Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"Sasuke, is this guy Zabuza's comrade?"
"Not sure, but he blocked our attacks twice. Either way, we should be cautious," Sasuke whispered.
The masked figure spoke in a calm voice. "Konoha shinobi, we from the Mist do not wish to be your enemies—"
"Forget it, Haku. You can't fool them," Zabuza interrupted, standing up as he casually unraveled the chains binding him.
"The Uchiha brat isn't simple..." Zabuza muttered, wiping the blood from his face.
"Oh, Zabuza-san, you were too impatient," Haku sighed, stepping forward.
Kakashi's expression hardened. "I see. So, it was all an act. That mask of yours belongs to a slain Mist ninja."
"Heh, that was a close call, Kakashi. You almost won," Zabuza admitted. Then, his tone darkened. "But now... it's round two!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a thick mist rolled in, shrouding the battlefield once again.
"This time, your Sharingan won't help you!" Zabuza's voice echoed from the dense fog.
Kakashi frowned. "This is getting troublesome."
Sasuke smirked. "Kakashi, I'll leave Zabuza to you. I'll take care of the new guy."
With a burst of speed, he vanished into the mist.
Kakashi exhaled. "That Uchiha kid is confident."
"Heh. Indeed, his taijutsu and ninjutsu are impressive, but he stands no chance against Haku," Zabuza sneered.
"Oh? You sound pretty sure of yourself," Kakashi shot back.
"If I'm not mistaken, your companion has a Kekkei Genkai," Kakashi continued. "That technique just now—it's not one of the five elemental releases, is it?"
"Sharp as ever, Kakashi," Zabuza admitted. "Even I can't defeat Haku in a water-rich environment. His Ice Release will end your Uchiha brat."
His voice faded into the mist.
Kakashi's eyes widened. Wait—!
He instantly realized Zabuza's true target.
"Naruto! Sakura! Stay alert! He's coming for Tazuna!"
---
Sakura tensed. "Naruto, the mist is getting thicker..."
Naruto gritted his teeth. "What's taking Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke so long?! I wanna fight too!"
"Damn it! This is our chance!"
"Naruto, our job is to protect Mr. Tazuna!" Sakura scolded.
Then, her expression froze in horror.
A dark shadow emerged from the mist—it was Zabuza.
His face twisted into a savage grin as he swung his massive blade toward them.
At the last moment, Kakashi appeared, blocking the strike with a kunai.
But the sheer force of the attack sent a deep gash across his chest.
Splurt!
Blood splattered across Zabuza's face.
"Hmph. Without your Sharingan, you're nothing, Kakashi!" Zabuza's eerie voice echoed. "Let me savor the taste of your blood!"
His silhouette flickered in and out of the mist like a phantom.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto and Sakura shouted in panic.
Kakashi gritted his teeth, struggling to stand. "Naruto... be careful..."
Naruto clenched his fists, his pupils narrowing.
A violent, burning energy surged inside him—an overwhelming force begging to be unleashed.
---
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as kunai and senbon clashed in rapid succession.
Two figures darted through the mist in a deadly dance of steel.
Suddenly, Sasuke landed a powerful kick to Haku's side, sending him tumbling across the ground.
"Tch... Such speed... As expected of the Uchiha clan," Haku muttered, wiping blood from his lip.
"But with this mist, your Sharingan is useless."
Sasuke smirked. "Who said I needed it to deal with you?"
Haku's eyes darkened. "How arrogant!"
"Suiton: Sensatsu Suishō!" (Water Style: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!)
Water droplets rose into the air and sharpened into deadly spikes before raining down on Sasuke.
But Sasuke's chakra surged to his feet, boosting his speed. He weaved through the assault with precise movements, dodging every needle.
Haku barely had time to react as Sasuke closed the distance.
"So fast!"
Slam!
Sasuke's knee connected with Haku's face, shattering his mask.
Blood dripped from Haku's lip, revealing his delicate features.
"Not bad," Haku admitted. "No wonder you nearly killed Zabuza-san."
He slowly raised his hand.
"But it won't be enough."
"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"
The temperature plummeted.
Water droplets in the air condensed, forming a circle of thick, reflective ice mirrors.
Haku stepped into one. His reflection multiplied across the ice, surrounding Sasuke from all directions.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Interesting... so this is your Kekkei Genkai?"
Haku's voice echoed from every mirror. "Uchiha... you'll make a fine prey."
Whoosh!
A barrage of senbon rained down from all angles.
There was nowhere to dodge.
Sasuke smirked. "Since I can't avoid them..."
Electricity crackled around his body.
"Then I won't."
The air hummed as blue lightning arced from Sasuke's skin, forming an electric web around him.
The incoming senbon clashed against the charged barrier and were instantly deflected.
Haku's eyes widened in shock.
"This technique—!"
"Chidori Nagashi," Sasuke said casually. "Not only can it paralyze, but it works as a shield too."
Haku clenched his fists.
Zabuza had always praised his Ice Release—saying even Jōnin would struggle against it.
But this Uchiha had just neutralized his attack... effortlessly.
"I don't believe it!"
Fueled by anger, Haku lunged at Sasuke, kunai in hand.
Yet Sasuke moved with fluid precision, stepping just out of reach.
Again and again, Haku struck from different angles, flickering between mirrors.
But no matter how fast he moved, Sasuke evaded every attack.
It was as if he could see them before they happened.
"Impossible!" Haku gasped.
Sasuke smirked, his crimson Sharingan spinning.
"In the face of the Sharingan's insight..."
He raised his kunai.
"...you're just a fly caught in my web."