Chapter 29: The Shadow over Insumasu

Part 6: A hole in your defense.

(((Narrator)))

What an odd kid, Zabuza had thought so.

While Zabuza had been an advocate for the Human's Rights within the Land of Water, he still believe that human are inherently inferior to Youkai. Those that surpass the barrier of their species are anomalies, not natural. For example, human inherently fear youkai in their subconscious as Youkai are the predator for human in the food chain.

Even the many strong shinobis he had met and fought had spikes of fear the moment they made contact, even if they immediately suppress it. Zabuza can count on one hand of human which he had met that is anomalous and fearless towards Youkai.

Today, Zabuza will have to use his second hand to add the count, as he meet this particular boy.

CLANG

A Ninja personal weapon can sometimes be particularly odd. Zabuza had once seen a ninja which used a giant conch shell as a weapon. A giant conch! Not to mention that most of the Seven Mist Swords could hardly be called a sword, they being more like an ugly sort of contraptions. Seriously, who the hell think a roll of explosive papers to be a sword? Hell, Samehada is more accurate to be called a bat with thousands of razor blades rather than a sword. And for fucks sake, Kabutowari is a linked hammer and axe! How the hell is that a sword?!

Seriously, the only good sword of the Seven is just his Kubikiribocho and Nuibari. Everything else was such a trash in weapon's design.

CLANG KANG KANG BANG KLANG BANG

Still, as an appreciator of good weapon designs, Zabuza had to give this Makoto Hotaru kid some applause. A rod which launched pellets of lead balls with controlled explosive seals which attached a dagger at the end of the rod to make a short spear is a beautiful union of middle-short range utility.

"Tell me, kid. What is the name of your weapon?"

"Errr…. Shotgun?"

"Shotgun? I see. A great name for a great weapon.", Zabuza compliments.

Zabuza unleashed a flurry of slashes that would make many samurai admire in awe with the beauty of its strokes. Had Zabuza gone all out, he could have cut down this kid in an instant. However, Zabuza is curious with the weapon the child hold, and how he uses it.

Every 5 rounds of those lead pellets shots, the child would restock (reload) 5 more containers to replace the spent pellets. Those pellets are no joke, he had made the mistake of thinking he could just parry it away like common shurikens, but instead he had a fistful dosage of leads to his gut. It is only because of his Youkai endurance and healing factor that the opening wound does not immediately cripple him in battle. Fighting the kid from afar prove to be foolish.

Thinking he could end the battle by simply denying the range advantage, the kid prove to had accounted for this scenario and not caught off guard. The spearmanship is rather poor, the shape of Shotgun is not ideal for true spearmanship, however that is not the point for the dagger attached to the blasting rod. It serves adequately to held against his katana, and if he was not careful he would have his face to be blasted with leads point blank.

Zabuza had to give it to him.

This Shotgun is a so much better weapon than Shibuki! It may not have the sheer explosive power of that roll of paper, but it elegantly combine the property of explosives, projectiles and defensive spearmanship.

"Tell me child. Who made this beautiful weapon of yours?"

"Well, the idea was from me, but it was my friend, Naruto that build it."

"I see. Tell him that I am now a fan of his works and look forward to what kind of weapons he will make next."

"Oh sure."

"LORD ZABUZA!!"

His Angels had arrived to his aid apparently. Before Konami could fingersnap to burn the boy, Zabuza stopped her.

"Lord Zabuza?!"

"This is my personal duel with the boy. Do not interfere. I would like to see what's he's cooking"

"As you wish, Lord Zabuza." Haku sheathed back her senbon, as well as Itachi with her Katana.

"But my lord!", Konami however, insist on interfering.

"Do you think a mere Genin brat can kill me, Konami?"

"No… but-!"

"Then stand aside, Konami. This is an honorable duel between two men. You will not interfere."

Hotaru shrugs, and store the Shotgun back into his watch.

"Why do you seal your weapon?"

"There's a limit for how many pellets I have to shoot with. I had just ran out. The boomstick isn't that useful without it."

"That's a shame. At this rate, I will have to kill you as per our duel condition. You either force me to release my Shikai or I kill you. I rather not kill you with a kunai in hand. That would be… boring."

"Oh, don't worry about that, Zabuza. That's hardly my best guns."

"Guns? I see, so the Shotgun is simply just one of the many weapons of this Guns series of yours. Another handiwork of this Naruto I presume?"

"Sure. How about this, I pull out my second strongest Gun and you try to block it with your Shikai. If I pierce it through, that's my win. If not, well, I guess you can behead me."

Zabuza rubbed his bandaged chin "Are you sure? I have been lenient with you, kid. I'm sure you can force me to release my Shikai with another weapon. I sense you have quite an impressive Kenjutsu. Kubikiribocho's steel is not to be trifled with. It had withstood many strikes from enemies stronger than me. Gambling on one shot may prove to be your downfall."

"Oh, I'm not one that place my bet on luck. I only gamble on bets I will definitely win."

"Then come!", Zabuza enter a release stance. "Cleave the Wicked, Kubikiribocho!"

The Katana Zabuza had wield morphed into a large, oversized blade, as if it is a guillotine on a stick. This blade will surely cleave almost anything, provided you have the strength to swing it.

Zabuza placed it on the front as a shield, and demand, "Show me your strongest weapon, Makoto Hotaru!"

Hotaru then pulled out an anti-material rifle and shoot Zabuza.

BANG!!!

The sound of explosive almost made him deaf.

Zabuza shakily raised his right hand to the right side of his ribs. A large hole had completely pierce through his left lung, leaving an inch wide hole where you can see through. His right lung had liquified from sheer impact, and he was pretty sure his heart had almost been torn apart despite the several inch of distance.

No spear had ever done this much damage to him.

Kubikiribocho had been broken before, had been sliced before. Had been shattered before.

It had never been pierced through by a projectile which is only the size of a thumb.

He can only stare with dread and awe over the hole that had been punched through Kubikiribocho by the projectile shot by the second strongest gun in Makoto Hotaru's possesion.

Oh Susanoo. If this is the second strongest gun hi the boy's inventory, what could the strongest gun do?

"Ah shit. I missed.", Hotaru on the other hand, can only complain over the several millimeters deviation to the aiming pointer that lead him to missed Zabuza's heart by a few inches.

He was this close to kill Zabuza damnit!

(((Hotaru)))

Fucking Naruto! I told you the aim sticks has to be perfect! I almost had him damnit!

And look at him, just chugging on some blood from Buster Sword like a vampire ninja and now he's back to full 100% HP. I had one shot and I wasted it!

So much for Plan Kill Zabuza and capture Zabuza's Angels as war prisoners. Damn it. Here I was trying to give my buddy, Sasuke some waifues and I wasted the shot. Ah well, whatever. I'd adapt. Guess I have to go with Zabuza Route now.

"Magnificent weapon there, Makoto! What is the name of this gun of yours?"

It's still weird me out that Zabuza here is a refined cultured warrior this time around. I guess he's like a noble in this version instead of the usual rando peasant kid that go to murder 100 murder gremlins on his own.

"Anti-material Rifle. Or AM rifle for short."

"Anti-Material? A great name for a great weapon", He nods.

Dude, I was too lazy to name this shit since its just one of the many prototypes me and Naruto still refining. Beats me if Zabuza thought the literal type of gun is actually a weapon name.

The Zabuza's Angels stands in front of Zabuza as they intend to guard him.

"Stand down, girls. There is no need for further conflicts. Makoto Hotaru is now my honored guest, and you will treat him with the respect he deserves."

Itachi and Haku obediently obey Zabuza's command. However Konami are more reluctant, and begrudgingly cancelled out her charged snaps.

"Now girls, prepare an adequate housing for sir Makoto here. Makoto, have some rest, but do make haste to the mayor's manor before curfew at dusk. We shall have dinner together with the mayor and you will have your chance to converse with him."

"Oh cool."

"Follow us, sir Makoto." Haku, ever the loyal subordinate that she is immediately escort me. "Daylight is still long, but we should prepare you for dinner with Lord Zabuza and Mr Tazuna adequately.

"Lead the way, ladies.", I gestured for them to move on. The two were unconcerned, but Kojima Konami, goddamn that is some deep joke my Writer had been pulling, is totally murdering me over and over again in her mind.

Heheh, this is gonna be fun.

Step 1, Get past the Kpop Idol girls and invade Insumasu Town, complete.

Step 2, Beat Zabuza, complete.

Step 3, seduce the fox girl and make her my waifu, in progress.

Step 4, profit.

All according to keikaku.