Tazuna's bridge was nearly complete.
Dozens of workers crowded atop the structure, putting on the final finishing touches.
"It's almost done!"
Tazuna stared at the nearly finished bridge, his face filled with excitement.
"Once this bridge is completed, the Land of Waves will finally break free from Gatō's monopoly!"
"Let's push through, everyone!"
The workers responded with renewed energy.
At the front of the bridge, Kakashi stood together with Team 7, quietly watching their surroundings.
"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura asked curiously, "have you been using Shadow Clones to protect Mr. Tazuna these past few days?"
"Yes," Kakashi nodded.
"My main body stayed nearby to sense the area and prevent any surprises. Shadow Clones may not be very strong, but they're more than enough for emergencies."
Naruto rolled his shoulders eagerly.
"I've been waiting for this! Those seven days of special training weren't for nothing!"
Sasuke activated his Sharingan, carefully scanning the mist around them.
"They're here," he said suddenly.
The moment his words fell—
Thick fog surged up from the sea, rapidly swallowing the entire bridge.
"Hidden Mist Technique…" Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
A cold voice echoed from within the fog.
"Kakashi… this time, I will kill you."
Zabuza Momochi emerged from the mist at the far end of the bridge, the massive Executioner's Blade resting on his shoulder.
Standing beside him was the masked Haku.
But there was a third figure as well.
A tall man carrying two strange long blades shaped like jagged teeth. The twin swords were connected by ropes, lightning crackling across them with a sharp sizzle.
"…Kurotsuchi Raiga?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—
The wielder of Kiba.
"Kakashi," Zabuza sneered, "didn't expect this, did you? I brought some help."
"I never said you had to come alone," Kakashi replied calmly.
"I only said we'd fight again after seven days. I didn't limit the number of people."
"Who's that big guy?" Naruto asked warily.
"Kurotsuchi Raiga," Kakashi explained briefly.
"A rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Jonin-level strength."
"Another Jonin…" Sakura's expression tightened.
"Don't worry," Kakashi said evenly.
"I'm here."
"Kakashi," Zabuza said coldly, "you deliberately let me escape last time so you could train your students for these seven days, didn't you?"
"But do you really think seven days is enough for three Genin to face Haku? How naive."
"We'll know once we try," Kakashi replied, lifting his forehead protector.
The Sharingan was revealed.
Three tomoe spun slowly.
"Listen carefully," Kakashi commanded.
"Naruto. Sasuke. Sakura. The three of you handle Haku."
"I'll take Zabuza and Raiga."
"Yes!"
The three answered in unison.
"Oh?" Raiga laughed loudly.
"Letting three brats deal with Haku?"
He glanced at Kakashi, lightning flickering in his eyes.
"Are you underestimating us… or do you think you can take me and Zabuza on by yourself?"
"We'll find out," Kakashi said flatly.
"Arrogant!"
Raiga drew Kiba, lightning surging wildly.
"Then let me see how strong the legendary Copy Ninja really is!"
"Lightning Release: Raiga!"
Violent lightning blasted forward from the twin blades!
"Scatter!" Kakashi ordered.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura retreated instantly.
Kakashi vanished in a flash, effortlessly evading the lightning strike.
"Not bad speed," Raiga sneered.
Zabuza attacked from the side, swinging the Executioner's Blade down.
"Kakashi! I won't lose this time!"
Kakashi's Sharingan tracked both opponents at once. A faint smile appeared beneath his mask.
"Then come on," he said calmly.
"Let me see what you've gained in these seven days."
The battle officially began.
---
On the other side of the bridge.
Haku looked at Naruto and the others, his gaze conflicted.
"I'm sorry… For Zabuza-sama's sake, I won't hold back."
He formed hand seals.
"Secret Jutsu: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"
Countless ice mirrors materialized out of thin air, instantly trapping Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura inside.
Haku's reflection appeared in every mirror.
"Here it comes!" Sasuke shouted, his two-tomoe Sharingan locked onto the mirrors.
"Follow the plan!" Sakura called out.
"Start coordinating!"
"Got it!" Naruto shouted.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Dozens of Naruto clones appeared.
The results of seven days of brutal training were finally about to be tested.
Haku's figure flickered between the mirrors, his speed terrifyingly fast.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Senbon rained down from every direction.
"Scatter!" Sakura shouted.
Naruto's Shadow Clones immediately moved, forming a shield in front of the real Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
The senbon struck the clones, dispersing them into white smoke.
"Sasuke, can you see him?" Sakura asked urgently.
"Barely…"
Sasuke gritted his teeth, pushing his Sharingan to its limit.
"He's too fast. With just two tomoe, I can only track his general direction."
"Then we don't need perfect vision," Sakura said quickly.
"There's a pattern to his movement!"
"Every time he moves between mirrors, he chooses the shortest path!"
"Naruto, put Shadow Clones in front of every mirror!"
"Got it!"
Naruto formed seals again.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Boom!
More Shadow Clones appeared, densely blocking each mirror.
"No matter which mirror he exits from, my clones will catch him!"
"Not a bad strategy," Haku said calmly.
"But—"
His speed suddenly increased.
By the time the senbon flew out, he had already shifted to the next mirror.
The Shadow Clones couldn't react in time and were eliminated.
"Too fast…" Naruto clenched his teeth.
"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted suddenly.
"Use Lightning Release! Activate your body—boost your reaction speed!"
Sasuke didn't hesitate.
Bzzzz—
Blue-white lightning erupted around his body.
"Lightning Release: Body Activation!"
His speed surged instantly.
With the Sharingan combined with the enhanced reaction speed from Lightning Release, Sasuke could finally barely keep up with Haku's movements.
"Top left!" Sasuke shouted.
Naruto's Shadow Clones immediately charged in that direction.
Haku had just emerged from the mirror when he was surrounded.
"Found you!"
But Haku reacted even faster—
Senbon flew, and the clones vanished in smoke as his figure slipped back into the mirrors.
"Damn it… still not enough," Naruto growled.
"No—it is enough," Sakura said calmly.
"Sasuke's predictions are working. That means Haku's speed isn't impossible to track."
"If we keep coordinating, we have a chance."
"…I have an idea."
She looked at the surrounding ice mirrors.
"These mirrors are formed from chakra. If I interfere with their structure using chakra…"
"Do it!" Naruto shouted.
Sakura took a deep breath and gathered chakra in her hands.
Soft green Medical Ninjutsu chakra condensed—but this time, she deliberately altered its nature.
"Medical Ninjutsu promotes cell division…" she murmured.
"So if I reverse that principle and disrupt chakra structure…"
She pressed her palm against the nearest ice mirror.
Humm—
The mirror began to tremble violently.
"It's working!" Sakura's eyes lit up.
But the next instant—
Senbon shot toward her.
"Sakura, look out!"
Naruto's Shadow Clones leapt in front of her.
Poof!
They vanished in smoke.
"Focus on destroying the mirrors!" Sasuke shouted.
"Naruto and I will cover you!"
"Okay!"
Sakura continued pouring chakra into the mirror, destabilizing its structure.
Naruto's Shadow Clones surrounded her tightly.
Sasuke pushed his Sharingan to the limit, tracking Haku's movements and calling out directions.
"Right side!"
"Above!"
"Behind!"
The clones adjusted constantly, intercepting Haku's attacks again and again.
Their teamwork grew smoother with every exchange.
Haku watched them, surprise flashing through his eyes.
"In just seven days… they've grown this much…"
But his expression hardened.
"Unfortunately," he said softly,
"this still isn't enough!"
The battle inside the ice mirrors intensified.