"Mangetsu, you're certain you want to choose the Hiramekarei?"
Yagura Karatachi asked.
He wasn't surprised to see Hōzuki Mangetsu step forward.
Earlier in the office, he and Elder Anzō had already discussed the seeded contenders in this selection test — and Mangetsu was undoubtedly one of them. This prodigy, favored by every Ninja Sword, was powerful. As long as he didn't run into Kyoichi, there shouldn't be any problems.
After all—
The Hōzuki clan's Hydrification Technique granted immunity to most physical attacks. Even with a wheel-battle tactic, opponents would struggle to gain any advantage.
"I'm certain."
Mangetsu replied.
"Good. Then step into the ring!"
Yagura didn't waste a breath. Together with Elder Anzō, he stepped back toward the viewing area and loudly declared:
"Now begins the selection for the wielder of the Hiramekarei! If anyone wishes to challenge Hōzuki Mangetsu, step forward quickly! If five minutes pass without anyone entering the field — victory will be awarded to Mangetsu by default!"
He added a rather useless "patch" to the rules.
It was meant to prevent everyone from delaying endlessly to secure a later entrant advantage. But the reason it was useless was obvious: anyone foolish enough to try such a stunt would absolutely lose favor in the eyes of the Mizukage and Genji.
You would have to be brain-dead to do something that stupid.
Once Yagura finished speaking, he and Elder Anzō moved beside Genji, sitting on the remaining half of the bench. Yagura glanced over and casually asked:
"Elder Genji, do you think anyone here can defeat Mangetsu?"
"You answer him, Mei."
Genji passed the question to the young girl beside him.
"Well… I think as long as Kyoichi doesn't step in, among those aiming for Hiramekarei there aren't many who could defeat Mangetsu… After all, anyone proficient in Lightning Release should be going for the Thunder Blade: Kiba."
Mei TerumĪ showed no timidity and honestly voiced her judgment.
The Hōzuki clan's Hydrification Technique nullified most physical attacks — meaning that aside from Taijutsu, Water Release, Earth Release, and Wind Release were mostly ineffective. Fire Release? Naturally suppressed by Water. Only Lightning Release could incapacitate the Hōzuki by paralyzing them!
However—
For shinobi skilled in Lightning Release, the Thunder Blade: Kiba was far more enticing than Hiramekarei!
Thus,
After removing that entire category of threats, the remaining candidates who could truly endanger Hōzuki Mangetsu…
Unless someone had been hiding their strength and planned to astonish everyone today,
—the result was essentially already set in stone.
"And to be honest, even if Kyoichi set his sights on Hiramekarei, his battle with Mangetsu would likely end in a stalemate with no clear winner."
Mei added softly.
"The Hōzuki Hydrification Technique is indeed tricky."
Yagura nodded, fully agreeing. Based on what he knew, Koeda Kyoichi specialized in Earth Release. Though Earth counters Water in conventional logic — the Hydrification Technique already transcended common elemental interactions.
So if Kyoichi had no hidden cards…
A deadlock was almost guaranteed.
"Now we just wait and see which Ninja Sword Kyoichi intends to claim."
Yagura shifted his gaze toward the battlefield.
Hōzuki Mangetsu stood alone in the training arena, looking confidently toward the rows of jōnin spectators. After roughly two minutes without movement, he called out loudly:
"What's wrong? Nobody brave enough? Or… are you all scared of me? If you're frightened, just say so — don't waste time. Make way for everyone else!"
The provocation was blatant.
"Hmph! Mangetsu — who do you think you're looking down on? I'll take you on!"
A voice exploded from the crowd.
One jōnin strode into the arena, chin raised.
"Fushō Tōya!!"
Yagura recognized the challenger and spoke his name aloud.
"Oh? A youngster from the Fushō clan? I've heard of him — not bad."
Genji slightly widened his eyes and examined the man. Yet after barely over ten seconds, he clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Shame. The ability is still a bit green… that Lightning Release needs more refinement."
And just like that—
The battle was over.
Fushō Tōya wasn't weak — in fact, he had secretly trained a Lightning Release technique few were aware of. Unfortunately, Mangetsu's strength was higher. The hidden attack failed to land a decisive hit and instead left an opening — Mangetsu's fingertip pressed into Tōya's back, right against his heart.
The match was decided.
Tōya wasn't a sore loser — he acknowledged Mangetsu's mercy and straightforwardly surrendered. He had no intention of clinging on just to drain Mangetsu's chakra. He wasn't the type to cheat the system.
Besides…
The Mizukage never said you could only be bound to a single Ninja Blade.
Since Hiramekarei was a lost cause, he might as well preserve his chakra… and go after something else.
Twin Swords: Hiramekarei was merely his first choice. Other than the Kiba and the Nuibari, he had no interest — but the Kabutowari and the Kubikiribocho were both still great targets!
And clearly—
Tōya wasn't the only one who had noticed this loophole in the rules.
Many—
had just realized the same thing.
"Kyoichi… why do I get the feeling… the later we wait, the tougher the competition becomes?" Yūsuke muttered.
"Mhm. When it comes to the final sword… the arena will be a congregation of losers."
Kyoichi nodded lightly.
The earlier you acted, the fewer opponents you faced.
Because those confident in their strength were focused only on their preferred sword. They weren't about to recklessly compete for something else — what if they accidentally won? The Mizukage may not have explicitly forbidden multiple blades…
But no one would bet on being allowed to wield two.
Meanwhile, those who failed early had nothing left to lose.
Since the first wish had already crumbled—
There was no reason to hold back. Fight free. Fight wild. Go all-in for the second choice.
Which meant—
When the final Ninja Sword was contested…
It would indeed be, as Kyoichi said:
A gathering of the defeated.
At that moment, the girl standing beside Genji finally realized the situation.
"Mizukage-sama… does this mean someone like Fushō Tōya — a defeated challenger — can still compete for other swords?"