Zabuza Isn't Dead Yet

After Haku left, Naruto immediately went to Kakashi. "Who was that just now?"

"An Anbu from the Hidden Mist Village, a unit specifically responsible for dealing with rogue ninja," Kakashi explained simply, but his gaze was still sweeping warily in the direction Haku had disappeared. His Sharingan turned slightly, as though analyzing the details of that brief exchange just now.

He gently pressed the spot beneath his ribs where the senbon had grazed him. The numbness there had not completely faded. "Looks like this mission is even more complicated than expected."

"Is Zabuza dead?" Naruto

hurriedly pressed. He had just seen Zabuza pass out after being struck by that senbon, and though he felt some lingering fear, he also faintly felt things were not that simple.

Kakashi shook his head, his gaze turning toward the depths of the forest where the mist was gradually dispersing. Haku and Zabuza were already nowhere to be seen. "I'm not sure, but judging from that person's actions, he probably took him away." He paused, then added, "The Hidden Mist Anbu's way of dealing with rogue ninja usually wouldn't be this 'gentle.' Even if they were reporting back, bringing back the head should have been enough."

"In other words, Zabuza isn't dead yet." Duanmu stepped forward and said, pretending to think it over.

"Hm?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow, seeming a little surprised by Duanmu's sharpness. "You noticed too?"

Duanmu nodded. His gaze fell on the puddle left behind after the Water Clone Technique had dispersed, and he said thoughtfully, "That 'Anbu' just now was wearing a mask, but his build looked... very slender. It didn't seem like the physique an Anbu member who carried out assassination missions year-round should have. And the way he rescued Zabuza was strange. It didn't look like escorting a prisoner. It was more like... taking away a companion."

Sasuke had been listening in silence, and now he added, "The chakra on that senbon was weak, but very distinctive. It wasn't offensive. It was more like... an anesthetic, or something that suppressed chakra flow. If he really was Anbu, wouldn't it have been easier to silence him on the spot?"

Naruto was completely confused. He scratched his head. "What slender? What chakra? What are you guys talking about? Wasn't it just the Hidden Mist Anbu coming to capture a rogue ninja?"

"It's not that simple." Kakashi stood up and patted the dust from his clothes. Though his face was still somewhat pale, he had already recovered quite a bit. "But that's not the most important thing right now. Mr. Tazuna, we have to leave here as soon as possible and head to the Land of Waves. Zabuza failed once. Next time, even more troublesome enemies may appear."

Tazuna, who had been hiding behind a tree and trembling the whole time, quickly nodded. The battle just now had almost scared the soul out of this ordinary old man. Now that he heard they could leave, it was as though he had been granted a pardon. "Yes, yes! Let's go quickly!"

Kakashi glanced at Sasuke and Naruto, then finally let his gaze fall on Duanmu. "Duanmu, that technique you used just now was Flying Raijin, wasn't it?"

Duanmu's heart tightened. He had not expected Kakashi to recognize this still-incomplete technique.

He did not hide it and nodded frankly. "Yes, but I've only grasped the basics so far. I can only perform short-distance teleportation to marked locations, and the consumption is huge. That move just now nearly drained more than half my chakra." He spread his hands, a trace of helplessness appearing on his face. "It still isn't very useful at critical moments. I couldn't help more right away."

Kakashi looked at him deeply, a trace of barely perceptible approval in his eyes. "Once we reach the Land of Waves, I'll teach you some techniques related to Flying Raijin."

When Duanmu heard this, his heart filled with wild joy, though he tried hard to keep his face calm. "Really? Then thank you so much, Kakashi-sensei!"

As a legendary space-time ninjutsu, the Flying Raijin Technique had always been something he had dreamed of mastering. Kakashi's guidance would undoubtedly let him avoid many detours.

"Don't get too happy yet," Kakashi said lightly. "Flying Raijin has extremely high requirements for chakra control and spatial perception. Your foundation still isn't solid enough. The training from here on will be very harsh."

"I understand!" Duanmu nodded hard, a determined light flashing in his eyes. "No matter how hard it is, I'll keep going!"

Naruto looked at Duanmu and Kakashi and asked, "Kakashi-sensei, do you know Flying Raijin?"

"I don't, but I was at least once a student of the Fourth Hokage, and he did tell me some things about it." Kakashi's tone was calm, as though he were talking about something insignificant, but Duanmu and Sasuke could both hear the weight in those words—receiving guidance from a direct disciple of the Fourth Hokage was already an incredible opportunity.

Naruto, however, did not hear the deeper meaning. He only shouted excitedly, "Wow! The Fourth Hokage! That's the Yellow Flash, right? Duanmu, you're amazing! You're actually learning such an awesome ninjutsu!"

"Oh, right, one more thing." Kakashi seemed to have remembered something. "From now on, the four of you will undergo even harsher training. In my battle with Zabuza just now, I used the Sharingan for too long and consumed a large amount of chakra. Over the next few days, I may not be able to protect you all at full strength. This encounter with Zabuza happened to let you recognize the gap between yourselves and real ninja. Especially your ability to respond at life-or-death moments, your teamwork, and your precise chakra control—you all still have a very long way to go."

By the time they reached Tazuna's house, the sky had already gone completely dark.

Tazuna's house was an ordinary wooden cabin built on a seaside cliff. It was not large, but it was kept fairly tidy.

When they pushed open the creaking wooden door, a faint fishy smell mixed with the salty scent of the sea breeze rushed toward them. The furnishings inside were simple and plain: an old wooden table, several chairs, some fishing nets and fishing gear piled in the corner, and a somewhat faded nautical chart hanging on the wall.

"Everyone, please come in. Sit wherever you like." Tazuna rubbed his hands somewhat awkwardly and quickly took several clean cups from the cabinet. "I don't have much to offer you here, only some coarse tea."

Kakashi waved a hand, indicating there was no need to trouble himself. He found a seat by the window and sat down, his gaze still vigilantly sweeping over the sea outside and the movement below the cliff. Clearly, he had not completely relaxed his guard.

Duanmu, Sasuke, and Naruto, however, were already exhausted from the earlier fierce battle and the long journey. They dropped into chairs and panted heavily.

Naruto almost immediately collapsed onto the table and complained weakly, "I'm dead tired... Today was way too exciting! But that guy called Zabuza, and that masked 'Anbu' afterward, were both so strong..."

Sasuke only glanced at him indifferently and said nothing, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly in a barely noticeable way.

At the moment, he was resting with his eyes closed, but in truth, he was silently sorting through the gains and losses from today's battle. In particular, his coordination with Duanmu and Naruto, as well as the helplessness he had felt when facing Zabuza, had given him a clearer understanding of his own strength.

Duanmu, meanwhile, was carefully observing the interior of the house. He noticed that when Tazuna poured tea for them, his hands trembled slightly, and his eyes carried a lingering worry that would not fade.

Clearly, Zabuza's appearance had made the old man even more worried about the construction of the bridge and his own safety.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Gato found Zabuza. Under threat, Zabuza was forced to accept the mission to assassinate Tazuna again.

In the dark, damp warehouse, the light of the kerosene lamp flickered unsteadily, illuminating Gato's fleshy face until it looked like that of a demon. He kicked Zabuza, who was slumped on the floor, with the tip of his shoe, his tone full of contempt and threat. "Trash! You couldn't even kill one old thing, and you got beaten into this state by a few genin!"

Zabuza slowly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and specks of blood had seeped through the bandages on his face.

After Haku rescued him, he had received simple treatment, but the internal injuries from his battle with Kakashi and the numbing effect caused by the senbon had not fully faded. Right now, his body was unbearably weak.

"Gato, don't go too far." Zabuza's voice was hoarse and low, carrying a trace of suppressed anger. "Kakashi's strength was far beyond my expectations. There was also that brat who knows the Flying Raijin Technique, and those two genin who can coordinate with him so well. They aren't that easy to deal with."

"Hmph. Excuses!" Gato sneered, pulled a thick check from his chest, and threw it onto the floor in front of Zabuza. "This is five hundred thousand ryo. If you successfully kill Tazuna this time, the money is yours. If you fail again..." A vicious glint flashed through Gato's eyes. "You know the consequences."

Zabuza looked at the check on the ground, then looked at Gato's hideous face. His tightly clenched fists slowly loosened. He knew he had no way out anymore.

"I understand." In the end, Zabuza lowered his head, his voice full of humiliation and unwillingness. "I'll complete the mission."

Gato laughed in satisfaction and patted Zabuza's cheek with his hand, as though soothing an obedient dog. "That's more like it. A wise man submits to circumstances. Remember, don't try anything. My men will be watching you."

After saying that, he swaggered out of the warehouse with his subordinates, leaving only Zabuza behind under the dim light, his figure looking especially lonely.

In the corner of the warehouse, Haku slowly stepped out. He helped the weak Zabuza up, his eyes full of worry. "Mr. Zabuza..."

"I'm fine." Zabuza interrupted him. His tone was cold, but a trace of complicated emotion swept through his eyes. "Prepare yourself. We move tonight."

Haku nodded silently. He knew Zabuza's decision could not be changed. Without a word, he changed Zabuza's bandages, his movements gentle and practiced. Moonlight shone in through the cracks in the warehouse, illuminating Haku's delicate face. There was no fear in his eyes, only absolute loyalty to Mr. Zabuza.