Naruto: I Am Uchiha Sasuke!?

"Is this an illusion?"

Haku bit his tongue, the sharp pain jolting him back to reality.

"No... Mr. Zabuza is waiting for me. I must defeat you!"

"Secret Technique—Ice Needle Senbon!"

Haku swiftly formed hand seals. A large number of water droplets rose into the air, condensing into razor-sharp ice needles. This time, the attack was far denser, overwhelming in sheer numbers.

"Go!"

The countless ice needles rained down on Sasuke like a deadly storm.

"Interesting. Trying to break through Chidori Nagashi's defense with sheer numbers?"

Sasuke smirked, forming a single-handed seal. Flames burst to life around him, forming a protective ring.

"Fire Style: Fire Formation!"

A red-hot flame barrier erupted in all directions, engulfing Sasuke in a blazing shield.

Tsss—!

The ice needles sizzled upon contact, instantly vaporized into wisps of steam.

"Haku, it's over."

Sasuke leapt into the air, chakra surging within him. He quickly formed more hand seals, focusing his energy into a powerful attack.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"

Flames shot out like fiery meteors, homing in on every ice mirror below.

"Hmph. My Ice Release is a Kekkei Genkai far superior to ordinary elemental jutsu... just Fire Style won't—"

Haku's confident words were cut short as his ice mirrors began to melt at an alarming rate. His eyes widened in disbelief.

This heat… It's too strong!

Sasuke's Fire Style wasn't ordinary—it carried an intensity beyond normal flames, akin to the scorching radiance of the sun itself.

Under the relentless blaze, Haku let out a cry as his ice mirrors collapsed.

The next moment, a firm hand grasped his throat and slammed him into the ground.

Lightning surged from Sasuke's palm, coursing through Haku's body and paralyzing him completely.

"Ice Release? I'll gladly take this Kekkei Genkai."

Sasuke activated [Oni Meiro Technique: Kai], absorbing Haku's Ice Release chakra into his own body.

---

Meanwhile, Kakashi and Zabuza clashed in a brutal, bloodied battle.

Both men bore deep wounds, their breaths ragged.

"Kakashi, in this mist, I am the hunter, and you are the prey," Zabuza's voice echoed ominously through the fog.

But neither of them noticed what was happening behind them.

Naruto's body trembled. His eyes flickered red, fox-like whisker marks darkening on his cheeks.

A crimson chakra, thick as blood, seeped out of him, taking the vague shape of a fox.

Then, as if reaching a breaking point—

ROAR!

A powerful surge of chakra exploded outward, shaking the entire battlefield. The sheer force sent Sakura flying backward.

Naruto vanished, moving as a crimson blur through the mist.

"Huh? What is this chakra...?"

Zabuza's instincts screamed danger. His grip tightened on his sword.

"No... This ominous feeling… Could it be?"

Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.

The Nine-Tails' seal… is weakening?!

Though the chakra was not fully released, even this partial leakage was terrifying.

Kami… I have to end this now!

Without hesitation, Kakashi bit his thumb, swiping blood across a summoning scroll before forming rapid hand seals.

"Summoning Jutsu—Earth Style: Tracking Fang!"

He slammed his hand onto the ground.

A series of cracks spread across the battlefield, and from beneath the earth, several ninja dogs burst forth, charging toward Zabuza.

"Tch—!"

Zabuza managed to evade two or three, but the rest latched onto him, biting into his limbs and pinning him down. His executioner's blade clattered to the ground.

Kami... I'm trapped!

At that moment—

ROAR!

Naruto lunged through the mist, his hand pulsing with red chakra.

BANG!

His palm slammed into Zabuza's chest, sending him flying backward.

CRACK!

A sickening crunch echoed—Zabuza's ribs shattered from the sheer force.

---

Not far away, Sasuke's eyes flickered toward the intense chakra surge.

"That chakra… The Nine-Tails? Naruto… went berserk?"

Pinned beneath him, Haku twitched at the sound of Zabuza's pained cry.

"Mr. Zabuza… I'm coming!"

In a last burst of strength, Haku broke free and dashed into the mist.

Sasuke exhaled, watching him go.

"Hmph… No matter. I got what I wanted."

He turned and followed.

Deeper in the mist, Naruto loomed over Zabuza, his clawed hand ready to strike.

His palm, filled with seething red chakra, shot toward Zabuza's exposed chest.

It was an attack meant to disembowel him.

SHUNK!

Blood sprayed into the air.

But it wasn't Zabuza's.

Haku had thrown himself in the way.

Zabuza's eyes widened in shock as Haku's body collapsed into his arms.

"Mr. Zabuza... I protected you…"

Haku's lips curled into a weak smile, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

His eyes slowly closed.

Drip… Drip…

Warm blood splattered onto Naruto's hands.

The sight snapped him out of his rage.

"This... I…"

Naruto stared in horror at what he had done.

"BRAT! I'LL KILL YOU!"

Tears welled in Zabuza's eyes as he grabbed a kunai, lunging at Naruto with murderous intent.

Even in his broken state, this attack carried the full fury of a grieving warrior.

It was a strike meant to kill.

Naruto stood frozen, paralyzed by guilt and fear.

Zzzzt!

A kunai wreathed in lightning shot from the mist, piercing Zabuza's arm mid-swing.

Kakashi appeared in a blur, grabbing Naruto and pulling him away.

"That was close."

Sasuke emerged from the mist, standing beside Kakashi, his Sharingan glinting.

Zabuza staggered, clutching his injured arm. His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps.

"Naruto's attack… the injuries from Kakashi… even if he's still standing, Zabuza is at his limit," Kakashi assessed.

The thick mist that once shrouded the battlefield slowly began to clear…