Defeat the Enemy with One Move, Capture Haku Alive!
Since Kaito insisted on fighting, Haku sighed and activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Dark chakra surged from Haku's body, condensing into a skeletal frame that rapidly grew in size. Armor soon materialized over the bones, and a 100-meter-tall Crow Tengu Susanoo stood menacingly before Kaito.
"Susanoo!"
Kaito's lips curled into a confident smirk. Without hesitation, he formed a cross hand seal.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
In an instant, four Shadow Clones emerged beside him, their gazes meeting before they swiftly scattered to strategic positions. The clones moved into formation, surrounding both Haku and Kaito from four directions.
With synchronized precision, they rapidly wove hand seals and shouted in unison:
"Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
As their voices rang out, four immense barriers of black and violet chakra surged upward, enclosing the battlefield within a formidable barrier.
"A barrier jutsu?" Haku muttered. He was well aware of its properties—this formation would prevent any interference from the outside world while concealing everything happening within.
Kaito, unbothered by Haku's reaction, activated Sage Mode. A golden pigment lined his eyelids as his body filled with natural energy.
With a sharp clap of his hands, he directed a massive surge of chakra into the earth beneath him.
"Kacha! Kacha!"
The ground trembled violently as deep fissures tore through the battlefield. Kaito, now fully synchronized with nature, pushed his Sage Mode to its limits. His golden eyes flared with energy, radiating an almost divine aura.
Then, with a resolute stance, he clasped his palms together.
"Sage Art: Wood Release—True Several Thousand Hands!"
A thunderous rumble echoed through the air as an enormous wooden Buddha, towering hundreds of meters high, erupted from the ground. Thousands of massive hands stretched outward, ready to strike.
Standing atop the colossal wooden deity, Kaito looked down at Haku's Susanoo, his expression unreadable.
The battle had truly begun.
Staring at the colossal wooden Buddha towering over him—several times larger than his fully-formed Susanoo—Haku's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
"White! I'll even give you two hands!"
Kaito's voice rang out as he stood atop the massive Senju Buddha, gazing down at Haku. Yet Haku remained motionless, frozen in disbelief.
Without hesitation, Kaito commanded the Thousand-Armed Kanon to strike. Hundreds of enormous wooden palms descended, each one capable of shattering mountains.
"Are you even speaking human language?!" Haku blurted, pushing his chakra to its absolute limit. His Susanoo flared violently, layers of chakra reinforcing its structure.
But even Uchiha Madara's Perfect Susanoo struggled against Hashirama Senju's Shinsuusenju, let alone an incomplete one…
In the blink of an eye, the wooden fists crashed down. Haku's Susanoo shattered, the blue chakra dissipating as he was left completely exposed.
Just as he braced for death, the onslaught stopped. The largest wooden palm hovered mere centimeters from his face, its sheer pressure making it hard to breathe. Haku swallowed hard.
Then, to his shock, the entire Shinsuusenju began to sink into the ground. The once-dominant construct faded as Kaito dropped down and walked toward him.
Staring at Kaito, Haku's mind raced with confusion. His voice came out hoarse.
"Why? Why didn't you kill me?"
Kaito remained silent for a moment before sighing.
"You're so eager to die? Why should I kill you?" He scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"But… aren't we enemies? Isn't it natural to kill your enemy?" Haku asked, his voice unsteady. "Aren't you afraid that if you let me live, I'll come back for revenge?"
For a long time, Haku had understood one thing—mercy was a mistake. If you spared an enemy, they would return stronger, seeking retribution. Zabuza had taught him that much. The shinobi world had no place for hesitation.
And time had proven this true. The few opponents Haku had spared out of kindness never showed gratitude. Instead, they returned, blade in hand, driven by vengeance.
Kaito, however, simply smirked.
"Revenge? If you think you can, go ahead. I don't mind."
His words weren't arrogance but sheer confidence—an unshakable will.
Haku stared at him, his world momentarily shaken. This man had spared his life not out of naivety, but because he simply didn't fear the consequences.
Perhaps, in another life, things would have been different.
A true powerhouse in the ninja world does not indiscriminately kill over the mere transgressions of two wandering ninjas. Those who stand at the pinnacle of strength understand restraint, not out of mercy, but because such actions are beneath them.
Furthermore, Haku never intended to kill Kaito, just as Kaito chose to spare Haku. This was not an act of naive kindness but a demonstration of true strength—compassion wielded by those who have nothing to prove.
As for returning to retrieve the Executioner's Blade, it was nothing more than Kaito's passing whim. The sword itself is cumbersome, impractical for anyone unaccustomed to its weight, and left to him, it would only gather rust. It made more sense to let Zabuza reclaim it, whether for battle or to sell for money.
That said, had Zabuza truly failed to recognize the situation—choosing to come back for revenge instead of moving on—Kaito wouldn't have hesitated to eliminate them both.
In essence, it was no different from an ordinary person spotting a small, intriguing creature on the roadside—entertaining themselves for a moment before moving on, unconcerned with what happens next.