NARUTO: GOD LEVEL FORGING SYSTEM

"Heh, this proves that Kazuki still has immense power—his creations are truly extraordinary!

And to think that a genius like Kazuki is being mentored by Might Guy!

Reflecting on this, Might Guy felt a surge of pride swell within him.

'Let's move!'

Kazuki leaped onto the back of the mechanical bird, his movements fluid and confident.

Might Guy nodded, then effortlessly grabbed Tazuna by the collar, lifting him onto the mechanical bird.

With a metallic whir, the bird's wings spread wide and propelled them forward, ascending into the sky.

As they gained altitude, the landscape below—dense forests, scattered villages, and winding rivers—gradually shrank from view.

After hours of flight, they reached the border of the Land of Waves.

The country's coastal climate was apparent; thick clouds loomed overhead, and heavy mist clung to the land, making visibility poor.

Though the rain had subsided for now, the air was damp, and the fog creeping over the terrain made further aerial travel unwise.

'The rest of the journey will take about two hours on foot,' Kazuki informed them before storing the mechanical bird.

Tazuna, deeply familiar with his homeland, took the lead.

Kazuki and Might Guy flanked him protectively, one at his left, the other at his rear.

Now, within the borders of the Land of Waves, Kazuki remained alert. According to their intel, Gato's forces had already solidified control over the area, meaning an ambush was likely.

As they traversed a marshy, stagnant stretch of land, Kazuki's gaze lingered on the murky waters for a brief moment before shifting forward again.

'Fools,' he thought.

Just as they passed the swamp, leaving their backs exposed, movement erupted from behind.

'Shh—'

With a sudden splash, a figure shot up from the water.

'Clank!'

The sound of iron chains snapping open rang through the quiet pathway.

Two shinobi, their presence unnoticed until now, had emerged behind them.

With precise coordination, the duo lashed out, aiming to entangle Kazuki in their chains.

In a blur of motion, a flash of silver cleaved through the air.

The keen ring of a blade being unsheathed split the silence.

Like a meteor streaking across the sky, Kazuki's sword cut through the darkness.

In a single, fluid motion, he spun 180 degrees, the edge of his blade tracing a deadly arc through the attackers.

A split second later, his katana was already back in its sheath.

The enemy shinobi stood frozen.

'Guh—!'

Blood erupted from their severed arteries, painting the ground in crimson sprays.

The assassins' eyes widened in disbelief.

They never imagined they'd be felled by a mere twelve-year-old.

Regret was not an option—life had already abandoned their gazes.

Their bodies crumpled lifelessly onto the damp earth.

'Ugh—!'

Witnessing the brutal efficiency of Kazuki's strike, Tazuna staggered back, his stomach churning. He turned and vomited violently.

'Kazuki, your style grows more ruthless by the day,' Might Guy remarked, rubbing his temple.

Kazuki smirked. 'Why waste a second strike when one is enough?'

'Suit yourself,' Might Guy sighed.

Efficient or not, such ruthless precision was a testament to Kazuki's rigorous training under his guidance.

Might Guy shifted his gaze to Tazuna.

Still pale and trembling, Tazuna averted his eyes, unable to meet Might Guy's gaze after witnessing such carnage."

Might Guy took the initiative and said:

"Mr. Tazuna, you've been hiding critical information about this mission, haven't you?

Judging by the skills and equipment of these two attackers, they weren't just rogue ninjas—they were the Demon Brothers, elite chūnin from Kirigakure.

In Konoha's mission classification system, any job involving combat against trained ninja is at least a B-rank mission.

Why did you mislead us about the danger level?"

"You… how do you know they were after me?" Tazuna stammered, trying to deflect. His eyes darted toward Kazuki, hoping to shift the attention. "They… they attacked him first!"

Seeing that Tazuna was still unwilling to admit the truth, Might Guy's voice grew firm:

"Mr. Tazuna, if you continue to conceal information, we have the right to withdraw. As Konoha shinobi, we cannot accept a mission that contradicts the original terms.

If you don't come clean now, we'll end the mission here and part ways.

Your safety from here on will no longer be Konoha's concern."

Faced with Guy's unwavering stance, Tazuna hesitated, his expression shifting between guilt and desperation.

Finally, he sighed, lowering his head. "I did hide something from you."

He then revealed the true situation in the Land of Waves: the tyrant Gatō had taken control of their economy, and anyone who opposed him was targeted. His hired mercenaries, including missing-nin, were ordered to eliminate Tazuna before he could complete the bridge that would free the nation from Gatō's grip.

Guy's expression hardened as he processed the full extent of the deception. The presence of the Demon Brothers suggested stronger enemies might follow—perhaps even jōnin-level threats.

"This is no longer a simple B-rank mission," Guy murmured. "Given the level of combat required, we're approaching A-rank danger."

Even elite shinobi like himself faced significant risks in A-rank assignments.

"Kazuki, what do you think?" Guy asked.

Kazuki's eyes gleamed with determination.

"Mr. Guy, let's continue the mission."

For a moment, Guy was taken aback. In Kazuki's dark pupils, he caught a glimmer of… excitement?

Considering Kazuki's strength—capable of holding his own against jōnin-level opponents—Guy nodded. "Then we proceed."

With their decision made, the team set off once again. They had entered the Land of Waves, but Tazuna's home was still a distance away.

Walking along a deserted forest path, Kazuki and Guy grew more alert. Waiting passively was not their style. Since Guy lacked sensory abilities, reconnaissance duties fell to Kazuki.

From his ring, Kazuki retrieved a small pouch and emptied its contents.

Miniature, mouse-shaped devices—barely the size of a fingernail—spilled onto the ground, numbering in the hundreds.

Scouting Rats: A Three-Star Weapon

Designed to detect chakra and elemental disturbances, these tiny constructs formed a synchronized intelligence network, relaying real-time information directly into Kazuki's mind.

With the Scouting Rats deployed, Kazuki's reconnaissance ability rivaled that of seasoned sensor-nin.

"Mr. Guy, someone is approaching," Kazuki reported swiftly.

Guy didn't question him. He simply nodded. "Kazuki, protect Mr. Tazuna."

A powerful presence surged toward them. Even Guy could sense it now.

Whoosh—!

A blur cut through the trees, landing on a thick branch ahead.

A tall figure emerged—a man clad in dark clothing, his lower face concealed by bandages. A massive cleaver-like blade rested on his back, and his scratched forehead protector marked him as a missing-nin.

Kazuki instantly recognized him.

Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.

"Well, well," Zabuza sneered. "You're not even surprised. Did you sense me already?"

He reached for his Kubikiribōchō, his sharp gaze settling on Guy, the only one wearing a forehead protector.

For a moment, confusion flickered in Zabuza's eyes.

Guy's green jumpsuit and bowl-cut hairstyle were… unusual, to say the least. But as an experienced warrior, Zabuza knew better than to judge an opponent by appearance alone.

His smirk widened.

"This should be interesting."

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