"So this bastard sent someone else to die? They're real weaklings—not noticing me," a young man with a huge sword on his back said irritatedly.
"After dealing with them—need to change residence… Would be nice to kill the bastard but he's hiding deep in Fire Country…" he sighed—shifting gaze to a teenage girl in traditional kimono, stroking her hair: "Wait here and hide like always."
The girl nodded silently—skillfully climbing the nearest tree and hiding so well even a Jonin would struggle to find her.
The young man himself appeared twenty meters away in one motion and continued rushing forward until reaching enemies. He jumped onto a tall tree—formed hand seals and whispered quietly: "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!"
*****
Ichiro and brothers dodged the enemy technique without much trouble—always ready. Having survived many battles they were all hardened and prepared for sudden attack.
The second group hired for this mission—on the contrary—wasn't ready for sudden attack; of five people only two survived the "water dragon" technique—the commander and that same burly man. They immediately tried fleeing but were easily cut in half by the catching enemy. He really didn't like the idea of anyone escaping alive.
These few seconds gave Ichiro and brothers enough time to mentally discuss counter-strategy. Ichiro instantly recognized the enemy as Momochi Zabuza. Kenshin had implanted all known information about strongest shinobi into each son's mind so they avoided them.
"Everyone stay alert—this is Momochi Zabuza—one of the Seven Mist Swordsmen. Take combat formation but don't attack!" Ichiro commanded—trying to start dialogue himself.
"Sir—a misunderstanding. Allow us to leave and the Nakayama Family will be in your debt," Ichiro said friendly—Zabuza only laughed heartily.
"Ha-ha-ha! Nakayama Family? First time hearing. Anyway—I can't let you go. Nothing personal," Zabuza said and rushed to attack. His speed was so great that even with two tomoe Ichiro barely reacted—blocking with his sword.
Their strength was incomparable—so Ichiro went flying—breaking several trees with his back. His brothers instantly rushed to attack—not caring about anything else. They perfectly understood escaping alive would be incredibly difficult.
Zabuza admired their coordination but dodged or parried every strike without trouble. It reminded him of times when he trained a shinobi team—little pups trying to kill him exactly the same way.
Fourth followed his elder brother—unsuccessfully blocking Zabuza's strike but mid-flight was caught by rushing back Ichiro and returned to the fight.
"Kaiten!" Twenty-Second's voice rang out; what seemed Zabuza's strongest strike was easily repelled by incredible Hyuga clan technique.
"Kage Mane no Jutsu!" Eighteenth whispered; shadow strips rushed toward the flying Zabuza.
Zabuza barely landed on his feet when another whisper: "Kage Nui no Jutsu!" Shadow strips rose from the ground—aiming for his vital organs.
He was very surprised encountering such a diverse team—but even flying shadow needles didn't make his heart tremble. He calmly whispered: "Suiton: Suijinheki." The appearing water membrane easily delayed enemy shadows—letting him retreat calmly.
Eighteenth barely noticed Zabuza rushing to attack—swinging his sword toward him. He was very weak in close combat and couldn't react—but at the last moment Ichiro appeared before him taking Zabuza's strike on block.
A loud crash sounded; the ground under Ichiro's feet trembled in a ten-meter radius. His arms barely withstood such powerful load—he got away with only tearing a ligament in his right forearm.
Then another horizontal strike from Zabuza—aiming to cut Ichiro in half. But he concentrated and barely blocked—then went flying.
At that moment Eighteenth retreated while Seventh got close enough for a crushing attack. Unfortunately Jonin's reaction speed couldn't be underestimated—so Zabuza calmly decided to meet the enemy sword strike with a sturdy arm guard with steel plates on his left arm.
A loud clang sounded; Zabuza unexpectedly winced painfully—stepping back and instinctively swinging his huge sword at the enemy. The Jonin's strike speed was so high Seventh couldn't properly block—taking the hit first on an invisible barrier then on his chest.
While Zabuza swung at Seventh and checked his arm for injury—finding a muscle cut—Fourth formed hand seals and shouted:
"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku!" He poured huge chakra and barely blew out a five-meter fire wall.
Twenty-Second was nearby and immediately supported his brother—forming seals and shouting: "Fūton: Toppa!" A huge air stream hit the fire wall—letting it grow to fifteen meters.
Seeing the combined Katon and Fūton technique Zabuza felt danger for the first time in battle. He couldn't dodge—so formed hand seals and poured huge chakra into technique:
"Suiton: Suijinheki!" he growled; a thick five-meter water wall appeared before him—barely but absorbing the enemy technique.
While steam from mutually destroyed techniques hadn't dispersed all brothers gathered together—feeling each other telepathically. Seventh was barely conscious but couldn't move. Twenty-Second—being a medic—hurried to him and checked his condition.