Postwar Rewards

Before he could finish speaking, a cold, strange energy burst from the tip of the kunai pressed against Zabuza's heart from behind!

Sealing Formulas composed of intricate, profound Seals and flickering with dim light slithered out of the kunai like living vines. Ignoring the bandages wrapped around Zabuza's body, they branded themselves deep into his skin and frantically seeped into his body!

"Ugh!" Zabuza grunted.

His immense chakra erupted instinctively, attempting to resist the invading force! Inside his body, the two violent powers clashed and tore at each other!

However.

"Argh!"

The kunai at his back suddenly drove forward! That deadly chill instantly scattered the resisting chakra Zabuza had gathered!

If he resisted, his heart might be pierced the next second! A helpless sense of despair engulfed him.

Within just a few breaths, the dim Seals spread like brands, completely covering and binding Zabuza's body.

With a flick of his wrist, Minamoto Takuya withdrew the kunai that had threatened Zabuza with death.

"Huff... huff..." As though granted a reprieve, Zabuza stood stiffly, gasping for breath as cold sweat poured down his forehead.

For now... he had survived...

But the next moment, Minamoto Takuya's judgmental voice cast him back into the depths of hell.

"You dared raise a blade against your master. This is your first punishment."

Then a crisp snap of fingers rang beside Zabuza's ear.

"Argh—AAAAAHHHH!!!"

An indescribable pain beyond the limits of human imagination erupted from every cell and every nerve in Zabuza's body like a volcanic explosion!

It was not merely pain of flesh and skin. It felt more like countless cold steel needles covered in barbs stabbing viciously into his marrow and wildly churning within!

Or like an endless swarm of carnivorous venomous insects gnawing and crawling frantically through his blood vessels, muscles, and organs!

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