"Unfortunately for you," Chen Xing said coldly, "I never lose."
Through his sharp perception, he pinpointed the chakra presence of both Zabuza and Haku hidden within the thick mist.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
His hands blurred through a rapid series of seals. A sudden burst of slicing wind erupted from his palms, tearing through the fog and slamming into a nearby tree.
Crash!
The massive trunk split cleanly in half, falling with a thunderous crack.
But the target had already dissolved into water — a Water Clone Technique. The clone splashed apart, scattering into a puddle at his feet.
"Tch. So it's a clone…"
Without hesitation, Chen Xing formed more seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
He exhaled a roaring sphere of flame that tore through the mist. The heat burned away the vapor, momentarily clearing the battlefield — and revealing a glimpse of Zabuza's silhouette.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Zabuza's deep voice echoed from somewhere within the fog. A massive dragon of churning water surged forth, colliding head-on with the fireball.
Boom!!!
Steam exploded outward, filling the area once again. The temperature spiked sharply — the clash between fire and water churning the battlefield into a boiling haze.
From her hiding spot, Haku's delicate face tensed. Her hands clenched against her chest.
"Zabuza-sama…" she whispered. Her current abilities were still limited; she hadn't yet mastered her clan's Ice Release, and could only watch helplessly as the two forces clashed.
The wind shifted. Chen Xing's senses flared — something fast was descending above him.
Zabuza dropped from the canopy, his massive Kubikiribōchō cleaving downward like a guillotine.
Clang!
A flash of violet light erupted — Chen Xing had already drawn his Thunder Sword, a weapon wreathed in crackling arcs of lightning. The blades met, sparks flying violently as the forest echoed with the clash of steel.
Zabuza landed and grinned beneath his bandages. "You blocked it…?"
His eyes narrowed when he saw the blade Chen Xing wielded — electricity dancing across the edge like living snakes.
"Interesting sword," he muttered, jumping back into the fog.
"Lightning Style: Ground Current!"
Chen Xing slammed his hand into the soil. Bolts of electricity exploded outward in a web-like pattern, racing along the ground in all directions.
Zzzzzap!
Several trees were scorched and split apart — but once again, the body he struck melted into water. Another Water Clone.
"Tch. Clever bastard…" Chen Xing muttered.
Hidden in the mist, Zabuza frowned. This kid's chakra nature… Fire, Wind, and Lightning? Three elements? That's unheard of for someone his age.
Haku, hiding nearby, bit her lip anxiously.
"Please… don't get hurt, Zabuza-sama…" she prayed silently, terrified to make a sound — unaware that Chen Xing already sensed her presence but chose not to attack.
She's no threat, he thought. That girl's too gentle — killing her would be meaningless.
Chen Xing glanced at the darkening sky. "It's getting late. Time to finish this."
Once again, he formed rapid seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive sphere of blazing heat tore forward, consuming everything in its path. The fog evaporated instantly.
But Chen Xing wasn't done. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
He exhaled a powerful gust that merged with the fireball, fanning the flames into a raging inferno. The combined jutsu roared forward like a sea of fire, scorching the forest floor.
The combined nature transformation — Fire and Wind — was something even many elite jōnin struggled to perform.
Hidden deep in the mist, Zabuza's eyes widened. "A combination technique…?! Even most Kage-level shinobi can't pull that off at his age!"
"Zabuza-sama!" Haku shouted, sensing the immense surge of heat approaching. The air trembled, her heart pounding with fear for him.
But Zabuza's expression turned fierce, a predator backed into a corner.
"Don't underestimate me, brat!"
"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Chakra surged through his body as he unleashed an enormous torrent. The wave rose over ten meters high, crashing against the sea of fire.
BOOOOOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the forest. Steam erupted everywhere, rolling out in a wave so thick it turned the battlefield into a white void once again.
"Zabuza-sama!!" Haku's voice trembled, tears streaming down her face as she rushed forward. "Please be okay!"
Chen Xing's silhouette appeared through the fog, calm and unscathed. "Relax," he said coolly. "He's not dead."
Lightning began to hum faintly around his right hand — a focused mass of chakra so bright it illuminated the mist.
Crack-crack-crack!
The current condensed into a blade of pure light.
"Lightning Release: Chidori — Variant."
He dashed forward, the ground shattering beneath his feet. The world blurred into a single streak of violet light.
"Zabuza, this ends now!"
Zabuza barely had time to raise his sword before Chen Xing's strike pierced through the fog. The Thunder Sword stopped just short of his chest, the tip crackling against his torn vest.
Zabuza froze. One wrong move, and the lightning would rip through his heart.
He exhaled slowly, lowering his blade. "Heh… kid, why didn't you finish it?"
Chen Xing's eyes stayed cold but calm. "If I wanted you dead, you'd already be gone. But killing you serves no purpose."
He withdrew the blade. Electricity faded into silence.
From the mist, Haku burst forward, tears still glimmering in her eyes. She rushed to Zabuza's side, kneeling beside him protectively.
"Zabuza-sama! Are you hurt?!"
He gave a small smirk. "Not dead yet."
Chen Xing turned away, resting his sword across his shoulder. "You two should leave the Land of Grass. The next time we meet… I might not hold back."
Zabuza chuckled lowly. "You've got guts, brat. I'll remember that name — Chen Xing, the Peacock King."
The mist began to clear, revealing the scarred battlefield — scorched earth, steaming puddles, and shattered trees.
As Chen Xing disappeared into the distance, Haku looked up, her eyes still wet with tears.
"Zabuza-sama… that boy… he was strong."
Zabuza nodded slowly, gripping the handle of his great sword. "Yeah… too strong for his age. That kid's gonna shake the shinobi world someday."