Hearing Zabuza's flippant tone, Asuma furrowed his brow and instinctively gripped his Flying Swallow. Yet his face was wreathed in a genial smile.
"Heh heh, I wondered who it was. If it isn't Kirigakure's missing-nin, Demon Zabuza! It's impressive how well you remember all those old, stale affairs."
The instant Asuma spoke, sharp wind-nature chakra coated his Flying Swallow.
A powerful aura erupted from Asuma, completely dispersing the killing intent around Zabuza.
Ino and Tazuna both let out a long breath, finally breaking free of the pressure from Zabuza's aura.
Ino watched Zabuza with lingering fear.
"What a terrifying guy. Just now, I felt like I saw countless vengeful spirits."
Zabuza stared at the wind-nature chakra coating Asuma's Flying Swallow, his brow furrowing. He glanced at Tazuna in the distance.
"Sarutobi Asuma, you and I have no history. My target is that old man. I promise that once I kill him, I'll leave immediately."
"Heh heh, I'm afraid that won't work, Zabuza. That old man is my client."
The two spoke with such ease that anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were old friends catching up.
Shikamaru keenly noticed Asuma lightly tapping his right foot against the ground. He immediately understood and said, "Ino, Choji, protect Mr. Tazuna in the '卐' formation. There may be more than one enemy."
Ino and Choji nodded and quickly took up their formation, warily watching their surroundings.
Zabuza watched Asuma, feeling uncertain.
For the past several days, Zabuza had been investigating the source of that terrifying aura.
He only began to get somewhere after tracing the team protecting Tazuna to the shinobi of Konoha.
When Zabuza discovered that their shinobi was none other than the Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma, he realized this would be troublesome.
Zabuza's greatest ambition was to seize control of the Land of Water's government again through a coup.
Everything he was doing now was merely to gather resources, so he couldn't afford to kill Asuma—not to mention the legendary Konoha trio, Ino-Shika-Cho.
Otherwise, the Land of Water alone would leave him powerless to recover, and if he added the Land of Fire to the list, there would be nowhere left for him in the world.
With that thought, Zabuza sneered at Asuma and raised his right hand high into the air, calling out, "Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
The mist around them gradually thickened, and visibility dropped at an astonishing rate...
"Heh heh, Asuma, let me show you the power of the Silent Killing Technique."
After speaking, Zabuza yanked Kubikiribōchō out of the bridge and backed away a few steps. Then he turned and disappeared into the mist.
Asuma frowned and warily watched his surroundings. He shouted to the others behind him, "Stay right where you are! Don't move!"
Just then, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
Asuma instinctively raised both Flying Swallows to block an attack from the left.
Clang!
The Flying Swallows slammed into Kubikiribōchō, sending sparks flying.
Seeing his strike miss, Zabuza immediately retreated into the thick fog.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to block my attack so precisely with visibility this poor. You really are strong, Asuma."
Zabuza gave Asuma an approving look, then his voice turned cold.
"But I'm the one who'll win this battle!"
Asuma warily watched his surroundings, his expression growing grave.
Meanwhile, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino carefully watched their surroundings.
Visibility around the three of them was still decent, and they cautiously stayed alert for anything unexpected.
Just then, a white figure suddenly charged out of the thick fog, holding a Senbon.
There were no shadows in the dense mist. With no other choice, Shikamaru took out a Kunai and charged at the white figure.
Clang! Clang! Clang!...
The two clashed in an instant, sparks scattering through the air.
Ino watched Shikamaru with concern. Seeing this, Choji said quietly, "Ino, I'll leave Mr. Tazuna to you. I'm going to help Shikamaru."
"Multi-Size Technique!"
Choji's body began to grow rapidly.
"Human Bullet Tank!"
The next moment, Choji tucked in his head and limbs, becoming a five-meter-wide ball that rolled rapidly toward Haku.
"Hmph!"
Seeing this, Haku snorted. He suddenly exerted force with his right hand and broke free of Shikamaru's hold. Then, with a few nimble leaps, he calmly dodged Choji's attack.
Haku landed steadily on the ground and looked at Shikamaru and Choji in the distance.
"I don't want to kill you, but I doubt you'll back down, either."
Shikamaru smiled helplessly and replied calmly, "What are you talking about? It's two against one. Overall, we have the advantage."
Shikamaru discreetly worked the numbness out of his wrist. He had indeed struggled during his fight with Haku, but the idea that he and Choji would surrender was far too naive.
Seeing that his attempt to reason with them had failed, Haku explained calmly, "That fat guy's attacks are decent, but a straight-line assault won't work on me. And you're no match for me in close combat."
As soon as he finished speaking, Haku charged again and quickly engaged Shikamaru.
Before long, Shikamaru was shocked to discover that Haku could keep him on the back foot with just one hand.
Seeing that Shikamaru had keenly noticed, Haku casually asked, "You haven't noticed the water around you, have you?"
Then, with his free hand, Haku began rapidly forming Hand Seals.
"What? This guy can form Hand Seals with one hand!"
Shikamaru's pupils shrank to pinpricks. He immediately focused chakra in the soles of his feet, preparing for Haku's next attack.
"Secret Technique: Thousand Kills Water Soar!"