NOVEL WEB Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Hōzuki Clan
Chapter 19: The Hōzuki Clan
As a shinobi, tracking was a fundamental skill—especially for elite members of the village's elite, the ANBU.
Even though the Kirigakure unit had clearly tried to cover their tracks, they were constrained by time and the urgency of their mission. It was impossible for them to erase every trace of their passage, especially along the sides of the road.
Kakashi's squad followed these faint scent trails and environmental clues with practiced efficiency. If luck was on their side, they could deduce the movements and target of this Kirigakure squad—estimated at around thirty to forty shinobi—and thus determine how far the war between the Mist and the Sand had escalated in this southern coastal region.
Even if it meant risking discovery or encirclement, they had no choice but to proceed.
Shff!
Shff!
Shff!
Shff!
Dashing through the dense forest, Kakashi and his teammates pushed their speed to the limit while constantly surveying the area, scanning for signs or scents left behind. Their goal was clear—stay close enough to track the enemy, yet remain undetected.
This was a task only the most elite shinobi could undertake.
Luckily, even the "weakest" member of this squad—Kakashi—was already on par with a standard Chūnin.
Under normal circumstances, they would be fine.
But this was no ordinary day.
"Oh? Konoha shinobi? I thought it was just another one of those dumbass Suna patrols. Haha! It's always more satisfying killing Leaf nin…"
In that moment—just ahead of Kakashi's squad, from the forest's eastern flank—a puddle of water began to stir.
From its shimmering surface, a tall figure slowly rose.
Pale white hair, shark-like teeth, a vicious grin twisted across his face, and a Mist Village forehead protector tied tightly across his brow.
This was unmistakably a member of the Hōzuki Clan—one of Kirigakure's Three Great Bloodline Clans.
The Hōzuki were known for their terrifying Hydrification Technique, allowing their bodies to liquefy and reform at will.
Throughout both previous Shinobi World Wars, the Hōzuki had earned a fearsome reputation. Compared to the rigid Yuki Clan or the deranged Kaguya, the Hōzuki were something far more dangerous:
Bloodthirsty maniacs—with intelligence.
That's why they had produced a Second Mizukage, whereas the others had not.
They were lunatics, yes—but clever lunatics.
Slrrrp.
The Hōzuki ninja licked his lips with savage anticipation, then dissolved into liquid form and seeped back underground—quietly tailing the unaware Kakashi and his team.
But—
"Hm!?"
Kakashi's whole body tensed. A cold shiver crawled up his spine.
He felt it—an overwhelming sense of danger.
Just for a split second.
It vanished almost instantly—barely a heartbeat passed—but Kakashi knew it wasn't a hallucination.
He trusted this instinct.
With the merged memories and soul of two lifetimes now fully adapted to this world, Kakashi had discovered a peculiar side effect:
He could clearly sense directed emotional intent aimed at him—whether it be curiosity, admiration, or, like now—killing intent.
The closer and more intense the emotion, the clearer it became.
This was not chakra sensing. It was a manifestation of pure spiritual awareness.
Kakashi stepped forward with deadly seriousness.
"Captain, we've been made."
"What!?"
They hadn't even located the main Kirigakure force yet. How had they already been discovered?
Black Hawk, Phosphor, and Foxhound all looked visibly shaken, but not one of them questioned Kakashi's judgment.
"Where is he?" Black Hawk asked, curt and calm.
The team was already shifting into combat posture.
"Eleven o'clock, less than a hundred meters."
Kakashi couldn't see the enemy—but his instincts were screaming.
That was enough.
Shff!
Shff!
Shff!
Shff!
Without another word, the four of them split and launched toward the target location in perfect synchronicity.
"What!? They found me? Sensory-type shinobi!?"
The hiding Mist ninja's eyes narrowed.
That precision, that coordination—they weren't amateurs.
"Suiton: Mizubakurō no Jutsu!"
(Water Style: Water Bubble Technique!)
His hands blurred through seals. Chakra surged.
WHUMPH!
Dozens of shimmering water bubbles materialized in midair around him—spheres of condensed chakra-laced water.
With a sharp gesture, he released them all.
Shff!
Shff!
Shff!
Shff!
The water bombs blasted outward in a scattered volley toward Kakashi's team.
"Doton: Doryūheki!"
(Earth Style: Earth Wall!)
Foxhound and Phosphor responded instantly, slamming their palms into the earth.
BOOM!!
Walls of stone surged up in front of them.
BANG!
CRACK!
SPLASH!!
The water orbs smashed into the barriers, shattering the earth defenses despite elemental disadvantage.
Even Kakashi's eyes narrowed at the impact force. This was no average Mist ninja.
"Hōzuki clan!" Black Hawk growled, locking eyes with the emerging attacker.
The pale features. The shark-teeth grin.
Among Kirigakure's three noble bloodlines, the Hōzuki were the most distinctive—and the most dangerous.
Kakashi and the others instantly understood the stakes.
"We end this—fast." Black Hawk ordered coldly.
If one of them was already here, it meant the main Kirigakure force was close.
They had to take him down—before it was too late.