The Mist Thickens
As Team 7, along with Hyuk, Tazuna, and Sasuke, approached the Land of Waves, the fog became so dense that visibility dropped to nearly nothing. Kakashi halted the group, his Sharingan activated beneath his mask as he scanned the area.
"Stay alert. We're not alone," Kakashi warned.
Naruto, already tense from the earlier ambush, clenched his fists. "What do you mean, sensei? Who's out there?"
Kakashi's expression was unreadable. "Someone dangerous. Keep your guard up."
Sakura instinctively stepped closer to Sasuke, feeling uneasy about the situation. Meanwhile, Hyuk remained calm, but there was a slight tension in his posture, as if he too could sense the imminent threat.
---
Out of the fog, a sinister voice echoed around them. "So, the famous Kakashi Hatake and his little team of brats… How unfortunate for you to cross paths with me."
A figure slowly materialized from the mist—a tall man with bandages wrapped around his lower face and a massive sword slung over his shoulder. Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, stood before them, his bloodlust palpable in the air.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "Zabuza… One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. So, you've been hired by Gato, haven't you?"
Zabuza chuckled darkly. "That's right. And it looks like I get to add you and your team to my list of victims."
Naruto gritted his teeth, drawing his kunai. "I'm not afraid of you! We'll take you down!"
"Naruto, don't underestimate him," Kakashi warned. "This isn't an opponent you can take lightly."
Hyuk stepped forward, his icy chakra already swirling around him. "We're not going to let you stop us."
Zabuza's eyes flickered with interest as he noticed the young shinobi. "You're different. Interesting. But you're still no match for me."
---
Zabuza wasted no time, swinging his massive sword with terrifying speed. Kakashi met the attack, blocking the strike with his kunai, but the sheer force sent a shockwave through the clearing.
"Stay back!" Kakashi ordered the rest of the team, knowing that Zabuza was a far more dangerous opponent than any they had faced so far.
Sasuke, however, wasn't one to simply sit back. He activated his Sharingan, his eyes locked onto Zabuza's movements. Hyuk also stepped forward, preparing his own attack.
But before they could engage, Zabuza unleashed a jutsu that thickened the mist even further. "Hidden Mist Jutsu," he muttered, vanishing from sight.
Naruto panicked, his vision obscured. "Where did he go? I can't see anything!"
Kakashi, now entirely serious, pulled his headband up to reveal his Sharingan fully. "Stay close to me, and don't lose focus. Zabuza is a master of silent killing."
---
As the mist swallowed them, Hyuk noticed Sakura struggling to stay calm. Her breathing was shaky, and her hands trembled slightly.
"Stay close, Sakura," Hyuk said quietly. "He'll target the weakest first."
Sakura nodded, her heart racing. "I know… I just don't want to mess up. Not this time."
"You won't," Hyuk reassured her. His voice, while steady, carried a quiet confidence that helped calm her nerves. "We'll get through this."
Just as he spoke, a faint noise caught Hyuk's attention. Without thinking, he grabbed Sakura and pulled her to the side just in time as Zabuza's sword swung down where she had been standing.
"That was close," Sakura whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
"We need to be quicker," Hyuk replied, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the next attack.
---
The battle between Kakashi and Zabuza escalated quickly. The two clashed repeatedly, with Zabuza's brutal swordsmanship matching Kakashi's precision and skill. As they fought, Zabuza launched a series of water-based jutsu, forcing Kakashi to counter with his own techniques.
But despite his efforts, Kakashi found himself struggling against Zabuza's relentless assault. The fog made it difficult to see, and Zabuza used the environment to his advantage, disappearing and reappearing with deadly intent.
"You're getting tired, Kakashi," Zabuza taunted, his voice echoing through the mist. "It's only a matter of time before you fall."
Kakashi remained silent, his Sharingan whirring as he tracked Zabuza's movements. But he knew that this battle would not be won easily.
---
Meanwhile, Naruto, frustrated by his inability to see or fight effectively, clenched his fists in anger. "I can't just stand here! I have to do something!"
But before he could act, a hand grabbed his shoulder. It was Sasuke, who had been watching him closely. "Don't be reckless, idiot. We're a team. If you go charging in, you'll just get in the way."
Naruto glared at him but knew Sasuke was right. He hated feeling powerless, especially after everything they had gone through. But he also didn't want to let his friends down.
Sasuke turned back to the mist, his Sharingan activated. "Just stay close. We'll get our chance."