A Tactic

Although the thick mist had dispersed, Zabuza still couldn't pinpoint anyone's position.

But the Kubikiribōchō had one thing going for it: size!

Zabuza chose brute force, hacking at the trees again and again.

Sharp waves of force sliced through the branches and leaves. At this rate, he would find them sooner or later.

Rin Nohara was using the Mystical Palm Technique on Yan. Yan made an immediate decision.

"Guy, open the Eight Gates and engage him up close. Watch your back."

Guy didn't know why Yan had given that order, but he charged out at once.

"Eight Gates of Life and Death, Gate of Pain, open!"

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Green flames of energy erupted around Guy as he launched a Konoha Whirlwind kick at Zabuza.

Bang!

The kick sent Zabuza flying. He twisted in midair, steadied himself, then brought the Kubikiribōchō down on Guy.

Guy's eyes didn't even widen. He shifted aside on instinct, dodging the near-instantaneous slash, then struck Zabuza in the head with the back of his fist.

He raised his right leg for a side kick, but Zabuza blocked it with the sheath of his remaining Samurai Sword. Guy used the impact to spring back. He landed with his left hand behind his waist and his right palm raised, ready for the next exchange.

Obito stared, dumbfounded. "No way. Guy was this strong?"

Guy had never used the Eight Gates during their usual training, and his performance had seemed unremarkable. His speed now caught the other seven completely off guard.

The two charged each other again. Side kicks, sweeping slashes...

Their straightforward Taijutsu was a sight to behold, but only Guy knew that even with five gates open, he held only a slight edge over the bandaged man before him.

He couldn't even find an opening to use Reverse Lotus.

After dodging a sideways slash, Guy used Konoha Whirlwind again, aiming straight for Zabuza's waist.

"Kakashi! Kurenai!"

At Yan's call, Kakashi focused completely. He knew Yan needed him to act.

This time, Zabuza didn't dodge. He quickly pulled his blade in and turned his back toward Guy's side kick.

It reminded Kakashi of how Yan sometimes deliberately took a hit.

Could it be...

Bang!

Guy's kick struck Zabuza, but there was no feeling of solid contact. Mist billowed from Zabuza's body. It felt as though Guy had kicked a cloud of vapor.

An instant later, Zabuza appeared behind Guy, sweeping the Kubikiribōchō upward at him.

"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"

Kurenai Yuhi acted at once. Zabuza found himself bound to a tree, with Kurenai emerging halfway from its trunk, a Kunai poised to pierce his chest.

"Hah!"

Zabuza unleashed a burst of killing intent and broke free of the Genjutsu. In reality, he had paused for only a few seconds before continuing his slash.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A wall bearing a dog's head rose behind Guy. The Kubikiribōchō tore into it with ease.

Fortunately, the blade lodged in the wall before it could break through.

Guy recovered, turned, and sprang off the Kubikiribōchō, driving a Knee Strike into Zabuza and knocking him back.

Zabuza gripped the Kubikiribōchō and staggered backward.

"A tactic!"

The moment Yan spoke, he and Obito leaped out together and hurled Shuriken at Zabuza.

Clang, clang, clang.

Their Uchiha Style Shuriken technique was exquisitely precise. After colliding repeatedly, the Shuriken sealed off every path of retreat.

Zabuza swung the Kubikiribōchō in broad arcs, knocking the Shuriken away, but his arms still picked up several cuts.

Anko dropped from a tree. She threw Shuriken with one hand and slashed at Zabuza's face with a Kunai in the other.

The attack was simple enough. Zabuza swept the Shuriken aside with one stroke and carried the motion into a slash at Anko.

But Anko moved like a snake, ducking behind him. When Zabuza turned, she sprang back the other way.

After weaving and dodging for a while, Anko landed behind Zabuza. He started to turn and swing, but Yan leaped in from the front and punched him. Zabuza slashed at Yan and hit nothing.

Watching Yan jump away, Zabuza stepped forward with his left foot, ready to charge.

Asuma appeared behind Yan. Yan grinned and tightened his grip on the steel wire. "Pull!"

Obito and Anko pulled at the same time.

A sudden force caught Zabuza's hands and feet. He strained to break free, but the steel wire cut bloody grooves into his skin.

Even his neck was tightly bound.

The earlier Shuriken and Anko's close-quarters fight had all been to set up the steel wire.

Now that Zabuza was surrounded by it, it was time to close the trap!

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!" ×3

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

The three unleashed Dragon Fire Technique, and flames raced along the steel wire to engulf Zabuza.

Asuma used Wind Release to strengthen the flames.

Zabuza and everything around him vanished into a sea of fire.

The health bar overhead immediately dropped below fifty!

"We did it!"

Obito shouted in excitement, and a smile appeared on Anko's face.

Zabuza's health kept falling.

Snap.

All three felt the steel wire in their hands break at once!

"Get out of the way!"

A wave of red energy burst from the flames. Zabuza charged straight at Obito, fire streaming from his body and an aura forming the face of a demon around him.

"Obito!"

At Rin Nohara's cry, a sudden slash split Obito's body in two.

Demon Form had appeared!

Faced with such a bloody sight for the first time, everyone but Yan couldn't help trembling.

But they soon calmed down, reminding themselves that it was only a Genjutsu.

The mist had gathered again, but when the twenty-minute mark arrived, it thinned once more.

Zabuza moved again in Demon Form. Yan drew Crimson Sky, and Kakashi drew White Fang.

They used White Fang Swordsmanship together, sending two flashes of white toward Zabuza.

Clang!

Zabuza turned the Kubikiribōchō sideways to block both strikes, then forced them back with a surge of strength.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Guy kicked at Zabuza from behind. Zabuza once again turned his back and raised his blade for a Counterattack.

Zabuza dissolved into thick mist, then reappeared behind Guy.

Yan swung his sword at once, but in Demon State, Zabuza's Counterattack was faster. He eliminated Guy before Yan could reach them, then blocked Crimson Sky in the same motion.

Chidori crackled!

A harsh crackling rose behind Yan. With Chidori gathered in his hand, Kakashi shot toward the two locked in combat like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Zabuza put more strength into his blade, trying to kill Yan quickly. Unable to win the contest of strength, Yan let go of Crimson Sky and seized Zabuza's wrist instead.

Kurenai used Genjutsu, but Zabuza broke it immediately. He was just about to throw Yan off.

Asuma and Kurenai rushed in and grabbed Zabuza's ankles.

Zabuza drew his Samurai Sword with his free hand and raised it to strike, but Rin Nohara's Kunai flew at him, forcing him to knock it away instead.

Kakashi was already closing in!

Chidori seemed poised to pierce both Yan and Zabuza. Everyone's eyes widened. The instant it touched Yan—

Bang!

Screech!

Yan switched places with a wooden log and appeared behind Kakashi. Kakashi's Chidori pierced straight through both the log and Zabuza!

Chidori sank into Zabuza's abdomen, but the health bar overhead still had a sliver left.

Zabuza struggled to swing the Kubikiribōchō.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

Chidori sounded again. This time, it was Yan's!

With his Sharingan giving him a crystal-clear view, Yan sprang upward. Chidori shrieked as it pierced Zabuza's chest, emptying his health bar completely!

Zabuza's body slowly faded, and the illusion shattered like a mirror.

Everyone's eyes flew open, and a message rang in Yan's ears:

[First successful defeat of Raid boss Wandering Zabuza. Obtained 1,000 Gold Coins.]

[Participating members' Chakra reserves increased.]

[The Raid cannot be attempted again for one year.]