Hunter and Prey

"Zabuza-sama, someone is following us. 3 of them. Their chakra to appears like civilians but it seems they are following us in the last 2 days".

As his sensor ability improved, he can sense the same 3 chakra signatures following them a kilometre away while they are on travelling on the way back after completing a mission. He does not think it's a coincidence anymore and they are being followed for sure.

Zabuza thought about who would follow them.

"It's most likely hunter-nin. They are brazening enough to follow us; they might be looking for a chance to attack".

"I will lure them out and confront them. They aren't your opponent, just stay back".

Haku and Shou look at each other.

"Zabuza-sama, there's a river few hundred meters North. We can try to lead them there".

Shou used the Body of All Water Sensing technique to find the nearest source of water. There's a saying to never confront a Water Release ninja at the sea.

"Alright, we will lead them there".

Zabuza remained with his cold look but inside his heart he is quite impressed that Shou has the initiative to set up a favourable condition for them.

The three of them walk towards the clearings North towards the river stream.

The hunter-nin trio followed them from a distance. "White (codename), their path seems off. You think they noticed us?".

"Zabuza is not a sensor, it's unlikely". Blue (codename) replied.

"As for the 2 kids, it's also unlikely". Red added. According to information, the two kids are raised in secret by Zabuza even before he defected. From latest info they are trained to work for him. Their origin is unknown. As for investigation of their identity – Kiri does not have the manpower to dispatch any of their members to investigate mere kids and their origins since its seen as not important. The hunter-nin does not think much of Haku and Shou as they are visibly just 2 kids. At most they are Chunin considering its Zabuza, Demon of the Hidden Mist who trained them.

Probably some orphan he picked on the streets. They just want to kill Zabuza and retrieve the Executioner Blade and couldn't care much for random kids.

"Let's keep following".

White makes the decision as the team leader. He wanted to finish the job fast and get over with it.

The hunter-nin trio followed the track and passed by a river.

But suddenly-

"They disappeared!". Blue who is a sensor realised the three of them who's a kilometre ahead disappeared in an instant.

No. Perhaps, this is a trap!? He overlooked something because he's too focused on those three. There's something near them-

Poof! 3 puff of smokes reveals Zabuza, Shou and Haku who had used transformation jutsu to appear like trees and rock on the ground.

Transformation Justu?! The three hunter-nin is surprised that they dare to ambush them. The three chakra signatures Blue detected is actually only water clones that they made. Meanwhile they used transformation jutsu and hide their presence to ambush them.

"Stay back". Zabuza went ahead and flickered towards the surface of the river.

Secret Technique: Hidden Mist.

White mist forms around Zabuza, slowly growing and hiding him in the mist.

"Tch". White felt annoyed seeing this jutsu. It's too disruptive. But he's assigned with this task to kill Zabuza because of his mastery over a jutsu.

White used hand signs before the mist can grow.

Ram → Dog → Rat;

Secret Technique: Mist Rain.

Drop by drop rain fell in the area.

The mist disperses each time the rain passes through them. The rain formed have the ability to neutralise any chakra that are different than the caster. This includes their own team members.

"This rain…". Shou and Haku observed from afar and sees the rain dispelling the forming mist. Their surprise attack failed it seems.

White sees Zabuza is not surprised and already expected it. He is a former ANBU after all and know their usual operation. Mist Rain technique can only be active for a short time, and at this time, aside from the caster none of them can cast jutsu.

Zabuza could just retreat; but it involves his pride and when it comes to chasing and running; Haku and Shou won't have enough chakra to constantly use body flicker technique over long distances. They would catch up to them.

Zabuza decides he need to confront them right now.

"Go!". White ordered his teammates. He sees the 2 kids are staying far away just observing. He doesn't think they can do anything and decides to take down Zabuza at this moment.

Zabuza squinted his eyes and glared at those hunter-nin. He held his Executioner Blade's handle on his back, ready to swing it anytime. He is confident in his kenjutsu.

Blue throws a kunai from behind his back, while Red launched a frontal assault with a short blade.

Zabuza stepped the kunai aside and draw his Executioner Blade swinging it-

Red barely dodged it and counter attacks with a kick.

Zabuza receive the kick directly and use this chance to grab Red's leg. He is about to land a fatal blow with his blade in one hand. But Blue does not let him and rushed ahead to stab him with a Kunai.

Zabuza grunted and sticked his Executioner Blade to the ground while blocking the strike. Using it as an anchor he throws Red to crash him onto Blue.

White had finished making hand seals while Zabuza is distracted by his team.

Water Release: Water Whip!

A water whip formed from his hand. He throws it and managed to tie Zabuza's body right after and caught him off guard.

Kuh!

Zabuza struggled to escape and tried to reach out to his blade.

"Now!". White commanded.

Mist Rain had stopped and they can use their jutsu. Blue and Red immediately use their hand seals to cast a technique to finish off Zabuza right at this moment.

Water Release: Water Bullet Tech-

Ice Mirror appears right in front of the two them. The reflection reveals the two kids that they had never thought could disturb them.

"What is-". Before Blue and Red could understand, Shou rushed of the mirror, directly punching Blue's stomach right after. While Haku use his senbon to incapacitate Red directly.

White is shocked. Seeing the Ice Mirror, and the speed of the 2 kids, they are not ordinary. His teammates are caught off guard by the unknown jutsu the moment the rain ended.

At this time Zabuza manage to break the water whip by sheer force.

He needs to retreat! White calculated in his head he can't deal with Zabuza by himself and those 2 kids are unknown threats. He turned his back to run. And at least he had to bring back this information and do more throughout investigation on those two kids.

Zabuza in annoyance start to pursue him. Haku and Shou also followed Zabuza to chase.

"Zabuza-sama, let me get him". Haku said.

'Go'. Zabuza just agreed. Zabuza is an expert in Silent Killing, not chasing. Haku weaved hand signs.

Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystal.

Rows of Ice Mirror forms one by one in a straight line ten of meters apart. Haku rushed out in a lighting speed, jumping from mirror to mirror.

White is shocked seeing an Ice Mirror suddenly forming behind him and is approaching him. In the reflection stood Haku. He throws his senbon towards him and rushed towards the next mirror. White side stepped them time and time again and try to use the trees to block their eye sight. But Ice Mirrors keep forming in front of him as needles are thrown out towards him. Zabuza manage to catch him up with Haku distracting him.

"Where do you think you are going haa!?". Zabuza swung his blade to kill him. But white still manage to dodge it barely. The tree become a victim as it is cut in two and fall to the ground.

His heart is racing fast with sweat dripping down his neck. He looks around for a chance and see the smaller kid following Zabuza from behind.

Its decided.

He throws smoke bomb the ground; making Zabuza and Haku retreated out of the smoke radius. They can only wait for him to come out and continue the chase. White ignored Zabuza and Haku and approached Shou instead.

He rushed forward to stab him with a kunai from within the smoke, intending to take him hostage.

Shou manages to react quickly and flickered away. But White is adamant because it's his only chance of survival. He rushed to injure Shou decisively.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

His kunai clashed with Shou's own kunai. Shou whole arm is shaking trying to hold back the kunai.

"This kid…". White is surprised he can react to his strike. Although his strike is weak, but he manages to react.

Zabuza and Haku had noticed this and quickly went to help Shou.

While Shou kunai is intersecting his, Shou makes seals with a single hand, shocking White.

Ice Release: Great Frost Breath Technique!

Shou shoots out ball of frost towards White. White tried to dodge but half of his body is hit by the frost wave from the surprise attack. He felt scorching pain as if needles are stabbing deep inside his skin and lost his balance as a part of his leg is too stiff to move.

Zabuza felt irritated that this guy decides to try to damage his tool instead of him. As he catches up, he swung his Executioner Blade decisively, beheading him while White can only stare in horror.

"Shou! Are you hurt". Haku went ahead and check up on his little brother.

'I am fine brother'.

Shou let out a breath of relief. He didn't expect that this guy would turn around and fight him instead. He felt his hand shaking. It's a lie to say he was not scared. Each of the kunai strike is physically stronger than his own; and he struggled to force his muscle to hold back the opponent to a point his entire arm is shaking trying to hold the kunai back. Due to his age his muscle is lacking despite the daily workout he's doing.

"Let's finish up". Zabuza said coldly and return back to their earlier spot.

Zabuza held his blade ready to end the two guys unconscious on ground. Both Haku and Shou had to look away while Zabuza finish them off.

He planned to toss the corpses into the river and picked them up easily. But before that, Haku went to take off the senbon he used. It's better to not be wasteful.

Haku sees the masks worn by the hunter-nin. He had a thought that… it would nice to cover his face. It may be good to trick his opponent into thinking he is a hunter-nin who is hunting Zabuza and can make their opponents let their guard down. He went to take the white mask off and try them on.

To be honest, Haku mostly thinks it's a good way to hide his expression.

He can't hide the fact that, he's kind. It's something he's insecure of since he felt that he can't completely be what Zabuza expects him to be. At least, with the mask on he can appear cold, like a killing machine Zabuza expect him to be to his enemies. And Zabuza wouldn't have to see his kindness he had behind the mask. Whenever he had to kill someone, his face can't hide the fact that he feels distraught.

"Why are you wearing that creepy mask?". Zabuza look at Haku with cold eyes.

'Zabuza-sama. I can trick the enemy with this'. Haku gave the excuse.

"Do as you wish". Zabuza replied with disdain.

Seeing Haku with his iconic white mask some red curved wave on it, Shou went to take the blue mask off the other corpse and wipe it a little before trying them on. He felt a little uncomfortable seeing the corpse but he had seen a lot of corpses already so it is not that bad.

'You too?'. Zabuza also coldly look at Shou.

"It looks cool…". Shou replied honestly. His expression is hidden behind the blue mask with white markings.

His brother wears one, shouldn't he wear them too? Now they both would look cool once they appear together. Like some super end game villain. Imagine how their opponents would cower in fear seeing them.

Zabuza had to roll his eyes hearing the reply. Perhaps this is the first time he actually rolled his eyes.

"Do as you wish then".

Shou felt happy that he had a matching mask with Haku. While going back he did a reflection on his battle just now. For now, they can take a Jonin by surprise with their Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystal Technique – but it's a surprise attack using an unknown jutsu. He estimates his taijutsu is barely Chunin level probably. At least he could fend off Zabuza's assault during training for now.

He is aware that if he does not use that technique and fight with pure taijutsu, he would be severely at a disadvantaged. Zabuza himself does not have any Kekkei Genkai and yet he is a top Elite Jonin that become one of the 7 swordsmen of the mist. He feels lacking compared to him.

But is it wrong to use his Kekkei Genkai? Sasuke use his sharingan. Naruto has abnormal chakra pool + Kyubi, so what's wrong with using his bug-like jutsu with his Kekkei Genkai?

Shou nodded at himself justifying his use of the technique. Although he's aware that he really could get complacent if he only relies on that technique. And there may be situations where he cannot use the technique such as when he is low on chakra. He set his goals to improve his taijutsu next.

…

"What? White and his team are eliminated?".

ANBU Hunter-nin branch leader squinted his eyes seeing after getting the information. He thought White can do it since he mastered Mist Rain technique which can counter Hidden Mist technique Zabuza mastered. He can only assume the two kids that are trained by him are not normal kids.

He should raise the difficulty for Zabuza – assuming the 2 with him are Jonin or have troublesome Kekkei Genkai despite their age.

But still he had to put Zabuza aside for now. They don't have enough manpower as of now and with a 3-man squad eliminated he had more headache.

Sigh… too much missing-nin need to be dealt with and there's only a handful of them in the hunter-nin branch. He thought about the current Mizukage and how his rule caused all this chaos. Kagura was not like this before. I wonder if the rumour that he was controlled is true…

…

 Shou's mask-

https://imgur.com/a/VFO38BS