Water Prison Crisis, a Roar in the Face of Despair

Thick fog spread everywhere, as if the entire world had been dragged into a chaotic, milky-white sea.

Visibility was terrifyingly low; beyond five meters, man and beast were indistinguishable.

The air was damp, cold, and viscous, clinging tightly to their skin like a layer of burial cloth that could not be shaken off.

Kakashi's crimson Sharingan flickered through the mist like ghostly fire, fixed firmly on the space ahead.

"Demon of the Hidden Mist—Zabuza Momochi!"

The moment his words fell, a sinister, hoarse voice, as though tinged with the scent of rust, drifted in from every direction. It slipped into everyone's ears like countless icy insects gnawing at their eardrums.

"Oh? You know my name, and you possess that legendary Sharingan... Kakashi, looks like I hit the jackpot this time."

Then the voice turned mocking and cruel, as though selecting cuts of meat from a butcher's block.

"Throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart... Hehehe. Brats, which vital spot would you like me to strike first?"

That blood-soaked "menu" instantly became a tangible wave of terror that crashed down upon them!

"Urgh—!"

Sakura let out a short, miserable cry. Her eyes rolled back as the world spun around her, and she nearly fainted on the spot.

Sasuke, meanwhile, looked as though he had been struck by lightning!

His entire body stiffened, and his handsome face, usually brimming with pride, had turned white as paper.

That killing intent, as though it had crawled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, pierced wildly through his nerves like countless steel needles!

He could even clearly smell the thick stench of blood in the air and see the horrifying illusion of himself being sliced in two!

Fear!

Fear unlike anything he had ever known!

This feeling was a hundred times more despairing than facing Orochimaru in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Exams!

The hand gripping his kunai trembled violently, while his teeth chattered uncontrollably with a grating sound.

Before that suffocating killing intent, the Uchiha bloodline he had always been proud of and the fruits of his hard training had all become a joke.

Run?

Where could he run?

This fog was a prison!

Fight back?

How could he fight back?

He could not even see the enemy's shadow!

A ridiculous yet horrifying thought rose uncontrollably from the darkest corner of his heart—perhaps... perhaps cutting his own throat with this kunai now would be easier than being tortured to death piece by piece by that invisible monster...

Naruto stood off to the side in bored silence. Seeing Sasuke looking like he was about to wet himself from the corner of his eye, he felt nothing at all. He even found it a little funny.

"Tch, Uchiha Sasuke still has lousy mental fortitude. Looks like I need to strengthen his philosophy lessons."

He frantically mocked him in his heart.

Listing off body parts like he's reciting a rhyme. What, is this some kind of graduate school entrance exam?

Just as Sasuke's mental defenses were about to collapse completely, and the hand holding his kunai slowly began to rise toward his throat, Kakashi's deep, forceful voice exploded beside his ear like thunder!

"Don't be afraid, Sasuke!"

Kakashi suddenly unleashed a powerful surge of chakra. Like a shockwave, it forcibly dispersed part of the killing intent shrouding the three of them.

He spread his arms and stood before them. That usually lazy-looking back had never seemed more dependable.

"As long as I'm here, I'll protect you even if it costs me my life!"

"Is that so?"

The hoarse voice in the dense fog was filled with scornful mockery.

Before the words had even faded, a sharp howl tearing through the air suddenly rang out!

"Whoosh—!"

An unimaginably enormous Kubikiribōchō spun out of the thick mist, carrying terrifying force capable of splitting mountains and shattering stone!

Its broad blade whirled through the air at high speed like an out-of-control industrial meat grinder, whipping up a gale as it swept toward Team 7's waists!

Before the blade even reached them, the fierce wind pressure had already stung their cheeks!

"Scatter!"

Kakashi's pupils shrank sharply as he shoved Tazuna behind him aside.

Rather than retreat, he advanced. His kunai flashed into his hand, and with a clang, he precisely blocked the howling giant blade at the circular hole in its center!

Sparks flew everywhere!

The immense force sent Kakashi sliding back several meters, his feet plowing two deep trenches into the ground.

The next second, a tall man with his face wrapped in bandages, revealing only a pair of cold eyes, appeared ghostlike atop the handle of the Kubikiribōchō and looked down at Kakashi from above.

It was Zabuza Momochi!

"Not bad reflexes. As expected of Copy Ninja Kakashi."

Before Zabuza finished speaking, the two became blurry shadows and collided in an instant!

Kunai and Kubikiribōchō clashed furiously, erupting into a dense series of metallic clang clang clang clang sounds!

The collision of their taijutsu kicked up waves of air that sent the surrounding mist rolling!

They fought from the bridge to the water's surface, their toes sending ripples across the water as they moved so fast that only afterimages could be seen!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Two identical giant water dragons roared up from the surface, colliding violently in midair and exploding into a sky full of spray!

The battle was incredibly fierce!

However, just as Kakashi focused completely on fending off the fierce assault of the "Zabuza" in front of him, a vicious face suddenly emerged from the water beneath his feet!

It was another Zabuza!

Damn it, a Water Clone Technique!

Alarm bells rang in Kakashi's heart, but it was already too late!

The real Zabuza beneath the water formed hand seals at astonishing speed!

"Too late!"

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

Splash—!

A massive spherical prison of water instantly rose from the surface, trapping Kakashi tightly inside with irresistible force!

Kakashi's expression changed dramatically inside the water prison. He tried to break through it, but the density and pressure of the water forming the prison were astonishing, like steel!

He could not break free at all!

With a splash, the Water Clone Technique that had been fighting Kakashi turned into a puddle of clear water and returned to the river.

Zabuza's real body slowly rose from the water, one hand pressed against the water prison to maintain the technique.

He turned his head and looked toward the three brats on shore, who had already been completely stunned, with those cold, cruel eyes.

A cruel curve pulled at his lips, and his voice was filled with the pleasure of a cat toying with mice.

"Kakashi, the game is over."

"Stay right there and watch carefully."

"Next comes the time to slaughter your adorable little brats."

After speaking, water churned beside Zabuza and condensed into another Water Clone Technique identical to him.

Without a word, the water clone hoisted the Kubikiribōchō embedded in the ground onto his shoulder. Letting out a series of chillingly savage chuckles, he walked step by step toward Sasuke and Sakura on the shore.

He moved slowly, each step like the beat of death's drum, pounding heavily against everyone's hearts.

"N-No... don't come closer!"

Sakura's mental defenses collapsed completely. She slumped onto the ground, crying out in despair, tears and snot streaming down her face in a miserable mess.

Sasuke's whole body shook like a leaf.

He watched that monster carrying the giant blade and radiating terrifying killing intent approach step by step, his mind completely blank.

Kakashi-sensei... is trapped...

We're... dead...

No!

No!!!

A wild emotion mixed with fear, humiliation, and unwillingness detonated Sasuke's reason!

He could not die here!

He had yet to avenge himself on that man!

More importantly... he could not look more pathetic than Naruto, that dead last, in front of this bastard!

His big brother was still watching from behind!

He could lose. He could die. But he absolutely could not lose the Uchiha's dignity in front of Naruto!

"Aaaaaaaaaah—!!!"

Sasuke's eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins. He let out a hoarse roar that broke his voice, gripped the kunai soaked through with cold sweat with all his strength, and charged forward like a beast driven into a corner!

"I'm going all out!!!"