Hearing the movement, the dog at Hanabi's feet lifted its head warily.When it recognized Neiki approaching, it relaxed and lay back down.
Neiki glanced at the girl and the dog together, a strange thought briefly crossing his mind.
Could Synthesis merge living beings as well?And if it could… what would the result be?
"Big brother…"
Hanabi rubbed her eyes and slowly woke up, lifting her head from the table.
"Why didn't you go back to your room to sleep?" Neiki asked casually.
"I wanted to wait and eat with you…"
Even though she wasn't yet three years old, the strict habits of the Hyuga main household still lingered in her—remnants of their life in Konoha.
"You don't need to wait for me next time."
"Okay."
After responding, Hanabi suddenly turned and looked at him seriously.
"Brother… your eyes have become very beautiful."
Neiki's Byakugan had reached its final stage. The mist-like pupils of the past had condensed into something clear and crystalline, giving him a calm, almost chilling elegance.
"Will I be able to become like you one day?" she asked eagerly.
"Maybe," Neiki replied, patting her head.
He could absorb Byakugan Essence.
Ordinary Hyuga might be able to do the same—though the method would require experimentation.
With sufficient comparison, he could determine whether his Byakugan truly differed from the clan's ordinary eyes.
After breakfast, Neiki prepared to leave.
Hanabi hesitated, then finally spoke.
"Brother Neiki."
"Hm?"
"Does strength… really decide everything?"
Her argument with Inari had shaken the belief she once held so firmly.
Neiki smiled faintly.
A wooden mask formed in his hand and settled over his face.
He extended his hand toward her.
"Do you want to see it for yourself?"
A rainy night.
Kado's manor.
A grand celebration.
"From today onward, the Land of Waves belongs to me! Hahaha!"
Surrounded by his subordinates, Kado laughed arrogantly, reveling like a villain drunk on victory.
After Kaiza's death, the backbone of the Land of Waves seemed to have snapped. The people no longer dared resist and paid obediently, causing Kado's wealth to swell rapidly over the past few days.
"Idiots," Zabuza muttered coldly from a shadowed corner.
A pack of wolves celebrating after killing a rabbit.
"Is this the mission you meant?" Haku asked quietly beside him.
"The mission—and the people."
Both were fools.
"At least we can leave tomorrow, get the money, and go," Zabuza said."The Land of Waves is too close to the Land of Water. The Mist's hunter-nin will arrive soon."
Since his failed assassination of the Fourth Mizukage, Zabuza had been relentlessly pursued by Kirigakure's hunter-nin.
This mission had been laughably easy—no fighting, just waiting.But the wasted time irritated him.
He thought all he needed was to kill the assassin targeting Kado.
But the assassin never appeared.
"That's good," Haku said softly.
Whether it was leaving safely, getting paid, or avoiding unnecessary combat—everything worked out.
Then—
A disturbance erupted downstairs.
Glass shattered.
Zabuza's eyes snapped open. Ordinary people wouldn't have noticed, but he instantly understood.
He glanced at Haku.
Haku nodded and melted silently into the darkness.
A rogue ninja was always deadliest when one remained in the open and the other vanished into shadow.
Moments later, a subordinate burst into the hall, shouting in panic.
"Boss! Something's wrong! A ninja broke in!"
"He says he must find you!"
Find me?
Kado froze.
Fear seized him as he looked at Zabuza.
"Hurry—hurry! The mission isn't over yet! That person must be here to kill me—"
"Shut up."
The Executioner's Blade pressed against his throat.
Seeing Zabuza's cold eyes, Kado swallowed hard. On the surface, he trembled—but inside, he was thrilled.
The assassin had appeared on the final day of the mission.
Zabuza would be furious.Kado would be saved.And he wouldn't even have to pay extra.
How could he not be pleased?
"Good… good. I trust you completely, Zabuza-san!" Kado shouted after him.
Downstairs, the manor had fallen into chaos.
Twisting roots and vines burst through the floors and walls. People were hoisted into the air, bound tightly, screaming in terror.
Kado did have ninja subordinates—but only two figures still stood unrestrained.
A man wearing a wooden mask.
And a child beside him.
Wood Release?
Zabuza frowned.
He had only read about this legendary bloodline—but he recognized it instantly.
Wood Release wasn't feared because it was stronger than every other kekkei genkai.
It was feared because the Shinobi God who founded Konoha had wielded it.
Zabuza scanned the scene.
Some were trapped in wooden cages, others wrapped in vines, begging for mercy.
Yet none were dead.
His vigilance eased slightly.
At the very least—this man had a bottom line.
"You're here for Kado?" Zabuza wondered if there had been a misunderstanding. Kado was just an ordinary man—hardly worth such an opponent.
Then the masked man spoke.
"Yes," he said gently."Step aside. I don't want to kill you."
"Arrogant!" Zabuza sneered.
There was no need for negotiation.
Their positions were already opposed.
"Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Fog surged outward.
Zabuza vanished.
As the Demon of the Hidden Mist, his Silent Killing Technique had ended countless lives.
Even if the opponent possessed Wood Release—this would be no exception.
Seeing the masked man standing motionless within the fog, Zabuza closed in.
The Executioner's Blade fell from behind.
It's over.
—BOOM!
A colossal wooden hand burst from the ground and clenched him tightly.
"I win," the masked man said with a smile.
…When did he see me?
Zabuza couldn't comprehend it.
"Water Release: Thousand Needles of Death!"
Countless water needles shredded the wooden hand.
Zabuza flipped backward, landing beside Haku, his brow deeply furrowed.
Why…why did he let me escape when he had the chance?
"Who… are you?" Zabuza asked.
"Me?"
The masked man tilted his head and laughed.
"Hashirama."
"My name is Senju Hashirama."
"The Fourth Great Ninja War is about to begin."
"I'm here… to plant trees of peace across the world."
PS :
Executioner's Blade - Zabuza's signature weapon, used to intimidate and execute targets.
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