Drawing Ice Release

"Start drawing!" Furen commanded the system, and a massive rolling screen appeared in his mind.

After a brief flash, a colored light passed, and the system's prompt sounded.

"Congratulations, host! You have drawn Haku's 75% favorability reward: Ice Release (lv1)."

"Bloodline limit… Ice Release!"

Furen felt a surge of excitement as he looked at the skill bar, where the newly acquired Ice Release appeared. This was his first bloodline limit, and in the world of Naruto, bloodline limits could even measure a person's potential.

Ice Release was considered a rare bloodline, formed from a combination of Wind Release and Water Release.

"Based on my experience with these favorability draws, the higher the favorability, the rarer the chance in the prize pool," Furen thought to himself, reflecting on the numerous favorability draws he had undergone.

Feeling the Ice Release he had just drawn, Furen momentarily set aside his thoughts of research and focused on the present.

Ignoring the needles still embedded in his shoulder, he gently held Haku in his arms. "Don't blame yourself; it's not your fault," he softly comforted Haku.

On the other side, the battle between Zabuza and Kakashi had reached a fever pitch.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Zabuza leaped into the air, his hands forming seals, and from the lake below, a massive water dragon surged upward, rushing towards Kakashi.

Kakashi's Sharingan spun rapidly, but this time he chose not to copy the technique. Instead, he quickly formed hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"

A wall of yellow earth rose up, blocking the incoming water dragon. The impact shattered the water dragon into a torrent, drenching the area and obscuring visibility with a curtain of rain.

As the water cascaded down, Zabuza, still soaked, began to form seals for another jutsu when suddenly, a flash of light appeared before him.

That light was emanating from Kakashi's hand—Raikiri!

With the water dragon's torrent providing cover, Kakashi swiftly closed the distance and thrust his Raikiri into Zabuza's heart.

Blood spilled from the corners of Zabuza's bandaged mouth.

"What… just happened?" Zabuza stammered, bewildered as to why he had suddenly stopped forming seals.

Furen, who had been quietly observing the fight, allowed a smile to creep onto his face.

The reason Zabuza had halted his hand seals was due to Furen's manipulation.

Days earlier, when Furen had withdrawn his spirit from Zabuza, he had issued a final command using the Mind Body Chaos Technique: "Forget to form seals for a day once Haku has found a new bond!"

When Zabuza saw Haku in Furen's arms, it represented a new bond for Haku, causing Zabuza to stop just shy of completing his Water Dragon Bullet Technique.

Furen understood that direct commands like "Die" or "Stop resisting upon seeing Kakashi" would not work on Zabuza. To influence him with the Mind Body Chaos Technique, Furen had to introduce a scenario that Zabuza deemed impossible while adding specific conditions.

At that moment, Haku finding a new bond was something Zabuza believed could never happen.

With his heart pierced, Zabuza managed to utter a single phrase before he succumbed.

Looking back at Zabuza's lifeless body, Haku's eyes filled with tears, but he ultimately remained by Furen's side, not rushing over.

Haku was heartbroken over Zabuza's death.

"Let's take a nap, Haku…" Furen whispered softly in Haku's ear before gently knocking him unconscious. He couldn't bear to see Haku so distressed.

With the battle concluded, Kakashi paid his respects to Zabuza's body before lowering his forehead protector to cover his Sharingan.

Facing one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kakashi was exhausted from the encounter.

Dazna, who had been filled with dread, cheered as Zabuza lay dead.

"The bridge can continue to be built!"

However, his elation was short-lived, as a figure in a black suit, Kado, appeared with a throng of men behind him.

"Ninjas truly are unreliable," Kado remarked, relieved at Zabuza's demise but unable to resist a scornful comment.

"Get up and kill them all!" Kado commanded his dark-clad followers.

Furen noticed that Dazna's daughter, Tsunami, had been captured by Kado's men, her mouth covered and hands bound, thrown aside like trash.