Naruto: The King Behind the Curtain

The two who noticed this movement immediately sat up straight.

Shiyaya, feeling guilty, even forced a sweet smile. "Zabuza, you're awake!"

However, Zabuza completely ignored her at first, staying silent before bursting into wild laughter. "Heh… hahaha…"

Shiyaya leaned toward Mei Terumi and whispered, "Did he get broken by accident?"

"This kind of enemy is the perfect quarry to hunt!"

Looking at the pair of deep red handprints on Zabuza's face, Shiyaya couldn't help but quip, "You sure about that being prey?"

Zabuza shot her a cold glance. "Being a hunter doesn't mean you're stronger than your prey—it means you have the instincts of a true hunter!"

"As for that Seiki Shimaseki, for being foolish enough to let us go, his weak willpower makes him nothing more than an herbivore no matter how strong he is!"

"Plus, he is indeed powerful, but definitely not as terrifying as you imagine!"

Hearing his words, Shiyaya couldn't help but snap, "Wasn't it *you* who got knocked out with two slaps from him?"

As if seeing the skepticism in Shiyaya's eyes, Zabuza coldly remarked, "Let me ask you—didn't those eye markings disappear from start to finish?"

"Now that you mention it, they kinda did," Shiyaya carefully recalled, then defiantly asked, "So what's wrong with that?"

"Fool!" Zabuza sneered. "Even before I was knocked out, I saw those markings fading on his cheek. And you were right in front of him—how did you miss it?"

Mei Terumi let out a soft gasp. "You're saying his strength comes from those eye markings?"

Zabuza nodded. "While those markings might be part of his power, such a jutsu enhancing strength definitely has its limits!"

"Either it causes exhaustion afterward or requires preparation beforehand. Considering he dared to let you leave, it's most likely the latter."

Shiyaya looked surprised—so this Zabuza guy actually had brains!

Mei Terumi slightly frowned. "Are you still planning to challenge him?"

Zabuza corrected her, "It's a hunt!"

Mei Terumi shook her head. "With Manda threatening us, we won't follow your madness!"

Shiyaya nodded fiercely—she had no intention of repaying kindness with violence!

Zabuza stayed unfazed. "Better for annoying ones to leave early."

Mei Terumi wasn't angry, only reminding him, "He also has a wager against Cloud Village and Sunagakure. By the time you catch up, he'll probably already be at the Central Tower."

Hiding behind Mei Terumi, Shiyaya added, "Exactly! If you really want to challenge him, wait until the official match!"

"I won't get another chance like this in the Death Forest since Konoha definitely won't let me kill someone like him."

"While I agree Konoha might interfere if something like this happened, hearing you say you'll kill him still sounds far-fetched!" Mei Terumi couldn't help but remark.

"I won't deny that my inability to beat him during the official match is also a reason."

"Zabuza didn't hide his thoughts. 'Even the best hunter needs the right environment to set traps!'

"As for time… I'll make him stay on his own!"

Shiyaya looked at him doubtfully. "Who do you think you are? You actually believe he'll abandon the bet?"

Zabuza narrowed his eyes. "Isn't he trying to play the good guy? Hmph, I'll let him keep pretending!"

Mei Terumi's pupils contracted violently. "You want to kill people to force him out?"

"Kill? With such an exquisite feast available, who would settle for inferior snacks?" Zabuza licked his lips, his gaze savage and murderous. "I'll just injure them all severely, then tell them the only person in this forest who can save them is Seiki Shimaseki!"

The two young girls weren't surprised by this — after all, many already knew he was a disciple of Katsuyu!

Confidently, Zabuza said, "If he's still hell-bent on playing the hero, he won't leave. And hey, we'll even drain his chakra for him!"

Mei Terumi and Shiyaya exchanged glances. Indeed, compared to Seiki Shimaseki, this guy was practically pure evil!

...

Within a forest,

Two Tayuya ninja were walking nervously, constantly looking around. The nearby Tayuya ninja mocked, "Well, well, looks like our paths just crossed with Konoha sooner than expected!"

"You could also say... too bad for them!"

Seeing their provocative expressions, Obito took out a kunai and pointed it toward the Iwa group. "This is supposed to be a survival escape match. Attracting Manda won't benefit anyone!"

The Iwa ninjas laughed heartily. One saying, "How easily can you meet Manda? Why don't you call its name and see if it comes to save you?"

With Kakashi already promoted to chunin, Might Guy stepped into his spot and shot back angrily, "So what you're saying is... you want to fight?"

"Six against three, we clearly have the advantage!"

"Hmph! Blame your Konoha comrade who used underhanded methods to kill our Iwagakure ninja - Seiki Shimaseki!"

Obito loudly taunted back, "Wouldn't that be those two Iwa jonin who got taken down by our Konoha genin?"

Two Tayuya ninja were walking nervously, left and right glancing. The nearby Tayuya ninja mocked, "Seriously? Nobody could actually be afraid of a snake, right?"

"Idiot, aren't you scared?"

"This big snake will be easy to beat. Just dig a pit in its path. When it slithers past, I'll hide in the hole and slide tackle it..." The ninja suddenly stopped mid-sentence when he noticed their expressions. "What? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You... behind you..."

Both Tayuya ninja trembled as they spoke, then immediately turned to run. "It's all yours! Go do your sliding tackle!"

The ninja nicknamed Slide-Tackle stiffened as he slowly turned his head, only to find himself face-to-face with Manda's pleasant gaze.

"Little ninja, why don't you come try sliding with me?"

"Waaah! Mommy, help!"

Seeing Slide-Tackle flee immediately, Manda lazily shook his large head before swallowing the man whole. "Burp, refreshing."

Just as he was about to pursue the escaping Tayuya ninja, he suddenly heard intense arguing from nearby.

After comparing the number of voices he heard, Manda quietly lowered his body and silently slithered over.

On the other side of the forest.

Three Konoha ninjas faced off against six from Iwagakure.

"Wow! Did Seiki Shimaseki really take down a Jonin?" Might Guy said, eyes wide.

Obito waved his hand dismissively. "For Seiki Shimaseki, it's nothing at all!"

Seeing the two chatting so openly and ignoring them completely, the Iwa ninja were furious beyond words.

"Darn kids! Just watch me wipe you out!"

"Kill them and avenge Lord Yangdo!"

"Perfect, now witness the true might of the Uchiha!" Obito began, but before he could finish speaking, he suddenly saw a green blur shoot past him.

[Leaf Great Whirlwind!]

Almost instantly, six Iwa Genin were knocked down.

Witnessing this, Obito felt tears well up as he muttered, "Darn it! Not again… Just like Kakashi. Couldn't you leave me at *least* two to fight?"

Meanwhile, the six defeated Iwa Genin groaned in disbelief.

"This isn't right! The script shouldn't go like this!"

"He was only an ordinary Genin not even mentioned in intelligence reports! How could he be so powerful?"

"Didn't Magze-sama say we could handle any squad except Seiki Shimaseki's team?"

"If even a regular Konoha Genin is this strong... Then could it actually be true that the strongest Konoha Genin can beat our Iwa Jonin?"

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