Alternate Chapter name: White Petals Adrift in Crimson Dust, Bonds Unbroken by the Demon's Blade !________________________________
The appearance of Haku not only stirred memories for Naruto and Sakura but also momentarily stunned Sasuke, even from his distant vantage point .
Seeing Haku's familiar face, Sasuke was involuntarily thrown back to the Land of Waves, to the desperate battle on the bridge, to the moment Haku had risked everything – his very life – to shield Zabuza, and inadvertently, Naruto.
Think about it carefully, Sasuke mused internally, a flicker of an unreadable emotion in his eyes.
'That was the first time I'd ever pushed myself so hard for someone else, wasn't it?'
A humorless smirk touched his lips. "Heh, this damnable bond... Just how many of my 'firsts' has Naruto laid claim to!"
[In the video, Kakashi Hatake and Zabuza Momochi confronted each other once more. Uncharacteristically, neither made an immediate move to attack. Instead, a heavy silence hung between them before Zabuza spoke, his voice laced with a weary resignation.
"I knew we'd have to fight, but I never expected to face you again, Kakashi."
"I should have been condemned to hell," Zabuza continued, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "But when I awoke, I found myself with Haku." He paused, then asked, "How is that kid? The one who defeated us. He must have grown a lot by now, both in skill and reputation, right?"
Kakashi's visible eye softened with a hint of pride. "The bridge in the Land of Waves was named 'The Great Naruto Bridge.' The villagers there call him a hero, their 'Miracle Kid.' Thanks to you and Haku, Naruto found his own nindo – his ninja way."
At that moment, a dark, ominous chakra, the tell-tale sign of the Edo Tensei's control, began to rise from Zabuza's reanimated body. He gritted his teeth, a look of pain crossing his features. "Kakashi," he managed, "you have to stop us!"]
The screen faded.
Across the Ninja World, brows furrowed in contemplation. Many were struck by the uncanny nature of the Edo Tensei matchups being revealed. It seemed almost fated.
Deidara versus his former master, Onoki.
Shin versus his adoptive brother, Sai.
Kankuro, the puppet master, against the legendary Sasori.
And now, Kakashi facing Zabuza once more – a battle that felt less like enemies clashing and more like rivals with a deeply complicated, almost respectful, history.
'It's strange' , many thought. 'They were enemies, yet Zabuza and Haku seemed to genuinely care about Naruto's growth. What could have happened between them to forge such an unusual connection?'
[A new video segment began, titled: "White Petals Adrift in Crimson Dust, Bonds Unbroken by the Demon's Blade!"]
[The scene shifted to a thick, swirling mist. Kakashi and Zabuza stood upon the water's surface. After a brief, sharp exchange of blows, they leaped back, creating several dozen meters of distance between them.
Then, Zabuza began to meticulously form a long sequence of hand seals: Boar – Dog – Bird – Monkey – Ram… Kakashi, his Sharingan blazing, mirrored every intricate movement flawlessly: Boar – Dog – Bird – Monkey – Ram…
For a full seven or eight seconds, their hands moved in a complex, synchronized dance. The speed of their seals accelerated, becoming a blur that was almost impossible for the untrained eye to follow.]
In the various hidden villages, shinobi watching the broadcast leaned in, a mixture of confusion and anticipation on their faces.
What's going on?
Weren't these supposed to be glimpses of the future? Why are we seeing a past battle now?
And… why are Zabuza and Kakashi performing such an incredibly long sequence of hand seals on the water?
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Konohagakure (The Village Hidden in the Leaves),
Kakashi let out a soft groan, his visible eye crinkling. "Ah, this…"
Sakura couldn't help but giggle. "I always thought Kakashi-sensei was amazing, but seeing this again… it's a little embarrassing, isn't it?"
Naruto, however, beamed with pride. "Hey! That's the fight from the Land of Waves! That's when I managed to save Kakashi-sensei from Zabuza's Water Prison Technique, believe it!"
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Kirigakure(The Village Hidden in the Mist),
The Mist shinobi recognized the hand seals instantly, their expressions a mix of nostalgia and critique.
"They're forming the seals for the Water Dragon Jutsu!"
"But Zabuza, that traitor… he should know better. The seals for the Water Dragon were simplified ages ago. There's no need for such an elaborate sequence anymore."
"Still, what's most striking is that Copy Ninja Kakashi… he's mirroring him perfectly, seal for seal."
[Back in the video, Kakashi and Zabuza finally completed the exhaustive chain of hand seals simultaneously. With a shared roar, two colossal dragons, formed entirely of churning water, erupted from the lake's surface. They twisted and soared towards the sky, their immense forms momentarily blotting out the mist.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Zabuza bellowed.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Kakashi echoed.
BOOM!!!
The two titanic water dragons collided with cataclysmic force. The entire lake surged violently, sending massive waves crashing outwards. The young Naruto and Sasuke, watching the original battle unfold from the sidelines, could only stare, shocked and utterly speechless by the scale of the power unleashed before them.]
The screen went dark.
....
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