Naruto's Strongest Force - Chapter 76
Land of Water.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Kisame Hoshigaki’s life trajectory.
Congratulations to the host for acquiring Giant Waterfall Technique x1
Ding! Successfully recruited Kisame Hoshigaki.
Congratulations to the host for acquiring Water Affinity.
After sharing a meal with Kyoko, Kisame decided to follow Natsuki. Whatever Kyoko said to him it convinced Kisame to join.
With Water Affinity, Natsuki could finally use Water Style without carrying water everywhere. Ninjutsu was a helpful skill, but it required time to master.
However, Kyoko was not rewarded, perhaps because she didn’t have a notable role in the original story.
Natsuki had worried that Mei Terumi and Yagura wouldn’t give up Samehada easily, but they were surprisingly cooperative, respectfully providing the information Natsuki needed and giving Samehada to Kisame.
Mei Terumi even expressed eternal allegiance to the Uchiha clan, promising mutual support and maintaining a low profile.
Their compliance stemmed from necessity. The Hidden Mist had lost much of its high-level combat power, and the Sharingan had controlled Yagura. Even without using his Sharingan, Natsuki’s superior eye power made him a formidable opponent for Yagura.
The weakened Hidden Mist could no longer afford to make enemies.
…
Following the scandal of the Mizukage being controlled by genjutsu, Yagura Karatachi handed over the position of Fifth Mizukage to Mei Terumi after explaining everything. He was imprisoned in the Hidden Mist’s dungeons. Despite his crimes deserving a hundred deaths, he remained a strategic asset as a jinch?riki, unable to die until a suitable replacement was found.
Mei Terumi’s ascension didn’t immediately stabilize the Hidden Mist Village. The long-term bloodmist rule and the destruction of bloodline clans had left the village in chaos.
The Land of Water, isolated overseas with the Hidden Mist Village deep in the mountains, shrouded in thick fog, was relatively closed off. This closeness to the Daimyo intensified the chaos’s impact, causing the village’s decline and the country’s weakening.
If not for their geographical isolation, other great nations might have intervened.
Natsuki left the Hidden Mist Village with the information he needed to continue his search. The Land of Water’s island had diverse terrains and customs, making it challenging to navigate. The weather varied, and it was as if I was experiencing all four seasons in a day.
Due to its distance from the mainland and ocean barriers, the Land of Water had seldom participated in previous ninja wars. However, in just a few years, Obito had turned the entire country into a chaotic mess.
Along the way, Natsuki saw malnourished civilians and rampant banditry, with unidentified ninjas causing trouble everywhere. Some mistook Natsuki for easy prey, but he dealt with them swiftly.
Eventually, Natsuki had Kisame wear a Hidden Mist forehead protector, which reduced the harassment.
…
As the weather grew colder and snow began to fall, Haku huddled beside a pile of trash, catching a snowflake in his hand and watching it melt.
A cart piled with garbage was dumped nearby, and Haku immediately searched through it for something to eat.
“Grr…! Woof! Woof!” A dog barked furiously at Haku.
Haku coldly kicked the dog away, making it whimper and fall. Two puppies rushed out to protect the giant dog, baring their teeth at Haku.
Haku lowered his gaze, his emotions unreadable.
Ignoring the dogs and the garbage, he turned and left.
Even dogs were needed, but what about him…
“I finally found you.”
A voice called out, and an oversized robe was draped over Haku, bringing warmth. Haku shivered and turned to see two men and a woman standing behind him, with the man in front smiling at him.
The man behind had blue skin, an ugly face, and a massive weapon on his back.
“Who are you? Did you find the wrong person?”
The ten-year-old Haku was frail and short, with a dirty but delicate face, black hair, empty eyes, and a chain around his neck.
“Clang!” A clear sound rang out.
Natsuki sheathed his sword, and the chain around Haku’s neck shattered.
“I’ve been looking for you. I need a companion like you. Will you help me?”
Haku stared blankly at the broken chain on his neck, put there when he was captured.
“You need me?” A flicker of emotion appeared in Haku’s eyes.
Natsuki patted Haku’s head, “Yes, I need you.”
Haku felt like a ray of light had pierced through his dark world. He smiled gently, “My name is Haku.”
Natsuki handed him a bun, “Eat this first. I’ll take you to clean up. I’m Uchiha Natsuki.”
Haku obediently took the lukewarm bun and nibbled on it, chewing carefully before swallowing. A warm feeling spread from his stomach.
Kyoko crouched down, offering Haku a water bottle.
“Eat slowly, don’t choke.”
Kyoko had seen many children like Haku and had become numb to it. She didn’t understand why Natsuki treated Haku differently.
Natsuki had received information about an Ice Release incident in a nearby village but had yet to determine the exact location. It took searching through several villages and markets to find Haku.
Haku quickly finished the bun with some water.
Natsuki handed him another, “If you’re still hungry, eat another.”
Haku shook his head, “Eating too much after being hungry for so long will make me sick.”
Natsuki sighed and tightened the robe around Haku.
“Still cold?”
Haku shook his head again, “I don’t feel cold.”
Natsuki took a towel from Kyoko and gently wiped Haku’s face.
Haku shyly avoided him, but Natsuki cleaned the dirt off his face, revealing a delicate visage beneath the messy hair.
“Wow,” Natsuki exclaimed in admiration.
He looked between Haku and Kyoko. Both were beautiful, but…
“Haku, are you a boy or a girl?”
Having grown up in harsh conditions, Haku looked like a seven or eight-year-old despite being eleven or twelve. His appearance gave no clue to his gender.
Haku smiled gently, “I’m a boy.”
Natsuki sighed inwardly, confirming his suspicion. However, Kyoko was surprised; she assumed Haku was a girl.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Haku’s life trajectory.
Congratulations to the host for acquiring Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals x1
Ding! Successfully recruited Haku.
Congratulations to the host for acquiring Natural Affinity.
???
Natsuki was puzzled. Shouldn’t recruiting Haku grant him Water or Ice Release?
Natural Affinity…
Given Haku’s personality, he may be suited to learning senjutsu.
Standing behind like a bodyguard, Kisame rolled his eyes before resuming his deadpan expression.
…
In the Kamui dimension.
A swirl of reality and illusion and Obito appeared.
Obito’s right eye revealed deep fear.
How could it be…
He had cut through space.
Kamui had failed!
How could this be!?
After a long time, Obito removed his mask and set it aside, feeling an eerie lightness in his hand.
Turning his head, he saw a massive chasm nearby, countless stone platforms devoured, the edges smooth as mirrors.
It wasn’t that Kamui failed, but the Kamui dimension was also consumed!
Uchiha Natsuki, how is your eye technique so powerful!?
Obito shuddered in fear, realizing that he might have died if he hadn’t used Izanagi.
Rin, are you helping me?
Death can come in many forms, but dying by Natsuki’s blade would be painless.
In an instant, everything became nothing.
Only after reviving could Obito recall the terror.
He wouldn’t believe it if not for his left Sharingan turning gray.
The seemingly invincible Kamui had its limits.
Obito took a long time to calm down, meticulously reviewing the battle.
Natsuki’s Susanoo was robust, with mighty, enduring eye power.
One of his eye techniques must reduce Susanoo’s energy consumption.
The other strengthens Susanoo’s weapon.
Madara had taken many scrolls from the Uchiha, and Obito had read them all. Yet, he needed help to identify Natsuki’s eye techniques.
But it didn’t matter. As long as Natsuki couldn’t enhance his weapon, Kamui would remain invincible!
Natsuki’s Sharingan was a grave threat! He had to be eliminated!
…
The situation in the Hidden Mist Village grew increasingly complex, with factional struggles becoming more evident.
Though Mei Terumi had taken over as the Fifth Mizukage, many opposed her.
Due to Yagura’s actions, many had lost faith in the Mizukage.
There were numerous calls for Yagura’s execution.
Zabuza Momochi attempted to assassinate Yagura in prison but failed.
If Yagura hadn’t wanted to stay imprisoned, Zabuza might have lost his life.
Having found Haku, Natsuki headed towards the Kaguya clan.
Kisame, already a Jonin-level fighter, and Kyoko, a Hidden Mist Cipher Division member, could keep up, but Haku’s health was poor, and he hadn’t undergone any training, so that he couldn’t move quickly.
Concerned that Kimimaro might have moved elsewhere, Natsuki carried Haku to keep pace.
Though Haku was small, he felt like carrying a porcelain doll. Despite his embarrassment, Haku let Natsuki carry him to avoid slowing them down.
Fortunately, with Kisame and Kyoko, who were locals, Natsuki knew the way to the Kaguya clan.
They saw towering flames as they approached the Kaguya clan’s territory late at night.
“Uh-oh, are we too late?” Natsuki rubbed his chin.
He couldn’t remember where Kimimaro was, whether in a dungeon or already fighting his way out.
They had no choice but to search.
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