Chapter 11: Baptism of Blades
After fighting a Jonin for so long, Akatsurugi felt he had already performed remarkably. However, the circumstances hadn't allowed for complacency. To think that hiding within the village, he'd still encounter such a terrifying ordeal... it was utterly desperate.
He could only hope his "firework" had attracted the attention of Konoha's ninja.
The Jonin, clearly understanding Akatsurugi's intent, chuckled. "Kagami, your student isn't half bad."
As he finished speaking, the Hidden Mist Technique dissipated. Akatsurugi stared in stunned silence for a moment before letting out a huge sigh of relief. So this Jonin was a friend of his teacher's! It was all a test. That made sense. Being attacked by a Jonin while hiding inside Konoha Village was completely unscientific. Now it was clear.
This must have been a test arranged by his teacher.
Sure enough, Uchiha Kagami emerged, nodding first to the Jonin before turning his gaze to Akatsurugi. "Very good. It seems you haven't been slacking off recently."
Akatsurugi scratched his head sheepily. The Jonin added, "Your foundation is solid, and you know how to preserve yourself. You have the talent to become a fine shinobi."
Akatsurugi didn't know who this Jonin was, especially since he even knew Kirigakure's signature Water Style techniques. But since he was being praised, Akatsurugi politely expressed his thanks.
The Jonin then vanished in an instant. Uchiha Kagami said, "With your current qualities, you are already fit to be an excellent Genin. Tomorrow, I will recommend you to the Third Hokage. Once you become a Genin, you may have to leave the village on missions. Prepare yourself."
Akatsurugi nodded quickly. Although part of him didn't truly wish to become a Genin, since Uchiha Kagami had spoken, he likely had no right to refuse. After all, learning chakra and ninjutsu while refusing to become a ninja was rather unorthodox.
"Alright, go back and rest," Uchiha Kagami said, before also disappearing in a flicker.
Akatsurugi had no choice but to return home. It seemed he was truly about to become a ninja and step onto the shinobi stage.
Fortunately, Uchiha Kagami would be with him, otherwise, he'd be feeling quite panicked.
That afternoon, a Konoha ninja delivered a forehead protector to Akatsurugi, signifying that he was now officially a Genin of Konoha.
Tying the forehead protector around his head, Akatsurugi felt no particular surge of emotion, simply fastening it obediently. Kosuke, watching from the side, smiled. "Akatsurugi, congratulations on becoming a true shinobi."
Akatsurugi smiled back, though he knew becoming a ninja meant stepping onto the battlefield.
To mark the occasion, Kosuke treated Akatsurugi to a barbecue dinner as a celebration.
The next morning, Akatsurugi found Uchiha Kagami already waiting at his door. "Sensei," Akatsurugi greeted promptly.
Uchiha Kagami nodded. "You've just become a ninja. I will take you to take on some simple missions to help you get accustomed to the process."
With that, Uchiha Kagami led the way to the Mission Assignment Hall. It was bustling with Konoha shinobi accepting various tasks.
As the war wasn't entirely over, there were many refugees and bandits. These elements disrupted the stability of the Land of Fire. Once they turned to banditry, they became targets for Konoha. If they settled down and built villages to live peacefully, Konoha would even offer protection. This was an unspoken rule among the Five Great Nations.
Refugees were an inevitable consequence of war. As long as they settled down to farm, the great nations were tolerant. But if they caused trouble and sought easy gains, they had to be prepared for annihilation.
After surveying the available missions, Uchiha Kagami assigned Akatsurugi a bandit extermination mission. For a new shinobi, killing was the first necessary lesson. Shinobi were, at their core, a profession of assassination.
Akatsurugi was mentally prepared. He had witnessed death on the journey back to Konoha with Kosuke, so he felt no particular aversion to it. To survive in this world, this was a necessary step.
After presenting their village exit permits at the gate, Uchiha Kagami led Akatsurugi to the bandits' location as described in the mission scroll.
When they were close, Uchiha Kagami vanished in an instant. The rest was Akatsurugi's task. It was already significant that Uchiha Kagami had accompanied him this far.
Taking a deep breath, Akatsurugi gripped his Ryūjin Jakka and advanced towards the mountain stronghold.
The intelligence indicated no shinobi were present—just a group of refugees who had occupied the mountain, robbing passing merchant caravans and civilians. They had recently provoked a caravan belonging to a Fire Nation noble, landing them on the bounty list.
Akatsurugi didn't charge in recklessly. Even if the intel said no shinobi, he had to verify it himself. He created a shadow clone to scout ahead while he remained watchful near the entrance.
Poof. The shadow clone dispersed almost immediately. Akatsurugi cursed inwardly. Weren't there supposed to be no ninja? Why was my clone taken out so fast?
From the clone's feedback, he knew it had been struck by a Fire Style technique.
So, among these bandits, there was a shinobi who could use Fire Release.
Judging by the feedback, the opponent was likely a Genin, not a Chūnin or Jōnin, and the Fire Style used was a very basic Fireball Jutsu.
Having assessed the situation, Akatsurugi drew a kunai and threw it with a casual flick, striking down two patrolling bandits. He then rushed in at high speed, the Ryūjin Jakka in his hand cleanly slicing across the throats of one bandit after another.
Living in this chaotic world left no room for mercy. The mission objective was total annihilation—no survivors. Regardless of their reasons for being on the mountain, anyone in the bandit stronghold was marked for death.
Akatsurugi held nothing back as he wielded his blade. Anyone he encountered met the same swift end.
As each bandit fell by his hand, a faint, almost invisible wisp of something translucent was absorbed by the Ryūjin Jakka. Akatsurugi didn't notice it at first, but soon he saw it clearly. It was indeed being absorbed.
Akatsurugi was puzzled, unsure what this phenomenon meant. But remembering that Ryūjin Jakka was a Zanpakutō, a bold idea surfaced in his mind.
To awaken Ryūjin Jakka... do I need to kill a lot of people? Does it require the power of souls to activate?
He wasn't certain yet, but he would find out one step at a time.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" From atop a roof, a burly man formed hand seals and spat a large fireball straight at Akatsurugi.
This was the same guy who had taken out his shadow clone with a sneak attack. Using the same trick again? Did he think Akatsurugi wouldn't be prepared?
As the fireball roared towards him, Akatsurugi hurled a single kunai directly at it. Tied to the kunai's handle was his one and only explosive tag—an expensive item this was, a gift from Kosuke.