The "Konoha's Blue Beast," Might Guy, had gained fame across the Five Great Nations.
As an elite jōnin, his taijutsu was exceptionally powerful, to the point that even the most skilled taijutsu users from the Land of Lightning acknowledged his strength.
However, according to the information Zabuza Momochi had gathered earlier, it seemed that Might Guy was not particularly adept at reconnaissance.
Could it be the 12-year-old kid beside him?
Immediately, Zabuza dismissed the thought as ridiculous. That boy wasn't even a ninja—how could he have such an absurd idea?
Unable to determine the answer, Zabuza decided to stop pondering it altogether and refocused on his objective.
"Hand over the old man, and I'll let you all leave," Zabuza said, his gaze locking onto Tazuna.
"Yosh! Another chance to fight!"
Might Guy's eyes gleamed with excitement, completely ignoring Zabuza's words.
A green blur shot through the air as he launched an attack.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Might Guy's figure appeared in the air above Zabuza, his right leg brimming with power as it came crashing down fiercely.
Zabuza's brows furrowed in surprise—Guy's speed and strength were beyond his expectations.
He quickly raised his massive Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade), using the thick steel to block Guy's powerful kick.
"So, you really are Konoha's Blue Beast… I see now that your reputation is well-earned," Zabuza muttered in a low voice. "But you're unlucky to have encountered me."
Swoosh!
Zabuza's body suddenly dissolved into a puddle of water—it was only a Water Clone!
Reappearing some distance away, he quickly formed hand seals, his chakra surging as he called out:
"Hiding in Mist Technique!"
Thick mist engulfed the battlefield in an instant.
The sky had already been cloudy, but now the fog was so dense that vision was completely obscured.
"Kazuki, be careful! His target is Tazuna!" Guy immediately warned.
Kazuki, already gripping the sword at his waist, responded calmly, "Don't worry… He came at just the right time."
Sching!
A crisp sound echoed as he unsheathed his blade.
Within seconds, the clang of colliding metal filled the misty air.
Kazuki had stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Tazuna. With only a single sword, he effortlessly blocked multiple strikes from Zabuza.
"This kid… has this much strength?"
After several exchanges, Zabuza's eyes locked onto Kazuki in intrigue.
He hadn't expected this boy, who didn't even wear a ninja forehead protector, to be so skilled. Not only had he blocked all of Zabuza's attacks without taking a scratch, but even the mist seemed to have no effect on him.
Was this boy the sensory ninja he had suspected earlier?
What intrigued Zabuza even more was the pitch-black sword Kazuki wielded—despite being just a katana, it had blocked Kubikiribōchō without issue.
"What kind of sword is that, brat?" Zabuza demanded.
The blade was completely black, even down to its edge. It appeared to be made of a rare mineral—one that even he, a master swordsman, had never seen before.
"This sword of mine is called the Nichirin Blade," Kazuki declared, eyes burning with the urge to fight.
"I'll show you its true power!"
The Nichirin Blade had been forged four years ago, and Kazuki had refined his skills with it through countless battles, mastering the Breath of Water sword style.
While weapons were often classified by rank, their true power depended on their wielder. Though his Nichirin Blade was only considered a three-star weapon, the damage it could unleash rivaled that of a five-star blade.
Kazuki had spent four years in relentless training and exploration, honing his sword techniques to perfection.
"I've finally mastered all the forms of Water Breathing!" he declared.
"Water Breathing: Smashing Tide!"
With a sharp shout, Kazuki raised the dagger in his hand. He pushed off the ground with his toes, dashing forward with incredible speed. Taodi Zabuza, who had been retreating cautiously, found himself unable to evade in time. Kazuki swung his blade with immense force.
Shh!
A streak of white light sliced through the dense fog, followed by a sweeping surge of blue water. The slash, infused with tremendous energy, manifested as an enormous, razor-sharp wave that tore through the mist. A three-to-four-meter-long arc of sword energy surged forward, azure water churning violently within it, forming a colossal tide that roared toward Zabuza.
The sword energy moved with terrifying speed, resembling a tsunami that gained power with each successive wave. The force crashed toward Zabuza, wave after wave, relentlessly pursuing him.
"What kind of joke is this?! You call this a sword technique?!"
Zabuza's eyes twitched violently as he roared in disbelief. Without hesitation, he raised the massive Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) in front of him, bracing himself against the oncoming attack.
The water-infused sword energy clashed against the Executioner's Blade.
One strike!
Two strikes!
Three strikes!
With each impact, Zabuza's face grew paler. His grip on the Executioner's Blade tightened, but the sheer force of the slashes caused his hands to tremble. The skin between his thumb and forefinger split open from the overwhelming shockwaves, and blood dripped onto the steel of his blade.
Then came the fourth slash.
Zabuza's face lost all color. The immense force of the final strike sent him hurtling backward, both him and his sword flung into the air.
His body smashed through the trunk of a massive tree before continuing to tumble several meters away. Only then did the blue sword energy finally dissipate.
A long, straight ravine—seventeen or eighteen meters in length—now stretched between Kazuki and Zabuza.
Four consecutive slashes.
Each strike had been stronger than the last.
By the fourth, the sword energy had covered a massive area. The sheer destructive force was comparable to an A-rank Ninjutsu—something only highly skilled Shinobi could achieve.
The overwhelming power of Kazuki's Water Breathing: Smashing Tide left even an elite Jōnin like Zabuza shaken.
Watching the fog clear, Might Guy couldn't help but exclaim, "Every time I see Kazuki's swordsmanship, it still shocks me!"
His eyes locked onto the aftermath of the battle—the ravaged landscape, the shattered tree, the battered Zabuza.
"Kazuki's talent is terrifying," he continued. "And with his Sun Blade—an unparalleled treasure—his mastery of the sword has reached extraordinary heights. Even the legendary Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, might not have been much different!"
It was hard to believe Kazuki had achieved such mastery through self-study alone.
Zabuza, still reeling from the impact, remained on the ground, gasping for breath. Despite his strength, he had been utterly overwhelmed by the 12-year-old in front of him.
Kazuki, however, did not press his advantage. Instead, he glanced at his Nichirin Blade (Sun Blade), deep in thought.
Despite being only a three-star weapon, the blade had reached a level where it could unleash attacks powerful enough to terrify even elite Jōnin. However, when compared to legendary weapons like the Executioner's Blade, Kazuki couldn't help but feel his sword was lacking.
"Skill and technique are crucial," he murmured. "But a truly powerful blade makes a difference, too."
He tightened his grip on his Sun Blade and whispered to himself,
"If a mere three-star blade can reach this level... then once I acquire the blueprints for a Zanpakutō and forge a real one, how powerful will I become?"
The thought sent a thrill through him.
His gaze shifted back to Zabuza's Executioner's Blade.
With chakra surging through the light boots on his feet, his speed suddenly doubled. He gripped his Sun Blade and lunged forward, determined to end the fight.
Zabuza, still struggling to stand, knew he was no match in a sword fight. His eyes flashed with resolve. Without hesitation, he tossed aside his Kubikiribōchō and brought his hands together in rapid succession.
Hand seals.
His fingers moved at blinding speed.
Despite his battered condition, his experience as an elite Jōnin showed—he executed twenty to thirty complex hand signs in mere seconds.
Just as Kazuki closed the distance, Zabuza finished his jutsu.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A massive surge of chakra poured into the surrounding water.
The once-still surface of the lake erupted.
"Wreak havoc!" Zabuza roared.
A violent whirlwind of water surged upward. From its depths, a gigantic water dragon emerged, twisting and roaring as it lunged toward Kazuki.
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