The journey to the bridge was short but tense. The air grew thick as the group made their way toward the construction site of the bridge, which, from the looks of it, was slowly taking shape. But something felt off. The workers who had been diligently building the bridge earlier were now lying on the ground, unconscious or perhaps worse—no movement at all. The dense mist, which had once been a faint presence, had now enveloped the area, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. The mist… this was no ordinary fog. He had seen this type of environment before—the perfect conditions for a Hidden Mist Village shinobi to strike. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he immediately motioned for Team 7 to stay alert.
"Stay close," Kakashi murmured. "Something doesn't feel right."
Naruto, his usual cocky self, looked around, trying to peer through the mist. "This is creepy. Where is everyone?"
"Something's wrong," Sasuke said quietly, scanning the surroundings with his Sharingan. "We're being watched."
Before anyone could react, a chilling voice echoed through the fog, cold and menacing.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Looks like the famous Team 7 has arrived."
A figure emerged from the mist, his massive sword gleaming with deadly intent. The man was dressed in a tattered cloak, his face obscured by the thick mist, but his presence was unmistakable. Zabuza Momochi, the rogue ninja, and his partner, Haku, were here.
Kakashi's eyes flickered beneath his headband, instantly recognizing Zabuza. The man's reputation preceded him—he was known as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and his skill with the sword was lethal.
However, Kakashi couldn't help but let out a small, involuntary groan in his mind. This is so cringe... He thought to himself, a wry smile forming on his face despite the tension. If I were my old self, watching this, I would have called this whole situation cringey... His mind wandered for a moment. The dramatic entrance, the over-the-top dialogue—it was textbook villain behavior. But now, as much as he wanted to enjoy it as part of the story, he couldn't help but think of how ridiculous it all was.
Zabuza chuckled darkly. "I don't care who you are, or what you're here for. You're standing in the way of my mission, and that's going to cost you. For you to make it this far... you must have some skill. But it won't be enough to save you from what's coming."
Kakashi couldn't help himself. He glanced at his students, then looked at Zabuza. "So, we're doing the whole villain monologue thing? Really? How cliché." His voice was quiet, but his mind couldn't escape the ridiculousness of the situation. What is it with this world and these damn speeches?
Sasuke and Naruto, oblivious to their sensei's inner monologue, stepped forward, sensing the danger. Naruto's usual bravado returned. "We'll stop you! We're not afraid of you!"
Zabuza's eyes narrowed, and a low growl escaped his throat. "Talk is cheap, brat."
Before anything else could be said, the sound of a shuriken slicing through the air broke the tense silence. Kakashi, quick as ever, caught it with one hand, his gaze sharp as he noticed the figure lurking in the mist behind Zabuza.
Haku, the boyish figure wearing a mask, stepped out of the fog, his presence just as chilling as Zabuza's. Haku's soft voice echoed through the mist, but it held a quiet, deadly tone. "Zabuza-sama, let's finish this quickly. We've got more work to do."
Kakashi's gaze flickered between the two of them. So, the little one is with him… he thought. Hunter-nin, most likely. I remember him from the original timeline... Haku's no slouch either. This is about to get interesting.
Zabuza didn't take kindly to Kakashi's dismissive words. He spun his sword, a heavy, ominous sound cutting through the air. "You want to make it personal? Fine. Let's see what you've got, Copy Ninja."
Kakashi sighed internally. Zabuza of the Mist, huh? The more he talks, the cringier it gets. I could literally recite his lines before he speaks. Whatever… Kakashi shook his head, forcing himself to focus. "Alright, enough talk. Let's just get this over with."