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

"But considering Zabuza's sword, his real strength should be around the 25 million bounty level."

Kakuzu added.

"Twenty-five million?"

"So he's still manageable if we're careful?"

Everyone turned to look at Chōjūrō. This was a matter concerning Kirigakure, and not within their task scope.

As professional black market bounty hunters, they had standards — if it wasn't their job, they'd need more money.

"Add another five million ryo,"

Chōjūrō gritted his teeth and said.

"Sorry, Lord Zabuza. Even though we're not enemies, this time, we can't afford any surprises."

"Otherwise, the entire Mist Village will fall back into a Blood Mist era."

There was a trace of determination in Chōjūrō's eyes — he refused to die here.He had to defeat Zabuza.

Behind him, he slowly drew his twin swords Hiramekarei.The massive size of the swords clashed with Chōjūrō's slender frame, but as he unsheathed them, the surrounding ninja finally dropped their earlier scorn.The pressure radiating from Hiramekarei made them pay attention.

Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen — how could any of them be weak?

Chōjūrō, dual blades in hand, leapt off the deck.Five other ninjas jumped down after him — Kakuzu among them.

Not far away, Zabuza lifted his left hand slightly upon seeing this.

"Kaidō, take the grunts and back off. The next battle isn't something you can interfere with."

Zabuza was a bit confused at this point.

This was ridiculous.Everyone on that ship — not a single one was ordinary.

Just to escort a tribute from the Mist Village, this many experts? And they weren't even from Kirigakure?

And that guy in the red cloud cloak — couldn't the "Revolutionary Army" be more discreet?

"Don't tell me that guy's rebelling…"

Zabuza clearly recognized Chōjūrō.

Seeing him here, along with a group of elite ninjas, including the Revolutionary Army…Something big was definitely happening.

Zabuza didn't care, but running into this now was undeniably unlucky.

"Six people… even if I tried to run now, it's probably too late."

With a resigned expression, Zabuza readied himself.

"Very well. Then I'll let you witness true swordsmanship — pure swordsmanship."

His body lowered slightly, thick mist rolling off his body, shrouding his beheading blade.

"It's coming!"

As if by mutual understanding, both sides charged simultaneously.

Chōjūrō rushed ahead, dual blades flashing. Kakuzu followed closely. The others spread out, forming hand seals.

"Hiramekarei — Release!"

Chōjūrō didn't hold back. His twin swords glowed blue as chakra surged into them.The chakra condensed into orbs on the blades — the most dazzling lights on the battlefield.

But in the next instant, a brighter flash overwhelmed them.

"Swordsmanship isn't about flashy ninja swords, brat,"Zabuza said, not dodging Chōjūrō's attack, but charging straight in.

Among the Seven Swordsmen, besides his beheading blade, which of those weapons was a true sword?

All those flashy weapons? They couldn't stop a real blade.

"No-Sword Style: Severing Slash!"

A flash of steel sliced through Chōjūrō's chakra orb in one strike. The terrifying blade barely missed his forehead.

Zabuza's figure appeared instantly in front of Chōjūrō, blade still in motion. He didn't stop — his body spun, bringing the sword around again.

The air pressure shrank in — Chōjūrō felt like he couldn't breathe.He was far too slow to react.

Clang!

A chain and a kunai blocked Zabuza's strike.

Kakuzu kicked toward Zabuza — but Zabuza's foot met his at the same moment.

Boom!

A dull explosion rang out. Both were sent flying.

Kakuzu landed, expression grim.

Chōjūrō also stood, blood running down his forehead, dripping onto the icy ground — blooming into frozen flowers.

Haku had stepped in.

"Ice Release Secret Technique — Ice Rock Hall No!"

Thick ice walls appeared around Zabuza. Haku had been ready from the start.

But for seasoned warriors, Haku was still too inexperienced.

"Fire Release — Phoenix Cry!"

"Wind Release — Great Breakthrough!"

Two ninjas acted instantly. Ice Release bloodline limit?On the battlefield, it was an advantage — but that depended on who used it.

In a moment, fire boosted by wind surged in power, engulfing Zabuza's location.

The rising temperature twisted the air. Ice began to melt.

Thud thud thud!Dozens of kunai with explosive tags stabbed into the area near Zabuza.

Two more ninjas made their move.

This was their first time coordinating, but as elite jonin, their teamwork was far tighter than Zabuza and Haku's.

Jonin-level experience came at the cost of life.

"Detonate!"

A huge explosion erupted.

The ice beneath Zabuza shattered within a 10-meter radius. The shockwave even blasted Chōjūrō back several meters.

No one could survive that.

And yet Kakuzu frowned.

He heard the sound of metal clashing in the explosion.The ice shards — they might've been deflected by Zabuza.

With the mist rising due to melting ice, the battlefield was now completely obscured.If Zabuza survived, he could counterattack at any moment.

"Damn it… these useless fools!"

"Where is he?"

Kakuzu didn't fear for his life — he feared for his money.

Wait… money?

In the next instant, Kakuzu reacted.

"Lightning Release — False Darkness!"

A masked monster appeared behind Kakuzu, launching a lightning spear toward Chōjūrō's position.

"Iron Body!"

As the lightning flashed, Zabuza appeared in Kakuzu's sight.

His upper body, now blackened, pants torn in several places — he had taken the explosion head-on.

"Revolutionary Army, huh? Strong indeed… But I'll be taking the Mist's money."

The blackness faded from Zabuza's body. Even Iron Body couldn't fully block that attack — wounds covered him.

But Kakuzu was stunned — these were just scratches.

Kisame never said Zabuza was this strong!

"Let's fight properly next time."

Zabuza kicked Chōjūrō toward Kakuzu, then raised an ice wall, blocking their path again.

In the thick mist, escaping was easy for Zabuza.

If the fight dragged on, he'd be worn down.

The remaining four ninjas had regrouped — picking them off one by one was impossible now.

And they couldn't stop him if he ran either.

As the mist cleared, Zabuza's pirate ship vanished into the distance.

Back on the Mist's ship, Kakuzu stood at the bow, Chōjūrō on his shoulder.The other ninjas looked bitter. Five elite jonin plus Chōjūrō — and they couldn't take down two people.

"That guy didn't even use ninjutsu. Was that all just pure taijutsu?"

"Whatever it was, any one of us alone would've died. Four together just to survive…"

"His swordsmanship was terrifying. Thank god we didn't take a direct hit."

They sighed.

Just look at Chōjūrō — a fellow member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen — nearly killed by one blow.

Of all of them, Chōjūrō was hurt the worst.

And Zabuza? Surrounded, struck by lightning — and still escaped with just minor injuries.

Technically, they won — but it felt hollow.

More importantly… Chōjūrō lost the money.

"What do we do now?"

"If just one of the Seven Swordsmen is that strong… our real target is—"

Everyone went silent.

Their mission was to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage, the Three-Tails' jinchūriki.