I Said Your Arts Are Useless Against Me

Following closely behind was the youth still wearing that white mask: Haku.

He stood silently behind Zabuza like a shadow, devoid of sorrow or joy, yet the invisible bond between him and Zabuza made his presence equally threatening.

"It seems you lot didn't choose to run, you little brats from Konoha," Zabuza's raspy voice echoed across the silent bridge. "This courage is worth praising; as a reward, I shall let you die quickly."

"I don't want to hear the same nonsense a second time." Kakashi stepped forward and pushed his headband back up, revealing his scarlet Sharingan. "I failed to finish you last time, but there won't be any accidents today."

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto clenched his fists, his fighting spirit soaring.

Sasuke let out a low grunt, also entering a combat stance.

"This opponent is different from the last one." Ling Xuan's calm voice rang in their ears. "I will hold off the youth called Haku. Your mission is to protect the client; remember not to act impulsively on your own and follow Kakashi-sensei's lead."

Sasuke frowned upon hearing this. He had wanted to test the masked youth with the incredible speed himself, but Ling Xuan's words allowed for no doubt; the previous battle had already proven that Ling Xuan's judgment was far superior to their own.

"Battle, start!"

Almost the moment Kakashi's voice fell, he and Zabuza vanished from their spots simultaneously!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The center of the bridge erupted with a dense series of metallic clashes as Kunai collided with the Kubikiribōchō, sparking a continuous stream of fire.

The two elite Jōnin engaged in the most direct and dangerous close-quarters combat. Their speed was so great that Naruto and Sasuke could not fully track their movements, seeing only two blurred shadows constantly colliding and separating.

Just then, Haku moved, his target still the client—Tazuna!

However, a figure was faster, already blocking his path.

"Your opponent is me." Ling Xuan looked at Haku and said calmly.

"Your speed is fast, and your taijutsu is quite unique." Haku's voice was as cold as ice. "But, you cannot defeat me."

Before his words even faded, he performed hand seals rapidly!

"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

In an instant, with Haku as the center, countless mirrors made of ice rose from the ground, forming a massive ice dome that enveloped both him and Ling Xuan!

This was Haku's Kekkei Genkai, a perfect domain that pushed speed and slaughter to the extreme.

"Oh no! Ling Xuan!" Kakashi caught a glimpse of this while locked in combat with Zabuza, his heart tightening.

"Don't lose focus, Kakashi!" Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō swung down overhead. "Your opponent is me!"

Inside the ice mirrors, the world seemed to have turned into a crystalline cage. Haku's true form merged into one of the mirrors, and then his reflection appeared on every single one.

"In this domain, my speed is absolute. Now, the game is over."

Countless afterimages of Haku emerged from the mirrors on all sides, the cold light of Senbon shimmering in his hands as he fired them toward Ling Xuan in the center like a torrential rain.

His vision was completely sealed; the attacks came from every angle. It was an inescapable, lethal assault.

Yet, facing a scene that would drive any ninja to despair, there was not a hint of panic on Ling Xuan's face.

He slowly closed his eyes. In my world, there is no such thing as an unsolvable technique.

When he opened his eyes again, the Eye of Truth had completely analyzed this so-called "secret technique."

[Ninjutsu Analysis: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. Kekkei Genkai: Ice Release. Principle: Uses wind and water chakra to create high-density ice mirrors capable of reflecting the user. The caster moves at super-high speeds between the mirrors, utilizing visual persistence to create the illusion of countless clones attacking simultaneously.]

[Energy Flow Analysis: The chakra for all ice mirrors is supplied by a single core source. The moment the main body launches an attack, the chakra activity of the mirror they occupy spikes.]

[Weakness: The ice mirrors themselves have low defensive power. Maintaining the entire technique requires a massive amount of chakra and cannot be sustained for long.]

"Found you."

Amidst the rain of flying Senbon, Ling Xuan's figure suddenly moved in a trajectory that defied physics and common sense. He chose neither to defend nor to dodge, but instead wove through the gaps between the Senbon.

Every lean, every twist of his waist, avoided all attacks with perfect precision, as if he could predict the flight path of every single needle in advance.

"What?" For the first time, a massive wave of shock surged in Haku's heart from within the mirror.

How is this possible! No one has ever been able to dodge his attacks inside the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!

In the moment of Haku's shock, Ling Xuan's figure had already appeared before the ice mirror housing his true body.

He did not attack the mirror, nor did he attack Haku; instead, he pressed the Wind-Flame Spiral against the surface of the ice.

"I said, your technique is ineffective against me."

Hiss—

The collision of extreme heat and extreme cold did not result in a violent explosion. The terrifying piercing power and annihilation properties of the Wind-Flame Spiral acted directly upon the chakra structure composing the ice mirror.

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

Centered on Ling Xuan's finger, a crack appeared, then spread like a spiderweb across the entire ice mirror in an instant!

Following that, the second, the third...

A chain reaction occurred!

All the ice mirrors constituting the entire "Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals" domain became covered in cracks at the same moment, and then...

They shattered with a roar!

Countless shards of ice crystals refracted the sunlight into a brilliant radiance, as if a rain of diamonds were falling.

Haku's body tumbled out from the shattered mirrors; he knelt on one knee, gasping for air, while the mask on his face had cracked from the impact.

He watched Ling Xuan, who remained completely unscathed, walking toward him step by step, his eyes filled with fear and bewilderment.

His own Kekkei Genkai, his strongest technique, had been destroyed so easily and fundamentally.

Meanwhile, the battle in the center of the bridge had reached a fever pitch.

The fight between Kakashi and Zabuza was no longer just a contest of raw strength and speed, but a duel of willpower and experience.

Just then, an arrogant and nauseating laughter drifted over from the other end of the bridge.

"Hahahaha! Fight! Keep fighting! It would be best if you both perish together! That way, I won't have to spend any more money!"

Gato, the diminutive shipping tycoon, led over a hundred thugs and ronin armed with swords and blades, marching forward in a massive throng that blocked the entire exit of the bridge.

Kakashi and Zabuza, currently locked in fierce combat, simultaneously ceased their movements and looked toward these uninvited guests with vigilance.

"Gato! What is the meaning of this?" Zabuza asked coldly.

"Meaning? It means your mission is over, Demon Zabuza." Gato picked at his ear, speaking with a look of utter contempt.