Haku Plays Dirty; Sōgetsu Steps In! (Continued)

"Whew... Hot, hot." Aogetsu Hyuga watched the show as he slurped down mouthful after mouthful of ramen.

In any case...

He really ought to thank the Demon of Kirigakure for going to such trouble to help those unfocused brats of Team 7 grow.

Meanwhile, on the bridge...

"Damn it!" Sasuke Uchiha stared grimly at Naruto inside the sphere of water. He had never faced anything like this before, and he was completely at a loss.

Damn it!

What do I do?

The anguish of the Night of the Massacre flashed through Sasuke Uchiha's mind. Then the image gave way to memories of the three members of Team 7 fooling around with Aogetsu.

"Sakura, do it." Sasuke Uchiha lowered his head. His black hair hid his crimson eyes, making his expression impossible to read.

Damn it!

What am I saying?

I'm actually worried about Naruto, that total idiot?

"Sasuke..." Sakura Haruno froze. She had never expected the cold, power-obsessed Sasuke to worry about Naruto Uzumaki.

Why?

Suddenly, Aogetsu Hyuga's detached voice sounded in the minds of every member of Team 7.

"What do you mean, 'do it'? Can't you use your heads? You carry my name, yet you useless brats are still making fools of yourselves."

"I taught you to think whenever you run into trouble. Think about what you have in your pockets."

"What's happening right now, and what should you do about it?"

"Haven't you little brats noticed that the Demon of Kirigakure hasn't moved since earlier?"

"Go ahead and act. If anything goes wrong, I'll handle it."

"Whew... Hot. Mm, tonkotsu ramen really hits the spot."

Aogetsu Hyuga had sent his voice into Team 7's minds through Chakra.

All of Team 7 froze.

"Teacher Aogetsu..." Sakura Haruno's fear vanished, replaced by a rush of relief.

Teacher Aogetsu is nearby!

If he's nearby, what do I have to be afraid of?

There's nothing to fear anymore!

"What do we have in our pockets..." Sasuke Uchiha frowned, fixing Zabuza in the distance with his Sharingan.

Teacher Aogetsu said the Demon of Kirigakure hasn't moved since earlier.

What does that mean?

He hasn't moved... Wait!

"Hmph." Sasuke Uchiha gave a cold laugh. "You asked what I have in my pocket? I can tell you for certain: a way out of this!"

He finally understood what Teacher Aogetsu had been hinting at!

The Demon of Kirigakure hadn't moved because he couldn't. To maintain the Water Prison Technique, he had to keep up his Hand Seals.

Nor could the Demon of Kirigakure kill Naruto with the Water Prison Technique alone. He would have to pull out a Kunai.

But if he pulled out a Kunai, he would break his Hand Seals, and the Water Prison Technique would vanish.

Zabuza Momochi had been bluffing!

That's Teacher Aogetsu for you!

Even while watching from a distance, he spotted the Demon of Kirigakure's weakness!

"What happened? Why have those brats calmed down?" Zabuza Momochi's face darkened as he looked at Sakura and Sasuke, surprise flickering in his eyes.

They had been terrified moments ago. Why did they suddenly look relieved?

What happened?

He had not heard Aogetsu's Chakra-transmitted words.

"Demon of Kirigakure, you're strong, I'll give you that. But Aogetsu is better than you." Sasuke Uchiha formed Hand Seals, then gripped his wrist. Azure lightning sprang from his palm, crackling with an astonishing amount of Chakra.

Bzzzt! The azure lightning in Sasuke's palm let out a shrill, birdlike cry that rang across the bridge and stabbed at everyone's eardrums.

"Chidori!" Lightning in hand, Sasuke Uchiha walked toward Zabuza with a cold expression.

For now, he could only use Chidori twice a day. He had been saving it as his trump card.

"That technique... Chidori? The one the Copy Ninja invented?" Zabuza Momochi glared at Sasuke as he approached.

That damned Aogetsu keeps getting in my way!

He hasn't even shown up, and he's still getting in my way!

First Naruto Uzumaki's Rasengan, then Sakura Haruno's strange Chakra Enhanced Strength, and now Sasuke Uchiha can even use Chidori!

Damn Aogetsu!

In just five days, he taught every member of Team 7 a powerful technique and made those useless brats this strong!

After only five days, three Genin can put up a fight against me, one of the Seven Blade Swordsmen!

It's all that damned Aogetsu Hyuga's fault. How does he teach his students?

How did he get three useless Genin to learn techniques like these?

This is ridiculous!

Completely ridiculous!

Zabuza Momochi maintained his Hand Seals, the arm holding the sphere of water trembling slightly. His voice dripped with murderous intent. "Take one more step, and I'll kill him!"

"You say that awfully easily for someone who can't do it." Sasuke Uchiha looked at Zabuza Momochi with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, his gaze cold and arrogant. He lifted his chin and sneered. "Idiot. If you can do it, go ahead."

"Sasuke?" Sakura Haruno was confused. She still had not fully understood Teacher Aogetsu's hint.

That kid... Did his Sharingan let him see through my bluff? Zabuza Momochi frowned.

Or was it Aogetsu Hyuga again?

Damn Aogetsu!

Sasuke Uchiha stepped up to Zabuza and taunted him coldly. "What's wrong? Go on, do it."

"You can't, can you? The moment you move, that idiot Naruto will attack you, and I'll attack at the same time."

Sasuke Uchiha sneered. "Even a Jonin can't defend against two attacks at point-blank range."

"..." Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno froze. After Sasuke's explanation, they gradually realized Zabuza had been bluffing.

But Sasuke is such a show-off!

Teacher Aogetsu gave him the hint, and he's still acting like he figured it all out!

"Just die already." Sasuke Uchiha thrust his lightning-clad hand toward Zabuza Momochi's heart.

In an instant...

Zabuza Momochi pulled his hand free and leaped backward, trying to put distance between himself and Sasuke Uchiha.

"Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto Uzumaki crossed two fingers to form a seal. With a pop, two Shadow Clones appeared and rapidly shaped Chakra into a sphere above his palm.

"Rasengan!" Naruto Uzumaki charged after Zabuza, who was still airborne, the Rasengan in his hand.

"Chidori!" Sasuke Uchiha leaped forward. The lightning drove him faster as he thrust his palm toward Zabuza's heart.

"Move, and you'll die." A soft voice rang across the bridge. Wearing a white mask and Kirigakure ANBU clothes, Yuki Haku appeared behind Sasuke and Naruto with a Body Flicker Technique.

Yuki Haku pressed an ice Kunai to each of their necks.

"He's fast!" Sasuke Uchiha stiffened, fear flashing through his eyes.

When did that masked guy appear?

If he wanted us dead, he could probably kill Naruto and me in an instant.

"That voice... I've heard it somewhere." Naruto Uzumaki paused. The ice Kunai nicked the skin of his neck, drawing a drop of crimson blood.

He feels so familiar!

And I've definitely heard that voice before!

"Sasuke! Naruto!" Sakura Haruno struggled to her feet and stared at Yuki Haku's back in surprise.

Isn't he that pretty boy who was chatting and laughing with Teacher Aogetsu earlier?

Zabuza Momochi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked coldly at Yuki Haku. "Haku, you took too long!"

"I'm sorry," Yuki Haku said.

"Forget it. Kill these brats!" Zabuza Momochi sat on the ground. His injuries were severe, and he could no longer fight.

Yuki Haku's slight frame trembled. After a moment's hesitation, he replied respectfully, "Yes, Mr. Zabuza."

"One more person won't change the outcome!" While Haku hesitated, Sasuke Uchiha wrenched free of his arm and swung Chidori at Haku's slender neck.

Bzzzt! The lightning in Sasuke Uchiha's palm passed straight through Yuki Haku's neck. The figure before him rippled.

"A... mirror?" Sasuke Uchiha stared at the ice mirror in confusion. He tried to pull his hand back, only to find it frozen to the mirror.

At the sight, Zabuza Momochi gave a cold laugh. "It's no use. Haku is an even better Ninja than I am—the most useful tool I've ever found!"

He believed Yuki Haku was a Ninja more talented and powerful than himself!

If not for his naive kindness, Yuki Haku would be the perfect tool!

"I'm sorry. Please die for Mr. Zabuza." Yuki Haku appeared behind Sasuke and slashed at his neck with an ice Kunai.

He hated taking lives, especially the lives of Team 7's children. But for Zabuza, he could make himself strong enough to do it!

He would do anything to fulfill Zabuza's dream!

"Sasuke, what are you doing? How could you fall for such an obvious trap?" Rasengan in hand, Naruto Uzumaki slammed his palm toward Yuki Haku's stomach. His hand passed through Haku, and the figure rippled.

This Yuki Haku is a mirror too!

"Wait, what?" Naruto Uzumaki's hand froze to the ice mirror. No matter how hard he pulled, he could not free it.

"Total idiot!" Sasuke Uchiha cursed under his breath. Naruto had mocked him, then fallen into the same trap.

Sasuke Uchiha's hand was frozen to the mirror, leaving him unable to move. Naruto Uzumaki was stuck to another mirror and could not move either.

"Hiss..." Sakura Haruno drew a sharp breath. She had no Chakra left; even the slightest movement sent pain through her body, and her arms and legs had lost their strength.

"Haku, what are you doing?" Zabuza Momochi demanded coldly. "With your strength, you should be able to kill these brats easily. Give up those naive ideas. You're just a tool for completing my mission!"

He knew Yuki Haku was hesitating, foolishly hoping to spare Team 7.

Team 7 had grown stronger through training, but Yuki Haku could still defeat all of them with ease!

Because Yuki Haku was a prodigy whose abilities surpassed a Jonin's!

"Bastard, you're so damn loud!" Naruto Uzumaki shouted. "Tool this, tool that—how can a Ninja be a tool? Ninja are people! Of course they have feelings!"

A tool?

To hell with that!

"Yes, Mr. Zabuza." Yuki Haku emerged from the mirror, gripping an ice Kunai in each hand, and slashed toward Naruto and Sasuke's necks.

Sakura Haruno's pupils contracted. On the verge of tears, she cried out, "Teacher Aogetsu!"

No one in Team 7 could move. Teacher Aogetsu was their only hope now!

Bzzzt! Aogetsu Hyuga appeared out of thin air, holding a bowl of tonkotsu ramen in one hand. With the other, he swung at Yuki Haku's face.

Smack! Yuki Haku's mask cracked. His small frame flew backward and crashed to the ground far away.

"Teacher Aogetsu!"

All of Team 7 breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Teacher Aogetsu was here, everything would be fine.

"I thought I made it clear this was supposed to be a fun game," Aogetsu Hyuga said, holding his ramen as he looked down at Yuki Haku with detached arrogance. "Nobody said you could break the rules."