't ask. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to."

"Please speak, Senior Xiu."

"If one day, the Hozuki clan and the village stand on opposite sides, then, during the Hozuki Full Moon, which side would you choose?"

This time, Hozuki Mangetsu remained silent for a long time.

Much later, Hozuki Mangetsu finally looked up.

“Senior Xiu, I am a member of the Hozuki clan. The blood of the Hozuki clan flows in my veins. Even if the Hozuki clan does something wrong or does something bad, I will bear the consequences together with the Hozuki clan.”

"However, I believe that the Hozuki clan will never be at odds with the village."

"Even if someone has such thoughts, I will not let them happen."

Uehara Osamu understood the meaning of Hozuki Mangetsu.

That is, between the village and the clan, Hozuki Mangetsu will choose the clan.

This is someone who made a different choice from others in his family and village.

Uchiha Itachi, the cat with the bamboo twig, chose the village.

I want both Taketori Shisui and Uchiha Shisui.

However, Hozuki Mangetsu was still too young.

Is it really appropriate to say this to "outsiders"?

At least Uehara Osamu felt that Hozuki Mangetsu shouldn't have said that to him.

Uehara Osamu actually said that Hozuki Mangetsu doesn't have to answer questions that are inconvenient to answer.

Furthermore, Uehara Osamu's act of taking it upon himself to apologize at Forging Island was also quite naive.

Uehara Osamu felt that this might be the result of trying to understand the meaning of family and village at such a young age, which was like forcing a seedling to grow too fast.

Just like Itachi Uchiha from Konoha next door, who was only four or five years old when he began to contemplate the meaning of life and death, the village, his clan, and war.

At this age, their brains haven't even fully developed yet, so what can they possibly understand?

I've seen far too few people and experienced far too few things.

Therefore, their thinking will inevitably have limitations.

"I see."

Uehara Shu said, "I will pretend I didn't hear what you said today. Hozuki Mangetsu, take your brother home. It's getting late, and it will be dark soon."

"Alright, Senior Xiu, Senior Qing, goodbye."

Uehara Shu watched Hozuki Mangetsu and Hozuki Suigetsu's departing figures.

Upon seeing Hozuki Suigetsu, Uehara Osamu couldn't help but think of Uchiha Sasuke.

In the original storyline, Hozuki Suigetsu would become a member of Sasuke Uchiha's Taka team.

Moreover, like Sasuke Uchiha, he also has an older brother.

Therefore, it's inevitable that some people will make comparisons.

"They all have older brothers, but their situations are still different."

"In the future, Sasuke Uchiha can surpass Itachi Uchiha."

"But it's basically impossible for Hozuki Suigetsu to surpass Hozuki Mangetsu in the future."

"There is a difference in their talents."

"If Hozuki Mangetsu didn't die, what level could he reach?"

Uehara Shu didn't know exactly how Hozuki Mangetsu died in the original storyline.

But now, Uehara Shu had a vague suspicion in his heart.

Some of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Hidden Mist have actually been used by people all along, such as Samehada.

In this case, Hozuki Mangetsu's ability to skillfully wield all seven ninja swords indicates that he must have possessed these seven swords for a considerable period of time; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to do it.

Hozuki Mangetsu did not demonstrate his ability to master the ninja sword immediately upon first use.

This means that in the original storyline, the Hozuki clan may have also taken steps to reclaim the Seven Ninja Swords.