Lone Wolf in the Rain, Zabuza's Desperate Situation

Torrential rain poured down at the border of the Land of Water.

Massive raindrops hammered into the dense broadleaf forest, their relentless impacts blending into one continuous roar.

Heavy dark clouds sealed off the sky, leaving the forest dim and murky. Only when lightning split the heavens did its ghastly white light illuminate this desolate killing ground.

The standing water had long since been dyed dark red with blood, while puddles of varying depths dotted the muddy ground.

Zabuza Momochi panted heavily, his chest heaving violently. Every breath brought a thick taste of blood up his throat.

The broad blade was planted upside-down in the mud, barely supporting his unsteady body as both hands gripped the Kubikiribōchō.

This famed blade, capable of regenerating by drinking blood, was now chipped in several places, its surface covered in crisscrossing cracks.

The muscles all over Zabuza's body had been severely torn. Several wounds deep enough to expose bone ran from his left shoulder to his right ribs. Blood streamed down his calves, only to be swiftly washed away by the rain.

Haku knelt on one knee in the mud behind him. His kimono had been torn apart by sharp blades, and fine wounds covered his exposed pale skin.

To stop the enemy's advance, he froze the ground ahead into ice. Gritting his teeth, he rapidly formed hand seals, trying to squeeze out every last trace of chakra.

Thirty elite Hidden Mist Village ninja wearing Anbu masks formed a flawless encirclement, their positions tightly coordinated.

Every possible direction Zabuza could use to break through had been completely sealed.

This pursuit was the price of failure. The assassination had failed, and the Mizukage's strength had far exceeded their expectations.

"Give up, Demon. Your head... Lord Mizukage specifically asked for it."

Looking down at his target from above, the cold voice of the Hidden Mist Village Anbu captain pierced through the rain. He stood on a thick tree branch.

Forcing himself upright, Zabuza pulled the Kubikiribōchō from the ground. Its heavy blade flung up sheets of muddy water as he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.

He held the blade across his body in front of Haku, completely shielding that thin figure behind him. His savage gaze swept over the Anbu around them one by one, but he never spoke.

It was a silent warning from a man with nowhere left to run, directed at anyone who dared approach.

Haku stared at Zabuza's wounded back, his throat tightening as an unbearable ache filled his chest.

I am Lord Zabuza's tool.

When a tool loses its usefulness, it should give its master its final measure of worth.

Closing his eyes, Haku made the chakra within his body rapidly flow in reverse, compressing and gathering it toward his heart. He drew in a deep breath of icy air.

His Ice Release Kekkei Genkai was pushed to the limit his body could currently endure. The rain filling the sky was infected by the chill and froze into tiny ice crystals one after another.

He was preparing to take the surrounding enemies down with him.

Just as the ice crystals were about to take shape, a sudden set of footsteps cut through the noisy rain and clearly reached everyone present.

Boots stepped through the mud with heavy, wet sounds. The footsteps remained steady and measured, neither hesitant nor concealed.

Every gaze behind the masks turned toward the depths of the forest, and all the Hidden Mist Village Anbu turned their heads at once.

Zabuza also glanced sideways, his hand around the sword hilt tightening once more.

Three figures emerged from the shadows of the dense forest.

Ye walked at the front, holding a large black umbrella in his right hand. The umbrella blocked the pouring rain, which gathered along its ribs and streamed down from the edges in clear rivulets.

He wore a long black coat without any visible insignia. His leather boots stepped through the mud, yet not a speck of filth stained them.

Izumi Uchiha followed quietly on his right, half a step behind.

Kabuto Yakushi walked on the left, a smile of unreadable intent lingering at his lips as he raised a hand to push up his rain-speckled glasses.

The three of them shared one umbrella and calmly walked into the area, facing the hostility surrounding them from all sides.

The Hidden Mist Village Anbu stationed around them were not even worth acknowledging in the eyes of the three. They advanced calmly, their steps never faltering in the slightest.

Their utterly unconcerned attitude briefly silenced the tense encirclement, leaving only the chaotic sound of torrential rain striking branches and leaves.

The hand concealed at his side rapidly flashed through signals as the Anbu captain narrowed his eyes.

Two Anbu formed hand seals at the same time and immediately broke away from the encirclement. After several swift flickers, they blocked Ye's path.

"Where did these little brats come from? You dare meddle in Blood Mist's affairs? While we're at it, slaughter them too."

The captain gave the order coldly. Water Release chakra gathered within the two Anbu, transforming into two rapidly spinning torrents that shot straight for Ye's face.

Ye did not stop walking, nor did he even raise his eyelids.

Just as the water streams closed in, a mechanical notification abruptly rang through his mind.

"Ding. An important plot character has been detected in critical condition. The system has triggered a random mission. Please make your choice."

"Option One: Stand by and do nothing, allowing Zabuza and Haku to be killed by the Hidden Mist Village Anbu. Reward: one rusty standard kunai."

"Option Two: Go with the flow and assist the Hidden Mist Village Anbu in killing the rogue ninja, using this opportunity to curry favor with the Mizukage. Reward: one C-rank Water Clone scroll."

"Option Three: Forcefully seize them, subdue the Demon and Ice Release in their desperate situation, reshape the Blood Mist's landscape. Reward: Ice Release: Absolute Zero Origin, which can greatly raise the upper limit of the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai and grant chakra freezing properties."

Ye's gaze passed over the two Anbu blocking his path and landed on the boy behind them, who was about to collapse. A cold smile appeared on his lips.

If the Ice Release Origin were given to Haku, it would be enough to cultivate this boy into a terrifyingly powerful fighter.

There was no need to hesitate over this choice.

Ye made his decision at once and chose Option Three.

He stopped walking and casually handed the black umbrella to Izumi behind him.

Izumi immediately took it in perfect understanding, tilting the umbrella to completely shield Ye from the rain falling overhead.

Without forming hand seals or performing any complex chakra shape transformation, Ye raised his right hand as he watched the two streams of water rushing toward him.

The immense chakra of his Sage Body burst from his body. Dark purple light rapidly condensed, forming a sharp blade-like gleam along the edge of his palm.

"Eager to die, are you...? Fine, I'll grant your wish."

Leaving a crescent-shaped afterimage in midair, the purple chakra blade swept through the rain as Ye struck out with a backhanded palm.

The spinning water torrents shattered into a spray of mist. The two streams, powerful enough to easily smash apart rock, struck the blade gleam and were severed in half on the spot.

The two Hidden Mist Village Anbu standing behind the water mist froze at the same time, thin lines of blood appearing across their necks.

The next instant, two masked heads flew into the sky. Warm blood erupted from their severed necks, dyeing the rainwater flowing beneath their feet crimson.

The two Hidden Mist Village Anbu died instantly, killed with a single strike.

The Anbu captain's eyes widened, and the fingers hanging at his sides subtly tensed.

He had formed no hand seals, yet he had cut through Water Release from that distance and taken the heads of two Anbu through the air. This was not something ordinary ninjutsu could accomplish.

Who exactly was this brat who had suddenly appeared?

The scarlet Three-Tomoe rapidly connected, ultimately transforming into an enchanting red spider lily pattern as Izumi tightened her grip on the umbrella handle.

Her Mangekyō Sharingan began to turn, bringing every enemy around them into her field of vision.

Next came nothing but slaughter.