novelnext Chapter 132 Growth! A Loyal Team
Chapter 132 Growth! A Loyal Team
Chapter 132 Growth! A Loyal Team
The first snow of winter is melting.
At the gates of Konoha, a group of ninjas are being registered.
Their vests were tattered and stained with dark red bloodstains, marks left after they had dried multiple times.
Matt Day walked at the front. Behind him followed three teenagers.
Iwai, the burly blacksmith's son. His left hand was wrapped in thick bandages.
The other two are Rin, a commoner girl, and Kenji, who is skilled with a crossbow.
They came back alive.
Of the twelve who went, seven survived.
Of these seven people, only three are able to move freely; the others are either seriously injured or disabled.
"Teacher, where are we going?" Iwai asked, his voice much calmer than before.
"Let's go turn in the quest. Then we'll go have a big meal!"
"But before that—"
Dai looked in the direction of the Bellflower Pavilion.
"We need to thank someone first."
The three boys nodded silently.
They touched the ninja tool pouches at their waists. The explosive tags and specially made kunai inside had saved them countless times.
They knew who had given them their lives.
Matt Day brought three students to the Kikyo Pavilion.
Three boys stood on the carpet, the mud and water under their feet soiling the expensive fabric.
The luxurious surroundings made them feel cramped.
"Welcome back to the village."
Sosuke stood up, ignoring the carpet.
He walked up to the three of them.
A month ago, they were still timid and hesitant losers.
Now they stand there, backs straight, eyes resolute. Those are the eyes of someone who has killed, seen blood, and crawled out of a pile of corpses.
Their innocence was forcibly stripped away by the cruelty of war.
"Boss, mission accomplished."
Matt Day's voice was loud and clear.
"The combat test data of various ninja tools has been submitted to Mr. Takaya Jiro."
Sosuke nodded. This data was very useful and would help the blacksmith shop and ninja tool factory he had acquired to improve their processes.
His gaze fell on Iwai. The sturdy boy had a bandage wrapped around his left hand.
"Iwai, what happened to your hand?"
Iwai hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended his left hand.
The bandages were removed.
The little finger is gone. All that's left is a stubble of flesh that hasn't healed very well.
"To take a knife."
Matt Day explained in a low voice from the side.
"The Cloud Village's assault troops are too fast. To protect Rin, Iwai used his hand to block the Lightning Release kunai—and his finger was severed."
Ling lowered her head and bit her lip.
This is the price of war.
Not everyone can return unscathed. For ordinary people, being able to exchange a finger for a life is already a bargain.
"You are an excellent ninja who sacrificed yourself to protect your comrades."
Sosuke went into the safe and took out an envelope.
"As equipment testers for the Takaya Trading Company, your performance has exceeded expectations."
"This is an extra bonus. Two hundred thousand taels each."
The three boys took the envelope.
It's very thick. For an ordinary family, this is a huge sum of money.
"From today onwards, the three of you will be unofficial members of the Takaya Trading Company."
"In addition to village missions, I will also assign you private missions."
"Generous pay and plenty of equipment."
"However, there is one thing."
Sosuke's eyes sharpened.
"Half of your lives belong to me."
"What if one day, the village's orders conflict with the chamber of commerce's interests—"
"We'll listen to the Chamber of Commerce."
The girl who hadn't spoken until now, Ling, suddenly spoke.
Iwai and Kenji nodded as well.
This is the return on investment.
"very good."
Sosuke smiled with satisfaction.
"Go back and rest."
The three boys bowed and withdrew.
Matt Day stayed.
"Boss————"
Dai looked at the children's backs, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"They've changed. They're not like children anymore."
"This is the price of growing up, Dai. And—"
Sosuke looked at Dai's weathered face.
"You've changed too. You've learned to lead a team and to utilize resources."
"This is what a true Chunin captain should be like."
Dai was silent for a moment, then nodded vigorously.
"Yes, boss. Youth is not only about burning, but also about protecting."
"I will continue to train them. To make them stronger."
"It's not just them."
""
Sousuke reminded.
"The next batch of surplus students will be graduating soon. I doubt the materials department will be giving them a friendly welcome."
"At that time, we'll still have to rely on you."
"clear!"
Dai clenched his fist.
"With the boss's support, I can turn even the worst piece of rotten wood into steel!"
After seeing Might Guy and the three children off, Sosuke's expression did not relax.
These three children may grow into excellent Chunin, or even Special Jonin, in the future.
This is his team.
But that's not enough. Chunin are just consumables; he needs real sharp blades.
Chiba.
Sosuke shouted into the air.
"exist."
Chiba peeked out from the basement stairwell.
"How is Mr. Sheng doing?"
"Absolutely perfect."
Chiba pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting light.
"Actually, he has been waiting for you for a long time."
Sosuke got up and went to the basement.
Underground training ground.
This place has undergone special reinforcement, and the walls are covered with sound-absorbing material.
Hyuga Katsu stood in the center of the field. He had returned from the front lines of the Land of Rivers.
He was shirtless.
His physique has changed dramatically compared to two months ago.
His once slender and well-proportioned physique was gone. Now, he was heavy and imposing.
His muscle definition wasn't exaggerated, but each muscle was taut like a steel cable. His skin was grayish-white, a result of pigmentation caused by excessive bone density.
-
What is most striking is his spine.
Even through the skin, you can see a raised line like a dragon's spine.
"Mr. Sosuke."
When he saw Sousuke enter, Hyuga Masaru turned around.
"How are you feeling?" Sosuke asked.
Just now, Hyuga Masaru was injected with a second dose of the Corpse Bone Vein Active Factor.
"Better than ever before."
Hyuga Katsu clenched his fist.
Click click click.
It wasn't the popping of joints, but the metallic sound of bones pressing against each other.
"The power of the Corpse Bone Vein has been completely integrated."
"I can no longer feel the 'caged bird's' presence."
"Can't you feel it?" Sosuke raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
The curse mark on Hyuga Katsu's forehead was still there, and the green lines were still clearly visible.
"In the past, whenever I thought of the main family, or when my chakra fluctuated slightly, my brain would ache. That was the restraint of the cursed seal."
"But now—"
"My skull is too hard. Moreover, a layer of periosteum has grown on the inside of my skull, which isolates the cursed seal from direct stimulation of the brain nerves."
"Although I might still suffer if the main family activates the curse seal with all their might, they can no longer kill me."
This means that he was liberated both psychologically and physically.
Let me show you.
Sosuke took a step back.
"I want to see what level you've reached now."
"Yes, ma'am."
Hyuga Katsu took a deep breath.
"Byakugan, activate!"
The veins at the corners of the eyes were supported by the bone plates under the skin, making them appear smooth and hard.
"Corpse Bone Pulse!"
puff!
His shoulders, elbows, and knees all simultaneously unleashed pale bone blades.
However, he did not perform a flamboyant dance like Kimimaro.
The Hyuga clan's fighting style is characterized by its linear, precise, and efficient approach.
He stomped his foot.
Boom! The ground cracked open.
"Steel-Gentle Fist - Collapse!"
It wasn't an empty palm strike, nor was it a comeback. It was just a simple straight punch.
This punch was enveloped in dense chakra, with three sharp finger bones protruding from the knuckles.
Clang! A deafeningly loud noise.
A 10-centimeter-thick steel plate was pierced through like paper.
Moreover, it's not just about piercing through.
The enormous kinetic energy was transmitted through the bones, generating terrifying shockwaves.
The entire steel plate twisted, tore apart, and exploded into fragments in an instant.
"call----"
Hyuga Katsu retracted his fist.
The bone spur retracted into the body, and the wound healed instantly.
"This is the ultimate form of Steel-Soft Fist."
Chiba stared at the data with a fanatical look in his eyes.
"Hardness far exceeds that of refined steel. Penetration power: A-level. Destructive power: S-level."
"If you get punched, even if you use chakra to defend, your internal organs will be shattered."
Sosuke nodded in satisfaction.
This is the weapon he wants.
A monster with the ability to see through the white eyes, the hardness of the bone veins, and the destructive power of the soft fist.
"Victory."
"
"exist."
Sosuke walked up to him.
"I must remind you again—don't easily display this power in front of others. Especially not your bones."
"Normally, you use ordinary soft fists. Only when you need to kill someone to silence them, or to save your own life—do you use this power."
"clear."
dong dong dong.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Takaya Jonin"
Ryoma Aburame's voice came from outside the door.
"You are summoned to the Hokage Building."
Sosuke opened the door and walked out of the laboratory.
"Which consultant is it this time?"
""
"It's the Hokage himself."
""
Sousuke was slightly surprised.
Hiruzen Sarutobi. Is this the patriarch of Konoha finally going to meet him in person?