Great Skill Lies in Simplicity? Kakashi Breaks into a Sweat

"Th-that's incredible!"

Naruto stood frozen in place. He glanced at Kakashi-sensei from the Other World, his heart filled with genuine awe.

Could the me from the Other World be even stronger than them?

Although Sasuke was covered in blood, his fighting spirit was still blazing.

"The intelligence was wrong! Damn it, I couldn't even see Kakashi's Body Flicker Technique clearly! I thought it was just a clone!"

"These two... aren't simple!"

Momochi Zabuza's expression grew solemn.

"But if this one is a clone, then what's going on with the other one? As far as I know, one of Kakashi's eyes should be a Sharingan..."

Zabuza thought rapidly.

Could this be Kakashi's brother?!

The Copy Ninja Kakashi actually has a brother!

Zabuza's gaze swept over the nearly identical faces of the two men, and he felt an excited thrill, as though he had just stumbled onto some huge gossip.

"As expected of the Demon of the Hidden Mist! Momochi Zabuza! Everyone, be careful! The Executioner's Blade in his hands is one of the Seven Legendary Blades of the Hidden Mist Village! It possesses the ability to never break!"

"It can absorb the iron in blood to repair the damage done to itself!"

Kakashi spoke up to warn them.

"Never break? Kakashi, I don't know much about the Empire's military, but Uncle White Fang is in the army, right? If I remember correctly, don't all their blades possess self-repairing properties? And they don't need blood—Chakra alone is enough, right?"

Kakashi nodded and sent him a transmission.

"That's right. Even my White Fang Blade gained this property eight years ago. It was also jointly enhanced by Red Sand Robotics and Orochi Technologies. Now, aside from the power of the Six Paths, nothing can destroy it!"

"As for the army, they only got it earlier than I did!"

After hearing Kakashi say that, Obito suddenly felt that the so-called Executioner's Blade was nothing special.

The standard mass-produced weapons of the Empire were being revered as treasures in this world?

It was both laughable and pitiful...

"As expected of Konoha's Number One Technician, Kakashi. Your knowledge is impressive."

Zabuza stroked the Executioner's Blade in his hands, his intoxicated gaze as though he were caressing a model's body.

Everyone shuddered.

"Hey, Kakashi... That hole... wasn't he the one who made it, was he?"

Kakashi glanced at the Executioner's Blade, and his face instantly flushed red.

"You bastard, what are you thinking? How could a person be that big?!"

Kakashi angrily punched Obito several times before turning his gaze toward Zabuza.

"Since you're an expert swordsman, then fight me!"

It was rare to encounter an expert who wielded a blade, and Kakashi didn't want to miss this opportunity.

Zabuza also looked excited.

"Oh? You must be Kakashi's brother! I wonder which of you is stronger? But since you want to play with me, I'll entertain you!"

When Zabuza saw that only one person had stepped forward, he secretly rejoiced.

Everyone before him gave him a sense of danger. It would be ideal if he could defeat them one by one!

"Since you're so overconfident, don't blame me..."

Zabuza muttered inwardly. I'll pretend to struggle before killing this Kakashi brother. That should make the others lower their guard and stop them from ganging up on me.

"Ahhh!"

Zabuza swung the Executioner's Blade. His entire body shot toward Kakashi like a sharp arrow loosed from a bow.

Kakashi's expression was solemn, as though facing a powerful enemy.

He stared intently at Zabuza's movements, trying to analyze his swordsmanship.

However, the swordsmanship was like an antelope hanging its horns on a tree branch—there was no trace to follow. For a moment, Kakashi couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Every slash looked simple and direct, yet contained profound mysteries. It seemed naturally formed, without the slightest bit of flashiness, yet contained limitless power.

This swordsmanship could be said to have reached the pinnacle of perfection: great skill lay in simplicity!

The more Kakashi watched, the more alarmed he became. He realized that he had encountered a true master!

Kakashi was sweating profusely.

However, when he subconsciously dodged the first wisp of blade aura with an extremely slight movement, Kakashi froze.

That's it?

That's all???

Damn it! I've fallen for his trick!

Kakashi clearly saw a trace of amusement flash through the other man's eyes.

As expected! He used those rough movements to make me lower my guard?

Heh! You're underestimating me!

A lion uses all its strength even when hunting a rabbit!

We learned this in elementary school: never underestimate any opponent!

Kakashi's hands moved to the Gravity Seals around his waist and on all four limbs. After thinking it over, he let them go.

"If I always think about removing the burdens on my body at the first opportunity, how am I supposed to improve?"

"I'll observe him for now!"

Although the Gravity Seals on his body weighed a thousand kilograms, Kakashi still had no intention of removing them.

Constant weighted training was a good habit they had cultivated since childhood. It wasn't just him—Obito and Nagato wore them too.

Obito wore even more than he did. As for Nagato, that guy seemed to be wearing several times as much!

"Oh? Not bad! You actually dodged this old man's slashes so easily!"

"Then be even more careful next!"

Zabuza laughed loudly as he swung the Executioner's Blade at Kakashi once more.

His swordsmanship was indeed rough. Perhaps because he was a Jonin, his physical skills and strength had made him invincible, and he had long since grown accustomed to attacking this way.

Or perhaps... this is simply all he's capable of!

Kakashi's brows drew together.

Have I overestimated the ninja of this world?

They call these simple, brutal movements "great skill lies in simplicity"? This is completely reliant on brute force!

Kakashi didn't know that the pinnacle of swordsmanship in this world was the White Fang of Konoha.

After the White Fang of Konoha died, the swordsmanship of this world regressed by more than a century.

Besides, all of Zabuza's strength lay in assassination. Without the Hidden Mist Technique, his swordsmanship was completely unimpressive.

Kakashi and the three younger ones watched Kakashi, who kept dodging, their faces thoughtful.

"He's been dodging the entire time. Is he looking for an opportunity and waiting for an opening?"

Kakashi recalled the attack combined with Lightning Release that the other man had used before he fell unconscious. That swordsmanship had completely surpassed that of his own father, Hatake Sakumo!

"This Kakashi-sensei doesn't seem to be a match for this Hidden Mist ninja..."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, trying to analyze the situation.

Even after dodging repeatedly, the other side still hadn't launched any powerful attacks. Kakashi was beginning to lose patience.

"Let's try exchanging a move with him!"

When Zabuza swung the Executioner's Blade again, Kakashi drew the White Fang Blade from his back.

"Hahahaha! Coward! You finally decided to make a move?"

It wasn't just Kakashi—Zabuza was getting frustrated too. His opponent kept dodging, yet he couldn't do anything about him. He felt utterly stifled, with nowhere to unleash his strength.

The sound of iron clashing rang out.

Zabuza had assumed from his opponent's repeated dodges that his strength was nothing special, but that one exchange immediately left his arm and the base of his thumb numb.

Kakashi saw that the hand gripping the Executioner's Blade was already trembling uncontrollably, and his face darkened.

What the heck? I was just careless!

I actually thought he was a swordsmanship expert?!

Forget being an expert—he doesn't even know swordsmanship!

What's wrong with this world?

Kakashi's brows furrowed deeply.

Zabuza was also stunned.

Are you kidding me?

If you had this kind of strength, why were you dodging like that?

If you were this strong, why didn't you attack earlier? You watched me for so long—were you making a monkey out of me?

Zabuza's face flushed with embarrassment, and he entered the Red Hot State.

He swung the blade at Kakashi once more.

Kakashi caught the Executioner's Blade firmly between just two fingers.

His expression emotionless, he looked at Zabuza.

"That's enough. This farce ends here. I admit I overestimated you. You... have no swordsmanship whatsoever!"

"The only thing worthy of praise is your silence. Neither the way you swing your blade nor your movements make any sound. Perhaps combined with the Hidden Mist Technique, that allows you to prevail wherever you go."

"But... a ninja ultimately has to rely on his own strength!"

Zabuza's face reddened with anger at those words. He tried to break free, but no matter how hard he pulled with both hands, he couldn't wrench the Executioner's Blade from Kakashi's two fingers.

Seeing that he couldn't pull the Executioner's Blade free, Zabuza simply gave up.

He stepped back, then formed hand seals with a savage expression.

"Strength? You don't actually think this old man only knows swordsmanship, do you?!"

"Open your eyes and watch carefully! I won't hold back anymore!"

After saying that, Zabuza began forming hand seals.

Kakashi's narrowed eyes widened more and more with his movements. Beside him, Obito, who had been watching the show, also grew solemn, and his eyes slowly transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan...