Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template

The sizzling sound of electric currents and impact shattered the eerie silence. Most of the ronin and Kirigakure shinobi collapsed onto the battlefield, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds. Even Zabuza, Tenzō, and the others fighting elsewhere paused momentarily at the sudden disturbance.

The figure that had appeared was gone in an instant—just as quickly as he had arrived. Like a bolt of lightning, he left behind no trace.

Hyūga Chinano narrowed her pale, pupil-less eyes. For some reason, she had an instinctive feeling that the one who had unleashed that thunderous attack was Zixu. Though the aura and presence didn't quite match his usual self, she couldn't shake the certainty in her heart.

Her gaze darted across the battlefield, scanning the chaos until she finally spotted Zixu standing at the edge of the fray. His posture was relaxed, his expression normal—but something about him was off. There was a sluggishness to him, an almost resigned exhaustion, like a worker being forced to do overtime on his only day off.

The strangeness nagged at her, but she quickly pushed it aside. She remembered what Tenzō had told her earlier. There was no time for doubt now. Waving toward Aburame Hatsuizumi, who wasn't far away, she made the silent decision—they had to retreat. Staying here any longer would only hold Tenzō back.

From the shadows, Zixu—or rather, his silent clone—watched them escape with lifeless, dead fish eyes. In his mind, he recalled the words his original self had told him before this mission.

"Don't overdo it. Just act like me. Protect those two at the critical moment—they're valuable to the organization. Afterward, follow them out of the encirclement... and I'll give you two full days to slack off."

The silent clone's dull expression suddenly gained a faint spark of life.

Two days off...

Was this a trap? A false promise dangled by the higher-ups to exploit him? Maybe. But Zixu's true self wasn't a total devil... right?

With a sharp whoosh, the clone pushed off the ground, using the rebound force to launch himself forward. His physique inherited part of the original Zixu's physical abilities, and even a fraction of that strength was enough for the current situation.

Watching as Zixu and the others disappeared into the mist, Tenzō finally let out a quiet sigh of relief. A small, almost gentle smile curved his lips.

"Alright... now I can fight without holding back."

His hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals. His gaze swept across the enemy shinobi who were still determined to keep him here—cold and emotionless.

"Wood Release: Sea of Trees Advent (Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan)!"

The battlefield trembled. In an instant, the earth beneath them burst open as countless trees erupted skyward, their roots twisting and sprawling in every direction. The newly formed forest spread with terrifying speed, consuming the battlefield in its wake.

But these weren't just ordinary trees. The Mist shinobi gasped in horror as they realized that the surrounding flora was draining their chakra—devouring it like a living entity.

Meanwhile, Zabuza and Haku weren't idle either. Their expressions turned serious as they unleashed their own counterattacks.

"Ghost Blade: Cold Onslaught (Reikiba: Hyōkō)!"

Haku's hands moved in a blur as he activated his Ice Release (Hyōton). Instantly, the battlefield within a several-hundred-meter radius was covered in a thin, glittering layer of frost.

Aburame Hatsuizumi, who was still retreating, felt the bone-chilling cold creeping up her back, mixing with the earthy scent of the newly formed trees.

Behind Zabuza, a massive blue dragon—several times larger than the water dragons previously summoned by the Mist shinobi—began to take shape. But this time, Ice Release fused into the jutsu, transforming it into a ferocious ice crystal dragon.

The colossal beast surged forward with an overwhelming wave of frost. It swallowed the Mist shinobi in its path before violently crushing them inside its frozen jaws.

Zabuza swung his Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade). Haku followed with a swift slash from his Fubuki katana, shattering the frozen corpses within the crystalized remains of the dragon.

However, despite their overwhelming attacks, the enemy did not falter.

More and more Mist shinobi emerged from the village, their numbers increasing at an alarming rate. Worse still, Tenzō, Zabuza, and Haku had already spent a considerable amount of chakra. A prolonged battle would only put them at a greater disadvantage.

"Tch... What the hell is with Kirigakure? Do they want war with Konoha?! Sending this many shinobi—are they insane?" Tenzō growled as he landed on a high tree branch, panting from exertion. Below him, the enemy forces were already preparing to launch another wave of attacks.

Zabuza let out a cold chuckle.

"The current Mizukage is a strange one. He's the one who turned this place into the 'Bloody Mist.' As long as he's alive, Kirigakure will never move forward."

With that, he formed another set of hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet (Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu)!"

But despite their resistance, the siege tightened.

No matter how strong they were, they were still human. The endless waves of enemies were beginning to wear them down.

An elephant could be brought down by an army of ants.

At this rate... they really might die here.

"I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama... I can't stay with you any longer."

Haku removed his mask, revealing his delicate yet resolute face. There was no fear in his expression—only determination. It was as if he had already decided to give up his life for one final technique.

But before the cliched tragedy could unfold—

A new figure stepped forward.

Zixu had somehow found a large black cloak from his storage scroll. He also carved out a makeshift mask from tree bark, only leaving holes for his eyes. As for a weapon... he had nothing.

That was until he suddenly remembered the red crowbar he had won in a lottery before.

And so, he stood before them—cloaked, masked, and gripping a crowbar.

The battlefield fell into silence.

Everyone—enemy and ally alike—stared at the strange new arrival.

Even the Mist shinobi, unsure whether this "Crowbar Man" was friend or foe, hesitated.

Then—

Crackle.

Electricity surged around the crowbar. Zixu infused it with an overwhelming amount of chakra, mixing it with natural energy until the lightning turned dark and volatile.

The Mist shinobi didn't need to see it. They felt it.

This was the same power that had torn through them earlier.

Immediately, they focused their fire on him.

Zixu glanced up. The air was now filled with brilliant, multicolored ninjutsu. Against the misty backdrop, it had an almost elegant beauty.

But he had no time to admire it.

His figure vanished—replaced by a streak of lightning.

Wherever he passed, only fallen enemies remained.

He weaved through the battlefield with precision, dodging attacks, his inhuman physique allowing him to endure the strain of repeated Body Flicker Jutsu (Shunshin no Jutsu).

Seeing that "Crowbar Man" wasn't an enemy, Tenzō took the opportunity.

"Over there—uh... Crowbar-san, thanks! If we meet again, I'll owe you one!"

Without wasting time, he launched himself away. The enemy shinobi, still recovering from their failed attacks, could only watch as Tenzō and the others disappeared.

Zabuza and Haku exchanged a glance. Without a word, a thick mist rose, shrouding them as they, too, vanished.

Zixu stood alone.

His crowbar crackled—a single arc of lightning illuminating the empty battlefield.

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