Alex's body suddenly shudders. His mind slowly processes what just happened, and he can't help but laugh crazily.
"Ha… Hahahahahahaha! Close! Not quite there yet, but we are finally making some progress!" he screams, his eyes looking slightly crazed.
Menchi quickly collects her knives and walks over to Alex.
Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura slowly approach as well, with Tazuna in tow.
Naruto looks particularly frustrated.
"How can there be so many strong people around… I need to get stronger!" he yells, clearly angry and disappointed in himself.
The lingering mist fades away as Menchi claps Alex on the back, then gently rubs the back of his neck, making Alex's shiver in pleasure.
"Good job there… I'm sorry. That ice wall stopped me. This is my fault," she says, looking genuinely apologetic.
"It's fine! You and Jewel both did a number on him, and he's heavily wounded. Also, our little cute queen got me exactly what I wanted!"
"You people… what were you doing? How did you realize he was working together with Zabuza? He even had me fooled there for a moment," Kakashi says, looking tired as he rubs his forehead.
"You don't look so good there, sensei," Alex comments drily.
"I am quite tired…" Kakashi admits, covering his Sharingan—then immediately collapses.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto and Sakura scream, rushing to his side.
"He's just tired. I'll carry him to Tazuna's house later. Looks like he overused his eye," Alex remarks.
"You… who are you?! You use these weird techniques and jutsus. You're not mere mercenaries! Your spider and your wife are just as weird as you," Sasuke says, glaring at Alex—his eyes revealing a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
"Heh, we're hunters. That includes Jewel. We don't use jutsus or chakra... we use something else entirely. Obviously that doesn't mean we're weaker than you, though," Alex replies, sounding deliberately vague.
"Hunters… incredible! You guys saved us, thank you so much!" Naruto says in an excited voice.
Alex then senses something and turns toward the distance. A familiar spider walks up to him—carrying a familiar-looking devastating weapon. She's carrying Zabuza's sword, the legendary [Decapitating Carving Knife], one of the seven blades passed down among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Alex walks up to Jewel and quickly kneels down, hugging her.
Good job, Jewel! You outdid yourself this time!
❤️ Is Soulmate happy?
Of course I am!
Then… does Soulmate remember what he promised Jewel?
Promise? Well, I did say I'd do anything you ask. Not like I'd deny you anything to begin with, so I don't think that promise is worth much. But sure—whatever you want, I'll do my best to get it.
❤️ Queen Jewel will remember that.
Sure… you are supposed to be the queen anyway… I feel like you'll regret not giving any orders later.
I guess she needs to learn.
Finally, Alex turns his attention to the massive blade Jewel brought him and grabs it.
[Decapitating Carving Knife]
World: Naruto
Quality: Light Gold
Type: Greatsword
Required Stats: STR - 20, PHY - 15, SNS - 5
Required Skills: Sword Proficiency lvl 4, Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 4, Basic Endurance lvl 4
Durability: 100/100 (Can't be destroyed)
Damage: 60-120 (+12-24)
Effect: Increases STR by 5 (Flat boost, not increased by other skills)
Effect: Severing - Increases the chance of severing limbs and body parts and increases critical hit chance by 10%
Effect: Blood-Iron Empowerment - Allows this blade to absorb the iron from the blood of your foes, allowing it to regain lost Durability. This sword gains an additional 20% damage when at full Durability, losing 2% per point lost.
Note: Kubikiribōchō, also known as the Seversword, is one of the seven legendary swords belonging to the swordsmen of the mist.
Note: This sword is extremely deadly and allows its user to sever almost anything! Due to its immense weight, it can only be wielded by extremely strong individuals, and its attacks are slow and easier to avoid.
Note: Only fresh blood from humans that are still alive or recently deceased can be used to activate its effect.
[Warning: This item was obtained by theft. Player is only allowed to take it with them if the original owner is no longer alive!]
Heh, so the Realm forbids me from keeping it if I don't get rid of Zabuza? Don't worry—he'll die. I'll make sure of it… personally!
Alex holds the [Decapitating Carving Knife] in his hand and laughs. Opening his minor system screen, the only one he can access, he quickly renames it to its official English name: [Executioner's Blade].
The moment he wields it, Alex feels a surge of strength coursing through his body.
5 STR is no joke! That's an incredible boost! I feel like I can crush rocks… maybe I actually can with all that STR. However… this sword. I can also feel its immense weight… can I really swing this thing around?
As Alex wields the sword, the others stare at him in shock, clearly impressed by him wielding this massive weapon.
Let me recall the effects of my Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship, now that it has reached lvl 5.
Effects: Allows the use of Flying sword slashes, which can be combined with other abilities.
MP Cost: 10
Range: 10 + 2 meters per level (100% damage) / 50 + 15 meters per level (1% damage)
As long as my target is within 20 meters, it will deal full damage.
At max range—125 meters—it'll do next to nothing.
So… that tree over there is within the 20 meter range. Let me try it out!
Alex activates Shu, wrapping his weapon in Aura, and activates Flying Sword Slash, swinging violently at a nearby tree. As the blade moves, a massive, blue-colored sword light bursts forth, racing toward the target at ridiculous speed—additionally empowered by Aura.
As it strikes the tree, Alex's eyes widen in surprise. The slash cuts through the entire trunk, felling it in one clean hit.
I could become a damn lumberjack with this! This is even more powerful than I imagined.
DAMN, my shoulders hurt though! A follow-up attack would be very difficult with this thing. I need to find a rhythm!
"WOW! That was cool!" Naruto shouts, enjoying the performance.
Even Sasuke stares at the tree in silence, his eyes showing a clear flicker of frustration.
Soulmate is incredible! ❤️
Is this how it feels to have fans?
Alex spins the sword in his hands, swinging it through the air. Wind whips around him as the massive blade slices through the air with ease. Alex visibly struggles, but despite his difficulty, he manages to perform clean, deadly looking slashes with his new weapon.
"This sword is incredible! Despite its weight, I can wield it relatively easily. The only difficulty lies in combination attacks. This thing excels at killing enemies in a single strike. Heh—anyway, let's move on and get us home, Tazuna," Alex says, sheathing the [Executioner's Blade] across his back. The system conveniently keeps it in place without any straps.
"Jewel," Alex says, glancing at his tiny companion, "can you please use your web to tie Kakashi to my back?"
Of course, Soulmate.
With Kakashi secured to his back and unconscious, the group continues on toward Tazuna's house.
It doesn't take long for them to arrive. The sun is already dipping below the horizon as Alex reaches the front door of Tazuna's house and knocks.
Tsunami opens the door—and the moment she sees Alex, Menchi, Jewel, and her father, she smiles in relief.
She then spots Kakashi on Alex's back, and her expression changes to a concerned one.
"Thank god you're back! But it looks like one of the ninjas you hired got injured. Please bring him to the spare room—I'll prepare it right away."
"Okay," Alex says, following her inside.
Inari runs through the house, yelling, "Alex, Menchi, Jewel, GRANDPA!"
Alex waves at him before continuing into the spare room. He watches as Tsunami prepares a clean futon and gently places Kakashi onto it.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura enter soon after, and Tsunami begins setting up their futons as well.
What a fun trip, huh? They look shocked, tired, and most of all—confused. I guess they'll get to enjoy their tree-climbing training soon enough.
Alex, Menchi, and Jewel return to the same room they stayed in a few days ago.
"Only one bed, huh?" Alex notes, remembering that this is where he first woke up beside Menchi.
Menchi smiles, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "Does that really matter at this point, husband?" she says with a grin.
"I guess not… but this bed's not big. It's not suited for three. Well… I guess it has to do," Alex replies with a sigh.
"Anyway, Jewel—You barely used your Queen title today and yesterday. It's revoked now, that was the deal—only until we return. I guess you're back to being a Princess. It suits you more anyway. You're a kind and easy-to-please princess—not a demanding and commanding queen," Alex says with a grin.
Jewel suddenly freezes.
Que… no—Princess Jewel actually forgot about it. She feels regret.
"Look, Jewel—if you want something, just ask. I still owe you that one favor from earlier, and you can ask me whenever," Alex says with a smile.
❤️
Tired, they quickly wash up and lie down in the wooden bed. With Jewel above his head and Menchi lying next to him, deciding to stare into his eyes Alex feels strangely comfortable.
"You know… I never feel lonely anymore, I guess that's a good thing, isn't it?" He blurts out.
Menchi kisses his nose and giggles, "Good night then," before closing her eyes and wrapping her legs around Alex's.
"Good night…" Alex says, closing his eyes, noticing Jewel's red eyes staring at him passionately before sinking into a deep dream.
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