Malphegor
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IUTT: Ch. 138
🕑 Added 2025-06-14 22:08:08 +0000 UTCThe reason it's considered highly likely was because many other ninjas had tried to replicate these ninja swords and have been training non-stop for years.
According to the rules, they were allowed to challenge the current candidates and potentially became the rightful wielders of the seven blades.
At this moment, the venue had been fully prepared. On the eastern side of the field, six ninja swords were neatly arranged on a rack. Under the sunlight, they gleamed brilliantly, capturing everyone's attention. The stands surrounding the field were already packed, with the crowd eagerly anticipating this major event.
Shin had blended into the crowd naturally, waiting for the selection to begin just like everyone else.
His first goal was simple, get his hands on Kubikiribōchō. Even as he waited, he kept his sensory abilities active, his brow furrowed the whole time.
He was genuinely confused.
If Madara really intended to do something, now would be the perfect time to act. But strangely, all the White Zetsu showed no signs of anything unusual. Even the ones mixed into the crowd behaved just like normal people, cheering, chatting, blending in as if they truly belonged.
So... Was Madara actually trying to build a peaceful community where White Zetsu, ninjas, and civilians lived in harmony?
If so, Shin was ready to call him the strongest in the shinobi world, a true ambassador of peace.
As for why he wanted Kubikiribōchō, there were two reasons.
First, it would make a great gift, he didn't need it himself.
Second, owning one of the seven blades would instantly elevate his status within Kiri.
The reason this selection attracted so much attention wasn't just because the seven swords dramatically boost combat power. More importantly, becoming one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen meant immediate entry into the village's leadership. It was a fast track to power and influence.
For Shin, who wanted to gather intelligence without raising suspicion, this was the most efficient route.
Before long, a wave of noise swept through the crowd as the Third Mizukage and a group of elders made their appearance.
According to available information, the Third Mizukage had kept a low profile for years, unless it was something major, he rarely showed himself.
Even after the White Calamity, he remained unseen.
That led many to suspect that the current Third Mizukage might actually be an imposter, possibly a White Zetsu. Some even believed he had a direct hand in the disaster. His public appearance today eased some of those suspicions.
The elders accompanying him wore varied expressions, each seemingly lost in thought.
Once the Third Mizukage announced the start of the event, a figure leapt out from the stands and landed in the center of the field. He was holding a replica of Kubikiribōchō.
The man stood over two meters tall with a massive, muscular build. Surprisingly, the oversized fake sword suited him well.
"I'm Yukimura. I accept any and all challengers," he said, planting the replica sword into the ground and boldly scanning the crowd, as if he had already claimed the real one.
"You think you're worthy?" someone shouted, leaping out from the stands. It was none other than Jūzō, only twelve years old but already incredibly strong.
Then, with the sound of wind tearing through the air, seven or eight more figures jumped down. Soon, ten people stood in the center of the field.
"Alright then..." Yumi, the host for the selection, was just about to speak when another person suddenly appeared among the ten.
Her expression changed sharply.
It was Tsukishima. What the hell was he doing?
As his team captain, she knew he was skilled. But his timid personality always held him back in fights, he hesitated too much and never went all out.
In a free-for-all like this, anything could happen. Only the last one standing would earn a place among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Was this guy just running in to get himself killed?
Could it be that what happened yesterday hit him so hard that he was deliberately throwing his life away?
She wasn't the only one with a strong reaction.
Jūzō's expression changed immediately.
For the past two years, he had tried to assassinate Tsukishima multiple times, but every attempt failed. He could still clearly remember the beating Tsukishima gave him yesterday.
Against the others, he felt confident. But against his damn brother...
Weren't you always the one letting me win? Why are you suddenly doing this?
While Jūzō was filled with anger, Shin's voice cut through the air, "Go ahead."
His voice was as cold and emotionless as it had been yesterday, which made Yumi even angrier.
What's wrong with this guy? Did he eat something weird?
Fine. This is what you asked for. Someone like you deserves whatever's coming.
"The selection begins!" she announced, then turned and stormed off to take a seat, clearly annoyed.
Still, Tsukishima was one of her team members. She had recruited him herself because of his rare medical talent. Even though she often found his clingy behavior irritating and had made her dislike clear more than once, they had been through life-and-death situations together. It was impossible not to care at all.
The selection match was a chaotic elimination battle. Officially, being knocked out meant losing the ability to fight. But with battles at this level, people dying was almost guaranteed.
Kiri hadn't officially entered the brutal Bloody Mist era yet, but their training methods were still extremely harsh.
Joining the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was completely voluntary. If you died because you weren't strong enough, no one would be blamed.
So now, her palms were sweaty. She found herself silently hoping Tsukishima could make it through.
As long as he didn't draw too much attention to himself and kept his usual cautious approach, he might just make it to the end. But before she could settle on that thought, Shin's voice rang out again. "Stop wasting time. Come at me together. I'll take you all on."
That was it.
Yumi pressed a hand to her forehead, her mind freezing for a moment.
Had he lost his mind? Was he really like what Genji had described?
Genji once said that unless a brain injury was involved, people's personalities usually only changed drastically under two conditions.
The first was extreme repression. When someone kept everything bottled up for too long, and it all burst out, their personality could flip completely, from one extreme to another.
The second was a major, life-altering event, usually a disaster, that shocks them into changing.
When Tsukishima's parents died suddenly, he didn't change his behavior at all. Genji thought that was strange back then.
Now it seemed his prediction had come true.
Yumi trusted Genji's experience. He had seen too much not to know what he was talking about.
But there wasn't time to think it over. Tsukishima's sudden appearance had already drawn attention, and someone had launched an attack.
Three shuriken shot from a hidden corner, aimed precisely at him.
He reacted instantly. He pulled the short blade from his back and deflected them with ease.
But almost at the same moment, Jūzō swung the broken replica of Kubikiribōchō straight at him.
