c7 Zabuza Appears!
There were no major obstacles along the way, but suddenly Kakashi dropped to the ground as though collapsing, startling everyone. At the same instant, a massive blade the Kubikiribōchō, the Executioner's Blade wielded only by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist spun through the air above his head and embedded itself deeply into a tree trunk. Standing atop the sword was a tall man wearing bandaged wrappings over his face, with exposed muscles and a presence so cold it felt suffocating. His Mist-style attire, iron grip on the giant blade, and the killing intent he exuded made his identity unmistakable.
Momochi Zabuza, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist, and Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Sharingan both were famed shinobi known throughout the nations. The moment they faced each other, the reputation and danger of their opponent surfaced clearly in both their minds.
Kakashi, the Copy Ninja capable of reproducing more than a thousand techniques, feared even by veteran shinobi.
Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, infamous for slaughtering over one hundred academy students during the Blood Mist graduation ritual before he even became a genin. Calling him a killing machine was not an exaggeration but a simple statement of fact.
Both men instantly understood the caliber of the opponent standing before them. Kakashi reached for his forehead protector and lifted it, revealing the Sharingan he had inherited from Obito. Sakura and Sasuke both gasped; Sasuke was shocked that Kakashi possessed the Uchiha clan's kekkei genkai, and Sakura was overwhelmed by the eerie power radiating from the scarlet eye.
Zabuza declared that his only target was Tazuna, and since Kakashi had sworn to protect him, there would be no retreat and absolutely no negotiation. Kakashi ordered Naruto and the others to form the defensive "Manji formation" around Tazuna, just as instructed in their earlier training. Zabuza immediately formed a rapid sequence of hand seals, and a dense, chilling mist began to blanket the area in seconds.
The murderous intent pouring from both sides erupted like a physical force. Sasuke froze, his body paralyzed by Zabuza's overwhelming killer instinct. Even Naruto, who had gained strength through intense training, was initially stunned, though he forced himself to adapt quickly. Yet it was already too late Zabuza slipped into the fog silently using the Mist's silent killing style, and in an instant he was close enough to cleave Naruto and the others in half.
But before the blade could fall, Kakashi reacted with lightning speed. His Sharingan flared crimson, and he lunged forward, driving a kunai into Zabuza's stomach. Seeing water spill from the wound, Kakashi immediately recognized it as a Water Clone. At that moment, the real Zabuza appeared behind him and sliced Kakashi cleanly in two. But that Kakashi was also just a water clone. The real Kakashi stood behind Zabuza with a kunai pressed against his neck.
Kakashi had already copied Zabuza's Water Clone Technique with the Sharingan, proving once again why he was feared as the Copy Ninja. But Zabuza merely laughed darkly. "You think you can beat me just by copying?" he taunted, and his body instantly dissolved into water yet another clone. Before Kakashi could react, the real Zabuza emerged behind him and delivered a powerful kick, knocking him backward into the lake. The wielder of the Executioner's Blade had truly terrifying physical prowess.
Kakashi attempted to submerge himself temporarily to reposition, but the moment he sensed something was wrong, it was too late. Zabuza rushed across the water's surface, weaved hand signs at blinding speed, and unleashed, "Water Style: Water Prison Technique!" As the sphere of water formed, Kakashi was trapped entirely, immobilized. Holding the technique in place with one hand, Zabuza formed seals with the other, creating Water Clones that advanced toward Naruto and the rest of the team.
Seeing Kakashi trapped inside the Water Prison, Sakura and Sasuke felt utterly desperate, as though their fate had already been sealed. Even so, Kakashi though immobilized looked at Naruto with a calm, confident smile, the same look he had shown during earlier exercises, as if to say, "You've experienced real combat now; it's your turn to move." Naruto instantly understood Kakashi's silent message and quickly formed hand seals. "Wind Style: Gale Blade!" he shouted. A fierce gust blasted across the roadside, kicking up dust and scattered debris. Zabuza was forced to brace himself against the sudden wind pressure, occasionally raising the massive Kubikiribōchō to intercept the slicing currents of compressed air. Waves rippled violently across the lake's surface. Yet the true disturbance was within Zabuza himself he immediately recognized that this boy was no ordinary genin.
Naruto charged forward with wind swirling around him like a miniature storm. On the way, he shattered Zabuza's Water Clone with a single strike and then hurled several shuriken at the real Zabuza. As Zabuza dodged the spinning blades, a small but razor-fast foot carrying the whistle-like sound of slicing wind suddenly appeared in front of him.
Zabuza instantly released the Water Prison Technique and used both arms to block Naruto's kick, but the unexpected force behind the blow pushed him backward across the water's surface. The moment Kakashi slipped free from the dissolving water sphere, Naruto sprang back and returned to his original position, understanding that Kakashi would now take over the fight.
Sakura's eyes filled with admiration. "As expected of Naruto… he handled all of that so easily." Naruto responded with a confident grin. Sasuke, however, clenched his fists tightly. Had the gap between us grown this wide without me realizing it?
On the lake, Kakashi and Zabuza clashed again the moment Kakashi regained freedom. Kakashi perfectly mirrored Zabuza's stance, posture, and movements with uncanny precision. The two sprinted across the water's surface simultaneously and unleashed Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet. Two enormous dragons of water surged forward and collided with a thunderous crash. Though identical, the jutsu only canceled each other out. But the real shock came moments later—Kakashi seemed to read Zabuza's thoughts word for word, even echoing the sentence Zabuza was about to speak. While Zabuza wove signs, he shuddered at the realization that the Sharingan was predicting his every movement.
Suddenly, Kakashi completed the final hand seal before Zabuza could finish his own set and roared, "Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!" A massive torrent blasted outward, sweeping Zabuza off his feet. He was slammed into a tree with brutal force. Before he could regain his balance, a volley of kunai pinned him in place, restricting his movements entirely.
Kakashi was just about to deliver the finishing blow when a cluster of senbon shot out of the mist and struck Zabuza's neck precisely at vital points. Zabuza collapsed instantly, eyes wide with disbelief. The attacker was a masked youth wearing hunter-nin attire. Even through the porcelain mask, Kakashi recognized the unmistakable equipment of Kirigakure's hunter-nin division. Since Zabuza was a known traitor to the Hidden Mist, it was natural for the hunter-nin to execute him. After confirming Zabuza's vital signs, Kakashi found no pulse. Naruto, although aware from his prior experience that this was a ruse, chose not to expose it, because he was eager for the inevitable next confrontation with Zabuza and Haku a rare chance for real growth.
Sakura recoiled in shock from the masked boy's ruthless efficiency, while Sasuke clenched his hand so tightly it nearly bled, frustrated that someone his age possessed such terrifying strength. The masked boy politely thanked Kakashi and carried away Zabuza's "corpse."
The moment Haku departed, Kakashi suddenly collapsed. Prolonged use of the Sharingan drained immense chakra. Naruto and the others immediately supported their teacher and hurried toward Tazuna's house to let Kakashi rest. Meanwhile, each of them silently wondered how they would face Zabuza and Haku when the inevitable battle began anew.
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