"Silent Killing? What kind of technique is that?"
Hearing Mei Terumī's mutter, Yūsuke finally dragged himself out of the rabbit hole of wondering whether gods actually existed. He decided to stop thinking about something that had no meaning for him and shifted his focus to the topic Mei Terumī had just mentioned — the Art of Silent Killing.
"Well…" Mei Terumi thought for a moment, then explained, "It's not really a specific jutsu in itself. The so-called Silent Killing technique refers more to a state of mastery. As the name implies, it means killing your opponent without making the slightest sound that could alert them — taking a life in utter silence."
"That powerful, huh?" Yūsuke blinked in disbelief.
"It's even more terrifying than you think," Mei said gravely. "In Kirigakure, mastering the Silent Killing technique is the lifelong pursuit of many shinobi. Because once someone combines Silent Killing with the Hiding in Mist Technique, aside from sensory types like Kyoichi, there's practically no one who can escape such an assassin."
She glanced between them and elaborated, "When ordinary shinobi are trapped within the Hidden Mist, their vision is hindered. They can only rely on sound to locate their opponent. So when the user has mastered Silent Killing — meaning they can kill without making any noise — it completely cuts off their enemy's only lifeline."
Finally, Mei sighed with emotion. "My sensei, my father, and even my grandfather all said the same thing — that the Hiding in Mist Technique and the Silent Killing are the perfect pairing. Anyone who can master both will become one of the finest assassins in the entire village!"
In Kirigakure, countless shinobi could use the Hiding in Mist Technique — it was as common as waves on the sea.
But those who had truly reached the realm of Silent Killing were exceedingly rare.
She realized she had been too focused on the mist itself.
After all, even among Kiri-nin, one could use the Hiding in Mist to counter another Hiding in Mist. Even if the opponent had Silent Killing, it didn't mean they were entirely defenseless — certainly not to the point of being slaughtered without recourse. She hadn't immediately thought of Silent Killing until Kyoichi reminded her.
And then it struck her — that Momochi Zabuza had already mastered that deadly art!
"...Tch. That's... terrifying," Yūsuke hissed through his teeth.
After Mei's explanation, he finally understood just how horrifying the combination of the Silent Killing technique and Hidden Mist Technique truly was. If he were to face Zabuza — who could use both — his chances would be slim to none.
He wasn't a sensory ninja.
And since Zabuza had mastered Silent Killing, even using sound to counter him was impossible.
Unless…
He went underground.
But that would only delay the inevitable — not win him the fight. Unfortunately, he hadn't yet learned any Earth Release techniques like Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu, which allowed attacks from underground.
At this point, it wasn't just them who realized the situation.
The other jōnin present had also caught on to the shocking truth.
"He's already mastered the Silent Killing? That brat's a monster!"
"How many people must he have killed to reach that level?"
"No wonder he dared enter the Seven Ninja Swordsmen selection!"
"Unbelievable… I've been training for decades and still haven't even touched that realm. These prodigies really make you lose hope…"
The murmurs of the jōnin echoed faintly through the mist.
Clearly, Silent Killing held an almost sacred prestige among the Kiri-nin.
Unlike Kekkei Genkai or secret clan arts, which depended on bloodline inheritance, this was something anyone could, in theory, achieve — through skill, effort, and instinct. Yet… the fact that a twelve-year-old like Momochi Zabuza had already mastered it was a cruel reminder that talent often outweighed hard work.
Without talent…
Hard work alone wouldn't get you there.
That harsh reality made several of the older jōnin scowl, their faces darkened — though fortunately, the dense mist hid their expressions. Otherwise, the air might have grown dangerously tense.
Before long—
"Alright, get him out of here."
The voice of Yagura Karatachi echoed through the fog.
Two seconds later, the defeated jōnin was carried off.
"As before, the next challenger may step forward," Yagura announced calmly.
This time, however, no one moved right away.
Now that everyone knew Zabuza had mastered Silent Killing, they all hesitated — each reassessing whether the risk was worth it.
"Yūsuke?" Kyoichi turned to his cousin. The Long Blade: Kubikiribōchō was one of the swords Yūsuke had his eyes on. "You planning to give it a shot? Or skip this one… and go for the Explosive Blade: Shibuki instead?"
"…"
Yūsuke was silent for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, he said, "Kyoichi… I think the Hiding is Mist Technique and our clan's Magic Flute Technique could make a great combination."
"Huh? Oh—yeah, you're right." Kyoichi nodded in agreement. "The mist blocks the enemy's vision, forcing them to rely on sound. That makes them perfect prey for the Magic Flute's genjutsu."
Come to think of it, when the Koeda Clan migrated from the Land of Water long ago, the First Mizukage's Hiding in Mist Technique was still in its infancy. It hadn't yet spread as widely as it did today. But once they settled in the Land of Earth — where water was scarce — the Hiding in Mist Technique became impractical. Not only did it consume far too much chakra, but the dry conditions meant any mist could easily be blown away by even a moderate Wind Release jutsu.
Unlike the Land of Water, where only a master-level wind technique could disperse it.
So, no one had ever combined Hiding in Mist with the Magic Flute Technique before.
"Kyoichi," Yosuke said softly, "I'm going to take my shot. I've realized the Long Blade: Kubikiribōchō suits me better than the Shibuki. If I can combine the Magic Flute, Hiding in Mist, and Shibuki together… that might be one hell of a combo."
Then—
He deliberately stomped forward, his heavy footsteps echoing through the training hall.
"I don't know the Hiding in Mist Technique!" Yūsuke called out as soon as he stepped into the field.
At the same time, he formed the hand signs.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Eight shadow clones appeared beside him.
They quickly formed a defensive perimeter, while the real Yūsuke raised his flute and began to play — invoking the Magic Flute Technique passed down through generations of the Koeda Clan.
He didn't use Earth Release to burrow underground or play it safe. That might have bought him some time, sure, but not victory.
Instead, he decided to gamble — to bet everything on whether he could immobilize Momochi Zabuza with the Magic Flute before Zabuza's silent blade reached him through his clones.