Hidden Danger

The fastest to react were not Chiba and Kakashi Hatake.

They were Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.

Like cats with their fur standing on end, they instantly drew kunai from their Ninja Tools pouch and braced for an attack.

Chiba silently stood in front of Tazuna.

Protecting their client was what mattered most.

Besides, this old man was the key to his hidden mission.

If anything happened to Tazuna, the hidden mission would be ruined outright.

Whoosh-

The whistle of wind came from every direction.

It was impossible to tell where the attack was coming from.

Clang, clang, clang!

Kakashi Hatake made exactly the right call.

In that instant, several kunai flew out.

An unbroken series of metallic clashes rang through the air.

"Yo!"

"Kakashi, long time no see!"

Zabuza Momochi emerged from the thick mist.

That probing attack had already proven that ambushes were of little use against a ninja of Kakashi Hatake's caliber.

"So you really are alive!"

Kakashi Hatake's gaze grew grave, and he also noticed the boy beside Zabuza Momochi.

The gifted ninja wearing a Kirigakure Anbu mask!

"Haku, leave Kakashi Hatake to me."

Zabuza Momochi instructed him:

"As for those three brats..."

His gaze passed over Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki and settled on Chiba.

Of all those young ninja, Chiba had left the deepest impression on Zabuza Momochi.

Chiba met his gaze without a trace of fear and spread his hands.

"My mission is to protect our client, Mr. Tazuna."

"So I'll leave the fighting to you."

"Don't even think about going after my client. Otherwise..."

At that, a glimmer of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

"This fight will take the turn you least want to see!"

Chiba would spare no one who stood in the way of him completing his mission.

If necessary, he was willing to reveal his trump cards.

Kakashi Hatake nodded.

He was quite happy to see this.

Leaving Tazuna in Chiba's care was the most reassuring choice.

Compared with him, both Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha fell far short.

That went for both their strength and their temperament.

"In that case, I'll just have to finish you off first!"

Zabuza Momochi stared at Kakashi Hatake with murderous intent, his right hand already resting on the Kubikiribōchō on his back.

"Gladly!"

As soon as those words fell, the two clashed.

Powerful gusts burst outward from the point where they collided.

Neither let the fight spread too far; both were doing their utmost to keep it contained.

Perhaps they were taking the others' battle into account.

Sasuke Uchiha seized the initiative, charging straight at Haku with a kunai in hand!

Haku reacted to his attack with remarkable speed.

The senbon in his hand met Sasuke's kunai in an instant.

There was little difference in strength between the two.

Still, Sasuke Uchiha's clenched teeth betrayed some strain.

"Now I have the advantage!"

Haku's voice was full of confidence.

Chiba had been watching their fight the whole time.

He saw Haku block Sasuke Uchiha's attack with one hand while beginning to perform One-Handed Hand Seals with the other!

Kakashi Hatake noticed it too, his pupils contracting slightly.

"How is that possible?!"

"He can actually perform One-Handed Hand Seals?"

Zabuza Momochi suddenly put more force into his attack, driving him back with the Kubikiribōchō.

"Haku's talent is beyond anything you could imagine."

His words were filled with pride in Haku.

Tsk, tsk!

Chiba marveled inwardly:

Even with my cheat, I can't afford to underestimate anyone else.

He truly envied Haku's One-Handed Hand Seals.

Secret technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!

The mist condensed into dozens of senbon, all aimed at Sasuke Uchiha.

A moment later, cold flashes shot toward him!

Fortunately, Sasuke Uchiha reacted quickly, immediately leaping away from his position and dodging the attack.

"Sasuke, I'll help you!"

Unwilling to be left out and ignored, Naruto Uzumaki joined the fight as well.

The fight became a contest of taijutsu.

Against Sasuke Uchiha alone, Haku could still keep him suppressed.

But with Naruto added to the mix, that became a struggle.

He deliberately left an opening, then used Water Body Flicker to break away from the melee.

"Please be careful. I'm going to get serious now!"

Ice Release secret technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!

The water on the ground and the mist in the air began to gather.

Ice mirrors appeared before Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, surrounding them both.

The battle shifted once again.

Meanwhile, at Tazuna's house.

Bang!

Two samurai carrying swords burst inside!

"Who are you?!"

Tsunami stared at the two in fright, the dishes in her hands falling to the floor and shattering.

"This one should do as a hostage, right?"

The two samurai's gazes were chillingly dangerous!