The Forgemage of Konoha

Battle!

After a short while, Shirō sensed through Gray Snake that the enemy had stopped moving forward and was instead circling the area.

"Hoh~ So they've noticed me? Sharp senses… but unfortunately, you've crossed paths with me."

Despite his words, Shirō proceeded with heightened caution, advancing carefully to avoid traps.

Strategically, despise the enemy; tactically, value them.

That wasn't cowardice—it was prudence.

"Hm? They've stopped?"

Gray Snake relayed that the opponent had ceased moving. Shirō frowned, then quickly concealed himself in a patch of thick underbrush. Forming hand seals, he activated a sensory-linked vision jutsu with Gray Snake.

Through the creature's vision, he saw a kunoichi perched on a tree branch, quietly gazing in his direction.

Shirō narrowed his eyes. She must possess some sensory technique—likely a unique Kekkai Genkai or Secret Art—that allowed her to detect his presence. And she was alone. That much was certain.

Her confidence was likely based on strength or successful encounters. According to the intelligence Shirō had obtained, she had already killed sixteen Chūnin and one Tokubetsu Jōnin sent after her.

She may have also gathered intel on Shirō and believed he was just another weak Chūnin. Unlucky for her, Shirō was a cheat—his strength didn't match his appearance.

Since she'd chosen such a deliberate stance, he made his decision:

Wait. Watch. Learn.

What? Engage her now? Please—it wasn't even dark yet. That'd be suicide. He wasn't here to hand her a free kill. He'd wait until the advantage was his.

With time to spare until nightfall, Shirō took a moment to analyze.

Her build was average. In Naruto, kunoichi rarely fought to bring peace—they fought to survive. She had long, jet-black hair. A traditional beauty. Shirō's type.

Too bad she wasn't from Konoha. Honestly, Shirō felt a pang of regret about using Maria the Ripper on her. But if he didn't… he'd die. And a dead man doesn't get to admire pretty women.

"A dead daoist friend is better than a dead poor daoist."

She wore a scratched Konoha forehead protector, marking her as a Missing-nin—a Rogue Ninja. She might as well have worn a billboard.

Other than that, she remained still. Just watching.

As dusk fell, her face also darkened. She hadn't expected the enemy to be so… uncooperative. He still hadn't approached!

How was she supposed to show off now?!

Frustrated, she made up her mind. If he didn't appear soon, she'd go hunt him down herself.

Unfortunately for her, Shirō was already moving.

"Heh, just like I thought. Only one of you?"

"Tch. Don't act dumb. You waited all afternoon. You really think you don't know if someone's behind me?"

It was now fully dark. Shadows swallowed the forest. Shirō couldn't see her expression, but he bet it was priceless.

"You damn brat, I'll kill you!" she growled, then charged.

"Then try it."

"Strengthening—Begin!"

Clang!

Her kunai was knocked aside instantly.

This brat… such strength! Is it just the shadows playing tricks?

"What's wrong, big sister? Weren't you going to kill me? Is this it?" Shirō taunted, pressing his attack.

He wanted her to resort to the Silent Killing Technique. That was her trump card. And he wasn't afraid—he was prepared.

Though famed among Kirigakure's assassins, the Silent Killing Technique only worked if the opponent panicked or hesitated. Shirō did neither.

Even if she didn't use it, he'd kill her regardless. The outcome wouldn't change—only the method.

Bang!

A nearby tree exploded from her missed strike. Shirō didn't flinch.

"What's the matter? I thought you were here to kill me? Why dodge?"

"You little bastard! I'll shut your mouth for good!"

She quickly formed hand seals.

"Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu!"

(Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!)

A dense mist engulfed the forest.

"Heh… your throat, spine, liver, kidneys, heart—"

So much trash talk.

Shirō wasn't going to wait around to be butchered.

As she began forming hand seals, Shirō had already Projected Maria the Ripper.

The moment the mist was complete, he activated the Noble Phantasm by calling its True Name.

"Maria the Ripper!"

The three conditions were met:

It was night.

The target was female.

The battlefield was shrouded in mist.

Perfect.

Maria the Ripper's curse-based assassination power surged forth. Her resistance wasn't nearly high enough to defend against it.

She didn't even get to finish her sentence before she was cleaved apart.

With her death, the mist dissolved almost immediately.

"Mission complete."

Shirō stared coldly at the mangled corpse.

It wasn't cruelty—it was survival.

He hadn't asked to be born a ninja, but now that he was one, he had to live by their rules. Even Danzō was right: ninja were creatures bred for the shadows.

Sure, Konoha liked to parade its ideals, but beneath that banner was still a battlefield.

He could have chosen the path of a civilian—but would that guarantee safety? Not with threats like the Nine-Tails, Akatsuki, or the coming Fourth Great Ninja War.

He didn't even remember Naruto's birthday anymore, much less how far off the next disaster was. Banking on Naruto, or any "main character," was a gamble at best.

In this world, relying on others was a last resort.

Shirō carefully restored the woman's body and sealed it into a storage scroll. Not out of respect—but because her body might be useful later.

Compassion? Sure. But not for her. She had killed too many.

Ninjas. Civilians. She wasn't here to bring warmth. She brought death.

At that moment, Nakamura arrived.

Seeing Shirō standing near a pool of blood, he called out urgently, "Shirō! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Shirō replied calmly. "She's dead. I stored her body."

He handed the scroll over.

Nakamura frowned slightly. "You don't look so good."

"Just… thinking."

"Let's go. We'll regroup with Lu Ming and the others, then rest in the next town."

Understanding that Shirō didn't want to talk, Nakamura nodded and led the way.

He had rushed here the moment the mist appeared. Shirō had warned them in advance he'd act at night. Otherwise, Nakamura might have interfered earlier.

But considering the strength of Lu Ming and the others, he had come alone.

Still… I didn't expect this.

That level of ninja would've been trouble for me—but Shirō handled it like nothing.

He glanced at the younger shinobi.

But he said nothing.

Some things… weren't meant to be asked.

—