The blood from Zabuza's severed head gushed out like a fountain, spraying into the air before raining down like a bloody storm. It drenched the nearby Shikamaru, while the "Flying Swallow" at Zabuza's feet also took on a dark red hue from the blood.
The severed head of Zabuza still retained its fierce, glaring expression as it rolled slightly on the ground, as if still glaring at Shikamaru. Some blood splashed onto the bandages covering the face, darkening them and adding to the grotesque image.
However, Shikamaru remained unmoved by the scene. A ninja's strength came not only from their physical abilities but also from their strong will and mental guidance. Moreover, compared to the current lifeless body of Zabuza, the living Zabuza had been far more terrifying and formidable.
The mist created by Zabuza's jutsu slowly began to dissipate. Although some wisps of mist remained, they no longer obstructed their vision. Asuma, holding the "Flying Swallow," gradually dispersed the chakra that had gathered on it, but remained vigilant, eyeing the small figure of the ninja wearing the mask of the Hidden Mist's assassination unit. Despite the absence of any visible combat, the competition and animosity among ninjas, particularly between villages, still remained. Asuma, while not harboring strong animosity towards the Mist ninjas, knew the importance of being cautious.
"Hidden Mist Assassination Unit!?" Kiba, standing at a distance on a tree branch, lightly rested his hand on the trunk. His expression hidden beneath the mask, Kiba appeared to be a young ninja. Though not all members of the assassination unit were jonin, they were certainly skilled chuunin with remarkable potential. The fact that this person was tasked with hunting down Zabuza indicated their exceptional abilities.
Asuma's mind wandered, but his gaze shifted toward Shikamaru, whose clothes were now soaked in Zabuza's blood. Yet, Shikamaru seemed unaffected, still holding his kunai and remaining alert. "Even in times of peace, you can't escape encountering these kinds of freaks," Asuma mused.
"Are you a Hidden Mist ninja?" After waiting for a while without any reaction, Asuma frowned slightly before raising his voice to ask.
"No," the young ninja mumbled, finally making a move. He raised his left hand and slowly removed his mask, revealing a youthful and delicate face. Crystal-clear tears trickled from his eyes, but there was no sobbing or sorrow in his expression. His calm demeanor made it hard to tell whether he was truly crying. "I'm not."
With those words, the boy swiftly darted toward Shikamaru, ignoring Asuma's attempts to stop him.
Shikamaru, ever vigilant, quickly reacted, forming a hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" One clone grappled with the boy while Shikamaru himself quickly retreated. Asuma moved in to assist Shikamaru.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
"Mirror Ice Crystal!" The boy dodged the shadow and created ice crystals to block Asuma's attack. His hands moved swiftly, forming hand signs in rapid succession. "Water Style! Water Stream Jutsu!"
The water flowed toward the rear, and Shikamaru's shadow clone held the boy in place. However, the slow-moving water allowed the boy to evade easily.
"Secret Technique! Thousand Kill Water Dance!" In an instant, the water turned into a thousand ice needles, stabbing into Shikamaru's body. The boy seemed to sense Shikamaru's shock and fear in his eyes.
Determined to kill Shikamaru, the boy had failed to defend himself and took a critical hit from Asuma. A deep gash was carved across his chest, nearly cutting him in half. As he lost consciousness, he vaguely heard the sound of a distant "Bang!"
...
Shikamaru and Asuma stood in silence, looking at the boy's lifeless body, his face still wearing a peaceful smile. After a long pause, Shikamaru sighed. "That was a close call."
Asuma nodded silently, his attention not on the giant executioner's blade but instead on the boy's body. In the world of ninjas, bloodline limits were of great significance to a village. Although the boy was dead, his body could still provide valuable information and secrets if sent to Konoha's body processing unit.
Asuma had a sealing scroll with him, so transporting the bodies of both Zabuza and the boy was no trouble at all.
While Asuma sealed the bodies, Shikamaru took a brief moment to wash off the blood in a nearby lake. Fortunately, he had a change of clothes in his bag. His blood-soaked clothes couldn't just be discarded. Even though the battle was over, being cautious was a ninja's rule. Everything had to be properly hidden.
...
The poverty of the Land of Waves was something Shikamaru had already known from the original story, but it still came as a surprise to Asuma and the other Konoha ninjas. The sight of this poverty angered them, even though they were ninjas on the "side of justice."
Shikamaru, observing Asuma's dark expression, felt it was natural. Being exposed to the harsh realities of the world meant being burdened by so-called "morality" and "justice." In times of chaos, violence often seemed like the easiest solution. However, in the eyes of the strong, violence was just a means to an end, not something to be glorified. In an organized ninja system, such mindless violence was often condemned and suppressed by the higher-ups.
For Shikamaru, those who engaged in meaningless killings were the ones who were truly weak. If killing a thousand people could increase his power, he wouldn't hesitate. But senseless killing only brought hatred and disgust from others. It wasn't just darkness that filled people's hearts in troubled times—there was always a longing for light. Even though it was hidden deep inside, it could still cause people to feel disgust toward someone who indiscriminately killed others. Without purpose, killing could provoke fear and endanger one's own safety. Without extraordinary power, one could easily meet their end.
If there was one thing Shikamaru had learned from his past life, it wasn't just knowledge, but the ability to analyze and perceive the essence of everything. This insight had been crucial in his tactical thinking and planning for the future. Understanding the true nature of things and human hearts was the foundation for predicting change. Without that, no matter how elaborate the plan, it would remain nothing more than empty theory.
Shikamaru and the others were tasked with protecting Tazuna until the bridge was finished. Even though Zabuza and the boy were dead, they still had to stay with him.
The large executioner's blade, a valuable spoils of war, was carried by Asuma, who followed Tazuna and the others back to his home. There, they were warmly welcomed by Tazuna's wife, Tsunami.
The sudden arrival of strangers, dressed in conspicuous ninja attire, caused a stir among the villagers, especially Tazuna's grandson, Inari. The bloody aftermath of the battle left Shikamaru, Asuma, and the others still on edge, their tense expressions giving Inari cause to feel afraid.
After a modest dinner at Tazuna's home, the villagers' poverty was evident. Resources were scarce, and being able to eat a full meal was considered a luxury. Despite this, the ninjas were used to enduring such conditions.