Ghost Lantern · Cangwu?

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!!!"

Zabuza shouted.

Immediately after, his chakra erupted.

Wait!

Something felt wrong... Didn't this kid say not to underestimate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?

I gave you the Kubikiribōchō, why didn't you charge in with sword techniques first?

RUMBLE--

As Zabuza's chakra erupted.

The water surface beneath his feet changed.

After a surge, a water pillar shaped like a dragon appeared.

It coiled above Zabuza's head, its gaping maw directed at Cangwu.

Then, the water dragon attacked Cangwu under Zabuza's will.

'Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.'

Cangwu muttered silently in his heart.

This time it was even more outrageous, he formed hand seals with just one hand.

RUMBLE--

Immediately after, another water dragon surged out from the water surface in front of Cangwu.

It looked significantly larger than Zabuza's water dragon.

Seeing this, Zabuza felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.

His mind faltered, and his water dragon showed even more signs of defeat.

The two dragons collided.

Splashing countless drops of water.

Accompanied by a deafening roar.

Zabuza could no longer sustain his water dragon.

He watched helplessly as Cangwu's water dragon pressed down.

CRASH--

Like a slap, Zabuza was submerged underwater once more.

When the waves subsided, Zabuza's battered figure slowly reappeared.

One of his arms hung unnaturally.

CRACK--

"Hmph!!!"

Zabuza grunted in pain and forcefully reset his dislocated arm.

The clash of two large-scale Water Style ninjutsu.

Had knocked down quite a few trees in the surroundings.

"Hoo..." Zabuza panted, cold sweat pouring down his face.

'To defeat this monster... is difficult!'

The gap in strength was too vast.

'If he were to use that strange speed from just now... and that ninjutsu that might be Earth Style...'

"You've guessed quite accurately."

Zabuza's pupils suddenly constricted.

When did...

The voice came from behind him.

Zabuza looked up; Cangwu's figure was nowhere to be seen on the land in front of him.

Suddenly, a blinding golden light shot from behind.

"That guy with the bandages is a Jonin, right?"

"He seems so weak..." Naruto muttered.

"Idiot!" The moment Naruto finished speaking, Sasuke cursed him without mercy.

"That's because Teacher Cangwu is too strong~!" Sakura said with a face full of admiration.

"Mhm..." Tazuna paused, then made his presence known with a sound.

"I didn't expect you to be this strong... someone as powerful as you, why have you remained unknown?" Zabuza lowered his head, looking at his reflection in the water.

Cangwu retracted the golden sphere of light gathering on his finger.

"Kirigakure has the 'Village of the Bloody Mist,' and Konohagakure has a similar situation."

"Are you referring to... the Third Hokage?" Zabuza narrowed his eyes, then searched his mind for information about Konoha, scoffing, "That's true, but it's nothing compared to the Fourth Mizukage."

As he spoke, Zabuza slowly moved his arm.

"It seems there's no point in continuing this fight."

"Although I'm unwilling... I have to admit, your strength is beyond the reach of a nobody like me."

To be able to use such powerful ninjutsu with just one hand seal.

Not to mention the unbelievable speed and Kekkei Genkai.

Zabuza couldn't imagine how he could win.

Am I going to die... hehe...

"Ambition needs strength to support it," Cangwu said, seeing through Zabuza's thoughts.

"Thinking of fighting your way back to Kirigakure?"

"Actually, there's no need."

"Why?" Zabuza frowned and looked back, asking.

Cangwu's lips curved into a knowing smile as he slowly said, "Because the Fifth Mizukage will be inaugurated not long from now."

"And why the increasingly brutal implementation of the bloody mist policy... it's simple."

"The Fifth Mizukage?"

"What do you know?!" Zabuza's voice trembled with agitation.

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush," Cangwu chuckled.

Zabuza: "..."

If he could defeat him... Zabuza really wanted to jump up and slap Cangwu, to make him stop smiling and telling him not to rush!

"Do you know about the Uchiha clan?"

"During the last Great Ninja War, a certain Uchiha boy who liked women more than men was targeted."

"You don't need the details, you just need to know that your Kirigakure implanted the Three-Tails into the body of the girl that boy liked."

"The plan was for her to release the Three-Tails and destroy Konoha upon her return."

"The result was that the girl chose to commit suicide."

"Coincidentally, under the design of a certain 'Dancing King,' that boy witnessed everything firsthand."

"What?!" Zabuza exclaimed in shock.

That mission was a secret one; he only knew that no Kirigakure ninja returned afterward.

What surprised him was that an S-rank mission at that time was actually about this.

"After that, the Uchiha went and controlled your Fourth Mizukage."

"So... the reason the Fourth Mizukage implemented the bloody mist policy..." Zabuza murmured unconsciously.

"Not so," Cangwu interrupted Zabuza's muttering.

"The bloody mist policy was implemented by the Third Mizukage himself. After the Uchiha boy controlled the Fourth Mizukage with genjutsu, it became even more bloody and cruel."

[This includes Zabuza's age setting, the 'Village of the Bloody Mist' (it was already the 'Village of the Bloody Mist' before Rin's death). It also includes the coup d'état during Zabuza's time as a Kirigakure Anbu.]

"In other words, the Fourth Mizukage was actually a pitiable fellow."

"Pitiable?" Zabuza's pupils contracted, and anger flashed across his face.

Seeing this, Cangwu shook his head and said, "Do you see my spiky-haired student over there?"

"Hm?" Zabuza glanced over, "Hmph, just a naive brat."

Cangwu nodded slightly and said, "Only people like him can become friends with Tailed Beasts."

"You mean?" Zabuza sounded incredulous.

"That's right, the Fourth Mizukage was good friends with the Three-Tails."

"Do you think someone like that would support the bloody mist policy?"

After speaking, Zabuza fell into deep thought.

"After the Three-Tails incident, the Fourth Hokage became the Three-Tails Jinchuriki himself, and that Uchiha kid has been controlling him with genjutsu ever since he grew up."

"He'll probably be taken down by the future Fifth Mizukage soon... he doesn't have much time left."

Zabuza fell silent for a long moment, then let out a sinister laugh.

"Why are you telling me this?!"

Cangwu shook his head with a smile. Was this a stress response from losing his target?

Yeah, in the original story, Sasuke was also confused after the 'filial piety' character let him win.

Swish--

The next moment.

Zabuza used the lingering mist, activating Mist Body Flicker to appear behind Cangwu.

The Kubikiribōchō on his back was finally put to use.

Cangwu made no move.

Although Zabuza was confused, his movements didn't falter.

He brought the blade down.

Shing--

However, the Kubikiribōchō sliced through Cangwu, yet he remained completely unharmed.

This bizarre sight caused Zabuza's mind to freeze.

What kind of strange ability is this?!

"Could it be... you're from the Hozuki clan?"