On the bridge, the atmosphere was extremely tense. The battle was about to erupt at any moment.
Sasuke looked at Haku and said, "That guy will be handled by me!"
Last time, Sasuke had suffered a crushing defeat at Haku's hands. If not for Naruto's desperate assistance and the fact that Haku somehow refrained from delivering the killing blow, Sasuke would have been in grave danger.
This time, Sasuke wanted to reclaim his honor.
Naruto stood beside Sasuke and said, "I'm gonna fight with you, Sasuke!"
Sasuke didn't refuse. However, when Sakura also insisted on joining them, Sasuke coldly said, "Sakura, you're staying behind to protect our employer."
Sakura looked utterly devastated.
Why could Naruto do it but she couldn't?
Again and again, Sakura felt like Sasuke and Naruto were the couple, and she was the third wheel.
If it weren't for the fact that Naruto was male, Sakura thought she might have already given up.
Shindai said to Hinata, "Hinata, you can have fun with that masked kid. Kakashi and I will deal with these two walking trash cans."
"Yes, Master Shindai!"
Hinata unfolded a scroll and summoned Chakra Armor onto her body.
Zabuza gave orders to Haku, saying, "Move out, Haku!"
"Yes!"
Haku spun his body and rapidly rushed toward Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke.
While spinning, Haku launched numerous Senbon needles.
The density of the attack made it extremely difficult to completely evade.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
"Recognize and use, Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."
Hinata quickly moved in front of Naruto and Sasuke, activating an Earth-style Ninjutsu from the Ninjutsu card set. A wall of earth rose up, blocking all the Senbon fired by Haku.
At the exact moment Haku stopped spinning,
Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously charged toward Haku's left and right sides, slashing their Kunai knives at him.
Haku caught each Kunai blade using a single Senbon in each hand.
Hinata drew a ninja sword, and the two tubes on her Chakra Armor's back released a jet of gas, propelling Hinata forward at high speed straight toward Haku.
Startled, Haku immediately pushed back Naruto and Sasuke, then crossed the two Senbons in his hands to block Hinata's slash.
As a result, Haku was forced backward several steps.
Raiga Kurosuki sneered mockingly, "Zabuza, your subordinate seems to be losing ground. He can't handle those three kids after all."
Ignoring Raiga's mockery, Zabuza told Haku, "Get serious now, Haku."
"Yes."
Haku's aura changed dramatically, causing Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke to feel intense pressure, while the surrounding temperature dropped significantly.
[Ice Release: Icicle Swallow]
After forming the necessary Hand Seal, Haku summoned three ice spikes rising from the ground, rushing toward Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto.
Hinata and the others immediately dodged, but the Ice Release spikes came fast. Just as they tried to block them, the Ice Release spikes suddenly detonated, sending countless razor-sharp ice shards flying toward Hinata and her companions.
At the same time, Hinata and Sasuke formed Hand Seals.
["Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"]
Two blazing fireballs appeared, melting away the sharp ice shards.
Sasuke glanced at Shindai in surprise. Hinata had performed the hand seal herself without using a Ninjutsu card—this was clearly not an externally summoned technique.
But... this was a Fire Release technique unique to the Uchiha clan!
Sasuke glanced at Shindai and immediately understood—Shindai's wife was Hikaku Uchiha!
["Shadow Clone Jutsu!"]
Naruto created numerous shadow clones that charged toward Haku.
After forming Hand Seals, Haku stamped his foot on the puddle beneath him.
["Water Release: Secret Water Technique – Suijinheki!"]
The splashed water transformed into countless senbon, aimed directly at Naruto's clones.
All that could be heard across the battlefield was the popping of shadows as the clones were dispelled one by one.
However, just as Haku believed he had eliminated all of Naruto's clones, the stone beside his feet suddenly transformed into Naruto.
The earlier clones had only been distractions; Naruto's true body had used the Transformation Jutsu to become a rock, pretending to be scattered debris landing near Haku.
As Haku let his guard down thinking the battle was over, Naruto ambushed him.
Naruto threw a punch straight at Haku's face.
Haku indeed fell for it, but his reaction speed was impressive. He raised his arm to block the punch, yet the force still sent him flying skyward.
Immediately, Sasuke and Hinata formed Hand Seals together.
["Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"]
["Lightning Release: Thunderbolt!"]
Sasuke unleashed a stream of flame while Hinata fired a lightning sphere forward, both targeting Haku mid-air.
Naruto watched eagerly as Haku helplessly hung in the sky—there would be no way to dodge now.
["Ice Release: Hyppou no Jishaku!"]
A wall of ice instantly materialized before Haku, blocking both the flames and the lightning orb.
As Haku landed, he disappeared into the thick mist, vanishing from sight.
Using her Byakugan, Hinata scanned urgently for Haku's location.
"He's southwest! Behind you, Naruto!"
Without hesitation, Naruto spun around with a powerful roundhouse kick, striking Haku directly and successfully preventing himself from being ambushed.
Raiga Kurosuki said to Ranmaru perched on his shoulder, "Seems like Zabuza's underlings aren't doing well enough. It's your turn, Ranmaru."
"Fine."
Ranmaru's eyes gradually turned a deep, eerie red, radiating a sinister crimson glow.
Hinata shifted her gaze toward Sasuke's left side. "Sasuke! Left side!"
Sasuke swung his kunai knife at the spot she pointed out, but struck nothing but empty space.
Sasuke frowned. "I don't sense anyone on my left at all!"
Hinata found it incredible. "How is that possible?"
She was certain she had just seen someone moving through the mist.
Even more shocking to Hinata, within the thick mist, she saw many figures moving with flowing chakra.
Hinata began to panic. "Wh-what is going on?"
Because of the interference caused by Ranmaru's Red Eye, Hinata's Byakugan was unable to detect Haku's exact location.
Haku, concealing himself completely within the thick mist, made it impossible for Hinata and the others to pinpoint his location, forcing them into passive defense.
At the same time,
Shindai and Kakashi's battle with Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki was about to erupt.
Zabuza gripped his Cleaver Sword tightly. "Copy Ninja Kakashi, Magnetic Field Ninja Shindai, your heads are quite valuable."
Raiga Kurosuki grinned eagerly. "I'll personally handle your funeral arrangements!"
Shindai scoffed disdainfully. "Please, anyone can talk big. I won't even bother with Zabuza, but as for you, Raiga... You were seven against one, and still ended up with four dead and three running like cowards—how does it feel to remember that shame now, huh? After so many years, you've probably forgotten how that felt. Don't worry, I'll help you remember everything soon enough!"
Raiga Kurosuki trembled with rage, while Zabuza barely concealed his satisfaction.
"If you weren't enemies, he might have even voiced agreement."
"Die!"
Raiga Kurosuki raised his twin lightning blades high, preparing to launch an attack against Shindai and Kakashi.
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