NABC Chapter 91 Serrated Edges
Chapter 91 Serrated Edges
Chapter 91 Serrated Edges
"Oh----"
A self-deprecating chuckle broke the silence.
A tall figure emerged from behind a broken stone pillar in the stone chamber.
Serrated edges.
His true form had arrived here at some unknown time. He had been hiding in the safest blind spot and had not been affected, but his expression was very unpleasant.
His goods are gone.
That was a treasure he had snatched from a pile of corpses, risking being torn to pieces by the Hidden Mist Squad.
They were hoping to make a fortune, but the legendary Sannin thieves robbed them of it.
"What bad luck."
The serrated man spat out a mouthful of saliva.
He slammed the massive, replica of the guillotine sword he was carrying heavily into the ground.
"Hey, kid from the Takaya Trading Company."
Sawtooth looked at Sosuke.
The transaction has been cancelled.
Sawtooth walked over, closed the two chests full of gold, and pushed them back to Sosuke.
"The goods were stolen. That's Orochimaru, I can't afford to mess with him, and neither can you."
"According to the rules of the black market, money is exchanged for goods. Now that the goods are gone, you can take the money back."
This surprised Sosuke somewhat.
In such a situation, a typical wandering ninja or rogue ninja would most likely just rob the money and run.
But this serrated edge is actually following the rules?
"Take it."
Sosuke's voice was calm.
His gaze fell on the serrated hand.
His hands were rough, covered with old scars, especially the area between his thumb and forefinger, where there were thick calluses—marks left from long-term use of heavy weapons.
"What did you say?" Sawtooth frowned.
"I said, this money is yours."
Sosuke looked into the jagged eyes.
"We've reached a deal. You brought the goods here and let me inspect them. That completes your part."
As for the goods being stolen later—
Sousuke smiled.
"That's something I failed to protect; it has nothing to do with you."
"Are you crazy?"
Sawtooth stared wide-eyed at Sosuke as if he were a monster.
"That's dozens of kilograms of gold!"
"You didn't even get a bone, and you're still willing to pay?"
"I don't lack money."
Sosuke withdrew his hand and straightened his sleeves.
"But I lack credibility. I also lack people like you who follow the rules."
The saw teeth fell silent.
He looked at the box of gleaming gold.
For someone who grew up in a "village of blood and mist" like Kirigakure, he had witnessed far too much betrayal, killing, and broken promises.
In that village, students had to kill all their classmates to pass the graduation exam, and hunt down innocent civilians to pass the Jonin exam.
Promises? Credibility? Those are lies used to lull the prey into a false sense of security before killing.
But now, this merchant, who doesn't have much chakra, is actually keeping his word with him?
And did they really throw 20 million taels at him?
"you----"
Without further hesitation, the saw grabbed the box and skillfully sealed it into its scroll.
They acted quickly, fearing that Sosuke might change his mind.
"Fine. Since you're such a rich and foolish guy, then I'll accept your offer without hesitation."
He slapped the reel, and his face regained that wild, ferocious grin.
"However, don't think that's all."
He pulled the large knife from the ground and slung it over his shoulder.
"Hozuki Zangetsu isn't dead. That greasy guy holds grudges the most. He suffered a great loss this time, and he'll definitely mobilize even more hunting forces when he gets back."
"This place has been exposed. I have to run."
The saw turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Sosuke asked.
"Where to?"
The saw stopped and looked up at the damp ceiling.
"I don't know. Maybe we'll go to the Land of Lightning, maybe to the Land of Earth."
"Wherever there is war, there are dead. Where there are dead, I can collect scraps and sell them for money."
"Like a stray dog?"
Sosuke's words were harsh.
But the saw teeth were lifeless.
Instead, he laughed.
"That's right, they're stray dogs."
He stroked the enormous decapitation sword on his shoulder.
The blade has a nick, and the luster of the blade is not as sharp as that of the genuine article.
"Did you know? This knife is fake."
The saw teeth muttered to themselves.
"I am a candidate for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. For this sword, I killed ninety-nine rivals."
"If I kill just one more, I will become the next master of the decapitation sword."
,"but----"
His jagged eyes turned sinister.
"The day before the final test, the Mizukage ordered that the sword be given directly to a guy named Juzo Biwa."
"Because he comes from a prestigious family. And I am a commoner."
"All my efforts, all my killings, are worthless in the face of blood and relationships."
"So I defected. I made this replica."
"I'm going to prove that even with counterfeit goods, I'm still better than those useless guys with real knives!"
"but----"
The sound of the saw teeth subsided.
"A fake is still a fake. Against a true master, like Hozuki Zangetsu or Orochimaru, this sword is no match."
"And I can only wander around like a stray dog, scavenging corpses to earn a little money to repair this broken knife."
.
These words express the sorrow of most of the lower-ranking ninjas in the ninja world.
No bloodline, no secret techniques, no resources.
You can only rely on your life to fight, only to find that the end of your desperate struggle is just someone else's starting point.
"If you want a real knife—"
Sosuke spoke up.
"Why not try a different way of living?"
Sawtooth turned around and looked at Sosuke.
"How about a different way of life? Become a watchdog for a powerful figure? Or become a bodyguard for those wealthy businessmen, bowing and scraping all day long?"
"No."
Sosuke pointed to himself.
"Come and do my work."
"I am not a famous person, nor am I the kind of wealthy businessman who only knows how to enjoy life."
"Follow me, and you won't have to pick up trash anymore, or bow and scrape."
I will provide you with the best resources.
"If you perform well enough, I might even find a way to get you a real ninja sword."
"After all, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist can die. Once they're dead, their swords are ownerless."
"When the time comes, we'll buy it, or we'll steal it."
Sawtooth, listen up.
His Adam's apple bobbed.
This is a crazy suggestion.
Hunting down the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Seizing their real swords?
This sounds like a complete fantasy.
but----
He recalled Orochimaru's ambiguous attitude of equality towards Sousuke earlier.
This man may truly be different.
"One month."
A finger extends from the serrated edge.
"Give me 500,000 taels a month. And you'll cover the cost of repairing my sword from now on."
"make a deal."
Sosuke did not hesitate at all.
"I'll not only give you money, I'll also give you status."
"From today onwards, you are the captain of the Takaya Trading Company's guard."
"Your codename is still Sawtooth. But I hope that in the future, when people mention this name, they won't think of a stray dog, but rather a deep-sea shark."
Sawtooth looked at Sosuke's outstretched hand.
He hesitated for a moment.
Finally, that rough, large hand grasped Sosuke's hand.
"Boss."
Sawtooth grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming coldly.
"If you dare to lie to me, I will use this fake knife to chop off your head."
"If I'm lying to you, you won't have to lift a finger; I'll just offer you my head."
On the way back, there was one more person in the group.
Sawtooth carried the large knife and walked at the very back.
He is a very competent bodyguard.
Along the way, several groups of foolish bandits were cleaved in two by the serrated blades before Kaori could even draw her sword.
That pure aesthetic of violence pleased Sosuke greatly.
Mighty represents ferocity, Kaori represents skill, and the serrated edge represents cruelty.
These three people each have their own style.
"Boss, are we really going back to Konoha?"
During a break, Sawtooth asked while munching on dry rations.
"I am a rogue ninja from Kirigakure. If the Hidden Leaf Village's Anbu sees me, they will attack me immediately."
"rest assured."
Sosuke took a sip of water.
I will arrange your identity.
"The Takaya Trading Company is now a logistical backbone of Konoha. It's perfectly reasonable for us to hire a few skilled ronin for security."
"As long as you don't wear the Kirigakure headband and don't openly use water-style techniques to kill people in the village, no one will investigate your background."
"not to mention----"
Sousuke glanced at Kaori.
"We also have ties with the secret service."
Kaori nodded.
"As long as you register through proper channels, I can help you get your identity document. Just say you're a wandering samurai from the Land of Rivers."
Sawtooth shrugged.
"Money makes the world go round. It's the same in Konoha."
three days later.
Konoha Village, the main gate.
"Halt! Routine check!"
The Chunin at the entrance stopped the three of them.
"I am Sosuke Takaya."
Sousuke revealed his special Jonin credentials.
"This is Chunin Uzuki, and this is my bodyguard."
The chunin glanced at the identification and immediately stood at attention and saluted.
"Jonin Takaya, Chunin Uzuki, thank you for your hard work!"
Sousuke led the two men into Konoha with an air of nonchalance.