Sasuke Uchiha was deeply shocked upon seeing Kakashi's Sharingan. Kakashi wasn't a member of the Uchiha Clan—so how did he possess the Sharingan?
Kakashi instructed Naruto Uzumaki and the others, "You three form a star-shaped formation to protect Mr. Tazuna. Don't get involved in this fight. You're not strong enough to battle a ninja at this level!"
Zabuza Momochi sneered as he looked at Kakashi's Sharingan. "Didn't expect I'd get to see your Sharingan before the fight even starts."
Suddenly,
thick white mist began spreading around them. Although it didn't completely block visibility, it did impair sight somewhat.
"Back when I was part of Kirigakure's assassination unit," Zabuza said, "there was already information about you in our handbook. The description read: 'A man with speed at its peak and eyes that can pierce through anything—the Lightning Flash ninja, Kakashi, who wields the Sharingan.'"
Both Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno were astonished. Was their team-leading jounin teacher Kakashi really such an incredible ninja?
"Alright then, enough talk," Zabuza said coldly. "You won't hand over the geezer? Then I'll just have to take him myself. But if I want to finish off that old man... I've gotta eliminate you first, Kakashi. Like I'd mind facing you anyway."
As soon as those words fell, Zabuza pulled his giant sword from the tree trunk where it had been stuck and stood on the surface of the water.
Zabuza formed a hand seal.
[Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Jutsu!]
His figure vanished into the thickening fog, which rapidly deepened around them.
Kakashi told Naruto Uzumaki and the others, "He'll likely target me first. Your job is to protect Mr. Tazuna at all costs."
Sakura Haruno asked cautiously, "What kind of person is this guy?"
Kakashi answered, "Momochi Zabuza. Back during his time in Kirigakure's Anbu, he was famous for his mastery of the Silent Killing Technique. As the name suggests, it's a technique for killing instantly without making any sound. By the time you realize it, you're already dead. So don't underestimate him."
The fog became extremely dense, reducing visibility drastically.
Tazuna muttered, "We're practically always covered in mist here. This is the Land of Waves, after all."
Naruto Uzumaki and the others gradually lost sight of Kakashi.
Then the Nine-Tails within Naruto warned him, *"Hey brat, these mists are mixed with chakra, making it impossible to sense his location."*
Frowning deeply, Naruto realized since the Nine-Tails couldn't pinpoint Zabuza's position, they could only brace themselves defensively. His right hand tightened around his ninja sword's hilt, ready for combat at any moment.
[Eight vital points.]
Zabuza's voice came from every direction simultaneously, making it impossible to determine his position.
"The throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now tell me… which critical spot should I choose?"
Even before the battle started, Zabuza filled Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno with tremendous pressure.
Kakashi formed another hand seal, using his chakra to disperse the thick mist surrounding them.
Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha, overwhelmed by the intense killing intent, trembled slightly all over his body.
A single breath or even a slight eye movement could lead to carelessness and death. This atmosphere made Sasuke Uchiha's hairs stand on end.
If he had to stay here for an hour, Sasuke Uchiha couldn't even imagine how tense he would become.
The clashing killing intent from Jonin-level shinobi and the horrifying feeling of having his life held in someone else's grasp sent Sasuke Uchiha's mind spiraling into unbearable tension.
Sasuke Uchiha glanced sideways at Naruto Uzumaki, his pupils slightly shrinking.
Naruto Uzumaki was always ready to draw his blade, eyes constantly observing the surroundings. From Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke felt no fear.
Actually, Naruto was nervous as well, but the collision of killing intent between Kakashi and Zabuza didn't really affect him much.
This was because the Nine-Tails helped relieve his pressure.
Sasuke Uchiha bit his lip hard, the pain helping him regain some calmness.
Sasuke refused to accept that his performance was worse than Naruto's. He had to kill Itachi Uchiha.
Compared with that night, this level of killing intent was nothing in comparison.
Fear had no place here—if he couldn't handle this, how could he ever face Itachi?
Sasuke Uchiha took a deep breath, steadying his body from trembling. He tightened his grip on the kunai knife, staying alert for any possible surprise attack from Zabuza.
Sakura Haruno was now so frightened she couldn't even think clearly, just standing there dumbly, not knowing what to do.
Kakashi turned his head and reassured them, "Don't worry. I will protect you with my life. I'll never allow my comrades to be killed!"
Gradually, under Kakashi's encouragement, Sakura Haruno regained her senses.
But Zabuza's voice rang out again, "Is that so?"
Suddenly, Zabuza appeared in the middle of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Tazuna.
[Wind Breathing's Third Form: Seki Storm Wind!]
Naruto Uzumaki unleashed three razor-sharp wind blades in an instant, slicing outward from his position toward Zabuza.
Zabuza raised his massive Cleaver Sword horizontally, using its blade body to block the wind blades emitted by Naruto Uzumaki. At the same time, Zabuza's gaze flickered with mild surprise as he stared at Naruto.
[Thunder Breathing's Fourth Form: Chidori Kai – Far Thunder!]
Kakashi's Ninja Sword erupted with the raw energy of the Chidori, like thousands of birds chirping simultaneously.
At the same time, lightning exploded from Kakashi's body, the unmistakable cry of the Chidori echoing through the air. In the blink of an eye, he swung the blade wrapped in Chidori energy directly into Zabuza's chest.
Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno all stared at Kakashi in shock.
That speed was simply too fast—there was no visible trajectory at all. He flashed at a distant location and then suddenly appeared right in front of Zabuza.
However, Zabuza's body suddenly turned into water; it was merely his Water Clone.
Behind Kakashi, Zabuza's figure reappeared.
"Die!"
With one slash, Zabuza directly chopped Kakashi in half at the waist.
Yet the moment Kakashi's body was cut in half, it transformed into electricity, bird cries echoed violently, and countless lightning-like slashes instantly radiated outward in all directions.
Seeing Kakashi's move, Chinya felt somewhat surprised. He hadn't thought Kakashi would develop the techniques of Thunder Breathing this far.
The previous Kakashi was a Lightning Bunshin. And at the moment it transformed into lightning, this Lightning Bunshin became [Sixth Form of Thunder Breathing - Electric Roar], attacking Zabuza.
Zabuza was struck head-on by a barrage of lightning-style slashes, yet he turned into water once more.
This Zabuza was also a Water Bunshin.
Kakashi's face darkened with seriousness. That Zabuza was too cautious.
The lurking Zabuza also wore a solemn expression. Indeed, Kakashi couldn't be underestimated—the speed of his Thunder Breathing was simply too fast.
Head-on, there was no way he could keep up with Kakashi's speed.
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