Boom!
Momochi Zabuza stomped the ground and launched himself forward, blade drawn, charging straight at Hozuki Mangetsu.
This random guy attacked without warning.
But Mangetsu had never been the type to back down from a fight. The usual playful expression on his face vanished as he swiftly drew his own blade to meet the attack head-on!
Clang—!
Two sharp, standard-issue Kirigakure swords clashed in a shower of sparks!
Mangetsu was shocked to realize that this unknown brat was actually overpowering him in sheer strength!
Zabuza let out a chilling laugh. "The genius of the Hozuki Clan? You're not as strong as the rumors say."
Smack!
Mangetsu lifted a foot and kicked Zabuza's sword hand with full force!
Zabuza grimaced in pain as his grip loosened, his blade kicked upwards.
Mangetsu immediately seized the offensive, thrusting his sword straight at Zabuza's heart with lethal precision.
Against an opponent who wanted to kill him and dared to insult the Hozuki Clan, Mangetsu had no intention of holding back.
Smack!
Zabuza mimicked the move, spinning midair and lashing out with a sweeping kick that knocked Mangetsu's blade off course. At the same time, he twisted his body to evade the misaligned strike.
"Wind Release: Pressure Strike!"
Still airborne, Zabuza formed a seal with his hands while gripping his sword, his wrist rotating as he swung down with a blade coated in a wind chakra shell!
"Wind Release instead of Lightning Release?"
Mangetsu thought to himself as he sidestepped the strike.
Slash!
An invisible wind blade left a shallow cut on his face, causing water to spray from the wound.
Perfect!
Mangetsu landed with his left foot on the newly formed puddle, springing into the air as three water pillars shot toward Zabuza!
Damn!
Zabuza barely managed to dodge the incoming attack, knowing that fighting a Hozuki in water was a death sentence. The moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately retreated!
"Don't even think about running!"
Mangetsu's eyes flashed with fury as he pursued.
"Hydrification Secret Technique: Great Water Arm!"
Now that he was sure Zabuza wasn't a Lightning Release user, Mangetsu stopped holding back!
His right arm swelled grotesquely, thick cords of muscle twisting unnaturally across its surface, far beyond what a boy his age should possess.
Zabuza braced his sword in front of him to block—but Mangetsu's liquefied body simply phased through the blade!
Boom!!
A devastating punch slammed into Zabuza's abdomen!
"Ugh!"
Zabuza's body curled inward from the force as he was sent flying, tumbling violently across the ground. Reacting swiftly, he drove his sword into the earth to halt his momentum, dragging himself to a stop just before skidding off completely.
Crouching, he panted heavily, eyes locked onto Mangetsu with burning determination.
He was strong!
Wiping the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Zabuza rose to his feet, blade in hand, ready to continue.
His intent was clear—Come at me again!
Mangetsu actually found himself impressed.
And from Zabuza, he could sense a familiar hunger—the thirst to grow stronger, to fight powerful opponents and sharpen himself through battle!
Shaking his hand, the grotesque enhancements of the Hydrification Technique shrank back to normal.
Mangetsu coldly eyed Zabuza. "You don't know Lightning Release. If you're relying on just a sword, you won't be able to hurt me."
"So what?"
Zabuza didn't back down an inch. "Maintaining a liquefied body takes chakra. How long can you keep it up?"
"..."
Sorry, I can keep it up forever.
Is this guy an idiot? Did he not gather intel before walking into his own death?
Mangetsu gave Zabuza a strange look before sighing and gripping his sword once more.
"In that case, I'll just have to cut you down."
Without another word, he accelerated forward.
Whoosh—Slash!
Zabuza's hands darted into his pouch, flinging six shuriken directly at Mangetsu.
Not even worth dodging.
Mangetsu didn't bother avoiding them, letting the shuriken pass through his liquefied body, leaving behind superficial wounds that instantly leaked water.
His speed didn't slow. In the blink of an eye, he was upon Zabuza, slashing down with his sword!
Zabuza, having discarded his own sword, met the attack with a kunai drawn from his pouch, intercepting the blade head-on.
Mangetsu noted that without using his Great Water Arm technique, his raw strength was indeed inferior to this guy.
"Raahhh!!"
Zabuza forcefully knocked Mangetsu's sword away and hurled three kunai in quick succession.
The kunai pierced through Mangetsu's body.
As expected, he dissolved into water and melted into the ground.
Vanished.
Swish!
The next moment, Mangetsu reappeared directly behind Zabuza.
Not giving him even a fraction of a second to react, he slashed down at his neck!
At the exact moment the water shifted, Zabuza instinctively sensed the attack. Without thinking, his body reacted—raising his kunai just in time to block the descending blade.
Tch!
Mangetsu clicked his tongue in annoyance.
And then he noticed—Zabuza's hand was back in his ninja pouch.
Again?
More kunai and shuriken? How long was this guy going to keep up these dull tactics?
"Remember this well... in the afterlife."
Mangetsu once again activated his Great Water Arm, the sheer pressure of his growing strength forcing Zabuza's hands to tremble as he struggled to hold his kunai steady. His grip was beginning to crack.
"To hell with you!"
Zabuza roared, flinging his last kunai straight at Mangetsu.
Mangetsu's eyes widened.
It wasn't just a kunai.
Attached to it was a slip of paper.
A large, unmistakable character was written on it—爆 (Explode)!
An Explosive Tag!
Where the hell did this guy get an Explosive Tag?!
These things weren't cheap! While noble clans like the Hozuki could afford them easily, they were considered a luxury for ordinary shinobi!
And he had never heard of any noble clan named Momochi.
Use the Body Flicker to escape?
No time!
Mangetsu immediately disengaged, but it was too late—the kunai, carrying the Explosive Tag, embedded itself in his body.
Zabuza grinned wickedly, hands forming a seal. "Burn!"
Boom!!!
A thunderous explosion erupted!
Flames and black smoke engulfed Mangetsu completely!
Lowering his trembling right hand, Zabuza scoffed with pride.
So much for the so-called genius of the Hozuki Clan. In the end, he still fell before him.
...
As the smoke cleared, Zabuza narrowed his eyes.
Something was emerging from the fading black mist.
At first, he thought it was Mangetsu's liquefied body reforming, but... no.
That wasn't water.
It was pink.
A solid mass with multiple protrusions.
Wait.
Zabuza tensed, kunai at the ready.
"Who's there?!"
"Alright, alright, let's calm down. Geez, Mangetsu, you're so cold."
That pink solid mass had a name—coral.
A gentle hand brushed off the coral, revealing a familiar face.
With a smile, the newcomer introduced himself.
"I'm Karatachi Yagura, future Fourth Mizukage."
Yagura tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow at Zabuza. "So, tell me, Momochi Zabuza... do you plan on assassinating me now?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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