The fog thickened until it felt like the whole world had shrunk to a single battlefield. The genin could barely see five steps ahead, but they could hear everything — the clash of steel, the roar of water, and the sharp breaths of two killers locked in combat.
Naruto's knuckles whitened around his kunai. "I can't even tell what's happening! Dammit, I hate just standing here!"
"Stay sharp, idiot," Sasuke muttered. His dark eyes scanned the mist, every nerve on edge. "Zabuza's killing intent hasn't weakened… if anything, it's stronger."
Suddenly, the sound of rushing water echoed from the lake. A blur shot past — Zabuza. His movements were a phantom in the fog.
Kakashi appeared right after, Sharingan burning red. Their clash sent ripples across the water, each strike faster and sharper than before.
But Zabuza wasn't aiming to win by force. He was hunting.
And then, it happened.
The Demon vanished into the mist, reappearing at Kakashi's flank. With speed and precision, his hands blurred into seals.
"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"
The lake surged upward, forming into a sphere of liquid that wrapped around Kakashi like a living cage. His body froze inside, movements slowed as the water bound him tight.
Naruto's heart dropped. "S-sensei!"
Zabuza smirked from where he stood, one hand submerged inside the watery sphere. "It's over. The Water Prison never lets go… as long as I maintain contact, your precious Copy Ninja can't escape."
The genin froze. Kakashi's eye met theirs from inside the prison, calm but warning.
"Naruto… Sasuke… Sakura…" His voice was muffled through the water. "Stay back. Don't… engage."
But Naruto's fists shook violently. "What do you mean, stay back?! If you die, we all die!"
"Dobe, don't be stupid," Sasuke hissed, though his voice was tight with tension. His pride screamed at him — this was their sensei, trapped like a rat, and they couldn't do anything.
On the other side of the lake, a water clone of Zabuza rose, its massive cleaver gleaming. The original maintained the prison while the clone advanced.
"This is where your story ends," Zabuza's voice growled through the mist. "Once I cut down your brats, I'll take my time with you, Kakashi."
The clone stepped forward, water rippling with each heavy step.
Naruto's eyes widened. We're the targets.
Fear stabbed at him, but something hotter surged to the surface — rage.
"I'm not… letting this bastard kill us!" Naruto shouted, pulling out a handful of kunai. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Smoke burst across the clearing as a dozen Narutos appeared, charging at the clone.
Sakura screamed. "Naruto, you'll die!"
But Naruto's eyes burned with determination. "Better fighting than waiting like a coward!"
The clone swung its blade, scattering shadow clones into puffs of smoke. But every time one was cut down, another attacked, forcing it to defend instead of advancing.
For a brief second, Kakashi's eye widened in approval.
Sasuke clicked his tongue, frustration boiling inside him. "Tch… damn idiot's going to steal the spotlight." He pulled out shuriken and crouched low. His Sharingan hadn't awakened yet, but his instincts were sharp. He hurled them, forcing the clone to deflect, opening a gap for Naruto's clones to strike.
The battle turned chaotic. The clone was strong, but teamwork made it falter. Naruto's unpredictability and Sasuke's precision worked better than either expected.
Even Sakura, trembling and pale, found herself pulling out a kunai, standing in front of Tazuna. Her hands shook, but her stance was firm.
Zabuza growled, irritation flickering in his eyes as he maintained the prison. "Persistent brats…"
Inside the water sphere, Kakashi closed his eyes briefly. His students were fighting back, against all odds. He couldn't help but think, Minato-sensei… your son is just as reckless as you were.
But reckless or not, their defiance bought him time.
The Sharingan flared, its tomoe spinning rapidly. Slowly, Kakashi's chakra surged against the prison, pressing against Zabuza's hold.
The Demon of the Mist narrowed his eyes. "Impossible… you shouldn't be able to move inside—"
Ripples trembled across the water sphere.
Kakashi's voice was calm, cold. "You underestimated them. And you underestimated me."
The prison cracked.
Naruto's eyes widened as the water exploded outward. Kakashi surged free, Sharingan blazing with killing intent.
Zabuza snarled, barely pulling his cleaver up in time to block the jonin's strike.
But now… the real fight was back on.
And this time, Kakashi wasn't holding back.
---
✨ End of Chapter 8 ✨