Reincarnated as Naruto with Sukuna's Powers

Chapter 24: Zabuza's Woes

A/N:

16 chapters ahead on p.a.t.r.e.o.n

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ZABUZA POV

The night was thick with silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the cool breeze. I crouched low, my muscles taut, eyes fixed on the distant figure of Sukuna.

The name fell from Kimimaro's lips, a silent utterance I caught only through the movement of his mouth.

The air around me felt heavy, laden with the weight of my mission and the consequences it could bring.

Sukuna is strong.

And, we need him.

The rebellion against the Mizukage teetered on a knife's edge, and Sukuna's allegiance could tip the scales in our favor. But approaching such a volatile ally was like trying to harness lightning. One wrong move, and we might find ourselves destroyed by the very power we sought to control.

For days now, I'd been trailing Sukuna, ever since his encounter with the Kaguya Clan leader. The memory of it still sent a chill down my spine.

But there was no need to think what happened in the past. It seems he has killed someone else.

I arrived just moments ago, and Sukuna is standing before a pile of ashes. The location is, at least, familiar – the same arena where I'd witnessed Kimimaro's brutal fights against the prisoners. The Yashiki of the Kaguya Clan, now destroyed, had its part spread around.

As I watched from the shadows, Sukuna engaged in conversation with Kimimaro. To my surprise, the kid chose to follow him. They retreated to a remote hut deep within the island's dense forest. Hours passed, and still, they remained inside. My mind raced with possibilities.

What could be keeping them in there for so long? Some sort of treasure, perhaps? The thought gnawed at me, and I felt a pang of envy. Oh, the difference such wealth could make for our cause! I could almost picture it – stacks of gold, ancient scrolls of forbidden jutsu, or perhaps weapons of unimaginable power. After seeing how the clan leader managed to hide his kekkei genkai all this while, I'm open to consider every outlandish idea.

Woe is me! Here I am, skulking in the bushes like some common thief, while they hoard riches beyond measure! Oh, cruel fate! How you mock my noble quest for revolution with these tantalizing glimpses of what could be!

I had to stifle a snort at my own melodramatic thoughts. Get a grip, Zabuza. You're a fearsome shinobi, not some weeping protagonist in a third-rate stage play.

When Sukuna finally emerged, I blinked in confusion.

The four arms that had been his most distinctive feature were gone. He appeared... almost normal. A transformation jutsu, perhaps? I mused. But why waste chakra on such a thing? Unless...

My mind whirled with possibilities, each more crazy than the last.

They set off, leaving the island behind. I steeled myself for what I knew would be a grueling pursuit.

Sukuna made an unseen hand sign, and suddenly, a massive bird unlike any I'd ever encountered materialized from his very shadow. Kimimaro and Sukuna then mounted the creature with ease.

I gritted my teeth, knowing what lay ahead. Running across the ocean using chakra was no small feat, even for a shinobi of my caliber. The strain on my reserves would be immense, but I had no choice. I couldn't lose them now.