Chapter 38: 37: If You Want to Live, Prepare to Redeem Yourself with Money
Inuzuka Kiba: "??? Is that it?"
A group of people hadn't even fully processed what just happened.
They had been eagerly anticipating an intense, life-or-death battle between Sasuke and Zabuza.
But in what felt like an instant, the battle was over, and Sasuke was standing victorious, holding Zabuza like a defeated dog.
Uzumaki Naruto: "That was way too fast! How is he faster than Mr. Kakashi?"
Nara Shikamaru: "In that world, Zabuza really got wrecked..."
Terumi Mei: "That was brutal. If he doesn't die, he'll be lucky."
Onoki: "I expected Zabuza to at least make an escape, but to lose this easily..."
Fourth Raikage: "Heh! He thought he could capture Uchiha Sasuke alive, but instead, he got himself captured."
Looking at the screen, everyone felt a chill run down their spines as they saw Zabuza, captured by Sasuke, looking utterly defeated.
Injuries in battle were one thing—death was even commonplace—but seeing someone in Zabuza's state was rare. It felt worse than being killed outright.
Orochimaru: "It seems we underestimated the strength of Sasuke in the parallel world. He's already at an Elite Jōnin level."
Uchiha Sasuke: "In terms of handling Zabuza, my counterpart's result is far better than Kakashi's."
Sasuke still remembered how, in his own experience, Kakashi had fainted after holding his ground for only a short time against Zabuza.
Pathetic.
Haruno Sakura: "Kakashi-sensei made so many seals, and in the end, he just released a Water Dragon Bullet that was the same as Zabuza's!"
She used to think that technique was amazing.
But after seeing Sasuke in another world effortlessly cast the Dragon Fire Technique without any seals and completely dominate Zabuza, the difference was stark.
Hatake Kakashi: "...Please, don't compare me to that Sasuke."
Haku: "Zabuza-sama won't be killed, right?"
---
["You! Let go of Zabuza-sama!"]
[Haku swiftly formed ice needles, preparing to attack.]
["Did you forget there's an enemy behind you?"]
[Kakashi appeared silently behind Haku, placing a kunai to his neck.]
[Both Zabuza and Haku were captured.]
[Moments later...]
[Haku was tied to a nearby tree by Kakashi, while Zabuza was carelessly tossed aside.]
[Zabuza's right leg was the only limb he could move. If he had the strength to resist or escape now, even Sasuke might have respected him.]
[Kakashi glanced at the unharmed Sasuke, inwardly impressed.]
[For Sasuke's first life-or-death battle, he handled it remarkably well.]
[If it had been Kakashi, he could have won too, but not as effortlessly as Sasuke had.]
["How do you plan to handle the two of them?"]
[Kakashi asked.]
[Since Sasuke had captured them, it was only fair to let him decide their fate, even though Sasuke was his student.]
[Kakashi was beginning to realize he couldn't treat Sasuke like a typical student anymore.]
["It's up to them," Sasuke said with a smile, turning to Zabuza. "Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist, it's up to you to convince me not to kill you."]
["Just kill me."]
[Zabuza's voice was weak.]
[Being defeated so completely by a Konoha Genin, and being beaten so brutally, he had no will to live.]
["No, don't kill Zabuza-sama!"]
[Haku, still tied up, was panicking. "I'll do anything, but please spare Zabuza-sama!"]
["This boy possesses Mist's lost Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, a valuable ability," Kakashi remarked.]
[Sasuke rolled his eyes.]
[What does that have to do with me?]
[Am I supposed to take him back to Konoha? Make him one of my own?]
[As if! The Third Hokage isn't just going to let me walk in with a new ally.]
[Bringing a ninja with such a valuable ability back to Konoha would only add another pawn to the Third Hokage's power.]
["I don't like this condition. Try again." Sasuke dismissed the idea without a second thought.]
["Haku, stop begging him! Let him kill me already!" Zabuza growled.]
["No!"]
[Haku's mind was racing, and then an idea hit him.]
["Money! We can ransom Zabuza-sama! I can gather the funds to redeem him!"]
[Sasuke's eyes lit up.]
["Oh? How much money are we talking about? Let's hear it."]
[Zabuza's heart sank.]
[That's the money I was saving to recruit a team and eventually retake Kirigakure!]
---
Terumi Mei: "Pfft! No way, I can't help it!"
Does Zabuza really think he can take back Kirigakure with his current strength?
How absurd!
And now he's talking about recruiting a team with what little money he has?
---
[If Zabuza had any real wealth, he wouldn't have been forced to accept a job to assassinate an ordinary person like Dazna.]
[His "team" was nothing but a few weak Chūnin like the Demon Brothers.]
Mangetsu Hozuki: "I'll give him this—his courage is impressive, but that's all."
Shizuma Hoshigake: "It's embarrassing to see Zabuza reduced to this."
Hoshigaki Kisame: "Mist's shinobi have truly fallen if this is the standard for the new generation of Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Kenshin Himura: "Although I hate that traitor Kisame, he's right about this one. The quality of the Seven Swordsmen has seriously declined."
[In the chat, the dead and living members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen took turns mocking Zabuza.]
[Reluctantly, Zabuza realized he still wanted to live.]
[Money can always be earned again, but if I die, all my ambitions will be gone forever.]
["Let me help you count. There's you, this Ice Release user, and your Beheading Sword. Now, how much ransom do you think that's worth? Do the math, and give me a number that satisfies me."]
[Sasuke said with a sly grin.]
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone