Though Zabuza had disappeared into the mist, Kakashi could sense the thick bloodthirst churning in the vicinity. He knew what was coming. 'Silent killing'—it was one of the most feared assassination techniques. He didn't fear for his own life, however. The greater risk was to Tazuna. Though the older man's composure up to this point was remarkable, his fear was becoming increasingly tangible.
"Don't worry, Tazuna-san," said Kakashi, making a reassuring smile. "You're in my charge now. I won't let you die."
It was then that Zabuza chose to strike.
"I wonder about that…"
Seemingly out of nowhere, the missing-nin materialized behind Tazuna, raising his sword to deliver the finishing blow—but Kakashi had been waiting. His Sharingan glowing, he turned around and plunged his kunai straight into the man's chest.
It was not blood but water that dripped down the handle and fell to the ground.
Another Zabuza emerged from the mist behind Kakashi, and the water clone he had struck instead melted away. Letting out a roar, Zabuza swung his sword in a formidable arc, cleaving Kakashi's body cleanly in two. For a moment, his eyes gleamed with triumph—which then turned into confusion, as the jōnin's body also melted away into water.
"Don't move." Kakashi held a kunai to the missing-nin's neck, his Sharingan fixed on his target. "It's over."
And yet, Zabuza looked far from defeated. "Clever… You used your Sharingan to mimic my Hiding in Mist technique. But if you think that's enough, you're sorely mistaken."
Once more, another Zabuza materialized behind them. Kakashi stiffened in alarm as the clone he'd been holding hostage dissipated—it had been a trick within a trick—before raising his steel-plated gloves up just in time to block the coming blow.
They stood at a standstill, sword grinding against steel. Their bodies shook from the tremendous force being put in on both ends—and then they burst apart, each leaping away from the other. As Kakashi landed, he felt something cold and wet land on the tip of his nose. It took him a second to process what it was.
Snow…?
For some reason, the snow seemed to give Zabuza pause. When he moved again, he was visibly shaken, and Kakashi seized the opportunity. As the missing-nin raised a hand into the air to start his technique, Kakashi mirrored his motion. Before the other could react, the jōnin's hands blurred, finishing the jutsu he had been about to start:
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique)!"
Zabuza reeled back in shock. A muddy vortex of water rose up and claimed him.
...
The earlier fight against Shirakumo must have drained Hidan more than Rai had expected, for the missing-nin's movements seemed sluggish. As Sai provided backup, they eventually managed to corner the missing-nin. With a lunge, Rai drove his kunai blade into Hidan's back, twisting it deep into his heart.
Any ordinary person would have been long dead by now, but Hidan looked irritated instead. "I've told you, it's useless." Reaching back, he grabbed Rai and forcefully hurled him into the air.
Flying backwards, the chain connecting Rai's blades clinked in the wind and suddenly, it gave him an idea.
It all happened in an instant. Even as Sai's ink snakes swarmed him, Hidan lobbed his scythe after Rai. It whistled through the air, its three blades gleaming.
He had a choice to make, and he made it. Even as the scythe plunged into his own chest, Rai used his remaining strength to throw his remaining kunai blade back at Hidan.
Momentarily immobilized, Hidan watched the chains wrap tightly around his body, the blade still lodged in his back acting as a anchor. Finally, the chains ran out and the swinging kunai blade sliced straight through Hidan's neck, decapitating him.
Let's see you recover from that.
Rai grinned—and his body hit the ground.
...
By the time the water released Zabuza, slamming him against the ground and receding from around his body, the missing-nin was spent. Kakashi held a kunai to his neck and at last, Zabuza bowed his head in defeat.
"It's over," Kakashi said coldly. "Now tell me: Where are my students?"
Zabuza's face twisted. He opened his mouth –
Two kunai slammed into his neck, hitting his vital points in a splash of blood. The man didn't stand a chance; he was dead before Kakashi could even grasp what was going on. Alarmed, he immediately turned in the direction the kunai had come from. He had not noticed the presence of anyone else, and yet there, in the creeping fog –
A figure in an orange mask stared down at Kakashi.
Who the hell is that...?!
...
The hunter-nin's reflection surrounded Naruto on all sides, the white masks looming down at him. Every reflection gripped the bloody stump of its arm and gritted out in an echo, "You can't escape...not from my mirrors."
Once more, Naruto heard the shrill sound of metal as dozens of needle senbon filled the air. This time, there were too many to counter. Even as he batted away the majority with his tantō, several broke through his guard, cutting through his cheeks and legs.
It was curious how, despite the grim situation, Naruto didn't feel the slightest trace of fear. He hadn't realized it, but his mind had been growing dull with doubt like an unsharpened blade, ever since he had left Konoha for Wave country. All that was gone now. There was a razor sharpness in its place, and he knew exactly what to do next.
Opening his guard, Naruto brought his hands together to form a seal. Even as a dozen needles pierced his newly exposed arms, with a cloud of smoke, several shadow clones appeared and immediately began to guard him. Metal met metal in the background. Ignoring the pain, Naruto focused on the churning ball of chakra forming in the palm of his hand.
He had thought that combining both shape and nature transformation was an impossible task, like trying to look in two different directions at once. In the new clarity of his mind, he realized now that his mistake had been in focusing too much on a single direction. He didn't have to look in two directions at the same time; he only had to widen his perspective.
The tightly focused ball in his hand spun wildly. Strong gusts of wind began to spiral out. Stepping forward, Naruto slammed his Rasengan into the mirrors, and with an earsplitting sound, they shattered into thousands of ice particles.
When the air had cleared, the hunter-nin lay unconscious on the ground. For a moment, Naruto held the blade of his tantō against the other ninja's neck, thinking. Then, he let his blade drop away.
Leaving the hunter-nin's body behind, Naruto began to make his way down to the cliff's base.
He could acknowledge it now: Neither Mayu nor Tazuna were here. It was time to come to terms with the fact that, despite their best efforts, they were going to come out of this empty-handed...
The first thing Naruto saw was Shirakumo's body, still warm to the touch. He checked its pulse, and reaching a negative, stood up.
And then he saw it: There, illuminated in the moonlight, was another body.
His heart pounding in his ears, Naruto felt the last of the air in his lungs leave in a slow exhale.
...
"Rai!"
At the sound of Naruto's voice, Rai stirred. He had been fighting to stay awake long enough to wait for him. There was something heavy weighing him down, and he struggled to lift his head. The clouds must have covered the moon again, for everything was dark.
"Mayu?" he asked.
Did you find her?
There was a pause.
"I found her. She's right here."
Intense relief flooded what Rai could still feel of his limbs. Tears welling up in his eyes, he let his head fall back.
He knew he had lost too much blood. The darkness was coming for him.
He had no regrets. He had fulfilled his duty to his village. He had gotten his revenge for Yugakure. And with Naruto around, Mayu would be safe. He had no regrets.
No—that wasn't exactly right. He did have one regret left...
Shit... I wish I could've seen Kakashi-sensei's face at least once.
Rai let out a rattling laugh, and with that, he died.