The forest was utterly silent. Everyone had been stunned by Kakashi's slash, and in the stillness, his final words reached every ear.
"How is that possible? Akutami Hideyuki was killed just like that!" Zabuza stared in disbelief at Akutami Hideyuki, who had been cleaved in half by Kakashi's single strike.
This was no genin or chunin. He was a jonin with some reputation even in the Hidden Mist Village, yet he had been instantly killed in one slash.
"So this is the power of protecting others?" Zabuza's worldview was deeply shaken.
He was certain Kakashi had not possessed this kind of strength before. Otherwise, Kakashi would not have struggled so much against them earlier. If he could instantly kill Akutami Hideyuki, then he could surely have instantly killed Kisame Hoshigaki too. Yet Kakashi had not done so even when fighting him, and their battle had lasted for a while.
Zabuza truly could not understand why wanting to protect others could unleash such terrifying power.
"Is this guy really a genin? This has to be fake." Kurosawa wore an expression of utter disbelief.
He was now wondering whether Kakashi was actually some powerful Konoha ninja using the Transformation Jutsu as a disguise, pretending to be at a disadvantage throughout the battle.
"As expected of my eternal rival. I'm really looking forward to our next battle." After his surprise faded, Might Guy gave Kakashi a thumbs-up.
Might Guy genuinely could not make sense of what had just happened to Kakashi. He had clearly looked gravely injured and on the verge of collapse, and no powerful aura had erupted from him, yet he had unleashed a slash capable of instantly killing a jonin.
Looking at Kakashi and Obito, Nohara Rin smiled gently. "I knew you two would succeed."
She knew her own strength