"Hoohoho~"
On the battlefield, Naruto and Sasuke panted, sweat dripping from their brows.
"He's so strong!" Naruto stared at Shiro, his expression serious.
Since joining the fight, he had been able to hold his own against Bai by coordinating with Sasuke. But after several exchanges, Bai had only a few superficial scratches, while both Naruto and Sasuke were battered and bruised.
"You're impressive, but I can't hold back any longer," Shiro said, glancing toward Zabuza's battlefield in the distance. He knew it was time to end this fight.
He clasped his hands and whispered, "Secret Technique… Magic Mirror Ice Crystal!"
Immediately, dozens of crystal mirrors erupted from all around, forming a glimmering cage around Naruto and Sasuke. Bai disappeared into the reflections, hidden within the mirrors.
"What… what is this?!" Naruto and Sasuke shouted, alarmed.
In the next instant, whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! Thousands of senbon shot from the mirrors in all directions, moving so fast the two barely had time to react.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
They could do nothing but struggle to survive in the storm of needles.
When the attack finally stopped, both were half-kneeling, battered and bleeding from numerous fresh cuts. The wounds looked terrifying, but none were fatal.
"Let's stop here. You're no match for me, and I don't want to kill you," Bai said calmly, stepping out of the mirror.
Though he considered himself Zabuza's tool, Bai was not heartless—he didn't kill unless absolutely necessary.
"Ugh…!" Naruto and Sasuke supported each other, slowly standing again. Despite their usual rivalry, they trusted each other deeply, cooperating instinctively.
"What was that move?" Naruto asked through gritted teeth.
"How should I know?" Sasuke snapped irritably.
"You still refuse to give up?" Bai sighed, looking helpless as he watched them rise.
"Of course! We have people we want to protect!" Naruto spat blood from the corner of his mouth, determination burning in his eyes.
"People you want to protect?" Bai's eyes, visible through his mask, softened. Memories of his own childhood flickered—his parents, lost in tragedy, leaving him orphaned overnight. Zabuza had given him purpose, a reason to exist. Now, the only person he truly cared about was his master.
After a moment, Bai spoke softly. "I have people I want to protect, too."
Suddenly, a new storm of senbon surged toward Naruto and Sasuke like a swarm of angry bees.
"Earth Escape… Earth Flow Wall!"
At the last second, two figures appeared before and behind them, forming seals and slamming the ground. Semi-circular earth walls shot up, blocking the incoming needles.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted, relief flooding him.
Kakashi released a shadow clone, smiling. After agreeing to Wukong's wish to fight alone, he had rushed here. Seeing Naruto and Sasuke in danger, he had deployed a clone and used Instant Body Movement to descend, erecting walls just in time.
"The opponent is strong," Sasuke admitted quietly, pride yielding to reality. "We might not win."
"Give up so easily?!" Naruto yelled, bouncing angrily.
"Hmph! Idiot." "What did you say?!"
The two began bickering, much to Kakashi's headache.
"Enough, you two," he muttered, then shifted his attention outside the earth walls. The ice mirrors had vanished, and Bai had disappeared too.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief spotting Sakura and Dazna, then noticed Bai reappear between Wukong and Zabuza.
Back on Zabuza's side:
When Wukong used the energy bomb to destroy the water column, Zabuza's heart sank.
No hand seals…?
In the ninja world, almost every ninjutsu required hand seals. Only a rare few were sealless. He had only heard of such techniques—and now he had faced one.
"Do you have any other moves?" Wukong asked, landing casually, hands on his hips. "If not, you'll lose."
Zabuza's pride burned. "Don't underestimate me!" he roared, raising his sword.
Before he could strike, his body bent violently like a cooked shrimp. Wukong's fist emerged from his abdomen.
"Uh…"
Zabuza knelt, clutching his stomach in pain. "How… how can you be so strong?!" He had been knocked down by a single punch.
A sudden gust of wind heralded another figure stepping forward.
"Sorry I'm late, Master Zabuza," Bai said, tilting his head.
"What are you doing here, Bai?" Zabuza's eyes flashed.
"I'll protect you, Master Zabuza," Bai said softly.
"I don't need your protection."
"But—"
"No! Get out of here!"
A tense silence followed. Then Bai spoke again, his voice quiet but unwavering:
"Master Zabuza, after I became an orphan no one wanted or cared for, I felt my existence had no meaning. Only when you accepted me did I understand my purpose… my reason for living was to protect you, to be your tool. And now… you've taken that purpose away. I have no reason to exist anymore."
He pressed a kunai to his neck.
"White!!"
Zabuza's pupils shrank in alarm. Though Bai appeared calm, his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. Few knew Bai's true heart—he was not heartless. Over time, Zabuza had become like family to him. But seeing Wukong's overwhelming strength, Zabuza had forced Bai to abandon him, only to face this desperate act.
Before Bai could act, Wukong reached out, stopping him. His other hand rested gently on Bai's head. Bai made no resistance, simply staring at Wukong.
After a moment, Wukong opened his eyes and looked at him seriously.
"I have a rough idea of what you've been through. Grandpa Kame once told me something, and I've carried it with me ever since. It's simple: exercise well, study well, play well, eat well, rest well. Live a happy, interesting, and energetic life."