Chapter 7: Zabuza's Sword Path
After leaving Konoha, Jiraiya had been wandering through the shinobi world.
As one of the Legendary Sannin, and even the strongest among them, Jiraiya could run rampant anywhere in the shinobi world. There was nowhere he couldn't go—women's bathhouses included.
That was Jiraiya's confidence and strength.
But what drew him this time wasn't writing material. It was something he was extremely familiar with.
"Natural energy is gathering. What dense chakra."
Without being a sensory shinobi and without using any sensory technique, Jiraiya could still feel the terrifying chakra fluctuations coming from afar.
Even though the chakra Shanks and Zabuza were releasing was for sensing, it was so vast that it distorted the surroundings. It was impossible not to be noticed.
"This feeling is familiar. Someone's training Hakim Mode?"
Jiraiya was shocked. From the signs, it looked like someone was training Hakim Mode.
But he couldn't understand why the commotion would be this big.
Whether it was the chakra or the natural energy moving through the air, it was far too violent. The direction looked like Hakim Mode, yet it also didn't.
"It can't be. Aside from the Hakim of the three great sacred lands, no one can teach Hakim Mode. Even I can't just do it… it's too dangerous."
Jiraiya's expression turned grave as he sprinted toward Shanks's location.
Even using toad oil to train Hakim Mode was extremely dangerous. One mistake and you turned to stone.
Whether out of curiosity or concern for the shinobi world's future, Jiraiya had to take a look.
If it was connected to the organization he'd been investigating, it would be best if it wasn't.
On the other side, Zabuza, guarding outside Shanks's cabin, sensed something instantly and immediately sprinted toward a tributary of the lake.
Under the moonlight, ripples spread across the lake. Zabuza's figure dashed over the water's surface.
Moving upstream along the tributary, mist gradually appeared.
At night, the mist looked ordinary, but in truth it had been created by Zabuza using the Hidden Mist Technique. Beyond that, he had placed three water clones throughout the area. If anything went wrong, the clones would vanish immediately.
Zabuza's combat experience was incredibly rich. In a moment like this, he showed exactly how a killer differed from ordinary shinobi.
Before long, Zabuza's figure slipped into the thick fog.
The forest shrouded in mist was unnaturally quiet, a terrifying silence broken only by the occasional sound of water from the small river.
Tap tap tap!
A few faint splashes drifted over. Zabuza stood on the river's surface.
"Not here?"
Zabuza stared at the water. Other than a rotten log floating down from upstream, there was nothing.
Everything looked reasonable.
Then, in the next instant, Zabuza exploded into motion.
"There's no way a rotten log would be here. Do you think I'm an idiot?"
In less than a breath, Zabuza finished his hand seals.
"Water Prison Technique!"
The moment the rotten log was caught by the Water Prison Technique, Zabuza struck.
The kunai in his hand stabbed straight at the rotten log, and the surrounding mist was torn open by a cold flash of light.
Zabuza's strength had indeed grown rapidly, but in the next moment—
Clang!
The Water Prison Technique hadn't trapped the target. A kunai appeared in Jiraiya's hand as well.
After a single clash, both sides immediately retreated.
Jiraiya stood on the water, grinning.
"Hahaha, I got seen through. Guess it's been too long since I infiltrated—now I'm rusty."
"That's enough. Ahead is not an area you should set foot in."
Zabuza spoke coldly. The other man was strong—he could tell the instant they made contact.
"Oh? You want to stop me? Just relying on that kunai won't do. If you don't bring out your Executioner's Blade, you won't be able to block me."
Jiraiya's expression remained relaxed.
That was the confidence of a Legendary Sannin. Unless all seven of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist came together, just one of them wasn't enough.
"Exactly what I want."
Zabuza didn't hide anything. He took out the blade he carried on his back.
Only it was just a hilt. Ever since the blade shattered, it was gone.
"One of the Seven Ninja Blades, the Executioner's Blade. They say as long as it drinks blood, it can stay sharp. Even if it breaks, it can regrow a blade by absorbing an enemy's blood."
Jiraiya's words carried a hint. Zabuza hadn't killed in quite some time—not even ordinary animals.
"I don't know what my future path will be, but I do know this. The road I walked as one of the Seven Swordsmen was wrong."
"Becoming an executioner can't bring hope to the village."
Zabuza spoke. He still hadn't found his future path, but he was no longer lost. Killing? To Zabuza now, it was the most boring thing in the world.
Executioner—he was sick of that role.
The one who could bring hope to the village could never be a butcher who only knew how to kill.
"Then is there something you want to protect?"
Zabuza's answer surprised Jiraiya. But words alone wouldn't stop him.
Jiraiya moved. His body dropped low as his figure shot toward Zabuza, the kunai in his hand stabbing at Zabuza's arm.
"Protect? I only owe him a debt. That man doesn't need me to protect him. I'd only restrict his freedom."
Clang!
Zabuza blocked Jiraiya's strike with the kunai in his left hand.
In the next instant, the air above the water detonated.
Jiraiya's figure skimmed the surface as he was blasted backward.
At some point, Jiraiya's hair had rolled forward. The white, needle-like strands gleamed with a cold light.
Zabuza's chest was soaked with blood.
That injury wasn't caused by Jiraiya. Instead, a cut had appeared on Jiraiya's arm—his hair hadn't fully blocked Zabuza's attack.
"The sword in a swordsman's hand is the most trusted companion. And the swordsman himself is the sword's most trusted companion."
"As long as I live, my Executioner's Blade will not break."
Zabuza's body trembled. In that instant, he used his own blood to rebuild the Executioner's Blade from nothing but a hilt.
"Assassination Secret Art: Silent Killing!"
In an instant, Zabuza's eyes turned blood-red. He raised his blade again. At that moment, his thoughts were utterly pure. In his eyes, only Jiraiya remained, and only one thought existed—cut him down.
"Slash!"
A furious roar shattered the forest's silence. Blade light flared from the Executioner's Blade and tore the air apart, rushing toward Jiraiya with a piercing, ripping scream.