Zabuza: I'm Still That Same Young Boy

Days passed, and just as Araki was being tortured to the brink of death by Himura Kenshin, the date of a major event quietly approached.

The graduation exam for this year's Ninja Academy was about to begin!

One week in advance, the chunin instructor relayed the news: the exam would take place at Training Ground No. 4 outside the village. It was a jungle area with a complex environment, perfectly suited to the operational needs of a ninja.

After all, being a ninja was not just about head-on combat; tactical skills and the utilization of the environment were of paramount importance.

A more complex environment could more comprehensively screen for students with superior overall qualities, and such genin would be able to survive for much longer.

Upon receiving the news, Araki didn't take it to heart; the gap between him and his classmates could not be bridged by a mere patch of jungle.

He could still slaughter them just as easily; the jungle wouldn't affect the speed at which he drew his blade!

However, at this moment, an unexpected visitor suddenly showed up at his door.

"You are..."

Looking at the youth before him—who was about his own height, possessed a baby face, short light-green hair, violet-red pupils, a stitched scar below his left eye, and wore the Kirigakure forehead protector tied around his waist—Araki hesitated for a moment.

Holy crap! Isn't this the future Fourth Mizukage, Yagura? What is he doing here looking for me?

Araki complained loudly in his heart, but his face remained calm, maintaining an expression of confusion.

"Ahem, it's like this. Let me introduce myself: I am the jonin Karatachi Yagura."

Yagura smiled slightly, his harmless baby face looking surprisingly cute.

"Uh, hello, Jonin Karatachi!"

The confusion on Araki's face shifted into a mix of bewilderment and vigilance.

After all, for an ordinary Ninja Academy student, being suddenly visited by a village jonin should naturally elicit confusion and caution, right?

"It's like this: I have some important matters I'd like to discuss with you. I wonder if I might come inside?"

Yagura's voice was gentle, and he spoke very politely.

"Please come in, sir."

Araki hurriedly stepped aside to make room.

Although the dormitories assigned by the Ninja Academy were single rooms, the conditions were quite mediocre; the space was cramped, and once two people were inside, they could only sit side-by-side on the bed.

"It's like this, student Araki. I have been paying attention to your performance at the academy, and your excellence is beyond doubt."

Yagura started off by buttering Araki up.

"Not at all, not at all. Lord Yagura is the pillar of Kirigakure; I still have a long way to go!"

Araki hurriedly acted humble. This tactic of showering him with praise at the drop of a hat made him feel a bit panicked, so he had to counterattack.

He blinked his eyes, looked at Karatachi Yagura with a face full of longing, and said adorably:

"My dream is to become a ninja like Lord Yagura in the future!"

There, the "Yagura-fanboy" buff was applied. With this, no matter what, he should be in an invincible position, right?

Yagura couldn't possibly have the nerve to spout even more nauseating praise!

And that was indeed the case; Yagura couldn't offer more exaggerated praise, but he could change his approach.

Yagura smiled cunningly and said, "Becoming a ninja like me is not such an easy task. It just so happens that I have a mission here that concerns the future of Kirigakure. Are you willing to help me complete it?"

"Ah, this..."

Araki was stunned for a moment. This time, it was a genuine shock, not an act.

I didn't expect this Karatachi Yagura to be so deep in his schemes. No wonder he could become a perfect jinchuriki in the future! I bet Isobu was tricked by him too, wasn't he?

However, Araki wasn't really a ten-year-old child, and his reaction was quick.

"Ah, is it such an important mission? But I'm not even a genin yet; I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much, sir."

"Ahaha, this mission... while it is very important, it isn't actually that difficult."

The smile on Yagura's face began to look a bit strained.

What's going on? Are the kids in the Ninja Academy these days this difficult to deal with? Shouldn't they be fighting to accept a major mission that concerns the future of the entire village? Doubting their own ability? Are they really this cautious?

"Oh? It's not too difficult? If even I can complete it, then most of the ninjas in the village should be able to do it, right?"

At this moment, Araki was like a curious child, constantly questioning this "major mission" from various angles, making Yagura's smile increasingly awkward until he could barely keep up the charade.

The reason he dared to run circles around Yagura was that he had already guessed what this "major mission" that "concerned the future of the entire village" actually was.

If nothing went wrong, in the original timeline, Zabuza must have accepted this mission, which led to him going on a rampage during the graduation exam and slaughtering over a hundred of his fellow students!

And it was this bloody reality that allowed the reformists in Kirigakure, led by Yagura, to seize the opportunity to launch an offensive, ultimately changing this exceptionally cruel graduation system.

Zabuza, who bore all the infamy, was not a "Demon" in the eyes of those who knew the truth, but rather a hero of Kirigakure!

After Yagura ascended to become the Fourth Mizukage in the future, Zabuza, by virtue of this connection, inherited the Kubikiribōchō and became one of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Under the leadership of Yagura—the new Mizukage determined to reform—they prepared to sweep away the gloom of the Bloody Mist and rebuild a new era for Kirigakure.

It was just a pity that Obito Uchiha was truly a scoundrel. Somehow, he used genjutsu to control Yagura, who was a perfect jinchuriki. Carrying his hatred for Kirigakure over the death of Rin Nohara, he not only failed to change the Bloody Mist policy but instead intensified it.

Such a Yagura made Zabuza feel a sense of betrayal!

It was clearly you who once sat before me, discussing ideals and painting a picture of a new future for Kirigakure.

I was moved by your ideals, willing to stain my hands with the blood of my comrades and shoulder every sin alone, all just to make the path ahead of you wider and smoother.

But what was the result? You became the Mizukage and promoted me to inherit the Kubikiribōchō, but was this the ninja blade I truly wanted?

I was willing to sink into the abyss, not for fame or fortune, but for that new world you once described to me!

Yet you have changed; you betrayed our ideals, betrayed the trust I placed in you, and have become even more excessive than the Third Mizukage ever was during his reign!

I cannot help you find your former self, but I will make you realize—

I, Zabuza Momochi, remain the same man I was back then, willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Hidden Mist!

With that, he shouldered the Kubikiribōchō and set off alone on a journey to assassinate the Mizukage.

That lonely, silent, and resolute figure was exactly like the fresh-faced youth about to graduate from the Ninja Academy all those years ago.

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