Chapter 14: Which One of You Dies?
"I apologize, I am a tracking Ninja from the Hidden Mist. I have been searching for an opportunity to definitively kill Zabuza, so when I saw that chance just now, I couldn't help but strike."
"I see."
Kakashi looked at Haku and pretended to suddenly understand.
"You already expended quite a bit of Chakra fighting him just now. Could you let me handle the next fight? After all, he is a rogue Ninja from our Hidden Mist."
Haku asked with a humble tone.
Kakashi chuckled upon hearing this, then replied, "It's fine. He is already injured. I will be able to kill him soon. When that time comes, I will cut off his head and send it to you."
"?!"
Hearing his cruel words, a flicker of panic crossed Haku's eyes, and he subconsciously clenched his fists.
"Huh?"
Even Naruto and the others were stunned by those words. Decapitation—wasn't that a bit too... brutal?
"This world is like this. When you harbor the intent to kill, either you kill the other person, or you are killed by the other person."
Kakashi spread his hands, his tone somewhat Feeling (gǎnkǎi - filled with emotion/sighing), and then continued, "So-called Ninja is such a high-risk profession! Everyone present, your parents are also Ninja, right? But how many of you still have both parents alive? So, that's the way it is!"
"..."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, both falling into silence.
"My parents are of course still alive..." Seeing the atmosphere becoming slightly awkward, Sakura didn't dare to retort loudly, only mumbling quietly.
"...Mr. Zabuza, please leave first. I will hold them off."
Haku hesitated for a moment, then quickly made a decision. Since the other party truly intended to kill Mr. Zabuza, he would have to stop them to create an escape opportunity for Zabuza.
"Eh?"
Naruto, Sakura, and the others were stunned again. Wasn't that masked youth a tracking Ninja from the Hidden Mist? Why was he suddenly helping Zabuza escape?
"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals."
Immediately after, Haku quickly formed hand seals, and walls of white ice mirrors quickly surrounded everyone.
"What, what is this?"
Naruto and the others, who had never heard of Ice Release, were startled by this sight.
"Chidori!"
Suddenly, a harsh sound of thunder rang out. Kakashi was seen quickly forming hand seals, and a large amount of blue electricity instantly gathered in his right hand.
In the next second, Kakashi swung his right hand, and the Chidori in his hand rapidly extended and lengthened, transforming into a blue lightsaber.
When the blue lightsaber touched the surrounding ice mirrors, they were cleanly sliced in half, as if cutting through tofu.
Immediately after, the ice mirrors shattered one after another, turning into countless glittering ice crystals in the air.
"This?!"
Haku, who had never encountered such a situation, was momentarily stunned and didn't know how to react.
Even Zabuza, who was preparing to flee not far away, was stunned. "This is impossible!"
How could Kakashi be this strong?
Even if she could break Haku's Ice Release, it shouldn't be this fast!
"It's over."
Immediately, Kakashi pointed the blue lightsaber in his hand at Haku's forehead.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zabuza..."
After reacting, Haku's expression dimmed slightly, and he said somewhat weakly.
"Wow, so amazing, Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto and Sakura finally reacted and looked at Kakashi with faces full of adoration. That troublesome-looking ice mirror was actually broken in an instant!
And what was that blue lightsaber emanating countless electrical currents in Kakashi-sensei's hand? It looked so cool!
Sasuke also felt a burning sensation in his heart. It seemed this Kakashi fellow was quite strong. Following her teachings might really lead to becoming stronger.
"How about this? I can spare one of you. Do you choose to live, or does Zabuza live?"
Kakashi asked with a bit of mischievous cruelty at this moment.
"I die!"
Haku replied without hesitation.
"Your choice doesn't count. I want Zabuza to choose."
Kakashi looked at Zabuza not far away with great interest.