Chapter 28 — Turns Out I Was the Extra One
Within the dense fog, Zabuza constantly shifted his position, launching one probing attack after another at his enemy.
Yet every single time, the executioner's blade in his hands ultimately struck nothing but empty air.
The more Hidan left himself completely undefended, the less Zabuza dared to bring the blade down.
Whether it was the intense sense of danger he felt the first time he attacked, or the other man's eerie, abnormal demeanor, everything pointed to one conclusion—this was very likely a trap meant to lure him into striking!
But if this stalemate continued, not only would Haku be in danger, once the enemy's companion returned, even he himself would be trapped in a deadly situation.
Suddenly, Zabuza took a deep breath, slung the Executioner's Blade back onto his back, and then pulled a short knife from his chest pouch.
Even knowing it might be a trap, he still had to risk himself to test exactly what the other man was trying to do.
Otherwise, his only option would be an immediate retreat.
Standing within the ritual circle, Hidan was already starting to feel bored. His patience was being worn down rapidly.
If it weren't for how much he was looking forward to seeing his enemy kill himself with his own hands, he would have ended things long ago.
Suddenly, his expression shifted.
"He's coming! Well? You're not making a move yet?"
This time, Zabuza didn't even use the Silent Killing Technique—precisely so Hidan could detect him in advance.
What made Zabuza's face darken, however, was that the other man still stood there calmly, completely motionless, as if deliberately sticking his head out and waiting to be killed.
Grip tightened—blade drawn!
Rip!
A long, blood-soaked wound instantly appeared on Hidan's… back.
"So I hit him… let's see what happens next."
That thought flashed through Zabuza's mind—and in the very next moment after he cut Hidan, an intense pain erupted from Zabuza's own back, forcing his eyes wide open.
Zabuza's figure vanished swiftly into the fog. After pulling back to a safe distance, he reached behind himself—and found a long gash pouring with blood.
Even the position and length were exactly the same as the strike he had just delivered!
"So that's it… a forced mutual-destruction ability…"
Zabuza muttered to himself, finally understanding why he had felt that needle-like premonition of death earlier.
If that slash had gone any further, whether the opponent would die was uncertain—but he himself definitely wouldn't have survived.
Things had become troublesome.
Zabuza frowned deeply, beginning to think of a countermeasure.
But just then—
Bang!
A bloody hole suddenly exploded through his left leg, blood gushing out.
Then—pfft!
Another hole appeared in his right thigh.
Zabuza's legs trembled, and he nearly collapsed. After stumbling, however, he forced himself upright again through sheer willpower.
"This guy… is he hurting himself?!"
"And it can ignore distance entirely and reflect it directly onto me… this is bad."
Zabuza lifted his head, his face dark as storm clouds.
On the other side, Hidan had already lost his patience and decided to take matters into his own hands—self-sufficiency at its finest.
He pulled out his jet-black spear and stabbed two bloody holes into his own legs first, just to make sure the other guy couldn't escape.
Next would be the punishment for refusing to cooperate.
Placing the spear against his own chest, aiming straight at his heart, he slowly… bit by bit… pushed it inward.
The pain coursing through his body caused Hidan to reveal an expression of extreme pleasure.
He wanted his opponent to feel death approaching inch by inch—unable to stop it, forced to watch helplessly, before dying in despair!
But just as Hidan was indulging in that moment—
A ferocious water dragon suddenly slammed into him!
The black spear was knocked from his hand, and his entire body was blasted more than ten meters away, crashing heavily into the ground.
The thick mist began to dissipate once more…
Supporting himself with both hands, Zabuza spat out several mouthfuls of blood.
Just a moment later, and he would have died from his heart being pierced!
Yet even in that desperate situation, he had remained calm.
Not only did he recall how the enemy had drawn a strange pattern on the ground with blood earlier, he also noticed that since then, the man hadn't moved a single step.
From that, he made a deduction.
That bizarre ability likely could only be activated while standing within that symbol.
So he immediately used the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, gambling his life on this one move.
And it seemed… he had won the bet.
The violent water dragon not only sent the opponent flying, but also inflicted the same severe damage on himself.
However, the follow-up damage no longer reflected back onto him!
"I've figured out your technique!" Zabuza raised his head fiercely, killing intent blazing in his eyes.
Despite bleeding all over, even feeling as though his internal organs had shifted out of place, he had no intention of retreating—on the contrary, he wanted to take this chance to kill Hidan outright!
Coincidentally—
Hidan, who had just struggled back to his feet, was thinking the exact same thing.
Today, either you kill me, or I kill you. There was no third option!
The damp, chilling sea wind howled past as bone-piercing killing intent filled the space between the two men!
"So how did you end up this miserable, Hidan?"
A sudden voice rang out, causing both Zabuza and Hidan to turn their gazes at the same time.
"Shinji, don't interfere. I'm using him for a ritual!"
"Haku, what happened to you?!"
When Shinji appeared carrying the heavily injured Haku, the balance of victory tilted completely in their favor.
"Za… Zabuza… sama…"
An extremely faint voice came from Haku's mouth.
"With injuries this severe, and even poisoned by my compound toxin, you're still able to stay conscious and not pass out. That kind of obsession… is truly frightening," Shinji praised sincerely.
Bang!
With a ferocious expression, Zabuza ripped the Executioner's Blade free and slammed it heavily into the ground.
"Give Haku back to me!"
"Hey, bastard! I'm your opponent!" Hidan shouted angrily.
But at this moment, Zabuza's eyes held only Haku—and Shinji, who controlled Haku's life and death. He didn't even seem to hear Hidan's shout, ignoring him completely.
Then Shinji suddenly spoke again.
"Since all of you here seem to think I'm just an extra, let's make a deal."
Zabuza said in a deep voice, "What kind of deal?"
"Give me your Executioner's Blade. I'll return Haku to you, and afterward I won't interfere in the fight between you two at all. If you win, you can leave with him. If you lose—then you both stay and die here. How about it? Deal?"
"How do I trust you?"
"You can gamble on it. At worst, it's no different from now. If I make a move, not only will this kid die immediately, but you—already this badly injured—will die as well."
At that moment, Haku spoke again in a weak voice.
"Don't… worry… about me… hurry… leave… Zabuza… sama…"
Zabuza fell silent for a brief moment—
Then suddenly hurled the Executioner's Blade high into the air!