The Backup Plan?

"Call..."

Zabuza knew that people were gradually approaching, but he could only deal with Hozuki Mangetsu first before he could fight them. Although it took some effort, Hozuki Mangetsu should be out of fighting power.

"Zabuza Momochi! Are you going to defect from the village?!"

"Kill him!"

Seeing the Hōzuki Clan ninjas glaring angrily at Zabuza, ready to attack at any moment, Hozuki Mangetsu slowly stood up, gently raised his hand, and after everyone fell silent, his gaze returned to Zabuza.

"I'm sorry, senior..."

"I have my reasons for having to be here..."

He glanced at Zabuza with a complex expression, Zabuza, letting his clansmen surround him.

Zabuza's gaze remained unwavering; in fact, a carefree smile played on his lips.

"Then let's fight!"

"I never expected the Hozuki Clan to appear here, especially since they were defeated..."

Zabuza was about to raise his long sword and charge into the crowd, a clear and melodious female voice came from afar.

"Tap tap..."

The footsteps were made without any attempt to conceal them, and in a moment a group of people arrived and landed to the side.

Mei Terumi's hair was completely dry, and she looked at Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza with a somewhat interested expression.

"It seems the Terumi Family also has some ulterior motives..."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't help but speak sarcastically, saying that everyone gathered here today had ulterior motives.

"Well, what a pity. I was hoping to get a chance to spar with a genius like you from the Hozuki Family..."

Mei Terumi finished speaking, she stopped looking at Hozuki Mangetsu. However, she also breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the Hōzuki Clan was not entirely stupid. They knew that a coup d'état by force was not an option. If it was just Zabuza Momochi, it wouldn't be a big deal.

"Demon Zabuza Momochi..."

"I never imagined you'd come to this..."

Mei Terumi didn't know much about Zabuza; in fact, most of the Mist Shinobi members only knew the name Zabuza Momochi because of the fact that he had killed all his classmates.

She just didn't quite understand why he wanted to assassinate Karatachi Yagura, especially at this very particular moment. Was it someone's doing...?

She couldn't help but think of the Taketori Family, who weren't present at the moment...

"The eldest daughter of the Terumi Family, huh...?"

"I've long admired your name..."

Zabuza's face turned serious. He roughly understood that he probably wouldn't have any chance to get close to the Water Shadow Building today.

Ignoring Mei Terumi's questioning gaze, and seemingly sensing something, he slowly raised his head and looked in the direction of the Water Shadow Building.

A boy with a youthful face appeared in his sight, standing by the window with his arms crossed, watching them fight not far away with a blank expression, and even a strange smile on his lips.

In an instant, countless thoughts surged through Zabuza's mind, but in the end he could only remain silent and lower his head. A strange anger, an anger he had never felt before, rose in his heart, as if it were about to devour him.

A nameless sorrow filled his heart. His plan, which he deeply believed to be about changing the country and was the hope of the entire village, was known only to those who knew it. Now, however, it had been exposed to everyone else...

"Karatachi Yagura!!!"

"Kill!"

Zabuza stared intently at Karatachi Yagura for a moment, Zabuza roared and, gripping his sword hilt tightly, charged towards the group.

"Miss Ming, please stay away..."

Ao shielded Mei Terumi's side and directed the Terumi Family ninjas to rush forward. Without Hozuki Mangetsu's command, the Hōzuki Clan ninjas had already drawn their Kunai.

A massive battle is about to break out...

Zabuza Momochi -handedly Jonin dozens of Chunin.

Each of them was an elite ninja from their clan, not ordinary cannon fodder on the battlefield.

A Chunin rushed forward with a sinister grin. Zabuza sword, scattering snowflakes that mingled with the rain. However, his left leg was pierced by Kunai from behind. Enduring the pain, he traded his injury for another, severely injuring a Jonin. Then, his arm was broken by a heavy punch and hung limply to the side.

The longer the battle lasts, the worse Zabuza's condition becomes. In the current Shinobi World, there are probably very few ninjas who are unafraid of being surrounded, not even the Raikage...

With a stab wound to the shoulder, Zabuza was momentarily numb with intense pain. He was kicked up and slammed against the wall. He could no longer hold onto his Kubikiribōchō and it fell to the ground, where he landed covered in blood in the mud.

His eyes were bloodshot, but he still raised his head with a fighting spirit, staring intently at the spot on the high platform where Karatachi Yagura had just been standing.

But there was no one there anymore...

At this moment, he lay fallen into the mud, like a lowly insect crawling in the filth, forever unable to approach those high and mighty people, not even worthy of their proper glance...

The surrounding ninjas slowly gathered around. It seemed that they all tacitly agreed not to end his life immediately. The traditional ferocity of Mist Shinobi gradually appeared on everyone's face. They were angry, they hated, and they had their reasons.

Zabuza in blood, but he still managed to get up with great difficulty. The wind and rain raged around him, and his once tall body seemed so frail in the torrential rain.

His severed arm could no longer lift the Kubikiribōchō. He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly stomped his left foot, Kubikiribōchō flying into the air. A moment later, it fell straight down and embedded itself in the ground. Zabuza breathe a sigh of relief, slowly resting his weight on the back of the blade.

His hands, stained with blood and mud, gently stroked the blade of the Kubikiribōchō. At this moment, seemingly nearing the last moment of his life, he felt a sense of complete relief, no longer burdened by bitterness and hatred, no longer burdened by daily worries.

Quietly sensing the wind, rain Zabuza coughed lightly twice, blood slowly flowing down the corner of his mouth. Yet, a smile slowly appeared on his face as he quietly watched the people slowly gathering in the distance, seemingly answering Mei Terumi's question from earlier. With a light laugh, he gazed at the girl beside the crowd.

"Everyone who loves the land beneath their feet will likely stand up resolutely in such a moment of crisis, even if they are powerless to help even if they risk their lives, but even if they do nothing, they will stand there without taking a single step back!"

"Because just standing here, you can feel the power surging from this land, so immense, capable of destroying all the ugliness on this land, allowing future generations to grow freely on it..."

Zabuza Momochi remained silent, his gaze calm, as if preparing to face death with equanimity, and with a look of remembrance, he finally looked at the village he loved so dearly.

The two Kirigakure Ninja from the two clans showed no emotion in their eyes, as if they hadn't heard what he said. They even sneered, their Kunai still gleaming with a bloodthirsty light as they drew closer and closer.

Perhaps it is because this world is full of people like Zabuza that an existence like him possesses special significance.

Zabuza

Mei Terumi frowned slightly and glanced at Zabuza. At that moment, she seemed to finally understand why this man, whom she thought knew nothing and understood nothing, had come here to assassinate the Mizukage.

Wanting to say something, he turned and exchanged a glance with Hozuki Mangetsu. Their expressions were similar; both wanted to speak, but Zabuza, seemingly hesitant. They could only suppress their thoughts and witness the man's final moments.

"Wow, it's quite lively here..."

The sudden sound shattered all the strange thoughts, and a strong killing intent enveloped everyone. The ninjas of the Terumi Family and Hōzuki Clan were suddenly startled. They had not sensed anyone's presence, yet this person had been quietly lurking around them, already so close. They immediately jumped back and stood guard beside Hozuki Mangetsu and Mei Terumi.

The most important mission of a clan ninja is to protect the important members of the clan; nothing is more important than that.

"Tap tap..."

The footsteps grew closer, slowly emerging from the thick fog. The figure of the person behind Zabuza became clearer and clearer. Facing the heavy rain and the cold gaze of the Kirigakure Ninja, the person struck Zabuza unconscious with Zabuza and carried him on their shoulder.

"Zabuza's accomplice...?"

Akihamaru's eyes were devoid of emotion. He merely glanced at the Mist Shinobi members, chuckled softly, and rain fell on his face, soaking him completely. Without uttering a word, he walked step by step into the thick fog.

"Why aren't we chasing him? He's all alone..."

Hozuki Mangetsu remained expressionless, only rebuking the clansman who had spoken in a low voice.

"We must not be careless. Daring to Mizukage Lord Mizukage, it's probably not that simple..."

Mei Terumi frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought. Zabuza's life or death was of little concern to the Terumi Family. As long as today's events ended there, his life or death was no longer important.

But today's events inexplicably made her think more deeply, and for the first time, she began to consider the relationship between her family and the village from a higher perspective.

"Boom!!!"

Just when everyone thought the matter was over, the Water Shadow Building, which they had guarded for a day, was blown to smithereens like a block of tofu, and the thick smoke rising was not stopped by the strong wind and heavy rain.

"Oh no! They really did have a backup plan!"

Mei Terumi's eyes widened suddenly, and she couldn't help but glance at Hozuki Mangetsu. A hint of suspicion and gloom appeared in her eyes, and she involuntarily distanced herself from the other party's clan ninja.

"Immediately proceed to protect Mizukage! Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

Ao's voice was loud, as if he was deliberately speaking to the Hōzuki Clan ninjas. Along the way, the two teams of ninjas kept a short distance apart but were wary of each other as they rushed toward the Water Shadow Building, which was billowing with thick smoke.