The senbon needles flashed like streaks of silver lightning.
They flew even faster than Sasuke's Great Fireball Technique, piercing through the mist with terrifying precision. Almost the instant Haku's calm voice echoed across the battlefield, Zabuza's Water Clone was struck.
The clone froze mid-motion.
Then—
Splash.
Its body dissolved into clear water that crashed onto the ground and spread across the earth.
"!!!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all stiffened at the same time.
Shock and confusion filled their faces as they instinctively regrouped, standing shoulder to shoulder while staring toward the distant tree trunk where a masked figure now stood.
A white mask.
Hidden Mist markings.
Cold composure.
Naruto leaned closer to his teammates and whispered, "Do you guys know what a Shinobi Tracker Squad is?"
Sakura shook her head immediately.
Sasuke, however, narrowed his eyes, expression turning serious.
"Kakashi-sensei mentioned them," he said quietly. "They're a special unit in the Hidden Mist Village. Their job is to hunt rogue ninja and recover their bodies."
He continued calmly, repeating the knowledge Kakashi had taught him during private instruction.
"A ninja's corpse contains intelligence—jutsu secrets, bloodline limits, village information. Tracker squads eliminate defectors and erase evidence."
Understanding dawned on Sakura's face, and she exhaled in relief.
"Then he's here for Zabuza," she said. "Kakashi-sensei already said Zabuza is a rogue ninja."
She swallowed, recalling the speed of those needles.
"If he were our enemy… one of us would've definitely been hit just now."
The realization made her hands tremble slightly.
Two days.
Two life-and-death encounters.
Her body still hadn't fully recovered from the fear.
Almost unconsciously, her gaze drifted toward Naruto—more precisely, toward the part of him she associated with safety.
Toward Lock.
But Naruto himself had already lowered his guard.
"So we can cooperate with him, right?" Naruto said eagerly.
He glanced toward the battlefield hidden by thick mist, where Kakashi and Zabuza fought.
"If the four of us help Kakashi-sensei, we can definitely win!"
Before anyone could respond, a calm voice answered from nearby.
"Though it may be presumptuous… cooperation is indeed my intention."
A blur crossed the distance.
In a single instant, Haku appeared before them.
Even though they had mentally prepared themselves for his strength, the speed of that Body Flicker Technique still stunned the trio into silence.
That level of movement far exceeded theirs.
At minimum—Special Jonin level.
Naruto blinked in amazement. "You look about our age! I didn't expect you to be this fast!"
He stepped forward naturally.
Haku immediately retreated half a step, posture guarded.
"My mission is to hunt the rogue ninja," he said calmly. "Please do not waste time."
That cautious retreat eased Sasuke and Sakura's suspicions.
If he intended harm, he would have approached instead of creating distance.
To them, it looked like genuine cooperation.
Sasuke quickly made a decision.
"Then we move immediately," he said. "We'll bring him and reinforce Kakashi-sensei."
Sakura hesitated. "What about Mr. Tazuna?"
"I'll be fine!" Tazuna shouted from nearby bushes, poking his head out nervously. "Just defeat the enemy quickly!"
Seeing even the client agree, the three nodded without further hesitation and rushed toward the mist-covered battlefield.
Haku followed silently behind them.
But hidden behind his back—His fingers formed hand seals.
Individually, Naruto's team wasn't overwhelming.
But together, they had already proven capable of destroying Zabuza's Water Clone.
Because of that, Haku hadn't attempted a direct ambush earlier.
Instead, he waited.
Once they entered the thick mist—
visibility reduced, senses dulled—
He would disable two of them instantly.
Maybe all three.
The four figures disappeared into the mist.
Behind them, Sasuke silently activated his one-tomoe Sharingan.
The crimson eye rotated slowly.
His grip tightened around his kunai.
Haku stepped closer.
One hand hidden.
Chakra gathering.
Attack imminent.
Then—
Sasuke spun suddenly.
His kunai stabbed backward toward Haku's concealed arm.
Clang!
A senbon needle intercepted the strike just in time.
Metal rang sharply through the mist.
Naruto and Sakura instantly turned back, rushing toward them.
"What's going on?!" Naruto shouted.
"Sasuke, why are you attacking him?!"
Sasuke didn't look away from Haku.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"I didn't actually know," he admitted lightly. "You were just standing too close. I saw one hand hidden behind your back."
His Sharingan glinted.
"So I tested you."
"I didn't expect you'd really be hiding something."
Haku's voice carried mild surprise.
"The Sharingan… I see."
His gaze lingered on Sasuke's eye.
"No wonder you noticed my movements even within the Hidden Mist."
Despite being exposed, Haku showed no panic.
His tone remained gentle.
"But it no longer matters."
"You have already entered the range of my technique."
"Technique?" Naruto echoed.
Before anyone could react—
Whoosh!
Ice erupted from the ground.
Towering mirrors formed instantly, surrounding them from every direction. Smooth, crystalline surfaces reflected endless copies of the battlefield.
At the same moment, Haku stepped backward—
—and vanished into one of the mirrors.
"Ice Style Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirrors."
His voice echoed from everywhere at once.
His reflection appeared simultaneously in every mirror surrounding them.
Sasuke's expression changed immediately.
"A Bloodline Limit!"
He stepped closer to Naruto and Sakura.
"Stay together! Back-to-back formation!"
Naruto blinked. "What's a Bloodline Limit?"
"A kekkei genkai," Sasuke said quickly. "A special ability inherited through blood—like my Sharingan… or Kakashi-sensei's."
Despite not fully understanding, Naruto and Sakura instinctively pressed together in formation.
Haku's calm voice echoed again.
"Since you understand… please do not resist. I do not wish to kill you. I only intend to remove your ability to fight."
"Stop pretending!" Naruto shouted, cutting him off.
His fists clenched.
"Sasuke! Sakura! We've already gotten stronger! We beat Zabuza's clone ourselves!"
He glared at the mirrors.
"It's just hiding inside ice! I'll smash it and drag him out!"
Without waiting for agreement, Naruto charged forward.
He didn't call for Lock.
Didn't ask for advice.
Didn't even think about reaching inward.
This time—
He would prove he could fight on his own.
"Naruto, wait!" Sasuke shouted.
Too late.
Haku sighed softly inside the mirrors.
"So reckless… is this truly a ninja?"
A brief pause followed.
"But it changes nothing."
The mirrors shimmered.
Chakra surged.
"Ice Style Secret Technique—"
"Death by Water Soaring."
---
A/N: Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded. Please Check It Out. It will really help me out and will keep me motivated to continue.
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