This was, quite simply, a humiliation.
Kakashi also sighed, a sense of awe mixing with his relief. To be honest, if word got out that a genin had escaped Zabuza's signature silent killing, Naruto would be famous throughout the entire ninja world. *Is this what a true genius is like?* he wondered.
Taking advantage of Zabuza's shock, Kakashi unleashed his full power, slicing the remaining water clone in front of him into a puddle. "Sasuke, Hinata," he said in a low, serious voice, "you two protect Tazuna-san. Naruto, although you luckily escaped one attack, Zabuza is not someone you can handle right now. Retreat quickly and protect Tazuna-san with Hinata and Sasuke. That man... I will deal with him personally."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi took a deep breath. Then, for the first time in front of Team 7, he finally lifted the forehead protector covering his left eye, revealing its true form. A Sharingan, as crimson as blood, flared to life, its three tomoe spinning rapidly as it unleashed a terrifying ocular power that seemed to tear at the soul.
"That... that's a Sharingan?!" Sasuke gasped, his mind reeling. The Sharingan was the Uchiha clan's unique bloodline inheritance. After the massacre, Sasuke believed that besides himself, only that man—Uchiha Itachi—possessed it. Why did Kakashi Hatake also have one?
Zabuza felt a chill run down his spine. "That eye... the legendary Sharingan. It indeed has a rather terrifying, ominous aura."
Caught in the middle, Naruto was just as startled. "That's a Sharingan, just like Sasuke's?! Why does Kakashi-sensei have one too?"
At that moment, Zabuza and Kakashi stood facing each other, with Naruto still between them. Neither seemed to want to make the first move. But Zabuza understood that the so-called bonds of Team 7 were Kakashi's greatest weakness. As long as he attacked the brat named Naruto, he could force Kakashi to protect him, thus putting himself in an advantageous position.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" From the nearby river, a giant water dragon roared into existence, surging upwards and charging fiercely towards Naruto.
But what happened next made Zabuza's blood run cold. Kakashi, using the ocular power of his Sharingan, was perfectly mirroring his movements, activating the same ninjutsu at the exact same moment. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Another water dragon appeared, crashing head-on with Zabuza's. The two beasts tore at each other, and a massive spray of water erupted, drenching Naruto as he tried to escape.
"What's going on?!" Zabuza thought, bewildered. "Even if he can copy my ninjutsu, to do it at the exact same moment is impossible..."
"Get out of there, Naruto!" Kakashi commanded. Naruto took off running. Zabuza, refusing to give up, roared and swung his executioner's blade, already hot on Naruto's heels. But a figure appeared again, blocking his path just in time. It was Kakashi's main body. Naruto left the combat area and took his place beside Tazuna with Hinata and Sasuke. The battle began in earnest, a fight to the death between two Jonin.
"Naruto-kun... are you alright?" Hinata asked, her eyes full of concern.
Naruto scratched his head and chuckled, "I'm fine! How could someone as awesome as me be in trouble!"
"You almost got beheaded and you're still boasting," Sasuke snorted.
"What did you say, you jerk?!" Naruto retorted angrily.
"Alright, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun," Hinata interjected quickly, "now isn't the time to bicker." Both of them understood the gravity of the situation and listened. They stood in a triangle, protecting Tazuna, and watched the battle in the distance. Steel rang on steel as the two elite ninja clashed, then pulled back, hand signs flashing between them in a blur. Ninjutsu and taijutsu were exchanged with a dizzying display of tactics and strategy that left the three genin in awe.
"Jonin are on a completely different level," Naruto muttered. "I never thought Kakashi-sensei, with his lazy attitude, would be so formidable in a real fight."
Just as the three were filled with emotion, another figure, also bearing an executioner's blade, calmly walked out of the trees.
Kakashi's expression instantly changed. "He was still hiding a water clone?!" He knew he couldn't split his attention and could only place his hopes on his students. "Naruto! Sasuke! Hinata! Even if it's a clone, it's a Jonin's clone. You are no match! Quickly protect Tazuna-san and retreat!"
"Impossible," Sasuke said in a low voice. "If we're no match for him, retreating is also impossible. Since that's the case, we might as well go all out and fight to the death."
Kakashi sighed but knew Sasuke was right. "You guys..."
"Kakashi," Zabuza sneered, "you don't have the luxury of being distracted by those brats!" He launched a continuous, fierce assault, keeping Kakashi completely overwhelmed. At that moment, Zabuza's water clone approached the genin. "Excellent. First I'll kill you brats, then that old man!" He formed a hand sign. "Water Style: Hidden Mist Technique!" The thick fog rolled in once again, enveloping Naruto and his companions. They stood back-to-back, protecting Tazuna in the center.
"At this point, we can only fight to the death!" Naruto declared, his voice full of fighting spirit. "Hinata, Sasuke... Let's go!"
But although his declaration was passionate, the reality was a harsh one. He immediately broke into a fit of coughing.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said, worried, "you've been training desperately for three days straight. Your chakra and strength are almost exhausted, and you just used the Wind Body Flicker Technique. You're at your limit, aren't you?"
She was right. Naruto cursed inwardly. Zabuza's timing was perfect. But he still put on a brave front. "Don't worry, Hinata, I still have plenty of chakra! Watch me blow away this fog right now! Wind Release: Great Break—cough, cough, cough..."
"You're already so weak, stop bragging," Sasuke snorted coldly. "Let me do it instead. Sharingan!" His two-tomoe Sharingan spun to life, its powerful ocular energy erupting.
"Naruto-kun, you rest first," Hinata said quickly. "Sasuke-kun and I will handle this. Byakugan, open!" She immediately activated her own eyes, searching for the enemy in the fog. In terms of pure perception, the Sharingan couldn't compare to the Byakugan.
Soon—"Over there!" she called out, having already located Zabuza's water clone.
A surprised voice echoed from within the mist. "To be able to detect my presence... is that the Hyuga clan's Byakugan? And the brat who activated his Sharingan must be the orphan of that prestigious Uchiha clan. Indeed, Kakashi Hatake wasn't lying when he said Team 7 was the strongest. Each of these brats has some real skill. Too bad. Today, you will all be buried here!" In an instant, a silent shadow lunged through the mist.
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