1. Two Shadows Beneath the Moon
The night wind howled through the trees behind the inn.
Under the cold, silver moonlight, two figures stood face to face—each with a sword glinting in their hands.
To the left—
Satoru Hoshino. Shirtless.
His lean, battle-scarred body outlined in the moonlight, muscles taut like coiled springs.
In his right hand, he gripped Yubashiri—its silver blade gleaming with a deadly chill, as if begging to cut through anything in its path.
To the right—
Kushimaru Kuriarare, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist.
Long, pale blond hair falling loose like a feral warrior's mane.
His face masked, revealing only a pair of cold, murderous eyes.
In his hands—
Nuibari, the legendary "Threading Needle"—a massive sword shaped like a steel skewer, gleaming with a sinister gray hue.
They stood motionless, eyeing each other in utter silence—
The kind that makes the forest hold its breath.
2. A Trash Talk Duel With No End in Sight
Satoru gave his opponent a once-over, then narrowed his eyes.
Veins bulged in irritation as he barked out:
"HEY, YOU STITCH-FACED MORON!
Who the hell hides their face while holding a giant sewing needle?!
You spying on me or something?!
Don't tell me you've developed a crush on this glorious face?!"
Kushimaru froze for half a second—
Then burst out laughing.
His laugh echoed through the trees, like someone who'd just heard the dumbest joke in existence.
"Hah! Kid… I was going to compliment you, you know."
"You've got the aura of a swordsman, and that blade of yours is quite beautiful…"
He paused, raising his sword and gently licking the edge.
"But the second you opened that mouth—
I swear, you reek of stupidity.
What do you even eat to talk that much nonsense?!"
"Let me slice your tongue off, will ya? And while I'm at it…
I think I'll take that lovely sword of yours too."
Satoru: "…"
He smirked coldly, raising Yubashiri, its silver sheen catching the moonlight with a deadly flash.
"You've got two options:
Come with me quietly to the Hokage…
Or I beat you senseless and drag you there myself."
Kushimaru raised a brow—then laughed again, louder this time.
"Ha! Looks like the Leaf has gotten too soft."
"Then allow me—Kushimaru Kuriarare of the Hidden Mist's Seven Swordsmen—
to teach you what the real shinobi world looks like."
"You, little genius… let me show you how short-lived your stardom will be."
3. Secrets Hidden in Words
Satoru blinked.
Something… felt off.
He picked up on a strange undertone in Kushimaru's words.
His eyes narrowed.
"Wait a second… How do you know I'm a 'genius'?"
"I'm just a regular jonin from the Leaf.
Who told you that?"
Kushimaru licked his blade again, eyes gleaming with twisted amusement.
"Kid, we've got our own intel network."
"You're making headlines now."
"The rising star of the Hidden Leaf.
Barely a few months in, and you're already on our radar."
"Our Fourth… has grown quite wary of you."
A chill ran down Satoru's spine.
Satoru tightened his grip on Yubashiri.
He hadn't realized it until now—
He'd been watched all along.
He had already stepped onto the grand chessboard of those who pull the strings behind wars.
"In the end…"Kushimaru continued, voice cold and flat, as though reading out a sentence.
"You're just a minor thorn."
"Eliminating you… would be one less problem in the war to come."
Satoru clenched his teeth, voice dropping low and steady:
"You think killing me will be that easy?"
Kushimaru smirked.
"Doesn't matter."
"The Leaf won't be stupid enough to go to war with the Mist…over a dead prodigy."
A chill crept down Satoru's spine.
He understood perfectly—The meaning behind those words.
So even if I die…The Leaf will treat it as nothing more than a 'tragic accident'…
4. The Wind Before the Storm
The wind howled—tugging gently at Satoru's silver hair.
Under the moonlight—
Two swordsmen locked eyes.
Kushimaru's gaze was ice-cold, soaked in bloodlust.
Satoru's was razor-sharp—But deep within burned a fire that refused to fade.
Two men.
Two blades.
In just a heartbeat, they would clash in a battle where only one could walk away.
"Come then… Swordsman of the Hidden Mist."
"Let's see if your blade…is sharper than mine."
End of Chapter 105