All of this happened in an instant; the shift in offense was so fast it was dazzling.
Just as Satsuki used her Lightning Release to shatter the Ice Mirrors and Shunshin behind Haku, her kunai was about to strike the target!
The fragments of Ice Mirrors, blasted everywhere by the Lightning Release, suddenly froze in mid-air and reversed direction! The next moment, they re-coalesced and re-formed at an even faster speed, transforming into dozens of ice needles that violently assailed Satsuki's back!
"Ice Release: A Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
Satsuki's kunai was about to pierce Haku's back, while she herself was on the verge of being riddled with dense ice needles, creating a situation where both would be severely injured—
"Satsuki!"
Naruto exclaimed, and the next moment, Satsuki, who was about to deliver a fatal blow, suddenly felt a force gently wrap around her waist. Then a huge pulling force came, yanking her from her spot to the side!
It was the golden Chakra chains of the Adamantine Sealing Chains! They swiftly pulled Satsuki out of the fatal range of the "A Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death," narrowly avoiding the indiscriminate volley of ice needles.
At the same time, Haku felt the dual pressure from Naruto in front and Satsuki behind. The moment Satsuki was pulled away, he immediately exerted force, trying to fend off Naruto's close-range kunai pursuit, and used the momentum to Shunshin backward, avoiding the range of his own scattered ice needle Ninjutsu.
However, just as he successfully shook off Naruto's kunai, and in the tiny gap where his Chakra was just gathering to activate his Shunshin Jutsu—Naruto anticipated his move! A powerful side kick, delivered with great force, accurately struck Haku's chest!
"Bang!"
A dull thud rang out! Caught off guard, Haku was sent flying sideways by the immense force, crashing to the ground.
Naruto himself, after kicking Haku away, did not stop. He immediately activated his Shunshin Jutsu, his figure flashing, and swiftly exited the area covered by the scattered ice needles.
"What?! Haku is actually at a disadvantage?"
Zabuza, who had been observing from the side, showed an expression of disbelief. His carefully honed and proud "tool" was being pushed into such a predicament by two Konoha brats who were clearly much younger.
"Satsuki, use Fire Release!" Naruto shouted, his hands already rapidly forming hand signs again. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Satsuki, safely placed on the ground by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, instantly understood Naruto's intention. With almost no hesitation, her hands also completed the hand signs at a dazzling speed. "Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Several scorching fireballs erupted from Satsuki's mouth, naturally and actively entering the fierce horizontal tornado created by Naruto!
Wind fueled the fire, and fire borrowed the wind's power. The moment they met, the flames surged wildly, instantly forming an enormous, roaring, rotating fire tornado!
This combination Ninjutsu descended once again!
Wind Release Secret Art: Super Instant Light Brilliant Wind Dragon Flame Heavenly Vortex Roaring Array!
The scorching flames and violent wind pressure instantly swept through the entire bridge area. The originally dense and impenetrable fog was forcefully dispersed and evaporated by the high temperature and turbulent airflow! The surrounding visibility suddenly became incredibly clear and open.
Zabuza's face instantly turned extremely grim. He roared in Haku's direction. "Haku! Get serious! These two brats are much more troublesome than we imagined! Stop holding back, quickly resolve them with full power!"
Haku's figure became clear again as the dense fog dispersed. He looked at the fire tornado, sweeping towards him like a natural disaster, and began to quickly form hand signs.
"I'm sorry, please only hate me..."
As he spoke in a low voice, thick ice walls continuously rose from the ground before him, attempting to block the advance of the fire tornado.
However, the power of this violent Ninjutsu, which merged the wind and fire Chakra nature transformations, was too strong. The ice walls only resisted for a few brief seconds before rapidly melting and collapsing under the high heat and impact!
After several ice walls were consecutively destroyed, the terrifying fire tornado finally reached Haku, seemingly about to completely engulf him—
However, the moment the tornado touched Haku's figure, his body dissolved into a puddle of water with a "splash."
It was a Water Clone.
Naruto and Satsuki, realizing that this combined attack had ultimately missed, immediately dispersed the Chakra maintaining the Ninjutsu. The giant fire tornado lost its energy source, rapidly weakening and dissipating.
Indeed, Haku's true killing move was already prepared under the cover of the Water Clone.
Haku's clear, cold voice came from all directions simultaneously.
"Secret Jutsu: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals."
Dozens of large, mirror-smooth ice crystals appeared out of thin air around Naruto and Satsuki. These ice mirrors formed a hemispherical cage, completely trapping the two within.
Haku's figure appeared simultaneously in every ice mirror. "Everything is for Zabuza Momochi-sensei... I absolutely cannot lose."
Haku's voice echoed from all directions, reverberating between the cold mirror surfaces.
Naruto looked around the secret Ninjutsu barrier, created by Haku, with interest. Instead of fear, his eyes sparkled with curiosity and admiration.
What astonishing talent... To be able to develop and utilize the Ice Release Bloodline Limit to such an extent, almost mimicking the effects of Space-Time Ninjutsu, creating such an absolutely advantageous home field.
Not far away, watching Haku's Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals perfectly form, completely trapping Naruto and Satsuki, Zabuza finally withdrew his gaze from the battlefield and turned to Kakashi, a confident expression of victory on his face, declaring.
"It seems the battle is about to end. Kakashi, I admit that your two subordinates are indeed exceptionally talented, to be able to push Haku to this point... But Haku is not like them!"
His tone carried a hint of imperceptible pride. "Since he was a child, I have taught him all my combat techniques without holding anything back! He is my most perfect tool! You cannot stop us!"
Kakashi's gaze swept over the ice prison not far away, then looked at the confident Zabuza before him.
"Hehehehehe..."
Kakashi suddenly lowered his head, letting out a series of low, ambiguous laughs. The laughter seemed to carry a hint of mockery and playfulness.
Zabuza was completely thrown off by Kakashi's unexpected reaction. "What's so funny? Are you still bluffing when death is at your doorstep?"
"Zabuza..." Kakashi slowly raised his head, his visible eye curved into a crescent shape. "It seems you still underestimate Naruto."
"If your carefully cultivated Haku is a genius among ten thousand... Then Uzumaki Naruto, he is an 'anomaly' that cannot be judged by common sense."
That guy... is a perfect Jinchuriki candidate who can communicate with a Tailed Beast and has even initially controlled the power of the Nine-Tailed...
Kakashi steadily raised the kunai in his hand, once again assuming a standard combat stance, pointing it at Zabuza.
"Let me tell you a truth, Zabuza Momochi." Kakashi's voice carried an undeniable certainty. "In my Team 7, the strongest combat power has never been me..."
"It's Uzumaki Naruto."