Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 39: Zabuza Remodeled!

On their way to the port, Tachibana noticed that Zabuza kept glancing at the group's escort target.

Curious, I leaned closer and whispered a question.

"What's wrong, Zabuza? Did you notice something's off about him?"

As she spoke, Jianchuan Ju also looked at the shop assistant.

His gray hair was casually tied into a ponytail, and his bronze face was lined with deep wrinkles. Although he clearly looked like an old man, his body and head seemed to be separate entities. It was already autumn, yet he wore only a gray, coarse cloth short-sleeved shirt, exposing his muscular and robust physique; one of his arms was almost as thick as his waist.

Looking at it this way, it does seem a bit strange.

"That guy looks like a blacksmith."

Zabuza subconsciously answered Tachibana's question.

"A blacksmith? That's all?"

Jianchuan Ju was also speechless at this guy's antics. What's so strange about the person in the ninja tool shop being a blacksmith?

Zabuza finally withdrew his gaze and said hesitantly.

"That old man seems to be a very famous blacksmith in the village."

This time, it was Jianchuan Ju's turn to be stunned. After all, he didn't usually have much need for ninja tools. The only requirement he might have was that they were cheap. He had never paid attention to any forging masters.

However, before Jianchuan Ju could say anything, the old man shouted at the two of them.

"Hey! You two brats, are you talking about me behind my back?! This old man's ears are very sharp!"

The two men stared at the old man with exasperated expressions. He was not far away, yet his voice was extremely loud.

Although it's unclear whether it's due to years of blacksmithing or old age, judging from the current situation, this old man is clearly very hard of hearing.

I don't know how I overheard their discussion.

Jianchuan Ju didn't know what had gotten into her, but in an attempt to ease the awkwardness, she actually started talking like a child.

"Grandpa, we were just saying that you are a very skilled blacksmith."

However, as soon as the words left his mouth, Zabuza, Mei Terumi, and Ao—oh, and Ran-chan—all immediately looked at Tachibana Kanagawa with eyes that seemed to be looking at some kind of strange creature.

Receiving the look from his teammates, Tachibana Kenkawa felt like slapping himself.

However, the old man didn't notice any of this and instead laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Haha, kid, you have good taste. I am the famous Shimotsuki Ichiro. My father was a legendary swordsmith who participated in the forging of seven ninja swords."

There seemed to be something wrong with what the old man was saying, but before Jianchuan Tachibana could think about it further, Zabuza reminded him.

"Your father participated in the forging of seven ninja swords. Have you ever forged any famous swords?"

Tachibana Kanagawa noticed that the old man paused for a moment when he heard Zabuza's question.

"Hahaha, of course I inherited my father's forging skills. He forged the Thunder Blade Fang and the Twin Blades Hiramekarei, which were among the best even among the Seven Ninja Swords."

"So you built it yourself, sob sob sob."

Seeing that the old man with white hair looked like he was about to cry, Tachibana Kenkawa quickly covered Zabuza's mouth, which was about to speak, and forcibly pulled him aside.

Seriously, even though he's wrapped in bandages, this guy still can't control his mouth.

"Say less, besides the Seven Ninja Swords, have you ever heard of any other famous swords from Kirigakure?"

After saying this, Jianchuan Ju hurriedly turned around and glanced at the old man Shuangyue. Fortunately, he spoke softly enough this time, and the other party seemed not to have heard him.

However, the old man seemed to have lost interest in talking to the kid and continued walking forward on his own. Seeing this, the others had no choice but to hurry up and follow.

Zabuza shook his head, broke free from Tachibana Kenkawa, and returned.

"Of course not, so my goal is to seize one of the Seven Ninja Swords and become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

Looking into Zabuza's eyes, there was a flame called ambition.

All Jianchuan Ju could imagine was this guy in the future carrying a decapitation sword as big as a door panel, crouching down and hiding in the mist concealment technique to carry out assassinations—a bizarre sight.

He seemed rather pitiful, so Tachibana Kenkawa decided to guide him a little.

"Zabuza, which ninja sword would you most like to use in the future?"

"Naturally, it's the Broken Blade *Executioner's Blade!"

Sure enough! This kid started going astray at such a young age!

"Why would you want to use the Executioner's Blade? You're not even as tall as it, it must be inconvenient to swing it."

Zabuza had gotten used to being teased by Tachibana so much that he just rolled his eyes at her, seemingly too lazy to answer such an idiotic question.

After considering the guy's future height, Tachibana Kenkawa had no choice but to try a different approach to persuade him.

"You know the characteristics of the seven ninja swords, right?"

"Of course I know!"

"So, what are your strengths?"

Although Zabuza was already getting annoyed by Tachibana's questions, he still answered them seriously.

"Swordsmanship and Water Release ninjutsu."

Kanagawa Tachibana stared at Zabuza with a dark expression, completely oblivious to his own limitations. If the future adult Zabuza claimed to be skilled in Water Release, that would be one thing. But now, he only possessed one offensive ninjutsu—the Water Dragon Bullet Technique with forty-four hand seals—and he dared to call himself proficient in Water Release ninjutsu?

"Your combat style leans more towards assassination, isn't it? The art of concealing oneself in the mist and the art of silent killing."

"Yes." Zabuza didn't argue and nodded in agreement.

"But look at the Executioner's Blade, it's clearly designed for a wide-ranging and powerful style. Not to mention that its huge size makes it difficult to conceal one's movements, the loud whistling sound it makes when slashing during the Mist Concealment Technique is enough to make the opponent wary before being attacked."

"And think about it, that big sword, as thick as a door panel, the wind it generates when swung might even blow away some of the fog."

Upon hearing Tachibana's description, Zabuza was stunned and even stopped in his tracks.

"I just think that Juzo Biwa is weaker, so it should be easier to take the ninja sword position from him. Besides, the style of repairing broken swords with bloodlust suits me better."

Seeing this, Jianchuan Ju immediately intensified his guidance.

"Have you ever considered that the reason Juzo Biwa was weak might be because his Executioner's Blade was too weak? What kind of broken sword can heal itself by absorbing blood? Have you ever seen any other ninja sword break in two so easily?"

When asked this question, Zabuza finally lost his composure.

I imagined myself fighting an enemy, my decapitation sword being easily cleaved in two, and then I grabbing a hilt and scrambling to kill other weaklings to restore my broken sword before turning back to fight the enemy.

At this moment, Zabuza's worldview seemed to have collapsed.

"Then which ninja sword would suit me best?"

Finally, the key question was asked, and a smile unconsciously appeared on Jianchuan Ju's face.

"Of course, a long knife and a sewing needle!"

(End of this chapter)