"You're an interesting little brat, aren't you?"
The Third Raikage watched the mist swirling around Zabuza, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Whoosh!!
In a mere instant.
The Third Raikage vanished from where he stood.
Thunder rolled, and lightning flashed everywhere.
Lightning Release chakra enveloped his body, crackling explosively across his skin.
"You look fairly tough."
"But... against speed, being tough makes no difference."
The Third Raikage flashed toward him like a bolt of lightning and threw a punch!
Boom-!!!
The air was torn apart, and lightning pierced the mist like an arrow!
But no blood splashed from the mist. Instead, the instant the lightning-wreathed fist struck, it quietly evaporated and dispersed.
The Third Raikage's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Turning into mist...?"
Ahead of him, the mist gathered again, revealing Zabuza's figure. Pale blue ribbons of chakra mist circled his body, making him look like a shark demon lurking in the deep sea.
"This is Hidden Mist Chakra Mode."
"As long as I choose, no attack can hurt me."
Zabuza's lips curled upward, his aura cold and sinister.
But before he finished speaking, the Third Raikage took a step and vanished!
Zabuza's pupils abruptly contracted!
His opponent had already begun moving while listening to him speak!
A streak of lightning instantly tore through the haze and slammed into Zabuza's position.
Bang!!
Zabuza forcibly twisted his body into mist, barely evading the blow.
Then Zabuza counterattacked, using the Body Flicker Technique to close in and slash down with the Kubikiribōchō!
"Water Release: Severing Water and Breaking Flow!"
The blade's gleam swept out horizontally like a wave!
Yet-
Boom!
He missed again.
Before he had even launched his attack, the Third Raikage had already acted.
He had predicted its trajectory, flashed behind Zabuza, and swung his palm at his back!
Zabuza turned