Naruto: Faint Smile - CH 103

[Takeshi POV.]

My legs trembled as I dropped to one knee, as exhaustion hit me like a wave. My new technique had drained me more than I realized or even anticipated, each pulse of chakra leaving me with less and less to give, and now I was nearly empty.

The water beneath me rippled faintly, the water reflecting the dim light above. I could feel my feet sinking slowly, as the chakra that kept me above the surface began faltering.

I adjusted my stance, forcing more chakra into my soles. It was shaky, barely holding, but enough to keep me from slipping under. For now.

I had about two to three minutes of chakra before I would have to swim.

The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the chamber, the mist mostly cleared. My breaths came slow and heavy. The cuts along my arms, legs, and torso burned with every movement, but the pain was distant, and honestly nothing compared to the crushing weight of fatigue I was feeling.

I glanced down at the blade in my hand. My claymore was slick with blood, the grip sticky and uncomfortable. Then I heard it, a faint splash, the sound of rocks tumbling into the water.

I turned my head sharply, my body screaming in protest as I twisted to look. My gaze landed on the far side of the chamber, where Zabuza had hit the wall.

Or rather, where he should have been.

The space was empty.

A smear of blood stained the wall, trailing downward toward the pool below. From there, a faint streak of red led to one of the exits—an arched tunnel that disappeared into shadow.

He was gone.

I didn’t move right away, my mind working through the possibilities. He was either planning to strike when I least expected it or he was running away to tend to his wounds.

“Well… that works for me,” I muttered, letting out a sigh.

What can I say? A part of me felt relief. If Zabuza was running, it meant the fight was over—for now. If that last attack hadn’t worked out, I would’ve lost… As things were right now, my body couldn’t take much more, and the idea of chasing him down seemed laughable.

But another part of me knew this wasn’t the end. He’d regroup, recover, and come back stronger. People like Zabuza didn’t just disappear. His bingo entry was clear, he was one to hold grudges.

Though I suppose it didn’t matter… Next time we fought, I would be much stronger.

I straightened slowly, my knees wobbling as I forced myself upright. The effort sent a fresh wave of pain through my body, the cuts along my side and leg protesting loudly.

“Ok… I need to take a quick break before leaving,” I muttered.

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[Jiraiya POV]

I found him slumping against the wall of a narrow tunnel, his blood trailing behind him like breadcrumbs. Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, reduced to a limping, bleeding mess, and all thanks to a kid. It would’ve been impressive if it weren’t so pathetic.

I leaned casually against the damp stone, blocking the exit he was stumbling toward. “You know,” I said, keeping my tone light, “for someone with such a scary nickname, you’re not looking too good.”

Zabuza stopped, his hand tightening around the hilt of that oversized cleaver he called a sword. His face was pale, sweat dripping from his brow as he glared at me. “You must be the brat’s handler,” he said, his voice low and strained.

“Sensei,” I corrected, wagging a finger at him like one would do to a kid. “Handler makes it sound like I’m training a dog. Though, given what you’ve been through, you probably wish I was, besides, we both know he’s far too emotionless to be a dog, maybe a cat… yeah, a cat.”

He didn’t laugh. No sense of humor, this guy. And here I was being nice, this is what I get for trying to be nice.

“You want to die here too, old man?” he growled, though the effect was dampened by the way he was leaning against the wall to stay upright.

I stepped closer, letting him see the easy grin on my face. “I do, between a nice pair of legs, but I’ve got a better idea. Let’s make a deal. You tell me who hired you to go after my student, and I won’t kill you.”

Zabuza’s grip on his sword shifted, though it looked more like he was trying to keep from dropping it than preparing to use it. “Pass,” he said.

I sighed, scratching the back of my head. “I figured you’d say that. Tough guy like you, all about pride and reputation. But let’s be real for a second.”

He paused, glaring at me.

I gestured to him, taking in the blood dripping from his wounds, the way his legs were barely holding him up. “You’re in no shape to fight, and even if you were in shape to fight, we both know you wouldn’t stand a chance, not even on your best day. So, here’s how this works: you talk, or you die. Simple as that.”

He barked a laugh, though it turned into a cough halfway through. “You Leaf shinobi are all the same. Arrogant.”

“Probably,” I said with a shrug. “But I’m also right, and you know it.”

He didn’t answer, just glared at me through the sweat and blood.

“Look,” I continued, “I get it. You’re a professional. Someone waves enough money in your face, and you take the job. No hard feelings. But you went after my student, and that makes this personal.”

Zabuza shifted slightly, the movement slow and deliberate. “He put up a good fight,” he said, his tone almost grudging.

“Glad to hear it,” I replied. “But he’s still alive, and you’re the one bleeding out. So, let’s get back to the question: who hired you?”

“Why do you care?” he asked, though his voice was weaker now.

I stepped closer, my grin fading slightly. “Because I don’t like loose ends. And if someone’s targeting my student, they’re going to have to deal with me next.”

Zabuza’s eyes narrowed, though I could see the gears turning in his head. He wasn’t dumb, he knew he wasn’t walking out of here unless I let him.

Still, he was stubborn. “Kill me if you want,” he said, his voice steadier than I expected. “I’m not a snitch.”

I sighed again, shaking my head. “You’re making this way harder than it needs to be.”

I formed a quick set of seals, my chakra flaring faintly as I summoned a small, harmless flame in my palm. “Here’s the thing, Zabuza. I’ve got all the time in the world, and you don’t. So, we can keep this up until you bleed out, or you can tell me what I want to know and save us both some trouble.”

He didn’t answer right away, his breathing ragged as he leaned heavier against the wall.

“You’re really going to die for someone else’s secret?” I asked, my tone casual. “Seems like a waste to me.”

Zabuza’s grip on his sword tightened again, though it was clear he didn’t have the strength to swing it. “You Leaf shinobi think you’re so clever,” he muttered.

“Not clever,” I said. “Just persistent.”

He stared at me for a long moment, the silence stretching between us. Finally, he exhaled sharply, a sound halfway between frustration and defeat.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

I smiled, letting the flame in my hand flicker out. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”