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Although Sasuke was the one who primarily saw through Haku's speed, since Naruto delivered the final kick, he had to be smug about it. Sasuke glanced at him speechlessly but didn't fuss over it.
"We're all people leading students. Being underestimated makes things difficult for me too." Kakashi also sighed in relief, speaking lightly from behind the two. Fortunately, these two kids performed reasonably well. Guess his last-minute cramming session was somewhat useful.
"Haku, if you keep this up, you'll be overturned by these two brats."
"Underestimate them a little less. After all... they are the Jinchuriki and the owner of a Kekkei Genkai."
Zabuza was somewhat surprised that Sasuke and Naruto could see through Haku's speed. However, Haku's hidden Kekkei Genkai wasn't so easily discerned.
"Mm." Haku lowered his head slightly and stood up from the ground. His wooden clogs clicked crisply on the bridge. Immediately, an almost visible pale blue aura emanated from around him.
"What?!" Naruto and Sasuke stepped back somewhat blankly, then felt a bone-chilling cold radiating from Haku.
Haku's hands suddenly formed a seal they had never seen before. Immediately, the large patches of water on the ground rapidly rose and accumulated beside them, forming mirrors as if conscious!
"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals."
In terms of combat experience alone, Haku and Zabuza were clearly far superior to Team 7. Even if their Kirigakure wasn't so bloody and violent now, they still held the top spot in the assassination business. Tourism is tourism, can't forget the old trade.
Hatake Kuroshi sat on the shaky railing of the bridge, casually dismantling the explosives in his hand into several parts and tossing them into the sea behind him. The timer on the explosives was torn raggedly; clearly, while dismantling, Hatake Kuroshi didn't care at all if the thing would explode.
"Such thick fog, looks more like assassination than capture—" However, without the intent to kill them, this battle probably wouldn't be much to watch.
Hatake Kuroshi chuckled lightly, his black figure gradually fading into the sea fog.
The water puddles around Sasuke and Naruto instantly transformed into mirrors, enclosing them tightly like an igloo. Haku's figure gradually merged into one of the ice mirrors. Immediately after, all the mirrors surrounding Naruto and Sasuke reflected Haku's image.
"So many... mirrors." These ice blocks appeared too suddenly, gleaming white and somewhat reflective. Unsure if it was an optical illusion or the nature of the mirrors, Naruto couldn't distinguish for a moment which mirror held the real Haku.
"This is bad." Upon seeing those gleaming white mirrors, Kakashi instantly understood and quickly ran towards the ice mirror array. Seeing that kid form seals single-handedly was surprising enough earlier, yet now he performed such an unprecedented technique. Although Naruto and Sasuke had potential, they were ultimately just inexperienced kids. Being trapped directly inside like this, the danger level was undoubtedly too high.
"Your opponent is me."
Good, just trapping those two brats like this is enough. Separating them, then bringing those two back later will suffice. Zabuza and Haku had already planned this, separating the teacher from the students. Regardless of Zabuza's success or failure outside, Haku could find an opportunity to bring them back and complete the mission.
Zabuza gripped the Executioner's Blade behind him, suddenly blocking Kakashi's path.
"If you dare make a rash move, I'll kill those two behind you immediately." Of course, this was just bluffing Kakashi. After all, if Kakashi entered Haku's ice mirrors, their new mission would basically be ruined. Although the Sharingan couldn't copy Haku's secret technique, Kakashi hadn't grown up eating plain rice either.
Zabuza glanced at Tazuna being protected by Sakura behind him. That guy... not only did Kakashi and his team need to protect him, but before they arrived, Zabuza and Haku were also protecting Tazuna indirectly through internal manipulation.
"Ahhhhhh—!!" After a moment's pause, Sasuke and Naruto's screams suddenly erupted from within the ice mirrors.
Kakashi wavered for a split second. But Kakashi couldn't just let Zabuza kill their client, especially with Sakura also there. Although it seemed Naruto and Sasuke could hold their own against Haku earlier, now he could only trust the two of them.
Not good, this is terrible. In every aspect, the current situation is terrible. Kakashi's brow furrowed tightly.
"Those two are incapable of killing, right? Even if they can break Haku's technique, they definitely can't bring themselves to kill."
"This is the folly of your peaceful education. Ninjas who can't kill are useless." Zabuza chuckled lowly, placing his hand before him.
Immediately, an overwhelming fog spread around everyone. Kakashi watched helplessly as Zabuza vanished instantly within the vast expanse of mist.
...
Naruto and Sasuke sat battered inside the ice mirrors. Since the mirrors formed, Haku's speed became almost impossible to track with the naked eye. Inside here, they could only passively take hits, completely unable to grasp Haku's movement trajectory. It seemed the mirrors merely flashed white light, and then senbon needles would scratch bloody marks onto their bodies.
"I won't lose to you here! I still have the dream of being acknowledged by everyone and becoming Hokage!"
"How could I stop here!" Naruto gritted his teeth, looking at the ice mirrors before him. All of them reflected Haku's cold mask.
"I also have someone important to me. Whether actions or battles, they are all driven by him. His dream is my dream."
"So... I absolutely will not fail sensei, nor will I let the mission fail." Haku spoke in a low, somewhat fierce voice. Immediately, the figures in the mirrors began moving rapidly.
Not failing the mission is a good thought, but didn't expect him to develop this kind of personality. Hatake Kuroshi thoughtfully rubbed his chin. When leaving Kirigakure, he wasn't clear about Zabuza's situation.
Now, these two were safe and sound as Kirigakure ninjas. The 'relying on each other as missing-nin' mindset from the original story seemed to have been directly transformed into 'teacher complex'. Thinking about it, Kirigakure really tends to produce such combinations. Hatake Kuroshi inexplicably thought of Mangetsu Hozuki's face. Well, forget it. This definitely isn't his problem.
"Just failing once! I won't give up because of something like this!"
"Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto formed hand seals before him, sending out a large group of Shadow Clones.
Even the fastest speed can be seen through. Sasuke pursed his lips, focusing intently on the swarm of Shadow Clones Naruto launched into the air. Although it seemed difficult earlier, his gaze could now gradually track Haku's movement trajectory within the ice mirrors.
Haku's figure brushed past splashing water droplets, hands holding senbon needles moving rapidly among the mirrors in all directions. Naruto's Shadow Clones were almost instantly dispersed by Haku, the real body falling to the ground covered in injuries.
Immediately, Sasuke abruptly retreated. Although several senbon needles still grazed past his leg, he wasn't directly hit this time. Haku's figure merged back into the ice mirrors again.
"One more time. I can definitely hit him." Sasuke's eyes stared intently at Haku moving continuously on the mirrors, speaking to Naruto beside him.
"Yeah!" Naruto took a deep breath, nodding forcefully.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Stop doing useless things!"
The moment Naruto used the Shadow Clone Technique, Sasuke's hands rapidly formed seals. Then, seizing the instant Haku emerged from the mirror... Sasuke pressed one hand to his lips and abruptly blasted a fireball towards Haku!
"!" Haku barely swerved aside in mid-air. Crimson flames quickly licked past his trouser leg, emitting a scorched smell. Dodging this took too much time. Staying outside longer risks having my trajectory tracked.
Haku chose a nearby ice mirror and flashed inside, then quickly attacked again, throwing out senbon needles, shattering all of Naruto's Shadow Clones and knocking him to the ground.
How is that possible? Did he already see through my speed?! Haku, looking through the slits of his mask, watched Sasuke somewhat nervously. His secret technique couldn't even be broken by Jonin, yet this kid could track his trajectory so quickly?!
It must have been a coincidence. Haku forced himself to calm down, warily staring at Naruto and Sasuke within the ice mirrors.
Sasuke's mind raced. Having Naruto continue using the Shadow Clone Technique was indeed somewhat wasteful; after all, it was a high chakra-consuming skill. As long as Haku leaves the mirror, he can track his movements.
During Sasuke's moment of thought, the mirrors around them once again reflected dazzling white light. Using the ice mirrors to reflect light, temporarily creating a blind spot... this is the prelude to Haku's attack.
"Get out of here quickly, Naruto! Attack him from outside!" Sasuke's hands rapidly formed seals, watching all possible attack directions around Naruto.
"Ah, okay! Got it!" Naruto nodded without thinking further, quickly running towards the gap between the ice mirrors.
Haku's gaze darkened. Even if his speed was seen through, within these ice mirrors, it's impossible for anyone to match his speed. Trying to get out? Too naive.
"Do you think you can manage that?" Haku's figure instantly flashed out from a nearby ice mirror, flying straight towards Naruto's side.
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