Sunset… sunrise… two days later, near the eastern coast of Konoha.
A man carrying a long, broad sword across his back appeared on the shoreline. He had finally removed the Akatsuki cloak he'd worn for years and changed into his long-forgotten Kirigakure sword corps uniform.
A black, sleeveless ninja vest. Two gray straps wrapped across his shoulders to secure the scabbard of the Executioner's Blade on his back.
"This is…"
The moment Biwa Juzo saw the coastline, his jaw almost dislocated and dropped.
Not because of danger—
But because the scene in front of him looked completely surreal.
An orange-red, translucent half-body giant and a yellow half-body giant were working side-by-side, lifting an enormous stone pillar.
Behind them stood another true giant, marked with the "Autumn" crest, coordinating with the two constructs as they drove the stone pillar deep into the sea.
"That… that should be someone from the Akimichi clan. Akimichi Choza?"
"But those two half-armored giants…?"
Judging from their attire and chakra patterns, they had to be Uchiha.
"Don't tell me… Uchiha Hikaru isn't the only one who awakened this ability…?"
Not long ago, the former Akatsuki leader Nagato had fought Uchiha Hikaru at the Valley of the End. Both men had witnessed Hikaru's fully manifested giant—a complete armored construct under his control.
Juzo had heard from intelligence networks that Hikaru possessed the ability to transform into a massive armored titan.
But he had not expected other Uchiha to manifest similar forms—even if they were only half-manifestations.
Even at half-strength, these constructs were far beyond anything an ordinary shinobi could break. Aside from the current Kage-level fighters in the world, no one would be able to pierce that kind of defense.
While Biwa Juzo was still frozen in shock, a blue-white ice mirror materialized behind him. A pale hand—skin smooth as polished jade, nails painted navy blue—appeared silently, pressing a senbon against the back of Juzo's neck.
"Don't move. Or I'll kill you."
The voice, cold and sharp, belonged to a boy whose delicate features made his gender difficult to determine.
Juzo slowly raised his hands, letting out a helpless sigh.
"I am Biwa Juzo. Former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Take me to the Fifth Mizukage. I want to return to Kirigakure."
Even though he spoke calmly, and even though he was supposedly surrendering, Haku didn't dare relax.
His instincts screamed that the man in front of him possessed overwhelming killing intent—several times stronger than Zabuza's.
"Hmph. A deserter from the Third Shinobi World War," Haku said, voice icy.
"A member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen defeated, and two of you fled from a Konoha Genin."
"What gives you the right to rejoin Kirigakure?"
"This Executioner's Blade is wasted on a coward like you. It won't taste any blood if it stays with you."
"I should take it instead."
A deep male voice emerged behind Juzo, dripping with murderous intent. Hearing those words, even the usually calm Juzo felt his temper flare.
He had tried—really tried—to be patient ever since that kick years ago made him rethink his life choices. He had even tried to restrain the arrogance he once carried as a Swordsman.
But this?
This he could not tolerate.
Flipping his left hand into a blade, he swung backward in a sharp arc, aiming directly at Haku's neck.
Haku reacted instantly. A seal formed. An ice mirror flashed into existence.
But Juzo's hand chopped through it cleanly. The mirror only stalled him for a fraction of a second. Haku had to throw up both arms to guard, but he was still knocked away, tumbling several meters before stopping.
Biwa Juzo's right arm flexed with explosive strength as he grabbed the Executioner's Blade's hilt. His muscles bulged, his expression twisted into fury, shark-toothed grin gleaming.
"You little brat… bullying honest people now, huh?!"
"I'll cut you in half!"
He swung hard, slamming the massive blade behind him. Even without seeing, a former member of the Seven Swordsmen didn't need eyes to locate a target by sound alone.
"Silent Killing Technique, huh? You think you're the only one who can use it?"
"Watch closely!"
"Waughhh!!"
BOOM!!
The Executioner's Blade cleaved a figure cleanly in half. The force continued downward, splitting the rock beneath and sending a thunderous shockwave across the coastline.
Juzo kicked the blade up with his heel, resting it back on his shoulder. He looked into the dense fog and clicked his tongue in irritation.
"You only dare use a water clone to test me? You were acting all bold earlier. Weren't you trying to steal my blade?"
"Go on! Shout some more!"
"You think hiding in this Mist Technique makes you tough? Only cowards fight like that."
His taunts didn't anger Zabuza.
But they did anger Haku.
Haku's cheeks flushed red, eyebrows tight, fists clenched.
"You are not allowed to insult Lord Zabuza!"
"Secret Technique—"
Blue-white ice mirrors began forming rapidly around them.
Juzo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"A kid from the Yuki clan?"
Just when the two were about to clash again, a figure flickered between them—long dark-brown hair, dark-blue combat uniform, and a conical Mizukage hat.
"Enough!"
"This is a major construction site! Stop immediately!"
Mei Terumi's sharp command froze the entire battlefield.
Juzo lowered the Executioner's Blade and returned to his calm, almost stoic demeanor.
"First the little girl tells me not to move, so I didn't move," he said honestly.
"It was this unreasonable guy who started it."
"He tried to take my blade."
"I acted in self-defense."
Mei Terumi turned her eyes to Haku, whose face was still slightly red.
"Haku. Is that true?"
"He insulted Lord Zabuza and—"
"I asked if he provoked you first."
"But…"
"That's enough. Go back and rest. Let the medical-nin check your arms."
Haku looked helplessly at Zabuza, unsure what to do.
Zabuza gave a reluctant nod, looking strangely conflicted.
After Haku left, Mei Terumi immediately jabbed a finger at Zabuza's face.
"You idiot! Don't think I don't know what you're doing!"
"You're trying to steal his Executioner's Blade again! I told you someone was coming to join us in the next two days! Didn't you listen?!"
"I'm busy! So busy! Do you understand?! Do you?! (╬ಠ益ಠ)"
"What's so great about that damn Executioner's Blade anyway?! We have multiple unused ninja swords in the village! But noooo, you don't want any of them—you want that one!"
"Do you want to eat oil cakes or not?!
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Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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