Konoha: Starting with the Tenseigan, Taking Over Team 7

It was perfectly normal for a ninja to have a bounty on his head. Even the old Third Hokage had been targeted before.

"Quit flattering yourself, you piece of trash. Plenty of people want you dead. Kirigakure, Iwagakure—it could be anyone. Whoever hired me, it wouldn't be surprising!" Zabuza Momochi unleashed his Chakra and vanished into the pale mist with a Body Flicker Technique.

In the next instant, Zabuza appeared behind Cangyue and slashed viciously at his waist with a Kunai.

"How strange." Aogetsu Hyuga didn't move. He stroked his chin in thought.

He had plenty of enemies among the Five Great Nations, certainly. But Mei Terumi, Ōnoki, and the Raikage were all proud, powerful people.

They knew how strong he was. Why would any of them hire a mere A-Rank Rogue Ninja?

And why put out a Bingo Book so suddenly, at a time like this?

Could it be Orochimaru or Danzo? Snake seemed likely. He planned to destroy the village soon, so hiring someone to keep Cangyue occupied would make sense.

But Orochimaru had plenty of ninja with strange Kekkei Genkai at his disposal. He had no need to hire an outsider for that.

The same went for that old Dog Danzo. He controlled all of Root; he had no need to hire someone to deal with Cangyue.

Strange.

While Aogetsu Hyuga was lost in thought, Zabuza's Kunai was already about to strike his waist.

"Watch out, Teacher Cangyue!" Team 7 cried.

Slash! A cold gleam flashed, and the Kunai cut through Aogetsu Hyuga's waist. His slender body split in two, his upper half crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Damn it. I let my guard down." Aogetsu Hyuga lay on the ground, a trickle of scarlet blood running from his mouth as he stared at Zabuza in disbelief.

"I never thought you'd be... so fast!"

"I... won?" Zabuza Momochi froze. He looked at Aogetsu Hyuga on the ground. When Cangyue didn't disappear, Zabuza knew he wasn't looking at a clone.

This was the real man!

And if the real Cangyue had been cut in half, he was as good as dead!

He'd won!

He had actually won!

"Hahahaha! You idiot! You dared to stand against me and let your mind wander?" Zabuza Momochi laughed mockingly.

"Listen well, Aogetsu Hyuga. I'm Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of Kirigakure!"

"Once you're dead, I'll kill everyone else too—including those three worthless Genin!" Zabuza Momochi picked up the Kubikiribōchō, his eyes cold with murderous intent.

He had never imagined victory would come so easily!

He knew this was the real Cangyue, so there was no doubt Cangyue was finished.

Rumors were just rumors. Cangyue was nothing but an overgrown baby with an enormous supply of Chakra!

"Your death will fund my ambitions. That billion-bounty head is mine!" Zabuza Momochi raised the Kubikiribōchō, about to cut Cangyue's throat.

With a billion in hand, he would have a chance to rise again and fulfill his ambition of changing Kirigakure!

Finally. He had finally made it this far!

Aogetsu Hyuga coughed violently, spitting out a great mouthful of scarlet blood. "Before I die," he said weakly, "tell me who wants me dead."

"I might as well tell you. You're about to die anyway," Zabuza Momochi said coldly. "An organization wants you dead."

He hadn't figured out what kind of organization it was. He only knew it was one.

But it didn't matter. All he had to do was finish the job and collect his money.

"You bastard... I'll kill you!" Memories of his time with Cangyue flashed through Naruto Uzumaki's mind. His face twisted with rage as blood-red Chakra erupted from him. His eyes turned foxlike and golden, glaring at Zabuza Momochi.

"I see. You've been in contact with Akatsuki." Aogetsu Hyuga's severed body turned into azure lightning, then became whole again in an instant.

Elementalization!

"..."

Everyone's faces went rigid. They stared, dumbfounded, at Cangyue standing there unharmed with his hands in his pockets.

What... uh... huh?

It defied belief!

It was impossible!

No one knew what to make of it!

For a moment, everyone stopped thinking.

"Just a joke. Don't look so shocked." Aogetsu Hyuga licked the strawberry jam from the corner of his mouth and smiled at the stunned members of Team 7. "I've always wanted to know what losing feels like. Crushing everyone all the time gets boring."

Akatsuki, huh.

Now that I've taken charge of this brat, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, they can't sit still anymore?

"You..." Zabuza Momochi stared in bewilderment.

Why wasn't Cangyue hurt?

How was Cangyue whole again?

How was he still alive?

Zabuza had felt the blade cut through flesh. Cangyue hadn't used a clone, and there had been no sign of a genjutsu.

What was going on?

Was it a Kekkei Genkai like the Hozuki Clan's?

But Cangyue was... from the Hyuga Clan, wasn't he?

"I'd already won! Why is he still alive? I'm the Demon of Kirigakure!" Aogetsu Hyuga turned his head away but couldn't hold back a laugh. "Pfft. Just thinking about your victory speech makes me embarrassed for you."

"Whaaaaaat?" Naruto Uzumaki stared blankly. The blood-red Chakra leaking from his body vanished as he struggled to understand what had happened.

Teacher Cangyue had been cut in half, yet he had healed in an instant!

"A Kekkei Genkai?" Sasuke Uchiha stared at Cangyue in the distance with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan. He had seen something bizarre: Teacher Cangyue's entire body had turned into lightning before returning to normal.

It couldn't have been medical ninjutsu. It had to be a Kekkei Genkai!

"Phew..." Sakura Haruno took a long breath to steady herself. Then she glared angrily at Aogetsu Hyuga with tearful, reddened eyes. "Teacher Cangyue, please take this seriously! You nearly scared me to death!"

"You've got to be kidding me! Are you a monster?" Zabuza Momochi leaped backward, putting a wide gap between himself and Aogetsu Hyuga. He started to raise the Kubikiribōchō, only to find it gone from his hand. In its place was a Lollipop.

Zabuza Momochi hurled the Lollipop to the ground and fixed his gaze on the Kubikiribōchō in Aogetsu Hyuga's hand.

When did he take my sword?

Damn him!

"We're both human. Calling me a monster is a bit much, don't you think?" Aogetsu Hyuga slung the Kubikiribōchō across his back and slowly raised a finger. Azure electricity sparked at its tip.

"Turn my whole body into lightning through elementalization... Never mind. You probably wouldn't understand power beyond the bounds of a ninja. Call it a Kekkei Genkai if you like."

"In short, I can ignore all physical attacks." Aogetsu Hyuga licked strawberry jam from his fingertip. His lips curved into a dangerous smile. "You can't hurt me, but I can hurt you easily. Unfair, isn't it?"

Elementalization through the power of nature let him ignore every physical attack. To hurt him that way, an opponent would first have to learn Haki!

Unfortunately...

There was no Haki in the Ninja World!

To hurt Aogetsu Hyuga, an opponent would have to use ninjutsu. But ordinary ninjutsu couldn't hurt him either.

Black Coffin Defeats Zabuza in an Instant, and the Mysterious Ice Release Ninja!

"You can go over there. The terrain favors you, after all." Aogetsu Hyuga pointed to the distant Lake, a trace of arrogance in his faint smile. "Three minutes to attack freely, with a battlefield that suits you. Once you've given it your all and lost, you won't have any complaints."

"A bizarre Kekkei Genkai and vast reserves of Chakra... I admit you're strong, Aogetsu Hyuga. Stronger than anyone I've ever hunted!" Zabuza Momochi stared coldly at Cangyue. His strength was formidable, and his abilities defied understanding.

But Zabuza felt no fear.

He was a tool called a ninja.

"Ninja are tools without emotions. Feelings are a weakness. As a ninja, I'm better than you!" Zabuza Momochi leaped back, landed on the lake, and rapidly formed Hand Seals.

He had abandoned his feelings long ago. Even death didn't matter!

If he could fulfill his ambition, what did it matter if he died?

He had no feelings. Cangyue did.

That was Cangyue's weakness!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" The lake around Zabuza Momochi churned violently. Five enormous water dragons rose from it and surged toward Aogetsu Hyuga, jaws snapping.

Using Water Release where water was plentiful made his technique roughly twice as powerful as usual!

"A ninja without feelings. What a pitiful man." Aogetsu Hyuga calmly watched the five enormous water dragons close in.

Whether he wanted to show off or win a girl's heart...

Those were human feelings. Without them, what meaning did power have?

Roar! The five enormous water dragons came within inches of Cangyue.

"Huff." Aogetsu Hyuga blew gently. A fierce Gale burst forth, carving blade-like gouges into the ground and blowing all five water dragons away.

"That's... incredible!"

Every member of Team 7 was stunned. Teacher Cangyue had blown away five enormous water dragons with a single breath.

Unbelievable!

That was absurd!

"Only a ninja who survives to fulfill his ambitions can call himself exceptional. And I abandoned my feelings long ago!" Zabuza Momochi used the Mist Body Flicker to appear before Aogetsu Hyuga and slashed fiercely at his neck with a Kunai.

"A clone?" Aogetsu Hyuga raised a finger. Azure electricity sparked from its tip, stray arcs slicing into the ground around him.

A tedious trick.

"Discharge."

Azure electricity shot out and engulfed Zabuza Momochi. He collapsed into a puddle of water.

"You used a clone to distract me while your real body went after Team 7. Planning to take one of those brats hostage?" Aogetsu Hyuga glanced toward Team 7 in the distance, his praise edged with mockery. "A tedious trick, but exactly what I'd expect from someone weaker."

A moment later...

Pale Chakra mist once again blanketed the entire area.

"You have five seconds left." Aogetsu Hyuga walked slowly toward Team 7 through the pale mist, so thick he could barely see his own hand.

No one else could see a thing in the mist. But Aogetsu Hyuga's Tenseigan had the Byakugan's ability to see through obstacles. To him, the mist made no difference.

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"One." Aogetsu Hyuga vanished.

"You worthless Genin! You'll be my tools!" Zabuza Momochi used the Mist Body Flicker and appeared behind Team 7.

"Not good!" The members of Team 7 paled. They hadn't sensed Zabuza at all until he appeared.

Zabuza Momochi was about to move when he found his entire body locked in place.

"Good. Time's up." Aogetsu Hyuga appeared behind Zabuza Momochi and pressed one finger against the back of his head.

"Wh-what's happening?" Zabuza Momochi's face changed. It felt as though crushing gravity had pinned him down. He couldn't even move a finger.

What was this?

Was it a genjutsu?

"Do you know why I deliberately gave you three minutes to attack? Because if I'd moved first, you wouldn't have had a chance to show me anything." Aogetsu Hyuga's finger twitched slightly as he delivered his victory declaration in an indifferent voice.

"I'll make an exception and show you power beyond the bounds of a ninja!"

"Hado #90: Black Coffin."

Voom! A massive rush of air blew Team 7 away. A terrifying, oppressive presence bore down on the entire area. Black matter rose from the ground and gradually swallowed Zabuza whole, forming a towering coffin.

"Aaaagh!"