Fearsome! A Ninjutsu That Requires 44 Hand Seals!

As everyone knows, the strength of ninjutsu in the Shinobi World is basically judged by the number of hand seals required.

Leaving aside the students in the ninja academy who are still inexperienced at using ninjutsu, the number of hand seals required by each ninja from Genin to Jonin is generally fixed.

Unless someone exceptionally gifted can simplify one or two steps, everyone else must form the hand seals strictly according to the technique's requirements.

Hand seals connect and alter the form of the Chakra in one's body, allowing ninjutsu to be released.

At this moment, the two of them regarded Momochi Zabuza as though facing a formidable enemy.

Kakashi and the three youngsters on the other side, however, were somewhat confused.

So far, they had handled everything with ease. Why had they suddenly revealed such expressions?

Was there danger?

But other than Zabuza, there was no one else in front of them.

"Can't win with swordsmanship, so you want to compete in ninjutsu?"

As a ninja gifted in every attribute, Kakashi was proficient in thousands of ninjutsu, and he had even created dozens of ninja techniques himself. Yet this terrifying sight was still a first for him.

When Zabuza formed his tenth hand seal, the two of them remained unconcerned.

For an unoptimized technique, ten seals were perfectly normal.

When Zabuza formed his twentieth hand seal, the two became slightly wary.

But it was still nothing to worry about.

Because twenty hand seals meant that, at most, this world would consider it an A-rank or S-rank ninjutsu.

Although it would be somewhat troublesome, it was still nothing to fear.

When Zabuza formed his thirtieth hand seal, Obito and Kakashi's expressions both grew slightly solemn.

This had already surpassed S-rank ninjutsu. There was a high probability that this was a supreme forbidden technique!

When Zabuza formed his fortieth seal, both of them faced him as though confronting a formidable enemy, sweat streaming down their backs.

Yet neither of them moved to interrupt him. With Obito's Kamui and Kakashi's Flying Thunder God Technique, they both wanted to see the ultimate pinnacle of this world's martial arts and ninjutsu.

"Rat!"

The forty-first seal!

"Boar!"

The forty-second!

"Pig!"

The forty-third!

"Rooster!"

The forty-fourth!

As they watched Zabuza complete his final seal, the hairs on both their bodies stood on end and their hearts began to race.

It was coming!

This super ninjutsu requiring a full forty-four hand seals!

"Water Release!"

Zabuza raised his head and mobilized the Chakra throughout his body.

The Flying Thunder God Technique marks on Naruto and the others lit up. In an instant, Kakashi could take them all away.

Kakashi could also sense space beginning to distort beside Zabuza. That was Obito's Kamui!

"Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Kakashi's expression froze, and Obito also stood rooted to the spot.

With his Sharingan, he could sense that the mass of Chakra Zabuza had been building up had been completely released.

Kakashi, however, was utterly dumbfounded. He had actually been fooled twice by one person!

They had thought Zabuza was preparing something huge, but it turned out he had merely taken an enormous dump!

A B-rank ninjutsu that required only three seals had been cast with a full forty-four!

Are you kidding me?!

Seeing Kakashi stand there and let the Water Dragon Bullet crash into him before being carried helplessly into the distance with the current, Zabuza burst into laughter.

Obito was heartbroken.

I just activated that Mangekyo Sharingan and expended some ocular power! My right eye hasn't even become an Eternal Mangekyo yet. I won't go blind, will I?

"World, be destroyed!"

Feeling himself wrapped in water as the suffocation grew stronger, Kakashi casually drew the White Fang Blade and sliced the current apart in one stroke.

Before Zabuza could react, he spoke in a low voice. "You're far too flashy! All style and no substance! Now I'll show you what true swordsmanship is!"

"Wind Release—Blade Wind Tornado!"

Kakashi infused the White Fang Blade with Wind Release Chakra.

The instant he swung it, four powerful tornadoes formed along the blade, unleashing a formidable cutting force.

This ninjutsu combined Wind Release's cutting power with the sharpness of swordsmanship, forming a devastating attack.

The moment he swung the blade, the four tornadoes severed every route of retreat and swept toward Zabuza.

The bandages on Zabuza's face and the clothes on his body were instantly torn apart, revealing his savage expression.

He raised the Executioner's Blade in front of himself as a shield, but despite using every ounce of his strength, he managed to disperse only two of the tornadoes.

As the two tornadoes brimming with razor-edged wind were about to tear him apart, Zabuza closed his eyes as though resigned to his fate.

Suddenly, he felt the air around him grow cold. Ice fragments struck his face after blocking the Blade Wind Tornado.

"Ice Release—Ice Rock Dome Skill!"

He recognized it. This was Haku's unique Kekkei Genkai...

Immediately afterward, two needles pierced his neck. Zabuza collapsed to the ground, no longer breathing.

Kakashi, Obito, and the others stared at the mysterious masked man who had suddenly appeared, their expressions somewhat unnatural.

Having their kill stolen so suddenly was bound to sting!

The masked mystery man first bowed to Kakashi, then explained, "Thank you all for grievously wounding the rogue ninja from our Hidden Mist Village. However, because I need to bring his corpse back and report, please forgive me for intervening at the end to preserve his body intact."

Seeing that the few of them remained frozen in a daze, Haku continued, "I am from the Hidden Mist Village's Anbu pursuit squad, specifically responsible for dealing with rogue ninja. Thank you all for your assistance. You will have the friendship of our Hidden Mist Village. I now need to take him back to the village and report. I ask for your understanding!"

After speaking, Haku bent down to help Zabuza up.

At that moment, Obito stopped him.

"Wait!"

He could see that Chakra still remained inside the other man's body instead of dissipating. This person was feigning death!

He transmitted the information he had obtained to Kakashi, whose eyes narrowed as well.

"You can't take him away!" Kakashi said.

Haku froze. Under normal circumstances, simply revealing his identity as a member of the Hidden Mist Village's pursuit squad would have allowed him to take Zabuza away with ease. He had not expected to encounter resistance today.

"Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. Are you trying to make an enemy of the Hidden Mist Village? Are you trying to make an enemy of the Land of Water?"

Haku narrowed his eyes, and his tone began to turn hostile.

I absolutely can't lose momentum now, or they'll definitely discover the problem!

Kakashi thought for a moment, then nodded.

"That's right!"

Since the other man was a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, and he had tried to kill Tazuna the moment he arrived, he was most likely the ninja hired by Gato.

Since he was a mercenary who had been hired to complete a mission, his actions today were understandable.

Kakashi could completely recruit him as a temporary worker on their side. Moreover, once the passage between the two worlds opened, experiments would be necessary. A Jonin would make an excellent test subject!

Besides, their side needed to gather the Tailed Beasts of this world, various rare resources, and ninjas possessing Kekkei Genkai for the Empire. They would eventually have to clash with the Land of Water.

Since Zabuza was a rogue ninja from the Land of Water, and his Jonin strength combined with the Hidden Mist Technique was not too poor, recruiting him to deal with the Land of Water would probably be more convenient than searching painstakingly for someone else.

With that thought, Kakashi stopped Haku from carrying out his plan.

"All right, I know this guy isn't dead. Although I don't know what your purpose is, judging from the Ice Release you just used... you have an even greater reason to stay!"