Chapter 12: Zabuza's Style Takes a Sudden Turn
Under Shanks's influence, Zabuza's training direction also shifted, gradually turning from a normal shinobi into a more taijutsu-oriented fighter.
In just a little over a month, Zabuza's progress was extremely fast.
Through some of Shanks's "theories," Zabuza successfully veered off into a completely different style.
"No wonder you're an elite from the Marines. You actually mastered Moonwalk and Iron Body in such a short time."
The Marines' Six Powers techniques weren't a secret to Shanks, so during this period, since Zabuza couldn't learn Haki, he could only study the Six Powers first.
Zabuza's growth also made Shanks sigh. No wonder this ruthless guy could escape Akainu's pursuit. Even if Akainu had held back, it still proved Zabuza's strength.
"Sigh, my standards are too high. This is the test version, after all. Back when Luffy ran into Smoker, that guy was basically unbeatable. Then the version updated and he turned into a background character."
All he could say was, each version has its gods.
Just look at early Smoker, then later Smoker, and you'd understand what version updates changed.
Early on, Crocodile got beaten down hard and he was still one of the Seven Warlords. Then look at the other Warlords. Forget Mihawk, just look at Luffy and Doflamingo and you can see how tragic Crocodile looks. Absolute shame of the Warlords. Of course, there's someone even more outrageous: Shiki.
Whitebeard at least got to exit the Marineford War with dignity. Shiki, the man who once pushed Roger into a desperate situation, got defeated by a rookie pirate like Luffy.
"Thinking about it, maybe I should go out to sea later? Crocodile and Shiki are ridiculous, but I feel like I'm even more ridiculous."
Thinking that, Shanks's expression turned awkward. Emperor of the East Blue? No. The nearshore Sea King of the East Blue? A Four Emperors-level guy getting his arm bitten off in one bite. Honestly, Shanks didn't even know how to cope with that.
"You actually used Haki. Hahaha, this time I win."
At that moment, Zabuza, bruised and battered, climbed back out of the lake with a bright grin on his face.
He had actually forced Shanks to use Haki. Looks like his progress really was big.
"That slash can't hit anyone. Even without Conqueror's Haki coating, you could dodge it easily with Observation Haki."
"Not everyone has that absurd Observation Haki."
Zabuza spoke stubbornly. But he wasn't really just being stubborn. Across the entire shinobi world, he had never heard of anyone as outrageous as Shanks. Even in all the intelligence Zabuza knew, there was nothing like him.
"Can Observation Haki really foresee the future?"
Zabuza didn't quite believe it. If a sensory technique could reach that level, it was too absurd.
"In certain situations, yes."
Shanks smiled.
In truth, he had seen Zabuza's future: Zabuza covered in blood, collapsed on an icy surface.
Beside him, ice kept forming, protecting him.
Not far away on the ice, there was a group of small-time thugs holding weapons, looking like a bunch of low-level pirates.
"Then you saw me?"
"Huh? You know I saw your future?"
Shanks shot back. Was Zabuza accusing him out of nowhere? Was he that kind of person?
Zabuza looked at Shanks, then pointed around.
"This place only has the two of us. What do you think?"
"Even so, I can't tell you. I'll tell you after you leave. Being seen in my future isn't a good thing."
"How bad can it be?"
Zabuza was sure that things were already bad enough. How much worse could it get?
"People die."
Shanks could only smile bitterly.
Hearing that, Zabuza froze.
"I don't know what it is, but right now, Zan, you probably still haven't finished what you need to do. Your life is very useful to you, isn't it?"
Shanks's words made Zabuza fall silent.
After leaving Kirigakure, he had once been dead inside. Everything he had sacrificed for in the past suddenly felt meaningless.
Shanks made him find direction again. It wasn't too late to change now.
But Zabuza still hadn't found his road. He was no longer numb, yet the path ahead was still a haze.
If Shanks had not appeared, Zabuza would have ended up the same as before, like a walking corpse. He would have clashed with Kakashi's group because of Gato's employment, and in the end, because of Haku's death, he would have chosen to end himself.
Truthfully, only someone who has lost hope in life would do that.
Back then, Zabuza was already dead inside.
Haku's death only dragged him back into the despair of the past, the despair of losing everything. That was the true root that killed Zabuza.
Otherwise, would someone like Gato really make Zabuza risk his life? A rogue shinobi who could betray even his village would betray Gato too.
What normal person would take a bodyguard's pay and truly fight to the death? You take that money and you really go risk your life?
As for the current Zabuza, that kind of outcome was impossible.
One reason was Shanks's influence. Another reason was simple: when you think you're miserable enough, and then you realize there's someone beside you who has it even worse, you don't feel as miserable anymore.
Shanks never compared tragedies with Zabuza, but who didn't know what happened to the Uzumaki Clan?
The Uzumaki Clan was basically wiped out.
No home. No family. Betrayed by their closest ally.
And then look at Shanks, cheerful every day, like nothing happened.
As an Uzumaki clansman, his biggest dream was to become the freest pirate on the sea.
You were once a great clan. With that strength, you go be a pirate? Are you out of your mind?
"Is it because my mind isn't broken that I can't live like Shanks? If I think about it… I've been bound by my old identity this whole time, but Shanks is completely different."
Zabuza seemed to figure something out. Becoming a rogue shinobi of Kirigakure meant he was no longer a shinobi of Kirigakure.
He could even say he was no longer a shinobi at all.
So why couldn't he live like Shanks?
"Shanks, what if I become a pirate too?"
Zabuza reached a shocking realization.
"Huh? You, a pirate? Your former identity is…"
"That was the past. Now I suddenly feel like being a free pirate is pretty good."
On Zabuza's battered face, an extremely bright smile appeared.
In that instant, Shanks laughed too.
"Hahaha, then I am the captain of the Red-Hair Pirates, Shanks."
"And I am the captain of the No-Blade Pirates, Zan!"