Sakura Haruno had been quietly listening to the conversation between Orion and Kakashi Hatake.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, making the room surprisingly bright despite the night.
As she watched Orion calmly talking, she couldn't help but recall what she had seen earlier—
his battle against Raiha Kurotsuchi…
and the moment he suppressed the berserk Naruto Uzumaki.
She still couldn't believe it.
The Orion she saw back then—
was like a god.
Standing on the sea, commanding a massive water dragon that spanned hundreds of meters…
He had looked so small—yet impossibly towering.
And yet now—
he was just… himself again.
Calm. Ordinary.
It felt like two completely different people.
The gap between them was simply too big.
Or rather—
the gap between her and Orion.
Naruto had the power of a tailed beast.
Sasuke was already incredibly strong.
And her?
She was the weakest one in the team.
"…Maybe Orion is right."
"I should learn medical ninjutsu."
"I may not be suited for combat… but I can still be useful."
At that moment, Sakura's determination became even stronger.
Elsewhere — A Forest in the Land of Waves
Zabuza Momochi and Haku had retreated deep into the forest.
Both of them were still shaken.
Zabuza muttered with lingering fear:
"That kid… what kind of monster is he?"
"That Water Dragon Jutsu… it was far beyond what he showed when we first fought."
"It's only been a few days—how did he grow that much?"
He couldn't understand it.
Orion was just a genin.
Yet—
"If we hadn't retreated in time… we would've died."
For the first time in his life, Zabuza felt genuine fear toward someone.
Back then, he had thought Orion was merely at the level of a regular jōnin.
But now?
That power…
It felt like facing the Mizukage himself.
No—
even stronger.
"Even the Mizukage couldn't create a water dragon over 300 meters long…"
"And that thing—it didn't even disperse. It was like it was alive."
Zabuza clenched his teeth.
That overwhelming, tsunami-like force…
There was no way he could survive it.
"Kirigakure isn't the only terrifying place anymore…"
"There's that blond kid—definitely a jinchūriki…"
"And then there's him…"
"The one who can suppress a rampaging jinchūriki with a single jutsu."
"And he even killed Raiha…"
"This mission… is impossible."
Zabuza finally admitted it.
As long as Orion was there—
this mission was suicide.
Haku stood silently beside him.
He was still thinking about something else.
Why…
did Orion save him?
When Naruto had attacked him, Orion had stepped in.
But Haku was their enemy.
There had been no reason to protect him.
Yet—
Orion had done it anyway.
Haku didn't say anything.
But in his heart…
he remembered it.
That was a life-saving favor.
If Orion hadn't intervened—
He would have died.
Zabuza glanced at him.
"That kid didn't attack you?"
Haku replied calmly:
"Not long after the blond boy lost control… he arrived."
"While they were fighting, I withdrew."
Zabuza didn't question further.
After all—
He had done the same.
Orion was simply too terrifying.
"Forget this mission."
"We're leaving."
Haku nodded.
Wherever Zabuza went, he would follow.
But in his heart—
He had already remembered Orion.
Zabuza had once saved him…
to use him as a tool.
But Orion?
Had saved him for no reason at all.
That difference…
Meant everything.
Meanwhile — Kado Arrives
Just as they were preparing to leave—
The door was suddenly kicked open.
Gato stormed in.
"Zabuza! Why have you failed again?!"
"The bridge is almost finished—
and you still can't kill one old man?!"
This time, he had brought dozens of samurai.
After being frightened before, he thought numbers would give him control.
But—
He didn't understand shinobi.
Zabuza simply glanced at them.
That single look—
Was enough.
The samurai trembled in fear…
and fled.
Only two remained—barely holding their ground.
Zabuza stepped forward slowly.
Killing intent surged from him.
Against Orion and Kakashi, it meant nothing.
But against a normal man like Gato—
It was overwhelming.
Before Zabuza even reached him—
Gato collapsed to his knees.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
His eyes lost focus.
Only then did he realize—
What a true jōnin was.
Zabuza stopped in front of him.
Cold. Unyielding.
"I'm abandoning this mission."
"Find someone else."
Then he added, voice icy:
"Let me give you some advice."
"Stop making enemies of them."
"With your resources—
you will never find anyone capable of defeating them."
"Even if you hire multiple elite jōnin…"
"It still won't be enough."
Zabuza looked down at him—
Like a predator looking at prey.
Because he knew—
Against Orion…
Even that wouldn't matter.
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