The Land of Waves was a very, very small country.
It had no abundant resources.
It had no convenient transportation.
The people living here relied only on the most basic primary industries, such as fishing, to maintain their lives.
Here, forget a shinobi village—even shinobi passing by while carrying out missions were an extremely rare sight.
"To think they dare establish themselves as a nation on such a tiny piece of land. This world really is tolerant toward the weak."
Twelve-year-old Zabuza Momochi looked down from above at this land that was less like a country and more like a small island surrounded by the sea on all sides, his voice filled with disdain.
"Don't say that, Zabuza-san… Why can't it be because this country is useless and weak enough that everyone is too lazy to bother with whoever founded it?"
Mangetsu Hozuki, who was even younger than Zabuza Momochi, emerged from the seawater nearby.
While leisurely enjoying this environment, which was incredibly comfortable for a member of the Hozuki clan, he said lazily,
"Otherwise, the mission to seize this country's government would not have fallen to us brats… Although Lord Fourth said this is only a side task we can complete in passing, if it is written into our mission records, destroying a country with only three people should still be something we can brag about, right?"
Kisame Hoshigaki, the tallest and oldest among the three, analyzed the future of this mission in a relatively optimistic manner.
"Hmph. A country that is at most a small fishing village like this is something I could conquer by myself."
Zabuza Momochi lifted his head proudly.
"I already said that the Land of Waves is only an extra attached to this mission. There is no need to emphasize that again and again, Zabuza-san."
Mangetsu Hozuki stood on the surface of the sea.
Under the bright moonlight, he revealed his mouth full of sharp teeth to Zabuza Momochi.
"Or is it because our target has not arrived for so long that Zabuza-san's hands are itching and you are craving a fight? If that is the case, I, Mangetsu Hozuki, can accompany you at any time."
"Fine. Since you are also someone chosen by Lord Fourth as a candidate for the next generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, before we become true colleagues, I will test your quality first, prodigy of the Hozuki clan."
Watching the two restless problem children talk themselves farther and farther out onto the distant surface of the sea, clearly preparing to have a proper fight, Kisame Hoshigaki sighed.
On his ferocious and strange face appeared an expression full of helplessness and headache.
"To leave little brats who cannot control their emotions at all under my responsibility… Lord Fourth truly knows how to make things difficult."
Although he was, like Zabuza and Mangetsu, one of the next-generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen candidates personally chosen by Rei Kaguya, Kisame Hoshigaki was far steadier and more reliable than these two problem children.
He took three steps forward in two and blocked himself between them, then said to the two in a deep voice,
"After completing the mission, I will not interfere no matter how you want to spar. But right now, put away your willfulness. I do not want unnecessary additional risks appearing during the first mission Lord Fourth has entrusted to us because of infighting between you."
"Oh? Can I take that to mean you are saying you are stronger than me?"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes.
Behind him, the vague image of a demon formed from killing intent began to appear.
Meanwhile, Mangetsu Hozuki, the youngest and most restless of the trio, fanned the flames without care.
"Kisame-san is the squad leader personally appointed by Lord Fourth. Since he is a shinobi acknowledged by that person, he must possess the strongest strength among the three of us, right? Why not display it here and let us witness Lord Fourth's eye for talent?"
"Not a bad suggestion."
Zabuza pulled out the large blade on his back, which had been forged in imitation of the Kubikiribocho, and said excitedly,
"Since you are also a shinobi acknowledged by Lord Fourth, Kisame, you should not mind using strength to establish your complete authority in the team, right?"
"Sigh…"
Kisame Hoshigaki let out a long sigh.
He also pulled out his ninja blade.
"Naughty little brats really do need a proper lesson… Although I would like to do that, the mission target has already arrived nearby. We cannot leave her alone to be captured back."
"Target?"
Mangetsu Hozuki frowned and quickly merged into the water with the Hydrification Technique.
"How did you notice?"
"Heh, heh. Sharks are very sensitive to the scent of blood…"
Kisame Hoshigaki turned and looked toward the calm, sparkling sea beneath the night sky.
His expression became serious and solemn.
"About ten targets are approaching. Five of them smell of blood. Since we cannot temporarily confirm which one is the target, the mission requirement is to capture them alive as much as possible… If you get too excited and cut down the target Lord Fourth asked for as well, I will have no choice but to feed you to the sharks."
"Say that after you catch more targets than me."
Zabuza raced toward the direction Kisame indicated.
While running swiftly over the water, he formed seals with both hands and activated the ninjutsu he was most confident in.
"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique."
On the surface of the sea, where moisture was already heavy, a dense fog rose silently.
Under the moonlight, it formed a dreamlike and illusory beauty.
But within that beautiful scene, a bloodthirsty demon was approaching his prey with excitement, intending to use the blood of enemy shinobi to sharpen the edge of his newly forged blade.
Compared to that, Mangetsu Hozuki's concealment and approach carried even less trace of human presence.
He turned into an invisible and omnipresent drop of water within the ocean.
Riding the waves and wind of the sea, he approached the people currently heading toward the Land of Waves with perfect naturalness, calmly searching for the most suitable target to strike.
Seeing that both of them had begun moving, Kisame rolled his neck.
He leaped from the water's surface, formed the seals for Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave, then, together with the sudden ten-meter-high wave, surged toward the targets constantly giving off the scent of blood.
…
"Mitarashi Anko, you cannot escape anymore! Stop making meaningless resistance!"
"Come back with us, Mitarashi Anko! You have not followed Orochimaru for very long, and you are still young. Lord Third and Lord Fourth will not excessively pursue your responsibility!"
"Mitarashi Anko! Are you going to be like Orochimaru and choose to betray the village that gave birth to you and raised you? Have you thought clearly about the consequences of doing this?"
The pursuers' voices constantly came from behind, trying to persuade her to stop and surrender.
But Mitarashi Anko had no intention of stopping at all.
Although her body had already been struck open with several wounds that would not stop bleeding, and every step she took stained the water beneath her feet red, the Curse Mark burning fiercely on her neck was continuously squeezing more strength from her body, allowing her to persist and keep running.
And the words Orochimaru had spoken before they parted also echoed endlessly in her mind.
Go…
To the Land of Waves…
As long as…
I can reach that place…
Then I will…
still have…
value…
I do not want…
to become…
a useless waste…
with no meaning or value…
to the village…
or to Orochimaru-sama…
Whoosh—
Several more shuriken shot toward her from behind.
Hearing the wind, Mitarashi Anko instinctively wanted to dodge the pursuers' attacks, but her body, weakened by excessive blood loss, could no longer make such a large movement.
With several muffled thuds, the shuriken struck her back, thigh, and arm.
Anko, who had already been on the verge of fainting, completely lost control of her body and fell headfirst into the sea.
At this moment, there was less than three hundred meters between her and the coastline of the Land of Waves.
I…
really am…
a worthless waste…
Clearly…
I had already reached…
the final step…
but I still failed…
to complete Orochimaru-sama's request.
In that case…
being buried in the sea…
seems like a decent choice too…
At least…
I will not have to return as a prisoner…
who failed to defect…
and face everyone in the village again.
Gazing at the deep, dark underwater world, Mitarashi Anko used the last of her strength and rationality to think so.
Then, before she completely lost consciousness, she saw a mass of water clearly different from the seawater around it wrap itself around her.
What is this?
A hallucination before suffocating to death?
Otherwise…
why would I feel like one mass of water…
is different from the rest of the water in the sea?
Thinking this, Mitarashi Anko slowly closed her eyes.