The Price of Arrogance: The Death of Gato
Gato, shrouded in a suffocating murderous aura, suddenly began to tremble. As a mere businessman, how could he possibly withstand the killing intent of Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist?
"Zabuza! You still want my money, don't you? Stop this madness!"
His voice quivered as he struggled to resist the oppressive force bearing down on him.
But at Gato's plea, Zabuza didn't relent. Instead, his killing intent intensified, thickening the air like a tangible force. The dimly lit secret chamber seemed to grow darker, swallowed by an ominous, purple-black haze.
"I've had enough," Zabuza muttered coldly.
He was sick of Gato's arrogance, his deceitful ways, and his pathetic belief that money could buy everything—even loyalty.
"Eight vital points… The throat, the spine, the liver, the lungs, the carotid artery, the subclavian artery, the kidney, the heart… Which one do you want me to cut first?"
His voice, laced with pure killing intent, echoed eerily through the chamber, coming from all directions at once. It was the signature of the Silent Killing Technique, a technique that made it impossible for the target to pinpoint their executioner.
The whispers came from the left, the right, above, behind—everywhere and nowhere. Gato's body convulsed violently as fear took hold. The relentless pressure of Zabuza's killing intent battered his mind, shattering what little composure he had left.
A faint breeze brushed against Gato's face.
His pupils shrank in terror.
To an ordinary man like Gato, that soft gust was no different from the touch of the Shinigami itself.
"AHHHH! DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE! I'LL DO ANYTHING!" he shrieked, his mind breaking under the pressure.
But Zabuza remained silent.
The Silent Killing Technique was not just about eliminating a target—it was psychological warfare. It drowned the enemy in an abyss of terror, forcing them to surrender before the blade even struck.
No words were necessary.
The chamber was swallowed by darkness, a perfect breeding ground for fear. Gato could no longer bear it—his arrogance, his money, his power… none of it mattered in the face of death.
And then, in that overwhelming silence—
A flash of steel.
A single moment of agony.
And Gato's arrogance ended in a pool of his own blood.
"Shh!"
Zabuza Momochi moved like a ghost, his Silent Killing Technique rendering him almost imperceptible. Before Gato could react, a cold blade pressed against his throat—Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō, its edge gleaming ominously in the dim light.
Under the crushing weight of fear, Gato's composure shattered. His voice trembled as he spilled every secret like a broken dam.
"I-I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Just don't kill me, please!" he begged, sweat trickling down his face.
"My fortune—it's not all here! I hid most of it in another estate in the Land of Waves! The vault—it's under the floorboards in the third bedroom! Please, that's all I know!"
His words came out in a jumbled panic, a clear sign that Zabuza's Silent Killing had broken his mind. But it didn't matter—Zabuza understood enough. His grip on Kubikiribōchō tightened.
A silver arc sliced through the darkness.
"Schlkk—!"
Blood sprayed as Gato's head was severed clean from his body, spinning through the air before landing with a dull thud. His lifeless corpse swayed for a moment before collapsing onto the cold floor.
Zabuza wiped his blade clean, his expression unreadable. He had never intended to let Gato live—arrogance like his always met a brutal end. If the coward had handed over his wealth from the start, perhaps he could have prolonged his life. But thinking he could manipulate Zabuza? That was his final mistake.
Without another glance at the body, Zabuza stepped out of the secret chamber and made his way to the hidden estate Gato had spoken of.
When he arrived, he found the location exactly as described. Beneath the bed in the second bedroom, he discovered a concealed trapdoor. With a powerful pull, he tore it open. What he saw next made even him—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—pause.
Stacks of ryo.
The room was filled from floor to ceiling, mountains of cash nearly swallowing the space. And this was only part of it. Gato had mentioned a vault—likely filled with even greater riches.
Zabuza let out a low chuckle, running his fingers along the grip of his sword.
"If only you'd handed this over sooner, Gato…"
His eyes glinted with satisfaction. Soon, he would take this fortune and carve his own path—a path drenched in blood and ambition.