Inside one of Gato's hideouts in the Land of Waves.
Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki sat on the couch facing each other.
Zabuza said coldly, "It's no surprise—Kakashi must've already called for help from Konoha. We need to act fast. I want seventy percent of Gato's money! This was supposed to be my mission!"
Raiga Kurosuki sneered, "Do you really think things like this are decided by who got here first? If it weren't for the fact that we were once comrades from the same village, I'd have already prepared your funeral! Fifty-fifty—that's my final offer."
Zabuza replied harshly, "You think that's possible? I've been here all along just for Gato's assets. You show up out of nowhere demanding half the money. You really don't see me as the Bloody Mist's demon at all. I wouldn't mind killing you right here!"
Raiga Kurosuki scoffed, "Bloody Mist's demon? You're only part of the second generation Seven Swords. I'm from the original batch. If you met Momochi Kisame, go ask him whether he dares speak to me like this!"
Zabuza gripped Kubikiribocho behind his back and pointed it at Raiga Kurosuki, saying, "We're both rogue ninjas from Kirigakure. Let's skip the seniority games! Besides, I heard what happened during the Third Great Ninja War—you, Kisame, and Suikazan Fuguki ran away while fighting against Konoha ninja. How dare you talk to me like that? At least I never fled from a battle!"
Raiga Kurosuki angrily pulled out his Lightning Sword, pointing it at Zabuza.
That past event had long been a nightmare for Raiga Kurosuki.
In countless nightmares, he could clearly see Might Duy open the Death Gate of the Eight Gates and shout, "For Konoha!" before kicking down four members of the Seven Swords with ease—the most terrifying part was that Might Duy was just a lowly Konoha Genin.
Back then, Raiga nearly wet himself, crawling away in panic.
Now, having Zabuza bring it up made Raiga angrier than ever.
What did Zabuza know? Had he been there too, he might've been even more terrified than me!
Just as the two were glaring daggers at each other, Haku entered the room and reported to Lord Zabuza, "Lord Zabuza, Tazuna and the workers have resumed construction again. Konoha has sent reinforcements. They arrived with Kakashi and three Genin, along with two more Konoha ninjas—an adult and a child."
Zabuza sheathed Kubikiribocho and snorted, "They think sending just two more people will defeat us? Konoha sure has a high opinion of itself. Raiga, let's deal with the outside threat first—then we'll decide who takes Gato's share. If more Konoha ninjas keep coming, we won't get a single penny!"
Raiga Kurosuki grumbled and turned to Ranmaru beside him, "Ranmaru, shall we prepare a funeral for these Konoha ninjas?"
"Yes, Lord Raiga."
After standing up, Ranmaru climbed onto Raiga Kurosuki's back.
Zabuza turned to Haku. "Haku, let's move out. Kill all these Konoha ninjas!"
"Yes!"
...
On the half-constructed bridge, Tazuna was directing workers in its construction.
Hinata and Naruto were chatting nearby.
Shindai and Kakashi leaned against the railing — Shindai smoked while Kakashi read Make Out Paradise.
Glancing at Kakashi's copy of Make Out Paradise, Shindai scoffed, "Still into this smut, huh?"
Kakashi gave a defensive reply, "I don't particularly like it. I just read it to kill time."
Shindai twitched his lips — even if he said that, nobody would believe him, not even Obito or Rin Nohara.
Blowing out smoke, Shindai teased, "Obito and Rin are getting closer every day. You planning to stay single forever? What if I have kids before you ever get laid? Why don't I create you a perfect girlfriend based on your preferences? Guaranteed satisfaction."
"No thanks," Kakashi declined. "Your puppets hold zero interest for me."
As Kakashi said this, his gaze drifted from Make Out Paradise — he secretly longed for one of those puppets terribly.
After all, he was only fooling himself — he really wanted one of those puppets.
But remembering the posters Shindai had put up around the Puppet Shop, he thought better of it.
The cigarette between Shindai's fingers paused mid-motion when Kakashi suddenly shut his book.
Here they come.
Thick mist rolled across the bridge as enemies approached.
The fog grew thicker by the second, and workers collapsed one after another.
Kakashi and Shindai used Body Flicker Technique to rush protectively in front of Tazuna.
"Hinata, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura!" Kakashi called.
The four teens immediately formed a protective circle around Tazuna.
Tazuna trembled with fear, watching as Hinata activated her Byakugan. "Four enemies coming straight at me!"
Sakura nervously asked, "Sensei, is this their Hiding in Mist Technique?"
"Exactly," Kakashi confirmed while pulling on his glasses. "Get ready — here they come!"
Raiga Kurosuki's voice echoed through the fog. "Oh? That kid's eyes — Byakugan? Didn't expect Konoha to bring a Byakugan ninja here. So you're the so-called magnetic field ninja from Konoha, Shindai?"
Frowning, Shindai retorted, "Magnetic Field Ninja? Sounds terrible! Kakashi, where did that come from?"
Kakashi shrugged. "They view your magnetic fields as barriers, hence 'Magnetic Field Ninja.'"
Shindai complained, "This is nonsense! I'm a puppet master — shouldn't they call me something like Puppet King rather than that?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes, as always unfazed.
There was only one ninja with "god" implied in his reputation — Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of Konoha.
Zabuza sneered, "I didn't expect Konoha to be so arrogant as to send only you and a white-eyed kid. You'll regret this arrogance!"
In the next second, four Zabuzas suddenly appeared before them: "Then let my Cleaver-Sword take your heads!"
Shindai and Kakashi didn't move, keeping their hands in their pockets and showing no intention to fight, as if they were merely watching a performance unfold.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke charged forward full of energy, working seamlessly together to defeat three of the Zabuzas, who dissolved into puddles of water.
Hinata pierced the remaining water clone with [Lightning Release: Thunderbolt] — a swift arrow-shaped bolt of blue lightning — turning it into a puddle of water.
The real Zabuza approached with Haku nearby, saying, "Oh? These two brats are going along quite seamlessly now. That new white-eyed kid seems pretty strong too. It looks like you've got some rivals now, Haku."
Haku, wearing his mask, replied, "Looks like it."
Raiga Kurosuki also stepped closer, wielding his twin blades, and laughed arrogantly, "Then let me host a grand funeral for you all!"
With both sides drawing their weapons, the battle was about to erupt at any moment.
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