Haruto Saito's head could be described as super hard!
After all, the skull is already the hardest part of the human body, and its shape further enhances its defensive properties. If struck with a stick, arms and legs can easily be broken, but it's rare to see a fractured skull.
Of course, this was just a minor reason. The main reason his head was so tough was due to his unique bone structure!
However, while Haruto Saito's bones were hard, the pain he was experiencing was internal! He had an extremely severe concussion. The fact that he didn't pass out from the powerful blow meant that his mental fortitude was exceptionally strong.
"It hurts... hurts so much... I'm dying here..." Haruto Saito rolled on the ground in agony, trembling as he reached into his storage space and pulled out a medium healing card.
*Crunch!* He bit down on the card and swallowed it.
The healing card could heal all of his injuries. As soon as he consumed it, the pain vanished, and the wounds on his body rapidly healed. Within just a few breaths, Haruto Saito stood up and exhaled deeply.
"That was close... Good thing my bones are tough!" he muttered to himself.
He had been fighting against Momochi Akagen with all his might, but he hadn't truly intended to risk his life. He knew his bones were incredibly strong, so even if he got hit, it was unlikely he would suffer immediate fatal injuries. He wouldn't have his limbs severed or be cut in half.
Moreover, he had noticed a flaw in Momochi Akagen's combat tactics.
At the start of their fight, Momochi Akagen had used his secret body-flicker techniques repeatedly, overwhelming Haruto Saito and sending him flying multiple times. He had displayed overwhelming power, seemingly aiming to force Haruto Saito to reveal the location of the treasure. But after that initial burst, he had stopped using those techniques entirely.
That likely meant that his teleportation techniques were a trump card—one he had already exhausted in his eagerness to extract information about the treasure.
This revealed something crucial: Momochi Akagen was the type of person who would do anything to achieve his goals. He was a risk-taker, just like Haruto Saito.
It was precisely because of this that Haruto Saito had chosen to fight recklessly, abandoning defense to force Momochi Akagen into a similar mindset. Even if he could only seriously wound him, it would be worth it.
But Momochi Akagen was patient. He was the kind of man who wouldn't make a move unless he was certain of success.
Thus, Haruto Saito had to lure him in, pretending to show an opening.
Stabbing at Momochi Akagen's heart was an intentional trap.
It was a test to see how much risk Momochi Akagen was willing to take. If that didn't work, Haruto Saito had planned to target other, less vital areas, gradually lowering the perceived cost of attacking him.
Unexpectedly, Momochi Akagen had no fear of heart injuries. He had gone all in, believing he could kill Haruto Saito before suffering any fatal consequences himself.
And that's why he died.
A truly foolish way to go.
Or rather, a humiliating death.
Despite being far stronger than Haruto Saito, he had been defeated simply because Haruto Saito had the advantage of using healing cards.
Momochi Akagen wasn't just a master of the blade; his ninjutsu skills were even more terrifying. But due to various circumstances, he hadn't used them. He hadn't even forced Haruto Saito to waste his stock of explosive talismans. Haruto Saito hadn't even needed to use his emergency sealing scrolls!
And yet, Momochi Akagen had died.
"Huh?" Haruto Saito glanced at the corpse, his gaze freezing.
The Executioner's Blade was gone!
"So it really was a summoning weapon. Someone must have recalled it the moment he died." He thought for a moment, then dismissed the issue. It was impossible to figure out who had taken it, so there was no point in wasting brainpower on it.
Instead, he collected all the scattered rewards, then searched the body.
There were no intelligence scrolls or money, but he did find a token.
A token engraved with the word "Mist" and an image of the Executioner's Blade.
It was likely Momochi Akagen's identification token.
*Whoosh!*
Haruto Saito exhaled, stored the token away, then ignited the corpse with a fire technique. After ensuring it was completely burned, he leaped into the trees and sprinted away.
He had to return to Tsunade and the others!
The battle was still raging on!
---
Deep in the Hidden Mist Village, late at night, a dim candle flickered in the study.
Hattori Ryuya sat on the floor in front of a long desk, staring at the Executioner's Blade resting upon it. His hands were on his knees, and his expression was as dark as water.
Since summoning the Executioner's Blade back, he hadn't moved from this spot.
When he confirmed that Ringo Nagakaze had died, he had gone berserk.
When he learned that Momochi Akagen had also fallen, his heart went cold.
What kind of enemy had they faced?
Was it Konoha's White Fang?!
The captain of Konoha's Anbu certainly had the strength to accomplish such a feat, but considering the cautious nature of Sarutobi Hiruzen, it seemed unlikely that he would send White Fang on such a high-risk assassination mission.
He couldn't figure out who was responsible.
But he knew one thing for certain—he would find out eventually. And when he did, he would have his revenge!
The Mist Swordsmen had lost two of their own in rapid succession…
Or rather, the Hidden Mist had lost two of its top combatants. This was not a loss they couldn't endure, but… it shouldn't have happened now!
The real war hadn't even begun. Both the Mist and Konoha were still maneuvering in the shadows, yet the Mist had already suffered such a major blow. It was unacceptable!
The Mist Swordsmen were the pride of their village. They had earned a fearsome reputation across the ninja world, instilling terror wherever they went. Their presence elevated the Mist's standing.
And now, their deaths would shake that very reputation.
The Mist had to retaliate!
Not just for revenge, but for their honor!
"Hattori-sama, you summoned me?" A cold voice came from outside.
"Send word to the Mizukage. The Mist Swordsmen have suffered casualties," Hattori Ryuya said icily. "I demand full control over all Mist Anbu operations in the Land of Whirlpools. Furthermore, I request the authority to rebuild the Mist Swordsmen. I will report the details once I have confirmed the truth."
"Understood." The cold voice outside replied, then fell silent.
---
Poison Prison Forest, Central Region.
"Fire Style: Raging Inferno Jutsu!"
"Wind Style: Air Blast!"
"Water Style: Grand Waterfall Jutsu!"
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The battle raged on without end!
Tsunade and her team fought fiercely against the remaining five members of the Mist Swordsmen. Ninjutsu clashed, and weapons flashed as both sides unleashed their full arsenal.
Haruto Saito arrived nearby, hiding in the shadows, observing the battle.
He really wanted to launch another sneak attack. If he could take down one more enemy, that would be ideal. But the ground was shaking too much! The battlefield was too chaotic, and using explosives could end up harming his allies.
After watching for a moment, he decided he couldn't wait any longer.
He burst from the shadows, moving like a phantom, charging straight into the fray!
A sharp wind howled!
Everyone turned at the sudden movement.
Tsunade's face lit up in surprise upon seeing Haruto Saito return.
The Mist Swordsmen, however, all paled.
Their captain had personally gone to hunt him down.
Yet here he was.
"Momochi Akagen is dead! Now kneel before me!" Haruto Saito bellowed as he charged.