The Kubikiribōchō shot back into the mist faster than it had come, hurtling straight toward the concealed Zabuza!
He detected my real body even after I used the Hidden Mist Technique?
Zabuza was startled, but he showed no fear. His towering figure emerged from the mist, and he reached out to catch the returning Kubikiribōchō by its handle, just as the newcomer had done.
The instant he caught the Kubikiribōchō, it stopped dead. Zabuza did not retreat even half a step!
He surpassed the newcomer in strength, but once he got a clear look at his opponent, Zabuza still offered a word of praise:
"You're young, but your speed and strength aren't bad. You've got some skill. Too bad you're about to die."
"You're... Naruto Uzumaki?"
Did he happen to pass through here on some mission?
Kurenai Yuhi recognized him too. Watching Naruto's back, she was surprised and puzzled by his appearance here. Even if Sakura or Kiba had already returned to the village to deliver the news, there was no way the village could have sent someone so quickly!
Meanwhile, Kakashi, who was still lying helplessly on the ground somewhere, wore a resigned expression. He was beginning to regret draining his chakra so completely.
He barely managed to reach up and touch his mask. It felt as though he could still feel the lip print left on it not long ago.
After all, he could not even see his own body now. Once he had been dragged into the shade, a simple camouflage invisibility technique had been cast on him.
"I miscalculated..."
Kakashi let out a long sigh from where he had been left. There was no one beside him now.
Naruto glanced back at Kurenai Yuhi and noticed that she was still holding her wound:
"You're Kurenai Yuhi-sensei,