"I finally forced you out. Now I'll return the pain you gave me—tenfold, a hundredfold!"
Zabuza's voice was cold and sharp, but Shigure only sneered in response.
"Hmph! You merely revealed my true form. Do you really think that means you've won?"
With that, Shigure surged forward. The water beneath his feet exploded in a violent burst as he accelerated.
He launched himself at Zabuza like a streak of lightning—but at that moment, Zabuza didn't even have a blade in hand. All he could do was quickly draw a kunai from his tool pouch and brace himself for the clash.
Shigure didn't slow down. As he rushed in, he formed a hand seal with his left hand.
"Shunshin no Jutsu!" (Body Flicker Technique)
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, Shigure's form vanished. This time, however, it wasn't a silent disappearance.
A sharp gust of wind screamed past Zabuza's ear—an ominous warning.
He turned his head.
A black blade was already slashing toward his face.
At the same time, Zabuza's mind raced, trying to make sense of the hand sign he'd just seen.
Body Flicker...?
A Genin from Konoha could use a high-level technique like the Shunshin no Jutsu?
Impossible...
But there was no time to question it—Shigure's blade was already upon him.
Clang!—Zzzzzzzt!
The kunai just barely managed to block the blow. Sparks flew wildly along the edge of the blade.
Shigure's eyes narrowed slightly.
Without warning, he activated his Transparent Escape Technique once more.
His figure vanished—right in front of Zabuza's eyes.
Zabuza stiffened. He had forced Shigure into the open—why would he use Transparent Escape again?
He quickly scanned the surface of the beach, and then—on the right—he saw it.
A faint ripple in the sand.
Barely noticeable, but enough for Zabuza to react. He swung his kunai toward it without hesitation.
But he was too late.
Splurt!
Blood splashed across Zabuza's chest.
His face paled instantly.
Five or six meters behind him, Shigure reappeared, Zangetsu in hand. The blade was slick with blood, a crimson drop falling slowly from its tip.
Shigure smirked. "The Transparent Escape Technique isn't just about hiding the body… It hides the technique too."
"Hiding the technique…?" Zabuza echoed silently.
From the sidelines, Kakashi narrowed his eyes. For most shinobi, Transparent Escape was used solely for cloaking the body. But for Shigure, it was something more.
A weapon.
A Genin who could wield Transparent Escape in conjunction with high-level swordsmanship...
An enemy whose movements you couldn't see—how could you guard against that?
That combination alone would be a nightmare, even for a Hokage.
Thud!
Zabuza collapsed.
The wounds he'd suffered earlier, combined with this new slash, had drained his strength. His body was losing too much blood. He could no longer stand.
Shigure began to approach him, step by step.
"You used the Great Waterfall Technique to force me out and lock onto my position. Not a bad plan… But your swordsmanship is just too weak."
A twelve-year-old Genin… judging a Jonin's swordsmanship as weak.
Kakashi watched in disbelief. Had he not witnessed it himself, he'd never have believed such a scene.
Zabuza looked up from the ground, eyes full of bitter resentment.
Shigure raised Zangetsu slightly, the blade humming faintly.
"Any last words?"
It was time to end this.
But just as Zabuza opened his mouth to speak—
Shua! Swish! Swish!
Countless hidden weapons shot out from behind Shigure, flying straight at his back.
Shigure reacted instantly, swiftly swinging Zangetsu.
The storm of incoming senbon clattered harmlessly to the ground, deflected by the flurry of afterimages created by his blade. For a moment, Zangetsu seemed to blur into countless shadows.
Then, silence.
Shigure glanced at the senbon scattered across the sand.
Haku.
"This man is a missing-nin from Kirigakure. Would you be willing to hand him over to us?"
A masked figure had appeared silently atop a nearby tree, his voice calm and polite.
Kakashi's brows furrowed slightly. "Kirigakure's Hunter-nin…?"
The timing felt off.
Why now?
"Who are you?" Shigure asked, though he already knew the answer.
"I am a member of the Hunter-nin squad from the Hidden Mist Village, assigned to eliminate rogue shinobi. We've been tracking Momochi Zabuza."
He paused, glancing at the defeated swordsman. "Since you've already taken him down… may I take his body back to the Mist for disposal?"
Kakashi didn't lower his guard but gave a cautious nod. "Shigure, Kirigakure's Hunter-nin are responsible for hunting their missing-nin. Zabuza's body can be handed over."
It wasn't a command—just advice.
Shigure acknowledged him with a silent nod.
Seeing this, the masked figure—Haku—visibly relaxed. "Thank you, shinobi of Konoha."
"If you want the body, I'll give it to you," Shigure said calmly.
"Body?" Haku blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You came to collect him, didn't you? Then it should be fine if I hand over his corpse."
With that, Shigure raised Zangetsu, resting it against Zabuza's neck.
"So if I kill him now, it won't make any difference to you—will it?"
He was ready to swing.
"No!"
That single word rang out, urgent and sharp.
Shigure paused.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
Zabuza's face turned pale.
He looked at the boy beside him—Shigure, a child—and for the first time in years, the Demon of the Hidden Mist felt something like helplessness.
He had been brought to his knees by a Genin.
But Zabuza wasn't afraid of death.
He exhaled, his voice low. "Haku… don't concern yourself with me. Just run."
His tone was calm. Resigned.
A quiet goodbye.
Haku removed his mask and looked at Shigure directly. "How did you know I wasn't what I claimed to be?"
Shigure gave a small smile. "I didn't. But whether Zabuza is dead or alive shouldn't matter to a Hunter-nin. You slipped up."
Haku bowed his head.
"Spare him," he said, voice trembling. "I'll take his place."
"Haku!"
Zabuza's eyes widened. Then they darkened again.
"Didn't you hear me? Get out of here!"
"I—Momochi Zabuza—have never begged my enemies for mercy. I don't need a loser like you sacrificing yourself for me!"
Shigure slowly raised Zangetsu again.
"Wait!" Haku cried. "If you let Master Zabuza go, I'll give you anything—everything! Just don't kill him!"
"Are you disobeying me now, Haku?!"
The two stood in opposition, master and companion—yet neither truly wanted to part.
Shigure watched them quietly, a faint smile playing at his lips.
Zabuza may be no saint… but to Haku, he means everything.
And Haku… he was never evil. Just loyal.
Both of them—tragic in their own way.
"I can do one thing for you," Shigure said softly.
Haku blinked, stunned. "What is it?"
"I can make his death painless."
Shigure's expression turned serious.
"He targeted our employer. We can't let him live."
Haku's grip on his senbon tightened, eyes clouded with sorrow and resolve.
"Then keep your life, and take care of his body," Shigure added. "If you try anything… I'll kill you too. And then no one will be left to bury him."
Haku froze.
Standing there—unable to act.
At that moment, Zabuza let out a dry laugh.
"Kid… do it. Just kill me—and let him go."
Shigure nodded.
"Alright."
...
TN:
🔟 Support me on P-com/LordMerlin