Selling Cans from Naruto to Beyond

"What—?" Zabuza seemed to realize something, turning her head in disbelief.

There, Sasuke, who had been lying on the ground, his fate uncertain, leaped high.

Despite heavy burn marks still scarring his face…

His sword radiated unrestrained sword aura.

Skill: Heavenly Flying Immortal!

Worsen Zabuza's injuries beyond resistance to Sasuke's ultimate skill, then restrain her defensive weapon.

This was the moment Kakashi had painstakingly set up!

"Zabuza! Dying by my sword will be your greatest honor!"

Sasuke, with a frenzied grin, poured everything into the skill.

In that moment, he seemed to grasp the essence of Heavenly Flying Immortal.

No need for follow-ups.

This strike would kill!

A sword aura, sharp enough to slice bone marrow, surged from Sasuke, glowing brightly—a fusion of the skill's traits and his heart's resolve.

Zabuza's sense of danger peaked.

This kid!

He still had such a powerful hidden skill!

Damn it!

No carelessness against can openers!

Glancing at Kakashi's dragon arm clamping her All-Cutting Teigu, Zabuza gritted her teeth and let go.

She shot backward.

No matter how strong the skill, it was useless if it missed.

Zabuza knew this was likely their true final gambit. Survive this, and victory was hers!

"No use," Kakashi said, collapsing to one knee, panting but with a victorious chuckle. "Sasuke's skill locks on. With your injuries, you can't withstand it!"

This was Kakashi's fiercest battle since the war ended.

But…

They'd won.

In that moment…

Sasuke, fully fused with his broken sword and its aura, became a giant blade, streaking toward Zabuza like a bolt of lightning.

No tricks, no illusions.

Just a direct, glorious assault!

Yet it sent chills through Zabuza, a piercing pain like ice needles surging from her feet to her brain. Her vision was consumed by that sword.

No escape!

Zabuza knew clearly.

She couldn't dodge this blade!

Would she die?

"Lord Zabuza—!" A desperate cry came from afar.

Haku.

Matching the sword aura, a whirlwind rushed toward Zabuza, Haku's speed breaking limits.

In that instant…

Time seemed to stretch.

Zabuza saw Haku's anxious eyes and resolute determination, and within the glowing sword aura, Sasuke's cold, exhilarated killing intent on his unhealed face.

Haku could block it!

Zabuza's mind found the answer—Haku would reach her first.

The stretched moment snapped back to normal as the thought formed.

Splatter—!

A faint sound, like something pierced.

So soft…

Yet everyone heard it.

At the arena's center, Sasuke stood coldly, sword extended.

His blade…

Was gripped tightly by Zabuza, but the sword aura had pierced her body.

Its wild energy carved a deep gash in the ground behind her.

"Lord… Zabuza?" Haku sat dazed on the ground nearby.

Did he fail to block it?

No.

He'd been pushed away.

At the last moment, Zabuza had shoved him aside.

Why?

Splatter—!

Another piercing sound.

Zabuza's hand, with all her remaining strength, drove through Sasuke's chest.

"Kid!"

Blood gushed from her mouth, but her shark-like teeth seemed to grin maniacally, reflected in Sasuke's disbelieving eyes.

"Let me… teach you one last thing, kid… If you want revenge, be like me… cough… fight to your last breath, even in death!"

Sasuke couldn't speak.

Blood poured from his mouth too.

His vision blurred.

Thud.

Both could no longer stand, collapsing together.

"Lord Zabuza—!"

"Sasuke—!"

Haku and Naruto rushed forward like mad.

Sakura, watching, clutched her mouth tightly.

Sasuke… was dying?

"There's still hope!" Kakashi, dragging his exhausted body, stumbled over, pouring a Level 2 can healing potion into Sasuke's mouth.

The potion worked fast.

A faint green glow enveloped Sasuke.

Surface wounds healed visibly.

But his heartbeat kept weakening.

Kakashi hurriedly poured another.

"So that's it… cough."

Zabuza, in Haku's arms, watched, but blood choked her words.

She understood.

Why Sasuke, who should've been incapacitated, had leaped up.

Those potions were more miraculous than she'd thought.

If she'd ensured the kid's death first, victory would've been hers.

No what-ifs.

"Lord Zabuza…"

Haku gently wiped the blood from Zabuza's mouth, but it kept flowing.

"Why push me away?" Haku's voice broke with sobs.

"Idiot… idiot!" Zabuza looked at Haku, struggling to speak. "With… your will to revive me… it won't cost… much."

That was her excuse.

But in truth…

Only she—and Shen Mo, who saw through it all—knew.

Maybe she thought revival was possible, or that she could withstand the hit.

But in that moment…

Zabuza had faced her heart.

Even without Haku, she could never be the ninja she claimed to be.

"Fate…" Shen Mo sighed softly.

He'd imagined many outcomes, even Team 7's total defeat.

Until that moment…

He'd expected Haku to die for Zabuza, like the original fate.

Then Team 7's last card would be Naruto's Nine-Tails form.

But unexpectedly…