Bang!
Splash!
The towering waves that came crashing down were completely blocked.
Not even a single drop could cross the barrier.
"Bastard!"
Seeing this, Zabuza's face turned extremely ugly.
Kakashi was strong!
Zabuza had known this for a long time, but the fact that his attacks were completely ineffective was hard for him to accept. Originally, he thought that even if he overestimated Kakashi infinitely—even if the opponent was truly a cut above him—Kakashi was still burdened by a group of dead weights!
He could have used this to easily find an opening in Kakashi's defense and secure victory!
Even if Kakashi was cold-blooded enough to ignore his subordinates...
Zabuza could still complete his mission and take that old man's head!
However, the situation developed far beyond Zabuza's expectations. Kakashi gave him no openings at all. Zabuza couldn't shake him off.
But asking Zabuza to admit defeat and retreat here? He couldn't accept that either.
At least I need to gather more intel. Or maybe... lure Kakashi away, then have Haku kill the old man!
Zabuza stared intently at Kakashi. In less than a second, numerous thoughts raced through his mind.
Having made his decision...
He tapped his foot on the ground.
Whoosh!
He prepared to retreat and create more distance!
Almost at the same time...
Opposite him, Kakashi also made a move!
He bit his thumb.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
He slammed his palm onto the ground.
Poof!
Thick white smoke erupted.
Whoosh!
As the smoke cleared...
Woof woof woof woof woof!
Eight ninja dogs of varying sizes suddenly appeared around Kakashi.
In the original story, whatever reason Kakashi had for holding back—which led to him being trapped in the Water Prison Jutsu and nearly causing Team 7's annihilation—was unknown.
But in this life, Kakashi clearly had no intention of holding back.
Wasn't Zabuza confident he couldn't be caught?
Then Kakashi would simply summon his contracted ninja dogs.
"This is...?!"
Although his vision was obstructed by the Hidden Mist Jutsu and he couldn't see exactly what Kakashi had summoned despite the short distance, the sudden appearance of multiple chakra signatures so close to him...
Zabuza sensed them easily.
His heart undeniably skipped a few beats.
An ominous premonition rose in his chest.
"Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!"
During their close-quarters clash...
Kakashi had already been tainted with Zabuza's scent.
The moment his ninja dogs were summoned, they had perfectly memorized Zabuza's scent.
No extra commands were needed.
Almost the instant Kakashi thought it and formed the seals...
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Cracks appeared in the ground.
The ninja dogs sped underground simultaneously.
"Not good!"
Sensing several chakra signatures closing in rapidly but unable to pinpoint their exact locations...
Zabuza's expression became very ugly.
Swish!
He swung his Executioner's Blade fiercely!
And retreated at top speed.
However!
The speed of Kakashi's ninja dogs far exceeded Zabuza's expectations. And relying entirely on scent, they were completely unaffected by the Hidden Mist Jutsu.
In an instant!
Snap!
Thud!
Thud!
Zabuza had barely retreated a short distance when the ninja dogs launched their surprise attack, bursting out of the ground one after another right next to him.
"Ninja dogs?! Bastard!"
At such close range...
With their forms clearly visible...
Zabuza's pupils shrank violently.
Having only just reacted, he now had no room to dodge.
"Haku!"
He could only shout sharply.
"Ice Style: Ice Rock Dome of Nothingness!!"
However, even before Zabuza shouted, a figure had already flashed out from the rear right.
Seals formed with incredible speed.
Hum!
Ice crystals vibrated in the air.
Cold energy gathered rapidly!
Centered on Zabuza, multiple walls of ice formed, perfectly blocking the attacks of Kakashi's ninja dogs.
It gave Zabuza a brief moment of respite.
Allowing him to regroup.
But Kakashi clearly wouldn't give him that chance. utilizing the ninja dogs' assault, Kakashi had also closed the distance.
"Fire Style: Great Flame Technique!"
Seals completed instantly.
Boom!
Chakra refined.
Intense flames spewed from his mouth.
In an instant, they melted the walls of ice in front of him, exposing Zabuza, who was encased within.
Facing each other directly.
Even if they could only see each other's blurry figures...
Zabuza could clearly sense the intense killing intent radiating from Kakashi.
Combined with the ninja dogs prowling around him...
Zabuza's expression was as ugly as it could get!
In this moment.
Zabuza truly realized that a person's reputation was like the shadow of a tree. Kakashi's fame earned during the Third Great Ninja War was absolutely genuine!
A Kakashi holding nothing back...
Was suppressing Zabuza with sheer, absolute power!
Looks like this is the end for me!
Even thinking this...
Zabuza showed no signs of cowardice or shrinking back. Instead, a thick, fierce aura appeared between his brows.
The proud Zabuza would never choose a weak death.
If he was going to die!
He would die standing!
Boom!
He swung the Executioner's Blade with overwhelming force!
A shockwave erupted.
"Ahhhhh!"
Roaring, Zabuza charged forward on the initiative. Even if he died, he would tear a piece of flesh from Kakashi!
Not far away, seeing Zabuza in danger again, Haku's face beneath his mask showed anxiety.
Just as he was about to rush to support...
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
From the side.
Suddenly.
A blood-red figure leaped into view.
It was Menma, who had been ready and waiting. The moment he saw Haku appear, he shouted for Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura to stay put and protect Tazuna.
Then, without giving them a chance to react, he exploded chakra from the soles of his feet and sped toward Haku's position.
With Haku actively revealing his position...
Menma could lock onto him easily.
As he closed in...
Over a dozen cold glints flashed from his hand.
Then, hand seals completed.
Those dozen shuriken instantly multiplied into hundreds of cold glints, arriving in front of Haku in the blink of an eye.
Although the scale wasn't as exaggerated as when Hiruzen Sarutobi or Minato Namikaze used it...
In a battle between Chūnin and Genin...
It was already a significant threat!
This was the second jutsu Menma had learned from the Scroll of Seals!
This destructive power was something the current Haku couldn't ignore.
"Ice Style: Explosive Ice Crystal Jutsu!"