"If anything happens to Haku, I will tear you to pieces!
"You think these weaklings can protect you?"
Corpses lay scattered across Gato's estate. Inside the most luxurious bedroom, the diminutive Gato was being held up by the neck by Zabuza.
"S-Stop... Cough... I'll... I'll tell them to stop chasing your... companion..." Gato choked out.
"Cough... cough... You... you better hurry and find him. This time... I hired Lord Kakuzu... If you're late... it might be too late..." Gato stammered, his body trembling.
"You bastard!"
A loud crash echoed, followed by a figure shooting out from the destroyed wall.
"Haku!" A rare hint of worry flickered in Zabuza's eyes.
After leaving for a few days of solitude to clear his head, Zabuza finally understood his own feelings.
He cared about Haku. He had long stopped seeing him as a mere tool, a weapon for killing.
The thought of his past harsh treatment filled him with guilt.
He rushed back, intending to treat Haku differently, but instead of finding him, he was met with Gato's assassins.
Enraged, Zabuza stormed Gato's estate.
He then discovered that, because of his absence, Haku had become a scapegoat, hunted by ninjas hired by Gato.
Among them was the bounty hunter, known as the immortal monster, Kakuzu, with a near 100% mission completion rate.
Even Zabuza wasn't sure he could defeat him.
"Haku, you have to hold on!"
Zabuza slammed his foot on the ground, leaping into the air and chasing after the direction indicated by Gato's men.
Suddenly, a massive pillar of light pierced the sky in the distance. An ominous power washed over him.
"Haku!!!" Zabuza roared, expending chakra to use the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing instantly.
…
[Ding! Your Evil King's Eye System's true ability has activated. Akamaru has undergone a dark path evolution, transforming into the Zombie Hellhound.]
Within the enormous pillar of light, a colossal figure came into view.
"W-What... What kind of summoning beast is that?!"
"Those two brats... were they actually serious?"
"They really managed to evolve a powerful Beast..."
"This aura... it feels even more sinister than a Tailed Beast..."
Everyone was stunned, utterly shocked by the sudden appearance of this monstrous creature radiating an aura of pure evil. The amassed rogue ninjas on the opposing side gaped in disbelief.
"Hahaha, success!
"I told you, my Akamaru is the best!
"This size, this power... Who can stand against us?!"
After a brief moment of surprise, Kiba erupted in joyous cheers. Akamaru was his best friend; his happiness at Akamaru's new power was boundless.
"Akamaru, go! Show these bastards what we're made of!" Kiba excitedly slapped Akamaru's hind leg.
Indeed, the evolved Akamaru was taller than a house. Even with Kiba standing on his tiptoes and reaching out, he couldn't touch Akamaru's body.
"Um... Kiba... You need to leave quickly... Your Akamaru...um… he seems... a little off..." Hinata, who was hiding in the distance with Tazuna, called out worriedly.
Hearing Hinata's warning, Kiba finally looked up to take in Akamaru's full form.
At that moment, startled by Kiba's earlier pat, Akamaru turned his massive head to glance back. Kiba finally saw Akamaru in all his terrifying glory.
Akamaru's once pristine white fur was turning greyish-black and beginning to rot and fall off.
A repulsive stench of decay emanated from his body.
His gaping maw, filled with jagged teeth, dripped with acidic saliva that sizzled as it hit the ground.
The bright, clear eyes were now replaced with bloodshot orbs.
This was Akamaru's evolved form - a hellish, zombie-like hound.
"Th-This... Is this my Akamaru?" Kiba's eyes widened in disbelief, momentarily speechless.
"Careful!" A warning shout came, followed by an unseen force pulling Kiba backward.
It was Natsuki!
SNAP
The sudden movement allowed Kiba to narrowly avoid a bite from the corrupted Akamaru.
The monstrous jaws snapped shut, the force of the missed bite making a chilling sound.
At the same time, Haku's ice mirrors shattered under Kakuzu's Searing Migraine.
A raging inferno swept across the battlefield.
This caught the attention of the corrupted Akamaru. The massive beast charged headlong into the flames.
The next moment, the entire sea of fire was absorbed into Akamaru's body. Black and red flames ignited across its form, demonic flames billowing outward.
Its first target was now Kakuzu, the greatest threat present.
With a mighty leap, leaving a long, black-red trail of fire, Akamaru lunged towards Kakuzu like a falling mountain.
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?!
"How did that little mutt turn into such a terrifying monster?"
Kakuzu leaped back, rapidly forming hand seals. "Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
Powerful jets of water roared forth, slamming against the corrupted Akamaru.
BOOM!!!
The Zombie Hellhound's charge was halted, but the attack didn't inflict significant damage on it.
It didn't even extinguish the black-red flames covering its body. Akamaru shook itself violently, scattering the water vapor, its gaze fixed once again on Kakuzu.
"High defense, attack power should be considerable as well. But low intelligence, likely fighting on instinct, uses Fire-based attacks…I'll have to use Water Style to keep it at bay.
"However, I mustn't engage directly before capturing Tazuna and the other targets!
"I just don't know anything about this beast's stamina..."
In a single exchange, Kakuzu had analyzed the monster's approximate combat capabilities. His eyes scanned the numerous rogue ninjas who were retreating
An idea sparked in his mind.
I'll use you all to test this monster's limits.
Changing his escape route, Kakuzu led the Zombie Hellhound straight into the crowd of fleeing ninjas.
"Th-This... Natsuki, what happened to my Akamaru?
"You said he'd evolve… How did he turn into this… this thing?" Kiba panicked, grabbing Natsuki's arm and asking like a distraught child.
"He did evolve.
"And his current combat power far surpasses the original Akamaru by leaps and bounds.
"But perhaps because you were too anxious, too desperate, Akamaru underwent a flawed evolution. You see, the form evolution takes is heavily influenced by the will of its master and the surroundings."
Natsuki watched the corrupted Akamaru rampaging through the crowd, recalling how Agumon in the original series had wrongly evolved into SkullGreymon due to Tai's impatience.
Akamaru's situation seemed similar.
Kiba pondered this, realizing his mindset had indeed been unstable.
Seeing Haku trapped and struggling against the fire, he desperately wished for Akamaru to evolve immediately to alleviate the pressure on Haku.
"I'm sorry, Kiba. If it weren't for me, Akamaru wouldn't have become like this." Haku limped over, his face flushed from the heat, sweat beading on his forehead from exertion.
He had escaped injury, thanks to the corrupted Akamaru absorbing Kakuzu's flames.
"It's okay. That guy over there is the one to blame.
"The most important thing now is whether my Akamaru can return to normal. I'd rather have him back the way he was than have him be this powerful but monstrous creature."
Kiba turned to Natsuki, his gaze pleading.
The miraculous power of evolution came from Natsuki; he must have a solution. Yes, Natsuki was there; he would know what to do.
As if sensing Kiba's desperate hope, Natsuki nodded.
"If I'm not mistaken, he can indeed be turned back.
"But only after his current power is completely exhausted..."
join my patreon for 70+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL