This is a new style of writing I am trying out, keeping suspense by shifting scenes to different fights, let me know how it reads, and if any suggestions for next time I write group fights, like in the chunin exam invasion, or maybe something else if an idea strikes in the future.

Kakashi vs. Zabuza

Kakashi continued dodging, his every movement calculated as Zabuza's massive Kubikiribōchō sliced through the mist, missing him by inches. Neither shinobi had used a jutsu yet—Kakashi because he couldn't pinpoint Zabuza's exact location, and Zabuza because the moment he used a technique, Kakashi would sense the chakra spike and strike.

Occasionally, Kakashi shifted positions, attempting to catch Zabuza off guard, but the Demon of the Hidden Mist was too experienced. His Silent Killing Technique was nearly perfect; even without sight, he could locate his prey through the faintest sounds, the most subtle shifts in movement.

Zabuza's voice echoed eerily from all directions, his tone dripping with sadistic amusement.

"Face it, Kakashi," he taunted, his words slithering through the mist like a serpent. "Your little genin don't stand a chance. The Hyūga girl will fall to the Demon Brothers' teamwork. The Uchiha may be strong, but he's helpless against Haku's Ice Style. And that blond brat of yours…"

Zabuza chuckled darkly.

"He's fighting Raiga. He's as good as dead."

Kakashi's one visible eye widened slightly. Raiga? The realization struck like a lightning bolt. If Naruto was up against one of the Seven, then he was in serious danger. I need to finish this fight—fast!

His mind raced as he formed a plan. That's it!

Just as he prepared to move, Zabuza struck.

Without warning, Kubikiribōchō came slicing through the mist, its massive blade appearing from the white haze like a phantom. Kakashi barely had time to react, leaping back, but the sword's edge grazed his flak jacket, cutting through fabric and leaving a shallow wound on his side.

Landing lightly on the bridge, Kakashi ignored the pain, reaching into his pouch and pulling out a scroll.

Sasuke vs. Haku

Inside the Crystal Ice Mirror Dome, Sasuke's breaths came slow and measured. His Sharingan spun wildly, his focus sharper than ever as he tracked Haku's rapid movements. Haku was fast, almost too fast—but not fast enough anymore.

Raising Hakutora, his dual-bladed spear, Sasuke twirled it skillfully, deflecting an incoming barrage of senbon. Still, a few managed to slip through his guard, grazing his skin, drawing thin lines of blood—but nothing lethal.

From within the mirrors, Haku's voice rang out, eerily calm.

"It's pointless to resist, Sasuke-san. No one has ever escaped this jutsu. The longer you fight, the more senbon will pierce your body. This battle is inevitable."

Sasuke scowled but said nothing, his Sharingan now catching faint glimpses of Haku's movements.

Haku continued, his voice quieter, almost pained.

"I will fight as long as it takes… because I am Zabuza-sama's tool. My only purpose is to serve him."

Despite his composed tone, inside, Haku felt the creeping dread of reality. His chakra reserves were draining. He needed to finish this battle quickly—before Sasuke adapted completely.

The fight was reaching its turning point.

Hinata vs. The Demon Brothers

Hinata fought with everything she had, her Byakugan scanning every movement of her opponents. Her Dancing Fist strikes landed occasionally, but the Demon Brothers were tough—her attacks weren't causing enough damage to slow them down significantly. She incorporated her newfound Water Style, launching water bullets at them whenever she could create an opening.

As Gozu rushed forward, Hinata reacted instantly, forming quick hand seals and launching a "Water Style: Compressed Water Bullet"directly at him. The attack struck his chest cleanly, sending him crashing to the ground.

Seeing an opportunity, Hinata charged, determined to finish him quickly. Her mind remained alert, anticipating Meizu's counterattack. Where is he? He should have attacked by now...

What she wasn't expecting—was Gozu suddenly rising to his feet, charging at her headfirst.

Before she could react, his thick skull rammed brutally into her torso, knocking the wind out of her and sending her flying backward. She crashed hard onto the stone bridge, coughing violently as blood dripped from her lips. Pain flared through her ribs, her entire chest burning from the impact.

Gozu groaned slightly, standing shakily. "Damn… that was a good shot," he admitted, rotating his shoulders. His smirk widened as he took a slow step forward. "But without me baiting you in, we might not have gotten such a clean hit."

Meizu reappeared beside his brother, his gauntlet-clad hand tightening into a fist. The two walked toward the fallen Hinata, their expressions filled with cruel amusement.

Hinata's breath was shaky, her body trembling slightly from the blow. Fear flickered in her pale eyes as she struggled to move.

She was not going to let it end like this.

Naruto gritted his teeth as another barrage of Lightning Style: Fangs of Lightning rained down around him. The sheer power behind each attack was far beyond what Raiga had been using earlier, each bolt tearing through the stone bridge, sending fragments of debris flying into the mist-filled air. The battlefield trembled with every impact, cracks forming in the once-sturdy structure beneath their feet.

Meanwhile, with the clone:

Naruto's clone had taken the bag a fair distance away from the bridge, setting it down carefully before untying the straps. As the fabric fell away, he was met with the sight of a small, frail-looking boy curled inside.

The boy had neck length purple-colored hair, and his pale brown eyes were wide with fear and distress. His skin was almost ghostly pale, and his small frame looked unnaturally thin, as if he had been sickly for a long time. The moment he saw Naruto, he let out a sharp scream.

"Take me back to Raiga-sama!" he cried, his voice weak yet desperate. Tears welled up in his eyes as he flailed his tiny arms, attempting to hit Naruto's clone.

Naruto barely felt anything from the boy's strikes. His hits were so light, so weak, even weaker than what a toddler would be capable of. Naruto frowned slightly, watching the boy struggle and tremble. Why is a kid this weak? He looks like he can't even stand on his own properly.

Sighing, Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Look, kid, I don't have time for this," he muttered. "You'll be safer away from that psycho, believe me."

The boy kept struggling, his tiny fists still uselessly hitting Naruto's arms.

Naruto groaned. "Alright, you're really annoying."

Before the boy could protest further, Naruto weakly chopped the back of his head, watching as his tiny body instantly went limp. He sighed in relief, catching the unconscious boy before he could fall over.

"Man, this just got complicated," Naruto muttered, slinging the kid over his shoulder. "Guess I better figure out what to do with you later."

With that, he secured the bag and carried the unconscious boy further away from the battle.

Back to the original:

Damn it—he's really pissed now! Naruto thought, breathing heavily as he dashed to the side, narrowly dodging yet another lightning strike. He quickly formed a cross seal, summoning several shadow clones in an attempt to buy time, hoping to create some distance.

It was a desperate move—but it failed instantly.

The moment the clones materialized, Raiga's twin Kiba blades crackled ominously, surging with raw electricity. Without missing a beat, the rogue swordsman sent out a violent pulse of lightning, obliterating all of Naruto's clones in an instant. Their desperate screams of pain echoed for just a fraction of a second before they vanished in bursts of smoke, their chakra feedback stinging in Naruto's mind.

Raiga's rage was palpable, his once-mocking demeanor replaced with uncontrollable fury. His bloodshot eyes burned with pure hatred, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped his swords tighter.

"You… YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Raiga roared, his voice raw with venom. "I should've fried you the moment I saw you! You took Ranmaru away from me—I won't even give you the mercy of a proper funeral!"

Naruto didn't have time to figure out what he meant.

Raiga's hands flashed through a series of hand seals with terrifying speed, his chakra spiking wildly.

"Lightning Style: Tornado Dragon!"

A deafening crack of thunder exploded through the air as a monstrous dragon of spinning lightning erupted behind Raiga, its massive body twisting violently like a living storm. Its sharp, glowing eyes fixated on Naruto with deadly intent, crackling arcs of pure electricity licking the air around it.

The sheer power of the jutsu warped the mist around it, creating a vortex of destruction as it surged toward Naruto with terrifying speed.

Naruto's heart pounded violently in his chest.

"I don't have time to substitute—this thing is coming too fast!"

Instincts took over. Naruto's hands sped through seals as he gathered as much chakra as he could. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" he shouted, slamming his hands against the bridge.

A massive wall of solid earth erupted before him, towering high and thick, reinforced with more chakra than Naruto had ever put into a defensive technique before. The thick stone structure barely had time to settle before the lightning dragon crashed into it with violent force.

The impact was earth-shattering.

Naruto barely had time to brace himself before his entire world exploded in blinding light. The Mud Wall shattered instantly, but it did its job—the force of the dragon weakened significantly. However, even weakened, the remaining blast of lightning engulfed Naruto, sending him flying backward like a ragdoll.

His body slammed against the cold, wet stone before skidding violently across the bridge, the sheer force hurling him toward the open edge. The moment his back collided with the barrier-less side, a sickening crack filled his ears, and Naruto barely stopped himself from falling over into the crashing waters below.

The pain was excruciating.

Every nerve in his body screamed, his skin burned from the remnants of the lightning attack, cuts and wounds littering his frame. Blood trickled from his lips as he tried to move—but his limbs refused to cooperate.

"Damn it… my body won't listen…"

Naruto struggled to even breathe, his vision flickering slightly. He barely had the strength to lift his head, but when he did, Raiga was already approaching.

The rogue swordsman walked toward him slowly, deliberately, savoring every step like a predator savoring its wounded prey. The Kiba Blades pulsed ominously, electricity crackling around them like a live storm. His twisted smirk returned, eyes gleaming with pure bloodlust.

"That was fun, brat," Raiga sneered, twirling one of his swords lazily. "But this is where it ends."

Naruto gritted his teeth, forcing his body to move, but his muscles refused to respond.

Raiga's smirk widened, enjoying the sight of the helpless shinobi before him. "After I'm done frying you," he mused, voice dripping with cruelty, "I think I'll kill your team next. Maybe that Uchiha brat first—he looks like he'd scream nicely. Or maybe that Hyūga girl—she seems fun to break."

Something snapped inside Naruto.

A violent surge of chakra erupted from his body, but unlike before, it was not blue.

It was orange.

The sheer pressure of the chakra explosion cracked the stone beneath him, sending a fierce gust of wind outward. The air became thick, heavy, oppressive—Raiga's confident smirk faltered, a flicker of unease flashing through his expression.

Naruto's wounds started closing rapidly, his once-dull blue eyes now slitted and glowing a deep, fiery red, filled with pure, raw fury.

A low, guttural growl rumbled from his throat as he slowly, steadily, rose to his feet.

Kakashi vs. Zabuza

Kakashi moved swiftly, retrieving a scroll from his pouch and biting down on his thumb, smearing his blood across the parchment. With a sharp slam of his palm to the ground, he called out, "Summoning Jutsu!"

A thick cloud of smoke erupted, and suddenly, a pack of hounds appeared, their eyes sharp, ears twitching in anticipation. Each dog bore a unique build and color, their expressions serious as they awaited Kakashi's command.

Without hesitation, Kakashi ran through a series of coded hand signs, his fingers moving quickly in a distinct pattern. The hounds nodded in unison before vanishing into the thick mist, disappearing in separate directions.

A low chuckle echoed from within the dense fog, followed by Zabuza's amused voice.

"Summoning dogs? That's your big plan, Kakashi?" Zabuza taunted. "They won't find me. You don't have my scent—so what exactly are they tracking?"

Suddenly—

"AGHHHHH!"

A sharp cry of pain tore through the mist, followed by another—and another. A sickening chorus of pained grunts and growls filled the air, mixed with the unmistakable sounds of snarling and biting.

Kakashi immediately honed in on the sound, moving fluidly toward it. As he advanced, he noticed that the mist was already beginning to clear, revealing Zabuza struggling violently—his limbs pinned down by Kakashi's summoned hounds.

The massive swordsman thrashed furiously, but the dogs' powerful jaws were clamped tightly onto his arms and legs, restricting his movement completely. Deep gashes lined his body where their teeth had sunk in, fresh blood seeping through his bandages.

Zabuza clenched his teeth, grunting as he turned his head toward Kakashi, eyes burning with frustration. "How—?!"

Kakashi smirked, eyes sharp and knowing. "You thought I got careless when your sword grazed me earlier?"

Zabuza's eyes widened in realization.

"You wanted me to cut you," he murmured, his voice quiet but filled with shock.

Kakashi nodded. "That cut you gave me wasn't an accident. The moment your blade nicked my torso, I had my dogs track your scent through the blood you left behind. The more you moved, the easier they followed."

Zabuza cursed under his breath, realizing he had been completely outplayed.

Kakashi took a slow step forward, his expression darkening. "This fight is over, Zabuza. And now—"

His hands flashed through a series of hand seals, each one executed with flawless precision. His left hand then gripped his right wrist, fingers flexing as chakra surged violently in his palm.

Zabuza's breath caught in his throat as he saw pure lightning chakra beginning to form—so dense that it was visible to the naked eye.

The sheer power of it crackled through the air, illuminating the battlefield in blinding blue sparks, flickering wildly like caged lightning. The energy gave off an ear-piercing chirping noise, sharp and wild like a thousand birds screaming in unison.

Zabuza stared at the technique in disbelief.

This chakra… it's so dense that it's actually visible…!

Kakashi's one visible eye darkened, his expression eerily calm, yet deadly cold.

"Raikiri."

But before he could strike—

A sudden, inhuman growl tore through the battlefield.

An oppressive wave of chakra crashed down on them, shaking the very foundation of the bridge.

Kakashi's eyes widened sharply.

This chakra… no! Is the Kyuubi's seal breaking?!

Zabuza stiffened, his own instincts screaming at him in alarm. The sheer force of the chakra sent chills down his spine, making his breathing ragged.

This presence… it's like Yagura's when he used his bijuu… but this is so much stronger!

Both elite shinobi turned simultaneously, their gazes locking onto the edge of the bridge—

Sasuke vs. Haku

Sasuke's breath was steady, his muscles coiled like a spring as he continued to dodge Haku's relentless barrage of senbon. His Sharingan spun faster than ever, and with each passing second, Haku's once-blurred movements became clearer and clearer.

I can't die here. I have come too far for it to end like this. He thought.

Realizing that Sasuke was adapting too quickly, Haku made a decisive move, launching a single senbon directly at his neck, putting all her remaining strength into the attack.

Sasuke's hand shot up with perfect timing, effortlessly catching the needle between two fingers.

Haku's heart skipped a beat. He caught it?

Sasuke's crimson eyes bore into hers with newfound clarity, and for the first time, Haku saw them clearly—three tomoe spinning in each eye.

His Sharingan had fully awakened.

Haku immediately shifted, disappearing into another mirror. Sasuke responded instantly, pulling out multiple kunai and launching them at where she had been a split second ago. His kunai missed—but just barely.

She quickly jumped to another mirror.

Sasuke threw another kunai.

Again, it missed.

Mirror after mirror, kunai after kunai, the pattern repeated, each kunai always missing by a fraction of an inch.

Then, Sasuke smirked.

"Got you."

He launched one last kunai—but this time, not at Haku, but directly in front of her.

Haku barely reacted before she collided into something unseen, her eyes widening in realization.

Ninja wire.

The entire Crystal Ice Mirror Dome was covered in thin, nearly invisible wire, connecting all the kunai Sasuke had thrown earlier.

Before she could even process it fully, Sasuke had already formed hand seals.

"Lightning Style: Shocking Web!"

A burst of electricity surged violently through the entire web, lighting up the ice dome with crackling streaks of blue lightning.

Haku screamed, her body twitching uncontrollably as thousands of volts coursed through her entire nervous system, her vision going white from the sheer pain.

Sasuke wasted no time, charging forward to finish the fight. However, even through the excruciating pain, Haku forced her body to move, disappearing into a mirror at the last second.

Sasuke skidded to a stop, his smirk returning as he raised Hakutora.

"You're persistent," he muttered, his grip tightening. "Good. That just means I get to try out my newest technique."

He channeled his lightning chakra into Hakutora, the spear's metal shafts glowing a vibrant blue, crackling with wild electric streaks. The air around him became charged, the smell of ozone thickening as the energy intensified.

Sasuke dashed forward, spinning Hakutora expertly, the lightning shaping itself into a menacing form.

"Lightning Tiger Spear!" he roared.

One of Hakutora's spearheads unleashed a massive surge of electricity, which morphed into a glowing blue tiger, its sharp eyes locked onto Haku's nearest mirror.

With a mighty roar, the tiger lunged forward, biting into the mirror with its electrified fangs.

The mirror shattered completely.

The attack continued through, striking Haku directly.

A loud crash followed as Haku's body was sent flying across the bridge, her mask shattering into pieces, revealing her delicate face beneath.

She landed roughly on the cold stone, her body spasming violently, unable to move as excess lightning chakra still coursed through her system.

Sasuke approached slowly, stepping over the broken ice shards, his expression neutral but not unkind.

"It didn't have to end like this," he said quietly.

Haku looked up at him, her once-soft eyes now hollow. "I've failed," she murmured weakly. "I'm just a broken tool now."

She closed her eyes, breathing heavily. "Finish it."

Sasuke hesitated, his grip tightening around Hakutora.

But before he could make a decision—

A sharp, high-pitched chirping sound filled the air.

Both Sasuke and Haku turned their heads toward the sound, their gazes widening in shock.

There, standing over a bound and helpless Zabuza, was Kakashi, his right hand engulfed in blinding blue lightning, his expression deadly and cold.

"Raikiri."

Haku's adrenaline surged, her body forcing itself into motion despite the lingering paralysis. She couldn't let this happen.

With sheer willpower, she formed one last ice mirror, placing it near Zabuza, her only escape route.

Just as she moved to enter the mirror—

Sasuke acted.

With a swift, decisive thrust, he stabbed Hakutora into Haku's calf.

Haku let out a sharp cry of pain, collapsing to the ground just inches from the mirror.

Before either of them could react further—

A horrifyingly powerful chakra surged across the bridge.

It was malicious. Primal. Overwhelming.

Both Sasuke and Haku turned toward the unfinished edge of the bridge, their bodies instinctively tensing in fear.

With Hinata:

Gozu and Meizu loomed over Hinata, their expressions filled with cruel amusement. The battle had left her bruised, exhausted, and barely able to move. Blood trickled from her lip as she struggled to breathe, her arms weak and trembling.

Gozu grinned, raising his gauntleted fist. "Any last words, girl?"

Hinata's vision blurred, but her thoughts were clear. Naruto-kun… he never gives up. No matter how much he's beaten down, he always stands back up. That's my ninja way too…

Her fingers clenched into the stone beneath her.

Her body burned, her limbs ached—but she forced herself up.

"You are in the range of my divination."

Gozu and Meizu barely had time to react before Hinata launched herself forward, her hands glowing with chakra.

"Eight Trigrams, Thirty-Two Palms!"

Her strikes were relentless. She moved with a speed they hadn't expected, expertly weaving through their defenses, her hands slamming into their chakra points with precise, deadly force.

Two palms.

Four palms.

Eight palms.

Their bodies seized up, their movements sluggish as their chakra flow was disrupted.

Sixteen palms.

Meizu gasped, his body locking up, unable to strike back.

Thirty-two palms.

The final two strikes crashed into their throats, sending a crippling surge of chakra disruption into their nervous systems.

Both brothers choked, their bodies stiffening before collapsing lifelessly onto the cold stone.

Hinata stood there, her breath shallow, her hands still trembling. She had won—but she didn't feel victorious.

Her vision swayed, nausea building in her stomach. She had never killed before. Her entire body felt cold, her mind screaming at what she had just done. Tears welled in her eyes, her chest tightening as guilt and shock threatened to consume her.

Then, everything else faded.

A dreadful wave of chakra surged through the air, crashing into her like a violent storm.

The killer intent was suffocating, unlike anything she had ever felt.

Her Byakugan activated on instinct, scanning toward the source—toward the edge of the bridge.

She gasped, eyes widening in horror.

"Naruto-kun…"

The chakra she sensed—it wasn't just powerful.

It was monstrous.

Naruto stood at the edge of the bridge, his entire body engulfed in wild, burning-orange chakra. His breath came slow and deep, each exhale releasing a faint growl as his sharpened whisker marks darkened. His golden hair spiked upward, the very air around him vibrating from the raw energy emanating from his body.

Raiga took a wary step back, eyes narrowing as his instincts screamed at him. This wasn't normal chakra. This was something else entirely.

"What… are you?" Raiga muttered, his grip tightening on the Kiba Blades.

Naruto lifted his head, his eyes now slitted and glowing a deep, fiery red. His voice was deeper, almost layered with another presence beneath it. "You shouldn't have threatened my friends."

Raiga quickly put on a confident smirk, masking the unease creeping into him. "Tch. Doesn't matter how much power you've got. You still can't beat me. And once I'm done with you, I'll take my time frying your friends."

Naruto's pupils contracted dangerously, his breath hitching.

Raiga grinned at his reaction and kept going. "And that Kakashi… I'll cut him apart piece by piece before I let him die. But I'll make sure he hears all your screams first."

Naruto's entire being shook with rage.

A sudden, searing heat radiated from his back, and then—

With a loud tearing sound, two golden chains shot out from behind him, ripping through the remnants of his already damaged shirt. The Adamantine Chains gleamed under the stormy sky, each link glowing faintly with fiery energy. The chains extended several feet, ending in sharp, spiky, spear-like tips, their surface humming with sheer power. They coiled and uncoiled, as if alive, swaying behind him like the tails of a beast ready to strike.

Raiga's confident smirk finally dropped, his pupils shrinking slightly. "That technique…" he murmured, realization dawning on him. "One of the Red Death's most feared abilities… You really are related to her."

Naruto rolled his shoulders, his movements looser, more fluid—almost feline. "You talk too much," he muttered.

Raiga's expression hardened. "Fine, then! Let me show you my strongest technique!"

He lifted both Kiba Blades and held them together, pointing them toward the sky.

"Lightning Style: Lightning Strike Armor!"

A loud crack of thunder split the sky as a massive bolt of lightning crashed down, striking Raiga directly. Instead of harming him, the electricity surged through his body, surrounding him in a cloak of pure lightning. Sparks crackled violently across his skin, his muscles twitching as the overwhelming energy coursed through him.

Raiga threw his head back and cackled madly, the bridge shaking from the sheer power radiating off him. His movements became sharper, faster, and deadlier, every step leaving behind crackling arcs of lightning.

Naruto crouched low, his stance shifting naturally into a predator-like posture, his hands open, chains swaying behind him, ready to strike.

Then, they both charged.

Raiga's lightning-clad figure blurred as he closed the distance instantly, his enhanced speed making him almost impossible to track. He swung one of the Kiba Blades at Naruto's side, lightning trailing in its wake.

Naruto twisted mid-air, barely dodging as his chains lashed out like whips, forcing Raiga to retreat. Sparks and chakra clashed as blade met chain, each strike sending a shockwave across the bridge.

Raiga grinned viciously, sending arcs of lightning from his armor, aiming to paralyze Naruto. But Naruto was moving too fast, weaving through the attacks with instinctive precision, his chains acting as both offense and defense.

At one point, Raiga swung both swords downward, releasing a powerful shockwave of lightning. Naruto countered by slamming his chains into the bridge, propelling himself into the air to avoid the attack. As he flipped over Raiga, his chains snapped forward, nearly impaling the swordsman.

Raiga barely managed to twist away, his eyes widening in alarm. The brat wasn't just keeping up with him—he was forcing him back.

"You annoying little shit!" Raiga snarled, his patience running thin. He gathered all the lightning from his armor, concentrating it into a single devastating strike.

Naruto saw the opening.

As Raiga lunged forward, preparing to cleave him apart, Naruto's chains moved faster than ever, whipping straight through Raiga's defense.

The sharp golden tip of a chain pierced through his stomach.

Raiga's eyes bulged, his mouth opening in a silent gasp. His hands trembled, fingers loosening their grip on the Kiba Blades as they clattered onto the bridge, the electricity flickering out.

Coughing violently, he fell to his knees, blood dripping from his lips.

Naruto exhaled, his chakra settling. The orange glow faded, the chains withdrawing back into his body as his posture straightened.

He slowly walked toward Raiga, his breath controlled, his expression unreadable.

Raiga lifted his head, his once-mad grin replaced with something softer, something more genuine. His voice was weak, but there was no anger in it anymore—just exhaustion, and a strange sense of peace. "That… was the most fun I've had in a fight… in a long time."

Naruto stopped a few steps away, watching him carefully.

Raiga let out a small chuckle, though it was strained. "I've… got one request, brat."

Naruto nodded, waiting.

"Give me a proper funeral."

Despite everything, Naruto respected Raiga's strength as a fighter. He had been a maniac, but on the battlefield, he had fought with everything he had.

Naruto nodded. "I will."

Raiga closed his eyes, exhaling softly, before his body finally went still.

Naruto stood there for a moment, staring down at his fallen opponent. The wind howled through the broken parts of the bridge, carrying away the tension that had filled the air just moments before.

But he had no time to process what had just happened.

Silence hung heavy over the battlefield, the howling wind carrying the weight of what had just transpired. Raiga Kurosuki, one of the legendary Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, lay dead at Naruto's feet.

On the sidelines, everyone watched in stunned amazement.

Kakashi, still holding his Raikiri, exhaled softly, relieved. The raw, oppressive chakra Naruto had released had terrified him for a moment, making him fear that the Kyuubi's seal had weakened. But now, seeing Naruto back to normal, standing victorious, Kakashi couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride. His student had just defeated one of the most dangerous swordsmen in the world.

Zabuza, still bound by Kakashi's hounds, was frozen in shock. He had felt that chakra before—something similar resided within Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, yet what he sensed from Naruto had been stronger. It was wild, untamed, and yet somehow, the brat had controlled it.

Sasuke stood with his grip still firm on Hakutora, eyes narrowed, his mind racing. Naruto had faced an opponent far deadlier than Haku and had won. Even with the power he had unlocked in his Sharingan, he knew he still wasn't on that level yet. He hated admitting it, but Naruto had pulled ahead again.

Hinata's breath came slow, her body still trembling from her own fight. She had always believed in Naruto's strength, but seeing it unfold before her eyes was something else entirely. She was in awe, admiration shining in her pale eyes.

Haku, still on the ground from Sasuke's attack, stared at Naruto, her hands trembling slightly. She had never been afraid of anyone except Zabuza's enemies… but that chakra she had felt. It was something beyond what she had ever encountered before. Naruto Uzumaki wasn't just strong—he was terrifying.

The bridge remained deathly silent, everyone still processing what had just happened.

Then, slow and mocking, the sound of clapping broke through the air.

"Well, well," a smug voice echoed. "They really did a job on you, Zabuza. The Demon of the Hidden Mist, taken down by a bunch of snot-nosed brats."

Gato.

Standing at the other end of the bridge, surrounded by a dozen thugs, the small, greedy businessman smirked, his beady eyes filled with amusement as he looked over the battlefield.