Bai's eyes widened in disbelief as he clearly saw the man's face. His pupils trembled violently.
"Don't tell me… it's Master Zabuza again?!"
"Why are you here?!"
At that moment, Zabuza stood before him, face half-covered in bandages, the massive Executioner's Blade resting on his back. Despite his unchanged grim expression, his eyes held something different—conflict and sorrow.
Since Bai's death, Zabuza had lost all direction. The ideals that once drove him no longer mattered. He drifted through life, surviving through menial tasks, hollow and purposeless.
That was until the name "Morkel" spread across the ninja world—first as a Wood Style user, then as a genius from Konoha. Every village whispered about him. The young prodigy, elusive and powerful, was unlike any other.
Though Zabuza and Morkel had no personal feud, Zabuza yearned for a new purpose. Morkel became that light—a target to pursue, someone worthy of measuring himself against.
He trained, waited, and watched. But with Morkel mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, locating him became nearly impossible.
Then came the Fourth Great Ninja War. Zabuza joined the Allied Shinobi Forces under the Mist. Rumors hinted that Morkel was operating nearby. That was enough. Zabuza set out.
Unexpectedly, he encountered two Konoha shinobi escaping through the forest… and Bai, resurrected, walking with them.
Though Zabuza kept his face neutral, his heart pounded violently.
"Bai… where have you been all these years?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"I'm not sure," Bai replied, shaking his head. "It feels like I just took a nap and woke up here. But now… my body isn't under my control."
He turned his face away. "Master Zabuza, please leave. I don't want to hurt you."
Inside the Akatsuki's Secret Base
Kabuto grinned wickedly as he monitored the scene.
"Retaining the consciousness of reincarnated ninjas was definitely the right move. Otherwise, we wouldn't get such touching reunions."
He snickered. "Too bad I can only control their bodies, not their mouths…"
Back in the Forest
Zabuza raised his massive blade and glared at Bai. "Who's controlling you? Tell me, and I'll save you!"
Far away, Kakashi led the Third Division and noticed movement in the distance. He narrowed his eyes. "Hmm? Those people look familiar…"
Inside the base, the masked man questioned Kabuto, "You've summoned so many past Kage. Why not resurrect the Hokages from Konoha?"
Kabuto replied calmly, "The Fourth Hokage is sealed. The Third's body is hard to retrieve. As for the First and Second… they're too powerful. It's risky."
"But Orochimaru managed to summon them during the Konoha Crush."
"My method is different," Kabuto explained. "If I bring them back, they'll be stronger than ever… which also means harder to control."
The masked man accepted this and left.
Kabuto resumed his scheming, staring at the board before him.
Back on the Battlefield
Suddenly, the Impure World Reincarnation ninjas, including Bai and others with Kekkei Genkai, attacked!
"Master Zabuza, please run!" Bai cried out. "I can't control my body!"
Zabuza stood firm, blade raised. "I finally see you again. You think I'd run?!"
As he blocked attacks from the resurrected enemies, Hyuga Tokuma and Aburame Muta escaped.
But before they could get far, an ice mirror blocked their path.
"Damn!" Tokuma cursed.
Bai leapt from the mirror like a ghost, kunai in hand, aiming for Tokuma—only to be intercepted by Zabuza's sword.
The kunai clashed with steel. Bai retreated into the mirror, vanishing again.
Confused, Tokuma and Muta looked at Zabuza.
"I'm not saving you," Zabuza said coldly. "I'm opposing whoever controls Bai. That makes us allies."
The two ninja exchanged glances, then bowed quickly. "Thank you!"
They turned and fled to deliver crucial intel.
Meanwhile, Zabuza and ten Mist ninjas clashed with multiple Impure World Reincarnation enemies, chaos unfolding around them.
"This is madness!" one shouted. "They're immune to death!"
Another yelled, "These Explosion Style freaks are impossible to stop!"
Zabuza's breaths grew ragged. He collapsed, blood spilling from his mouth, yet he still held his sword tightly.
"Agh… if I have to die… can you at least let Bai stop…"
He closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
Kabuto, watching, smirked. "Let's give him his last wish."
He ordered Bai to walk toward Zabuza, kunai drawn.
As the blade neared Zabuza's heart, a familiar voice cried out—
"Hey, Zabuza! Don't lie there like that! Look at Bai one last time!"
Zabuza opened his eyes. Allied ninjas had arrived—Kakashi among them, fighting fiercely.
Kakashi pointed.
Zabuza looked up. Bai was standing in front of him, the kunai meant for Zabuza now plunged into his own chest.
"I couldn't do it," Bai said, his body beginning to dissolve. "I chose to stab myself… and it worked. I regained control."
"Whether dead or alive, I want to protect you."
"Goodbye, Master Zabuza…"
Before he could finish, Bai faded into light and vanished.
Kakashi sighed. "So… the Reanimation Jutsu can be broken by willpower alone…"
Zabuza, silent, picked up his sword and charged back into battle.
Kabuto was stunned.
"Even I didn't expect that… Seems like retaining consciousness comes with risk. But only a rare few can break free…"
Cloud Shinobi Village — Allied Headquarters
In the command center, a massive water sphere projected battlefield data. Kirigakure's Ao and a team of sensory ninjas operated it.
Ao reported, "Commander! The Third Division is engaged in heavy combat with resurrected Kekkei Genkai users!"
Yamanaka Inoichi confirmed the message from their communication ninja.
"The enemies include Ice Style, Explosion Style, and Scorch Style users…"
Raikage frowned. "Undead Bloodline ninjas… this is becoming troublesome."
He turned to Tsunade. "Any ideas?"
Tsunade massaged her temples. "Each unit has sealing squads. First, restrict their movement, then seal them."
Tsuchikage muttered, "Fighting immortal bloodline warriors is no easy feat. Konoha's Second Hokage really left behind a headache…"
Tsunade replied, "There's no perfect solution—only containment."
Just then, Morkel arrived outside the village.
"I'm glad I marked this place earlier," he murmured, appearing via Flying Thunder God Technique.
Inside, the commanders were shocked.
Tsunade stood. "Why is he here?! It's dangerous to leave Turtle Island!"
The messenger ninja said awkwardly, "He insisted he had something urgent."
Tsuchikage said, "Let him in."
Morkel entered and glanced at the high-tech setup.
"Wow, I didn't realize the ninja world had such advancements."
Terumi Mei smiled. "Little handsome, you contributed to this."
Morkel blinked. "Me?"
Tsunade explained, "The chakra conversion device you created—it's the core of many tools now."
Morkel chuckled. "I nearly forgot about that… If only there were ninja patents!"
Tsunade asked, "So, what brings you?"
Morkel detailed the Akatsuki's attack on Turtle Island.
Raikage was alarmed. "They found Turtle Island?!"
Terumi Mei nodded. "The Jinchūriki aren't safe anymore."
"But I didn't come just to report," Morkel added. "I met Deidara's reincarnated form and used him for testing. I developed a sealing technique."
He unfurled a scroll filled with complex patterns.
"This seal, when in contact with a Reanimated ninja, returns their soul to the afterlife. I call it—'Seal of the Underworld.'"
Tsuchikage's jaw dropped. "No hand signs?!"
"None," Morkel said. "I designed it for chaotic battlefields. The moment this makes contact, it forcibly banishes their soul."
Tsuchikage was stunned. "How long did you spend developing this?!"
Morkel shrugged. "About half a day…"
The room fell silent.
Raikage recovered first. "Perfect timing. The Third Division is in trouble. We'll send this scroll now."
"I can deliver it via Flying Thunder God," Morkel offered.
Raikage shook his head. "You've done enough."
A tall, grey-haired woman stepped forward.
"My Heaven-Sent Technique is ready," said Mabui.
Morkel asked, "Time-space jutsu?"
"Yes," she explained. "It transports objects to a location instantly."
"No marking?"
"None needed. Just coordinates."
"Can it teleport people?"
"No," she replied. "At light speed, a body would disintegrate from friction."
Morkel nodded, intrigued.
Mabui took the scroll and, under Raikage's command, activated the technique.
Back on the Battlefield
A beam of light flashed down before Kakashi.
Prepared in advance, he caught the scroll and quickly prepared to activate it…
But an Explosion Style ninja lunged at him!