'Who was it... ah... those guys from the Crimson Knight Brigade...'
'Hm?'
Lexon was puzzled again.
'That group of Reincarnators is actually fighting two strong ninjas alongside a bunch of other ninjas.'
'It seems the Crimson Knight Brigade guys joined Kirigakure and are hunting down rogue ninja or enemy ninja with the Anbu...'
'Those unlucky Anbu ninjas Kakuzu just casually killed were probably supposed to be chasing and attacking those two...'
Lexon thought.
"I have to go check something out," he said to Kakuzu.
"Then I'll go to Kirigakure and find a ninja to replenish my heart," Kakuzu replied.
Clearly, he wasn't interested in what Lexon was doing.
"Contact me on the communicator when you're done," Lexon said.
As his voice fell, his figure vanished.
"Form up!"
A middle-aged man in bright red armor, holding a longsword, shouted.
"Longsword!"
A booming voice came from his mouth.
The dozen or so people surrounding the man, also clad in red armor, seemed to respond to his call. They drew their swords, and a crimson light emanated from their bodies.
The next moment, the red light converged to form a giant sword. As the Crimson Knight Brigade's captain, Zhongh, swung his sword, his teammates' swords moved in unison. The giant sword above their heads, carrying astonishing power, slashed toward the ninja opposite them.
Opposite them was a ninja with short black hair, a headband worn askew to the left, and the lower half of his face and neck wrapped in bandages.
His name was Zabuza Momochi, a rogue ninja from Kirigakure, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and the second wielder of the "Kubikiribocho" (Executioner's Blade).
As for the first wielder of the "Kubikiribocho," that was Juzo Biwa, Uchiha Itachi's partner in Akatsuki. Judging by the fact that the Kubikiribocho was in Zabuza's hands, that guy Juzo Biwa was most likely dead and gone by now.
"Kubikiribocho!"
Zabuza, facing the giant red sword, didn't dodge. Instead, he met it head-on, swinging his Kubikiribocho to counter the giant red sword.
"Clang!"
A sound of metal on metal rang out. Zabuza's Kubikiribocho actually blocked the giant red sword. However, the power from the Crimson Knight Brigade's sword was clearly much greater, and it continuously pressed Zabuza's blade down.
"Zabuza-sama!"
A long-haired, beautiful youth next to Zabuza cried out anxiously.
His name was Haku, Zabuza's attendant.
"Water Style: Thousand Water Waves!" In addition to the Crimson Knight Brigade, there were other Kirigakure Anbu present. Seeing Zabuza locked in a struggle, they naturally attacked.
Numerous spheres of water, with enough force to shatter stone, shot toward Zabuza and Haku.
"Secret Water Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death!" Haku, as Zabuza's attendant, was no mere decoration. He quickly formed seals, invoking his innate Ice Style bloodline limit, and instantly unleashed a wide-range flurry of ice senbon, which pierced and canceled out the incoming water spheres.
"Haku, go!" Zabuza realized they were no match for their opponents and shouted.
He angled his Kubikiribocho downward, letting the giant red sword slide off and smash into the ground.
He then postured as if to flee.
"Don't even think about running!" The dozen or so members of the Crimson Knight Brigade, their minds and consciousnesses seemingly merged, spoke in unison.
Their swords moved as one, raising and swinging again.
There was no lag or heaviness.
Zabuza and Haku stood together. Seeing the giant red sword slashing at them again so quickly, they were alarmed and hurriedly raised the Kubikiribocho to block.
However, the hastily gathered strength was no match for the power coming from the red sword.
Zabuza's body was sent flying backward like a missile, snapping several large trees.
"Zabuza-sama!" Haku looked worriedly in the direction Zabuza had flown.
"Don't move." In an instant, a Kirigakure Anbu appeared at Haku's side, a kunai pressed against his pale neck, faintly drawing a line of blood.
"Rogue ninja Zabuza Momochi, your partner has been captured! We advise you to surrender and return to the village to accept your punishment!" an Anbu ninja shouted.
"Don't worry about me, Zabuza-sama! Go!" Haku ignored the kunai at his neck and shouted, telling Zabuza not to mind him.
Zabuza stood up, his face grim, and walked forward, holding the Kubikiribocho. "He's just a useless tool. He means nothing to me. It doesn't matter to me if you kill him."
The Anbu ninjas glanced at each other, then continued, "If he meant nothing to you, you wouldn't still be standing here. With your skill, we couldn't stop you if you wanted to escape."
"Heh..." Zabuza sneered. "Then go ahead and kill him..."
The Anbu ninja holding Haku hostage frowned. The village's orders were to capture them alive if possible. If they killed him...
"To the side!" Suddenly, the Anbu ninja holding Haku heard his partner's anxious voice.
He froze, and then a kunai that had suddenly appeared at his side slashed across his neck at high speed.
'When...'
He descended to the underworld, filled with unwillingness and confusion.
"Clang!"
The Zabuza who had been standing in his original spot was cut through by the Crimson Knight Brigade's giant red sword. He was split apart without any resistance, instantly turning into a puddle of water.
The Kubikiribocho he'd been holding clattered to the ground.
"Zabuza-sama..." Haku murmured, looking at Zabuza, who had suddenly appeared beside him.
'Zabuza-sama... abandoned the Kubikiribocho to save me...'
"Fool! Without the Kubikiribocho, how strong can you be!"
The other Anbu ninjas, seeing their enemy rescued and their comrade killed, burned with anger and spoke furiously.
"Stronger than you, at least," Zabuza's disdainful voice came from under his bandages.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
Several Anbu ninjas combined their efforts, using a powerful water jutsu, sending a violent torrent of water surging toward Zabuza.
"Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Zabuza, holding Haku with one arm, formed seals with his free hand.
The next moment, a thin mist spread out, enveloping the surroundings.
The water rushed through...
But Zabuza and Haku were no longer there.
"Over here," the dozen or so members of the Crimson Knight Brigade spoke in unison again.
They raised the giant red sword and slashed at a certain spot in the mist.
Instantly, the mist was split apart, revealing Zabuza and Haku, who were trying to escape.
'Crap!'
Seeing the red sword suddenly slice toward them, Zabuza and Haku had a bad feeling.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!" In the nick of time, Zabuza formed seals with one hand and spat out a water dragon, which crashed against the incoming blade, slowing its descent.
Seizing the opportunity, Zabuza leaped forward and dove to the ground, narrowly avoiding the swinging blade.
"That was close..." Lying on the ground, Zabuza suddenly heard a calm voice from a tree in front of him.
He lifted his head and saw a handsome young man looking at him indifferently.
Then, he saw the giant red sword was no longer slashing at him, but at the handsome youth.
"Why is it attacking me..."
Zabuza heard the youth's slightly puzzled voice.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]