“Heh heh… It’s surprising you can still move under my killing intent, but can you escape a second time?”
Zabuza’s voice was chillingly cold.
Naruto and the others were completely paralyzed by the oppressive atmosphere and unable to move. Only Yukigetsu, under everyone’s watchful eyes, slowly stood up.
“Naruto!” Yukigetsu’s voice suddenly rang out without him turning his head.
Naruto was startled, “W-What?”
“Have you forgotten the vow you made with your left hand?”
Naruto’s whole body trembled, and he felt a slight pain in his left hand. He had promised not to retreat! Was he going to stand here as a burden? Iruka-sensei gave him the forehead protector. Would he let him down?
Yukigetsu kept his head lowered, his voice low and deep like it came from an abyss, “Sasuke…”
Sasuke turned his head with difficulty.
“We are Avengers. We cannot fall here!”
Sasuke’s heart shook, and he clenched his fists tightly.
Yukigetsu’s voice was suppressed but firm, “Now, we have to rely on ourselves!”
Kakashi’s eyes widened, “No, this is bad…”
“What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to run? Once I was trapped, the battle had already been decided! Are you an idiot? What can you do?” Kakashi shouted anxiously.
“But…” the usually gentle boy suddenly raised his head, his sharp eyes like hawk’s, full of determination. But he stepped on my forehead protector!”
…
“Cackle… cackle cackle…”
A laugh that seemed to come from the depths of hell emerged from Zabuza, “Kids will be kids!”
“What do you want to say?” Yukigetsu asked coldly.
“How long do you want to play this ninja game? When I was your age…” Zabuza’s head shot up, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust, “…my hands were already stained with blood!”
“Demon of the Hidden Mist…” Kakashi’s forehead dripped with sweat.
“Mm… So you’ve heard of it.” Zabuza said indifferently.
Kakashi’s expression was extremely grave, “In the past, in the village known as the ‘Bloody Mist,’ there was the greatest obstacle to becoming a ninja…”
“Hmph!” Zabuza glanced at him, “You even know about the graduation exam…”
“Graduation exam?” Naruto asked, confused.
Zabuza laughed sinisterly, “Cackle, cackle, cackle!”
Naruto couldn’t help but ask, “What is that?”
“Cackle, cackle, cackle!”
Zabuza lifted his head abruptly, “It was… mutual slaughter!”
He looked around, “Those who shared the same pot of food were paired off to fight to the death! Until someone fell from exhaustion…”
“Those who used to help each other, talk about their dreams, and compete with each other…”
Sakura’s eyes widened, “How can it be like that…”
“Ten years ago, the graduation exam of the Hidden Mist underwent a major change…” Kakashi continued, “All because of a terrible incident the previous year! A demon appeared…”
“A change…” Sakura asked curiously, “Was it because of that demon?”
“Without a hint of hesitation… without any confusion… a child who hadn’t even qualified as a ninja killed over a hundred of his classmates that year…” Kakashi said gravely.
“That was truly interesting…”
Zabuza had a nostalgic expression before bursting into a grotesque laugh, “Ha ha ha… In the face of the killing intent born from slaughtering companions, which one of you kids can move?”
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were terrified, sweat dripping down.
“Hehe…”
Yukigetsu lowered his head and chuckled, “You’re talking about killing intent in front of me?”
Zabuza replied coldly, “What?”
“You’re talking about killing intent in front of someone who has been killing since childhood?”
Everyone: “…”
“You’re talking about killing intent in front of someone who killed hundreds of people at the age of three?”
He slowly lifted his head, his face cold as ice. Although he appeared the same as before, everyone felt like they were witnessing a bloodthirsty figure emerging from a sea of corpses!
Sasuke and the others were utterly shocked. They had never seen Yukigetsu like this before. Could this intimidating presence really belong to the previously gentle boy?
What kind of past did he have?
Step by step…
He walked forward, moving faster and faster, and then leaped into the air, smashing his fist into the ground!
Boom!
Zabuza leapt back to avoid it. The ground shook violently, cracks spreading outwards, forming a large pit in front of everyone!
“What… what kind of power is this?!” Tazuna’s eyes widened, “So the kid is this strong!”
The boy’s figure was shrouded in the dust, faintly visible. He picked up something from the ground, then slowly lifted his hands and tied it tightly on his forehead.
He raised his head slowly, the Konoha forehead protector glinting faintly, just like the boy’s deep eyes.
This was the first time he tied the forehead protector on his forehead!
Inside the water prison, Kakashi was utterly shocked. Such destructive power was exactly like Princess Tsunade’s!
How could he have learned this? This jutsu requires extremely precise chakra control, focusing chakra on any part of the body and rapidly igniting it to create a huge explosive force!
Both precise chakra control and rapid ignition require great skill and talent. Normal people can’t learn them, and even geniuses need at least three years to grasp the basics.
But Yukigetsu had only had chakra for two months!
Zabuza’s expression grew serious. He had seen many talented kids, even some extraordinarily outstanding ones, around him, but this level of killing intent was unprecedented. How many people had this kid killed…
Whoosh!
He rushed forward, swinging his sword horizontally!
Bang!
Yukigetsu ducked down, kicking the blade with his right foot. A huge counterforce pushed Zabuza back several steps, dispersing the impact of the kick.
Everyone was shocked. Tazuna, even more so, was ecstatic. This was the first time they had repelled the enemy head-on. The old man didn’t understand the difference in ninja ranks and was naturally overjoyed.
Whoosh!
Yukigetsu didn’t hesitate, following up with a punch!
This time, Zabuza clearly learned his lesson, not engaging head-on but opting for speed instead.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
As they exchanged rapid blows, not once did they make contact. It was impressive how Zabuza could wield the Executioner’s Blade with such agility.
Meanwhile, Naruto suddenly called out, “Sasuke, come over here!”
No more retreating, no more avoiding. We must rely on our own strength!
“What are you doing?” Sasuke clearly disliked being ordered by Naruto.
“I have a plan…”
On Yukigetsu’s side, he seized an opportunity, delivering a punch. Zabuza quickly blocked with the Executioner’s Blade.
Boom!
Zabuza was forced back several steps, his face darkening as he formed hand signs. Although his water clone had little chakra left, he had no choice.
“Hidden Mist Jutsu!”
He once again disappeared into the thick mist.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance, nodding simultaneously, before rushing towards Kakashi.
“Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
Dozens of Naruto clones swarmed Zabuza’s real body, but before Naruto could smile, the real Zabuza grinned wickedly…
Kakashi’s expression changed. Sasuke and Naruto had timed it well, with Zabuza’s clone being held off by Yukigetsu. If they could rescue him, the crisis would be over. However… Zabuza’s target was always Tazuna…
“Ah—”
At that moment, a scream came from Sakura’s side…
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