Zabuza's Last Stand and Gato's Assault

Haku's palm seized the spearhead. Ice spread along the silvery-white wood grain toward Chiba's wrist, and the edge sliced open Haku's palm, blood dripping from the spear tip onto the bridge deck.

"Move."

"You already died for him once."

"Not this time."

Chiba twisted his fingers, and the spearhead scattered into several thin roots that bypassed Haku's palm and locked around his wrists and waist.

"That's why I'm stopping you."

Haku drove his knee into the roots. Cold chakra flooded the wood grain, but it left only a thin layer of frost on the silvery-white surface.

"Kakashi's Chidori will pierce his heart."

"Zabuza knows."

"He can't dodge it."

"That's the battlefield he chose."

The lightning had already reached Zabuza. The ninja hounds clamped down on his limbs, while the Sharingan tracked every movement of his shoulders and waist, sealing off every possible route of escape in advance.

Zabuza released the Kubikiribōchō, deliberately turning his right shoulder into the path of the Chidori and twisting half his body aside with his forward momentum.

Kakashi's hand pierced through his shoulder armor. Lightning-nature chakra burst out below his collarbone, and blood fell by the ninja hounds' mouths.

"Trading your shoulder for your heart—you're still hard to kill."

"You still like watching the places your eyes can see."

The Kubikiribōchō sprang up from the bridge deck. Zabuza caught its ring with his left hand, and the broad blade swept across Kakashi's waist.

Kakashi withdrew his arm and raised a kunai to block the blade, but the force behind it shoved him from his position.

Having completed their restraint, the ninja hounds dissolved into smoke. Zabuza's right arm hung at his side, while his left still held the Kubikiribōchō before his chest.

Haku tugged at the metal roots binding his waist.

"Let me go. I