Demon, Dense Fog

In the dense mist, all was quiet.

Wu Yu perked up his elfin ears, amplifying both his hearing and Chakra perception. That other Chakra signature should be Haku's, right? Why was he still hanging around on the sidelines?

He couldn't wait any longer...

Damn Zabuza, always relying on Water Clones!

Wu Yu glanced at his palm, determination flashing in his eyes. As he sprinted toward the location of Zabuza Momochi's real body that he had sensed, his hands rapidly formed seals.

"Ahhh..." Tazuna's startled cry rang out from within the mist.

The old man spotted a tall figure in the swirling white fog and fled in terror, only to trip over something. A young girl's cry of "Ah!" immediately followed—a shriek she tried desperately to suppress, but one that was still full of panic.

The terrifying atmosphere created by the Hiding in Mist Technique had nearly driven Sakura Haruno mad. Her nerves were stretched taut, as though a Kubikiribōchō might fly out from any direction at any moment and slice off her head... She had no idea where Sasuke and Naruto had gone. Alone, she gripped her Kunai with trembling hands.

"If your hands are shaking, you might as well go back to the Ninja Academy and keep playing games, right?"

The cold voice that suddenly came from behind nearly stopped Sakura's heart. Then came the faint sound of wind stirring the mist. She could practically smell the blood of her and Tazuna's severed heads...

At that moment, an irresistible force slammed Sakura to the ground. When she turned her head, she only had time to see Wu Yu forcing both her and Tazuna down, dodging the Demon's enormous blade as it swept across them. At the same time, Wu Yu opened his mouth and blasted the Demon with a stream of flames.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! The Demon's Water Clone was instantly burned into white mist.

"Another Water Clone?" Wu Yu said.

"It doesn't matter whether a move is new or not. As long as it works." A Kunai emerged from behind him and pressed against Wu Yu's carotid artery. Zabuza slashed without hesitation, and blood immediately gushed from Wu Yu's neck!

This bastard's hands are so fast. Damn it, I canceled it too slowly! Wu Yu thought through gritted teeth as blood sprayed from his neck, before turning into a puff of white smoke with a bang.

As Zabuza, who had cut his throat from behind, revealed a shocked expression, another Wu Yu appeared behind him. One hand pressed down on the back of his head, forcing it forward. The Demon's face slammed straight into the tip of his own Kunai, and his entire body once again dissolved into a puddle of water that splashed across the ground.

Tazuna watched with bated breath, not daring to make a sound.

Sakura was terrified as well. Looking at the two puddles of water on the ground, then at Wu Yu, she took deep breaths while thinking in lingering fear, Is this remaining Wu Yu the real body or a Shadow Clone? And will that Zabuza use another Water Cl—

At that thought, footsteps suddenly sounded from only inches away at her side. She was so startled that she nearly threw her Kunai. Staring wide-eyed, she realized it was Naruto and Sasuke, advancing carefully with their backs pressed together.

Sakura immediately looked to Wu Yu.

Wu Yu nodded. "It's them, not a Transformation Jutsu."

Amid the roiling mist, the fists, feet, Kunai, and Kubikiribōchō of Kakashi Hatake and Zabuza Momochi flickered in and out of view. Neither seemed affected by the dense fog as they exchanged fierce, precise blows.

"You think a few Water Clones can handle my students?" Kakashi swung his Kunai, using a deft parry to redirect the force of the heavy Kubikiribōchō.

Clang! The Kunai snapped.

Kakashi casually tossed it aside, while his other hand had already drawn another Kunai to block.

Zabuza's blade came in an unending stream. His swordsmanship was like a raging storm, his entire body radiating a terrifying demonic aura. The enormous, heavy Kubikiribōchō seemed less like a weapon he wielded and more like his true body, dragging Zabuza through the mist at high speed as it hacked violently at his enemy from every angle.

As Zabuza slashed wildly, he taunted, "Who would've thought Kakashi of the Sharingan has such a sharp dog's nose? Even my Hiding in Mist Technique! Can't! Do! A! Thing! To! You!!"

His roars grew louder, and every slash became more powerful. Clang! Clang!! Clang!!!

Yet when he shouted that final word with his greatest burst of momentum, no fiercer strike followed. Instead, he suddenly vanished, silently melting into the still, dense mist.

Whoosh... In the fog, Kakashi's left eye seemed to draw a red streak through the air. Taking advantage of the pitifully low visibility, the Three Tomoe in his Sharingan spun madly. He caught sight of the seals Zabuza had formed before disappearing into the mist—they appeared to be some kind of Water Release technique...

Water Prison Technique!

Zabuza's hand extended from the dense mist and silently reached for Kakashi. A huge amount of Chakra gathered in his palm, about to form a massive sphere of water that would become a prison and trap Kakashi...

A foot swept in from the side and stomped on Zabuza's right wrist just as he was about to release the Water Prison.

Crack...

Zabuza knew his right wrist bone had fractured.

With a splash, the water sphere fell apart.

Wu Yu, having used too much force, flashed straight between Kakashi and Zabuza as though he were merely passing by.

"Thanks, Wu Yu."

Kakashi had detected Wu Yu's scent rapidly approaching long ago, and his hands were already flying through seals—at the instant the seals were complete, the piercing sound of a thousand birds chirping rang out through the mist!

A shocking mass of lightning condensed in Kakashi's palm.

Chidori!

Kakashi thrust without hesitation toward Zabuza.

The flickering lightning reflected in Zabuza's bloodshot eyes... If this hit a vital point, he was dead for sure!!

His right hand was already useless. In that split second, Zabuza raised the Kubikiribōchō with his left hand to block with all his might while dodging in the opposite direction.

Crack!

The Kubikiribōchō was cut in two by Kakashi's Chidori hand. Iron fragments flew as the blade separated into upper and lower halves.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed through the air as Zabuza's left arm was severed along with it by Chidori...

But at least Zabuza had avoided the vital areas of his heart and lungs. Blood sprayed from what remained of his left arm as he clamped Kakashi's Chidori-wielding arm tightly with his elbow.

The severed arm stopped bleeding instantly. Kakashi's Chidori hand was temporarily unable to move.

Zabuza Momochi bit down on the handle of the Kubikiribōchō, twisted his neck, and wielded the broken blade like a short sword, slashing at Kakashi's neck.

With a thud, the lower half of the Kubikiribōchō fell heavily to the ground.

Creak, creak... The broken blade clenched between Zabuza's teeth trembled lightly, but Wu Yu caught it barehanded in time. It could advance no farther and failed to take Kakashi's head.

Kakashi also breathed a sigh of relief, promptly stopping his left hand from using a Kunai to cut off his own right arm and escape.

Wu Yu rapidly formed hand seals with one hand!

Zabuza was startled. He released the elbow pinning Kakashi's right arm, swept out with a kick to send Kakashi crashing toward Wu Yu and interrupt his seals. At the same time, he nearly stumbled as he bit down on the broken blade, dragging his dripping stump into the thick mist.

Kakashi pressed a hand on Wu Yu's shoulder and leaped high into the air. He rapidly formed a string of seals, then locked onto the bracingly strong scent of blood in the direction Zabuza had fled and expelled a massive, scorching fireball.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

The waves of fire evaporated the dense mist, roaring as they engulfed the spot where Zabuza stood...

Tap. Kakashi landed and asked, "You can form hand seals with one hand too?"

"What were you thinking? I was just trying to scare him."

Wu Yu slapped a hand onto the ground where Zabuza's severed-arm blood had pooled, pushed himself into a flip, and was about to pursue Zabuza when Kakashi stopped him with an outstretched arm.

"Something's wrong... This mist is several times thicker than before."