The clash in the mist had become something out of a nightmare. Sasuke's Darkness Technique spread over the battlefield, swallowing everything in an endless void. One moment there was fog, the next—pitch blackness.
Even Zabuza, who prided himself on his mastery of the Hidden Mist Technique, froze for a second. His own jutsu was turned against him in a way he hadn't anticipated. Kakashi, who stood at the center of the storm, could only sigh.
Are all Uchiha fighting like this now? he wondered bitterly. Using an opponent's style against them was clever, yes, but what about your allies who now couldn't see a thing?
"Kakashi-sensei! The enemy is on your right, behind you—dodge!" Naruto's voice cut through the suffocating blackness.
Kakashi didn't question it. He moved instinctively, trusting the boy's words.
Naruto wasn't relying on eyesight. His Kagura's Inner Eye burned inside him, sensing negative emotions, anger, and killing intent. Though not perfect—it couldn't map out allies well—against enemies it was devastating. Zabuza's killing intent was like a bonfire in the dark.
"Damn brat!" Zabuza hissed, realizing Naruto had pinned his location again. His favorite style—silent killing—relied on surprise, on opponents flailing helplessly in the dark. Yet here was a boy robbing him of that advantage.
Just then, a crack of lightning tore through the darkness. Kakashi's Chidori gleamed, forcing Zabuza to leap backward or be skewered.
"Got you! Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Sasuke's voice rang out as his hands blurred into seals. A roaring inferno burst forth, lighting up the night for a heartbeat before crashing into Zabuza's position.
"Damn it!" Kakashi cursed inwardly as the flames nearly scorched him as well. He trusted Sasuke's accuracy, but still—that fireball had been close enough to singe his hair.
Uchiha were too troublesome. First darkness, now fire. You couldn't afford to fight them, and you couldn't afford to be near them either.
Zabuza staggered out of the fire's edge, smoke rising from his clothes. He had substituted with a water clone at the last second, yet the attack still grazed him. His lungs burned, his body ached.
These kids… these Genin… are monsters.
He had expected Kakashi to be the problem, but instead it was Naruto's perception and Sasuke's relentless attacks that cornered him. Konoha's so-called rookies were more terrifying than most Chūnin.
"Uncle Zabuza! Staying in one spot too long when you know I can sense you—dangerous move!"
Naruto's mocking voice drifted out of the void. Zabuza shivered despite himself. Before he could counter, a blade pierced his arm, leaving a deep gash. He hissed and retreated, blood dripping.
"This brat… his perception is outrageous!"
He hated this. He loved being the hunter, slipping through shadows and fog, savoring the fear of his prey. Now the roles were reversed.
"Hahaha! Uncle Zabuza, you think the darkness hides you? But you're moving in front of my Sharingan! Do you really think I can't see you?"
Zabuza's body jerked. A dagger protruded from his waist. He had been tagged again, this time by Sasuke.
The boy's Sharingan glimmered faintly in the void. It wasn't as absolute as the Byakugan, but it was enough. The Uchiha had built entire systems of combat around losing sight—anticipating, sensing chakra flows, reacting with ruthless precision. That was why they had once served as the backbone of Konoha's police force.
Pinned on Sasuke's blade, Zabuza did the only thing he could—counterattack with ferocity. He forced Sasuke to withdraw, but even then, the boy didn't linger. He struck, then slipped away.
Hit fast. Retreat faster.
It was a style born of desperation and cunning. Zabuza found himself grinding his teeth. "What kind of brats fight like this?! You stab me, then run? Shouldn't you try to finish me?!"
Even worse, Naruto had said it was dangerous if Zabuza stayed still. Sasuke had said it was dangerous if he moved. So which was it?! If he stayed, he'd be stabbed. If he moved, he'd be slashed. He couldn't win either way.
What kind of lunatic bridge builder did I let myself get hired against? Zabuza thought grimly.
Still, he was no pushover. Despite the wounds, he held his ground. Naruto and Sasuke dared not use wide-area ninjutsu, lest they accidentally harm Kakashi, Sakura, or Tazuna. Their perception could sense Zabuza, but their allies were blurs in the dark.
So the battle slowed, stretching into a war of attrition. Zabuza's stamina, honed through years as an assassin, clashed against the raw energy of the next generation.
Kakashi, Sakura, and Tazuna stood useless at the side, growing restless. The fog and darkness left them blind and powerless.
Meanwhile, Haku waited in silence. Hidden in the treeline, he clenched his fists. The Darkness Technique shrouded everything, leaving him unable to tell friend from foe. If he charged in recklessly, he might ruin everything. He had been told to stay back, to be Zabuza's trump card—and so he waited.
And further away, Andrew observed quietly. His Byakugan pierced through both mist and darkness, allowing him to see the fight clearer than anyone else. He had arrived even before Zabuza, moving with impossible speed that left even veteran shinobi struggling to comprehend.
Andrew frowned. This wasn't what he expected. He had anticipated Kakashi's Sharingan leading the charge. Instead, the battle's momentum belonged to two Genin—Naruto and Sasuke. Kakashi barely played a part.
For a long moment, Andrew remained silent, analyzing every move, every breath. The two rookies weren't polished, but their synergy was terrifying. One sensed killing intent with almost supernatural clarity. The other turned blindness into opportunity with the Sharingan. Together, they had forced Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, into a corner.
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The clash dragged on, the sound of steel ringing faintly in the darkness. Every exchange added another wound to Zabuza's body, another scar to his pride.
And all the while, Naruto's mocking voice kept echoing:
"So, Uncle Zabuza—move or don't move? Either way, you're mine."
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