Naruto: Becomes a Rebel Ninja After Annihilating the Hyuga Clan - Chapter 59
Zabuza frowned.
This masked man claimed to be Hashirama Senju.
Nonsense!
The “God of Shinobi,” Hashirama Senju, lived so many years ago. How could he still be alive?!
Although Zabuza didn’t believe that the man in front of him was the legendary Shinobi, he didn’t voice his skepticism. It was unlikely the masked man would explain anything. Since he wanted to play this role, Zabuza would let him continue.
Despite their opposing stances and the masked man’s formidable power, Zabuza was not the type to retreat in the face of danger.
Adjusting his grip on his executioner’s blade, Zabuza taunted, “Why don’t you stay in Konoha, First Hokage? What brings you to the Land of Waves?”
“Konoha is no longer what it once was. The people there have forgotten their original purpose and the reasons I created Konoha. I’m very disappointed. I regret founding Konoha,” the masked man sighed, then looked up firmly, saying, “I will correct Konoha and also this shinobi world consumed by ambition and desire. I want to plant the tree of peace across the world… and the Land of Waves will be the starting point.”
This man… he really thinks he’s Hashirama Senju?
And… correcting the entire shinobi world.
Haku couldn’t help but glance at Zabuza.
That ambition.
It was similar to Zabuza’s own.
In the Hidden Mist Village where Zabuza was born, the current regime under the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, enforced strict control and isolation, establishing a brutally bloody ninja system—academy students had to kill each other, with the survivor graduating as a ninja.
Zabuza’s dream was to overthrow Yagura’s tyranny and end the bloody era of the Hidden Mist.
Perhaps thinking of his situation, Zabuza clenched his fists and growled, “A masked fool spouting grand words.”
This masked man was too mysterious; Zabuza still doubted his true intentions.
“You may not believe me, but please don’t interfere. I need to speak with Kado,” the masked man said calmly.
“—After I defeat you, you can talk to him all you want!!” Zabuza retorted coldly.
Mist Concealment Technique: Silent Killing!
Zabuza glanced at Haku, then formed seals, channeling chakra throughout his body, releasing a ghostly red aura.
The next moment, he vanished from sight.
The masked man shook his head.
He won’t listen.
Unfortunately, the Mist Concealment Technique is countered by the Byakugan. Against Zabuza, I don’t need a second move.
The masked man stood calmly with his arms crossed. The masked girl beside him curiously looked around.
In the dense fog, trees and vines erupted from the ground, continuously expanding, seemingly chasing something.
The masked man remained at ease, but Zabuza, hidden in the mist, felt a chill down his spine.
Swinging his executioner’s blade, he cut through the encroaching roots, but more trees and vines quickly surrounded him, impossible to cut through.
He hacked and dodged, but the trees seemed endless. Zabuza wanted to break through to attack the masked man directly but couldn’t.
“Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!”
As trees surged towards him, Zabuza used a powerful water jutsu, clearing a path momentarily.
The ground trembled, and another wave of trees was about to emerge. Seizing the opportunity, Zabuza’s eyes narrowed.
“Body Flicker Technique: Mist Body Flicker!”
In an instant, Zabuza crossed several meters, his executioner’s blade swinging down towards the masked man’s head.
“Not bad.”
It sounded like a compliment from an audience watching a street performer, making Zabuza’s eyes widen in anger.
“I love killing arrogant people like you!!”
With a roar, Zabuza swung his blade with all his might.
The wind from the blade blew the masked man’s clothes, and behind the wooden mask, Zabuza met a pair of beautiful, emotionless white eyes.
Two wooden hands shot from the ground. Anticipating this, Zabuza leaped, evading their grasp.
“Same trick won’t work on me—”
Before he could finish, something strange happened, halting his words and his blade.
The wooden hands hadn’t caught him, but they had trapped his executioner’s blade!!
Zabuza hesitated briefly, deciding to abandon the sword and retreat.
But it was too late; countless vines rose, entangling him completely.
His last sight, as the vines consumed him, was the masked man standing calmly, unmoved.
I couldn’t even make him take a single step…
As the masked man left, Haku broke through the vines and found Zabuza lying on the ground, dazed.
“Why didn’t you help me, Haku?” Zabuza snapped back to reality and focused on Haku’s face.
“He didn’t intend to kill you,” Haku explained.
“…He might as well have,” Zabuza, feeling utterly defeated, suddenly found life meaningless.
“Zabuza-san, you haven’t achieved your dream yet. Why think of dying?” Haku gently touched Zabuza’s face, smiling softly.
In the ensuing silence.
“Should we… ask that Hashirama to start correcting the shinobi world with the Hidden Mist?”
Haku’s calm voice rippled like a stone in a lake, gentle but long-lasting.
—
In the manor’s corner, Kado, seeing the masked man approach, fell to his knees, trembling.
“How much did those rebels pay you to kill me?!”
“I’ll pay double!!”
He never expected Zabuza, with a bounty of 15 million, to lose.
Could this masked man’s bounty be even higher?
Kado couldn’t imagine the people of the Land of Waves gathering enough money to hire such a strong individual.
“Can you afford it?” The masked man chuckled lightly.
Kado hesitated before gritting his teeth, “Those rebels don’t have much money. I have a lot! If you spare me, I’ll give you all my wealth!!”
“I’ll also… I’ll also open the shipping routes in the Land of Waves and never come back. I guarantee you can earn that bounty money from them too!!” Kado added, trying to appeal.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds.
“Deal.”
The masked man nodded slightly.
Kado sighed in relief.
But the masked man’s next words made his expression twist.
“You don’t need to disappear, nor open the shipping routes. In fact, just keep doing what you’ve been doing to the people of the Land of Waves, but even more intensely.”
Kado was stunned.
This guy… if he’s not hired by the rebels, who is he?
“May I ask… why?” Kado couldn’t help but ask.
Such exploitation wouldn’t profit for long.
Why target the people of the Land of Waves like this?
“Soon, the world will be in chaos. Keeping them at home is for their protection,” the masked man explained calmly.
Kado didn’t believe it.
Keeping so many people on the island?
How would they survive?
Who would provide for them?
Were they supposed to stop eating?
He had many questions but, fearing for his life, could only nod and smile.
No matter what, he had to appease this man first. To hell with sealing the Land of Waves and worldwide chaos!
As Kado cursed inwardly, he saw the masked man reach out. Two branches from his sleeve suddenly pierced his eyes at incredible speed.
“Ahhh—”
“My eyes!”
Kado writhed in pain on the ground.
“Byakugan Curse Mark.”
“It’s a curse and a blessing. Once you reach a certain level, you can break free from it.”
The masked man’s voice drifted away as he walked off.
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