This was the result of Haku holding back. Naruto's injuries were all superficial and not life-threatening.
"Well then." Kusuo lightly raised the katana in his hand, faced Zabuza, and spoke softly. "This time, we should settle this between us."
His faint tone was devoid of any emotion. But it was precisely this placidness that drove Zabuza mad.
On what grounds? What right does he have? A brat of about ten years old, not even as old as Haku, dared to speak to him with such arrogance. The indifference and casualness in his words were as if he were declaring that killing him would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken. What utter contempt.
"Heh," Zabuza sneered. "An annoying brat like you... letting you die a quick death under my Executioner's Blade would be letting you off too easy."
"I've decided!" Killing intent swirled in Zabuza's eyes. "I'm going to cut you down with one slash! Then, I'll cut off your limbs, pull out your tongue, and make you watch how your so-called comrades and teacher die under my blade!"
The venomous words spewed from Zabuza's mouth.
Kusuo's expression changed, turning to anger. He knew very well that a man like Zabuza was not bound by morality or the ethical codes of the ninja world. He would do as he said.
In that instant, the perpetually expressionless Kusuo was successfully enraged by Zabuza.
"Very good," Kusuo said softly. His hawk-like eyes flashed with a cold light. "You have successfully angered me."
VMMMM!
The earth shook. A terrifyingly immense sword pressure radiated from Kusuo's body. The aura, like a tangible substance, rushed towards the sky, sweeping in all directions. The clouds in the firmament were torn apart. It was a breathtaking sight. The Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals surrounding him and Naruto began to crackle, on the verge of shattering.
This sword pressure did not come from his soul, nor from his breathing technique. It was an aura born from his long years of swinging his sword and meditating. It was like the oppressive feeling a jonin could exert on a genin.
Hatake Kusuo was crushing Zabuza with his aura alone.
"What is this pressure?!" Zabuza's face was filled with shock and doubt. He couldn't believe that he, the feared and dreaded "Demon," had just felt fear towards this brat.
No. This is impossible! Zabuza roared internally. He could not admit that he had just been afraid of a mere boy. After planning and lying in wait for so long, this was not the result he wanted.
"Water Style! Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!" Zabuza formed the seals, and a ferocious water dragon erupted from the sea. The seaside environment was even more suitable for his ninjutsu, and with its power enhanced, the Water Dragon Bullet was even more terrifying. With immense power, it charged swiftly towards Kusuo.
BOOM!
The water dragon engulfed Kusuo's body. The massive splash of water carried the might of nature, and the endless water pressure continued to assail him. It was a heaven-shaking blow. The concrete foundation of the docks cracked under the impact.
It hit! Zabuza's eyes burned with heat. With such terrifying power, that brat should be dead, right?
However, the water spray gradually dissipated. The center of the impact was empty. Kusuo's fallen body was nowhere to be seen.
SWISH!
At the same time, a phantom-like shadow appeared behind Zabuza. It was Kusuo!
At this moment, his forehead was covered with red, scorching, and noble marks. His eyes were sharp, his movements swift. He struck with his sword. A simple, unadorned slash. With a proficiency born from years of daily practice, it cut through the air, broke the sound barrier, and with an ice-cold edge, chopped down on Zabuza's head.
"Zabuza-san!" Seeing that the sword was about to hit Zabuza, Haku, who had been moving between the ice mirrors, cried out in alarm. He shot out from the mirrors, leaped through the air, and blocked the blow.
Crack.
The mask shattered, revealing the face of a boy so beautiful it was almost unreal.
"B-big sister?" Naruto, who was sitting on the ground resting and panting, was stunned. The person who had blocked Kusuo's sword was none other than the "big sister" he had met by chance that morning.
A line of blood trickled down Haku's beautiful, flawless face. He collapsed into Zabuza's arms. Kusuo did not pursue with another strike. With his Mark open, his senses and speed were extraordinary. A blow of that magnitude hitting a person's body... it was impossible for anyone to survive.
"Z-Zabuza-san..." Haku coughed up blood, a gratified smile on his face.
Zabuza's body trembled visibly. He held Haku's fading body, silent. The atmosphere fell still.
Naruto sat on the ground behind them, watching, not knowing how long this would last. In his mind, the battle should have ended here, with the enemy fleeing with their companion.
However... "Go to hell!" A fierce glint flashed in Zabuza's eyes. He would use this opportunity to kill Kusuo! His opponent had just landed a blow; now would surely be when he was most relaxed. If he attacked suddenly, he would definitely succeed.
With this thought, Zabuza's Executioner's Blade was just about to touch Kusuo's neck.
Swoosh!
Unfortunately for him, with his Mark open, Kusuo's speed was beyond his imagination. With a seemingly casual leap backward, he easily dodged Zabuza's killing blow.
Seeing the look of shock, shame, and anger on Zabuza's face, Kusuo smiled. What a pathetic man. Unable to see the situation clearly, unable to see his own self. The one he should have treasured most was dying in his arms, yet he was oblivious. For such a person, living is also a kind of tragedy. If that's the case, then let me be the one to send you on your way.
Lifting his head again, Kusuo's eyes became focused. The red clothes on his body moved without wind, his sleeves fluttering, carrying an aura like a shooting star. He tightened his grip on his sword and released his breathing rhythm.
"Sun Breathing, Ninth Form—Setting Sun Transformation!"
SWISH!
He swung his blade. It carried the wind, the flames, and a fierce pressure.
RUMBLE—
The wild sword energy flickered like a solar flare, its terrifying might kicking up a roar from the ocean. A giant wave, ten, a hundred times larger than Zabuza's water dragon, slammed against the docks. The sword energy cut through everything in its path like an aurora, instantly breaking through all obstacles.
The earth, the sky, and the ocean changed color. A thick patch of clouds in the center of the sky was torn apart by this single slash, revealing the dazzling sun.
"I've lost?" In Zabuza's pupils, the sword energy grew closer and larger.
SCHLICK!
Everything happened so fast. There was no time for Zabuza to react. The vertical sword energy easily passed through his body. Under the sun-like scorching temperature, his wound sizzled.
A line of blood appeared, running smoothly from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.
SQUIRT!
Blood flew, dyeing Haku's body red.
With a thud, Zabuza's corpse collapsed to the ground, silent.
His last thought was: "Konoha has given birth to a monster... I, Zabuza... have no complaints about losing."
-------
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