Kakashi Rushes Back to Defend! Danger

Masked Haku looked at Naruto and Sasuke, trapped inside his Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals formation, and said, "If you leave now, I can consider sparing you. But if you insist on going on, I don't mind becoming a ruthless and decisive ninja."

"Quit pretending. I'm not taking a single step back."

Kunai in hand, Naruto stood ready.

For once, Sasuke agreed with Naruto. "Yeah. Ninja have always faced challenges head-on. How can we back down just because of these difficulties?"

"Then, I'm sorry."

As soon as Haku finished speaking,

his figure appeared in the ice mirrors surrounding Sasuke and Naruto!

Identical figures stood in dozens of mirrors, making their scalps tingle!

There was no telling which one was the real Haku!

"What kind of bizarre Ninjutsu is this?"

As Naruto spoke, he threw a Shuriken at Haku in one of the ice mirrors, testing it.

"Clink!"

With a crisp sound, the Shuriken bounced off.

Watching Haku use the Ninjutsu from nearby, Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. "Could this be..."

Before Kakashi could finish, a smug Zabuza took the words out of his mouth. "That's right. This is a Kekkei Genkai possessed by very few people in the Shinobi World: Ice Release."

"Haku is a ninja I taught everything I know. Not only is he exceptionally skilled in Taijutsu and proficient in Ninjutsu, but he also possesses his own Kekkei Genkai."

"In a sense, that brat is already stronger than I am."

Kakashi opened his mouth, but something seemed to catch in his throat.

It looked like Naruto and Sasuke were in danger.

Seeing Kakashi like this, Zabuza's eyes grew even more smug. "Scared, Kakashi? Your two students can't possibly be a match for Haku. Even if that red-haired brat came, it wouldn't make a difference."

"In a place like your Konoha, where it's peaceful to the point of stupidity, you can't raise truly ruthless and decisive ninja."

"Haku is different. He has walked the line between life and death with me many times. He's a true ninja."

While Zabuza was ranting,

Sasuke and Naruto, not far away, were learning just how powerful Ice Release was.

Trapped in his Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, Naruto and Sasuke were powerless to fight back.

Inside the formation, Haku was extremely fast.

His movements were unpredictable!

His reflection appeared in every mirror, yet his real body was in none of them!

Before long, Haku had tormented Naruto and Sasuke until their bodies were covered in wounds.

"Damn it. His flying needles could have hit our vital points directly, but he keeps making attacks that barely hurt. Is he trying to torture us to death?"

Sasuke ground his back teeth in anger.

He had thought that after completing his Chakra control training, his Ninjutsu would reach the next level.

But he hadn't expected to run into such a powerful opponent just as he was about to try it out!

"If it's ice, then fire should be able to melt it!"

Sasuke decided to give it his all and called Naruto behind him.

Then he crossed his hands and formed Hand Seals!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!!"

Sasuke opened his mouth and breathed out flames!

A huge, searing fireball blasted toward the surrounding ice mirrors!

"Whoosh!"

The instant the fireball touched the ice mirrors, it erupted in a burst of flame!

It made quite a spectacle, but its power was less than impressive.

It had melted only a few drops of water.

Haku taunted him. "It's no use. Ninjutsu with that much power comes nowhere near melting Ice Release."

Beside Sasuke, Naruto formed Hand Seals.

He wanted to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to break out!

"Poof! Poof! Poof!"

Dozens of Shadow Clones appeared in an instant!

Unfortunately, a few clones had barely started running when Haku darted through the mirrors and destroyed them with flying needles!

"Damn it! Why do you keep hiding in those mirrors? If you're so strong, come out and fight me!" Naruto shouted in frustration.

Haku was unmoved by Naruto's attempt to provoke him. "That's simply how my Ninjutsu works."

At this critical moment, Naruto thought of his good friend. If Shinki had come out with him today, they definitely wouldn't have been in such a passive position. "If Shinki were here, he'd definitely think of a way out."

"He's probably still sleeping in the house. By the time he wakes up, our bodies will probably have gone cold."

For once, Sasuke had made a joke.

It sounded a little cold to Naruto, though.

Meanwhile.

Facing Kakashi, Zabuza raised the Kubikiribōchō in his hand, ready and eager to fight.

"All right, let the brats settle their own business."

"It's time for our fight to reach a conclusion too."

As Zabuza spoke, he created two Water Clones.

Beads of sweat appeared on Kakashi's forehead.

Naruto and Sasuke were trapped by the boy with Ice Release, and Kakashi still had to protect Tazuna.

Fighting Zabuza under these circumstances was too difficult.

He had to end this quickly!

With that thought, Kakashi slowly lifted the Forehead Protector covering his left eye...

Once his Sharingan was fully exposed to the air, Kakashi was surprised to find that the fog around him seemed to have grown thicker!

It was so thick that visibility was zero. Even when he held out his hand, he could barely see his own palm!

And with visibility like this, the Sharingan was of very limited use!

Zabuza's voice rang out through the dense fog. "Did you think I wouldn't learn from our last fight?"

"I'll use the fog to render your Sharingan useless. Then you'll be a fish on the chopping block!"

"With zero visibility, can't you see either?" Kakashi retorted.

"Don't forget, I'm Demon Zabuza, a master of the Silent Killing Technique. Changing position by sound is the simplest thing in the world for me!"

As soon as Zabuza finished speaking,

Kakashi felt a sharp gust coming from behind him!

He hurriedly turned and blocked with his Kunai.

"Clang!"

The Kunai collided with Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō!

The battle-hardened Kakashi shifted his body to the side the instant their weapons clashed.

At the same time, he drove the Kunai in his hand toward Zabuza's abdomen at a tricky angle!

"Splash!"

The next moment, the pitch-black Kunai pierced Zabuza's body.

Unfortunately, it was a Water Clone!

Kakashi looked helpless. "You're really cautious. Even though things are so much in your favor, you still used a Water Clone to test me."

Wait!

As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, his pupils suddenly contracted!

Zabuza's target had never been him!

It was Mr. Tazuna!

Only if Mr. Tazuna died could Zabuza collect the payment for his mission!

Realizing something was wrong, Kakashi rushed back to defend him!

At that moment, a ghostlike figure appeared behind Tazuna!

The figure raised the Kubikiribōchō high and brought it slashing down with all his might!!

"Slash!"

Blood sprayed through the air!

But the one injured wasn't Tazuna!

As it turned out, at that critical moment just now, Kakashi had made it back in time.

He had caught Zabuza's descending Great Sword with his Kunai!