Kakashi-sensei, do you know this big guy?"
Naruto dashed to Kakashi's side, his eyes fixed on the ten-meter-tall Silver-Gold Giant Wolf nearby, his face filled with tension and alertness.
Kakashi nodded and slowly stood up.
"Yeah, a very powerful—very terrifying guy."
His voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable complexity.
At this moment, he had completely relaxed, no longer concerned about Zabuza's threat.
Although he didn't know why Yang Jiu appeared here, he and that wolf had some history, after all—
The bond between a captor and a prisoner is still a bond.
He wouldn't just stand by and watch them get killed by Zabuza, right?
"Is it very powerful?"
Naruto's eyes lit up, scratching his head in curiosity.
"Compared to you, Kakashi-sensei, who is stronger?"
Sasuke silently pricked up his ears.
Sakura couldn't help but lean in closer, her eyes full of curiosity.
Kakashi fell silent for a second.
Then, he silently raised his hand and pulled down his headband.
He covered that Sharingan.
There was no answer.
But that action itself was the best answer.
Naruto was stunned.
Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly.
Sakura gasped.
Kakashi-sensei... doesn't even want to compare?
Yang Jiu looked down, his gaze falling on Naruto's trio, a hint of playfulness flashing in his golden pupils.
So this is the protagonist group.
They really are pitifully weak right now.
However, he could feel an extremely terrifying aura hidden within Naruto's small body; that Chakra was violent and frenzied, like a beast imprisoned in a cage, constantly wanting to break free.
The Nine-Tailed.
The corners of Yang Jiu's mouth curled slightly, and he murmured in a voice only he could hear:
"So this is the Nine-Tailed..."
"I really want to pull it out and test its strength, tsk."
The voice was very small.
But Kakashi, who was closest to him, heard it clearly.
Kakashi's pupils suddenly contracted!
In that instant, the hair all over his body stood on end.
His body reacted faster than his consciousness—he suddenly shifted a step, firmly blocking Naruto behind him, his whole body tense like a fully drawn bow.
In his only exposed eye, there was unprecedented solemnity and vigilance.
He didn't know if Yang Jiu was joking or serious.
But he couldn't afford to gamble.
If the Nine-Tailed really appeared at this time...
Kakashi's hand was already in front of him, as if ready to form hand seals at any moment.
Meanwhile, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura just watched this scene blankly.
They didn't understand what "Nine-Tailed" meant.
But Kakashi-sensei's reaction made them instinctively feel it—
Something was wrong.
Immediately after, they also stared warily at Yang Jiu, even pulling out their Kunai.
Looking at the four who treated him like an enemy, Yang Jiu smiled indifferently.
Yang Jiu withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Zabuza.
Those golden eyes were as calm as if looking at an ant.
But it was this very calmness that made Zabuza, the Demon who had killed countless people, feel a chill rushing from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
What is scarier than killing intent?
It's when the opponent doesn't even need to release killing intent toward you.
Because you... aren't worth it.
"Zabuza Momochi?"
Yang Jiu spoke, his voice deep like thunder, yet a faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth.
"Do you want to die, or do you want to live?"
Zabuza's pupils contracted slightly.
He didn't answer immediately.
It wasn't that he didn't want to answer, but that he was using all his strength to resist that sense of pressure, so as not to lose his composure.
Yang Jiu didn't urge him.
He just looked down at him from above, his golden eyes devoid of any killing intent, only a kind of... evaluation.
Like he was looking at a piece of merchandise.
Yes, merchandise.
Because Yang Jiu had no intention of killing him at all.
They had no grudge; why kill him?
But taking him in as a subordinate wouldn't be bad.
Zabuza's strength was right there—the Demon of the Hidden Mist, Jonin level, former Anbu, proficient in assassination and Water Release; it would be a pity to kill such a talent.
Take him back, throw him in front of the contract stele for a few days, then let the wolf god statue slowly influence him...
A Jonin would be secured.
Yang Jiu licked his lips.
A Jonin is worth several thousand experience and points.
The look he gave Zabuza became increasingly gentle.
Zabuza's pupils contracted slightly.
He didn't answer immediately.
It wasn't that he didn't want to answer, but that he was using all his strength to resist that sense of pressure, so as not to lose his composure.
Want to die or want to live?
He had heard this question too many times.
Every time, it was him asking others.
Every time, those people kneeling before him begging for mercy ended up dead under his blade.
But now...
He looked up at the ten-meter-tall Silver-Gold Giant Wolf before him.
That sense of pressure was indeed strong, stronger than anything he had encountered in his life.
But when had he, Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, ever bowed his head to anyone?
Even when his assassination of the Mizukage failed and he was hunted by the entire Hidden Mist, he never begged for mercy.
Now you're asking if I "want to live"?
Based on what?
The corner of Zabuza's mouth slowly curled into a cold arc.
"Want to die or want to live..."
He repeated the phrase, his voice hoarse and low.
Then, he laughed.
He laughed like a madman.
"I, Zabuza Momochi, in this life—have never even thought of the word 'live'!"
As soon as he finished speaking—
His hands suddenly formed seals!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The sea beneath him exploded! A massive water dragon soared into the sky, opening its huge maw to bite fiercely at Yang Jiu!
At the same time, Zabuza's figure instantly vanished from the spot!
Looking at the incoming water dragon, the smile on Yang Jiu's lips deepened.
"Interesting."
But he didn't move, letting the water dragon rush at him and directly envelop him.
Simultaneously, Zabuza's figure suddenly appeared from the water mist!
He held the Executioner's Blade with both hands, the blade carrying bone-chilling killing intent as it slashed fiercely toward Yang Jiu's eyes!
This strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless.
It was the fastest strike of his life.
However—
The blade stopped less than a meter away from Yang Jiu's eyes.
It wasn't that he didn't want to slash down.
It was that he simply couldn't.
A massive claw composed entirely of lightning directly blocked his blade; the golden lightning even illuminated his face in gold.
Yang Jiu looked down at him, his golden eyes full of playfulness.
"Good speed."
He commented faintly.
"Strength... is also okay."
He paused.
"But your brain isn't very sharp."
Zabuza's face turned beet red, but he couldn't say a word.
Before he could make a move, the golden lightning claw transformed into a lightning net, instantly enveloping him.
"Zzzzt—!!!"
Golden electric arcs jumped wildly on the lightning net, each pulse drilling into Zabuza's body!
"Aaaah—!!!"
Zabuza let out a heart-wrenching scream, his whole body trembling violently! The electricity pierced through flesh and skin, reflecting the outline of his skeleton; he could even see the clear shadow of the bones in his arms!
The terrifying current spread along the ground; wherever it passed, the puddles on the bridge deck instantly boiled and evaporated!
Kakashi's expression changed drastically. He grabbed Naruto beside him, and with his other hand, he snatched Sasuke and Sakura, retreating rapidly!
"Don't touch the water!"
He shouted, leading the three children dozens of meters away.
But those currents still spread through the water mist behind Zabuza.
In the mist, a suppressed groan sounded.
Immediately after, a figure tumbled out of the mist and fell heavily to the ground.
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