Naruto and Zabuza: The Ghostly Full Moon
Early the Next Morning
After a bounty on the Uchiha clan was announced on the black market, Orochimaru sought out an intelligence dealer to purchase information about the Land of Whirlpools. However, to his surprise, he encountered Sasori of the Red Sand, who was also buying intelligence.
Sensing a familiar chakra signature, Sasori turned to face Orochimaru, his expression darkening.
His attempt to mislead Orochimaru failed, but he quickly realized that Orochimaru's true interest lay in the Sharingan. The air between them grew tense.
Orochimaru chuckled, his serpentine eyes gleaming. "Sasori, I doubt you're here for information on the Land of Whirlpools. The Sharingan holds little value for a puppeteer like you."
Annoyed by the remark, Sasori's expression soured. He maneuvered Hiruko forward, preparing to strike.
The intelligence dealer, drenched in cold sweat, quickly interjected. "Lords, please! This information is free for you. Just don't fight here."
Normally, no black-market broker would offer intelligence for free. However, this was different—one of the men before him was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, and the other was an Akatsuki member of equal stature. If they fought, he would be caught in the crossfire and die without knowing why.
Orochimaru glanced at the broker and smirked. "I am a man of principle. Here, take the money—if you dare to count it."
Just as the intelligence dealer reached for the payment, Sasori's hidden blade shot out, piercing his heart.
"W-why… I don't know anything…" the dealer gasped before collapsing.
Sasori remained expressionless and turned to Orochimaru. "I don't want to work with you again, but we seem to have reached a reluctant consensus on the Land of Whirlpools. Let's go."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, then gave a knowing smile. "Sasori, have you considered that this could be a trap set by Zetsu? Why would he provide us with Uchiha intelligence? Simply because we're fellow Akatsuki members?"
Sasori shot him a disinterested glance. "I know Zetsu is using us. But even if the Land of Whirlpools is a trap, if we confirm that Uchiha are hiding there, can you really resist the allure of the Sharingan?"
Orochimaru chuckled. His interest in the Uchiha had been minimal—until he received intelligence from Danzō.
Among the Uchiha who had fled Konoha, one name stood out: Uchiha Shisui, missing for a year. Shisui possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, and targeting him wouldn't violate Akatsuki's rules.
Several hours after Orochimaru and Sasori departed, Jiraiya arrived at the same black-market hub.
For months, he had been scouring underground networks for information on Naruto's whereabouts, but his search had yielded nothing. Frustrated, he had expanded his search beyond the borders of the Land of Fire.
Upon reaching a nearby town, he was met with shocking news—the black market had been wiped out.
After interrogating a wandering rogue ninja, Jiraiya frowned. The one responsible for the destruction was none other than Orochimaru, the traitorous Sannin.
He had been searching for Naruto, yet now he had stumbled onto a lead about Orochimaru…
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After Half a Month in Captivity…
Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki had been imprisoned for over two weeks when Naruto finally came to meet them.
As soon as they saw him, Zabuza and Mangetsu frowned, silently cursing the masked man before them.
To them, Naruto was an enigma. He had defeated them effortlessly and was capable of commanding Uchiha Shisui—an undeniable sign of his power. Clearly, he was an influential figure, possibly from Konoha. Yet, he refused to reveal his face.
Sensing their doubts, Naruto took a step forward and partially released their seals.
Zabuza immediately growled. "If you're going to kill me, do it now. A true warrior of Kirigakure does not surrender."
Naruto smirked. "If you really wanted to die, you would have killed yourself before I captured you. And who told you we're Konoha ninjas? This is the Land of Whirlpools."
"…You're not from Konoha?" Zabuza's eyes narrowed as he glanced at both Naruto and Shisui, clearly unconvinced.
Mangetsu, however, furrowed his brows as if recalling something. "So the rumors are true… Did the Uchiha really defect from Konoha?"
"Don't be foolish," Zabuza scoffed. "Do you really believe their lies?"
Mangetsu shook his head. "I don't believe enemies so easily. But if Konoha truly had sealing masters this powerful, the Fourth Hokage wouldn't have died in the Nine-Tails attack, and the war with Kumogakure wouldn't have happened."
Zabuza fell silent. Mangetsu had a point—if this group truly hailed from Konoha, why were they still in the Land of Whirlpools instead of being held in Konoha's ANBU prison?
More troubling was the implication that someone outside Konoha had enough power to harbor the Uchiha clan—risking war with the strongest Hidden Village.
After a long pause, Mangetsu looked up. "If you're not Konoha shinobi, then why did you attack us? We have no quarrel with you. Are you doing this because you've taken in the Uchiha?"
"If that's the case, we can keep this a secret," he added. "We won't say a word."
Naruto exchanged glances with Shisui, both wearing expressions of amusement. Was this kid serious?
"Even if I kill you, the secret would be safe," Naruto said flatly.
Mangetsu sighed, then spoke calmly. "If you truly wanted us dead, we wouldn't still be alive. You must need something from us."
Naruto nodded slightly. "You're much smarter than him," he said, gesturing toward Zabuza.
"Zabuza is just a bit… stubborn," Mangetsu replied. Then, after a moment of thought, he added, "Alright. State your conditions for our release. As long as we don't have to betray our village, we'll consider it."
Naruto tapped his fingers on the table, a smile forming. "Before we talk about that, I want to know—why were you planning to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage? This is very important."
At his words, Zabuza and Mangetsu exchanged wary glances. How did he know about that?
But then, their eyes landed on Shisui.
A master of the Sharingan and one of the greatest genjutsu users in history.
If they hadn't been subjected to Kiri's cursed seals, their minds had likely been read. Their secret assassination plot was already exposed.
Yet, what truly concerned them was the reason behind Naruto's question.
Did he intend to strike against Kirigakure?
They wanted to rid themselves of the Mizukage's tyrannical rule, but they still held loyalty to their village. If Naruto planned to use them for an attack against Kirigakure, their situation had just become far more dangerous.
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