A Fierce Battle!
"It seems I won't be able to finish off that old man until I defeat you all..."
Zabuza Kakashi a cold look, then leaped backward and landed on the river.
"... Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique...!"
The water vapor slowly rose, turning into a thick, impenetrable fog.
Zabuza's voice became ethereal and indistinct, as if coming from a very distant place, making it impossible to discern its direction. The thick fog gradually obscured his face, then continued to rise, growing denser and denser until it was pitch black!
"They actually used up so much Chakra...!" Kakashi said solemnly.
This is no ordinary fog!
Sakura keenly sensed a faint Chakra within the fog, making it impossible to easily dispel with Wind Release. It was a world apart from the dense fog Sakura and Sasuke had created during the exercise!
Even more terrifying, the dense fog not only obscured their vision, but also blocked Chakra and the others' ability to sense chakra with the Chakra permeating the fog! In this fog where you could not see your own finger, Zabuza probably know their every move with just this Chakra!
The battlefield has become Zabuza's one-way transparent presence!
"Eight places..." Zabuza's icy voice came from all directions, "Throat, spine..."
"Which one do you want me to attack?... Hehehehehe..."
A sense of fear, like being targeted by a wild beast and powerless to resist, welled up inside Sakura. She felt extremely oppressed and uncomfortable, and her body trembled involuntarily!
Is this killing intent...?! Sakura felt paralyzed, as if she would be killed if she moved even slightly, like livestock on a chopping block! She hadn't experienced this feeling during her last battle with Kakashi, and she never imagined that killing intent could be so terrifying! Zabuza has killed hundreds, even thousands, of people, and his killing intent is so intense!
Taking a deep breath, with her strong confidence in her own strength, Sakura gradually recovered from her initial extreme fear. Looking around, she saw that Sasuke was still trembling slightly, while the usually thick-skinned Naruto had already recovered.
Sakura gently grasped Sasuke's cold hand and smiled slightly, "Don't be afraid, Sasuke!"
"So arrogant! You devil!"
Zabuza suddenly appeared in the formation, swinging his Kubikiribōchō with a whooshing sound!
Sakura remained expressionless, using her Chakra to control Ultra-Pure Water to form a shield that blocked Zabuza's Zabuza attack. The water shield only dented slightly, easily stopping the Kubikiribōchō. However, Sakura showed no joy; instead, she frowned, sensing the texture and power of the Chakra!
It's Water Clone!
Sakura calmed down slightly, then quickly twisted her left wrist and shot out a Kunai. Zabuza's Water Clone Kunai n't even have time to react before it was pierced by the kunai and turned into a puddle of water in shock!
The Water Clone's sneak attack was just a prelude; the next moment, another Kubikiribōchō swept across from in front of Sakura!
The Elite Jonin the battle rhythm, but the Water Clone's combat power was still too low for Sakura! Facing the massive sword slashing down, Sakura condensed Ultra-Pure Water under her feet. With the enhancement of her Nintaijutsu, she delivered a powerful kick with her left leg, striking the edge of the sword. Her fair, delicate foot actually managed to pin the several-meter-long sword down under her foot. Then, standing on the sword, she swung it sideways, smashing the head of the second Water Clone to pieces!
After dealing with the two Water Clones, no new enemies appeared. Sakura looked around and saw that Sasuke and Naruto had also each dealt with a Water Clone. Their strength was now much higher than in the original story. Frequent combat training also prevented Naruto from making the mistake of being at a loss when facing battle for the first time in the original story. After a brief struggle with the Water Clone, he defeated them one by one.
It seems that Zabuza sent four Water Clones, intending to use three clones to entangle Sakura and her two companions, and then use the last clone to take down Tazuna and complete the mission. However, his judgment was wrong. Water Clone, which can only use Taijutsu, are basically completely countered by extremely tough Ultra-Pure Water. In addition, Nintaijutsu greatly enhances Sakura's combat power, so the Water Clone can't even last a single round against Sakura!
The battle here has ceased, but on the other side of the mist, just a few meters away, Kakashi and Zabuza's fight continues. The images of the battle are shrouded in mist, but the sounds can be faintly heard.
Sakura couldn't go to Kakashi's aid and could only anxiously await the outcome of the battle!
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Zabuza were engaged in a spectacular battle of real and fake clones! However, Kakashi, who was focused on helping Sakura, lost the initiative because he was in a hurry to rescue her. After the clones switched places, Kakashi was the first to reveal his true form and was Zabuza with a heavy kick!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Kakashi swiftly Hand Seals in mid-air and unleashed a massive fireball at Zabuza!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Zabuza Hand Seals were just as fast as Kakashi's. He drew Zabuza a massive amount of river water, which transformed into a lifelike dragon in the air, charging headlong towards the Great Fireball with overwhelming force!
Boom! The clash of Ninjutsu produced a deafening sound, as if the ground had cracked. Even from a distance of tens of meters, Sakura could still feel the aftershocks, and the scalding air even hit her face! Most of the water dragon's body was steamed by the Great Fireball, turning into a surging stream of hot air that easily tore through the thick fog like tofu, revealing the scene of the two fighting in front of Sakura.
This is the power of Jonin using their full Ninjutsu! Before Sakura could even marvel at it, the battle took another turn. Kakashi took the opportunity to hide in the water, but Kakashi Zabuza his plan and trapped him with Water Prison Technique!
"Has my sense of combat become dulled after so long since I've engaged in such a life-or-death battle?" Kakashi thought bitterly. The water was Zabuza's home turf; trying to hide there was a complete blunder! Moreover, Zabuza seemed prepared for my presence, never looking me in the eye, rendering my Sharingan Genjutsu ineffective... When exactly was this information leaked?
Fortunately, in order to maintain the Water Prison Technique, Zabuza's true form was unable to participate in the battle!
"Kakashi, you're not getting out of here now. Your mission is going to fail..." Zabuza held Kakashi captive in the water prison Zabuza one hand, looking down at Kakashi. "I'm going to kill those demons and Tazuna first, then I'll settle things with you!"
"Hehe..." To Zabuza, Kakashi laughed despite being in a difficult situation!
"Don't underestimate my disciples! Your Water Clone alone are no match for them!"
"They're just a few demons...!" Zabuza coldly, his indifferent eyes looking lifelessly at Sakura and the other two. Indeed, the Water Clone attack earlier had not worked; it seemed the clones were ineffective against them. The demons' fighting power was unexpectedly strong... However, he had a backup plan!
Zabuza silently unleashed his Water Clone Technique, and five of Zabuza's Water Clone emerged from the water, surrounding Sakura and her companions!
Five Water Clone... Sakura smiled faintly, "Having more Water Clone is pointless!"
"Sasuke, Naruto, I'll handle the Water Clone. You two protect Uncle Tazuna!"
Without hesitation, Sakura charged towards Zabuza's clone!
With a leap, she dodged the combined attack of the two Water Clones, controlled the Ultra-Pure Water to float in mid-air and turn it into a water cushion. Stepping on the water cushion, Sakura moved freely in the air as if on flat ground. Then, like kicking a soccer ball, she kicked the Water Clone's head and smashed it to pieces!
The Water Clone charged forward one after another, but they couldn't do anything to Sakura. In terms of speed, strength, and Taijutsu skills, Sakura, who had activated Nintaijutsu, completely overwhelmed Zabuza's Water Clone. Under Sakura's attack, the Water Clone couldn't even last a single round. Having more of them was meaningless; it was just a waste of Chakra!
However, seeing Zabuza unmoved as Sakura destroys his Water Clone one by one, Sakura becomes secretly wary!
"Whoosh!" The second to last Water Clone also fell to Sakura's Kunai. The last Water Clone opened its empty eyes wide and fearlessly charged forward to die!
A pointless charge! Sakura sneered, trying to dodge the Water Clone's attack, only to be shocked to find that the Water Clone had abandoned its attack and embraced Sakura! At the same time, Sakura sensed two strange Chakra suddenly appearing behind her. Startled, she struggled to break free of the Water Clone, only to see a barbed iron chain stained with mottled blood descend, binding her tightly, and then pulling her left and right, tearing Sakura into a bloody mess!
"First one... take the bait!" Two ninjas wearing underwater breathing masks said coldly, and then rushed towards Sasuke and Naruto!
It was the Demon Brothers! And even though they were wearing masks, Kakashi recognized them immediately. They were the thugs who had bumped into Sakura yesterday. Kakashi suddenly realized that they had recognized him back then!
Splash! Unseen by the Demon Brothers, the blood and flesh behind them turned into countless water droplets and scattered on the ground.
The instant she was bound, Sakura, who was prepared, used her Substitution Technique to switch places with her hidden Water Clone, easily dodging the Demon Brothers' sneak attack. The fact that they could be outmaneuvered by such a simple Substitution Technique showed Sakura that these two were clearly self-taught; they looked bloody and violent, but they hadn't even sensed the enemy using Substitution Technique —a complete novice!
They clearly wouldn't fare well against Sasuke and Naruto either.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Thinking Sakura had already died at the hands of the Demon Brothers, Naruto shouted angrily and summoned over a hundred Shadow Clone in one go! Then, taking advantage of the moment when the Shadow Clone were entangled with them, Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a glance and simultaneously Hand Seals!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind and Fire Great Breakthrough!" This is the combined Ninjutsu technique that Sakura and her team conceived!
Fueled by the wind, the fire roared and raged! The Great Fireball instantly doubled in size, hurtling towards the Demon Brothers with the force of a wildfire!