Zabuza's ugly grin from a moment earlier had not faded.
He drove a fist toward Sasuke's face. Sasuke saw it, slipped left—and took Zabuza's knee directly in the stomach instead.
Twenty minutes later, the dirt around Training Ground 3 had been torn apart, Sasuke was sweating through his shirt, and Zabuza still looked bored. Kubikiribōchō stood planted beside him, untouched.
Kakashi had allowed the lesson under two conditions: no killing blows and no using the edge of the sword. Zabuza had complained for five straight minutes before agreeing.
"You're relying on your eyes again, kid," Zabuza said, his voice flat. "I can see the Sharingan spinning. You think it makes you a genius because you can see me move. But knowing where a punch is going doesn't help if you don't know how to stop it."
Zabuza let his killing intent loose.
The birds in the trees went silent. Sakura's fingers tightened around the manual. Sasuke's breath caught, and his legs locked before he could push off.
"I can see you," Sasuke hissed, gritting his teeth.
"You can see me," Zabuza corrected, "but you're not ready when I move."
Zabuza charged, letting one foot skid as if he had overstepped. His right shoulder jerked forward like he was throwing a punch, but he turned the stumble into a kick toward Sasuke's ribs.
Sasuke moved to counter the punch that never came. Zabuza's heel slammed into his side and sent him rolling through the dirt.
Kenji sat on a nearby stump with his elbows resting on his knees, enjoying the beating far more than a teammate should. He watched Sasuke scramble up, his face twisted in frustration.
"Your eyes filed the report," Kenji called out, his voice cutting across the clearing. "Your legs refused the assignment. You're thinking too much, Uchiha. Just hit him."
Sasuke didn't respond. He just spat blood into the grass and reset his stance.
Nearby, Haku watched with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Kakashi stood beside him, looking relaxed, though one hand remained near his headband.
"Sasuke-san is watching Zabuza-sama's hands and feet," Haku said.
Sakura glanced from Sasuke to Haku. "Isn't that what the Sharingan is supposed to do?"
"Yes. That is why Zabuza-sama keeps showing him the wrong thing."
Another kick sent Sasuke stumbling across the clearing.
Haku continued, "A clean attack is easy to copy. Zabuza-sama shows him a fist, throws dirt, or pretends to lose his footing. Sasuke-san sees all of it, but he cannot tell which part matters."
Kakashi's eye narrowed. "He's breaking Sasuke's habits."
Haku nodded. "Before those habits get him killed."
"Youth! I sense an explosion of youthful spirit!"
A green blur slammed into the clearing, landing with enough force to kick up a cloud of dust. Might Guy straightened up, his teeth flashing in the sort of grin that usually meant someone was about to be forced into exercise.
"The Demon of the Mist!" Guy shouted, pointing at Zabuza. "I felt that killing intent from two training grounds away! Such overwhelming and deeply troubled youth!"
Zabuza stared at Guy. He looked at the bowl cut. He looked at the spandex. He looked at the green leg warmers.
"Who the hell is this loud-mouthed idiot?" Zabuza asked, looking at Kenji. "Are all the eyebrows in this village this annoying?"
"That one's a protected species," Kenji replied. "Konoha law says we have to let him shout until he tires himself out."
"I am Might Guy!" Guy bellowed, ignoring the insult. "And I challenge you to a spar, Zabuza Momochi!"
"I don't spar with circus acts," Zabuza said, turning his back on him to focus on Sasuke.
"He's not a circus act, he's a Jonin," Kenji said. "And honestly, Zabuza, you could use the cardio. You're looking a little soft since you started managing the shipping lanes."
Zabuza's eyebrow twitched. He turned back toward Guy and reached for Kubikiribōchō. "You want to see cardio? Fine. But if I break his legs, the shipping company isn't paying his medical bills."
"I would like to see you try!" Guy roared, dropping into his stance.
"Guy-sensei! We were supposed to be training Lee, not starting an international incident!"
She and Lee landed at the edge of the clearing a moment later. Lee looked thrilled by the potential fight. Tenten looked tired of Guy already.
Tenten ignored the brewing argument. Her eyes went straight to the massive blade planted beside Zabuza.
"You," Tenten said, pointing at Kenji. "Zabuza Momochi is supposed to be dead. Why is he wearing a suit in the middle of a Konoha training ground?"
Kenji grinned. "Networking."
Tenten looked at the executioner's blade. "That is not networking."
"Aggressive networking."
Tenten crouched near Kubikiribōchō without touching it. "The balance on that thing should be terrible. How does he swing it without destroying his wrists?"
"Years of murder and excellent posture," Kenji said.
Zabuza looked over his shoulder. "Touch my sword and lose the hand."
Tenten stood up. "Definitely excellent posture."
Lee, meanwhile, was staring at Sasuke, who was currently covered in mud and trying to wipe the blood from his nose.
"Sasuke-kun! Your endurance is lacking!" Lee declared loudly. "Shall we do five hundred laps around the village before your next round?"
Sasuke glared at Lee. "Don't you dare."
Zabuza pulled Kubikiribōchō from the dirt. "Brat. Are we training, or am I running a daycare?"
Kenji stood up, dusting off his pants. "We're training. Guy, back off. Sasuke isn't done getting his teeth kicked in."
Kenji jerked his chin toward Sasuke.
Zabuza pulled Kubikiribōchō from the dirt.
"Flat of the blade," Kakashi warned.
"You Leaf shinobi ruin everything," Zabuza muttered.
He swung.
Sasuke's Sharingan followed the sword. At the last instant, he remembered the false stumble and shifted his attention to Zabuza's shoulders instead.
He dropped a heartbeat before the blade passed over his head.
Zabuza rested Kubikiribōchō on his shoulder.
"Now you might actually be worth training."
He swung again before Sasuke could answer.
Kenji glanced at the Chakra Scalpel manual in Sakura's hands.
"Don't look so relieved, forehead. Take that scroll to Shizune this afternoon."
Sakura looked from Sasuke being driven backward to the manual Kenji had given her.
Her fingers closed firmly around it.
"I will."
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