The ice crystals shattered.
Waves of cold air surged outward, layer upon layer.
Bang!
Cling-cling-cling-cling!
Crack!
Blocking the shuriken's path head-on, Haku's Ice Style jutsu neutralized their momentum, preventing them from breaking through his defense. However, Menma's intention to delay Haku had succeeded. Although adding Haku to the mix might not necessarily help Zabuza defeat Kakashi, Menma didn't want any unexpected waves in a situation where victory was all but assured. Moreover, Haku—possessing the Ice Style Kekkei Genkai and strength that arguably hit the ceiling for anyone below Jōnin level—was the perfect opponent for Menma to hone himself against right now!
As his figure closed in...
A look of killing intent appeared in Menma's eyes.
"Get out of the way!!"
Seeing Menma blocking his path, Haku's face beneath his mask showed anxiety and anger.
Not far away, Zabuza was in a precarious situation. With Kakashi's ninja dogs assisting, Zabuza had lost all room to maneuver and was already wounded in several places. The situation was vastly different from before.
Naturally, Haku felt anxious!
"Heh. That depends on whether you have the skill, Mist ninja!"
Menma chuckled softly. Flipping his wrist, he produced another kunai, its tip reflecting a chillingly cold light.
"Then die!"
Haku's nature was averse to killing, but Zabuza's safety always came first in his heart!
For Zabuza!
Haku was willing to do anything, even sacrifice his own life!
"Ice Style: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
In a situation where he couldn't afford to hesitate...
While sprinting toward Menma, Haku formed seals rapidly.
The cold air gathering around him instantly condensed into needle after needle of ice crystals.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Then.
Under Haku's control.
They shot toward Menma with extreme speed.
Blooming cold lights.
Piercing chill closing in.
"So fast!"
Even though he knew this boy with the Yuki Clan's bloodline was strong!
Only in actual combat...
Did Menma truly realize just how formidable Haku's strength was.
His pupils shrank abruptly.
Menma tilted his head and twisted his body backward, dodging the majority of the ice needles while fiercely swinging the kunai in his hand.
Cling-cling-cling-cling!
He deflected the remaining needles.
In that brief moment of defense...
Haku had closed the distance.
Raising his hand high, several senbon were clamped between his fingers!
Just as he was about to stab viciously at Menma's vitals...
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
From not far away, Sasuke's figure flashed into view, his hands forming seals with extreme speed.
As he completed them...
Boom!
Sasuke placed one hand near his mouth.
Cluster after cluster of flames spewed forth, curving under his precise chakra control to surround and strike Haku.
The intense heat washing over him...
Caused Haku's expression to change slightly.
"Ice Style: Ice Crystal Jutsu!"
He was forced to abandon his attack.
And switch directly to defense!
A wall of ice rose up.
Bang!
Hiss!
As the fireballs slammed into the ice, massive clouds of steam erupted!
Amidst the explosions...
Crack!
Rumble!
The ice crystals shattered.
Whoosh!
Haku was forced to retreat diagonally backward.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
But on his path of retreat, a golden figure leaped out. It was Naruto, who had come to join the pincer attack with Sasuke!
Seizing the perfect opportunity!
Seeing the completely defenseless Haku with his guard wide open...
Naruto smashed his fist down heavily.
Bang!
He hammered Haku hard on the right side of his waist.
Feeling the immense force and pain, Haku's body shuddered before being launched in the opposite direction.
Thud!!
Uncontrollably...
He slammed heavily onto the ground.
Under the secondary impact...
"Ugh?!"
Haku couldn't help but groan, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Before he could get up...
Whoosh!
Sasuke, from the front, flashed to his location.
"?!"
Leaping high into the air.
"Ice Style!"
His speed was already surpassing the level of an average Chūnin.
Unable to dodge, Haku...
Could only passively condense another block of ice above him to shield against Sasuke's attack.
This perfectly chained attack by Naruto and Sasuke...
Left Menma slightly stunned.
Didn't they just agree to stay put and protect the client? Leaving only Sakura behind... what if there were other enemies?
He had the strongest sensory ability and knew there were no other chakra signatures around, but these two idiots definitely didn't have that capability!
They just purely wanted to fight!
Menma shook his head helplessly.
But this was fine. He was confident in facing Haku alone; now, with Sasuke and Naruto added to the mix...
One Haku.
Really wasn't enough to threaten them!
Most importantly.
Haku had no chance to unleash his most powerful technique!
Watching Haku, who was now scrambling to defend himself...
A killing intent surfaced in Menma's eyes.
Whoosh!
He also sprinted forward.
Swish!
Raising his kunai high.
He joined the siege against Haku.
Bang!
Clatter!
Thud!
Under a three-pronged attack from different angles—each of them solidly at Chūnin level in strength—Haku simply couldn't hold out for long.
Splurt!
After relying on the special properties of Ice Style and his advantage of one-handed seals to hold on for a short while...
He was eventually hit hard by Naruto.
Leaving his center wide open.
Sasuke seized the opportunity. With a flash of cold light, his kunai plunged ruthlessly into Haku's chest.
Rip!
A vicious downward slash.
"Gah?!"
The piercing pain twisted Haku's face, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood.
The inside of his mask was instantly filled with the stench of blood.
A completely one-sided situation.
There was zero chance for a comeback.
Seeing this, Naruto hesitated slightly from the side.
But Menma, attacking from the flank, didn't pause for a second. Holding his kunai, he stabbed precisely and fiercely into Haku's chest cavity.
Splurt!
Just like Sasuke, he slashed downward viciously.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Drenching his body.
A bloody scene unfolded before the eyes of Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto.
Life and strength drained away rapidly.
His vision became dim and blurred.
Zabuza-sama...
Haku could only cast one last glance at Zabuza, who was also in a hopeless situation, before his head lolled to the side, and his consciousness plunged into darkness.
In this moment, all signs of life vanished!