Seeing this all-too-familiar scene, Kakashi, observing from the shadows, couldn't help but let the corner of his mouth twitch, feeling an urge to laugh.
At this moment, Zabuza, who had originally been shrouded in mist, now had countless tears in his bandages. His entire body was even covered in small wounds, cutting a truly sorry figure for a time.
Too careless, he hadn't expected the power of Great Breakthrough to be so terrifying.
By the time he reacted, it was already too late; he had essentially taken the full brunt of a Great Breakthrough.
"What's going on? How is a Genin's chakra so astonishing now?" He swallowed hard, and then anger surged in his heart.
"Just one Kakashi is already difficult to deal with. Now there's another guy with such terrifying chakra reserves. Looks like I'll need Haku's help."
Seeing the situation, Zabuza no longer hesitated and sent out a signal.
The next moment, a tall ninja wearing a high-collared long shirt and a Kirigakure mask that obscured their gender appeared beside Zabuza.
Compared to Zabuza, this ninja had a tranquil demeanor, looking completely harmless.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura! Zabuza is mine! You three hold off the other ninja!" Kakashi, seeing this, wore a grave expression and shouted loudly.
The current situation was somewhat beyond his expectations; Zabuza's helper looked quite strong.
As his words fell, Kakashi, kunai in hand, engaged Zabuza.
Their Taijutsu skills were not far apart. Zabuza's attacks were wide and powerful, while Kakashi was agile, using the Three Basic Jutsu to fight back and forth with his opponent for a short time.
On the other side, Haku had already thrown a large number of senbon towards Naruto and the others.
The senbon were dense, precise, and fast.
This outstanding throwing technique made Naruto's eyes light up.
However, the senbon were all aimed at non-lethal areas; a hit would only restrict the opponent's movement.
This rather surprised Naruto.
Generally, missing-nin were ruthless.
Especially missing-nin who were after bounties.
Without much time to think, Naruto used Kyoka Suigetsu to deflect the incoming senbon and shouted loudly to Sakura and Sasuke, "Sasuke, Sakura, be careful!"
"Hado Number 11: Tsuzuri Raiden!" Lightning instantly shot from Naruto's fingertips, striking towards Haku.
This familiar Kido made Sasuke's body tremble involuntarily. Memories of the day he was dominated by the "Lightning Dharma King" returned, and he instantly let out a displeased, cold snort.
"Damn Naruto, trying to hog the opponent again!"
From their long time together, Sasuke also understood Naruto's disposition.
He wasn't a guy who liked teamwork; he often preferred to "eat alone."
"This guy is mine, Naruto!"
He hurriedly activated his Sharingan and joined the battle.
"Swish." Facing the incoming Tsuzuri Raiden, Haku lightly tapped his fingertips, vanished from sight, and Tsuzuri Raiden hit empty air, blasting a huge hole in the large tree behind where Haku had stood. The air instantly filled with a scorched smell.
This secretly alarmed Haku.
He didn't dare to hold back too much either and immediately deployed his Kekkei Genkai, Ice Release.
Several sharp ice needles shot out from his fingertips, heading separately towards Naruto and Sasuke.
"Is this Ice Release?" Naruto raised an eyebrow slightly, his interest in Haku growing.
"Hado Number 31: Shakkaho!" A scorching fireball instantly melted the ice needles aimed at Naruto.
After doing all this, Naruto didn't continue his attack. Instead, he stood elegantly to the side, holding Kyoka Suigetsu, observing Haku with keen interest.
Compared to Naruto's ease and grace, Sasuke on the other side seemed a bit flustered.
He first used the Great Fireball Technique, but unexpectedly, the ice needles exploded in mid-air, turning into a rain of ice that pierced through the fireball and shot towards Sasuke.
After a series of clumsy dodges and blocks, one of Sasuke's arms was grazed, but at least he had defended against the opponent's offensive.
"This missing-nin is actually from the Yuki clan!" Minato, in the seal space, looked astonished.
"Yuki clan?" Naruto looked puzzled.
"The Yuki clan excels at Ice Release. They are one of Kirigakure's most powerful Kekkei Genkai families, their status equivalent to Konoha's Hyuga clan. How could a Yuki clan ninja become a missing-nin?" Minato was completely bewildered.
During Kirigakure's Bloody Mist period, all powerful Kekkei Genkai families had faced slaughter. The strongest, the Shikotsumyaku and Yuki clans, were even wiped out. All of this happened after Minato's death, so it was normal for Minato not to know about it now.
If he were to learn that the mastermind behind all this was Obito, who controlled the Fourth Mizukage, he would surely have very mixed feelings.
"Interesting. This seems to be a very talented opponent." Naruto smiled faintly, sheathed Kyoka Suigetsu, and stood leisurely to the side, saying to Sasuke, "Since you're so interested, I'll leave this opponent to you."
None of Haku's attacks were aimed at vital spots. Compared to Zabuza, he was too merciful.
Naruto had no interest in fighting an opponent who lacked killing intent. It was also a good opportunity to let Sasuke fight Haku, hoping to see both Sasuke's and Haku's potential.
At the same time.
He was also scouting for suitable targets for his 'Shinigami plan.'
Sasuke, after activating his Sharingan, excitedly tangled with Haku, hoping that by going all out, he could defeat his opponent and shock Naruto.
Most Uchiha were proud. In past battles, he had always been the supporting character who got beaten up, so he longed to wash away the shame.
Haku, due to his kindness, held back at every turn, so for a time, the two fought to a draw, exchanging blows back and forth.
The Ice Release, seen for the first time, was extremely eye-catching, greatly increasing Naruto's interest in Haku.
The battle on Kakashi's side proceeded much like in the original story. Both sides competed in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. In the end, Zabuza was defeated by Kakashi's Sharingan copying his techniques, but Kakashi, severely lacking in chakra, was also completely drained.
Seeing Zabuza defeated, Haku no longer held back, unleashing Ice Release at Sasuke with ice needles far faster than before, pinning Sasuke's four limbs to a large tree. Then, Haku looked at Naruto.
Naruto gave Haku a meaningful smile. "We will meet again."
Although Haku was puzzled as to why Naruto didn't intervene—clearly, with Naruto's strength, he could have detained him—considering Zabuza's safety, he didn't have time to think further. He hurriedly grabbed Zabuza and disappeared from everyone's sight in a few leaps.
Sakura, who had been watching the battle from the side, rushed forward to tend to Sasuke's wounds.
"Damn it! I lost again!" Sasuke looked unwilling, painfully covering his eyes, his voice filled with anger and confusion. "Why? Why, even with these eyes, am I completely no match for him?! Even if he uses Ice Release, I shouldn't have lost so miserably!"
"Always trying to act tough," Sakura, at the side, said bluntly while using medical ninjutsu to treat Sasuke. "You're clearly not strong enough, yet you always want to fight alone. Are you silly or what?"
"You!!" Sasuke looked furious, but the black-bellied Sakura pressed down on Sasuke's wound, and the pain instantly made Sasuke's face go pale.
"You guys..." Kakashi looked helplessly at Naruto and the others, his voice extremely weak. "One likes to act tough, and another likes to stand by and watch. You all are really..." Before he could finish speaking, Kakashi, his chakra depleted, rolled his eyes back and fainted.
Naruto helplessly hoisted Kakashi onto his shoulder and said to Tazuna, "Let's set off quickly. They definitely won't come to assassinate us again anytime soon."