Chapter 134: The Enemy Beyond the Sea

The group had finally entered the Land of Waves.

The island was picturesque, filled with lush greenery, and in the distance, the incomplete bridge was visible. In the original storyline, that very bridge would later be named "The Great Naruto Bridge" in honor of Naruto's contribution.

"The Demon Brothers have been captured. It won't take long for Zabuza Momochi to notice something is wrong," Kakashi warned, his voice serious. "He's notorious for being ruthless, so we have to be extremely cautious."

Hearing this, Naruto immediately started scanning their surroundings, his head swiveling left and right. He still felt bitter about being caught off guard by the Demon Brothers, which had allowed Sasuke to steal the glory. 

This time, he was determined to prove himself and not be left out again. After all, they had traveled so far, and he hadn't yet had the chance to truly show what he was capable of.

"What's on the other side of the sea?" Naruto asked, pointing to the vast ocean that stretched out before them. 

He knew that Fire Country lay to the west, but what about to the east?

"That's where the enemy is," Shinho replied without hesitation.

"Huh? What enemy?" Naruto asked, confused.

"I remember the Academy taught about history and geography," Kakashi said, shaking his head slightly. "Naruto, didn't you pay attention in class?"

Naruto gave a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. The truth was, he hadn't been the best student, often spacing out or forgetting what he learned as soon as the lesson was over.

Kakashi couldn't help but suppress a sigh, his lips twitching slightly. You really didn't inherit your father's smarts, did you? But then again, there was something about Naruto that reminded him of Kushina, his mother.

"That's the Land of Water, home to the Hidden Mist Village," Kakashi explained with a sigh. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist come from there. They're some of the finest shinobi the village has produced."

"We're up against the elites, huh?!" Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Kakashi wasn't sure whether to admire Naruto's confidence or worry about his lack of fear.

"Well, 'enemy' isn't exactly the right word. The relationships between the hidden villages are... complicated. We're not technically at war," Kakashi continued. "Still, it's best to avoid provoking ninjas from other villages unless it's necessary."

Naruto scratched his head again, visibly puzzled by how complicated everything sounded.

A few minutes later, Shinho suddenly spoke up, "Someone's approaching."

Kakashi's instincts immediately sharpened, and both Sasuke and Naruto tensed, ready for action. As for Tazuna, he did what any ordinary person would—he quickly hid behind Kakashi.

"There are two of them," Shinho reported, his insects feeding back the information. He had no doubt it was Zabuza and his accomplice, Haku.

"Where?" Naruto asked, trying to keep his voice steady but unable to suppress his excitement.

"From the southeast. They've stopped for now," Shinho replied calmly.

Everyone turned to look in the direction Shinho had indicated, but before they could spot anything, a thick mist began to rise, enveloping the area.

"It's the Hidden Mist Technique," Kakashi said, his Sharingan eye snapping open. "Sasuke, activate your Sharingan. Naruto, protect Tazuna."

Sasuke immediately obeyed, activating his Sharingan. The two tomoe in each eye gleamed in the mist.

Then, a loud whistling sound cut through the air—a massive, spinning blade was flying straight toward them.

Shinho moved swiftly, his skin gleaming with a crystalline sheen as the power of the Sky Canopy Gu and the jade Wind Wheel Gu activated. With incredible speed, he reached out and grabbed the handle of the spinning blade, Kubikiribōchō mid-flight. The sheer force of the blow caused the air to ripple, but Shinho held it steady, his strength overwhelming.

Without hesitation, Shinho sealed the blade into one of his scrolls. 

Zabuza Momochi hadn't used a summoning scroll for his blade, so unless Zabuza managed to retrieve it by force, he wouldn't be able to reclaim it easily.

"Nice work!" Kakashi praised, pleasantly surprised.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were notorious for their deadly swordsmanship, and now that Zabuza had lost the Kubikiribōchō, a significant portion of his strength had been neutralized.

Only someone like Shinho, with his immense physical power and defensive abilities, could have caught the massive sword bare-handed. Anyone else would have been sliced apart.

"What the—?" Zabuza muttered, genuinely shocked that his sword had been intercepted and taken away so easily. He knew how much force had gone into that throw.

"Kill the bridge builder first," Zabuza growled, his hands forming seals. "I'll handle the rest."

"Understood," Haku replied quietly.

From a nearby lake, water began to rise, coalescing into a massive dragon made of water that surged toward the group.

"Shinho, get Tazuna out of here!" Kakashi ordered as he formed hand signs. A large earthen wall rose up in front of them, its surface carved with dog-shaped reliefs. But as soon as the water dragon collided with it, the wall cracked and crumbled.

Kakashi's expression tightened. 

This environment is too advantageous for a Water Style user. Even though he could also use Water Style, the natural water in the surroundings gave Zabuza the upper hand. However, with Zabuza's sword now out of play, Kakashi was confident the odds were still in their favor.

In response, Kakashi channeled his own chakra and fired a water dragon right back at Zabuza.

"As expected of the Copy Ninja," came Zabuza's cold voice, his figure appearing through the mist. He charged forward, only to vanish again with a flicker—Mist Body Flicker Technique.

He reappeared behind Kakashi, aiming a kunai at his back, but Kakashi's body dispersed into water—Water Clone Technique.

"Should we help him?" Sasuke asked, watching the fierce exchange between Kakashi and Zabuza. His heart was racing. 

Though his skills had improved, he knew that fighting Zabuza would be a serious challenge, and the intense killing intent Zabuza exuded made him uneasy.

"We can't," Tazuna stammered, his face pale. "You have to protect me!"

"Shut up," Sasuke snapped, irritated.

Tazuna bit his lip but stayed silent. He wasn't foolish—he knew that angering Sasuke would not end well for him.

"Kakashi can handle Zabuza," Shinho said calmly. "We have another enemy to deal with."

"Where is he?" Sasuke asked, his Sharingan scanning the area. "I don't see him."

Just then, Shinho made a quick movement with his hand, sending a golden crescent-shaped projectile flying behind them.

How did he find me? Haku thought, his eyes widening. He quickly formed a hand seal, creating a wall of ice to shield himself.

The golden crescent collided with the ice, shattering it into pieces.

So strong!

Haku dodged to the side, evading the debris, but even as he did, he threw several senbon needles toward Shinho and the others.

Sasuke swiftly drew the Lightning-Fire Sword, its blade crackling with lightning as he effortlessly deflected the needles. 

Though he hadn't learned the more advanced techniques yet, his proficiency in the Uchiha Sword Style was more than enough for now.

"Leaf Whirlwind!" Naruto, finally picking up on Haku's position, launched himself at him with a spinning kick.

Haku, however, responded gracefully, evading Naruto's strike with a Mist Body Flicker.

As Naruto's kick missed, he lost his balance, tumbling forward in a flurry of limbs.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Naruto yelped, but before he could recover, Haku had already shifted his attention elsewhere.

Instead of capitalizing on Naruto's mistake, Haku glanced toward Tazuna, who was now being shielded by Shinho and Sasuke.

Water Style: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!

With a single-handed seal, Haku conjured countless water needles that elongated and shot toward the trio in a deadly barrage.

Sasuke stepped forward, raising his Lightning-Fire Sword to intercept the attack. He swung his sword with precision, but to his surprise, it failed to cut through the water needles.

What?!

Meanwhile, Shinho grabbed Tazuna and, with a powerful leap, soared into the sky.

"Aaaahhh!" Tazuna flailed in panic as they ascended, the sight of Shinho's Lightning Wings glowing behind him leaving Haku momentarily stunned.

Sasuke, forced to retreat, realized he needed to act fast. 

He quickly sheathed his sword and formed hand seals. With a deep breath, he unleashed a massive fireball;

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

Tthe intense heat immediately vaporizing the first wave of water needles.

Though the fireball managed to burn through many of the needles, there were too many. A few made it through, but Sasuke had already retreated to a safer distance. Wasting no time, he followed up with another jutsu.

Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!

A roaring dragon-shaped flame erupted from Sasuke's mouth, surging toward Haku. The air distorted under the heat, and the ground beneath crackled as the temperature soared.

Haku, watching Shinho in the sky, clenched his jaw before vanishing into thin air. When he reappeared, it was close to Sasuke.

Ice Style: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!

Mirrors of ice materialized one after another, forming a dome around Sasuke and trapping him within. 

The reflective surfaces shimmered ominously, creating a confined battlefield. Sasuke blinked in surprise, but then, a hint of excitement flashed across his face.

This narrow space suits me perfectly. Today, I'll show what a one-on-one battle with an Uchiha truly means.

With determination, Sasuke stepped forward, drawing his Lightning-Fire Sword once again. 

Chakra surged into the blade, causing it to hum with power as sparks of lightning crackled along the edge. Sasuke accelerated, his sword flashing like a bolt of lightning as he aimed directly at Haku.

But Haku was unfazed. He merely slipped back into one of the ice mirrors, disappearing as though he were made of mist.

Sasuke's sword slashed into the ice, sending shards flying, but the mirror remained intact. Before Sasuke could react, he was greeted by the soft whistling of projectiles in the air. 

He turned just in time to see a barrage of senbon needles flying toward him, Haku's form barely visible within the mirrors.

What kind of jutsu is this? Sasuke thought, gritting his teeth as he dodged the incoming needles. He wanted to counter with a ninjutsu, but Haku didn't give him a moment's respite.

"Damn it!" Sasuke cursed, realizing that he couldn't keep up with Haku's speed within the ice mirrors. He considered using one-handed seals but quickly dismissed the idea—he wasn't skilled enough at it yet.

Meanwhile, Haku felt a sense of relief. If he could keep Sasuke under pressure like this, he could finish him within minutes. But it wasn't Sasuke who worried him the most—it was Shinho. 

Haku's real concern was the potential threat that Shinho posed to his plan.

"I'm coming, Sasuke!"

Naruto, at last, found his way through the mist, leaping into the air with a spinning kick. Leaf Whirlwind! His leg cut through the air, but it was futile—his kick struck nothing but ice.

"Damn it!" Naruto yelled, the force of his kick reverberating back into his legs.

Shinho, having descended back to the ground, released Tazuna. "Naruto, keep an eye on Tazuna," Shinho said calmly.

Though he had allowed Naruto and Sasuke to engage Haku, he knew that without more experience, they wouldn't be able to handle Haku's Ice Style effectively.

Shinho raised his hand, chakra surging as he prepared one of his signature techniques.

Golden Moon Slash!

A crescent of golden chakra, infused with the power of the Golden Moon Gu, flew from Shinho's hand, cutting through the air with devastating force. The ice mirrors cracked, and before Haku could respond, the structure shattered.

Haku's expression grew tense. He quickly tried to gather chakra, causing the broken mirrors to begin reforming. But Shinho wasn't about to give him the chance.

With his eyes on Haku, Shinho leaped into the air, his wings of lightning flaring out behind him. Super Strength!

 He landed a powerful punch on the reforming ice, shattering it once more. This time, the entire dome collapsed, leaving a gaping hole through which Sasuke escaped with a quick Body Flicker Technique.

Panting heavily, Sasuke leaned against a tree, his breaths ragged from the intense strain. 

I was running non-stop in there, but... Shinho made it look so easy, Sasuke thought, his frustration growing. Despite all his progress, the gap between him and Shinho hadn't closed at all.

While Sasuke struggled to catch his breath, Shinho calmly walked forward, searching for Haku.

Haku remained hidden within the few remaining mirrors, but Shinho didn't need to see him—he could feel him.

"I'll end this now."

Shinho raised his hand again, the chakra in his body gathering as he prepared for a decisive blow. 

At the same time, moe ice senbons formed in the air. 

Sword Shadow Gu! Golden Moon Slash!

A combination of his attacks burst forth, golden energy crossing with shadowy sword strikes. 

The surrounding ice mirrors shattered completely along with the ice senbons, sending shards flying in every direction. 

Haku, caught in the blast, was thrown out of the mirror network, landing on the ground while trying to maintain his balance, but Shinho rushed forward, punching him right in the gut.

Haku crashed onto the ground, unconscious.

Sasuke, watching in awe, gripped the handle of his Lightning-Fire Sword tightly. I couldn't even touch Haku, but Shinho... He clenched his fists. The gap between us is still too wide.

"Ah, it's over already!" Naruto complained, rushing over with a look of disappointment. But when he got close enough to see Haku's face, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Wait... it's a woman?" Naruto blurted out, genuinely shocked. In the dense mist earlier, he hadn't gotten a good look at Haku, and now, seeing the long hair and delicate features, he was confused.

Shinho shook his head. "Look again," he said, leaving Naruto even more bewildered.

"Huh?" Naruto scratched his head, still puzzled. "But she looks like a girl!"

Shinho didn't bother arguing further and instead turned his attention toward Kakashi, who was still locked in battle with Zabuza.

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