Fantasy Realm — Naruto: Blood-Mist

Alex, Menchi and Jewel all use Zetsu. Once Alex manages to get a bit closer to the house, he lifts his hand, signaling to Menchi to stop, and quickly uses En.

"Only one person inside, lying in a bed… I guess Haku won't have to watch, at least," Alex comments.

"Let's end it then," Menchi says in a serious tone. "I didn't think it would be this simple."

"This is reality, not a silly plot designed to make it challenging and deliver a satisfying ending," Alex notes.

They quickly enter the house, and Alex sees Zabuza lying in his bed, his eyes closed.

As they approach him, Alex draws his [Executioner's Blade], while Menchi draws her knives.

Zabuza suddenly opens his eyes and stares at the group.

He loudly sighs, "Heh, I guess I didn't expect this from Kakashi and his Konoha puppies, but you seem to be different. I guess after all those assassinations I did, this is fate's way of laughing at me. This mission was indeed a blunder. I guess you visited that pig and he ratted me out?"

"Gatō is dead, you'll get to visit him soon," Alex says, approaching his bed.

"I guess there is no way we can come to an agreement? Although with your ridiculous look, I feel you are beyond saving."

"Sorry about that, just to make sure you'll be blamed for everything I did earlier. Look, with your crimes, it makes no difference, right?" Alex jokes.

"Fair! So tell me, is there any way we can solve this without you killing me?" he asks.

"All your Jutsus, your Chakra exercises and techniques, and you abandon this mission. Your employer is dead anyway," Alex states.

Zabuza grins, "Sure, since my employer is dead, it does not matter anymore. Give me back my sword, and we have a deal."

System won't let me lie to him… damn this is a shame!

[Side Quest Offered:

Mission: Trade away the [Executioner's Blade] and make an oath to spare Zabuza and Haku.

Reward: [Chakra Awakening Skillbook (Deep-Green)], [Jutsus: Zabuza's Jutsus (Purple)], Zabuza and Haku will not seek revenge against you, Tazuna, his workers, and Team 7.]

"You don't care much for theory, do you? Looks like aside from your Jutsus, your fundamentals are all based on effort and not on actual wisdom. Too bad. I am sorry," Alex says, before suddenly slicing his sword toward Zabuza, whose face changes from surprise to resignation, before he closes his eyes in his very last moment as he gets beheaded by his own weapon.

You have dealt 201 x 3 = 603 damage to Zabuza.

You have killed Zabuza.

Alex then spots a blue-colored chest and grabs it with a slightly disappointed look.

"Guess the system takes effort into account as well," Alex says. "Not too happy about what will happen next."

"You are talking about Haku?" Menchi asks Alex.

Alex sighs. "Without Zabuza, you'll know what he's going to do, right? It's quite a sad story, but don't misunderstand. Zabuza is a damn ruthless killer… a demon! Haku is a mindless slave who follows after him and does whatever he does. If Zabuza ordered Haku to kill children, he would do it without hesitating. Hell, he probably has done it already! He is a mindless puppet. Now that Zabuza is dead, we can't predict what he will do. Don't forget they are both evil characters, no matter how tragic their backstories are. Also this is about our own survival and our pathway through the Realm! We have to finish this, and we can't risk getting emotional. You know that Chinese saying? Kindness to the enemy is cruelty to oneself." Alex then turns serious. "Now get ready… Zetsu!"

Does Soulmate know these sayings because of the large number of Chinese webnovels he reads?

"I said, get serious… this is not the time to get emotional or joke around!" Alex yells.

"Heh, as if I need to hear that from you.… Sounds like you are convincing yourself, Alex. You are a big softie, after all. You realize that, right?" Menchi says, whispering into Alex's ear, holding his hand.

"Yes… but I know what I have to do, even though I won't enjoy it," Alex says in a determined voice.

"Good, then let's do it and then we'll relax and have fun for the rest of our stay here!" Menchi says.

That sounds great… I could certainly use it… this is very mentally draining.

Alex, Menchi, and Jewel patiently wait. Alex and Jewel use En from time to time, but reserve some aura.

Finally, Alex senses with his En that someone has arrived. He's approaching one of the doors on the upper side of the building, not taking the stairs and entering from below.

Alex gestures toward the entrance, and Jewel and Menchi get in position behind it, ready to ambush their target.

Haku opens the door but does not enter. Instead, he begins to speak in a soft voice.

"I've seen your footprints—you also left behind some other minor tracks. Sadly, not enough for you to be amateurs. This tells me that you are very skilled… We have met… haven't we? I guess I am too late then…" A soft, emotional voice echoes from behind the door.

"I am sorry," Alex responds. "You can try to seek revenge now, or you can disappear forever as long as you promise not to commit crimes or hurt more innocent people."

"This is all irrelevant… Zabuza is dead… is he?" Haku says, sounding broken and lifeless.

"What do you expect would happen to someone who has killed thousands of people, sometimes for fun, sometimes for money? There is no other end for someone like him." Alex replies firmly.

"I see… can I make one request?" he asks.

"Yes…" Alex replies, slightly confused.

"Bury me… together with him?" he replies in a maddened voice.

"Wait… you really shouldn't give up on—" Alex tries to say, but at the next moment, Haku storms inside, needles in hand, charging at Alex like a rabid dog.

Without hesitating, Menchi and Jewel, who were hiding behind the door, attack Haku. Menchi, using her hatsu, pierces her empowered knives deep into Haku, ripping his skin, organs, and even bones apart, like dismantling a large animal. Meanwhile, Jewel lands multiple thrusts with her legs, penetrating deep into Haku's body again and again.

Finally, a mangled Haku stands before Alex, who holds his sword in a defensive position, looking directly into his face. "Sorry for this little play… please… remember… my wish… Now that I see you… you are crying? You are a good person… You'll fulfill my wish, I am sure," he says before finally collapsing, a small but satisfied smile on his face.

No…! This…

Alex indeed notices a few tears under his eyes, quickly wiping them away.

"You tried to warn us, Alex. I can't help but point out the irony seeing you in this state. You also stayed on the defensive, even though it's three against one.… I'll let you off the hook for now, but I'll talk to you about this later!" Menchi says, her tone shifting from stern to caring.

"I am sorry," Alex replies, shaking his head.

Jewel climbs back onto Alex's head, the familiar feeling calming him down.

Meanwhile, Menchi approaches Alex and hugs him gently. "It's okay…"

"Thank you," Alex says, his eyes still slightly red.

He then looks at Haku and notices another blue-quality chest, which he quickly picks up.

"Let's bury them… this is the least we can do," Alex says, grabbing Haku's body and laying him down next to Zabuza's headless body. Finally, Alex picks up Zabuza's head from the floor and puts it next to his body.

Alex then carefully rolls up their bodies in the bedding and carries it outside.

Deciding to activate Mustrano's Malice Mauler lvl 5, Alex uses Shu to enhance his sinister-looking black claw, using it to quickly dig a hole in the soft forest ground.

Mustrano hisses, "Human…. you don't sssssumon me in battle and when you finally do you usssseee me to dig a hole!"

"I conjure you during training every few days, don't I? When I need you during combat, trust me, I'll conjure you!"

"Fine, human… don't deny me my sssssspoils!" he hisses, before going silent.

With a sufficiently deep hole, Alex places the bedding into the ground and closes it up again.

He sighs and turns around, noting Menchi and Jewel behind him.

"Found anything inside?"

"4 [Kunai], 2 [Shuriken], and a bunch of needles that the system sadly does not recognize," Menchi replies with a grin, giving him back his mask, which she only used for appearance's sake, and the weapons.

Alex gratefully receives the items and says, "Let's open the chests. Since they're just blue and white, I'm not sure, but I'll use up the [Blood Essence]. Since our mission is now merely sitting around all day on the bridge, I don't expect many battles anymore."

Focusing on his [Drakul's Vitality], Alex activates it and notes that one [Blood Essence] is used up.

You have recovered 0 HP.

All stats increased by 5.

Not like there is anything to recover.

Alex glows in a red light and feels extremely strong, his body feeling reborn, power coursing through it.

"Too bad I can't exactly use this power to fight someone in battle, but it certainly feels like a last resort. 100 HP and every stat increases by 5? That is incredible."

"You certainly look and smell weird," Menchi says, sniffing him, then suddenly kissing him. "You also taste a little weird!"

Menchi…!

"Don't be jealous, my cutie," she says, kissing Jewel's smooth body, who quickly turns away and bombards her with web, forcing her to back off.

"Oh, come on, don't be like that," she teases Jewel.

"… As soon as the danger's over you go back to normal, huh? Anyway, let's start with the chests. There's a 60-minute limit, so don't distract me! I need to pray to the gods of RNG!"

Alex opens Zabuza's chest first.

You received Skillbook: Sword Proficiency.

You received 5,000 FC.

You received Jutsu: Hiding in Mist Technique.

"Interesting," Alex comments.

[Skillbook: Sword Proficiency]

Quality: Blue

Effect: Teaches the skill: "Sword Proficiency"

Note: Dropped by Zabuza

[Jutsu: Hiding in Mist Technique]

Quality: Deep Green

Effect: Teaches the Jutsu Hiding in Mist Technique, allowing you to fill the air with mist and even control it to some degree.

Note: Despite being a D-rank Jutsu, this is a versatile, rare, and hard-to-acquire Jutsu.

"Sword Proficiency is a very common, but also sought-after skill. After all, swords are the favorite weapon of most Fantasy worlds. I can sell it for a decent sum! It's also a requirement to wield his [Executioner's Blade]," Alex comments.

Thinking deeply about his other find, Alex says, "The Jutsu is weird. It's not a skill book but merely a single Jutsu! I guess if you learn the Chakra system, like the subpar, Green version Zabuza offered us, you can just learn it. It doesn't take up a full skill slot, but most likely integrates into the Chakra skill. I guess there must be some limitations put in place, like the number and quality of the Jutsus you can learn."

"More opening, less analyzing," Menchi teases him, not really interested in Alex's analysis.

"Fine! Look, it's important to assess these things properly! This Jutsu just gave me valuable insights into how other players might fight and what they're capable of," Alex responds, slightly annoyed.

Finally, he opens the blue chest from Haku.

You received Kekkei Genkai: Ice Release.

You received Jutsu: Yuki-clan collection.

"No way! That's more like it!!"

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