Before his voice could fade, a cold and bizarre energy erupted from the tip of the Kunai pressed against Zabuza's vital heart point. Sealing Jutsu formulas, glowing with a dark light and composed of complex, profound incantations, wound out from the Kunai like living vines. Ignoring Zabuza's bandages, they branded themselves deeply into his skin and began to frantically penetrate his body!
"Ugh!" Zabuza groaned.
His massive Chakra instinctively erupted, attempting to resist this invading power! Inside his body, two violent forces clashed and tore at each other fiercely!
However...
"Agh!"
The Kunai at his vital heart point suddenly pushed forward! That fatal sensation of coldness caused Zabuza's gathered resisting Chakra to instantly dissipate!
If he resisted, his heart might be pierced in the next second! A sense of powerless despair washed over him.
Within a few short breaths, those dark incantations, like brands, completely covered and restrained Zabuza's body.
Takuno flipped his wrist, and the Kunai that had brought the threat of death was pulled away from Zabuza's back.
"Huff— huff—" Zabuza felt as if he had been granted a massive reprieve. His body was stiff, he gasped for air, and cold sweat poured down his forehead like a downpour.
For now, I've survived—
But the next moment, Takuno's voice, like a final judgment, cast him back into the depths of hell: "For daring to swing a blade at your master, this is the first punishment."
Immediately following that, a crisp snap of fingers echoed in Zabuza's ear.
"AAAAAAGH!!!"
An indescribable agony, exceeding the limits of human imagination, exploded from every cell and every nerve deep within Zabuza's body like a volcanic eruption!
It wasn't simple physical pain; it felt more like thousands of cold steel needles, covered in barbs, being driven ruthlessly into his bone marrow and stirred frantically!
It was also like a tide of hundreds of millions of flesh-eating poisonous insects and ants, gnawing and burrowing madly through his blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs!
The pain that erupted in that instant was so powerful that his prideful willpower collapsed like wet paper!
"Agh—!!!"
Zabuza, the renowned "Demon of the Hidden Mist," let out a shrill, agonizing scream that felt alien and humiliating even to himself at this moment!
He could no longer maintain his standing posture. His burly frame slammed heavily onto the ground, and like a dying fish, he rolled, convulsed, and twisted frantically on the cold earth!
His bandages were soaked with sweat, dirt, and blood that might have seeped out again! His fingers clawed deep into the ground, leaving terrifying gouges! The pain destroyed his dignity and reason, leaving only the most primitive wails.
This horrific howling echoed and drifted through the thick mist, continuing for an unknown amount of time before the violent shrieks finally faded into weak, intermittent whimpers.
Zabuza lay on the ground like a pile of thoroughly mashed mud, staring blankly at the grey, misty sky. His face was as pale as paper, and only the heavy rising and falling of his chest proved he was still alive.
The pain he just experienced had truly made him realize what it meant to wish for death over life.
In the dead silence, the sound of Takuno's footsteps rang out clearly again, stopping beside him.
Those blood-red Sharingan looked down at the "Demon" on the ground, and the voice beneath the mask carried a trace of unquestionable cruelty.
"This is the first time. Remember, the third time will be when the 'Death Curse Seal' inside you is activated. When that happens, it won't want pain, but your life."
Zabuza's body instinctively spasmed violently again upon hearing those words.
"Live on and enjoy all of this," Takuno's voice lacked any warmth, like a cold wind passing through, "or welcome the next punishment, or seek a release right now."
He threw out a naked choice, as if treating an object. "Life, death, or a fate worse than death. Choose for yourself."
A deathly silence hung between the two.
Zabuza lay on the cold soil, his face covered in blood, dirt, and sweat, his expression shifting violently—
Ultimately, all emotions were submerged by a deeper sense of powerlessness and fear of that extreme pain.
A heavy sigh, as if draining all his life force, emerged from deep within his throat.
He struggled, using his last ounce of strength to painfully prop up his body, which was still vibrating with the aftershocks of agony. Then, facing the figure in the fox mask, he heavily dropped to one knee.
That head, which had once been so arrogant and looked down upon the Hidden Mist, lowered deeply, touching the muddy ground.
This was his silent submission.
"A wise choice."
Takuno's voice finally carried a trace of barely perceptible satisfaction.
With a casual toss, a heavy pouch filled with banknotes landed precisely beside Zabuza's kneeling knee.
"This is the reward for your mission."
"Reward?!" Zabuza looked up abruptly, a flash of bewilderment in his bloodshot eyes. Submission, but there's money?
"Follow me, and you won't lose out." Takuno glanced at him, his gaze seemingly piercing through the bandages to see the confusion in his heart.
Immediately after, he briefly gave a few instructions and then stopped lingering. His figure quietly vanished into the thick mist as if merging with it.
In the thick mist, only Zabuza remained alone.
He remained in the kneeling position for a long time. It was only after he seemed to have exhausted all his energy that he slowly opened his clenched palm, looking at the heavy, mud-stained pouch in his hand.
The night wind blew with a bone-chilling cold, swirling the remaining thin mist.
Zabuza froze in place, his heart still pounding wildly from the previous agony and the lingering fear.
The opponent's strength was unfathomable. That incomprehensibly terrifying sensory ability and the Sealing Jutsu capable of crushing one's soul and will, every thought made his entire body turn cold.
Finally, he took a deep breath of the cold air, which carried the scent of moisture and earth. His fingers slowly tightened, firmly gripping the heavy bag of money.
A soft, ambiguous snort of self-mockery, a mix of endless bitterness, humiliation, but also a hint of resignation, was scattered by the wind into the mist of the wilderness.
The "Demon" gritted his teeth inwardly. At least, this reward was far more generous than he had imagined.
Where isn't one risking their life? Making money isn't something to be ashamed of.
Konoha was immersed in a complex atmosphere.
Although the news of defeating Kumogakure and ending another cruel war had spread to every corner, the joy brought by this victory appeared extremely restrained and heavy under such massive casualties.
In the Hokage Office, the air was filled with a stifling atmosphere.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, sat with a furrowed brow, his fingertips sliding across the long casualty report spread out on his desk.
Behind every name on the page was a broken family, a departed comrade.
Unlike the sheer brutality of previous wars, the casualties this time were relatively controlled, yet they erupted in clusters during those few key, decisive clashes at the end of the war. This cast a lingering shadow over the victory.
Minato felt as if a deep wound had been cut into his heart, with blood gurgling out.
The victory was certainly gratifying, but the heavy price paid weighed on his heart like a thousand-pound boulder.
At this moment, he had already learned that the key turning point on the Kumogakure battlefield actually stemmed from a transaction made by a mysterious person known as "The Collector."
This news shocked him immensely. Why would he take the initiative to help Konoha?
Even after understanding the details of the transaction, he still felt an indescribable confusion.
Did this powerful existence have some kind of unexpected special connection to Konoha?
Upon learning that the other party was highly likely a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, Minato also began to think with a frown. Was it because of this reason that he felt closer to Konoha?
He couldn't make an accurate judgment.
What concerned him even more was another piece of intelligence from Kumogakure.
Kumogakure had issued a top-level wanted poster for this "Collector." The crimes went without saying, but the content of the intelligence made Minato even more alert.
The other party not only supposedly mastered Kumogakure's secret technique, the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but more importantly, he could skillfully perform his own signature Ninjutsu, the Rasengan!
This overlap in abilities made the Collector's identity even more mysterious.
Jiraiya, one of the "Sannin" standing by his side, had also seen this intelligence.
His face was full of worry, and he asked with a deep frown: "His goal is to collect Tailed Beast Chakra, so will the next one he aims for be—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was extremely clear.
After a brief moment of thought, Minato gave an answer that surprised Jiraiya.
"If he is only 'collecting' Tailed Beast Chakra, then, he should have already obtained our Village's Nine-Tails Chakra."
"What?" Jiraiya was stunned.
"On the night of the Nine-Tails' attack," Minato explained in a heavy voice, "when the Nine-Tails' full Chakra erupted, that terrifying, materialized torrent of Chakra covered the entire Konoha. At that time, the Collector was also present, perhaps even on the edge of the scene."
He recalled that chaotic and desperate night. Some previously unnoticed clues seemed to have a new direction. Were the other four existences also there for the Tailed Beast Chakra?
"So that's how it is—" Jiraiya's tense nerves visibly relaxed a bit.
He had confidence in his own strength. Entering Sage Mode, he might be able to fight the Collector, and it might not even be difficult to win.
But to say he could kill the opponent? That thought was almost a pipe dream.
If such an unfathomable expert with a mysterious goal truly became hostile to Konoha, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Teacher, please rest assured," Minato comforted. "The Collector's transaction indeed brought substantial help to the Village. It can be said that the smooth conclusion of this war wouldn't have been possible without his key transaction. The remaining part of the transaction reward we promised will be delivered according to the agreement without fail."
He also knew the downsides of making an enemy of such a mysterious powerhouse. The opponent was in the shadows, while they were in the light.
If they offended the other party here, it would be far too easy for the opponent to cause losses to Konoha.
"Ahahaha! That's good! That's good!" Jiraiya laughed as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Then, he switched to a lighter topic: "The arrangements for the victory celebration should have started, right?"
Minato nodded.
As for whether the members of the Ino-Shika-Chō clans would attend, or even Jiraiya's own seating arrangement at the ceremony, these were all established matters that didn't need special mention.
For the master and disciple, there was a more sensitive and urgent problem to handle: that clan which was so feared because of the Sharingan.
"Minato," Jiraiya's voice became solemn again, "regarding the Uchiha Clan, what are your thoughts?"
He personally didn't have any particular ill will toward the Uchiha, but as one of the Sannin, he was also aware of some related research reports. He clearly understood the uniqueness of the "Sharingan" and its potential influence on the possessor's personality.
The power of these cursed eyes originated from intense emotions, especially hatred, which often led those who awakened them to have extreme personalities and easily fall into paranoia.
Therefore, even though the Uchiha Clan had performed meritorious deeds during the war, that deep-seated wariness still existed.
A smile full of expectation appeared on Minato's face: "I intend to invite Shisui to serve as the representative of the Uchiha Clan. He is the most suitable candidate."
"Shisui, huh—" The image of that young Uchiha genius who had fought desperately on the battlefield at the cost of his own life to stop the Fourth Raikage immediately appeared in Jiraiya's mind.
His unyielding gaze and his willpower to protect his comrades had left a very deep impression.
"Indeed, if it's him."
Jiraiya gave a smile of approval, deeply agreeing with Minato's proposal.
Shisui's performance on the battlefield was undoubtedly an important basis for Minato to push forward his own ideas.
After becoming Hokage, Minato had learned in detail about the research report within the Konoha high-level based on the theories of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, regarding the Uchiha Clan.
Senju Tobirama once evaluated the Uchiha Clan as "inherently evil," believing that factors of intense emotion flowed in their blood, making them extremely prone to going to extremes. The power of the Sharingan would further amplify the darkness in their hearts, eventually twisting their personalities.
Minato found this deeply problematic; it was almost an unsolvable dilemma.
But he firmly believed that merit must be recognized. Long-term marginalization of the Uchiha Clan would only sow the seeds of a greater disaster.
He hoped to see change, to see Konoha accept the Uchiha Clan and allow it to flourish with vitality.
Shisui's existence was the hope, proving that such experts with bright hearts could also be born within the Uchiha.
He intended to use Shisui as a breakthrough point to build a bridge between the Village and the Uchiha, serving as a turning point to improve the relationship between both sides.
If Takuno knew Minato's thoughts, he would probably feel that this young Hokage was a bit too idealistic.
He used to think that Senju Tobirama's evaluation of the Uchiha Clan was a bit extreme as well.
But the subsequent performances of those more famous Uchiha members after awakening their eyes instead proved that his research might have some rationality.
"Inherently evil" might not be accurate, but it was an undeniable fact that the Sharingan would cause its users to become more extreme.
Even Shisui's love for the Village might not be anything other than a form of extremism, while other clansmen might go to the opposite extreme.
As long as the Uchiha Clan's pursuit of the "power of the Sharingan" did not cease, the "curse" in their blood would be difficult to eradicate.
In this world where strength was paramount, it was impossible for the Uchiha Clan to give up the power of the Sharingan.
Similarly, no leader could completely and thoroughly trust a powerful group that might undergo a drastic personality change at any time due to awakening their eyes, and might even draw their blades against the Village.
Ultimately, everything boiled down to a "balance of power."
After his close friend Madara left the clan, the First Hokage, Hashirama, still maintained an almost absolute tolerance for the remaining clansmen—this stemmed from his unmatched, overwhelming strength.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, whose strength was inferior to Hashirama's, used and balanced the Uchiha simultaneously. He relied on their combat power while also setting up multiple layers of defense.
By the time of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, the level of power had declined again. Coupled with someone like Danzo by his side, who held deep-seated wariness toward the Uchiha and used very aggressive methods, it eventually led to a path of almost singular suppression and marginalization.
Even if those few pairs of incredibly powerful Mangekyo Sharingan hadn't appeared later, once the Uchiha Clan's centrifugal force from the Village accumulated to a certain point, it might have only been a matter of time before they launched a coup to seek change or revenge.
At this stage, Minato's personal strength was enough to rival and even promised to surpass that of the Second Hokage, Tobirama.
It was precisely based on the confidence brought by this strength that he dared to attempt a more enlightened, yet also more challenging, path of balance.
He wanted both to eliminate Konoha's rejection of the Uchiha and to guide and harness this force that was full of potential yet also full of variables.
Could the end of this road truly be as he wished? Only time would be able to provide the answer.