Black Coffin Takes Down Zabuza in an Instant; A Mysterious Ice Release Ninja!

As a Ninja, having a bounty on your head was nothing unusual. Even the old Third Hokage had been targeted before.

"Quit flattering yourself, you trash. Plenty of people want you dead. Kirigakure, Iwagakure—any of them could've hired me!" Zabuza Momochi unleashed his Chakra and vanished into the pale mist with a Body Flicker Technique.

An instant later, Zabuza appeared behind Cangyue and slashed his Kunai viciously toward his waist.

"How strange." Aogetsu Hyuga stood still, rubbing his chin in thought.

He had plenty of enemies among the Five Great Nations, 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 to come after him?

And why had the bounty appeared so suddenly, right now?

Could it have been Orochimaru or Danzo? Orochimaru seemed likely. He was planning to destroy the village soon, so hiring someone to keep Aogetsu occupied would make sense.

But Orochimaru had plenty of Ninja with bizarre Kekkei Genkai at his disposal. He had no reason to hire an outsider for that.

The same went for that old dog Danzo. With all of Root under his command, he had no reason to hire someone to deal with Aogetsu.

Strange.

While Aogetsu Hyuga pondered, Zabuza's Kunai was already about to cut into his waist.

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

Shing! A cold flash sliced through Aogetsu Hyuga's waist. His slender body split in two, and his upper half slammed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Damn it. I let my guard down." Aogetsu Hyuga lay on the ground, a streak 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 stared blankly at Aogetsu Hyuga on the ground. The body hadn't vanished. That meant it wasn't some sort of clone.

It was the real man!

And a man cut in half at the waist was as good as dead!

He'd won!

He'd actually won!

"Hahahaha! You fool! You dared to get lost in thought while fighting me?" Zabuza Momochi laughed mockingly.

"Listen closely, 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 never would have expected such an easy victory!

He knew the Aogetsu before him was real, so his death was certain.

Rumors were just rumors. Aogetsu was nothing but an overgrown baby with a massive reserve of Chakra!

"Your death will fund my ambitions. That billion-ryō head is mine!" Zabuza Momochi gripped the Kubikiribōchō and was about to cut Aogetsu's throat.

With a billion ryō, he could make a comeback and fulfill his ambition of changing Kirigakure!

At last. He had finally reached this point!

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

Zabuza Momochi answered coldly, "Might as well tell you. You're about to die anyway. Some organization wants your head."

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

But the organization didn't matter. All he had to do was finish the job and collect the 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 burst from his body. His eyes turned foxlike and golden, and he glared 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.

Elemental transformation!

"..."

Everyone froze, staring dumbfounded at Cangyue, who stood unharmed with his hands in his pockets.

What... uh... huh?

Impossible!

Unbelievable!

Utterly baffling!

For a moment, everyone's minds went blank.

"Just a joke. Don't look so shocked." Aogetsu Hyuga licked a bit of 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 gets boring."

Akatsuki, huh.

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

"You..." Zabuza Momochi was dumbstruck.

Why wasn't Aogetsu hurt?

How was he completely fine?

How was he even alive?

He'd felt the blade cut through flesh. Aogetsu hadn't used a clone, and there had been no sign of Genjutsu.

What was going on?

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

But Aogetsu belonged to the Hyuga Clan, didn't he?

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

"Whaaaaaat?" Naruto Uzumaki stared in confusion. 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'd healed instantly!

"A Kekkei Genkai?" Sasuke Uchiha fixed his Two-Tomoe Sharingan on Cangyue in the distance. He'd seen something strange just now: Teacher Cangyue's entire body had turned into lightning before returning to normal.

That wasn't medical treatment. It had to be a Kekkei Genkai!

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

"Are you kidding me? What kind of monster are you?" Zabuza Momochi leaped backward, putting a wide gap between himself and Aogetsu Hyuga. He moved 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 glared at the Kubikiribōchō in Aogetsu Hyuga's hand.

When did he take it?

Damn him!

"We're both human. Calling me a monster is a bit much." Aogetsu Hyuga slung the Kubikiribōchō across his back and slowly raised one finger. Azure electricity crackled at its tip.

"By turning my whole body into lightning through elemental transformation... Never mind. You wouldn't understand a power that goes beyond the realm of Ninja. Call it a Kekkei Genkai if you like."

"In short, physical attacks don't work on me." Aogetsu Hyuga licked strawberry jam from his fingertip, a dangerous smile curling his lips. "You can't hurt me, but I can hurt you easily. Pretty unfair, isn't it?"

Elemental transformation, a power of nature, rendered all physical attacks useless against him. To hurt him physically, an opponent would first have to learn Haki!

Unfortunately for them...

There was no Haki in the Ninja World!

To hurt Aogetsu Hyuga, they would need to use Ninjutsu. Ordinary Ninjutsu wouldn't be enough, though.

The Black Coffin Instantly Defeats Zabuza—a Mysterious Ice Release Ninja! ### "You can go over there. It's your home turf, after all." Aogetsu Hyuga pointed toward the distant lake, his faint smile tinged with arrogance. "Three minutes of free attacks, plus a battlefield that suits you. If you go all out and lose, you won't have any complaints, will you?"

"A bizarre Kekkei Genkai and enormous Chakra reserves... I admit you're strong, Aogetsu Hyuga. You're the strongest Ninja I've ever hunted!" Zabuza Momochi stared at him coldly. Aogetsu was powerful, and his inexplicable ability was absurd.

But Zabuza felt no fear.

He was a tool called a Ninja.

"Ninja are tools without feelings. Emotions are a weakness, and I'm a better Ninja than you!" Zabuza Momochi leaped backward, landed on the lake's surface, and rapidly formed Hand Seals.

He had discarded his emotions long ago. Even dying didn't matter!

If he could fulfill his ambition, what did death matter?

He had no emotions. Aogetsu did.

That was Aogetsu's weakness!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" The lake around Zabuza Momochi churned violently. Five enormous water dragons rose and lunged at Aogetsu Hyuga with terrifying speed.

His Water Release was roughly twice as powerful when he used it near a body of water!

"A Ninja without feelings. How pitiful." Aogetsu Hyuga calmly watched the five enormous water dragons close in.

Whether it was showing off or trying to charm a girl...

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

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

"Phew." Aogetsu Hyuga blew gently. A fierce gale burst forth, carving blade-like gashes into the ground before blowing all five water dragons away.

"That's... incredible!"

Every member of Team 7 stared in shock. Teacher Cangyue had blown away five enormous water dragons with a single breath.

Unbelievable!

Absurd!

"Only someone who lives to fulfill his ambitions deserves to be called a great Ninja. I gave up my emotions long ago!" Zabuza Momochi used Mist Body Flicker to appear in front of Aogetsu Hyuga and slashed his Kunai at his neck.

"A clone?" Aogetsu Hyuga raised a finger. Azure electricity crackled from its tip, sparks slicing into the ground around him like blades.

A boring trick.

"Discharge."

Azure electricity surged out and instantly 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 that brat hostage?" Aogetsu Hyuga glanced toward Team 7 in the distance, his praise laced with mockery. "A dull trick, but exactly what I'd expect from someone weak."

A moment later...

Pale Chakra mist once again blanketed the entire area.

"You have five seconds left." Aogetsu Hyuga walked toward Team 7 through the dense, pale mist, where no one could see a hand in front of their face.

No one else could see through the mist, but Aogetsu Hyuga's Tenseigan had the Byakugan's power to see through obstacles. To him, the mist made no difference.

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"One." Aogetsu Hyuga vanished.

"You worthless Genin are going to be my tools!" Zabuza Momochi used Mist Body Flicker and appeared behind Team 7.

"Oh no!" The members of Team 7 paled. None of them had sensed Zabuza's presence before he appeared.

Just as Zabuza Momochi was about to move, his entire body stiffened. He couldn't budge.

"All right, 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 gravity were crushing his entire body. He couldn't even move a finger.

What was this?

Was it Genjutsu?

"Do you know why I gave you three whole minutes to attack? If I'd gone first, you wouldn't have had a chance to show me anything." Aogetsu Hyuga's finger twitched, and he pronounced his victory in a flat voice.

"I'll make an exception and let you witness power beyond the realm of Ninja!"

"Hadō #90: Black Coffin."

Woom! A massive gust blew Team 7 away. A terrifying pressure bore down on the entire area as black matter rose from the ground and gradually enveloped Zabuza. At last, it formed a towering coffin around him.

"Aaaah!"