They had barely finished off the last enemy when, all of a sudden, a heavy mist began to roll in around them.
"Kakashi-sensei, this mist—" Sakura raised her sword defensively. "It's his technique, isn't it? The Hiding in the Mist technique."
Kakashi didn't respond, but from the corner of her eye, Sakura saw him give a silent nod.
Sasuke, facing this suffocating fog once again, felt his body tremble. That same overwhelming bloodlust crept in, sending a chill down his spine and locking his muscles in place.
To his left, Naruto fared no better. His teeth chattered, and the hand gripping his kunai shook violently.
In contrast, Kakashi and Sakura stood firm—unshaken.
Kakashi, seasoned and calm, was no stranger to killing intent and wouldn't flinch from a trick like this.
As for Sakura, someone who had lived through high-coverage carpet bombings in her previous life and walked away alive, this was nothing more than child's play.
From within the fog, a rough voice echoed, as if coming from every direction.
"Been a while, Kakashi. And I see you've got those brats tagging along again, just like last time." The clinking of metal against metal rang out—a sound like chains falling to the ground—adding an eerie weight to the already tense atmosphere. "And the little boy is trembling again... poor thing."
Biting the corner of his lip, Sasuke scanned the surroundings, his eyes burning with deep-seated anger. The voice, laced with mocking sarcasm, cut into him like a blade, dragging up memories of his shameful performance the last time they faced this enemy.
"I'm shaking with eagerness for a rematch," Sasuke said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips despite the cold sweat trailing down his face.
Nngg!
Suddenly, five figures materialized around them, each leaving a blurry shadow in their wake.
Bandaged faces. Spiky black hair. Murderous eyes. Bare chests and gaudy, extravagant pants—each figure was unmistakably Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.
!!
The moment the clones appeared, their eyes widened in shock.
Each one was being stared down—directly, unwaveringly.
Kakashi faced one of the clones with a mocking glint in his eye and a faint, knowing smile.
"Go ahead, Sasuke."
Before the clones could react, a blood-red streak slashed through the mist, followed by a sharp wave of air that tore it apart.
Where the last Zabuza clone had stood, Sasuke remained—still and composed. Kunai and shuriken hung from his hands, but what caught everyone's attention were the two tomoe of his Sharingan, spinning vividly in his eyes.
"S-Sasuke, your eyes!" Naruto stammered in awe.
Kakashi and Sakura stared in silence, their faces filled with surprise and recognition.
"I know," Sasuke said confidently. "I only awakened them recently. With these eyes, I'm definitely stronger than before."
At that moment, Zabuza and a young man stepped onto the bridge.
"Well, clearly, my water clones are no match for you," Zabuza admitted with a low chuckle. "Seems you brats have improved. You've turned into... worthy rivals. Right, Haku?"
"Indeed," the boy beside him replied, calm and polite.
---
"Looks like I was right," Kakashi spoke, his tone even. "Our mysterious masked friend is playing on Zabuza's team."
Sakura scoffed. "You really have the nerve to show yourself again. Aren't you afraid of death?"
As the two groups faced each other, a heavy tension hung over the bridge like a storm about to break.
Sasuke stepped forward, pointing accusingly at Haku. "This one is mine. You put on quite the show before—and I hate two-faced liars like you."
Haku didn't seem affected. In fact, he sounded almost appreciative. "He's an impressive kid, isn't he? Although your water clones only carry ten percent of your strength, it's still no small feat to destroy them."
Suddenly, the standoff shattered.
Two figures flashed forward and collided mid-air. The clang of kunai meeting senbon echoed sharply, forcing them apart in a spinning clash. Sliding across the ground and kicking up dust, Sasuke fixed his wary gaze on Haku.
Likewise, Haku stared back—but his eyes were filled with surprise.
"The Sharingan... I've heard of it, but I never imagined that just awakening it would bring such power."
Haku was being honest. From their first encounter, he'd judged none of the kids to be a threat. Now, Sasuke's speed had doubled, and the force in his strike was undeniable.
This wasn't just an improvement in physical strength—it was a drastic boost in chakra reserves. It was basic chakra control: infusing chakra into one's muscles could push the body into superhuman territory. The more chakra, the greater the effect.
At that moment, Kakashi rushed forward, and before Sakura or Naruto could react, the shriek of clashing metal rang out.
"Hmph. Kakashi. Just as annoying as before, aren't you?"
Holding back Zabuza's massive sword, Kakashi narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly. "I could say the same about you."
Without turning, he barked out his order.
"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke—protect Tazuna! I'll handle Zabuza!"
The two clashed again, sparks flying, before retreating. Without hesitation, they leapt from the bridge and landed atop the sea below.
"Yes!" ×3
The trio responded in unison and turned to face Haku.
Seeing their resolve, Haku sighed.
"I truly don't want to kill you. Why not retreat? Why lose your lives for a man you barely know?"
The words struck a nerve.
Naruto stepped forward, furious. "Shut up, you bastard! What kind of crap are you spouting? Why should we stop protecting someone just because he's a stranger? And why are you trying to kill an innocent man who just wants to save his home?!"
His voice rose with conviction.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I'm gonna be Hokage one day! If I can't protect a single person, how the hell can I carry that dream? I'll stop the two of you no matter what!"
Sakura didn't waste time with words. Her hands flew through seals—fast, precise.
"Water Release: Gunshot!"
A water bullet the size of a basketball rocketed through the air and slammed into Haku—but instead of a body, it burst into water.
"...Water Clone Substitution Technique."
Behind them, another Haku appeared.
He looked at the three calmly, then sighed again.
"So be it. But don't think you've won. The Sharingan… isn't the only Kekkei Genkai in the world."
"Huh?" Sasuke exclaimed, startled.
Before any of them could react, a chill ran down their spines.