Kyuubi's Mission
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
With a mighty surge, a dragon-shaped torrent of water roared forth, clashing against an enormous fireball. The resulting explosion of steam blanketed the battlefield in mist. As the haze began to clear, two figures—Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki—stood back-to-back, their eyes locked onto the lone Uchiha kunoichi before them.
She was relentless. Her movements were erratic yet precise, her Sharingan gleaming a blood-red hue in the dim light. There was no hesitation in her attacks, no regard for self-preservation—only the single-minded pursuit of victory.
Surrounded by Uchiha shinobi, Mangetsu narrowed his eyes, weighing their dire situation. "Reinforcements may be on the way," he muttered under his breath. "I'll use the Hōzuki Clan's Hydrification Technique to create an opening. Once the enemy is distracted, you use the Hidden Mist Jutsu and escape. If you make it to the coast, you should be safe."
Zabuza hesitated but clenched his fists. "And what about you?"
Mangetsu's expression remained firm. "Our mission is more important than our survival." He gave a dry chuckle. "If we get back, we can finally put an end to the tyranny of the Mizukage. If I don't make it, then… take care of my brother, Suigetsu."
Before Zabuza could respond, the Uchiha girl suddenly stopped in her tracks. A tense silence fell over the battlefield.
Something was wrong.
A lone figure emerged from the mist—a tall individual in a black fox mask. He moved slowly but carried an oppressive aura that made the air feel heavier, suffocating even. Despite standing alone, he radiated the overwhelming presence of an entire shinobi battalion. Even compared to the Mizukage, his pressure was suffocating.
Uchiha Izumi, along with the surrounding Uchiha warriors, turned their attention to the masked figure. There was no mistaking his identity. This was Naruto Uzumaki—the de facto ruler of Uzushio Village.
Most civilians were unaware of Naruto's true strength, but the elite Uchiha knew. Shisui Uchiha himself had informed them—Naruto was not just a skilled ninja; he was among the strongest in the shinobi world. More importantly, he was the mastermind behind the Uchiha's escape from Konoha.
Naruto's keen blue eyes assessed Zabuza and Mangetsu. He recognized them from his fragmented past-life memories. Zabuza—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—was infamous for his failed assassination attempt on the Mizukage. In another timeline, he had been a mercenary hired by Gato in the Land of Waves and had met his end on the Great Naruto Bridge.
As for the young swordsman beside him, there was no doubt—it was Mangetsu Hōzuki, the prodigy who had once wielded all seven swords of the Mist.
Without wasting time, Naruto raised his hand. Four golden chains shot from his sleeves—Adamantine Sealing Chains, a signature technique of the Uzumaki Clan. The chains snaked through the air, moving with unnatural precision as they wrapped tightly around Zabuza and Mangetsu.
The two shinobi reacted instantly, their blades flashing as they attempted to sever the chains. But it was futile. Each chain regenerated almost instantly, binding them even tighter. Within moments, their chakra was disrupted, leaving them immobilized.
Zabuza gritted his teeth, his muscles straining. "Tch… what the hell is this?"
Mangetsu's expression darkened. He had never heard of an ability like this outside of sealing jutsu. Their defeat was undeniable.
More troubling was the fact that such an overwhelming force had appeared in Konoha's ranks without any intelligence leaks. How had someone this powerful remained hidden from the wider shinobi world?
Naruto glanced at the subdued warriors before giving a simple command:
"Take them to the interrogation room. Shisui will handle them."
With that, he turned and walked away, his presence lingering in the air like a fading storm.
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, Naruto emerged from his chambers, making his way toward the Uzushio Village headquarters.
After dealing with Zabuza and Mangetsu the previous night, he had returned to his quarters for a full eight hours of rest. Without it, his thoughts would be sluggish—an unacceptable condition for someone in his position.
The streets of Uzushio Village bustled with activity. Refugees, former wandering ninja, and displaced fishermen had all settled here, seeking sanctuary in the once-forgotten land of whirlpools. As Naruto passed, villagers greeted him warmly, their voices filled with gratitude.
It was a strange feeling—being respected, even revered. It was different from the cold indifference he had known as a child in Konoha.
Entering the interrogation room, he found Shisui waiting for him, a report in hand.
"Shisui," Naruto greeted. "Have you learned anything from them?"
Shisui nodded and handed him the document. "Their goal was to escape Kirigakure and find a way to assassinate the Mizukage."
Naruto skimmed the report, unsurprised. Kirigakure was a blood-soaked arena of power struggles, with betrayals as common as morning dew. Even an assassination attempt on the Mizukage was nothing unusual in that village's twisted history.
Yet the presence of Zabuza and Mangetsu in Uzushio Village was unexpected.
Shisui folded his arms. "What do you want to do with them?"
Naruto considered the options. "For now, keep them imprisoned. Mangetsu is a direct descendant of the Second Mizukage and likely possesses knowledge of Hōzuki Clan secret techniques. We still lack advanced Water Release jutsu in our arsenal. It's best to keep them alive—for now."
Shisui nodded. "Understood."
Naruto glanced at the report one last time before placing it aside. Releasing them would stir chaos in Kirigakure, but it would also risk exposing Uzushio Village's growing strength. Until they were fully prepared, secrecy was their greatest weapon.
For now, the game of shadows would continue.
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