"It's you, that restless woman. Every time I think of someone like you, I get angry, Mizukage or not. But never mind, everything happening in the Hidden Mist Village has nothing to do with me," Zabuza grumbled.
"Yes, yes, there's no one left in the Hidden Mist Village, and the woman has turned into a Mizukage," Raiga added with a chuckle.
A small twitch appeared on Terumi Mei's head, her patience visibly strained.
Remembering the original plan, she suppressed the anger swelling inside her.
"In fact, we've already learned that the Fourth Mizukage was under the control of a mysterious man. Some of his ridiculous orders were part of a conspiracy. Your coup attempt to save the village can't be called wrong..."
Terumi Mei gazed at them seriously, her tone softening. "I understand the sacrifices you made for the village back then. If you want to return to the village, we can forget everything that happened in the past."
Zabuza let out a laugh that echoed through the room. "Hahahaha, this is really funny. As I said, everything in this village has nothing to do with me anymore. All these years, my hands have been stained with the blood of Kirigakure ninjas. How can I go back? No matter how naïve I was, there must be a limit to everything."
Raiga, standing beside him, joined in with a smile. "I definitely don't want to go back to a village like that. Friends, teachers, lovers—everything was fake. They all lied to me, betrayed me. I can't find anything worth going back to. I'll never return to those memories, especially if you, a disgusting woman, are really the Mizukage."
Terumi Mei's anger flared, but she suppressed it with great effort, replying in a more controlled tone. "In fact, the riots of the past few years have really undermined the viability of the village. According to the rules of the village, it doesn't matter why, but as long as the village is in revolt, those involved must be hunted down."
Her voice turned stern, and she continued, "Right now, there simply aren't enough people in the village. I don't want this chase to cause even more damage. However, there is one thing. To restore the prestige of the village, we urgently need to return the Seven Ninja Swords. If you refuse, Kirigakure will hunt you down relentlessly, and I will personally be the one to do it. No matter how weak Kirigakure is, I will have no problem killing you."
Terumi Mei paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in. "That's all for today. The hunt ends here, but I will give you a month to think it over and provide your answer."
"Mind Transformation Technique, Release."
With that, Terumi Mei and the rest of the hunting squad retreated, leaving silence in their wake.
"Who does that woman think she is?" Raiga muttered, clenching his fists in frustration. "She dares to threaten me. I'm not afraid of death."
Zabuza sat silently, his expression unreadable. His hands were clenched, but he made no move to speak.
Raiga turned to him, still irritated. "Are you crazy? You still want to get into trouble with Konoha's ninjas? Think about how to escape first. It doesn't matter if we can't complete this task, even if we lose our reputation. For the future, we should find a way to hide. I'm not afraid of death, but I don't want to die in vain."
"Don't worry, it'll be some time before they come again. I have to kill this brat to wash away my shame. If you're afraid, you don't have to come," Raiga muttered, a hint of malice in his voice.
"Damn it, you're the one I hate the most among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, so I won't kill you,"
Zabuza snapped, eyes narrowing at Raiga. "Among everyone else, the person I hate the most is you, Raiga."
After Raiga left, Zabuza stood there for a moment, mulling over what Terumi Mei had said. His thoughts churned in silence.
"Today's class is a bit special," said the already grim-looking instructor on the podium with a twisted grin. "Follow me."
The students trailed behind him in silence, descending into a dim, damp underground dungeon. He gestured toward the prisoners shackled to the walls. "These are failed ninjas—traitors or enemies of our village. Your task today is simple: each of you will choose one... and kill them."
Gasps spread through the group. Some students looked excited, others indifferent. But one boy stood frozen. He was sweating, fists clenched, fear filling his eyes.
"Next—Momochi Zabuza."
Zabuza gripped the kunai handed to him, his whole body trembling. "What are you waiting for? Stab him!" the instructor barked.
Zabuza suddenly threw the kunai down. He collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face."I... I can't do it!"
"Useless brat," the teacher snarled, kicking Zabuza aside. "Three days confinement for you."
Surrounded by corpses, Zabuza sobbed in the darkness."No… sensei, please…!"
A boy, a head taller, knelt beside him and patted his shoulder. "Still scared, Zabuza?"
Zabuza looked up. "I can't, Renga… when I saw that person's eyes…"
Renga sighed. "At this rate, you'll never survive the academy. How are you supposed to graduate like this?"
Zabuza lowered his head in silence.
Renga continued, almost reluctantly: "Fine. I'll protect you. I heard the graduation test is different this time—closed environment, everyone for themselves. Half must be eliminated. I'll make sure you're not one of them."
Zabuza's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Renga frowned. "Still… with that soft heart of yours, I wonder how you'll ever become a real ninja."
A cold voice rang out as the iron door slammed shut: "You have two hours to reduce your number to half. If you fail, someone will be randomly chosen to die. Do you understand?"
The room fell into tense silence.
Then, screams.
"Don't kill me—!"
"Hahaha!"
Zabuza stared at the unfamiliar boy—no, the stranger that had once been Renga—with wide, trembling eyes." Why... Why did you kill them all?! We only had to eliminate half!"
Renga smiled, blood dripping from his blade, eyes cold. "The Third Elder gave me a secret mission before the exam." His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "Kill everyone."
Zabuza stumbled backward as Renga stepped forward, his boots echoing in the blood-soaked room. He collapsed to the ground, panic rising, grabbed a kunai with shaking hands and pointed it at him. "S-stay back! Don't come any closer!"
Renga raised his dagger.
"I'm sorry, Zabuza."
Zabuza shut his eyes tight.
"Ah—!""Chhhk—"
The sound of steel sinking into flesh.
Zabuza slowly opened his eyes—and saw blood pouring from Renga's chest.
"Why… why?"
Renga's smile was faint now. "You've heard the village is debating whether to keep this 'kill-or-be-killed' graduation exam." He coughed blood. "The Third Elder promised... if I killed every candidate... he'd use it as proof to end the tradition."
Zabuza's tears fell freely now. "I can't… I can't live with this…"
"Then live for me," Renga said, voice weak. "You're too kind for this world, Zabuza. But it's cruel. You have to become strong… even if it means becoming a demon."
Zabuza whispered, broken: "Why does it have to be like this…"
Renga gave a faint laugh. "Don't cry. I did this willingly. This way, no more kids have to go through this. Reiji, Shigure … they're all waiting for me now. I need to apologize to them."
"I loved this village, you know…""Even if its system is twisted… I believed it could change someday. But I won't be around to see it."
"Renga—!"
Footsteps echoed.
"That's the one who slaughtered every classmate in the exam, right?"
"Terrifying… like a ghost."
"He's looking this way…!"
Zabuza looked down at his own blood-stained hands.
"A ghost… then I'll live like one. Even if I must become a monster to survive."
"Please, don't kill me—!" someone cried.
Zabuza raised his blade expressionlessly, eyes void of mercy.
"They call you a demon now… Momochi Zabuza."
"You who once couldn't even kill…"
"Killed the entire village."
"From today onward, you are qualified to inherit the Executioner's Blade."
"Ah—""Ah… why… why me?"
Zabuza held the massive blade in his hand and looked down coldly. "I want to test how sharp this sword really is, sensei."
The old instructor grinned grimly. "Do you know why the Seven Ninja Blades are so feared, Zabuza?"
"No."
"It's not because their wielders are the strongest." "Each blade has a special function—one restores chakra, another heals wounds, another brings back stamina… and some are made for raw, overwhelming destruction." "But when all seven are gathered, they become something else—seven living weapons of war that can fight for days and nights without stopping."
He paused, voice dropping into a growl.
"It's not strength I need from you—it's efficiency. The ability to kill without hesitation. Improve your killing methods. Perfect them. Understand?"
"Yes."Zabuza's eyes gleamed. "I'll become the perfect tool of death."
"A brat like you… nobody wanted you. You would've starved to death on the street."
Zabuza looked down at the small boy huddled before him.
"Your eyes… they're like mine," he muttered.
"Little devil. "He crouched. "Do you want to be needed? Would you give everything for that?"
The child—Haku—nodded slowly.
"Then from today, your ability belongs to me. Follow me."
He gently lifted Haku into his arms and tended to his wounds.
Raiga Kurosaki stood nearby, arms crossed, watching with a smirk. "Is that kind of tool really worth keeping, Zabuza?" "A kid who doesn't even dare to kill? You, of all people, relying on that?"
Zabuza didn't look up. "I don't recall asking your opinion."
Haku clutched at Zabuza's cloak. "Please, Lord Zabuza, let me stay. I'll become useful. A proper tool. I'll never disappoint you."
Zabuza's tone was flat. "You don't need to beg. I'll train you to be the best tool I've ever had. Unless… one day, you lose all your value."
Outside the tent, Raiga chuckled darkly. "Hah… So you do have a soft side, Zabuza."
He leaned closer, eyes gleaming with cruelty. "If you want to fix that kid's unwillingness to kill, it's simple. Just grab his hand and force him to slit a few throats. He'll get used to it."
"If you're serious about making him into a killing machine… there are at least a hundred ways."