27 Battle of the Two Fearsome Swordsmen

While they were riding the boat to Tazuna's island, Sakura was the first to speak up. She turned to Kibo and asked, "Where did you get so much money? Don't tell me you used your mission payments to fund this?"

Sakura felt guilty because his money was going into her paycheck.

When Kakashi saw her depressed mood, he laughed and said, "Haha! Sakura...Kibo doesn't really have to worry about money. You might not know this, but his Clan members are the progenitors of the Chakra Cooking method. Well, Kibo is. He gave the property rights to his whole clan so they could expand and continue to pay their taxes at the same time."

Everyone but Naruto and Tazuna's jaw dropped. Naruto because he already knew, and Tazuna because he didn't know if it was true.

"You sure you didn't spend your life savings, ya little twerp?" Tazuna questioned.

"How much longer are you going to doubt us?" Naruto replied, ready to give the old man a piece of his mind.

However, Kibo interrupted by saying, "Actually, that can't even be considered a small amount I'd saved up. More like pocket change."

"What do you need so much money for?" Karin asked.

In response, Kibo pulled out his Katana and unsheathed it before saying, "Good quality Chakra Metal is insanely expensive."

Kibo then handed the blade to Kakashi. As the Jonin examined the blade, he was shocked by how pure the metal was. "This isn't some regular Ninja Tool. This thing is entirely comprised of Chakra Steel."

"What's the difference?" Sasuke asked.

"Most tools crafted for Ninja's to use have some Chakra ore, but it's mixed in with regular steel. The sword I used as an Anbu only had 1.3% of Chakra Ore as part of its composition. This Katana is entirely made of Chakra Ore."

"I got that from saving up four years of my personal funds. It allowed me to make, 100 Shuriken, 8 Kunai, and my two blades Fujin and Raijin. The metal I purchased was leftover ore that was used to make the sword Kubikiribōchō. I also managed to get my hands on a few pieces that had broken off the sword in the past."

While everyone was trying to imagine the cost of Kibo's items, Naruto was trying to say the name of the sword.

Seeing him fail spectacularly, Sasuke shook his head and asked, "What is the Kubikiribōchō?"

"One of the Mist's seven swordsmen's legendary blades!" Kakashi said with surprise in his voice, his eyes never leaving the Katana in front of him.

Kibo then explained, "Kubikiribōchō, unlike the rest of the swords is almost entirely made of Chakra Ore. It is said that that single sword alone could net you enough cash to build your own dynasty. Of course, no intelligent Ninja would dare sell such a powerful and useful object."

Everyone but Kakashi was stunned, "Does that mean you swords are. . ." Before Karin finished, Kibo smiled and said, "Well I don't think they could buy me an entire empire, it could buy me a ninja village or two."

Everyone was shocked, especially Tazuna as he thought, "I was wrong! This little brat is loaded."

The group began to move through a thick fog a large half-built bridge made of stone and metal appeared on the horizon. As they passed through the incomplete bridge, Tazuna said, "We're almost there."

The ferryman turned to Tazuna and said, "We haven't been noticed yet. Just to be on the safe side, let's take an inland waterway through town. That way we can make landfall under the cover of the mangroves."

The long gondola entered through a wide stone waterway that led into their village's territory. There were lush grass-covered hillsides and trees spread about throughout the large village, and several houses being constructed along the waterway.

All of these factors combined; showed that this place truly was a portside town.

The group got off at a nearby dock and began heading in towards Tazuna's home. As they walked Kibo had his Tengan fully active, waiting in anticipation for Zabuza's attack.

After walking for a few minutes all seemed well, that was until the fog rolled in. Though normal in island climates, Kibo knew that this was Zabuza's Jutsu at work.

A few minutes later, Kakashi suddenly shouted, Everyone! Get down!" as he held Tazuna's read and forced him to the dirt.

Kibo, however, was ready for the attack.

He reached out his hand and grabbed hold of the flying Executioner's Sword midswing. As he gripped the hilt, Kibo felt the skills of five generations of master swordsmen, surge into his brain.

A tall and noticeably muscular man with light grayish skin, short spiky black hair, dark brown eyes, and thin eyebrows jumped down in front of them.

The man was wearing bandage wrappings like a mask over the bottom half of his face, yet you could still tell he had a relatively narrow jawline. On his chest was thick leather steel buckled belt, to which he normally would have his Kubikiribōchō attached to it. His pants were baggy with the striped pattern typical of Kirigakure style, along with camouflage mimetic wrist-warmers extending up to his elbows and matching leg-warmers.

"Give that back kid! You're too young for a weapon of that caliber." A deep and graveled toned voice came out of the man.

Before Kibo could respond, Kakashi threw his hand up, "Don't listen to him, that's Zabuza one of Kiri's most infamous missing Nin. It's a miracle you managed to take his weapon; this already reduces his fighting ability by half."

"I see my reputation precedes me! Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan!" Zabuza replied, spreading his Killing intent all around.

Kakashi sighed and as he was getting ready to fight,

Kibo then suddenly stepped out from the group's formation, holding the Sever-Sword in hand.

"Sorry Kakashi, I know it's dangerous, but I can't stop my blood from boiling. All their hairs on my body are standing on end, telling me how dangerous this guy is, but I need to fight this guy to further my Ken-Jutsu."

Kibo threw back Zabuza's sword and pulled out his own, "What do you say Zabuza? Do you accept my challenge?"

"You wanna challenge me?! To a sword dual?!" Zabuza said with laughter that was laced with a hint of insanity.

The Ninja of the Mist caught hold of his weapon and continued speaking, "It's been a long time since anyone was crazy enough to challenge me to a duel. I like you kid! Come back in 10 years and I'll kill you then. . ."

Getting tired of being underestimated, Kibo moved into his Batto-Jutsu stance, and like the instincts of a wild animal, Zabuza sensed death.

Zabuza quickly moved to block the oncoming threat, placing his sword in front of himself like a shield.

He watched through the hole in his blade while suddenly feeling a massive impact send him flying.

"What the hell just happened?! I couldn't see him draw his blade! No. Wait, did he even draw it at all?" Zabuza thought as he landed on the nearby lake.

Kakashi was about to strike when Kibo shouted, "Stop! I'll take him on alone!"

Kibo's desire for a good fight, and a chance to further his Ken-Jutsu skills wasn't the only incentive for this battle. A certain chime ringing in his head also played a big part.

[Quest: Defeat Zabuza Momochi in one on one combat. Reward: 10,000 System Points, 7 Legendary Swords Forging Manual]

Zabuza lowered his weapon, the six and a half foot blade rested on the surface of the water. "I've never seen this style before. Since when did Konoha have such a strange sword stance?"

"Listen well Zabuza, other than myself, this style doesn't belong to anyone in this world. The name of this style that spells your doom is Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū." Kibo said, getting ready to attack.

"Kind of a flashy name isn't?" Zabuza said moving into position.

"It sure is. Though, I could say the same about your name, Oni of the Mist!" Kibo replied before jumping at him.

Zabuza may have mocked Kibo for being young, but he didn't use any Jutsus and answered sword with sword.

Kibo sent out a god-speed draw, but Zabuza was ready this time. The Oni of the Mist watched Kibo's body movements and predicted where the weapon would be ahead of time.

With a sharp horizontal swing, the two swords met and the resulting clash of light signified the start of their battle.

Kibo began to attack repeatedly and Zabuza was meeting him head-on. Clash after clash, the blows from their weapons sent pools of water, flying towards Team 7 in large droplets.

"This fight is...How far ahead is he?" Naruto was shaking, he didn't expect Kibo to be this strong.

"Yeah, I know! Even I can't see his moves clearly!" Sasuke followed up as he watched the fight with his Sharingan at full power.

Sasuke's eyes couldn't be wider when heard Kakashi saying, "Me either!"

That's when Sasuke noticed the Sharingan glowing in Kakashi's eye, "You. .but how?"

Sasuke didn't know how to respond properly. When suddenly, he thought back to the first time he lost against Kibo.

"You rely on your eyes too much!"

A younger Sasuke hit the ground holding a Kunai in his hand.

"The Sharingan is my power, why shouldn't rely on it?" Sasuke cried out as he stood back up.

Kibo shook his head and replied "If a Do-Jutsu were all a Shinobi needed to be powerful, then the Uchiha would have conquered the world long ago. Your Sharingan is only a single tool in your entire Shinobi arsenal. It's okay to use it as a tool, but you must never let it use you. What would you do if you come across someone who was too fast, and powerful, for your eyes to perceive?"

"Damn!" Sasuke tightened his fist as he continued to watch the fight against the two swordsmen, all while a fierce desire to be stronger began burning in his heart.

Naruto got over his apparent weakness when compared to his older brother and began cheering Kibo on as the battle intensified.

A loud clang echoed and reverberated throughout their bodies as the two swordsmen jumped back.

At the same time, a crack appeared along the spine of Kibo's sword.

Zabuza grinned while saying, "I'll admit kid you got the skill. But it appears your sword isn't up to the task."

Kibo smiled back before saying, "I think this fella will be okay."

Pumping Chakra into the handle of the blade, the cracks healed up almost instantly. Kibo then pointed the Katana back at Zabuza before saying, "See? I told you so."

"You?! Why do I have the strangest sense of familiarity when I gaze at those swords?" Zabuza questioned.

Kibo chuckled before he said, "It should give you such a sense. After all, they were cast from the same steel. In a way, your blade and mine could be considered parent and child."

"Then I guess I'll be taking it off your corpse. I wouldn't want them to be lonely." Zabuza placed the tip of his sword into the water while the large image of an Oni made out of a sinister Chakra appeared behind him.

The Oni of the Mist held on to Kubikiribōchō with a single hand while completely removing his guard.

This stance signified an all-out attack,

Kibo accepted his challenge as he sheathed his sword and started gathering wind energy inside the scabbard.

He then looked to Zabuza and said, "Be careful not to lose your life. I'm still perfecting this one."

A huge gust of wind razed all around the battlefield, a glow of Star Chakra gathered as he feet and by combining the Flicker Movement with wind element it had become a whole other technique.

[1]Kaze-Shu-Ho Jutsu was the new B-ranked creation of Kibo's, and when used with his new the [2]Fujin's Nōtō Jutsu, the technique showed an incredible display of power.

The two charged at each other and swung their blades. An incredible shock wave appeared out from Kibo's sheath as he cut through Zabuza's sword sending the entire middle section flying.

Before the Mist Nin could react, Kibo positioned his sword at his neck.

Zabuza then smiled as he said, "Take it, this life is yours. . ."

No sooner than Kibo claimed his system's reward, a series of Senbon needles pierced Zabuza's neck sending his body flying onto the ground.

A tall teen with long smooth black-haired appeared beside the body. He was wearing a standard Kirigakure Shinobi outfit that had pinstriped Hakama shorts that stopped at his knees.

Over his attire, he wore a green Haori with white trimmings. Around his waist was a brown sash with a fringed trail wrapped around twice. Lastly, the teen was wearing a white thin, Hunter-Nin mask, it had curved eye-holes and a red wavy design in place of the mouth, as well as the Kirigakure Symbol etched in on the top.

The boy bowed and spoke in a very polite tone, "Thank you for your help. I hope you don't mind my interfering, but I wanted the satisfaction of killing Zabuza myself."

Kibo looked at the intruder and smiled before saying, "Not at all! Haku! But I wasn't planning on killing him!"

Realizing his cover had been blown somehow, Haku quickly tried to dash towards Zabuza in an attempt to rescue the only person he respected.

Kibo however made a set of restraint wires to tie up his fingers and feet before turning to Team 7 and asking, "Naruto, could you come over and seal away this guy's Chakra for me?!"

Naruto nodded his head and ran over. When Kakashi saw Naruto performing a Fūin-Jutsu, he almost jumped out of his skin as he asked, "Naruto, you know Fūin-Jutsus?"

Naruto smiled and rubbed the back of his head while laughing. He then tried to mimic his older brother and sound mysterious as he said, "Of course, I am an Uzumaki after all!"

"Alright, it's done!" Naruto declared as he finished the seal surrounded Haku's Chakra center.

"Let me go! If I don't help him he'll die!" Haku madly tried to struggle.

When Kibo took off his mask, everyone showed a surprised expression.

"Wow! She's pretty!" Everyone but Kibo, Kakashi, and Sasuke said this.

"He's a boy!" Kibo announced as Sasuke and Kakashi nodded their heads up and down to confirm his claim.

Everyone's jaw dropped, and a bit of jealousy could be seen coming from the girls.

Haku was still pleading to help Zabuza when Kibo walked over to him and said, "His life belongs to me now, and if you belong to him, your life is mine as well."

Karin gripped Kibo's arm and said, "You can be his subordinate, but he's my man!"

Kibo blushed and shook his head before saying, "Naruto can you seal Zabuza's Chakra as well?"

Naruto patted his bicep and shouted, "Leave it to me."

However, when he moved over to place the seal, Naruto's eyes changed. His so-called Kyubigan activated by its self moments before him saying, "This is weird!"