Chapter 193: Encounter with Zabuza, A New Power

Chapter 193: Encounter with Zabuza, A New Power

The Land of Water, located southeast of the Leaf Village, is an isolated island nation away from the mainland. After leaving the Leaf Village, Haneda landed here.

Aside from his search for Ryuchi Cave to learn sage techniques, he also hoped to find Haku and Kimimaro. The Land of Water is often foggy, limiting visibility to only a few dozen meters due to the dense mist. This damp climate felt slightly uncomfortable for Haneda, who had spent much of his life in the Land of Fire. However, with the enhanced vision granted by his Sage Body and Sharingan, he quickly adjusted.

Arriving at a village, Haneda immediately noticed a faint scent of blood—a scent unmistakable to someone who had experienced three years of war. He followed the smell to a courtyard where a corpse lay, killed by a swift and clean throat slit.

"So the Village of the Bloody Mist really has fallen into chaos," Haneda thought silently. "No wonder Haku became feared and ordinary citizens live in terror."

Haneda closed the corpse's eyes out of respect and called out, "Come out. You can't hide from my sensory abilities."

"A famous Leaf ninja like Uchiha Haneda, the Blue Flash, what brings you here?"

A massive blade swung towards Haneda's neck but was blocked by his sword's edge.

"You're the first Mist ninja to come at me directly. The Stone Village's ninjas usually just run."

Without even turning to look, Haneda's last word fell, and with a sharp "ding," the wielder of the massive blade was pushed back slightly.

Haneda stood up, activating his three-tomoe Sharingan, gripping the hilt of his sword, Dawn, as he turned to look at the Mist ninja.

"The Executioner's Blade? One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"

"That title is old news," replied Zabuza Momochi, a rogue Mist ninja.

Zabuza created a thick fog, disappearing into the mist. But Haneda didn't bother to pursue; he had already left a special mark on Zabuza's sword during the attack.

Haneda's lips lifted slightly at this new lead toward finding Haku. The massive Land of Water made searching difficult, but following people from the original story would simplify things.

Yes, Haneda had left his Flying Thunder God mark on Zabuza's sword.

"I have a feeling I'm close to finding Haku."

Haneda flourished his blade and returned Dawn to its sheath.

…

After fleeing for a long time, Zabuza finally relaxed when he sensed no one was following him. When Haneda turned and looked at him with his blade drawn, Zabuza felt as if a fierce beast had awakened and was staring him down. The intensity of his chakra was terrifying.

Realizing he was no match, Zabuza fled without hesitation.

"The Blue Flash, Uchiha Haneda—what's he doing here in the Land of Water?"

Zabuza recalled the death of the Fourth Hokage and wondered if the Leaf might be forming an alliance with the Mist. But he dismissed the idea, instead suspecting Haneda had come on a mission.

Since tensions between the Leaf and the Mist were high and war could erupt at any time, Zabuza concluded Haneda's presence was likely to gather intelligence.

After much thought, Zabuza resolved to keep an eye on Haneda and report his movements to the Mist, hoping to prevent any major harm to his village.

…

Sensing no chakra signatures in the village, Haneda continued north toward Sanponogi Town. He had heard that the Land of Water's snowy regions covered about a dozen areas, and Sanponogi Town was the closest to his current location. It also lay near the Mist Village and in a direction that aligned with Ryuchi Cave.

Through the black market, Haneda had also gathered information on the Kaguya clan, who possessed the Kekkei Genkai of Shikotsumyaku. The Kaguya clan resided within the Mist Village, and one of his other targets, Kimimaro, was there.

Haneda estimated that the Kaguya clan, whose conflict with the Mist's leadership was worsening, would soon stage a rebellion.

Suddenly, he sensed his Flying Thunder God mark maintaining a steady distance of about a hundred meters from him. Haneda smiled, unconcerned. Zabuza's skills as an elite Jonin posed no threat, and even the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, would struggle to oppose him.

As dusk approached, Haneda dispelled all his shadow clones, spending the next few seconds absorbing their memories. Opening his eyes, a faint blue screen appeared before him.

**[Uchiha Haneda]**

**Strength: Beyond Kage (31/100)**

**Chakra: 32.9 units; Attributes: Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, Lightning, Yin, Yang**

**Kekkei Genkai: Mangekyou Sharingan (Eternal Mangekyou 93%), Advanced Sage Body (Complete Sage Body 59%), Wood Release**

**Special Abilities: Eight Gates - Wounded Gate (94/100), Mastery of the Hatake Sword Style (44/100), Flying Thunder God Technique (67/100), Lightning Release Chakra Mode (79/100)**

**Eye Techniques: Shinra Banshou, Takemikazuchi**

"Since awakening my new eye technique, my progress with the Lightning Release Chakra Mode has been much smoother," Haneda murmured. In just two weeks, his proficiency had risen by over thirty points.

Golden lightning crackled around his hand, the sound of chirping birds filling the air.

"Takemikazuchi—the thunder wielded by the god of thunder, also revered as the god of swords, archery, war, and armies."

Haneda grasped his sword hilt, infusing it with golden lightning. A single slash cut a cliff before him in half, the rock tumbling down the precipice. Hidden among the treetops, Zabuza watched in shock as sweat formed on his brow. Even as a hardened Mist ninja, he couldn't conceal his fear.

He knew that if the Mizukage fought him using a tailed beast transformation, even that might not be enough to withstand Haneda's power.

"Compared to Amaterasu, which requires great precision to control, Takemikazuchi is flexible and can adapt to various combat styles," Haneda noted as he sheathed Dawn, watching the boulders roll down.

"Its power is also respectable, and it pairs well with my swordsmanship and Flying Thunder God."

Combining his mobility with the Flying Thunder God and Takemikazuchi's deadly power, Haneda realized that his opponents, regardless of rank, could easily fall with one wrong move. Even if they were aware of his Flying Thunder God technique, it wouldn't help them.

With the Flying Thunder God and Rasengan alone, Minato had earned the title of the Yellow Flash. Combining those with Hatake swordsmanship and Takemikazuchi, Haneda would be even more formidable.

...

**End of Chapter**