He has even mastered Haki, and you say this is Naruto?

These pirates—are they brain-dead?Do they even know who's on this ship?

They actually dare to hijack this kind of vessel?

"I'll go deal with it,"said the ninja who had spoken earlier, standing up.He was at least of jōnin level—taking out one ship was nothing he couldn't handle.

"Take two more with you. Be cautious. The enemy might not be that dumb."A cold voice came from the corner. It was Kakuzu.

He was a big shot in the underground black market—not only strong, but vastly more experienced than most.When Kakuzu spoke, even the lax ninjas instantly sobered up.

"Better to be careful. I'll tag along too,"an old man said, standing up. Another ninja followed him out.

Everyone here had jōnin-level strength.As for why they were in this place—just like Zabuza, it was for money.

But unlike pirates, their profession was different: bounty hunters of the underground black market.

On the other side—

Standing at the bow, Zabuza watched the three figures approaching from afar.The Decapitating Great Blade, long unseen, was once again unsheathed.

Now fully restored, the blade gleamed, and Zabuza was able to unleash 120% of his true combat power.Against ordinary elite jōnin, there was no way Zabuza would lose.Especially now—he had surpassed his previous limits.

In two words, current Zabuza could only be described as:"Absolutely terrifying."

"Accelerate!"

"Boys, aim for the target!"

Zabuza stood bare-chested, his forehead protector long discarded.He had no ties to Kirigakure anymore—nor to his past.

Boom!!

In the next instant, all ten cannons on the ship fired at once.

The thunderous blast shattered the ocean's calm.Shockwaves split the water, turning still waves into jagged fragments.

Zabuza stepped into the heat wave, heart ignited by the fury of the cannon fire.

Everything he once experienced in Kirigakure—All of it, reduced to ashes.

For the village? What a joke.

Zabuza was no one's tool.

"Boys! With me!"

Zabuza charged first.

"Charge!!"

"Go!!"

"RAAAAH!!"

The rest of the crew surged off the ship with a roar.

The sea began to freeze—frost creeping toward the Kirigakure ship.

The three ninjas spotted Zabuza charging in and smirked inwardly.

A single guy against the three of us? Ninja or not, we've got the numbers advantage.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!!"

"Wind Style: Chaotic Fang Blade!"

"Water Style: Water Binding Jutsu!"

All three cast their jutsu at once.

A massive dragon of seawater lunged at Zabuza.Ahead of him, five tentacle-like whips made of water lashed toward him.And in front—countless razor-sharp wind blades sliced through the air.

"With this kind of attack—even an elite jōnin can only dodge."

"And if he dodges, the follow-up attacks will finish him off."

These weren't greenhorns. They struck with killing intent—holding back was not an option.

But just as they were readying their next wave of deadly moves—

"Blade Technique: Lake Shatter!"

Zabuza swung his massive blade.

In that instant, his arm swelled, channeling tremendous force through the Decapitating Blade.

Countless slashes of light burst forth, forming a vast net.Air and seawater were torn apart, accompanied by an ear-piercing screech.

The light clashed with the three jutsu.Water dragon, water binding, wind blades—all shredded.

Even from afar, the three ninjas felt a stinging pain from the dissipating blade aura.

"Retreat!"

They reacted quickly, pulling back beyond Zabuza's range.

As the mist from the clash faded, they locked eyes with Zabuza again—This time, their expressions were grave.

Terrifying.That power was terrifying. The earlier slash had rattled their souls.

The enemy was not just strong—he was ridiculously strong.

Seeing the horde of pirates charging in behind Zabuza, the old man among them retreated to the back.

"We're under ninja attack!"

"Get everyone to fight back!"

And just like that, he vanished.

The other two quickly realized what was happening and fled too, especially when they saw the frost creeping to their feet.

Back on the Kirigakure ship, the officer watching all this turned pale, retreating into the cabin.

"Something's wrong, Lord Chōjūrō—the three jōnin lost!"

"They lost?"

Even Kakuzu, sitting in the corner, stood up upon hearing the news.

Clearly, this enemy was not ordinary.

"Let's go take a look."

Everyone got up and walked to the deck.

The three jōnin had already returned—and on the ocean now stood a bridge of ice.

It linked the two ships, forming a battlefield right on the sea.

"That guy's strength is insane. He's probably a taijutsu-type."

"And that giant blade might not be ordinary either."

The old man spoke grimly.

His heart was still racing.That kind of power—he'd never encountered it before.And that made all his experience feel worthless.

A terrifying thought.

Three elite jōnin were forced back by a single slash.Worse still, the guy had a whole crew with him.

Did you see those guys with glowing green eyes?No ordinary men had that kind of presence.

You could tell just by comparing them to their own men—Even the Water Country soldiers on their ship were afraid of ninjas.Some of the weaker samurai didn't even dare draw their swords in the face of ninja bloodlust.

Remember how Naruto could barely act when he first faced a ninja on the Land of Waves mission?

Or how genin froze during the Chunin Exams in front of Orochimaru?

Normal people can't resist on a ninja battlefield.

But Zabuza's crew? They were completely immune to this so-called "ninja aura."Even with powerful killing intent radiating from their foes, they showed no fear.

Why?Because—we're talking billions in treasure.

"But why would such a powerful ninja target us?"one asked, confused. They weren't weak.More importantly, their presence here was supposed to be top secret.

"Could it be the Fourth Mizukage found out about the plan?"

"No way—Chōjūrō said even he just found out."

"They wouldn't be here for money, right?"

"Impossible—unless they know the unsealing technique for the scroll, they can't get it."

Everyone shook their heads.

If it were that easy to get the money, they would've run with it long ago.

Even if Chōjūrō was a jōnin, he wasn't strong enough to threaten them.If they wanted to kill him, they could've—no problem. But what was the point?

"Actually… he is here for the money."

Chōjūrō finally admitted, hesitating slightly.

He hadn't expected Zabuza to show up here—let alone as a pirate.

And even less expected that Zabuza's strength had grown so much.

"Didn't you say the unsealing technique was only known to Kirigakure's upper ranks?"someone asked in doubt.

Chōjūrō walked forward.Beside him, Kakuzu was flipping through a thick stack of bounty sheets.

"Because… he was one of Kirigakure's upper ranks.One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Zabuza Momochi."

Chōjūrō's face turned grim.

Among the Seven Swordsmen—there were levels.

"He's the Demon Zabuza?!"

"One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? The same guy who defected from Kirigakure not long ago?"

"How the hell is he this strong…"

Strong?Zabuza had always been strong.

Even when he'd lost all hope in the village and his will to fight,he still managed to kill three jōnin and escape successfully.

Now, he wasn't just stronger in ability—he had grown mentally too.

"Momochi Zabuza. Rogue ninja from Kirigakure.One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Elite jōnin-level power.Bounty: 35 million ryō."

Kakuzu had found Zabuza's bounty.

Thirty-five million ryō—high even among elite jōnin.