NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

Most of the communication methods are through Might Guy's messenger ninja beasts, such as Ningame, for relaying information between Konoha and the field. These methods help ensure they receive mission directives without delay.

"The mission has arrived. The contents of this mission are: Escort Tazuna and ensure the successful completion of his bridge construction. Rank: C-rank."

Might Guy read aloud the mission details to Kazuki before sighing deeply.

"This mission is far too simple.

Previously, the two of us handled B-rank missions.

Now that I'm facing a C-rank mission again, I can't find any enthusiasm for it."

Even someone as passionate as Might Guy found this mission dull—it must be truly mundane.

However, Kazuki, standing beside him, was momentarily stunned.

Tazuna?

Wasn't this the Land of Waves mission?

In the original story, Kakashi Hatake led Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on their first C-rank mission. How had it landed in his hands instead?

Perhaps his presence had altered the timeline, leading to an unintended shift in events.

Despite being classified as a C-rank mission, its actual difficulty approached A-rank!

Though Kazuki didn't particularly like how Tazuna had deceived Konoha by hiding crucial mission details, he recognized the challenge this mission presented.

After all, it would involve facing one of Kirigakure's rogue shinobi—Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist!

Zabuza was an opponent Kazuki had long wanted to face, not just because of his reputation as an elite jōnin, but also for his possession of the legendary blade, Kubikiribōchō.

Kazuki wanted to see—

Which was superior: Zabuza's massive blade or his own sword?

At that moment, the system's notification rang in his ears:

[Mission released: Collect blood from Kubikiribōchō and Hyōton users.

Reward: Zanpakutō blueprint – Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!]

The moment the words appeared in his mind,

Kazuki's breath hitched.

No way… No way!

He rarely showed such surprise,

Even when he had previously acquired the Six Paths Sage blueprint, he had never been this shocked.

Because this reward was no ordinary blueprint—

It was a Zanpakutō!

The blade wielded by the Tenth Division Captain of the Gotei 13, Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

Daiguren Hyōrinmaru boasted an immense attack range with devastating ice-based effects.

It was known as the strongest ice-element Zanpakutō!

Kazuki's determination flared.

"Let's go on this mission!" he shouted at Might Guy, filled with anticipation.

Might Guy: "???"

Didn't you dislike lower-ranked missions? Why are you suddenly so excited about a C-rank one?

Did I have a fever, or did he have a fever?

Might Guy couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

---

In a tavern near the Land of Waves,

Might Guy and Kazuki met their client, Tazuna.

The timing of this mission seemed to be about a year earlier than in the original timeline. However, unlike the disheveled, perpetually drunk man depicted in the original story, Tazuna appeared more composed.

Yet, when his eyes landed on Kazuki, skepticism flashed across his face.

"So… you're saying the only ninja protecting me is this kid?" Tazuna asked, raising an eyebrow.

Might Guy, ever earnest, responded, "Yes, but my disciple here possesses strength nearly on par with mine. With the two of us, this mission will be completed without issue."

"Hah?" Tazuna exaggerated his reaction before bursting into laughter. "You're joking, right, Mr. Guy?! How old is this brat? Ten? Eleven? If he were truly that strong, why isn't he even a chūnin yet?"

"Mr. Tazuna, I'm twelve," Kazuki replied with a polite smile.

"Tch, still just a kid," Tazuna scoffed before taking a sip of his sake.

But the instant he lowered his cup—

A kunai gleamed in the air, its blade pressing lightly against his throat.

A sharp, tingling sensation traveled across his skin.

A faint pink line appeared where the kunai had made contact.

Kazuki, still smiling, spoke in an eerily calm tone.

"Mr. Tazuna, if you still doubt my strength… I can slit your throat right now."

Madman.

This kid was a lunatic!

A dangerously skilled lunatic!

Though only twelve, Tazuna could no longer dismiss him.

Because those eyes—

Those eyes belonged to someone accustomed to taking lives.

A chill ran down Tazuna's spine.

It felt as if his blood had frozen, his body locked in sheer terror.

He had no doubt in his heart that if he completely angered the person in front of him, he would really kill him on the spot!

"I—I'm the client! You can't kill me! This violates the rules of a ninja's mission!" Tazuna shouted in horror.

The smirk on the corner of Kazuki's mouth widened as he said slowly,

"As you can see, I'm not a ninja yet, and you're not officially my client.

So if I kill you now… it won't matter, will it?

Now, do you still question my abilities?"

"N-No, I don't doubt you! I believe in your abilities…"

Swallowing hard, Tazuna wiped the sweat from his forehead.

So this is the true terror of shinobi?

Even a child this young could take his life at any moment!

For the first time, Tazuna looked at Kazuki with a sense of awe.

"Very good."

Kazuki nodded in satisfaction and finally withdrew the kunai from his hand.

To avoid unnecessary trouble later, he felt it necessary to instill some fear in this old man upfront.

"Then, let's go."

Kazuki, Might Guy, and Tazuna stepped out of the tavern,

Making their way toward the Land of Waves, a small nation trapped between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.

Since Tazuna was just a civilian, they couldn't travel at a ninja's pace and had to move at a slower speed.

"It'll take about two days to reach the Land of Waves from here."

Kazuki glanced at the map, frowning.

Spending so much time just walking is such a waste…

On his finger, he wore a dark-gold ring.

A mid-tier ring—a five-star space weapon!

Not only did it offer 100 cubic meters of storage space, much larger than a basic Sealing Ring,

but the biggest difference between this and a low-tier one…

Was that it could store living things!

Of course,

Kazuki had no intention of stuffing Tazuna into it just to save time.

This ring held all the treasures he had gathered over the years,

and there was no way he would let some unknown outsider enter it.

Even Might Guy wasn't fully aware of the ring's true abilities.

This was one of Kazuki's greatest secrets.

At this moment, he reached into the ring and pulled out a palm-sized mechanical bird.

"What… is that?" Tazuna asked, his curiosity piqued.

"A mechanical bird. We'll use this instead of walking." Kazuki replied.

"So small? I can't even fit one foot on it!" Tazuna scoffed in disbelief.

Kazuki didn't bother explaining.

Instead, he activated the mechanism on the bird.

In an instant, the tiny machine transformed, its parts shifting and expanding—

Until it became a massive bird over two meters tall, with a wingspan of more than five meters!

"Whoa… Incredible!"

As an architect, Tazuna had some knowledge of mechanics,

but this level of design and precision was beyond anything he had ever seen.

He couldn't help but estimate its value in his head.

One million ryo? No… thirty million? No, this…

This is worth at least a hundred million or more!

The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

That price was equal to five years of the Land of Waves' total revenue!

How in the world does a twelve-year-old boy have something like this?

He's rich enough to rival an entire nation!

Kazuki, however, paid no mind to Tazuna's shock.

To him, this mechanical bird was nothing special.

It was just a four-star ninja tool, based on blueprints similar to the puppet birds used by Sasori of the Red Sand.

It was mainly for travel and delivering messages—nothing too valuable.

When Kazuki first started pulling out strange objects, Might Guy had been surprised,

but after spending so much time together, he had grown numb to it.

Seeing Tazuna's stunned expression, he chuckled to himself.

Looks like I wasn't the only one who was amazed at first…

Turns out everyone reacts the same way!

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