Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Zabuza instantly retreated, melting back into the dense fog like a phantom.
His Hidden Mist Technique, combined with his deadly Silent Killing Technique, flooded his body with chakra, casting a blood-red glow around him.
Once activated, this combination allowed him to move swiftly and soundlessly through the mist, his physical strength greatly enhanced by the chakra circulating throughout his body.
It was this fearsome fusion of techniques that earned Momochi Zabuza the infamous title of Demon of the Hidden Mist.
"How did you find me?"
Zabuza's voice echoed out from the mist, laced with disbelief.
Shigure gave a faint smile. "Guess."
Guess?
You want me to guess? If I could guess, why would I ask!?
Zabuza gripped his massive executioner's blade tightly. If he couldn't even take down a mere Konoha Genin today, then he had no business remaining in the shinobi world.
The mighty demon of Kirigakure, unable to kill a Genin?
"Hmph! Whatever trick you're playing, you won't be lucky forever. Let's see how long you can keep this up!"
The moment his voice faded—
Ding!
Ding!!
Clang! Clang!
Zabuza struck from every angle, moving with terrifying speed through the fog.
Yet every single one of his attacks was effortlessly parried by Shigure.
Despite the amplification from his Silent Killing Technique, despite the enhanced speed and precision, Zabuza couldn't land a single blow.
Shigure reacted to each attack as if he could see through the mist itself.
From the sidelines, the sound of clashing steel echoed endlessly.
Kakashi's eye narrowed in disbelief.
"Shigure can counter Zabuza's Silent Killing Technique...? That's... impossible."
Even Sasuke and Naruto had gone quiet, tension gripping their hearts.
They could barely sense each other's presence in the fog—let alone follow a battle.
"How is Shigure doing it?" Sasuke muttered under his breath.
"Does he have the Byakugan?" Naruto wondered aloud.
But no—Byakugan was a kekkei genkai of the Hyuga Clan. Shigure wasn't from that bloodline.
[Analysis Complete]
[Congratulations, Host! New skills acquired:
Ninjutsu – Hidden Mist Technique
Assassination – Silent Killing Technique (sub-technique)]
While the first is classified as ninjutsu, the latter—according to the analysis by the Great Sage—is technically not. It is an assassination style developed specifically for use within the Mist.
Zabuza's mastery of it was enhanced by his unique talent—his ability to circulate chakra throughout his body, amplifying speed and silencing movement entirely.
Shigure had now experienced this firsthand. And he realized—this technique perfectly complemented his own.
With his Transparent Release combined with the Silent Killing Technique, Shigure could vanish without even needing the Mist.
This... was true silent killing.
Transparent Release concealed his presence and form.
Silent Killing taught him to strike without a sound or hint of movement.
Together, they allowed Shigure to truly become invisible death.
"I think the title of Demon suits me far more than you, Zabuza."
His voice echoed with eerie calm.
The next second—
Shigure vanished.
He activated Silent Killing Technique.
He activated Transparent Release.
And just like that—his figure faded from existence.
Not even a trace of breath remained.
Zabuza froze.
What…? Where is he!?
There was no chakra. No movement. Nothing.
Even within his own Hidden Mist Technique, he couldn't sense Shigure.
"Did he go underground…?"
Zabuza gritted his teeth. It was the first time someone had disappeared like this—right in front of him—within his own mist.
The clang of weapons stopped. Silence returned to the fog.
Kakashi's unease only deepened.
Why did the sounds stop...?
"Shigure... please be safe," he murmured.
But then—something unexpected happened.
The mist… began to fade.
Kakashi tensed.
Why would Zabuza release the Hidden Mist Technique...?
When the fog fully cleared, Zabuza was still standing.
But Shigure—
—was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Shigure?!" Naruto blurted out, panic in his voice.
Sasuke scanned the surroundings, tense and alert.
The enemy was still standing… but Shigure had vanished.
"Was he… killed?" he asked, voice low with disbelief.
Kakashi immediately shook his head. "Impossible. If he'd been taken down, there would be a body. There's no sign of Shigure at all."
So where did he go?
And how?
"Brat! Come out here!"
Zabuza's voice echoed across the clearing.
Kakashi's eye widened in shock.
He doesn't know where Shigure is either…
No wonder the Mist had been lifted—Zabuza wasn't showing mercy. He had simply lost track of his target.
The Demon of the Hidden Mist, a master of silent killing, had lost sight of his prey.
Unbelievable.
Kakashi watched Zabuza scan the area in growing panic, a cold sweat forming on the Mist ninja's brow.
He was rattled.
How had Shigure disappeared—right under his nose?
Then came the voice.
"Momochi Zabuza," it rang out, calm and unshaken, "aren't you supposed to be a master of assassination?"
"Aren't you proud of your Silent Killing Technique?"
"Then why can't you even find me?"
The voice echoed eerily across the clearing.
Zabuza whipped his head around, but there was no one there.
Kakashi tensed.
Shigure's voice was unmistakable—sharp and close, as though whispering right into their ears—yet his presence couldn't be detected at all.
No chakra signature. No shadow. No figure.
There was nowhere to hide… and yet, he was gone.
Even Kakashi, the famed Copy Ninja who had mastered over a thousand jutsu, found himself unnerved.
What kind of technique is this...?
Then—
"Let me show you… what real silent killing looks like."
Zabuza's eyes went wide.
A sharp pain tore through his right abdomen.
Shhk!
A blade had slashed him clean across the side.
Blood arced through the air in a graceful, grotesque parabola.
A collective gasp swept the battlefield.
Shigure still hadn't revealed himself.
But Zabuza… was bleeding.
Naruto pointed, stunned. "T-that… that…!"
Before he could finish, another voice cut in—this time from the opposite direction.
Shigure again.
"You still can't find me? Looks like the title of Demon suits me better than you!"
Swish!
A second gash tore across Zabuza's left shoulder. Blood sprayed.
He staggered, groaning in pain. The great beheading sword slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground with a resounding clang!
He stumbled backward, clutching his bleeding shoulder, panic flooding his face.
What is this?
Where is he!?
Why can't I see him!?
The Demon of the Hidden Mist had become the hunted.
And Shigure… was death itself.
...
TN:
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