Zabuza: This Is Konoha's Conspiracy
As the sun set, the stars' reflections shimmered on the water.
Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki walked along the coastline near the former land of Uzushiogakure, their feet sinking into the damp, soft sand. From time to time, they cast solemn glances inland, wary of their surroundings.
After a long silence, Zabuza finally spoke. "Since you've decided to overthrow the Mizukage, why bring me here? Are you planning an escape route?"
"You should know—if our coup fails, the Yondaime Mizukage will never let us live."
Mangetsu Hōzuki chuckled, shaking his head. "I've never considered running away if we fail. But if we do, the Hōzuki clan will be held accountable. I have to think about Suigetsu… He's still just a child."
Zabuza snorted. "You still care about your brother? If you're that worried about him, why not just abandon this coup? The Yondaime Mizukage is targeting the bloodline clans, but the Hōzuki aren't part of that purge."
"That's not an option," Mangetsu sighed. "If the Yondaime keeps ruling like this, Kirigakure will collapse. And if that happens, how will I ever fulfill my dream of collecting all Seven Swords of the Mist? My clan name won't allow me to ignore what's happening to the village."
Zabuza didn't argue. He had always believed in solving problems through force, even in his youth when he ended the brutal Kirigakure graduation ritual by slaughtering his entire class.
Now, with the Fourth Mizukage's erratic rule, Zabuza saw no future for the village under his leadership. The coup wasn't just a rebellion—it was a necessity.
Just then, Mangetsu abruptly stopped and narrowed his eyes at the dense forest ahead.
Zabuza noticed his shift in demeanor. "What is it? Rogue ninja ambushing us?" He scoffed. "I heard this area is a haven for missing-nin. If that's the case, I'd be happy to teach them a lesson and get some intel on this island."
But Mangetsu didn't relax. His tone dropped to a whisper. "No… That's not it. We haven't encountered a single wandering ninja since we arrived. This doesn't match what I remember about Uzushiogakure's ruins."
Zabuza's expression darkened as he scanned his surroundings, growing tense.
Then came the sound of hurried footsteps.
Shuriken whistled through the air, cutting through the night toward them.
Zabuza dodged, but in the next instant, his vision spun as the world blurred.
Genjutsu! The Sharingan!
Mangetsu reacted instantly. He unsheathed his twin swords, Hiramekarei, and slashed Zabuza's arm.
Pain jolted Zabuza back to reality, breaking the illusion. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
"...Thanks," Zabuza muttered, still shaken. Then his expression twisted into a scowl. "But what the hell are Uchiha doing here?! Weren't they wiped out by that Uchiha Itachi?"
"I don't know," Mangetsu admitted. "But if Konoha is here, it means they're making a move on the former land of Uzushiogakure. Maybe the rumors of Uchiha's destruction were just a cover-up."
Zabuza clenched his teeth. "Damn it. Those Konoha rats waited until our village was weak!"
Mangetsu sighed. "Let's focus on surviving first. Judging by their attack patterns, there are at least two teams. The good news is, not many Uchiha have fully matured Sharingan."
Zabuza nodded and swiftly formed hand seals. "Then we'll fight them on our terms… Kirigakure no Jutsu!"
Thick mist engulfed the battlefield.
They were outnumbered, but the Hidden Mist Jutsu would at least level the playing field—especially against the Sharingan, which relied on sight.
---
Meanwhile…
Not far away, on a hillside overlooking the battle, Naruto Uzumaki stood with arms crossed, watching the fight unfold.
When his shadow clone reported enemy activity, he first suspected that Obito Uchiha, who had manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, had dispatched Kirigakure forces to attack Uzushiogakure and eliminate any remaining Uchiha.
But now, after observing the two intruders, Naruto sensed neither White Zetsu's presence nor a larger Kirigakure force.
These two weren't an advance unit.
They had likely stumbled into Uzushiogakure by accident.
Unlike Naruto, Shisui Uchiha and Kamon wore grim expressions.
"If we kill them, Kirigakure might send more," Kamon muttered, concern lacing his voice. "If that happens, Uzushiogakure will be exposed to the Five Great Nations before we're ready."
Shisui nodded, his gaze heavy with worry.
But Naruto remained unfazed, his presence keeping their anxieties in check.
Down below, the battle intensified.
The Uchiha team countered the Kirigakure no Jutsu with a wide-range fire technique, evaporating the mist.
In response, Mangetsu released the Hiramekarei's stored chakra, launching a massive chakra blast the size of a carriage.
The explosion tore through the forest, forcing the Uchiha to retreat. They barely managed to regain their footing, eyes fixed warily on the two Kirigakure no Shinobi.
They knew these opponents weren't ordinary enemies.
Zabuza and Mangetsu were among the strongest of Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen of the Mist—their skill rivaled elite Jōnin.
Still, the Uchiha didn't back down.
Their clan had already lost everything once. They wouldn't lose their home again.
Zabuza and Mangetsu also wore grim expressions. The Sharingan was still tracking them through the mist. Their escape plan had failed before it even started.
They had no choice now but to fight their way out.
---
Shisui took a step forward. "Lord Menma, the battle is dragging on. Let me handle them."
Naruto raised a hand to stop him. A smirk tugged at his lips. "No need. It's been a while since I've had a good warm-up."
Without another word, Naruto leapt from the hillside, vanishing in a blur of speed.
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