One-Handed Hand Seals, Shattered Mask

"What's going on?

What happened, everyone...?"

The moment he arrived on the bridge, Tazuna saw the injured workers sprawled across the ground and hurriedly asked.

They're here...

Kakashi's expression changed at the sight, realizing that Zabuza truly had not died...

Sasuke, who knew the plot, had much the same thought and quietly went on guard.

"It's getting foggy..."

Suddenly, Sakura looked at the rapidly rising mist and warned them in surprise.

In a country like the Land of Waves, where moisture was abundant, foggy days were common. But this fog had gathered far too quickly!

"Hidden Mist Technique!!

Zabuza really is still alive...

Sasuke, Sakura, protect Mr. Tazuna."

Kakashi immediately shouted. Chakra burst beneath his feet as he swiftly moved in front of Tazuna and took up a guarded stance.

Sasuke and Sakura followed right behind, each taking a position on either side of Tazuna.

Together with Kakashi, they formed a triangle around him...

The next second—

Six Water Clones of Zabuza appeared in an instant, their eyes vicious as they swung their blades down...

"They're here..."

A cold glint flashed through Sasuke's eyes. The Kunai in his hand burst forth, turning into a streak of black light...

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft..."

As six sprays of water scattered, Zabuza's Water Clones were instantly destroyed...

"You took out all six of my Water Clones in one go...

You've grown quite a bit, Uchiha brat..."

Zabuza appeared alongside his voice, with masked Haku standing beside him.

"Of course he has...

Sasuke is my proudest student.

And you in the mask, you really are working with Zabuza..."

Kakashi said proudly, staring at Zabuza with an icy glint in his eyes.

"Sensei, leave the masked one to me.

I hate enemies who hide behind masks and play mysterious..."

Sasuke stepped forward, his double-meaning words accompanied by a teasing look toward Haku.

"Sasuke-kun is so cool..."

Sakura immediately swooned, giggling dreamily without restraint.

Both Kakashi and Sasuke's mouths twitched at once...

At a time like this, she was still fangirling!!

"Haku, it seems you've been targeted!

Then that Uchiha brat is yours..."

Zabuza sneered, his bloodthirsty eyes fixed coldly on Kakashi.

This time, he would wash away his humiliation...

He had already seen through the Sharingan's tricks!!

"Then let's begin, Mr. Zabuza..."

Haku silently nodded and answered calmly. With a slide of his foot, water instantly condensed into ice beneath his sole.

Using the ice to skate, his body spun rapidly as he charged toward Sasuke like a top...

"So fast..."

Sakura cried out in alarm, secretly worried that Sasuke would be unable to withstand it.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique...

Prepared long ago, Sasuke rapidly completed Hand Seals with both hands. He opened his mouth and instantly spat out an enormous fireball five meters in diameter...

With a boom, the blazing Great Fireball smashed toward Haku with unstoppable force.

"Such a useless attack poses no threat to me at all..."

Haku calmly said as he watched the incoming fireball. He pivoted beneath his feet, changed direction, and instantly arrived before Sasuke.

"Clang..."

Haku's slender Senbon met Sasuke's Kunai, sending sparks flying...

"Who said my attack was useless..."

Looking at Haku so close before him, Sasuke raised the corner of his mouth in a teasing smile.

The next instant—

The blazing Great Fireball exploded in the distance, its intense heat evaporating all the nearby water stains...

"I see...

You wanted to use this to restrain my Water Style ninjutsu?

But you seem to have forgotten that we're on the sea, where water vapor is abundant...

And I already possess an advantage!

An advantage you could never gain, no matter how hard you trained..."

Haku pressed one hand against Sasuke's Kunai, his gaze deep as he spoke in a low voice. His other hand began forming Hand Seals.

"One-Handed Hand Seals!!"

In an instant, Kakashi and Sakura both stared in horror.

Even Kakashi had never seen such a thing before...

[Detected Haku's malicious advice, triggering a 10x C-rank Reward.

Mission: Loudly declare that I am also a genius; Reward: One-Handed Hand Seals...]

At nearly the same time, a System Prompt rang in Sasuke's ears.

Sasuke, who had been preparing to burst out with Chakra and evade, was delighted...

There was actually such an unexpected surprise!

"If One-Handed Hand Seals are the capital you're so proud of, then I'm sorry.

Actually, I'm a genius too..."

Under Haku's shocked gaze, Sasuke deliberately struck a pose and loudly declared it.

The next instant—

As the reward fused into his body, Haku watched in disbelief.

Sasuke's left hand began forming Hand Seals as well...

"How can this be!!"

"Impossible..."

"S-So cool..."

Kakashi, Zabuza, and Sakura all cried out at once.

While everyone was stunned, Sasuke seized the opening created by Haku's shock and acted first...

He completed the Hand Seals for a three-seal ninjutsu in an instant.

Lightning Style: Lightning Snake...

Just as Haku was about to complete his Water Style technique, lightning flared from Sasuke's left hand and shot straight for Haku's head.

"Haku..."

Zabuza's expression changed drastically at the sight. He immediately swung the Kubikiribōchō, trying to force Sasuke back by attacking Kakashi.

But at almost the same time...

Kakashi flashed in front of him and used a Kunai to firmly block the Kubikiribōchō.

"Sorry, but I'm your opponent...

Zabuza, it seems my student is the more talented one..."

Seeing Zabuza's drastically changed expression, Kakashi felt refreshed as he taunted him coldly.

Sasuke had once again shown him what a genius ninja was!

"Bang..."

Almost at the same moment the two clashed, Haku pulled away and retreated at lightning speed.

"Don't think you can run..."

Seeing Haku slide away across the ice beneath his feet, Sasuke urgently unleashed his power.

The Lightning Snake in his hand transformed into a long serpent and lunged at Haku's face...

But his Lightning Snake could only extend less than five meters, and Haku still escaped!

However...

Crack...

A fracture appeared, and Haku's mask instantly shattered, revealing a beautiful face as gentle as water.

"So pretty..."

Staring at that beautiful face with bright eyes and white teeth, Sakura could not help murmuring aloud.

"That was close...

Haku, it seems you really have met your match!

If you keep holding back, you may be the one who dies..."

Zabuza secretly breathed a sigh of relief before rebuking Haku in a low voice. He had no doubts about Haku's strength.

Just now, Haku had merely been careless...

"So it was you..."

Sasuke stared coldly at that familiar face he had only seen once before, the fighting spirit in his eyes undiminished.

He had gotten the One-Handed Hand Seals talent right at the start...

I wonder if I can get any more rewards from Haku!

"I acknowledge your talent as a ninja, Sasuke...

But that luck from before will not always be with you!

Now, I'm going to get serious...

Although I envy and acknowledge the Bonds between you and Naruto, I don't want to die here either.

I don't want my Bonds to be severed by you here..."

Determination flashed in Haku's beautiful eyes as visible currents of ice-blue Chakra rose around him...

"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals..."

Haku formed Hand Seals with both hands and cried out in concentration. Ice walls rapidly formed around Sasuke and Haku...

"This is bad..."

How could Sasuke not know what would happen next? Without hesitation, he turned and leaped into the air.

He was not an idiot. Why would he stay here and wait to be turned into a pincushion when he knew he was about to be attacked?