Ch65- Zabuza

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The mist around them grew thicker, a signature of Zabuza's Silent Mist Technique. It was a clever tactic, designed to disorient and confuse. But Horyu wasn't worried. Hinata's Byakugan pierced through the mist with ease, revealing Zabuza's location. Shino's insects, too, had marked the enemy, and Horyu's system map showed Zabuza's movements in real time. The only ones handicapped by the mist were Kurenai and Tazuna.

Zabuza stood atop his sword, a menacing figure looking down at them. "No wonder the Demon Brothers failed. An Uchiha," he remarked, his gaze fixed on them. Horyu blinked, taken aback for a moment. He wasn't wearing the Uchiha clan symbol, so how could Zabuza have identified him?

Horyu was well aware that flaunting his lineage outside of the village could be dangerous, and so he had chosen to wear simple and unassuming clothes for the occasion.  However, as he observed the situation, he couldn't help but notice Zabuza's gaze. It wasn't directed at him, but rather at Kurenai. Horyu had to suppress the urge to burst into laughter. Zabuza, a renowned and fearsome shinobi, was seemingly falling victim to the same optical illusion that had fooled countless anime fans when they first saw Kurenai. They had mistaken her unique red eyes for Sharingan, a common misconception in the world of ninjutsu. The irony of the situation was too amusing, and Horyu found it rather comical.

But he had no intention of correcting Zabuza's mistake. After all, any misconception that made their enemy underestimate them was an advantage in his book.

Kurenai was equally surprised but had experienced it before. Many had mistaken her unique red eyes for the Sharingan, and her mastery in Genjutsu didn't help dispel this misunderstanding. Like Horyu, she saw no merit in correcting Zabuza. As the mist thickened, obscuring her vision, she readied her kunai, her senses heightened. "He is the Demon of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi," she announced, her voice steady. "Protect Tazuna-san and don't intervene."

But Zabuza's voice, cold and menacing, echoed from the mist. "Eight options: Liver, Lungs, Spine, Clavicle Vein, Jugular Vein, Brain, Kidneys, Heart. Which one is best?" Kurenai strained to detect him, but his mastery of silent assassination made it nearly impossible.

"Coming!" Hinata yelled, her Byakugan active. Shino, too, sensed Zabuza's approach, but it was Horyu who acted. Gathering a mouthful of chakra, he expelled a stream of fire towards Zabuza, who had thought himself invisible.

What shocked Hinata was the fact that the fireball had been sent in the opposite direction. Her Byakugan allowed her to perceive the movement of chakra and individuals, but it couldn't distinguish between clones and the real person. Shino, thanks to his insects, had recognized the Zabuza clone that was moving toward them, but Hinata's Byakugan had initially failed to discern the difference.

Only a second later, when she saw the second Zabuza, did she realize her mistake. Her focus had been too narrow, a significant error considering that her Byakugan granted her a 360-degree field of vision. It was a lapse she couldn't afford in a battle.

Meanwhile, Horyu's jutsu that was moving to the original Zabuza had done nothing to stop the Water Clone, which was admittedly stronger than any of them. However, Kurenai had shown her trust in her Genin by ignoring the clone and heading straight for the real Zabuza, confident that her team could handle the situation.

Horyu drew Chucky from its sheath, the sword reflecting the mist, as he stood in front of his teammates. He didn't hesitate; his stance was one of a warrior ready to face the unknown. As he charged forward, he activated the Observe skill on the Zabuza clone. The system flickered for a moment before displaying:

[System Notification:

Target: Zabuza's Water Clone

Level: ??

Chakra: 125

Strength: 33

Intelligence: 42

Agility: 37

Stamina: 24]

Though the level was obscured, the stats gave Horyu enough insight. He knew he was up against a formidable foe, but this knowledge only sharpened his resolve. With a thought, he summoned three Kage Bunshin clones, each a mirror of his determination. They fanned out, encircling the clone, as Horyu kept his focus on the real threat.

The mist seemed to pulse with tension as the clones and Horyu converged on Zabuza's water clone. Hinata, her Byakugan piercing through the fog, called out, "Left, 15 degrees!" guiding Horyu as he and his clones darted through the mist, although he didn’t need it. Shino's insects buzzed silently, forming a protective barrier around Tazuna, ready to alert at any sign of danger.

Horyu's first clone lunged, slashing at the water clone with a precision only a master of Blade Dancer could achieve. The water clone parried with ease, its own sword cutting through the mist like a predator. But this was a distraction. The real Horyu was already in motion, his body a blur of movement enhanced by Lightning Reflex.

As he approached, Horyu activated Ghost Mirage, his form blurring, becoming one with the shifting mist. It was a disorienting sight, even for the keen-eyed clone. Hinata's voice guided him, her Byakugan tracking the subtle shifts in chakra. "Horyu, 30 degrees to your right!" she shouted.

With a swift, fluid motion, Horyu's true body emerged from the mist behind the water clone, Chucky poised to strike. The sword, empowered by Chakra Conduction, glowed faintly, ready to deliver a devastating blow. But the water clone was no ordinary adversary. It turned its own sword ready to meet Horyu's strike.

The clash was thunderous, the sound echoing through the mist. Horyu's clones, not idle, joined the fray, attacking from all sides. Their movements were unpredictable, a chaotic dance of strikes and feints designed to overwhelm. But the clone matched them blow for blow, its own movements a mirror of Zabuza's deadly grace.

As the battle raged, Hinata and Shino provided support. Hinata's gentle fists struck with pinpoint accuracy, aiming at the chakra points of the clone to disrupt its form. Shino's insects swarmed, seeking to bind and distract.

Horyu, in the midst of the battle, felt the strain. His chakra was depleting, each clone's maintenance taxing his reserves. He needed to end this quickly. With a mental command, his clones backed off, regrouping for a final assault.

He whispered to himself, "Chaos Strike." His form shifted, movements becoming erratic and unpredictable. To the onlooker, it was a bewildering display, a storm of motion that was impossible to predict. He darted forward, his sword a flash of light aimed directly at the water clone's heart.

But despite being a clone, Zabuza's water clone was stronger than all three of them combined. The mist swirled around them as if it were an extension of Zabuza's will, concealing his clone's movements and intentions. Horyu, Hinata, and Shino found themselves in a relentless dance of death, each movement a potential fatal mistake.

Horyu's Chaos Strike was a whirlwind of unpredictability, but the clone, with its superior strength and stamina, deflected each blow with a chilling precision. It was clear that a head-on assault wouldn't be enough. They needed a strategy that leveraged their unique abilities and teamwork.

"Shino, Hinata, cover me!" Horyu shouted, signaling his plan. Shino nodded, his insects swarming out to create a distraction. They buzzed loudly, converging on the clone in a dense cloud. The clone swatted at them, its concentration momentarily broken.

Hinata moved swiftly, her Byakugan tracking the clone's chakra flow. "Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!" she exclaimed, striking at the clone's chakra points. Her attacks were precise, each one aimed to hinder the clone's ability to use chakra effectively. The clone staggered, its movements becoming sluggish as Hinata's gentle fists disrupted its flow.

Taking advantage of the opening, Horyu's clones leaped into action, each one attacking from a different angle. They were mere diversions, meant to confuse and occupy the clone. The real Horyu, using his Lightning Reflex and Ghost Mirage, moved like a shadow, barely perceptible even to the keenest eye.

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