"I can't believe I've started worrying about whether liking young boys is legal or not… That's not good, not good at all."
Akio ended his "wild thoughts," muttering under his breath.
He stopped staring at Yagura, who was walking toward the edge of the arena, and continued watching the entrance.
Unfortunately, after half an hour, Akio still didn't see any familiar faces from the original storyline. He had hoped to catch a glimpse of what Terumi i looked like as a child, but no luck. Maybe it was because she also possessed a kekkei genkai and didn't dare show herself?
"Forget Terumi i, there aren't even many kunoichi in Kirigakure," Akio muttered, scanning the surroundings. Under the Bloody Mist policy, few female ninjas survived long enough to grow strong.
"Of course, tomboys are an exception," he added softly, glancing at the only female among the Seven Ninja Swordsn of the Mist, Ringo Ayuri.
She looked quite pretty at first glance, but the mont she opened her mouth, those jagged teeth and fierce expression could probably make a child cry.
Across from her stood another mber of the Seven Ninja Swordsn, holding the double swords Hirakarei, a man with a triangular-shaped head.
Forgive Akio, he honestly couldn't rember the guy's na. He just called him "Triangle Head" because his head was shaped like a pyramid.
The two had entered the arena ten minutes earlier and were now awkwardly taunting each other. The Seven Ninja Swordsn might have shared a title, but privately, they were anything but united.
When it looked like the two were about to settle things with words instead of blades, the wealthy spectators began to lose patience.
Even though they were rich, one million ryō per person wasn't a small fee. Spending that much only to watch two people argue? Unacceptable. Murmurs like "Are they fighting or not?" began spreading through the crowd.
Akio watched with a smile as the chatter caught the attention of the two swordsn. Ringo Ayuri sneered, raising her Thunder Sword.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Fang!"
Lightning chakra surged into her twin blades, and a bolt of lightning split the air, straight toward Akio.
Akio's smile froze. "What the hell? I wasn't even the one talking why are you aiming at ?"
Thankfully, Suikazan Fuguki turned out to be "decent enough," blocking the attack with Sahada.
Ringo Ayuri snorted disdainfully, assuming Akio had been scared stiff. She turned away, losing interest. Akio sighed inwardly. Great, another na to add to my little black book. I'll deal with you after this show's over.
After blocking the strike, Suikazan Fuguki glanced toward Kisa. Kisa imdiately walked over to Akio's group and began explaining the "rules for watching."
"Don't rush. The match won't start until the referee arrives," Kisa added at the end.
"There's even a referee?" Akio was stunned.
This wasn't so Chūnin Exam. The two about to fight were at least S-rank ninja, who could possibly act as a referee between them?
"Hey, shark-faced kid," Akio asked casually, "who's the referee? One of the village elders?"
Kisa didn't even turn his head. He just walked away.
Akio twitched his lips and shook the fat cat in his arms. "Wake up, you stupid cat. Ti to eat shark."
Kisa: "…"
A few minutes later, soone finally appeared at the entrance. Akio squinted and murmured, "Almost forgot why I ca."
The newcor was the Kirigakure ninja who had taken a Byakugan during the previous war. Because of it, his right eye was covered with a black eyepatch, and charms dangled from both ears. From a distance, Akio could tell those charms were sensory enhancers.
"So the Mist Village has so tricks I don't know. What was this guy's na again?" Akio thought to himself. After living more than a hundred years, so mories had blurred.
"You're late, Ao," Ringo Ayuri's voice answered his question.
"Sorry I'm late, my lords." Ao walked to the center of the arena, glancing at both sides. "Then, let the match, begin!"
With that, he vanished, and the two swordsn's blades clashed violently.
"This guy's barely in his twenties and already qualified to referee a match like this? Impressive."
Akio didn't watch the fight at first. His eyes were fixed on Ao.
A vein bulged near Ao's right temple, his Byakugan was active. That confird Akio's suspicion.
So, it was probably this Byakugan that discovered the Third Mizukage was being controlled.
He wasn't wrong. Ao had once been a sensory-type ninja and the Third Mizukage's personal guard. After taking a Byakugan from a fallen Hyūga during the war, he later used it to discover the Mizukage's manipulation.
Akio was still pondering this when gasps and cheers suddenly erupted around him.
The rich spectators had never witnessed a clash between such powerful shinobi before.
"You look pretty calm," Kisa's voice ca from beside him.
Akio smiled. Kisa was probably starting to suspect him.
"Not calm at all my heart's racing. They're amazing!" he replied with mock sincerity.
By now, the taijutsu exchanges in the arena had ended, replaced by ninjutsu combat.
"Triangle Head," having lost the upper hand in close combat, backed off and began weaving hand signs.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A massive water dragon rose behind him, twisting and roaring as it lunged at Ringo Ayuri.
The jutsu was powerful enough, but its accuracy was terrible. Not only did it miss its target, but the splash nearly drenched the audience.
Akio stepped forward with a grin, standing behind the big fat man, Suikazan Fuguki while everyone else got soaked.
"This protection's pretty good."
Fuguki frowned and looked back, only for Akio to speak quickly:
"Wow, half a water dragon this ti!"
Sahada spun, blocking the attack.
"Oh, a Great Waterfall now!"
Sahada held firm, deflecting it again.
"Lightning Aaronl, huh?"
Sahada opened its "mouth" and swallowed it whole.
"Totally worth the money," Akio chuckled.
…
Suikazan Fuguki was speechless. He felt utterly targeted today.
No matter how the two swordsn fought, random ninjutsu blasts kept veering in his direction especially with that annoying guy behind him shouting "Nice one!" every ti.
Of course, it was all Akio's doing. Seeing Fuguki earn in one day what most would need four S-rank missions for, he decided to "keep him busy." Half the stray attacks were deliberately redirected toward them.
"Another half water dragon, huh…"
"Shut up!" Fuguki roared, tearing the water dragon apart and turning back furiously.
"Lord Fuguki, watch out!" Kisa shouted.
"Oh, a Great Waterfall again…" Akio whispered...
just as a torrent crashed over Fuguki's head.
---
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