As Yusuke slowly pulled the Kubikiribocho from Zabuza's shoulder blade, drawing a trail of dark red blood droplets, the Demon, infamous throughout the Ninja World, finally lost consciousness completely, collapsing like a pile of mud onto the cold, damp bridge deck.
His black and red cloud robe was soaked with blood, looking even more tattered. The bandages on his face were also stained with blood, revealing only a pair of eyes that, once wide with pain and disbelief, were now rapidly losing their luster.
The thick fog, deprived of the caster's Chakra to sustain it, began to slowly flow and thin, dissipating from the bridge like an ebbing tide.
Sunlight once again streamed down, illuminating this area where the fierce battle had just ended, also illuminating the crisscrossing sword marks, water stains, and mottled bloodstains on the bridge deck.
Kakashi walked over, crouched beside Zabuza, and pressed two fingers to the carotid artery, carefully feeling for a moment.
The skin beneath his fingers was cold... there was no pulse.
He also checked Zabuza's pupils for dilation, confirming that the other party was completely dead.
Kakashi looked up. His crimson Sharingan was already covered again by his forehead protector. His exposed right eye looked at Yusuke, who was strapping the Kubikiribocho back onto his back, and asked: "Yusuke-san, do you need to take this corpse back with you?"
In the Ninja World, the corpses of strong individuals often contain bloodline secrets, intelligence, or even special value. How to dispose of a corpse can sometimes be a distribution of spoils.
Hearing this, Yusuke turned around, his tall figure casting a shadow under the sunlight.
He glanced at Zabuza's corpse on the ground, then at Kakashi, and asked in return: "You're Konoha's [Copy Ninja] Kakashi, right? Are you interested in this corpse?"
Just then, Jiraiya also strolled over.
He didn't look at Yusuke, but gazed deeply at the conspicuous black and red cloud robe on Zabuza's body, slowly speaking: "The organization this guy belongs to is extremely dangerous. Its members are all S-rank Missing-Nin. Their goals are unclear, but they likely pose a huge threat to Konoha and even the entire Ninja World. So..."
He looked at Yusuke, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness: "This corpse, along with any information related to that organization it might carry, is of extraordinary value to us Konoha. I hope you can hand it over to Konoha for disposal."
Yusuke's thick eyebrows raised slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
His main mission on this trip was to lead his Genin Team to Konoha to participate in the Joint Chunin Exams. Killing Zabuza was just something done along the way.
But he also knew which organization Zabuza's black and red cloud robe represented. The Land of Stars' intelligence department had also taken note of it, and he had heard of its danger.
Handing Zabuza's corpse over to Konoha might allow him to exchange for some information on Akatsuki, or at least gain a favor from these two.
But giving it away for free obviously didn't conform to the rules of the Ninja World, nor would it be fair to his just now fierce battle.
"Konoha can have this corpse, yes." Yusuke directly asked for a price: "However, the price of an Elite Jonin-level Missing-Nin's corpse at the underground exchange isn't cheap. Especially for someone as long-famous as the Demon Momochi Zabuza. What price are you prepared to offer?"
Jiraiya and Kakashi were not surprised that Yusuke proposed a transaction.
Transactions involving spoils and intelligence are common between Ninja, especially those from different villages.
Kakashi pondered for a moment, then quoted a number: "Kirigakure's public bounty for Momochi Zabuza at the underground exchange is twenty-three million ryo. We can pay twenty million ryo to buy this corpse, along with any items and information he might be carrying."
This price was three million ryo less than Kirigakure's bounty. But considering the recent friction between the Land of Stars and the Land of Water in the southern seas, their relations were tense. It was almost impossible for Yusuke to take Zabuza's corpse to an exchange in the Land of Water to claim the bounty.
And if he went to an exchange under other powers, he risked being targeted by Kirigakure's Anbu, inviting unnecessary trouble.
Konoha offering a slightly lower price for a cash transaction was a relatively reasonable choice for Yusuke, saving him risk and travel.
Yusuke thought for a moment, then nodded: "Deal. Twenty million ryo."
He didn't dwell on the three million difference... being able to quickly cash in was best.
"Fair enough." Jiraiya smiled, taking a special sealing scroll from his personal ninja tool pouch.
He crouched down, skillfully spread the scroll beside Zabuza's corpse, formed a few simple hand seals, and pressed them on the center of the scroll.
"Seal!"
After a faint puff of white smoke, Zabuza's corpse, along with his tattered black and red cloud robe and the scattered remnants of his ninja tools, were all sealed inside the scroll.
Jiraiya rolled up the scroll and put it away. Then he spread his hands towards Yusuke, a helpless smile on his face: "However, Yusuke-san, I'm sorry to say, twenty million ryo isn't a small sum. I don't have that much cash on me. I'm afraid you'll have to accompany us back to Konoha to collect the payment. Don't worry, Konoha's reputation, and my reputation as the Toad Sage, are still reliable in the Ninja World. We won't welch on the debt."
Yusuke didn't seem to mind this. He waved his hand and said, "No matter. As it happens, our destination is also Konoha."
"Oh? You're going to Konoha too?" Kakashi's single eye flickered with confusion upon hearing this.
Yusuke walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Kakashi and Jiraiya towards Adult Sasuke and Naruto, who were standing not far away watching, and casually explained: "Yes. The Genin Team I'm leading this time will participate in your village's upcoming Joint Chunin Exams. We're just escorting a few clients to the Land of Waves along the way, and according to their request, helping Tazuna-san's family."
"Joint Chunin Exams?" Kakashi and Jiraiya exchanged a glance.
And Adult Sasuke, who had been silently observing, his right eye moved slightly upon hearing the words 'Joint Chunin Exams'.
'Chunin Exams?'
'Genin from the Land of Stars are also participating?'
'The trajectory of this Space-Time has shifted quite a bit. It seems the Chunin Exams will be quite grand...'
As they spoke, they had reached Naruto and Adult Sasuke.
Naruto rushed up impatiently, circled Yusuke twice, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the exaggerated sword on his back, clicking his tongue in wonder: "Wow, old man, you're so amazing! In that thick fog, you still managed to beat that bandaged monster! This sword is so cool!"
Yusuke was a bit surprised by Naruto's enthusiastic attitude, but still smiled: "You flatter me, little brother. Kakashi-san had already consumed most of his stamina and Chakra. I just got lucky."
Naruto wanted to ask more, but Kakashi patted his head, signaling him to be quiet, then frowned as he looked towards the bridgehead: "Where are Tazuna-san and the workers? Weren't they at the bridgehead just now?"
Reminded by him, everyone noticed that Tazuna and the workers, who had been gathered near the bridgehead, shaken, were now nowhere to be seen.
Only scattered footprints and a few hastily dropped tools remained, indicating they had indeed been there.
"Huh? Tazuna-san? Everyone? Where'd they go?" Naruto cupped his hand over his forehead, stood on tiptoe, and looked around. The bridge was empty above and below.
Just then…
Boom!!!
A huge explosion, mingled with faint shouts, came from the direction of the fishing village where Tazuna's house was located!
Naruto's face changed. He jumped up, pointing towards the fishing village, and shouted: "Oh no! It's Tazuna-san's place! It must be that big bad guy Matsuo! He sent people to attack!"
Adult Sasuke's expression also turned grave. He said in a low voice: "Before I came to the bridge, a Konoha's Missing-Nin named Rokusho Aoi had already attacked Tazuna-san's house with some men. After he was... uh, defeated by Hinata, I rushed over here to check the situation. Could Matsuo have sent more than just Zabuza and Aoi? Are there more?"
"Rokusho Aoi?" Jiraiya frowned at the name, looking at Kakashi: "A Konoha's Missing-Nin? Do you know him?"
He hadn't returned to Konoha for years and wasn't familiar with recent personnel and defectors.
Kakashi nodded, pinching his chin, looking thoughtful: "Rokusho Aoi... I remember him. He used to be a Chunin Instructor at Konoha's Ninja Academy, with mediocre talent. But later, he instigated a student to steal the Second Hokage's legacy sword, the Sword of the Thunder God, and then defected from Konoha with the treasure. According to later Anbu intelligence, after defecting, he seemed to have joined Amegakure and was doing well there. It's said he was promoted to Jonin."
"Amegakure..." Jiraiya's brow furrowed even tighter.
Amegakure, the village controlled by the Akatsuki.
Aoi was an Amegakure's Jonin, and he attacked Tazuna's house wearing Akatsuki's attire...
The connection made the ominous premonition in his heart grow stronger.
He looked at Adult Sasuke and asked, "Was that Rokusho Aoi also wearing a black and red cloud robe?"
Adult Sasuke nodded affirmatively: "Same as Zabuza."
Jiraiya's heart sank.
'What was Akatsuki up to in the Land of Waves?'
"No time to think. Let's go check it out first!" Jiraiya decided immediately.
"I'll go first!" Naruto could no longer hold back. He immediately dashed out, running wildly towards the fishing village.
His mind was full of worry for Tazuna, Inari, Tsunami, Boruto, and also Menma and Hinata, who had stayed there.
Jiraiya, Adult Sasuke, Kakashi, and Yusuke also didn't delay. They all spread out their forms, turning into several blurry afterimages, passing through the woods and roads, closely following Naruto, speeding towards the direction of the explosion.