Chapter 63 – Death Is Like the Wind
Naruto found the mist in front of him eerily familiar.
The Shadow Clone—or rather, he himself—had spent a long time in the Hidden Mist Village.
During that period he'd fought plenty of Ninja.
Because of the village's environment, most of its Ninja were used to battling inside fog.
Even when operating outside their village, they tried to recreate similar conditions.
But the mist they conjured always carried subtle differences.
Especially when made by a powerhouse.
Naruto suddenly recalled where he'd seen mist exactly like this.
Zabuza Momochi.
His eyes narrowed.
Sasuke, who'd dashed ahead, froze on the spot.
An indescribable, murderous aura swept past like a gale.
Crap, it's a Jonin!
Kakashi was particularly sensitive to that kind of pressure.
He'd assumed a C-rank mission wouldn't involve a Jonin—at worst a Genin—so he'd let Sasuke go ahead.
Sasuke was strong, but he'd never faced a killing intent forged through countless bloody battles.
Hence the momentary stiffness.
Naruto was about to rush to the rescue when he saw Sasuke narrowly dodge the spinning executioners blade that flew out of the mist.
Shock flashed across Kakashi's face.
He hadn't expected Sasuke to throw off the killing intent in mere seconds.
But the moment he spotted the executioners bladehe shouted, "Sasuke, watch out—it's the Demon of the Bloody Mist, Zabuza!"
Naruto moved faster than the warning.
Yama leapt from its sheath.
A flash of snowy steel vanished into the night.
This guy's mine; you handle the other one.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke.
A faint light shrouded Sasuke's body.
Magical Girl Mode.
No wonder he'd shaken off Zabuza's killing intent.
Sasuke stayed silent; he wanted to refuse Naruto's request to "steal the kill."
But since Naruto helped him so often, he simply nodded and turned toward the masked youth.
Be careful—he's no weaker than you.
Naruto wasn't underestimating Sasuke.
Haku possessed Ice Release and had grown up under Zabuza's training; his strength was nothing to scoff at.
Sasuke clearly didn't see it that way.
Hmph, I'll kill him!"
He refused to believe any peer besides Narutocould beat him.
Naruto knew Sasuke was angry over his momentary disgrace and wanted to prove himself.
Still, he said nothing.
The wind howled.
He reached out and caught Yama as it rebounded.
A surprised grunt echoed through the air.
Zabuza's eyes turned grave.
The force he'd used to knock Yama back had been enormous, yet the boy showed no strain.
For some reason Gen Shisei came to mind.
Zabuza admitted that geniuses existed in this world.
But did he have to meet every single one of them?
He formed hand seals.
Hidden Mist Silent Killing Technique!
Deep crimson Chakra flared around his body.
The surrounding mist thickened once more.
Naruto's vision shrank to half a meter.
He extended his senses.
Silence—still silence.
No wind, only stillness.
As expected, a conventional Jonin was troublesome against someone like Zabuza.
Back then the Shadow Clone had only managed a few exchanges because Zabuza's target had been the Mizukage, not the clone.
White moon-like irises quietly appeared in Naruto's eyes.
Sage Mode activated.
In the next instant he vanished.
Clang!
The executioners blade smashed into the ground where he'd stood, sending dirt flying.
Zabuza stared in shock.
Instinct made him lean back.
Lightning-fast Yama swept past his forehead, drawing cold sweat.
Where is he?
Zabuza kicked off the ground, gliding through the mist, yet he couldn't spot Naruto anywhere.
Damn it!
High-end hunters always appear first as prey.
That line flashed through his mind, sending an eerie chill through him.
Argh!
Zabuza felt a foot slam into his back.
The kick carried thunderous force.
Splash—
He dissolved into water.
Nearby, gripping the executioners blade, he still felt no safer.
No matter how far he extended his perception.
Naruto was like a ghost—utterly untraceable.
What the hell is this brat?
A monster wearing human skin?
Cold sweat poured down Zabuza's forehead.
Which idiot gathered the intel?
It claimed a copy-cat Jonin, Kakashi Hatake, and three Genin students.
Kakashi hadn't even entered the fight, yet a Geninwas beating a Jonin senseless.
This is a Genin?
Your family's Genin can pummel a Jonin?
This boy must not be allowed to live!
Zabuza's eyes snapped wide.
He flicked the executioners blade up, blocking in front of him.
An ear-splitting crack rang through the air.
Unimaginable force traveled down the blade into his body.
Blood sprayed from Zabuza's mouth; his face went white.
Steel flashed.
Yama streaked forward as a blur of blue-green light aimed at his face.
I'm finished—!
But at the last second the blade twisted, striking him with the flat and sending him flying.
The mist gradually dispersed.
Kakashi rushed up, mouth agape.
He saw Zabuza sitting on the ground with Naruto's sword at his throat.
Was this an illusion?
The whole fight had lasted under ten seconds.
He himself hadn't even located Zabuza inside the fog.
So this is the teacher's son…
Terrifying!
Meanwhile, the clash between Sasuke and Haku came into view.
Kakashi inexplicably relaxed.
Now this scene looked normal.
Kill me; you won't get a word out of me."
Zabuza stared at the absurdly young Naruto and spoke.
He hadn't imagined the infamous Demon of the Bloody Mist would lose to a kid barely out of the cradle.
Doubt flickered through Naruto.
This Zabuza was completely different from the one the Shadow Clone had met four years ago.
Now the man carried an air of someone ready to die for a cause.
Like… a great warrior willing to give everything for a dream.
Naruto."
Kakashi, having heard Zabuza's words, said, "Kill him; we can still obtain what we need—he's a Jonin of the Hidden Mist, his corpse is valuable."
But it has nothing to do with our current mission.
Naruto understood Kakashi's meaning.
Extracting Hidden Mist jutsu or secrets from Zabuza would indeed benefit Konoha.
Yet what he wanted to know was why Zabuzaappeared here.
In the original story it had been Gatō's hire.
This time it wasn't.
Naruto looked toward Sasuke and Haku.
Sasuke had the upper hand but was panting, having burned far more Chakra.
The reason was his Magical Girl Mode.
After years of experimentation Sasuke had mastered its usage.
One hundred percent hit rate.
But it was complex and required oceans of Chakra, so he'd switched to the simpler one-hundred-percent dodge.
Much like the "guaranteed bare-hand blade catch," a causality weapon.
With enemies unable to land a hit, plus the occasional guaranteed strike, he could finish foes in one blow.
In short, Sasuke had become an assassin.
The only pity was the mana drain.
He'd perfectly inherited his teacher Kakashi's flaw.
Three minutes a war-god, ten minutes a general, twenty minutes a corpse.
If I kill your other companion, you won't care?"
Naruto pointed at Haku.
He knew Zabuza cared deeply for Haku.
You wouldn't understand. Each of us has a mission; dying here is nothing."
Zabuza sneered, unbothered. "Death is like the wind, ever at my side; it's my honor, for I shall soon stand before our mentor."
As he spoke, unshakable resolve—and adoration—filled his face.
Kakashi frowned.
From Zabuza's words he inferred the man had joined some mysterious organization.
He considered himself fairly familiar with the Demon's history.
Was there truly an organization that could win the loyalty of a man who'd once sought the Mizukage's seat and then defected?
He couldn't fathom it.
…
The corner of Naruto's mouth twitched.
Damn it, Shadow Clone—get out here; we need to talk!"