The Heavy Fog Arrives (Please Send Some Recommendation Votes~)

"Mm-hm, something as simple as climbing a tree is absolutely no problem for Big Sen!" Uchiha Sen's face was brimming with confidence.

His actions drew everyone's attention.

"Oh!" Kakashi Hatake, who was hanging upside down from a branch, grew interested as well and began looking forward to Sen's performance.

[No, no, no. Without this system's assistance, he's nothing but trash!]

"Bullshit! I, Big Sen, am invincible! You're the one who's trash, you big idiot!"

Everyone was used to Uchiha Sen's unprovoked outbursts. They all knew the guy had several screws loose, and Naruto was the only one who could get along with him.

[Hmph! In that case, this system will see how you fall. It'll be good for that brain of yours!]

Sen ignored the blue screen and focused on climbing the tree. He'd watched from the side just now. It seemed like all he had to do was stick out his leg and go up!

Right, that was it!

With a plan in mind, his feet began to move.

He stepped forward with his left foot and pressed it against the trunk.

"Wait!"

"Why isn't there any trace of chakra?!"

Kakashi was dumbfounded. Had that guy already mastered it to such a degree that he could flexibly mobilize the chakra in his body without forming hand seals?

Sasuke was stunned too, a wave of disappointment rising within him. Damn it, as the Uchiha Clan's last hope, was he actually inferior to even a lunatic? At this rate, when would he ever be able to kill that man with his own hands?

Naruto, the little fanboy, wore a worshipful expression. As expected, the Hole-Hole Monster was the strongest!

As Sen raised his right foot, everyone's hearts leaped into their throats. It was clearly just a simple tree-climbing exercise.

As expected—

Bang!

Sen crashed heavily onto the ground. Thankfully, he hadn't climbed very high, so it didn't hurt much, but everyone wore a different expression.

Kakashi: Thank goodness, thank goodness. He's not that much of a monster.

Sasuke: Hmph, at least I'm far stronger than him!

Naruto: Uh... it must've been a mistake. The Hole-Hole Monster was showing us the wrong way to do it. That's right, it had to be!

Perhaps the fall had hurt, because Sen pouted unhappily. Still, with so many people around, he couldn't ruin his image as an expert.

"Hmph, that battle earlier clearly used up eight hundred years of my cultivation. I need to rest and replenish myself properly now. Remember to tell that old man to prepare more meat for dinner, hehe. Sauce-braised would be best. It'll help this expert replenish his energy."

Sen muttered to himself as he walked away with his hands behind his back...

Well, that was...

Everyone was helpless...

After several days of training, Team 7 had all made obvious progress, which greatly pleased Kakashi.

Meanwhile, with Team 7 protecting him, Dazuna's bridge was nearly complete. Little did they know that Zabuza Momochi was also devising a plan.

The next day.

Work resumed on the bridge. Seeing that it was nearly finished, Team 7 gradually lowered their guard. Uchiha Sen leaned over the bridge and watched the fish below, pondering how to catch a couple to eat.

This one's for Hole-Hole Two, Naruto. The rest are all mine. Hehehe.

White mist rose from the water's surface, drifting in from all directions.

[Ding! Danger detected nearby. System scan initiated.]

[Name: Zabuza Momochi; Alias: Demon; Weapon: Executioner's Blade; Strength: Jonin; Danger Level: 5]

[Name: Haku; Strength: Chunin; Danger Level: 4]

[Host is advised to hide behind the pile of rocks in the rear and observe the situation.]

"I've kept you waiting, Kakashi."

"Still the same as ever, bringing these little brats along."

"They're actually trembling. How pitiful."

In the blink of an eye, several Shadow Clones appeared and tightly surrounded Team 7.

Sasuke gave a wicked smile.

"It's excitement before the battle that's making us tremble."

They swung their kunai, quickly disposing of the Water Clones.

But this time, Kakashi had miscalculated. With Haku's appearance, the balance of battle began tilting toward Zabuza Momochi.

Sasuke faced Haku alone. As Crystal Ice Mirrors appeared, Sasuke was completely trapped within the formation. Countless needles shot toward him from every direction, and in an instant, his body was covered in wounds of all sizes.

Kakashi had just been about to move when he realized he was positioned in the middle. The moment he made any rash move, Zabuza would immediately kill Sakura and Dazuna.

And indeed, it was exactly as he'd expected.

Zabuza Momochi said coldly:

"If you make a move, I'll kill the little brats behind you in an instant."

Sakura, who was guarding Dazuna, wanted to step forward, but Zabuza blocked her path. She could only stop where she was, then turn to look at Sen behind her, placing all her hopes on him.

"Big Sen, please help Sasuke! I'll treat you to your favorite barbecue!"

A little ear slowly rose above the pile of rocks and twitched slightly.

But there was no response. Before setting out, Naruto had said that if barbecue couldn't tempt the Hole-Hole Monster, then it meant she hadn't offered enough!

Desperate, Sakura immediately raised the price. "Three meals! I'll treat you to barbecue three times!"

Zabuza's expression changed. If it was only Kakashi, he wouldn't be afraid, but...

"That guy is here too?!"

After that battle, Zabuza had been left with a psychological shadow. He'd replayed it in his mind countless times, yet he still couldn't come up with a good way to deal with him.

He gripped the Executioner's Blade tightly. Even so, he remained deeply uneasy, his face full of tension.

Uchiha Sen slowly stood up and held up two fingers at Sakura.

"Mm, only two meals? I didn't think Sen had such a side to him. Since we're both from the Uchiha Clan, even though Sen doesn't care much about his appearance, he actually looks pretty handsome." Sakura secretly swooned.

Then Sen shouted with utter conviction, "Otherwise, I won't do it!"

To Uchiha Sen, Kakashi and the others were no different from Zabuza—just foolish local muggles. Three meals were supposed to make him waste his cultivation to save someone who had once looked down on him? Impossible!

Even with his mind unclear, he still held grudges. That was Big Sen for you.

Then why were you holding up two fingers?!

Sakura took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in her heart, and nodded frantically. "Fine, barbecue!"

[Ding! Host is advised to think carefully. Acting rashly would be extremely dangerous.]

Unexpectedly, the system gave a red-screen warning this time. But all Sen could see was barbecue, mountains of delicious meat beckoning to him.

He slowly walked forward.

There was no pressure, no killing intent. Everything seemed normal, as though he were merely strolling down the street, yet it placed immense psychological pressure on Zabuza.

Kakashi also noticed something was off. Holding a kunai, he advanced and returned Zabuza's earlier words to him word for word.

"If you dare turn around, I'll join the battle in an instant."

Sen strode forward and said coolly:

"From now on, you'll all remember this name—Blue Star's Big Sen!"