Zabuza Attacks

Although Su Bai had now mastered White Lightning, he was still no match for the powerful Zabuza.

This battle would therefore mainly depend on Kakashi.

Su Bai had to ensure his own safety before considering how to protect the others.

At present, Su Bai had two options before him.

The first was to remind Kakashi to stay vigilant and prevent him from being trapped by the Water Prison Jutsu from the very beginning.

The second was to hold still and wait for Kakashi to be trapped by the Water Prison Jutsu, then join forces with Naruto and Sasuke to rescue him and let him battle Zabuza.

However, the first option was rather difficult.

First of all, Zabuza would use the Hidden Mist Technique to obstruct their vision. Even if Su Bai warned him, the results might not be ideal.

Moreover, with Kakashi's strength and experience, he would not underestimate Zabuza in the first place. He did not need Su Bai to tell him so.

By comparison, the second option had a greater chance of success.

Su Bai had confidence in himself. He believed that as long as he worked closely with Naruto and Sasuke, they would definitely be able to rescue Kakashi.

After weighing his options, the cool, aloof genius Su Bai quickly made his decision. "I'll choose the second plan."

With the plan decided, all that remained was to carry it out.

A few days later, Team 7 entered the Land of Waves by boat.

When the boat passed through a long, narrow opening beneath a bridge, the view before them suddenly opened up.

The rippling blue sea was dotted with tiny islands, their lush trees casting thick shade and brimming with life.

The air was filled with the fresh scent unique to the ocean, making them feel refreshed and relaxed.

Along the way, Naruto kept trying to show off.

At the slightest disturbance, he would shout that he had found the enemy's tracks, wildly throwing kunai and shuriken around. Sakura gave him a harsh scolding and told him not to make a fuss over nothing.

After getting scolded, Naruto finally quieted down for a while and stopped being so noisy.

After walking a little farther, Su Bai suddenly felt a powerful sense of danger wash over him, setting off alarm bells in his mind.

"It's here."

Su Bai drew his Zanpakuto, his expression cold.

Seeing this, Naruto said dismissively, "Didn't you say not to make a fuss over nothing?"

But Su Bai had no time to explain. He suddenly shouted, "Get down!"

"Huh?"

Seeing that Naruto had not reacted at all, Su Bai Flash Stepped in front of him and tackled him to the ground.

In that lightning-fast instant, an Executioner's Blade spun through the air above their heads with a howl, its edge passing mere inches from the backs of their necks.

Like a bolt of thunder, the huge blade tore through the sky before embedding itself in a large tree behind them with a clang, its body still humming.

A small tuft of Naruto's hair had even been shaved off as Su Bai pinned him to the ground.

"Su Bai, thank you! If it weren't for you, I'd be dead!" Naruto said, still shaken.

Zabuza appeared, one foot planted atop the hilt of the Executioner's Blade as he looked down at the group of kids.

His gaze lingered on Su Bai for an extra second. He was slightly surprised that this brat had evaded his Executioner's Blade with such swift reflexes.

Naruto climbed up from the ground. Upon seeing the enemy appear, he started itching to charge forward again.

Su Bai grabbed him and said coldly, "Don't act rashly. Neither of us is his match. Protect Mr. Dazna. Leave the rest to Kakashi-sensei."

Hearing Su Bai's arrangement, Kakashi nodded to himself. As expected, Su Bai saw the situation most clearly and understood what was important.

Next, it was time to see how Kakashi performed.

Kakashi spoke first. "You're Momochi Zabuza, a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, known as the 'Demon of the Hidden Mist.'"

Zabuza gave a sinister smile. "I never expected to meet 'Copy Ninja Kakashi.' This truly is an honor."

Kakashi was called "Copy Ninja Kakashi" because although he was not a member of the Uchiha Clan, a Sharingan had been transplanted into his left eye. The Sharingan was the unique bloodline limit of the Uchiha Clan.

A cruel smile curled across Zabuza's lips as he said mockingly, "The legendary Sharingan is supposed to be incredible. Let me see it for myself."

Kakashi's expression did not change. He slowly removed the eyepatch over his left eye, revealing a scarlet Sharingan that gleamed beneath the sunlight, its three tomoe slowly turning within the pupil.

The two exchanged several more barbed pleasantries before each taking their stance, poised for battle.

Zabuza snorted coldly. "It seems that if I want to kill that old man, I'll have to deal with you first."

With that, he leaped up and landed steadily on the surface of a nearby lake.

Zabuza quickly formed hand seals and said, "Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Technique!"

The moment the words left his mouth, clumps of white mist rose from beneath his feet and blanketed the entire battlefield in the blink of an eye, drastically reducing visibility.

However, Su Bai knew this was merely Zabuza's feint.

His true goal was to use the thick mist to assassinate Dazna.

Lowering his voice, Su Bai said to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, "You must protect Mr. Dazna."

The three quickly formed a defensive circle around Dazna.

The only one who could probably confront Zabuza head-on was Kakashi.

Seeing Su Bai remain calm in the face of danger and give orders so capably, Kakashi let go of some of his worries.

Mist filled the air, obstructing their vision, but Su Bai could sense an icy killing intent bearing down on them. It was a terrifying aura that only someone hardened by countless battles could emit.

Su Bai drew a deep breath and did his utmost to steady his heartbeat.

Recalling the adrenaline rush from his last battle against the Hidden Mist ninja, he tensed every nerve in his body to the limit, ready to face the enemy at any moment.

Sasuke was trembling beside him, his face full of fear.

Doubt had already begun to take root in his heart.

No, I'll be killed! I can't handle an environment like this.

Su Bai reassured him, "Don't be afraid. As long as I'm here, I won't let him harm any of you."

Hearing this, Sasuke gradually calmed down, and the hand gripping his kunai stopped shaking.

Zabuza's cold voice suddenly rang out from within the mist. "Brat, don't talk big."

Zabuza had already slipped through their encirclement and was charging straight at Dazna!

Su Bai's body reacted instinctively. He did not even need to look. Relying solely on intuition, he fiercely kicked backward.

"What is with this brat!?"

Zabuza was stunned. He hurriedly raised his blade to block, but the force contained in that kick was unexpectedly powerful, driving him back several steps and away from Dazna.

Even Su Bai was somewhat surprised. That kick had been a complete bodily reflex, entirely beyond his conscious control.

This had to be experience left behind in his body's memory from his life-or-death struggle with the Hidden Mist ninja last time.

Looks like I gained quite a lot from that battle.

Su Bai was delighted inside, but his expression remained unchanged.

Kakashi had found Zabuza's position and rushed over as well, fighting him to a standstill.

After several exchanges, Kakashi was indeed trapped by Zabuza's Water Prison Jutsu, unable to move.

Keeping the Water Prison Jutsu active with one hand, Zabuza rapidly formed seals with the other and sneered, "Kakashi, I'll leave you alone for now. I'll deal with those little brats first."

Zabuza used the Water Clone Technique again. A lifelike water clone rose from the lake's surface and appeared before Su Bai and the others.

The water clone arrogantly swept his gaze across the group and said, "Don't think wearing forehead protectors makes you ninja. Among you, only that kid barely looks like one."

He pointed at Su Bai, his tone full of disdain. "The rest of you aren't even worthy of carrying my shoes."

At that moment, Kakashi, trapped within the Water Prison Jutsu, shouted, "Take Mr. Dazna and leave! His water clone will disappear if it gets too far from the original body. Go!"

Su Bai rapidly considered his options.

To defeat Zabuza, the key was to rescue Kakashi first.

Once Kakashi regained his freedom, they would immediately fight another battle.

And that fierce battle, filled with advanced ninjutsu, would undoubtedly bring him a massive amount of experience points.