The New Wielder of the Kubikiribōchō
The Land of Waves.
Uchiha Yi's knowledge of this place was shallow at best. He only knew of one key figure tied to it a wealthy underworld magnate named Gatō.
Originally, Yi had planned to "borrow" some funds from this so-called tycoon.
Unexpectedly, during this period, Gatō had yet to establish himself in the Land of Waves.
Which meant one thing
No easy money.
And Uchiha Yi had no intention of wasting time searching for a man who wasn't even here yet.
With that realization, his interest in the country vanished instantly. It was nothing more than a remote island nation poor, isolated, and devoid of anything worth lingering for.
Soon, he arrived at the Wave Country pier.
Fishing boats lined the coast in uneven rows, swaying with the tide. After scanning the dock for a while, he spotted an old fisherman sitting on the bow of a wooden boat.
The man wore a bamboo hat, trousers rolled up, a pipe dangling from his lips. Judging by his appearance, he was probably in his forties or fifties.
Uchiha Yi approached calmly.
"Old man, how much to sail to the Land of Water?"
The fisherman didn't even hesitate.
"No boats going to the Land of Water."
A flat refusal.
"Why?"
Though Yi already had a guess, he asked anyway.
"The Land of Water's been sealed off lately," the old man muttered with a sigh. "Those ninja lords won't let anyone get close."
"It's not that I don't want the money, kid."
"But I've got no choice."
Helplessness soaked every word.
"Any other way to get there?"
Yi pressed.
The fisherman shook his head again.
"Try someone else."
That was answer enough.
Combining the man's words with his own knowledge of the timeline, Uchiha Yi reached a conclusion.
Most likely, Obito Uchiha had already placed Yagura Karatachi under genjutsu and initiated the infamous Bloody Mist era in Kirigakure.
A brutal time.
A convenient time.
Of course, Uchiha Yi had no intention of "saving" anyone.
His purpose in heading toward the Land of Water was far more pragmatic.
Resources.
More specifically battlefields.
And battlefields meant opportunity.
He needed strength.
And strength required fuel.
He had no desire to slaughter innocents for growth, but he also carried no illusions about the shinobi world. If souls were already destined to fall, he would not hesitate to harvest what fate discarded.
After all, survival in this world was never gentle.
Especially for someone with knowledge of the future.
Without power, even a genius could be erased by overwhelming ninjutsu in an instant just like certain prodigies in the original timeline.
The inquiry just now had merely been confirmation.
And now that confirmation was complete.
No more hesitation.
He was about to disperse the shadow clone and transmit the intelligence back to his original body
When suddenly, a figure approached from the side.
A tall man.
Bandages wrapped around his lower face.
A massive blade resting on his back.
A killing intent that lingered like cold mist.
"Hey, kid. Heard you want to go to the Land of Water."
"If the price is right… I can take you."
The man's voice was rough, direct.
With such a distinctive appearance, Uchiha Yi immediately recognized him.
Zabuza Momochi.
The Demon of the Hidden Mist.
An executioner whose name would echo through the early era of the series.
Yi's gaze naturally fell to the weapon strapped across Zabuza's back.
The Kubikiribōchō the Executioner's Blade.
He hadn't expected it to fall into Zabuza's hands this early.
Not long ago, Jūzō Biwa had died. That information had circulated within the Akatsuki. Yi knew it well.
Rumor had it that Itachi Uchiha had taken both Jūzō's corpse and the blade afterward.
As for what happened next no one really knew.
Even Zetsu hadn't cared enough to investigate.
And yet now, through coincidence or perhaps inevitability the sword had found its next wielder.
Fate had a twisted sense of humor.
"I don't know…" Yi tilted his head with mock suspicion. "You don't exactly look trustworthy."
"You some kind of local bandit king? Burning, looting, slaughtering innocent travelers?"
He even added a hint of feigned fear.
Zabuza's brow twitched.
"Kid, I don't have time for games," he said impatiently. "Three hundred thousand ryō. One trip. Take it or leave it."
The teasing lost its appeal instantly.
"Deal."
Yi pulled out a stack of bills and tossed them over without hesitation.
Zabuza caught the money, counted it swiftly, then nodded.
"Follow me."
Though Yi could easily cross the sea using ninjutsu high-speed movement across water wasn't beyond him there was no need to rush.
He wasn't a salaryman bound to deadlines.
Time, for now, was still on his side.
Once aboard, the boat cut slowly through the waves.
After a while, Zabuza spoke again.
"You chose a bad time to head to the Land of Water."
His tone carried faint suspicion.
"People heading there now… usually have motives."
Yi leaned lazily against the railing, eyes on the endless horizon.
"Sightseeing," he replied casually.
A vague, dismissive answer.
Zabuza studied him for a moment.
"As long as you're not there to cause trouble," he said coldly, "I don't care why you're going."
Whether he believed Yi or not remained unclear.
But he didn't press further.
The sea wind howled.
Time stretched.
Eventually, boredom crept in.
"You're Zabuza Momochi, right?" Yi asked suddenly.
"You figured that out already."
No surprise in Zabuza's voice.
"I've heard Kirigakure's gone back to the Bloody Mist ways," Yi said with a faint smile. "As one of its shinobi… what are you planning to do?"
Zabuza's gaze hardened.
"That's none of your concern."
Then, after a brief pause, he added quietly:
"This will end soon."
There was conviction in those words.
Unshakable.
Yi understood.
He knew exactly what path Zabuza was about to walk the rebellion, the failed coup, the exile.
The moment that would turn him from loyal executioner into missing-nin.
"I see."
Yi nodded lightly.
Then, as if speaking on a whim:
"If you ever find yourself without a place to go…"
"You might consider joining the Akatsuki."
Zabuza shot him a sharp look.
But Yi only smiled faintly.
He had no intention of interfering with destiny.
Some storms had to unfold on their own.
And some swords…
Were destined to be stained long before they found their true battlefield.