After lunging backward to create distance, Zabuza roared, "I am not the small-fry I used to be! 'A', even you must take me seriously now!"
Along with his roar, he unleashed his entire chakra reserve.
Rumble...
In an instant, a massive, visible pillar of chakra soared into the sky, alarming the entire Research Institute!
"What's happening!?"
"What incredibly powerful chakra!"
"Is there an enemy invasion?"
Researchers in the various laboratories looked over one after another, their faces filled with astonishment. In their view, no force in the shinobi world should dare to oppose Akatsuki led by "A"—not even the Five Great Hidden Villages. They were bewildered as to who this arrogant chakra belonged to.
Haku and Yakumo, responsible for guarding the Institute, naturally sensed Zabuza's eruption immediately and arrived at the special training ground in an instant.
Seeing Zabuza still flaring his chakra in the center of the field, Yakumo frowned. "How... how is this possible!?"
As one of the results of this large-scale cell transplantation trial, she had known about Zabuza's condition even before Shinji. She had also observed the few strength tests the research group had conducted on him; at that time, Zabuza was clearly not this strong!
Haku's expression was solemn as he analyzed, "Perhaps he was hiding his strength before!"
Orochimaru appeared at the training ground at some unknown point. "No, he didn't hide his strength in the previous tests. Or more accurately, the previous tests weren't capable of measuring his true potential at all."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
In the sound of breaking wind, figures landed one after another by the field.
Hiruko was among them. Looking at Zabuza, whose chakra was still climbing, his expression was complex. At this moment, the "Chimera Technique" he was so proud of seemed significantly eclipsed by the power of Otsutsuki Shibai.
Beside him, Sasori remained silent. A single cell transplantation surgery had granted Zabuza power beyond his imagination; the impact on a proud individual like Sasori was palpable.
Just then, a researcher holding an instrument cried out, "The chakra readings are still rising! They've already surpassed a Tailed Beast!"
Tsunade, who had also hurried over, murmured upon hearing this, "Is this the power of the Otsutsuki clan?"
On the other side.
Sensing a familiar power, the monitored siblings Eida and Daemon slipped out of their residence and arrived at the field.
Seeing them, Amado frowned slightly. "Why did you two come out?"
Eida looked at the field and said, "I felt a familiar aura. That guy opposite 'A', is he your new result?"
Amado took a drag of his cigarette. "Mm."
Eida curled her lip. "Doesn't look like much!" She didn't want a test subject stronger than her to appear in Amado's lab; that would draw "A's" attention away. Therefore, sensing the same aura as her own, she ignored the prohibition and came straight to the training ground.
Daemon asked, "Do you need me to go beat him up?"
Eida shook her head. "No need. That guy has no idea how powerful 'A' really is!"
In the arena.
Zabuza, whose chakra continued to intensify, grinned. "Do you see? This is my true strength!"
Shinji silently evaluated Zabuza. From the quantity and intensity of the chakra, Zabuza's current state was close to Shion's—he belonged to the tier just below the "Six Paths Level." From that perspective, Zabuza's arrogance wasn't entirely unearned. After all, excluding the Otsutsuki clan, only a handful of shinobi in a thousand years of history had reached this realm.
But that wasn't what Shinji cared about. What he truly cared about was whether Zabuza had obtained any "Shinjutsu" from Shibai's cells. If Zabuza had gained a Shinjutsu through the transplant, Shinji could use it to redesign a growth system for the Six Paths Level.
Confirming that Zabuza's chakra eruption had reached its peak, Shinji beckoned to him, signaling for him to make a move.
"Hmph, watch out, I won't be holding back!"
Zabuza lowered his stance. At this moment, he truly exuded the aura of the "Demon!"
"Will there be an accident?"
"There's no need for the Leader to personally face such a monster!"
The researchers at the sidelines cried out in surprise. Many of them lacked a direct understanding of Shinji's strength, but the power Zabuza displayed now surpassed the strongest people they had ever seen—even surpassing their imagination. Quite a few began to worry for Shinji.
Boom!
Soon, the sonic boom created by Zabuza charging toward Shinji instantly drowned out all the cries at the sidelines!
However, the noise came fast and went just as quickly. In the next instant, the sound came to a dead stop!
Everyone looked hurriedly and found that after building up his momentum for so long, Zabuza's punch was caught by Shinji—who hadn't dodged—with a simple, effortless lift of his hand.
"!?" Zabuza's face was filled with shock.
Shinji, however, stared at Zabuza with a questioning look, his eyes seemingly asking, "Are you holding back? Why didn't you use your full strength?"
Zabuza was both ashamed and furious. All his grand ambitions vanished in an instant. As an Elite Jonin of the Mist, he had experience, but it was limited to the Kage level. Gaining power beyond that had inevitably made him overconfident.
With this single punch, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He woke up instantly, realizing the gap between himself and "A" was still immeasurable.
Understanding this, he didn't hesitate for a second. He pulled back, preparing to break out and escape. He had risked the experiment to gain power; now that he had it, he had no intention of staying here as a lab rat for researchers to analyze.
Shinji saw through Zabuza's intent. With a lift of his hand, he activated Bansho Ten'in, sucking Zabuza back and grabbing him by the collar.
The surrounding onlookers also realized Zabuza was trying to flee and assumed defensive stances. Haku and Yakumo rushed into the training ground.
"Dammit!" Zabuza pulled out a kunai, preparing to stab Shinji.
Shinji casually sealed Zabuza's chakra and knocked away the incoming kunai. He then fixed his gaze on Zabuza's right eye, where a dojutsu was currently manifesting.
He had confirmed that Zabuza had not obtained the "Shinjutsu" that Eida and Daemon possessed. The only remaining possibility for a Shinjutsu was that right eye.
Tossing Zabuza back to Amado, Shinji instructed, "Keep a close watch on him!"
"Yes!" Amado nodded.
Shinji then looked at Orochimaru, Hiruko, Tsunade, Sasori, and the others. "Step up the trials. I need to see more results!"
"Yes!"
Seeing Shinji suppress Zabuza—who had obtained such terrifying power—so easily, no one dared to harbor any ulterior motives. They all nodded in agreement!