Chapter 44

On a grassy plain two kilometers from the forest, Leo finally intercepted Haku, who was carrying Zabuza.

Haku was fast, but carrying someone slowed him down compared to Leo, a master of martial arts. Leo had waited until they were farther from Kakashi and the others before making his move.

"Kakashi didn't pursue us. It seems he's not as unscathed as he appears. Haku, kill this monk, then return and finish off Kakashi and Tazuna," Zabuza ordered, having woken up after Haku removed the needles from his neck. From Haku's description of the earlier battle, he deduced that Kakashi must be severely injured; otherwise, he would have stopped Haku or not let Leo chase them alone.

"If you leave now and don't interfere with my mission, I won't kill you," Haku said gently as he set Zabuza down and removed his mask, revealing his delicate, almost feminine features.

Leo withdrew his sword into his mission space, adopting a harmless demeanor. "There's no need to talk about killing. I chased you because I want to propose a deal."

"Haku, finish him quickly and then return to kill Kakashi," Zabuza barked, not wanting to waste time on idle talk.

"Sorry, but if you won't leave, I'll have to kill you," Haku said apologetically before forming hand seals.

"Ice Style Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Mirrors of ice appeared around Leo, enclosing him. "I know your taijutsu is strong, but in my secret technique, even the strongest taijutsu is useless."

Haku merged with one of the ice mirrors, and identical images of him appeared in all the mirrors surrounding Leo.

"It seems I have to defeat you before we can talk," Leo said, taking a deep breath and assuming a strange stance.

Haku, a descendant of the Yuki clan with the rare Ice Release Kekkei Genkai and the ability to perform one-handed seals, was a formidable opponent. However, Leo had some confidence.

"Raigyō: Thousand-Arms Murder!"

Leo shouted, and golden light radiated from his body as a three-to-four-meter-tall golden Thousand-Armed Kannon statue emerged, enveloping him.

The strongest secret technique of the Fire Temple, passed down to him by Chiriku before his journey. While Leo couldn't unleash its full potential, it was enough to break Haku's ice mirrors.

Haku's Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals allowed him to move freely and rapidly between mirrors, making him nearly untouchable. However, the Fire Temple's technique countered this perfectly with its 360-degree defense and offensive capabilities.

"No matter how fast you are, can you outpace my three thousand hands?" Leo taunted, his tone calm.

The battle was not just about strength but also about information and psychological warfare. Just as Kakashi had defeated Zabuza by exploiting his ignorance of the Sharingan, Leo used his knowledge of Haku's techniques to his advantage.

"Let's see," Haku replied, darting between mirrors and launching attacks from all angles, only to be repelled by the Kannon's hands.

"Ice Style Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"

Haku summoned countless ice needles from the moisture in the air, attacking Leo from all directions. However, the Kannon statue deflected all the needles, leaving Leo unharmed.

"Now's my chance!"

Seeing Haku momentarily stunned by the failure of his attack, Leo activated the second stage of the technique.

"Wrathful Vajra!"

The golden Kannon transformed into a red, wrathful Vajra, sending a barrage of chakra fists to shatter the surrounding ice mirrors. Haku, caught off guard, was knocked out of the mirrors.

Leo retracted the Vajra and, with his remaining chakra, lunged at the airborne Haku.

"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome of Magnificent Nothingness!"

Haku quickly formed a half-dome of ice to protect himself. Leo, undeterred, unleashed his most powerful strike.

"Xingyi—Beng Quan!"

[TN: i don't know what move was that]

Combining all his strength and the enhancement from his Sage Chakra, Leo's punch shattered the ice dome, stopping just short of Haku's eyes.

"I really don't mean any harm. Can we talk now?"