Zabuza leaped backward to put distance between himself and Naruto, his eyes filled with disbelief.
His mist assassination technique, the undefeated art that had made his name, had been broken so easily by yet another boy?
Had these people from Konoha specifically trained a whole group of ninja who weren't afraid of the Hidden Mist Technique?
The Byakugan girl who had broken his Hidden Mist Technique before wasn't even here. How had they done it?
No one explained the truth to the stunned Zabuza. They were in the middle of a fight.
A confident smile curved Naruto's lips. Through the Mind Transmission Technique, a brief thought of gratitude instantly traveled back toward Hinata: Thanks, Hinata!
You're welcome, Naruto-kun.
With the Byakugan present, the Hidden Mist Technique's greatest advantage was gone.
Kakashi's Sharingan slowly spun in the thick mist. He, too, had received Hinata's guidance through the Mind Transmission Technique.
The scales of this battle had tipped toward the Konoha ninja from the very beginning.
Kakashi drew a kunai and attacked Zabuza. Instinct warned Zabuza of impending danger, and he retreated two steps, evading Kakashi's high-speed charge.
Just as Zabuza dodged Kakashi's attack, a fierce gust from a punch whistled toward him.
Asuma Sarutobi appeared like a phantom!
The cigarette clenched between his lips left an orange-red streak in the mist. The chakra knuckle blades on his hands were sheathed in dark blue blades of chakra, condensed until they seemed solid. Carrying a deadly chill, they stabbed viciously toward Zabuza's ribs like striking vipers.
Whirlwind Fist!
The timing was cunning, the angle merciless!
Drawing on his extensive combat experience, Zabuza tried to dodge again at the last possible moment, but Asuma's knuckle blades were too fast, too sudden!
The blades still carved two wounds deep enough to expose bone.
"Argh!"
Zabuza