On the island.
Inari, who had once been saved by the Shinju, went from door to door, knocking on every home in the village.
He had heard from the Shinju that something might have happened on the bridge currently under construction.
So he wanted to rally the villagers to go help.
However, before Inari could even finish explaining at each house, the villagers would quickly lock their doors.
From behind those closed doors came their voices.
"Inari, there's nothing we can change."
Hearing that, Inari clenched his teeth.
"Right now, others are fighting for the Land of Waves. If even the people of the Land of Waves aren't willing to stand up for themselves, then there really will be no hope left."
He spoke in bitter disappointment.
For the first time, he felt such a deep, crushing sense of helplessness.
Once, he had been just like them, hadn't he?
"Give it up, Inari. Ever since your father died, the Land of Waves hasn't had any courage left."
His mother hugged the dejected boy, speaking softly.
"No… I will never give up! This is what Shinju taught me — courage and hope!"
With that, unwilling to give in, Inari ran off again, pounding on the next door.
...
On the bridge, the battle between Shinju and Haku was still raging.
After forming hand seals to unleash Piercing Hand, lightning wrapped around Shinju's palm, driving forward with unstoppable force toward Haku's right shoulder!
Shinju had no intention of killing, so this strike was meant only to take away Haku's ability to fight.
Splurt!
The result was immediate!
Shinju's palm punched straight through Haku's right shoulder!
Blood streamed out in a steady flow.
Wounded so severely, Haku coughed up a mouthful of blood in pain.
Yet, astonishingly, even after being dealt such a heavy blow and spitting blood, Haku still didn't abandon his hand seal sequence!
"I am Zabuza-sama's tool. If I can't fulfill my purpose, that would be the true failure."
As his seals completed, countless ice senbon rose up from the ground, shooting toward Shinju!
At this distance, Shinju had no room to dodge!
"Why go this far…?"
Shinju couldn't help but pity Haku.
He couldn't understand what was so great about Zabuza that made this boy willing to go to such extremes.
The next moment, Shinju used the Body Flicker formula he had earlier placed on Naruto, instantly teleporting away!
The ice needles pierced nothing but empty air.
Grievously wounded, Haku clutched at his injury, drops of blood falling one after another onto the bridge.
His gaze remained firm as he staggered toward Shinju.
From his pouch, he drew a kunai and hurled it toward Shinju's position.
Immediately after, his speed surged — his body following right behind the kunai, charging straight at Shinju!
Clang!
Shinju raised a hand to knock away the kunai, forming seals to counter with Lightning Release.
But at that moment—
Naruto and Sasuke, watching from the side, saw Haku's steps suddenly twist sharply!
This time, his target was Kakashi-sensei!
Alarmed, Sasuke shouted, "Kakashi-sensei! Look out!"
...
Turning sharply, Haku ignored the horrific wound in his chest, gripping the kunai in his left hand as he lunged toward Kakashi!
In that split second, Kakashi pulled back and dodged!
Splash!!
And the moment Kakashi retreated, the Water Prison Technique he had been maintaining collapsed!
Zabuza, trapped within it, was finally freed!
Regaining his ability to move, Zabuza's eyes gleamed with killing intent.
"Well done, Haku."
He patted Haku's shoulder approvingly.
When his gaze fell on the gaping wound in Haku's chest, Zabuza's eyes flickered, but he ended up putting on an indifferent expression.
"As expected from the ninja tool I've trained. Can you still fight?"
Haku nodded. "Of course, Zabuza-sama."
Now, on the bridge battlefield—
Kakashi's arm was injured. Sasuke and Naruto were pinned all over by senbon, their ability to fight nearly gone.
Zabuza had taken a direct Rasengan to the back from Shinju, likely breaking a few ribs — yet from the way he was acting, it was clear he was still far from beaten.
Haku was the most gravely injured of all, his right chest pierced through by Shinju's Piercing Hand, blood still steadily leaking from the wound.
Even with his mask covering his face, there was no doubt he was deathly pale beneath it.
From the looks of it, Shinju's side still held the advantage.
"Give it up, Zabuza. There's no need to throw your life away over an assassination mission."
Kakashi tried to reason with him.
But Zabuza stubbornly replied, "Hmph, this great me needs that money to achieve my noble dream."
Once, dissatisfied with the tyranny of the village, Zabuza had tried to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage.
The attempt failed, forcing him to flee and become a missing-nin.
His so-called noble dream was to create a land of his own.
For that, he needed a massive sum of money.
"You've hurt too many innocent people chasing that dream. You're even helping someone like Gato, a tyrant who exploits the weak."
Kakashi's voice hardened.
Zabuza only gave a dismissive look.
"I couldn't care less about the lives of commoners."
"Enough, Kakashi — and you, brat. Let me show you what a true killing technique looks like!"
Zabuza finished his seals.
Once again, his signature Hidden Mist Technique spread across the bridge, turning the already-thinning mist dense once more.
Then—
He gathered chakra through his entire body.
Whoosh!
A torrent of red chakra burst from him!
Bathed in that blood-red aura, Zabuza looked like an Asura emerging from the depths of hell.
Within the white mist, that crimson figure darted and flickered.
"In fact, I've already said — the same jutsu won't work on me twice. Your Hidden Mist Technique is no different."
Kakashi, calm and unhurried, pulled out a ninjutsu scroll.
After exchanging a glance with Shinju, Kakashi formed seals.
"Earth Release: Tracking Fang Technique!"
With a sharp shout, Kakashi slammed his palm onto the ground.
The next instant—
Rumble!
A fissure formed beneath Zabuza's feet!
And then—
Several ninja hounds burst out, biting into his limbs and holding him fast!
The Earth Release: Tracking Fang Technique was a combination jutsu Kakashi had created by fusing Earth Release with his Summoning Technique.
His summoned hounds could move underground via Earth Release, then suddenly emerge beneath the enemy to immobilize them!
In the mist, vision was blocked — but noses were not!
With their heightened sense of smell, ninja hounds were perfect for dealing with someone like Zabuza.
Once Zabuza was restrained, Kakashi glanced at Shinju.
The look clearly said, You can finish this.
He could have used Lightning Release to rush Zabuza himself, but compared to Shinju's Flying Thunder God Technique, his speed was slower.
On the other side, Shinju had already been forming seals since Kakashi drew out the scroll.
When he received Kakashi-sensei's signal—
Shinju used the Body Flicker Technique to appear right behind Zabuza!
Leaving Zabuza alive would be nothing but trouble, so Shinju intended to end it here and now!
Lightning wrapped around both his hands as they thrust forward at once!
Splurt!!
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