After Kakashi agreed to help Tazuna, the team continued their journey, steadily approaching the village.
Meanwhile, Zabuza and Haku observed from the shadows, tracking their every step.
┻┳|･ω･)/
"Haku, did you see that?" Zabuza said, eyes narrowing. "That white-haired guy… that's gotta be the Copy Ninja, Kakashi."
"Yes, Mr. Zabuza," Haku replied, nodding. "That's definitely Kakashi Uchiha."
（＞д＜）
Zabuza's face darkened with visible black lines.
"No, Haku. He's not an Uchiha."
"But… he has the Sharingan. Isn't that—?"
Zabuza sighed. "It's complicated. He's not from the Uchiha clan, but he somehow has one of their eyes. I'll explain it later—focus on the mission."
"As you say, Mr. Zabuza." Haku's voice returned to its usual calm tone.
"But… with someone like Kakashi on their team, this mission might become more dangerous than we thought."
Zabuza's lips curled into a grin. "All the better. I've always wanted to test myself against the infamous Copy Ninja."
He cracked his knuckles. "They say he's copied over a thousand jutsu. Let's see if he's worth that reputation."
"But still… wouldn't it be smarter to avoid fighting him directly?" Haku asked softly, concern flickering in his eyes.
Zabuza glanced sideways at him. "I've got a backup plan."
He leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"First, I go in alone. I'll keep Kakashi busy while looking for a chance to take out Tazuna. But—if it goes sideways, you grab one of the brats and we retreat."
"Kidnapping one of them will force Kakashi to make a choice: protect the client—or save his student."
Haku's brows furrowed slightly. "What if they… choose the mission over their teammate?"
Zabuza scoffed. "Tch. You don't know Konoha shinobi like I do. They're a bunch of hypocrites, always putting teammates first and missions second. Not like us."
Haku looked down, hesitant. "…Wouldn't that make us the villains in this?"
Zabuza glanced back with a wry smirk. "We're already rogue shinobi, Haku. That ship sank a long time ago."
"…Right," Haku replied quietly, though the unease in his eyes lingered.
Zabuza turned toward the mist, his voice low and cold. "Let's go. We don't have much time."
Together, they vanished into the fog, the silence behind them thick with intent.
Zabuza then meticulously planned the ambush ahead of Kakashi's team, selecting a location near a wide river—perfect for what he had in mind.
As a Mist shinobi, water was his greatest ally. A nearby water source would greatly enhance his abilities and might even turn the tide later.
Once the preparations were complete, he waited patiently.
The moment Kakashi's team entered the trap zone, Zabuza's eyes sharpened.
With a quick series of hand signs, he activated his signature move:
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
A thick, creeping fog began to blanket the area, quickly obscuring vision and swallowing the landscape in white.
Kakashi's team came to a stop, instantly alert.
The fog thickened with each passing second.
Zabuza, now hidden within it, lifted his massive Executioner's Blade, silently preparing the Silent Killing Technique—a trademark of Mist assassins.
"Kakashi… I hope you're worthy of your reputation."
In an instant, Zabuza appeared before them—then hurled his sword at full speed.
"Careful—dodge it!" Kakashi shouted.
The massive blade slammed into the ground, nearly missing its targets.
And then… standing atop the embedded sword, calm and menacing, was Zabuza Momochi.
Kakashi narrowed his eye and stepped forward, falling into a guarded stance.
"Well, well… if it isn't Zabuza Momochi—the Demon of the Mist," he said coolly.
Not wasting a moment, he reached up and pulled back his headband, revealing the scarlet glow of his Sharingan—three tomoe spinning slowly.
"Team 7! Protect the client!" Kakashi ordered.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura moved into a triangle formation around Tazuna.
But Zabuza had already disappeared into the mist again.
He activated Silent Killing and slipped past their defenses, aiming straight for Naruto.
(Naruto: Why always me?! Wuwu… can't I get one cool moment?!)
Kakashi swept aside some of the mist with a wave of chakra, but it was too late—Zabuza was already inside their formation.
"It's over."
With one clean motion, Zabuza slashed toward Tazuna.
The formation had broken, and he was inches from his target.
But—
SHHK!
A kunai pierced through him.
Kakashi had attacked, instantly piercing Zabuza's abdomen with his kunai.
The body dissolved into a puddle of water.
"Water Clone…!"
The real Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and slashed—slicing him clean in half.
Only… Kakashi's body also turned into water.
"Water clone?!" Zabuza snarled.
Kakashi emerged behind him with a kunai pressed to Zabuza's neck.
"Checkmate."
But
"Nice try."
Kakashi's eyes widened at the voice behind him.
The real Zabuza drove a kick into Kakashi's back, sending him crashing into the nearby river.
Hidden on the sidelines, Haku quietly exhaled.
He was ready to step in if anything went wrong… but so far, Zabuza didn't need him.
As Zabuza's tool, Haku would only act if absolutely necessary—as it was Zabuza's order to let him fight on his own and not to intervene.
Back at the river, Zabuza appeared atop the water's surface.
He performed a quick set of hand signs.
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!"
Before Kakashi could react, he was encased in a rotating orb of water, trapped completely.
Zabuza maintained one hand in the technique, locking Kakashi in place.
Then, he created a water clone, which leapt toward Team 7 intent on eliminating Tazuna and finishing the mission.
Zabuza had never asked for Haku's help because he believed in his own ability. His pride demanded it.
Now, seeing the enemy's strongest ninja trapped, the mission nearly complete—Zabuza smirked.
The water clone wasted no time.
It charged straight at Naruto, delivering a powerful kick that sent him flying backward with a grunt.
Before Naruto could even recover, the clone turned its attention to Sasuke.
Sasuke darted forward and unleashed a flurry of shuriken, but the clone calmly swept them away with one fluid motion of its massive blade deflecting every single one with ease.
Gritting his teeth, Sasuke lunged in for taijutsu.
But the moment he closed the distance, the clone caught him with one hand, gripping his throat mid-attack.
Sasuke struggled, kicking, but Zabuza's water clone didn't even flinch.
With a single motion, it slammed Sasuke into the ground, then flung him to the side like a ragdoll.
The clone advanced, placing a foot on Sasuke's abdomen, preparing to strike again.
"Stop right there!"