"You brat… you deserve to die!"
After saying that, Zabuza charged at Genya again, his killing intent practically radiating from his body.
He wanted Uchiha Genya—dead. He had to die.
Madness filled his eyes as he swung his great blade at Genya again, this time with a look of absolute resolve.
No matter what, he would kill this annoying brat.
"Bang!" But this time, the barrier he expected didn't appear.
As he neared Genya, Genya didn't activate the Shinra Tensei. Instead, he reached out and caught the great blade with his hand.
With one hand.
Huh? Seeing this, Zabuza was completely stunned.
Was this even possible for a human?
Catching his own strike with a single hand?
It was unbelievable. Even now, Zabuza began to doubt his own eyes—Genya had casually stopped his strike with one hand?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Genya was just a child, an inexperienced Genin.
It must be an illusion. He had fallen for a genjutsu.
Thinking this, Zabuza began to use his mental power, trying to break free from the illusion.
"Unbelievable, huh? In the shinobi world, there's always someone stronger, someone better. You just refuse to accept it!"
Genya looked at Zabuza's disbelieving eyes and gave a faint, calm smile.
Then, with a twist of his wrist, Zabuza's body was sent flying over ten meters, crashing heavily to the ground.
Pfft!
A mouthful of blood spurted out as excruciating pain swept through him.
"This… this isn't a genjutsu?" Zabuza finally realized it. He was not under an illusion. He looked at Genya again. "You've been hiding your true strength?"
Genya was undeniably strong, terrifyingly strong.
"Just because you think I'm weak doesn't mean I said I'm weak!" Genya said, looking at Zabuza, shaking his head.
"Heh. Indeed, from the moment I saw you, I never took you seriously!"
Zabuza struggled to get up from the ground. His face was full of pain and unwillingness, but his eyes were resolute as he stared at Genya.
"I won't necessarily lose. Keep going!"
Genya stood still, quietly watching Zabuza struggle to rise.
It seemed this guy really wanted to kill him.
"So today, you really want to kill me!" Genya said, his voice cold, echoing around them. An invisible pressure emanated from him, suffocating Zabuza.
Zabuza gritted his teeth but kept his eyes locked on Genya.
He was an assassin, and his mission was not yet complete.
"I am an assassin!" Zabuza growled, forming hand signs again.
As he completed the signs, the air around them seemed twisted by a powerful force. A whirlpool began forming on the water behind him, and a water dragon leapt from the surface, coiling through the air.
It was like a giant dragon, ready to devour its enemy.
"Ninjutsu—Water Dragon Jutsu!"
As Zabuza's words fell, the water dragon surged upward, lunging at Genya with overwhelming force.
But just as the water dragon approached, chains made of water rose from the surface, wrapping around it.
The dragon was trapped, unable to move.
"What—"
Zabuza was stunned. He hadn't seen Genya perform any jutsu. It was as if Genya had merely snapped his fingers, and the chains formed from the water to bind his dragon.
"Chains—"
With a low command from Genya, the chains tightened around the water dragon.
In an instant, the water dragon exploded, forming countless walls of water.
However, the chains flew through the air, finally wrapping around Zabuza, striking like steel whips.
"No…!" Zabuza muttered, sensing danger, swinging his long sword.
He used all his strength to cut through one chain after another.
But in the end, a moment's distraction was enough. One of the chains struck his chest, sending him flying.
A mouthful of blood spurted out.
Zabuza's face turned pale, and his eyes clouded with confusion.
A single, effortless strike from this Uchiha kid could defeat him.
He could not accept it.
Meanwhile, the mist he had summoned began to fade, unable to sustain itself due to his exhaustion.
"You lost."
Genya slowly walked to stand before Zabuza, looking down at him from above. His voice was calm, almost indifferent.
Zabuza stared at Genya, opening his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Indeed… he had lost.
Elsewhere, another battle raged.
Hinata fought against Haku. At this moment, Haku was covered in blood, his clothes torn, and even his mask shattered halfway.
Hinata, on the other hand, still stood firmly in the center of the mirror, her eyes locked on Haku.
Only the edges of her clothes showed scratches from the ice needles.
Just one glance, and the difference was clear!
Haku was no match for Hinata, even falling behind.
"You're strong, but you're not my opponent!" Hinata's eyes narrowed, filled with determination.
At the same time, she instantly appeared in front of Haku's mirror and struck with a single palm.
Crash!
The mirror shattered!
Haku emerged from the broken mirror, delivering a whip-like kick from above aimed at Hinata.
Bang~
Hinata raised her arms to protect her head, taking the hit.
The ground trembled beneath them.
Haku, failing to land the attack, tried to quickly retreat into a mirror.
But as he prepared to escape, Hinata grabbed his ankle.
With a strong pull, Haku was slammed to the ground.
A crater formed beneath him, and cracks spread across the surrounding earth.
Spit!
Haku coughed up blood, his mask falling away instantly, revealing a pale face.
"You lost!" Hinata said, staring at him, then glanced at the surrounding mirrors.
Perhaps due to Haku's severe injuries, the mirrors began to fade, revealing the misty space around them.
"Zabuza, I can't buy you any more time for you!" Haku looked at the vanishing mirrors.
There was no sign of Zabuza coming to help, which meant he was still engaged in battle.
He… had failed to carry out Zabuza's request.
Huh?
Suddenly, he noticed the mist around them was also dissipating, sending a chill through his heart.
If Zabuza had finished handling the outside threats, he would be here to help.
But the mist disappearing meant Zabuza had lost too.
Heh…
Thinking this, a bitter smile appeared on his refined face.
This time, they had lost—completely lost.
In Haku's moment of despair, he felt Hinata drag him forward by his ankle.
Already injured, being dragged across the ground caused him even more pain.
It made Haku's mind even clearer.
Through the thin mist, he saw Zabuza tied up again. But now, Zabuza's face was extremely pale, his eyes lifeless.
What was even more striking was the look in Zabuza's eyes—despair.
Haku's heart sank. What was going on?
The Zabuza he knew would never show such an expression, no matter how dire the situation.
What had just happened?
As Haku was lost in thought, Zabuza lifted his brows and saw Haku in his current, pitiful state.
****
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