"Didn't think it would actually work… what a surprising little guy."
Kakashi wiped the sweat from his forehead as he spoke.
The moment Shinju glanced at Zabuza just now, Kakashi realized that Shinju had placed a Flying Thunder God mark on him.
With the situation so urgent, Kakashi could only choose to trust Shinju—trust that he could restrain Zabuza.
So, he used his Sharingan to clash with Zabuza in ninjutsu, creating an opening for Shinju.
And the result was obvious—Shinju didn't let him down!
What shocked Kakashi even more was everything Shinju had just shown.
In only a few short exchanges with Zabuza, Shinju had used the Eight Gates, Flying Thunder God, and Water Release.
And no matter which jutsu it was, the kid used it with practiced ease, as if it were second nature!
In fact, his Water Release hand seal speed at the end had even surpassed Kakashi's own.
A genius.
Aside from that word, Kakashi couldn't think of any other way to describe Shinju.
...
"What just happened? Did you see it clearly?"
Naruto poked the Sasuke standing beside him, still looking dazed.
All he remembered was Zabuza swinging his sword at him twice, clashing jutsu with Kakashi-sensei… and then, out of nowhere, Shinju had him completely restrained!
"Didn't see exactly how he did it," Sasuke said, rubbing his forehead.
By now, he had fully realized the gap between himself and Shinju.
This wasn't something hard work could just make up for anymore.
What the hell had this guy been eating to grow up like this, knowing so many jutsu?!
Don't tell him… he was practicing hand seals during prenatal education?!
...
On the other side, trapped in Shinju's Water Prison Technique, Zabuza had a thousand things he wanted to say in protest but no idea how to put them into words—until his face flushed red.
Humiliation.
Utter humiliation.
He, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, famed across the shinobi world for his Silent Killing technique, had been taken down by a Konoha genin in just a few moves!
And now, he was being held in a water prison like some criminal on display!
Zabuza could've died of shame right then.
...
"Kakashi-sensei, what should we do with this guy?"
Shinju kept his hold on the Water Prison as he asked.
"Leave him to Kirigakure," Kakashi replied after a brief thought. "He's a rogue ninja from their village. They'll definitely send hunter-nin to deal with him."
"Not just kill him right away to avoid future trouble?" Shinju asked.
"If we kill him outright, it could cause unnecessary conflicts," Kakashi explained.
"A ninja's body contains the secrets of their village's jutsu, the nature of their chakra, and the components of any special medicine they've used."
"For example, if another village got ahold of my body, the secrets of the Sharingan would be exposed before long—and they might even learn my jutsu."
...
"In that case, why don't we secretly finish him off and get rid of the body so no one will know it was us?" Naruto suggested.
Right at that moment, a voice suddenly came from atop a nearby tree.
"Kid, I heard what you just said."
The group turned toward the sound and saw a masked ninja standing on the treetop.
"That's one of Kirigakure's hunter-nin," Kakashi explained after glancing at the mask.
"Hunter-nin are responsible for eliminating rogue ninja who escape the village. They use the proper methods to dispose of the body and prevent their village's secrets from being leaked to others."
"I see," Shinju nodded.
...
The masked Kirigakure hunter-nin leapt down onto the water beside Shinju, casting him a surprised look.
This kid was clearly younger than himself, yet he could hold Zabuza in a Water Prison Technique.
The hunter-nin pulled a few slender senbon needles from his pouch and said to Shinju,
"Please release the Water Prison Technique."
"If I release him without warning, won't he just escape?" Shinju asked.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure he doesn't."
The masked hunter-nin spoke with certainty.
Shinju glanced at Kakashi, got his teacher's nod, and withdrew his hand from the Water Prison—while still keeping his guard up against the hunter-nin.
Splash!
The sphere of water trapping Zabuza collapsed instantly.
The moment it did, the hunter-nin drove the needles straight into Zabuza's neck!
Zabuza's body went limp and dropped—done for.
"Thank you all for your help. I'll take care of Zabuza's body and the Executioner's Blade properly."
With that, the hunter-nin hefted Zabuza's body and vanished.
...
On the shore, Naruto was fuming.
"Dammit! After all the trouble we went through fighting him, some random guy just swoops in and finishes him off!"
Beside him, Sasuke crossed his arms, looking as cool as ever.
"What's there to be mad about? Shinju did most of the work anyway."
Naruto: "…"
"I'm just saying it's unfair to Shinju!"
...
At that moment, Tazuna stepped forward.
"Alright, thanks for all your help. We're already close to my home—let's get moving."
"After walking for so long, I could really go for a bowl of ramen," Naruto said, rubbing his rumbling stomach.
"I want braised pork," Shinju stated simply.
"Huh? Never heard of that dish!" Tazuna blinked in confusion.
"Me neither," Kakashi scratched his head.
He'd lived in Konoha all these years and had never once heard of such a thing.
"You guys have seriously never heard of it?" Shinju looked mildly surprised and began explaining.
"Braised pork is made from pork belly with the perfect balance of fat and lean meat. You season it with… and when it's done, it's fragrant, tender, rich in nutrients, with fat and lean melting in your mouth—an absolute delicacy!"
"Never heard of it before… but it sounds amazing!" Sasuke said, a faint look of longing on his face.
Greedy Naruto was already swallowing hard.
"Shinju, you can cook, right? Make it for us sometime—I really wanna try it! ๑乛◡乛๑"
Shinju: "You could just learn to cook yourself, you know? →_→"
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
The masked Kirigakure hunter-nin carrying Zabuza's body arrived in a secluded forest.
He then pulled out the long, thin needles from Zabuza's neck.
Cough cough—
Zabuza let out two coughs, returning from his false-death state.
"As expected of Copy Ninja Kakashi… to push you to the brink like that, Zabuza-san," the hunter-nin said.
Though he had seen Shinju trap Zabuza in the Water Prison, he assumed it was all Kakashi's doing.
"In truth, Kakashi barely lifted a hand just now," Zabuza admitted, his face flushing before he gritted his teeth.
"It was that kid. Not only can he use the Flying Thunder God Technique, but he's also a master of Water Release…"
The masked hunter-nin's mouth dropped open in shock.
"What? The Flying Thunder God Technique? That kind of powerful space–time ninjutsu… isn't it only…"
Zabuza raised a hand, cutting him off.
"No need to remind me—I know."
"And take off that fake mask of yours while you're at it."
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