"Who are you?!"
Inside a luxurious room, blood stained the floor and corpses lay everywhere—it looked like a scene straight from hell. A red-haired man stood smiling amidst the carnage, gazing down at the trembling old man before him.
"Don't... kill me! I'll give you money—lots of money! I'm the richest man in the world!" the old man cried desperately, trying to bargain for his life.
The red-haired man crouched slightly, locking eyes with the trembling elder.
"Gato, who would've thought you'd meet your end like this? Do enough evil, and eventually, the heavens respond. I was sent by the heavens to collect your debt."
As he finished speaking, a blue sphere formed in his left hand. With a swift motion, he slammed the Rasengan into Gato's skull.
Just like that, the corrupt tyrant Gato was sent straight to the underworld to meet King Enma.
"Gato... it's time to leave," Menma muttered coldly, gazing at the decapitated corpse before him.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hundreds of red-haired clones filled the blood-soaked room.
"Restrain all his forces!"
With that command, the clones surged out like a tide.
Back at the bridge—
"This fog…!" Kakashi's expression hardened. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura—stay alert and protect Mr. Tazuna!"
The three immediately surrounded Tazuna in a defensive formation.
The mist was thick—visibility had dropped to almost nothing.
"He's still alive... and recovered faster than expected," Kakashi muttered grimly. He brought his hands together and prepared a seal.
"Kakashi-sensei, this is that guy's Hidden Mist Technique!" Sakura warned.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the fog:
"I've kept you waiting, Kakashi. As always, dragging a bunch of kids around…"
A figure emerged through the mist—Zabuza.
Sasuke's eyes instantly activated his two-tomoe Sharingan. He focused on the approaching figures.
"Naruto, they're all water clones!" he called out.
Naruto responded instantly, lunging at one Zabuza clone with a kunai. The clone dissolved into a splash of water.
Moments later, both Naruto and Sasuke had taken down the encircling clones.
"Oh? You two saw through the clones already? Not bad. Looks like you've grown stronger," Zabuza said.
Beside him, Haku appeared.
"I'll handle the kids," Haku said calmly. "Even though the clones only had a tenth of our strength, I didn't expect them to be taken out in just a few hits."
"They're yours, Haku," Zabuza ordered.
Without warning, Haku spun and launched toward Naruto and Sasuke like a tornado.
"Watch out, Naruto!" Sasuke shouted as he intercepted Haku's kunai with his own.
"You blocked my speed? Impressive. But you clearly don't plan to retreat," Haku said coolly.
"Spare me the nonsense," Sasuke snapped.
Haku continued, "Next time, you won't be able to keep up. I already have the upper hand. First, I've soaked the area in water. Second, I've already disabled one of your arms—you're limited to defense."
With one hand, he began forming a seal.
What? One-handed seals?! Sasuke was shocked.
But before Haku could finish the technique, Naruto shouted:
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
He expelled a massive gust of wind from his mouth, forming a two-meter-high cyclone that barreled toward Haku.
Haku immediately canceled his seal and leapt backward to evade.
Sasuke retreated as well, yelling, "Damn it, I'm still here, idiot!"
Naruto ignored him, eyes locked on Haku's movements.
Haku landed safely but muttered, "That was close, you little brat…"
But Naruto had already appeared behind him.
With a powerful spinning kick, he sent Haku flying.
When did he get behind me? Shadow clone? Haku twisted in midair to stabilize.
Though the kick hadn't seriously hurt him, he barely had time to breathe before Naruto appeared again.
"Try this—Rasengan!"
This kid! Haku hastily formed a one-handed seal:
"Ice Style: Crystal Ice Shield!"
A large, ellipsoidal wall of ice appeared before him.
BOOM!
"Did it work?!" Sakura shouted from the sidelines.
Kakashi shook his head.
As the smoke cleared, both Naruto and Haku remained standing, unharmed—eyeing each other intently.
"You're strong, brat," Haku said, dusting himself off.
"You're just as strong as my brother said," Naruto replied. He couldn't believe it—even though he had anticipated Haku's moves and coordinated attacks perfectly, he hadn't landed a single decisive blow.
Brother? Haku looked puzzled.
"Where are you looking? I'm your opponent too!" Sasuke leapt high above Haku and performed a hand seal sequence.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
Flames shot from his mouth in a scattered formation, surrounding Haku in a wide arc.
These kids aren't normal, Haku thought as he formed another one-handed seal.
"Ice Style: Crystal Ice Shield!"
Another ice wall rose, blocking Sasuke's flames effortlessly.
Sasuke landed beside Naruto. "This guy's tough."
"Yeah. But we're not backing down," Naruto replied.
Inside his mind, Kurama adjusted his glasses and muttered, "Ice Release… a kekkei genkai, huh? Fascinating." He lowered his head again and went back to reading his novel.
Not far off, Zabuza observed silently.
"Haku, if this keeps up, they'll beat you."
"…Understood."
As soon as Haku responded, chakra erupted from his body. The temperature plummeted. His hands formed several seals—and then—
Mirrors.
Dozens of translucent ice mirrors suddenly appeared in a circle, instantly trapping Naruto and Sasuke.
Haku's body entered one of the mirrors. Then, his reflection appeared in all of them.
"That's the Demonic Ice Mirror Technique Menma told me about! Damn it!" Kakashi cursed.
Just as he prepared to step in, Zabuza blocked his path.
"Sorry, Kakashi. Your opponent is me. As for Haku's mirrors... anyone caught in that is finished."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, a smirk forming.
"Not necessarily."
Where the hell are you, Menma? Your brother's in trouble.
Earlier that morning, Menma had said, "Mr. Kakashi, I've got something to take care of. I'm leaving Naruto in your care."
And before Kakashi could ask anything else, he was gone.
Back inside the mirrors, Naruto and Sasuke stood back-to-back.
"Let's begin. I'll show you my real speed."
Whoosh—whoosh—
Needles flew from all directions.
"I'm on it!" Sasuke said, blocking them with his kunai.
"…Not that fast," he muttered.
He blocked them?! Haku was surprised.
Then he noticed Sasuke's eyes—red, with two tomoe spinning.
The Sharingan... No wonder.
(End Of Chapter)
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