The thing Hozuki Mangetsu is most dissatisfied with about his younger brother Hozuki Suigetsu is that Suigetsu has set his goal to surpass Momochi Zabuza.
Hozuki Mangetsu believes that once Suigetsu inherits a ninja blade, his strength should surpass Momochi Zabuza.
This goal is simply embarrassing.
Although it's the truth, saying it in this situation is a bit inappropriate.
Because the other person mentioned by Hozuki Mangetsu is still present on the scene.
Momochi Zabuza, still entangled with Hoshigaki Kisame using the Fog Concealment Technique, couldn't help but say after hearing Mangetsu's words: "Hey, Mangetsu, what do you mean!"
"Caught you!"
Before Mangetsu could respond, Kisame grinned, and the handle of the Shark Skin Greatsword in his hand extended and flew to a position in the fog: "Shark Skin Flying Chain Slash!"
"Bastard!"
With no Decapitating Carving Knife in hand, Zabuza could only watch as the Shark Skin Greatsword sliced him out of the fog, landing awkwardly on the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood foam!
The air was tinged with an awkward atmosphere.
Seeing this scene, Hozuki Mangetsu helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said: "Sorry, Zabuza-senpai, I meant no offense, but your skills are indeed somewhat lacking."
"..."
Zabuza glared at him fiercely, then looked at the decapitated handle of his Decapitating Carving Knife on the ground, and coldly cursed: "You're the brat who borrowed my Decapitating Carving Knife!"
Hozuki Mangetsu countered: "Even if Zabuza-senpai had the Decapitating Carving Knife, the chances of defeating Kisame-senpai wouldn't exceed thirty percent, right?"
"Bastard!"
"I'm just stating the facts."
"Do you think I can't kill you, you brat!"
"Even if I don't have Hiramekarei, Zabuza-senpai's chances of defeating me are very slim!"
In just a few exchanges, the fragile alliance between Hozuki Mangetsu and Momochi Zabuza shattered, and the two began to argue irritably.
"Stop arguing!"
Uehara Naraku interrupted them impatiently, glancing around at everyone present, his gaze stopping on Mangetsu and Zabuza: "You both have lost, now choose whether to join Akatsuki with me, or let me bury your corpses in your hometown..."
Everyone present understood that Zabuza and Mangetsu no longer had any choice but to surrender gracefully.
Zabuza wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and snorted: "My goal was to kill Yagura and end the Blood Mist Village. Now that the goal is achieved, I might as well see what this organization called Akatsuki is all about with you!"
Those words were really tactful.
Unlike Zabuza's lack of attachments, Hozuki Mangetsu directly stated his demand: "If you can do as you say and help Suigetsu revive the Hozuki family, I'll agree to whatever you ask of me!"
"…Alright."
Uehara Naraku couldn't hide the smile on his lips. He didn't make any big promises, merely saying: "If your brother really is the kind of waste that can't be lifted..."
"Suigetsu's talent exceeds mine,"
Hozuki Mangetsu confidently promised: "As long as he's guided, Suigetsu will definitely surpass all past ancestors and become the strongest ninja in the Hozuki family!"
It would've been better not to say this.
Saying it instead left Uehara feeling uncertain.
Because Uehara knew well, the Hozuki family carried no powerful bloodlines, and the Ninja World is a place that values bloodlines... except for that liver king in Konoha.
Uehara Naraku sighed, looking at Hozuki Mangetsu: "Let's just try my method first, and the rest is up to fate… at least you can set a more ambitious goal for your brother, let him desperately chase after his brother!"
"…I understand."
Hozuki Mangetsu gritted his teeth, seemingly determined.
This year his brother Suigetsu was already eight, performing well in the Hidden Mist Village's Ninja Academy, even eligible for early graduation.
Hozuki Mangetsu was always worried, if Suigetsu wasn't guided properly, he might never strive for progress and end up on the wrong path like Zabuza.
This wasn't something to be said now, otherwise it might stir up trouble.
Uehara Naraku flipped up onto a tree trunk: "Since you're sincerely surrendering to me, I'll generously accept it!"
Hearing Uehara's words, Zabuza and Mangetsu's faces visibly darkened. Their intended patron was powerful to the point of intimidation… yet seemingly just as lacking in intelligence!
At this moment, Uehara Naraku's expression wasn't great either, as he helplessly glanced at Hozuki Mangetsu, for he received the worst defeat reward ever.
Side Quest: Defeat Hozuki Mangetsu (1/1), Reward: 100 Gold Coins.
Clearly, Mangetsu was a highly skilled ninja, whom Uehara thought others would find more challenging to defeat than even the Fourth Mizukage!
Perhaps because Mangetsu perished young, with little on-screen time in the Ninja World, that there wasn't much focus on him, the system issued the lowest reward for the task.
Is this seriously just enough to fob off a beggar?
Yet defeating Mangetsu yielded more than just a hundred gold coins, as Uehara saw the completion bar of another task advance.
Side Quest: Defeat the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist (6/7), Reward: Unknown.
Uehara hadn't anticipated that by the system's panel standards, because Mangetsu wielded four ninja blades, it counted as four separate defeats.
The last member of the Seven-swords Ninja to be defeated should be Kurosuki Raiga, the one whom Hoshigaki Kisame mentioned, who defected with the Lighting Blade: Fang from the first generation Seven-swords Ninja.
When Uehara checked another task, he couldn't help but twitch his eye, looking a bit displeased.
Side Quest: Have Three Subordinates (2/3), Reward: Unknown.
Currently, three of the Hidden Mist Village's Seven-swords Ninja are nominally Uehara's subordinates, Hoshigaki Kisame being the first to pledge loyalty to him. But who's the second?
No, the question should be, between Momochi Zabuza and Hozuki Mangetsu, who isn't genuinely willing to submit to him?
For Uehara Naraku, it wasn't of too much concern who the second sincere convert was; he was more worried about identifying the insincere one...
This was indeed easy to figure out.
Because Uehara Naraku checked the final task.
Side Quest: Have two subordinates with Kage-level Chakra power, Task Completed, Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.
This task directly verified that the second person who pledged allegiance to Uehara Naraku boasts Kage-level Chakra.
Is there even a need to think about it?
Whose strength is the weakest present!
Uehara Naraku glanced at Hozuki Mangetsu with admiration for even fooling the likes of Hoshigaki Kisame...
Hozuki Mangetsu, who had Kage-level Chakra at thirteen!
No wonder he died so young, monopolizing screen time would've been inevitable while alive!
Uehara Naraku's gaze slowly rested on Momochi Zabuza, the man who always harbored ambitions.
He also possessed a strength mismatched to his ambitions.
Now Uehara contemplated, should he take Zabuza back as an incidental bonus, or should he dig a hole right here and bury him?