Zzzzz...
Steam rose into the air as thick mist spread rapidly.
Taking advantage of the dense fog, Zabuza immediately cast the Hidden Mist Technique without hesitation.
"This is... the Hidden Mist Technique!"
The entire forest was quickly swallowed by dense fog. Visibility dropped from several meters to almost nothing in the blink of an eye. The mist grew thicker at an astonishing rate.
Uzuki Yugao's hairs stood on end. Tightening her grip on her sword, she warned,
"Zabuza specializes in the Silent Killing Technique. Everyone, stay alert!"
"Gray Fang and the others... I'm counting on you!"
"Woof! Woof!"
Inuzuka Hana held her kunai in a defensive stance while communicating with her three ninken.
At that moment, Zabuza's chilling voice echoed through the mist, overflowing with murderous intent.
"I don't know why Konoha sent a few fragile women like you here to die, but I won't show any mercy."
"Eight vital points... the throat, spine, lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart..."
Like a cat toying with a mouse, Zabuza deliberately listed the fatal points to heighten their psychological fear.
"You sure talk a lot..."
Kurenai interrupted him without the slightest hesitation.
In an instant, her Red Eye saw straight through the dense fog.
Her hands had already completed their seals.
Facing toward her left, she locked onto Zabuza's position.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled sharply.
Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!
Whoosh—
Blazing flames erupted, forming the head of a roaring fire dragon that charged directly toward Zabuza, who had circled around to the left with the Executioner's Blade raised.
"What?!"
Boom!!
"AAAGH!!"
A scorching wave of heat swept through the area, followed by a miserable scream.
Zabuza and his blade were instantly engulfed by flames.
A huge portion of the mist evaporated immediately, greatly improving everyone's visibility.
Several meters to the left, thick smoke billowed from a scorched patch of earth where flames still flickered.
"A Water Clone?"
Kurenai remained perfectly calm as she shifted her gaze toward the riverbank.
Whoosh!
Zabuza's real body appeared beside the river, gripping his massive sword with a dark expression.
"You can actually see through my Silent Killing Technique?"
Had he not been cautious enough to send a Water Clone ahead to test the waters, he would have suffered serious injuries.
Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!
Without wasting another second, Zabuza's hands flashed through a series of seals.
Splash!!
The river behind him surged violently, transforming into a massive waterfall that crashed toward Kurenai's group with terrifying force.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
Kurenai's eyes sharpened.
Without delay, she slammed her palm onto the ground.
Thanks to the Red Eye's incredible perception, she had been watching the flow of chakra throughout Zabuza's body the entire time.
The moment he began forming hand seals, she had already predicted which technique he intended to use.
Her own hands moved at astonishing speed, completing the seals almost simultaneously.
Rumble... Rumble...
The earth shook violently.
A gigantic earth wall rose from the ground like a mountain, lifting Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, Inuzuka Hana, Anko, and the others high into the air.
The roaring waterfall surged past beneath them, unable to move the thick, sturdy wall in the slightest.
Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu!
Inuzuka Hana transformed, growing sharp fangs and claws as a wild aura burst from her body.
"Gray Fang Trio... Human Mimicry!"
Smoke exploded outward.
In an instant, her three ninken transformed into perfect copies of Hana, entering combat mode.
"That woman dodged Lord Zabuza's attack again..."
Haku stared in shock.
"You don't have time to worry about someone else!"
Four figures charged forward simultaneously.
The four "Inuzuka Hanas" spun at high speed, becoming violent whirlwinds as they rushed toward Haku.
Fang Passing Fang!
Boom!!
Caught off guard, Haku was blasted backward—
Only to burst into a puddle of water.
His real body appeared a short distance away.
Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The surrounding moisture condensed into countless senbon needles that rained down like a storm, glinting with a deadly cold light.
Inuzuka Hana and her three ninken reacted swiftly, dodging with remarkable agility.
Even so, they were forced backward once again.
Three Days' Moon Dance!
At that moment,
Three swift figures rushed forward.
Uzuki Yugao and her Shadow Clones wielded their katanas, brilliant arcs of sword light tracing elegant crescent moons that sent chills down the spine.
Haku's pupils contracted.
His hands rapidly formed seals.
Ice Release: Ice Prison Dome!
A massive wall of ice instantly rose before him, firmly blocking Yugao's attack.
"What?!"
"That... that's Ice Release?"
For a moment, Uzuki Yugao, Inuzuka Hana, and even Kurenai stared in astonishment.
None of them had expected the masked boy, who appeared so young, to possess the rare Ice Release bloodline limit.
"Zabuza, you're really useless, aren't you?"
Lightning crackled through the air.
Seeing Zabuza fail repeatedly, Kurozuki Raiga mocked him mercilessly.
His body shot forward like a bolt of lightning, wrapped in terrifying arcs of electricity as he charged like a ferocious beast.
"Heh..."
Anko's face was filled with excitement.
Without changing expression, her hands rapidly formed seals before she exhaled sharply.
Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several blazing fireballs shot toward the charging Kurozuki Raiga.
Hidden within them were rapidly spinning shuriken.
Boom! Boom!
Raiga's expression changed.
Forced to evade, his charging speed dropped sharply.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
Anko thrust out her right arm.
Two thick poisonous snakes, each as thick as a wrist, shot forward, coiling toward Raiga.
Crackle!
Terrifying lightning erupted.
The two giant snakes were instantly charred black.
Raiga swung his Lightning Blades, slicing them apart.
Grinning viciously, he charged straight at Anko.
The Lightning Blades crackled with violent electricity, bathing the surroundings in a ghostly white glow.
"Die, woman!"
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