Chapter 62

"I've been walking on thin ice in my life…"

Kazuki kicked Pakkun on the butt. "What are you mumbling about?"

"No…nothing, sir!"

"Call me Kazuki-sama!"

"Okay, Lord Kazuki!"

Pakkun smiled, not daring to show any dissatisfaction.

I don't think this dog has ever suffered this kind of injustice since he became enlightened. Even his 'summoner' Kakashi didn't dare to treat him like this. But this devilish man actually used violence and cold violence against him!

I'm so miserable!

Sniff!

Sniff!

Pakkun suddenly stopped and sniffed the air, catching a strange scent.

As a result, Kazuki kicked him again. "What did you find?"

"What a strange smell. It reminds me of the prey I used to like to catch," Pakkun muttered, ignoring Kazuki's kick.

"What prey?"

"Snow bunny!" Pakkun said with a serious face. "This kind of rabbit shouldn't appear in this area during this season. If something's off, be careful!"

Pakkun's words were a clear warning of danger.

Sasuke and Sakura both became wary, while Tazuna also grew nervous. He knew that whoever appeared next would be the one aiming to take his life!

Suddenly, there was a sound of something cutting through the air!

"Careful!"

Pakkun, with his keen senses, was the first to notice and immediately alerted everyone.

A large sword materialized out of thin air, spinning as it flew toward Tazuna.

Just as it was about to behead Tazuna, Sasuke jumped in front of him, attempting to block the sword with his kunai. But he underestimated the force behind the blade, and his whole body was sent flying.

"Sasuke!"

Sakura cried out in worry as she saw Sasuke being thrown back. However, Sasuke was unharmed, though the kunai in his hand was split in two.

The power of the sword was terrifying!

"The enemy is strong, be careful!" Sasuke warned solemnly.

Sakura nodded and immediately positioned herself in front of Tazuna, holding a kunai at the ready.

At this moment, Zabuza emerged from the mist, his eyes locked on Sasuke with a hint of admiration. "You're pretty strong, kid, to be able to withstand my sword!"

Zabuza, covered in bandages, exuded an intense killing intent that bore down on Sasuke and Sakura like a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, exerting immense pressure.

It felt as if someone was gripping their hearts, ready to crush them at any moment! Fortunately, the two were strong enough to recover from their fear almost instantly.

Isn't it just a matter of killing many people? Just because you've killed a lot doesn't mean you're strong. If you're really powerful, then fight us with real swords and see!

"Huh?"

Zabuza looked at Sasuke and Sakura in surprise. He had clearly seen fear in their eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

Such psychological resilience wasn't typical of ordinary genin!

This made Zabuza take a solemn glance at Kazuki, who stood to the side as if the situation had nothing to do with him.

Compared to Sasuke and Sakura, who momentarily showed fear due to inexperience, this brat was even more noticeable. Ignoring the killing intent and pressure of a jounin? This brat wasn't an ordinary genin.

Maybe he's the leading jounin in disguise?

Zabuza knew that Konoha teams usually consisted of four members. But when he spotted these few people, he didn't see any leading ninja, just three brats and a dog.

He didn't believe the dog could be the leader, so the most likely candidate was this kid.

Initially, Zabuza had suspected that the old man was the leading jounin disguised as the target. Many ninjas used transformation techniques, especially for protection missions.

But when he threw the beheading sword earlier, the old man had been nearly scared to death. Either the old man really was the target, or he was a well-hidden genin.

"Hey kid, are you the leader of this team? What's your name?" Zabuza looked at Kazuki and asked.

Kazuki felt irritated being called a kid and was about to act, but Sasuke moved first.

"It's not easy to find a strong opponent, let me handle this!"

Seeing Sasuke and Zabuza engaging, Kazuki held back, but he wasn't about to let anyone else take his revenge.

"Leave him half-alive, I'll finish him off myself!"

"Got it!"

The two discussed Zabuza's fate as if he wasn't there, which made him furious.

"Two brats, do they really think they're something?"

Zabuza angrily swung his decapitating sword, knocking Sasuke away again.

But Sasuke quickly regained his footing and drew a long sword from behind.

"Strike!"

"Secret Technique: Moon Shadow!"

In an instant, Sasuke vanished.

When he reappeared, he was behind Zabuza, who stood frozen as if time had stopped.

A moment later, blood gushed from Zabuza's chest!

He had been careless! If he hadn't reacted quickly and avoided a fatal injury, he'd be dead by now!

Zabuza wiped the blood from his chest with an ugly expression and began forming hand seals.

Kirigakure no Jutsu!

"Eight targets…"

"Throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery and subclavian vein, kidneys, heart… eight lethal spots. Guess where I'll strike?"

The heavy mist enveloped Zabuza's position, but his ghostly voice echoed from all directions, creating intense psychological pressure.

Sakura and Sasuke felt a twinge of anxiety as this was their first time facing such a situation. But alongside the nervousness, Sasuke also felt excitement. The stronger the enemy, the more defeating them would prove his own strength!

Pakkun stood warily at Sakura's feet, suddenly bristling as his fur stood on end.

"Be careful, they're coming our way!" Pakkun's sharp nose identified the enemy's location even without sight.

However, despite Pakkun's quick warning, it wasn't fast enough.

The moment after Pakkun's alert, Zabuza appeared behind Sakura.

At that instant, Sakura felt an overwhelming coldness, the breath of death filling the air.

"Rasengan!"

Without thinking, she formed the Rasengan with her bare hand and aimed it at the unknown threat behind her.

Zabuza was just about to deliver a fatal blow to Sakura, but when he sensed the terrifying force aimed at his abdomen, he quickly backed off.

This girl wants to take me down with her?!

Frightened and angry, Zabuza immediately used his Water Clone to take the hit, narrowly avoiding the attack himself.

"Was that ninjutsu really used by a genin?"

Zabuza, now hidden again, fell into deep suspicion.

A master of swordsmanship just slashed him! A ninjutsu master wielded A-rank jutsu with her bare hands! And then there was the unfathomable kid who hadn't made a move yet but exuded overwhelming pressure!

What kind of team is this? Is it a team of jonin? Or Konoha ANBU?

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+60 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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