A thick fog spread, and visibility plummeted. Everything around them blurred.
"Stay alert!" Mizuki shouted.
"What's going on? I can't see anything. Why is there suddenly such thick fog?" Naruto still hadn't grasped the severity of the situation.
Mizuki's tone turned grave, "This isn't natural fog — it's a jutsu Land of Water ninjas excel at. The Hidden Mist Technique. Form a manji formation and protect Mr. Tazuna. The upcoming battle is beyond your level."
{T/N: Manji formation is a defensive tactical formation where team members position themselves in a swastika-like pattern (manji being the Japanese term for this symbol) to protect a central person or objective from attacks coming from multiple directions.}
The three kids realized the danger and positioned themselves behind Tazuna, kunai at the ready.
Sasuke closed his eyes, concentrating on his hearing. In the thick fog, vision was useless.
Sakura asked, "Mizuki-sensei, who exactly is that person?"
Mizuki announced loudly, "Zabuza Momochi — an S-Rank Missing-nin from the Land of Water. Before defecting from Kirigakure, he served in Kiri ANBU. A man famous throughout the ninja world for mastering the Silent Killing technique."
Naruto exclaimed, "Si…Silent?"
Mizuki nodded, "Just as the name suggests. It's an assassination technique that reaps lives in an instant, without a sound. By the time you realize it, you're already dead."
Sakura said worriedly, "Then aren't we in great danger? Anyone who can enter ANBU must be at least Special Jōnin level."
In other words, Mizuki is just a Chūnin — he can't protect us…
Mizuki smiled, "Zabuza's strength isn't that of a Special Jōnin or even an ordinary Jōnin. He's reached Elite Jōnin level. Compared to your Kakashi-sensei, he's only slightly weaker."
Naruto shouted, "Mizuki-sensei, the enemy is so strong — why can you still smile?"
Mizuki shrugged, "Well, it's not that big a deal. If it doesn't work out, we'll just die."
Sakura shot back, "Hey, don't joke around — this isn't the time for that."
The fog grew thicker, and the atmosphere grew more tense.
Suddenly, Zabuza's voice rang out.
"Eight points! Throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. So then, which vital point should I choose?"
The three kids and Tazuna were overwhelmed by Zabuza's killing intent. Their bodies stiffened. They experienced terrifying hallucinations of being killed.
Sasuke even raised a kunai to his own throat.
Mizuki intervened, "Can't handle this level of killing intent? At this rate, Sasuke, you'll never get your revenge."
Hatred flared in Sasuke's eyes, and his fear of the killing intent faded.
Mizuki said, "Don't worry. With me here, you'll all be safe."
"Can you really guarantee that?" Zabuza's voice rang out again.
Mizuki struck.
He flicked a kunai through the thick fog. It embedded itself behind Tazuna. Everyone spun around to see Zabuza wielding his massive sword, mid-strike, with the kunai lodged in his chest.
"In this fog, your aim is perfect. Just as I thought — you've mastered sensory ninjutsu." As he finished, water flowed from the wound.
A water clone.
After destroying one clone, Mizuki wasn't satisfied. He turned toward the river 30 meters away. Three streams of water surged up, taking human form — all Zabuza's likeness. All water clones.
"Hiding underwater?" Mizuki frowned.
He'd been speaking loudly the whole time, expanding his echolocation range. Every detail within 50 meters appeared in his mind.
The problem was that echolocation couldn't penetrate water. He could guess where Zabuza's real body was based on where the clones appeared, but he couldn't use Body Swap to attack directly.
He's wary of my Body Swap. His real body won't show itself — he's only testing me with clones.
He needed to draw out the real body, then strike.
His mind raced. Within moments, he had a plan. Three kunai shot toward the water clones, but all were dodged easily.
"A mere Chūnin — your kunai throwing is pathetic. I can dodge these with my eyes closed. Without that position-swapping jutsu, you can't even touch my clones." Zabuza's voice dripped with contempt.
Sakura caught on quickly, "Mizuki-sensei, he's forcing you to use the position-swap jutsu to drain your chakra. He's a Jōnin and you're a Chūnin — he has more reserves. You can't outlast him."
Mizuki smiled bitterly, "Even if I can't outlast him, I have to try."
The explosive tag Body Swap tactic — again.
Three consecutive swaps. All three water clones were eliminated before they could close the distance.
"Huff… Huff… Huff…"
Mizuki hunched over, breathing hard, looking completely drained.
"Mizuki-sensei, are you okay?" Naruto asked worriedly.
Mizuki pointed in a direction, "You protect Mr. Tazuna and retreat that way. I'll cover the rear — I can still manage a few more attacks."
"No way, we want to fight alongside you." Naruto said urgently.
Sasuke cut in, "Idiot, we can't do anything here — we'll only be a burden. We'll go first. Without us holding him back, Mizuki can leave the battle anytime."
Naruto bristled but knew Sasuke was right.
The three kids protected Tazuna and retreated in the direction Mizuki had indicated.
Meanwhile, Mizuki eliminated two of the three new clones Zabuza had summoned. His face was pale, his expression haggard, and he could barely stand. But even so, Zabuza remained cautious — his true body still hid underwater and wouldn't show itself.
Is my acting not convincing enough? Mizuki was starting to doubt his own performance.
Seeing that Sasuke and the others had left the fog zone, he used explosive tag Body Swap once more to eliminate Zabuza's last water clone.
Then, dragging his "exhausted" body, he staggered after them. Even so, Zabuza still didn't emerge from underwater.
This is way too cautious! Mizuki was truly speechless.
Soon, he caught up with the four and collapsed on the ground with a thud.
"Mizuki-sensei, are you okay?"
Naruto and Sasuke hurried over and supported him on either side.
"I'm fine, just chakra overexertion."
Sasuke asked, "What about Zabuza? Did you deal with him?"
Mizuki shook his head, "He's too cautious — he kept using water clones for feint attacks. I don't know where his true body is hiding. Even though I've exhausted my chakra, he still didn't dare show himself."
Sakura asked, "Then, will he chase after us?"
Mizuki smiled, "He's just a coward — he won't dare chase us. Besides, my chakra exhaustion is just for show. I actually still have some left — enough for three more attacks."
Tazuna said, "Then we can relax!"
Mizuki replied, "Let's go. Once we get to Mr. Tazuna's house, I need to rest properly for a while."
The five traveled quickly along the road, a faint smile playing on Mizuki's lips.
❊❊❊❊❊
After the five had traveled far, a figure emerged from behind a roadside tree, wearing a Kirigakure ANBU mask. After glancing in the direction Mizuki and the others had left, the figure turned back and soon arrived at the riverside.
"Lord Zabuza!"
Zabuza rose from underwater, standing on the water's surface.
"How long are you going to wear that mask, Haku?"
Haku removed the mask, revealing a face of extraordinary beauty. Unfortunately, he was a boy…
"Did they leave?" Zabuza asked.
Haku nodded, "They left. That Chūnin named Mizuki had chakra overexertion and was being supported as he walked. I overheard him say it was an act and that he still had enough strength for three more attacks."
Zabuza sneered, "He said that for you to hear. He has sensory abilities — with you hiding nearby, he discovered you long ago."
Haku said, "I know, but he didn't attack me, which means his chakra really is exhausted."
Zabuza replied, "We can't be careless. His ability is too strange. Combined with explosive tags, he has one-hit-kill capability — that's why I've never dared attack with my true body. He's clearly just a Chūnin, yet he's more dangerous than most Jōnin I've faced."
Haku asked, "Since he's dangerous, why don't we abandon Gatō's commission?"
"Haku!" Zabuza cut him off, "Gatō is paying generously. We need this money, so we can't give up. When the time comes, you and I will attack together. But we won't strike first — we'll let Gatō's samurai charge ahead and use their lives to drain his chakra. Once his chakra is exhausted, he'll pose no threat. Next time, he will die by my hand."
❊❊❊❊❊
Mizuki's group soon arrived at Tazuna's home.
"Mr. Tazuna, when do you plan to start repairing the bridge?"
Tazuna said, "I need one day to gather my old buddies and two days to prepare lumber — we'll start repairing the bridge in three days."
Mizuki nodded and looked at Naruto and the others, "For these three days, you'll train on your own nearby."
Naruto asked, "Then what will Mizuki-sensei do for these three days?"
Mizuki replied, "I'll also train. There's a jutsu I've had in mind for a long time."
Naruto asked curiously, "What jutsu? Is it powerful?"
Sakura and Sasuke were also curious.
Mizuki smiled, "It's a jutsu developed by the Fourth Hokage — very strong, very brutal! Once I've mastered it, I'll find a chance to teach you all."
It was still early, so he went to the market and bought balloons and rubber balls.
"Rasengan — I've been waiting for this for a long time."
In the village, with ANBU surveillance and Hiruzen's Telescope Technique, he hadn't dared train in Rasengan. But now, he didn't have that worry.
"There are a few annoying people who followed from Konoha, but their purpose is to protect Naruto and Sasuke. When I train, I'll separate from them, so I won't be discovered. As for Body Swap, if it's exposed, it's exposed — it was bound to happen sooner or later anyway."
❊❊❊❊❊
At this time, in Konoha, in the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen murmured, "A jutsu that can instantly swap positions with someone, combined with explosive tags — even Zabuza doesn't dare show himself. No wonder! He's just a Chūnin with ordinary aptitude — how could he develop such a powerful space-time jutsu comparable to Flying Thunder God (Minato's technique)? Could it be that he deceived me about the Chakra Control Pill matter? Or perhaps he obtained other things in Uzushiogakure as well?"
❊❊❊❊❊
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want to enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing (on that website with P)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)