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#17 Divine Reward System
🕑 Added 2025-02-22 04:48:49 +0000 UTCSeeing the doubt on Sasuke and Naruto’s faces, Tatsuya decided to explain further.
“That’s the way it is.”
“Right now, we don’t know if Zabuza has any other allies nearby. If I stay back, I can protect Tazuna and Kakashi-sensei while keeping an eye on things.”
Noticing that his reasoning had swayed Sasuke and Naruto, Tatsuya smirked and added a little challenge.
“Of course, if you don’t think you can handle him, we can switch. I don’t mind taking him on myself.”
As expected, the provocation worked.
Hearing Tatsuya’s words, Naruto and Sasuke immediately responded in unison.
“No way!”
The two glanced at each other before turning their focus back to Haku.
While Haku’s hand-to-hand combat skills weren’t as refined as Zabuza’s, his [Kekkei Genkai]—the Ice Release—was extremely powerful, making him just as dangerous in his own way.
Tatsuya deliberately let Sasuke and Naruto take on Haku together. It wasn’t just to strengthen their teamwork—it was also a test. They needed to grow stronger, and this fight would be crucial, especially for Sasuke. 'This could be the moment that triggers his Sharingan.'
Besides, Tatsuya was confident that Haku, with his kind nature, wouldn’t try to kill them outright. And if things went south, he would step in before either of them got seriously hurt.
Understanding the stakes, Haku prepared for battle.
In the next instant—
Naruto and Sasuke charged from both sides, attacking Haku simultaneously.
Despite being faster and more skilled, Haku found himself struggling under their combined assault. His true strength wasn’t in taijutsu—it was in his Kekkei Genkai.
Clang! Clang!
Boom!
After a brief but intense exchange, Haku was forced backward by a well-coordinated strike from both Naruto and Sasuke.
“I can’t drag this out any longer.”
Zabuza had been in his near-death state for a while now—if Haku waited too long, there was a risk he wouldn’t be able to bring him back.
With no other choice, Haku decided to show his true power.
A burst of chakra erupted from his body, and the temperature in the air dropped noticeably. Both Naruto and Sasuke shivered slightly as the cold seeped into their skin.
Then, with a calm but determined voice, Haku spoke.
“Secret Jutsu: Demonic Ice Mirrors.”
The moment the words left his mouth, mirrors made of ice crystals appeared, encircling Naruto and Sasuke in a perfect formation.
“A mirror?”
“What kind of jutsu is this?”
As they stared in shock, Haku walked toward one of the ice mirrors. Then, in front of their eyes, he stepped into it—his body merging seamlessly.
The next second, his reflection appeared in every mirror. It was as if there were dozens of him surrounding them.
Watching from a distance, Tatsuya murmured to himself.
“So, he finally revealed his real ability.”
This was the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, inherited from his mother’s bloodline. [A rare ability that only a select few possessed, passed down through generations.]
Tatsuya had both wind and water chakra affinities, but he lacked the necessary talent to combine them into Ice Release. For now, all he could do was observe.
“You two, it’s time to wake up.”
As soon as he said this, Haku raised a pale hand, and in a flash of silver—
Whoosh!
Three senbon needles shot out from the ice mirrors.
The speed was overwhelming—even Sasuke, a prodigy in his own right, couldn’t react in time. A sharp pain flared in his arm as the needles grazed his skin, leaving a deep bruise.
But it wasn’t over.
More followed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A relentless barrage rained down on them, forcing Naruto and Sasuke to dodge frantically. But no matter how fast they moved, the attacks kept coming.
Left with no other choice, Sasuke resorted to his best technique, hoping to melt the ice.
“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”
A massive sphere of flame roared toward the ice mirrors.
But as the fire collided, it vanished instantly, as if it had been swallowed by an invisible force.
Sasuke’s eyes widened. “No way…”
Haku’s voice rang out, calm and unwavering.
“That level of fire won’t melt my ice.”
“Tch…”
Sasuke clenched his fists, frustration evident in his expression. If his fire jutsu couldn’t even leave a scratch, did that mean they had no chance?
For a moment, he considered calling for Tatsuya’s help. But his pride refused to allow it.
Seeing Sasuke’s stubborn determination, Naruto felt the same.
“Then I’ll try something different!”
He formed a hand seal and grinned. “Shadow Clone Jutsu!”
In an instant, the battlefield was filled with countless Naruto clones, surrounding the ice mirrors from all sides.
“Let’s see how you handle this!”
All at once, the clones charged forward, aiming to break through the icy prison.
But Haku’s speed was beyond their reach.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each silver needle hit its target with pinpoint accuracy. One by one, Naruto’s clones vanished, each impact followed by the sound of them disappearing into puffs of smoke.
Naruto gritted his teeth. “Dammit! None of them got through?!”
Even if his clones managed to reach the mirrors, there was no guarantee they could break them. If Sasuke’s flames couldn’t melt them, brute force wasn’t going to work either.
At this moment, Naruto and Sasuke were trapped, completely at Haku’s mercy.
