Momochi Zabuza gritted his teeth as the mist thickened once more.
He'd thought dealing with that woman would be quick.
Yet she'd proven unexpectedly tenacious.
Her *Hidden Mist Jutsu*, fueled by chakra rivaling a *jōnin's*, had even given **him**—a master of silent assassination—trouble.
And now, she had backup: three *genin*.
But these weren't ordinary genin. They could likely overpower weaker *chūnin*.
One mirrored his own skills—silent killing and taijutsu. Another wielded devastating fire techniques. And the last? A **medic**.
A perfectly balanced team.
*…Did I just stumble onto a high-value target?*
No matter.
His location couldn't leak to the *Anbu*.
Small problems left unchecked became catastrophes.
Just a *tokubetsu jōnin* and three brats. Eliminating them was a matter of time.
Zabuza hefted *Kubikiribōchō*, ready to pursue—
***Thud. Thud. Thud.***
A sound echoed through the mist.
His spine stiffened.
Someone had **found him**. In **his** mist.
**"Momochi Zabuza. Can we talk?"**
A girl's voice, crisp as ice.
A figure emerged: cloaked in white, a blindfold stark against her pale face, a cane in hand.
Zabuza didn't hesitate.
The blade whirled, a black crescent shrieking through the fog—aimed to cleave her skull.
***CLANG!!!***
A single finger rose, meeting the sword's edge.
Flesh against steel.
The impact should've shattered bone. Instead, the girl didn't even **flinch**.
Then—
***Flick.***
Her fingertip tapped the blade.
***BOOM!***
The *Executioner's Blade* **shattered**, its upper half spiraling into the trees.
Zabuza's killing intent faltered. His mind went blank.
**"Leave."**
***Crack. Creak. Crunch.***
Beneath the cloak, something **writhed**.
Bones slithered like serpents, pressing against the fabric. Silver hair lashed like barbed wire.
The girl's face remained serene—beautiful, even.
That made it worse.
**"I'd rather not kill in this ugly form. Please, Zabuza-san."**
The Demon of the Hidden Mist swallowed hard.
He'd butchered hundreds.
Yet now, for the first time—
*…I'm facing a real monster.*
---
**Meanwhile**
**"Kurumari-sensei! Status?"** Nakama Shin panted, hands sealed to maintain the mist.
**"Alive… barely."** Kurumari leaned on Okamura, her face bloodless.
Karin's palms glowed green over Kurumari's wounds. **"Bleeding's stopped. Dislocated shoulder, minor fractures. The rest are surface cuts. She'll live."**
Okamura grinned. Karin, their medic, was a prodigy. If she said it was fine, it **was**.
Kurumari grimaced. **"You shouldn't have come. Zabuza's bad enough… but with that *Yuki clan* freak—"**
**"Yuki? Weren't they—?"**
**"I saw **ice release**."**
Silence fell.
Zabuza was a nightmare: a *jōnin* specializing in water and silent kills—Shin, but **worse**.
And the Yuki?
Their *Hyōton* kekkei genkai hard-countered fire.
Shin exhaled. **"Doesn't matter. We're here. And—"** He turned, gaze sharp. **"'Never abandon comrades.' That's **your** rule. The reason we follow you, despite this 'Blood Mist' hell."**
**"Don't disappoint us now, *sensei*."**
Kurumari scoffed. **"Tch. Getting lectured by my own students…"**
***CRACK!***
She yelped as Karin reset her shoulder.
**"Next time, *anesthetic*,"** Kurumari hissed.
Karin smirked. **"Survive first."** The glow faded. **"…Wait. Where **is** Zabuza?"**
---
**Elsewhere**
The mist thinned.
Hai Hikari retracted her grotesque bones, retrieving her cane.
After his blade shattered, Zabuza had tried *senbon*—aimed at her blindfolded eyes.
They'd **bent** on impact.
He'd left then, decisively.
Hikari glanced at the unharmed team and headed back.
*A life for a life.*
They'd helped her escape Kirigakure. This was repayment.
Beating an elite *jōnin* as a *chūnin*-level fighter? Not surprising.
In this world, power gaps weren't absolute.
Tactics trumped tiers.
Nara Shikamaru had outmaneuvered Hidan with prep and brains.
Likewise:
- Kurumari's team would've fallen to Zabuza's silent killing.
- Hikari would've lost to **them**—Kurumari's water, Okamura's fire, Shin's taijutsu, Karin's healing.
But Hikari **hard-countered** Zabuza.
His mist? Useless against *Byakugan*.
Pure taijutsu? Her bones were **steel**.
Water techniques? She could tank the blunt force.
*Water Prison?* Too slow. Every chakra source **blazed** in her vision.
From the start, Zabuza stood no chance.
When she'd blocked his blade **one-handed**, he'd realized it too.
**"Hikari?!"**
Kurumari's voice rang out.
Hikari feigned relief. **"Kurumari-nee! You're okay!"**
**"No time. Move."** Kurumari hoisted her up—then stumbled. **"…You've gained weight?"**
(She hadn't. Hikari's modified density was just **that** high.)
Karin gathered supplies while Shin and Okamura covered their tracks.
And so, the team—plus one **very** secret weapon—resumed their journey.
The Land of Fire awaited.
---
(･ω<)☆