The thick mist fell into dead silence.
On the small boat, time seemed frozen by those two slender fingers.
Naruto was frozen mid-lunge, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg, eyes bulging as if about to pop out.
Sasuke's hand gripping his kunai trembled uncontrollably. His prized dynamic vision had only caught a blurred afterimage in that instant—and an utterly absurd outcome.
Karin tightly covered her mouth to keep from letting out a squeal mixed with admiration and pride.
Big Brother Sora has gotten even stronger.
Tazuna and the boatman were scared out of their wits, collapsing onto the boat planks, forgetting to breathe.
The edge of the Kubikiribōchō hovered less than three inches from Sora's forehead. The violent gust whipped his flaxen short hair wildly, revealing his pure, clear amber eyes.
There was no trace of seriousness on his face; instead, he tilted his head as if examining a curious toy.
"Yo, Mist Demon, Mr. Zabuza Momochi?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the thick mist, reaching everyone's ears clearly.
"Nice craftsmanship on your sword."
"But is that all the strength you've got?"
As his words fell, the two fingers pinching the blade gently twisted.
Clang—!
A teeth-grinding metallic twist rang out.
Zabuza felt an irresistible, terrifying force transmit through the blade—he could no longer hold his beloved sword.
The massive Kubikiribōchō was casually taken from him by Sora.
Sora single-handedly hefted the giant blade wider than his entire body, bouncing it lightly in his hand like it was a firewood stick.
"Hm, it is a bit heavy."
He commented, then casually tossed the Kubikiribōchō onto the boat planks.
Clang!
The massive thud rocked the small boat violently, snapping everyone out of their daze.
From deep in the mist, a tall figure finally emerged slowly.
He stood on the water's surface—burly build, face wrapped in bandages, only a pair of sharp, cold eyes visible. It was none other than Zabuza Momochi.
At this moment, those eyes were filled with incredulous shock.
He stared fixedly at the flaxen-haired youth standing at the bow, then at his own Kubikiribōchō lying quietly on the planks.
How is this possible?
His full-power strike... caught with just two fingers by a boy who looked so much younger than him?
And disarmed?
What utter humiliation!
"Who... exactly are you?" Zabuza's voice was hoarse and low, laced with wariness.
"Me?" Sora pointed at himself, his face bearing that harmless, cheerful grin again. "Konoha's genin Class 7 jonin instructor, Sora Akashi."
"Just an ordinary team leader."
Zabuza's eye twitched.
Ordinary? Someone who can pinch my Kubikiribōchō with two fingers is ordinary?
Are you insulting me, or the word "ordinary"?
"Alright, enough small talk." Sora clapped his hands as if nothing had happened.
He turned around, no longer looking at the wary Zabuza on the water, instead smiling at his three students who hadn't fully recovered from the shock.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Karin."
"Huh?"
"Yes!"
The three instinctively straightened up.
"Given that the mission has temporarily upgraded from C-rank to a quasi-A-rank potentially involving an A-rank rebel ninja..."
Sora cleared his throat and announced in the tone of sharing good news.
"As your responsible teacher, I've decided to temporarily upgrade your training plan as well."
He pointed at Zabuza on the water, whose face was growing increasingly grim.
"See that? A genuine A-rank rebel ninja—the Mist Demon, Zabuza Momochi."
"A big name in the ninja world."
"So..."
A mischievous grin appeared on his face.
"Your final exam for today is here."
"Mission: The three of you versus Zabuza Momochi."
"Objective: Last ten minutes against him."
"Or, find a way to make him lose combat ability."
The words caused shock across the board.
"Hah?!" Naruto was the first to yelp. "Sora-sensei! You're not joking, right?! The three of us against him?!"
Sasuke's face instantly paled.
What a joke!
This was an enemy who could make Sora-sensei take it seriously! Though Sora-sensei made it look easy, that was a jonin!
Having three genin face a renowned elite jonin?
This wasn't training—it was suicide!
"Big Brother Sora..." Karin nervously grabbed the hem of his clothes.
"Relax, relax." Sora ruffled her hair, looking utterly casual. "Don't worry—I'll be watching from the side."
"As long as you're not dead, I won't interfere."
That promise sounded more despairing than no promise at all.
Zabuza's face had darkened to the point of dripping water.
He felt an unprecedented insult.
This monstrously strong youth had not only taken his sword but now wanted to use him as a sparring partner for his three milk-scented brats?
"Kid... you're too arrogant!" Zabuza's voice seethed with suppressed rage.
"Yeah?" Sora shrugged, completely ignoring him.
He smiled kindly at the boatman.
"Boatman, please row over there—a bit farther, so you don't get caught in the crossfire."
The boatman, as if granted amnesty, rowed desperately. The small boat quickly retreated into the distance.
Soon, on this mist-shrouded sea, only Zabuza standing on the water remained—with Class 7's three members "abandoned" in place.
"Alright, the arena's all set for you."
Sora's lazy voice drifted from the distant boat.
"Then, the final exam..."
"Begins now!"
As his words fell.
Zabuza moved.
Thoroughly enraged, he no longer wanted to waste words on that monster. He would chop these three brats to pieces and make their arrogant jonin leader pay!
"Ninjutsu: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
His hands flew through seals. The already thick mist instantly became impenetrable—fingers invisible at arm's length.
Massive chakra mixed with icy killing intent spread through the fog.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin immediately stood back-to-back in a triangle, warily scanning around.
But they could see nothing, hear nothing.
The entire world was just a vast white expanse.
Yet that omnipresent killing intent pricked their skin like countless cold needles.
"Be careful!" Sasuke growled lowly. "This is the Mist ninjas' Silent Killing Technique!"
"What do we do? We can't see where he is at all!" Naruto's voice carried a slight tremble.
Karin closed her eyes, trying to use the Uzumaki clan's sensing to locate him, but the mist from the Hiding in Mist Technique was infused with chakra—he hid within it, impossible to pinpoint.
Just as the three were tensed to the extreme.
From the distant water, their irresponsible teacher's lazy voice drifted over again, seemingly laced with amusement.
"Oh, right—forgot to remind you."
"Mr. Zabuza is a master of Silent Killing."
"In this kind of mist, when he kills... there really is no sound."
"You guys... do your best to stay alive."