White Goes All Out

Clang!

A metallic scraping sound rang out as the Senbon in Haku's hand collided with Naruto's Kunai. The Senbon was a weapon like a long needle—slender, and generally used as a medical tool.

Yet in Haku's hands, such a weapon became an impenetrable wall, neutralizing Naruto's attacks one by one. Throughout the exchange, Naruto had been completely led by Haku's rhythm.

Seizing an opening, Haku drove a Senbon into the back of Naruto's hand. Naruto cried out in pain, dropping his Kunai, which Haku kicked aside before landing a punch squarely in his stomach.

Naruto was sent flying hard. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I don't want to kill you, but I can't let you interfere with Lord Zabuza!"

Haku shot toward Naruto like a sharp sword.

Rather than dodging, Naruto lunged straight at Haku. The two grabbed each other and rolled together, tumbling right off the bridge and plunging into the sea.

"Naruto!" Sasuke's pupils constricted with alarm.

At that moment, Zabuza was locked in combat with Kakashi, swinging the Kubikiribōchō.

"Hmph, worried about that brat, aren't you?" Zabuza pressed the Kubikiribōchō against Kakashi's Kunai and sneered. "Haku has talent that surpasses even mine. That blond brat will definitely lose to Haku. And Kakashi, so will you. I won't be fooled by your clumsy tactics again. At the same time, I've figured out the weakness of your Sharingan."

Kakashi and Zabuza disengaged and leaped back. Kakashi had already revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Zabuza formed hand seals once more and used the Hidden Mist Technique. This time, due to the environment, the mist was even thicker than before, reducing visibility to less than a meter.

"As long as you can't see, your Sharingan won't be of much use, will it?" Zabuza's eerie voice came from every direction.

"So you really intended to use this ninjutsu to counter my Sharingan?" Kakashi had anticipated it. The next time they met, Zabuza would certainly have a plan specifically aimed at his Sharingan. The Hidden Mist Technique truly restrained his Sharingan; in this environment, it could not display much power. Moreover, the mist was filled with Zabuza's chakra. Even the Byakugan would be of little use here.

Elsewhere, Naruto and Haku stood atop the sea after falling into it, having moved beyond the area where Kakashi and Zabuza were fighting.

"Are you still going to wear that mask, Haku? Your scent can't fool me!" Naruto was soaked from head to toe. His wet blond hair had changed his appearance, and his face was solemn. Having fallen into the water, Naruto looked even more handsome.

Haku removed her mask and tossed it into the sea, where it slowly sank. Her breathtakingly beautiful face was revealed, like a lotus rising from the water, her long black hair falling loosely over her shoulders. "You recognized me the last time we met, didn't you?"

Naruto answered with a straight face, "That's right. Because of Gato, the people of the Land of Waves can barely afford to eat. They're either sallow-faced and malnourished, or skin and bones. Otherwise, their skin is somewhat darkened from years of sea wind, like Aunt Tsunami's. But you? You're so beautiful. Even the goddess from the legends must be you!"

Haku smiled softly, her bright dark-brown eyes fixed on Naruto. "Even if you praise my beauty, I still won't let you obstruct Lord Zabuza. I'm very sorry, Naruto. Next, I'm going to knock you unconscious."

"I won't let you go back! Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto formed hand seals. This was precisely why he had deliberately dragged Haku away from the battle. Thousands upon thousands of Shadow Clones densely packed the surface of the sea.

Haku looked at Naruto in surprise. "So many Shadow Clones... It seems Lord Zabuza was right, Naruto. You really aren't an ordinary ninja..."

"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!" Haku's expression turned serious. She formed hand seals, creating a rectangular Ice Mirror. Her body merged into it and vanished before Naruto's eyes, causing his charging attack to miss.

"She disappeared... Where did Haku go?"

"She's gone! She's not underwater either!"

"Ah, she's in the sky!"

One of the Shadow Clones noticed an Ice Mirror forming hundreds of meters overhead. Haku emerged from it and swiftly formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

The roar of a dragon echoed out as a Water Dragon over ten meters tall surged up from the sea. Each time it pounced, dozens of Naruto's Shadow Clones were swept away.

Haku leaped down from the sky, her gaze sharpening as she saw two of Naruto's Shadow Clones forming Rasengan and charging toward her.

Just as Haku was about to hit the water, an Ice Mirror appeared. Her body fell into it and vanished, while Naruto's Rasengan struck nothing but air.

The Water Dragon crashed down toward the sea, boiling the water and throwing up a towering wave. More than half of Naruto's Shadow Clones were wiped out by Haku's Water Dragon Jutsu.

Haku's Kekkei Genkai, Ice Release, was formed by combining Wind and Water chakra. Thus, Haku was also proficient in Wind Release and Water Release ninjutsu, while all her Ice Release techniques had been developed by herself.

Seeing Naruto's performance, Haku seriously brought out some of her strength. The Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals were impossible to guard against. Even in Awen's memories, Haku, after being revived through Impure World Reincarnation, had used this technique to directly shoot down Sai and the other airborne forces.

In Awen's memories, White-Clad Sasuke of Shippuden had mastered the Curse Mark and fought against his brother, Itachi Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha may have held back somewhat, but it would be ridiculous to say he had gone easy on Sasuke.

By comparison, Haku's battle against Naruto here in the Land of Waves was what truly counted as going easy on him. Otherwise, if Haku had been even slightly more ruthless, Naruto and Sasuke would have been thoroughly dead. Even Kakashi could not have stopped Zabuza and Haku if the two had joined forces.

Back in reality, Naruto truly had no way to fight back against a Haku who was only a little more serious.

Suddenly, white Ice Mirrors surrounded the remaining Naruto from every direction. Haku's figures appeared within them, firing Senbon from all sides.

"Ahhh..."

All of Naruto's remaining Shadow Clones were taken out by Haku's Senbon, while the real Naruto was now pierced with so many needles that he looked like a hedgehog.

The Ice Mirrors dispersed, leaving only one behind. Haku stepped out from it, took out two Senbon, and said, "I'm sorry, Naruto. You'll have to sleep for a while."

Whoosh!

The two Senbon pierced Naruto's neck. In that instant, Naruto lost consciousness and stopped breathing, just as when Haku had struck Zabuza and made him appear dead.

"This is the end. Get some good sleep." Holding Naruto in a princess carry, Haku wore a sweet smile on her lovely face as she walked toward the shore. Her movements were gentle, and her tone was like she was soothing a child.

Inside the inner space, the Nine-Tails burst into laughter. Looking at Naruto before him, he made no effort to hide his mockery. "Naruto, do you see now? You're far too weak. On your own, there's nothing you can do. If your opponent hadn't been Haku, that Water Dragon Jutsu from earlier would have smashed you to pieces."