"Is the battle over?"
On a large tree not far away stood Chojuro, Ao, Zabuza, and Haku. The branch was bent beneath the weight of the four of them, looking as though it might snap at any moment.
"I think I heard Lord Mei Terumi begging for mercy." Haku, who had been looking down at the mist below, suddenly raised his head and glanced at Chojuro and Ao before speaking softly.
"How is that possible? How could Lord Mei Terumi possibly beg a little brat for mercy?" As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Chojuro had quite a fiery temper. Besides, he had always greatly admired Lord Mei Terumi. He simply could not believe that she had been beaten to the point of begging Naruto for mercy.
Ao was older and had experienced more, so he was more composed. Even though he too did not believe Mei Terumi could be defeated by that boy, he would not say it aloud.
He watched Zabuza and Haku's expressions and discovered that after Haku voiced his guess that Mei Terumi had lost, Zabuza wore an expression as if it were only natural. It was as though, before this battle had even begun, they had already believed Naruto would be the victor.
Could it be...
At that moment, Ao could not help but begin to doubt. Could that boy truly be as powerful as Zabuza and Haku claimed?
Haku ignored Chojuro's angry questioning. Zabuza merely gave Chojuro an indifferent look and said, "It's too early to say that. Just wait patiently. The result will reveal itself soon enough."
However, the moment Zabuza finished speaking, the mist below gradually began to thin.
Mei Terumi and Naruto slowly came into view before the four of them.
Mei Terumi and Naruto stood over ten