“It’s useless.
Once bound by my Chains of Heaven, not even a god can break free.” Holding a bundle of chains in one hand, Akira walked toward Zabuza one step at a time.
“Mr.
Zabuza!” Haku could no longer stand by and watch.
He immediately formed hand seals and joined the battle.
The temperature of the surrounding air plummeted.
Mirrors of solid ice formed around Akira, creating a tightly sealed encirclement.
“Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!” Haku’s body merged into one of the mirrors.
Through their reflections, his figure appeared within every sheet of ice.
He raised a large handful of senbon and aimed them at Akira in the center.
“Stop!
You’re not allowed to take another step toward Mr.
Zabuza!” “Oh~?” Completely ignoring the warning, Akira took another step forward with a smile.
“I took another step.
What are you going to do about it?” “…” Haku held the senbon tightly but hesitated to throw them.
“Hehe~” The delight on Akira’s face deepened as he continued walking toward Zabuza.
“I told you to stop!
Didn’t you hear me?” Haku shouted angrily and finally hurled a volley of senbon.
Clink!
Clink!
Clink!
Clink!
Clink!
The dense barrage struck the ground like a sudden downpour, embedding itself directly in front of Akira’s feet.
“Hahahaha~ Haku-chan, you really are adorable.” Laughing, Akira stepped on the senbon and snapped them beneath his feet as he continued forward.
“Haku!
What are you doing?
Are you trying to get me killed?!” Zabuza roared furiously.
“Mr.
Zabuza, I…” The kindhearted Haku truly did not wish to strike another person with lethal force.
That was especially true when his target was the blond-haired boy he had felt such an inexplicable fondness for at first sight.
However, after Zabuza repeatedly urged him to attack, Haku finally acted.
Countless senbon shot toward Akira from every direction like a torrential rain of needles.
Akira remained perfectly calm.
He did not even blink.
The eclipse-shaped necklace around his neck once again released a golden radiance.
An invisible barrier formed around his body, repelling every incoming senbon.
Even Haku’s kekkei genkai and ultimate Ice Release technique had proven completely ineffective.
“No!
Don’t come any closer!” Fear finally appeared in Zabuza’s eyes.
The difference in their strength was so overwhelming that he could not see even the slightest hope of victory.
“Keep begging.
You look truly entertaining when you plead for your life~” Akira swung the chain in his hand and lashed it viciously toward Zabuza’s head.
Whoosh!
A mirror of ice instantly appeared in front of Zabuza.
Bang!
However, such a defense was no stronger than paper before the Chains of Heaven.
It could not stop them in the slightest.
Crash!
The ice mirror shattered.
Yet a body still stood between the chain and Zabuza.
The brutal strike landed on Haku.
He let out a muffled groan, coughed up blood, and collapsed to the ground.
“What a bore.” The smile gradually disappeared from Akira’s face.
The scene reminded him of the original story, when Kakashi used the Lightning Cutter against Zabuza and Haku shielded him from the fatal blow with his own body.
Seeing such a familiar and melodramatic scene repeat itself left Akira deeply displeased.
“Haku…” Zabuza watched helplessly as Haku collapsed before him.
A trace of anguish flashed through his eyes.
He had raised the boy for more than ten years.
He was still human—how could he possibly feel nothing?
“Mr.
Zabuza…
As your tool…
was I…
useful?” Haku raised his head weakly and looked at him.
“You useless fool!” Zabuza cursed him harshly.
He appeared cold on the surface, but his heart was already bleeding.
Perhaps because he had realized that he was facing certain death, his mind became exceptionally calm.
It seemed there was no escaping death today.
He felt no hatred and held no resentment.
He had come here of his own accord to provoke Akira, only to lose because he was weaker.
He had brought this outcome upon himself.
For a shinobi, one either killed or was killed.
Was that not the most natural conclusion?
Ever since Zabuza had launched his rebellion in Kirigakure, his entire family had died.
With no one left in the world, he had believed he could face death without regret.
Yet one concern remained in his heart.
It was time to admit it…
At some point, he had stopped thinking of Haku as a mere tool.
Haku had become his family.
At the very least, Haku had to survive!
A look of determination appeared on Zabuza’s face.
“Hey, brat.
Could you—” “What did you say?
I couldn’t hear you~ Is that the proper attitude when asking someone for a favor?” Akira interrupted him, narrowing his eyes.
“…” Zabuza’s face alternated between livid and pale.
He took a deep breath and spoke in the humblest voice he had ever used in his life.
“Honored king…
I, Zabuza Momochi, your defeated opponent, humbly beg you!”