I Became a Demon Sword and Traveled the Anime Worlds

After considering the matter for a while, Asuramaru ultimately decided not to interfere.

Why bother?

He was a Demonic Sword.

As long as his Sword Master survived, there was no need for him to concern himself with every tragedy he remembered from the original story.

Whether Zabuza and Haku lived or died could be left to fate.

For now, watching events unfold was enough.

Outside, Haku stood beneath the trees with Zabuza's body resting nearby.

Although the mask concealed his face, his heart was anything but calm.

This situation was extremely dangerous.

If Kakashi discovered that Zabuza was still alive, Haku would not only fail to save him, but could very well die here too.

So he kept his voice steady.

"It appears your battle with Zabuza Momochi has concluded."

Haku looked toward Kakashi.

"In that case, I will take his body and leave."

Kakashi did not stop him.

A Hidden Mist Hunter Ninja retrieving the corpse of a rogue ninja was an internal matter of Kirigakure.

There was no reason for Konoha Shinobi to interfere.

Haku immediately lifted Zabuza onto his shoulder.

He did not linger for even a second longer than necessary.

Within moments, his figure disappeared into the forest.

The only thing left behind was the broken portion of Kubikiribōchō that Naruto had severed earlier.

Naruto noticed it.

He walked over, extended one hand, and stored the broken weapon inside his Independent Space.

The fragment vanished.

Sakura blinked.

Sasuke's gaze sharpened.

Kakashi noticed as well.

That strange storage ability again.

The three pronged kunai.

Ryūjin Jakka.

Now an enormous piece of Kubikiribōchō had vanished too.

Clearly, Naruto possessed secrets that none of them understood.

But nobody asked.

Every Shinobi had things they preferred to keep hidden.

And after what had just happened, none of them felt that prying into Naruto's abilities was appropriate.

Only when Kakashi confirmed that Haku and Zabuza had truly left did his body finally relax.

Then his legs gave out.

"Kakashi sensei!"

Naruto rushed forward.

Kakashi collapsed before he could answer.

He hit the ground unconscious.

Naruto immediately crouched beside him.

He checked Kakashi's breathing.

Steady.

Then he examined him for visible injuries.

Nothing serious.

Naruto finally relaxed.

Sakura hurried over.

"Is Kakashi sensei all right?"

Her face was full of worry.

Sasuke remained somewhat calmer, but his gaze stayed fixed on Naruto, waiting for the answer.

Naruto nodded.

"His breathing is normal."

"I don't see any serious wounds either."

"He should be fine."

Sakura let out a long breath.

Tazuna quickly stepped forward.

"Then let's get him to my house."

He pointed ahead.

"It isn't far from here. He'll be able to rest properly there."

Tazuna bent down and carefully lifted Kakashi onto his back.

With the battle finally over, the group resumed their journey.

Elsewhere in the forest, Haku moved rapidly between the trees.

Only after putting considerable distance between himself and Team 7 did he stop.

He entered a secluded clearing and carefully lowered Zabuza onto the ground.

The moment Zabuza was settled, Haku opened the medical supplies he carried.

The wound across Zabuza's chest was severe.

Naruto's slash had gone deep.

Blood still seeped from the torn flesh.

Haku quickly prepared a needle and thread.

He began stitching the wound shut.

The pain was intense enough that Zabuza's false death state did not last long.

His fingers twitched.

Then his eyes slowly opened.

For several seconds, he stared upward through the trees.

Finally, he spoke.

"That kid..."

His voice was weak but still rough.

"He's terrifying."

Haku paused.

A small smile appeared beneath the mask.

"You're already awake?"

Zabuza lifted one hand.

With some effort, he pulled the senbon from his neck.

Haku immediately caught his wrist.

"Don't move."

Zabuza glared at him.

"You'll regain movement soon enough."

Haku returned his attention to the wound.

"But your chest is badly injured."

"If this isn't treated properly, you may actually die."

He resumed stitching.

Zabuza endured the pain in silence.

After a while, he looked toward the sky again.

"Take off that ridiculous mask."

Haku glanced at him.

"We're abandoning the mission."

Haku showed no surprise.

He removed the Hidden Mist mask.

Long dark hair framed a delicate, almost feminine face.

"I agree."

Haku continued treating the wound.

"That boy is far stronger than expected."

"We were fortunate to escape alive."

Zabuza frowned.

"You still don't understand."

Haku looked toward him.

"That kid is going to become famous."

Zabuza's eyes narrowed.

"Maybe not today."

"Maybe not tomorrow."

"But one day, the entire Shinobi World will know the name Uzumaki Naruto."

He remembered Flying Thunder God.

That strange transformation.

That black sword.

And the slash that had cut through Kubikiribōchō as though the Executioner's Sword were made of paper.

"There's no reason to make an enemy of someone like that just for money."

Haku smiled lightly.

"That almost sounds cautious coming from you."

Zabuza ignored the comment.

By then, Haku had finished stitching the wound.

Blood still seeped through in places, but the immediate danger had been reduced.

Neither of them had any intention of returning to Gatō.

The decision was simple.

Money mattered.

Professional reputation mattered.

But neither was worth dying for.

Zabuza and Haku left the Land of Waves.

At Tazuna's house, Kakashi was placed in bed and allowed to rest.

Naruto remained nearby for a while.

But once everything settled down, his thoughts shifted toward the mission.

Zabuza was gone.

That did not mean the danger had disappeared.

The real problem was still Gatō.

As long as Gatō remained in control of the Land of Waves, he could simply hire more people.

More thugs.

More mercenaries.

More Shinobi.

Protecting Tazuna forever was impossible.

So the cleanest solution was obvious.

Remove Gatō.

Naruto looked toward the others.

"I'm going out for a while."

Sakura turned immediately.

"What?"

Naruto gestured toward Kakashi.

"I'll leave Kakashi sensei to you."

Sakura frowned.

"Going out now is dangerous."

"We just fought Zabuza."

Naruto remained calm.

"That fight made me realize some weaknesses in my combat ability."

"I want to train nearby."

Sakura still looked uneasy.

Before she could argue further, Sasuke spoke.

"Don't go too far."

He did not even look toward Naruto.

Naruto glanced at him.

He immediately understood.

Sasuke had seen through the excuse.

After all, if Naruto truly intended to train nearby, Sasuke would naturally want to come along.

Naruto smiled.

"Don't worry."

"I may be back a little late, though."

"So there's no need to come looking for me."

He walked toward the door.

Before leaving, Naruto looked back.

Near the window stood a young boy wearing a straw hat.

Inari.

The child leaned against the wall and watched Naruto with clear, curious eyes.

Naruto smiled at him.

He raised one hand in a casual wave.

Then he stepped outside.

The instant he reached the surrounding forest, Naruto created a Shadow Clone.

Poof!

The clone remained among the trees and began training.

The original Naruto continued onward.

His hands formed a seal.

"Transformation Technique."

Smoke surrounded him.

When it cleared, Naruto had taken the appearance of an ordinary travelling merchant.

Nothing about him resembled a Konoha Shinobi.

He entered the populated areas of the Land of Waves and began gathering information.

Gatō was wealthy.

Powerful.

Feared.

That also meant people knew where he stayed.

Inside Naruto, Asuramaru observed everything with growing amusement.

"So this is what you've become."

Naruto continued walking.

Asuramaru laughed.

"Learn the location of a man's home in the morning, then kill him by evening."

"Truly, if one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening."

He sounded almost proud.

"As expected of someone I personally taught."

Naruto ignored the strange praise for a moment.

Then he spoke inwardly.

"Asuramaru."

"What?"

"Can I ask you to help me locate him once we get close?"

Asuramaru immediately understood.

"You're planning to assassinate Gatō?"

Naruto did not deny it.

Asuramaru sounded amused.

"That isn't exactly your usual style."

Naruto continued walking through the streets.

"Leaving him alive means he can keep sending people after Tazuna."

"That makes sense."

Asuramaru had no reason to object.

"Fine."

"Finding him for you is easy."

Naruto smiled slightly.

"Thanks, Asuramaru."

By late afternoon, he had gathered enough information.

Gatō's location.

His residence.

The general number of guards.

The routes used by his men.

Everything Naruto needed.

The sun slowly descended beyond the mountains.

Orange light faded across the Land of Waves.

Naruto watched the sky darken.

Now he only needed to wait for night.

Once darkness settled, he moved.

Using the information he had gathered, Naruto made his way toward Gatō's residence.

The building was impossible to mistake.

It was an enormous oval structure built around a massive tree, suspended above the ground by thick steel cables.

From a distance, it resembled a gigantic spinning top wrapped around the trunk.

Lights burned within its windows.

Guards patrolled below.

There were many of them.

Most carried swords.

Others watched the surrounding approaches.

Naruto remained hidden in the darkness.

His eyes moved across the compound.

Inside him, Asuramaru extended his Perception.

The hunt had begun.

....

[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]

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