Kazahana Dotō didn’t say much—mainly talked about the scenery. He avoided mentioning anything meaningful about the Land of Snow itself.
Kazuki found it a little disappointing, but since Dotō was their employer, it wasn’t his place to push. He decided to spend the idle time practicing his jutsu instead.
Later that night, Kazuki stepped out onto the deck.
"Let’s take turns standing watch tonight," he said with a yawn.
The worst part of missions was night duty—but it couldn’t be skipped.
Kakashi nodded without protest. Surprisingly, Guy volunteered for the middle shift.
Kazuki gave him a strange look. Of all three shifts, the middle one was the roughest—you barely got any real sleep, had to wake up groggy, then try to fall back asleep afterward. It was hell.
"Hold on," Kakashi said, eyes narrowing. He stared at the sea.
Kazuki grew alert. He stepped to the edge of the deck and formed hand seals—no response.
But no reaction didn’t mean they were safe. If no one was currently weaving seals, his detection wouldn’t trigger.
"Something’s wrong..." Kakashi’s tone turned grim.
A moment later, Kazuki’s fingers flew into action. As his seals completed, thick mist rolled in, flooding the sea around them in an unnatural fog.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" Kazuki shouted.
The massive fireball howled from his mouth. After many refinements, Kazuki’s Great Fireball was hot enough to burn white, pushing back the mist in a wide radius.
His shadow swirled beneath his feet, tendrils extending in all directions, trying to snag incoming threats.
But it was the Thunder Flame Fireball—his upgraded version—that drew gasps. Twice as large, infused with Raiton chakra, it almost set the ship ablaze.
A scream rang out from the mist.
They hadn’t expected the Fireball to carry lightning chakra. The hidden Mist shinobi paid the price for that miscalculation.
"Found you! Leaf Whirlwind—Uwaaah!!" Guy’s voice rang from within the fog.
He kicked a frozen enemy into the air and launched himself upward, finishing with a full Front Lotus combo.
At the same time, Kazuki heard a soft whistling—like a bird’s call.
He didn’t hesitate. His shadow shot backward, alerting him to danger behind.
Kazuki spun, drew his chakra-forged blade, and slashed—Wind-nature chakra cleaving the mist open. He saw his attacker: stunned, paralyzed, caught off guard.
They never understood what stopped them.
A single slice cleaved through the enemy’s chest. Kazuki kicked off the deck and darted toward where Guy had finished his target.
"Guy! That one’s mine!" he shouted desperately.
He would’ve claimed the kill earlier, if not for that sneak attack behind him.
Every confirmed kill granted him a 1% Chakra increase. He couldn’t waste it.
By the time he arrived, Guy was standing over the barely-conscious enemy, foot raised for the final blow.
"You like heads, Kazuki?" Guy asked, confused.
"No, I’m... studying a new jutsu," Kazuki lied quickly.
Seeing the target still breathing, he unsheathed his blade and gave the man’s heart a... very thorough release.
Kazuki was in a good mood now.
He casually launched another Fireball into the sky, using the heat to disperse the mist. The scene on the ship revealed itself.
Kakashi stood beside another corpse—blackened hole through the chest.
Kazuki’s good mood vanished.
Kakashi noticed his glare and rubbed the back of his head.
"...Next one’s yours," Kakashi offered sheepishly.
Kazuki waved him off. Regretful, but realistic. He couldn’t ask his teammates to pull their punches during life-or-death combat.
Then something struck him. He sprinted over to the body.
Kakashi’s Chidori had struck through the right side of the chest. The enemy looked dead... but his breathing was faint. Eyes full of fear. One trembling hand reached for his pocket.
Kazuki quickly launched a Fire Dragon Flame Bullet into the sky to illuminate the area.
The injured man’s vitals stabilized slightly under the heat. Not for long.
Kazuki crouched, searched his pockets, and found a small locket. Inside was a photo—an older man and a smiling boy giving a thumbs-up.
The shinobi’s eyes welled with tears, then closed. Peacefully.
"Rest easy," Kazuki muttered, then gave him one last clean strike.
Strangely, the man didn’t die until the jutsu’s flame faded.
So even if Fire Dragon Flame Bullet doesn’t finish them immediately, the lingering injuries will...
A kill delayed was still a kill earned.
Kazuki inspected the body. No headbands, no identifying papers. Just basic tools, some coin, and the locket.
"Mist shinobi, probably," he said quietly.
"All clear, shinobi-dono?"
Kazahana Dotō emerged from below deck, rubbing his hands. He’d been awake but wisely stayed hidden.
"For now, yes," Kazuki replied, eyeing Dotō briefly.
Guy dragged the other corpse over to join them.
Standard procedure: after combat, strip the bodies of intel, tools, and traps.
Kazuki was especially cautious. Some rogue shinobi were known to rig their bodies with explosives—detonated with their final breath.
Best not to assume anything.