"Protect Mr. Tazuna! Fall back!" Kakashi Hatake snapped into battle mode. He straightened his forehead protector, revealing his red Sharingan.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura fought through the suffocating killing intent and hurriedly shielded the stunned Tazuna, watching the two men facing off ahead.
"None of you interfere!" Kakashi warned without looking back. "He's nothing like the small fry we faced before! He's a rogue ninja from Kirigakure, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—the 'Demon of the Hidden Mist,' Zabuza Momochi!"
Zabuza gave a low laugh. "I'm honored the Copy Ninja of Konoha knows my name. But..."
His gaze passed over Kakashi and settled on Tazuna. "Could you hand over that old man? I'm only doing a job I was paid for."
"Sorry. Protecting him is our mission," Kakashi refused without hesitation.
"Is that so? Then there's no helping it." Zabuza's voice turned icy.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Zabuza's hands flew through signs, and the mist around them thickened until they could barely see their hands in front of their faces.
Naruto and the others saw only a blur. They could not even make out their companions beside them.
"Careful! He uses Silent Killing!" Kakashi called urgently from within the mist.
A cold voice came from every direction, like a whisper from the Reaper. "Throat, spine, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart... Which vital spot would you like me to strike?"
The sound of the Kubikiribōchō cleaving through the air suddenly rang out in the mist.
Clang!
A piercing clash of metal exploded through the air. The impact scattered the mist for an instant, revealing Kakashi's Kunai braced against Zabuza's descending Kubikiribōchō. Sparks flew.
The two figures crossed and recrossed at blinding speed. The clashes of Kunai and Kubikiribōchō came so fast they blurred together.
Kakashi's Sharingan spun furiously,