He has even mastered Haki, and you say this is Naruto?

Honestly, every era has its own overpowered character.

Just look at early Smoker versus later Smoker—one glance and you can tell how much version updates changed everything.

Think about Crocodile (Sir Croc), who was beaten up so badly early on. He was one of the Seven Warlords, after all. Compared to the others—let alone Mihawk, even Luffy and Doflamingo made him look miserable. He was basically the disgrace of the Warlords. Of course, there's someone even more ridiculous: Shiki the Golden Lion.

At least Whitebeard, even in old age, went out in the Marineford War. But Shiki, the man who once cornered Gol D. Roger, was taken down by Luffy using nothing but a treasure map.

"Maybe… I should delay setting sail for a bit?

Even though Crocodile and Shiki are ridiculous, I might be even more so."

Shanks' expression turned awkward at the thought.

What East Blue Emperor?

No, wait—what ruler of the East Blue seas?

This Yonko actually got his hand bitten off by a Sea King?

Honestly, Shanks still had no idea how he let his guard down like that.

"Aha! You actually used Haki! Haha, I win this time!"

From the lake, Zabuza, face swollen and bruised, climbed out with a big grin.

Forcing Shanks to use Haki was proof—he'd made real progress.

"Those slash waves can't even hit anyone.

Even without Conqueror's Haki coating, just Observation Haki alone is enough to dodge."

"Not everyone has Observation Haki that insane, okay?"

Zabuza grumbled, trying to sound tough—but really, there was no one in the entire shinobi world like Shanks. Not even the most detailed intel mentioned a guy like him.

"Wait… can Observation Haki really see the future?"

Zabuza looked skeptical. If sensory jutsu could do that, it would be absurd.

"In certain situations, yeah,"

Shanks replied with a smile.

In fact, he'd already seen Zabuza's future—Zabuza lying in a pool of blood on ice. Ice chunks formed around him, protecting his body. Nearby, a group of armed low-tier pirates stood menacingly.

"Then… what did you see in my future?"

"Huh? Who said I looked at your future?"

Shanks deflected. That's slander! Did he look like that kind of guy?

Zabuza stared at him, then pointed at himself.

"There's only the two of us here. What do you think?"

"Even so, I can't tell you. I'll let you know after you leave.

After all, if your future was something good, I wouldn't have seen it."

"How bad could it be?"

Zabuza shrugged—he figured he was already in a terrible state. How much worse could it get?

"People die."

Shanks smiled bitterly.

Zabuza froze.

"I don't know the exact details, but…

You've still got things left undone.

Your life still has value, doesn't it?"

Shanks' words made Zabuza fall silent.

After leaving Kirigakure, he'd been numb, hopeless. Everything he'd once sacrificed for felt meaningless.

Shanks gave him direction again. It wasn't too late to change.

But Zabuza hadn't found his own path yet. He was no longer numb, but still lost.

If Shanks hadn't appeared, Zabuza might've met the same fate as in the original timeline—just another tool, dying after Haku's death during the fight with Kakashi and company.

Let's be honest—only people who've lost all hope would go out like that.

That version of Zabuza had already died.

Haku's death just reawakened his deep despair, the kind of utter hopelessness that truly killed him inside.

Otherwise, would someone like Kado have really been able to control Zabuza? The man who betrayed his own village wouldn't betray Kado?

Seriously, who takes bodyguard pay and actually does the job?

But now—this new Zabuza? That wouldn't happen again.

Part of it was thanks to Shanks.

The other part?

Sometimes when you think your life is tragic… then meet someone who's had it even worse, it changes your perspective.

Shanks never tried to compare tragedies, but who doesn't know about the Uzumaki Clan?

They were practically wiped out.

No home. No family. Betrayed by their closest allies.

And yet, Shanks walked around every day with a smile, carefree like nothing happened.

He's from one of the great shinobi clans, and his biggest dream is… to become the freest pirate on the sea?

"Dude, you're from a legendary clan!

With your strength, you want to be a pirate? Are you mentally sound?"

"Is it because I'm too mentally sound that I can't be like Shanks?"

"Hmm… maybe I've been stuck in my old identity for too long. But Shanks is completely different."

Zabuza had an epiphany.

He wasn't a Kirigakure shinobi anymore. He was a rogue ninja.

Actually, he wasn't even a ninja.

So… why couldn't he live like Shanks?

"Hey Shanks… what if I became a pirate too?"

Zabuza dropped a bombshell.

"Huh?? You, a pirate? But your identity—"

"That's in the past.

Right now, I think being a free pirate sounds pretty great."

Bruised and battered, Zabuza grinned from ear to ear.

And Shanks laughed along with him.

"Hahaha! Then allow me to introduce myself.

Captain of the Red-Haired Pirates — Shanks!"

"Captain of the No-Blade Pirates — Zabuza!"

Their fists bumped together.

No booze… but it felt like something was missing.

Time passed quickly while training. Another month went by, and Zabuza felt like he'd hit a ceiling.

That's the difference between him and Shanks. One was the pinnacle of shinobi history — a living legend. The other? Just some forgotten speck in a history book.

But he'd at least fully mastered Moonwalk (Geppo) now.

It was a major breakthrough for him.

Still, the real reason he was thinking of leaving wasn't just that—someone had found this place.

Zabuza walked to the shore, blade in hand.

It was where he first came ashore, though the traces had long since vanished.

"Didn't expect it to be you."

He didn't turn around. Not far behind, a man wearing a black cloak with red clouds stepped out of a tidepool.

"A shark can smell your blood in the water.

If not for Jiraiya, we'd have arrived sooner."

It was Kisame Hoshigaki — Zabuza's old comrade. Like Zabuza, Kisame was also a rogue from Kirigakure.

"Almost three months, and your blade's still the same?

What, you stop being an executioner after leaving the village?"

Kisame mocked him. Though they'd once been teammates, they were never close.

Truth was, Kisame never thought someone like Zabuza was worthy of fighting beside him.

Likewise, Zabuza looked down on Kisame.

Especially now — You, Kisame? What rank do you think you are?

We were both Seven Swordsmen, but my power now? You dare look down on me?

"Not really. Some people just aren't worth using a sword on.

I can kill with or without it."

"I came here with a reason — but if it's a fight you want, I'll gladly oblige."

Kisame's pale right hand gripped Samehada's hilt. Of course, both men knew—this wouldn't end without a fight.

"Then let's go."

Zabuza stepped forward, the ground exploding beneath his feet as he launched toward Kisame.

He'd gotten a lot stronger over the past few months.

Kisame didn't hold back either—coming at me barehanded? Think you're that good?

Boom!

Kisame's chakra erupted. Samehada expanded to five or six times its size. The pressure around it surged and blasted toward Zabuza.

"No-Blade Style: Barehanded Edge!"

Zabuza slashed forward with his bare hands. His dark palms shimmered coldly.

A flash.

Kisame blocked it with Samehada—but not completely.

A fine cut appeared on Kisame's arm. Behind him, twin slash marks appeared on the distant rock.

Kisame quickly leapt back, widening the distance.

"Ridiculous…"

That was the only word in Kisame's mind.

He didn't expect another Seven Swordsman to be this crazy.

"He really reached this level with just taijutsu?

Was he hiding his strength all along?"

Samehada couldn't absorb chakra or neutralize the attacks—that could only mean one thing:

Zabuza hadn't used ninjutsu just now. It was pure taijutsu.

And he blocked Samehada barehanded.

A cold sweat trickled down Kisame's forehead.

This strength… was way off from his intel.

Meanwhile, Zabuza pulled his legs from the sand—shocked too.

He had assumed all the Seven Swordsmen were around his old level. Kisame being this strong?

If not for the two months of intense training with Shanks — especially the specialized body techniques — Kisame's attack might've put him in a hospital.

"He's not a normal Swordsman either. He was hiding his true strength too…"

Zabuza's expression turned serious.

His hands ached like hell—but pride wouldn't let him show it.

Kisame saw that Zabuza still wasn't using ninjutsu and instantly knew—this was going to be tough.

But before they clashed again…

"Kisame, did you tell him?"

A new voice interrupted—Itachi appeared.

Zabuza's eyes shifted toward him. Same cloak. Were they from the same organization?

"Uchiha…?"

"Our organization is recruiting.

We heard about your defection and… well, despite my dislike for you, your strength is undeniable."

Kisame explained.

The Akatsuki—a secret underground group—was always recruiting strong fighters. This was around the time Deidara and Hidan joined too.

Zabuza had just passed the test.

The duel wasn't just personal—it was a test from Akatsuki.

"Your group? What is this—talking about bonds, happiness, protecting the village?"

Zabuza scoffed. He just fled Kirigakure—why would he work for anyone again?

"Of course not.

While we do want to build a better world... right now, what we do is…"

Kisame's shark face gave nothing away—but his voice remained calm.