Kakashi's Defeat—What?! Sakura Was Warming Up?!

"Just as I thought, Haku was hiding in the shadows."

One hand gripped the Kubikiribōchō.

It was as though the Kubikiribōchō swinging toward him was nothing more than a sheet of paper. His movement was utterly casual and fluid.

Sasuke practically wanted to drop to his knees and beg to become his disciple, while Sakura's eyes looked ready to devour Naruto whole.

"So this is Super Strength... Naruto-kun is really strong!"

Bang—

Casually setting down the Kubikiribōchō, Naruto looked to the side.

Beneath that mask was probably a face made up like a woman's, right?

Honestly, Little Girl was pretty damn cute.

After all... on Mouyin, you could even see a group of men flirting through the screen with another man, while another group watched one man flirt with yet another man.

Zabuza dared to confront the Blood Mist Village, yet he didn't dare confront his feelings for Haku.

In the end, Haku still died. It was only when Zabuza himself had little time left that he dared to speak the truth.

Old Man of Six Paths: I hope this hatred can turn into love this time...

Naruto: I love your mother, my ass!

"Th-this Brat!"

"He stopped my Kubikiribōchō with just one hand?"

"Damn it, why can't I sense any emotion from him?"

Zabuza was horrified. For the moment, he even forgot that his Kubikiribōchō had been taken.

At that moment, Naruto was no less dangerous than Kakashi in his eyes!

But the arrogant Zabuza still believed that the advantage was his!

There was no way he would simply hand over the weapon he had used for so many years.

"Brat! Do you know what weapon you're holding?"

Naruto even gave the Kubikiribōchō a kick.

"This? It might be famous in Kirigakure, but in the Ninja World, honestly, the so-called Seven Ninja Swordsmen are just average."

"Damn you! I am Demon Zabuza! By your age, I'd already killed enough people to pile into a mountain!"

Though he was shocked that Naruto had caught the Kubikiribōchō's attack one-handed without any effort...

Naruto's words had truly provoked him.

Because if lies only brought pain, then the truth was the sharper blade.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?

During the Third Shinobi World War, hadn't a Konoha genin kicked several of them to death?

After saying that, Zabuza no longer paid attention to Tazuna, who was protected in front of Kakashi.

He turned and charged straight at Naruto.

With a fierce leap, a kunai shot out first.

Clang—

Naruto simply lifted the Kubikiribōchō in front of himself.

A kunai?

Could that thing even kill a ninja?

Zabuza's expression darkened further.

Using his Kubikiribōchō to block his attack hurt worse than getting slapped in the face.

But Kakashi wasn't just standing around doing nothing.

Whoosh—

He lifted the forehead protector covering his Sharingan.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared before Naruto. Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake had entered the fight.

Damn it!

Seeing that he couldn't reclaim the Kubikiribōchō immediately, Zabuza gave up on that plan and pulled back first.

"Zabuza, I won't let you try to harm my comrades a second time!"

The three of them: "..."

Including the kunai, that already made twice.

Wait!

Sasuke's pupils suddenly shrank as he looked at Kakashi's Left Eye.

"The Sharingan?!"

Xiā Lūn Gā~!

"Heh heh, Konoha's Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan. So this is the Sharingan?"

"It does look quite unique."

Zabuza let out a sinister laugh, a trace of disdain curling at the corner of his mouth.

Clearly, he thought he had this in the bag.

"Looks like there's no avoiding you if I want to take back the Kubikiribōchō."

"Kakashi! Then I'll take you down first!"

Zabuza formed hand seals with both hands and casually raised one arm.

Buzz—

A Great Mist gradually rose. The instant Zabuza vanished into it, his hands formed seals again, and he turned into a puddle of water that merged into the water's surface.

The five of them could only hear him casting a ninjutsu.

"Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Technique!"

"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, protect Mr. Tazuna. Use the Manji Formation!"

As the surrounding mist thickened yet again, Kakashi's expression instantly turned serious.

Naruto set the Kubikiribōchō in front of Sakura.

"It suits you. Use it for now. Your Super Strength has improved a lot—you should be able to wield this sword, right?"

"I can! Thank you, Naruto-kun~!"

Tch!

Sasuke shot a cold glance at Kakashi's back.

Then he took his position, protecting Tazuna at the center of the three-person formation.

Naturally, Kakashi noticed Sasuke's gaze.

But now wasn't the time to discuss that.

He began explaining information about Demon Zabuza.

"Listen carefully."

"Demon Zabuza is no ordinary enemy."

"Back when he was still in Kirigakure, he was a ninja of the Mist Assassination Force, famous for silent killings."

"If you let down your guard, Zabuza's blade could very well cut off your head."

"Also, although I possess the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, I am not a member of the Uchiha Clan. I cannot fully bring out this eye's abilities."

Kakashi's words made the atmosphere tense.

Zabuza still refused to give up and kept putting on an act!

"Eight positions..."

Zabuza's voice came from all directions.

"The throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery and subclavian vein, kidneys, heart..."

As he spoke, Zabuza released his killing intent.

"Which position are you planning to choose?"

"Or should I try them one by one?"

Tazuna immediately began trembling.

Sakura gripped the Kubikiribōchō, her gaze resolute.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was unsettled by Kakashi's Sharingan. For a moment, Zabuza's psychological tactics actually left him somewhat terrified.

Kakashi formed hand seals and dispersed the Mental Power that carried chakra-disrupting properties.

At the same time, he blew away some of the mist that had reduced visibility to nearly nothing.

Then came the collision of two jonin's killing intent.

For a time, neither could gain the upper hand.

Sasuke's breathing grew rapid. He had never seen this kind of power before... no, he had. That man possessed this kind of power too!

He only knew that this power was incredibly strong, but this was the first time he had faced such terrifying killing intent head-on.

The more he sensed it, the more violently Sasuke's body trembled.

"Sasuke!"

Kakashi suddenly shouted.

Sasuke was instantly jolted awake, only to realize that he was already drenched in cold sweat.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you with my life!"

However, just after Kakashi finished posing, a voice sounded behind him.

"So you'll be the first to die."

Zabuza used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Kakashi. As he spoke, the kunai in his hand instantly pierced through Kakashi's head.

Zabuza turned to Sakura, who was holding the Kubikiribōchō.

"My Kubikiribōchō isn't something a genin of your level can wield."

"Put away that meaningless Genjutsu of yours."

"Is that so?"

The moment Zabuza finished speaking, a kunai was pressed against his neck.

At some point, Kakashi had appeared behind Zabuza.

His gaze was ice-cold, as though the kunai would pierce Zabuza's throat the instant he made a move.

"As expected of Kakashi, who made his name during the Third Shinobi World War."

"But can you really protect your subordinates?"

Those words came from beside Tazuna.

Splash—

The "Zabuza" held at kunai-point by Kakashi instantly turned into a puddle of water.

Sakura and Sasuke's eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief.

When?!

Damn it! I can't move!

Sasuke's first reaction was to attack.

But Zabuza's killing intent had already intimidated him into place.

"Damn it!!!"

In contrast, Sakura, whose talent for chakra control was exceptionally high, was not as helpless as Sasuke.

She had already put down her backpack. The instant Zabuza appeared, she lifted the Kubikiribōchō and swung it down.

Clang—

Zabuza raised his hand, intending to block it with the metal plate on his arm.

But the moment the Kubikiribōchō struck that metal plate...

He admitted it—he had miscalculated!

In an instant, his arm gave a crisp crack.

At the same time, the Kubikiribōchō did not slow in the slightest, cleaving him in two with a single strike.

The rushing Kakashi's eyes widened.

He seemed completely unable to believe what he was seeing.

Th-this was the same weak Pink Hair from two months ago?

Wait!

The Sharingan had been exposed for a while now, yet I didn't feel my chakra draining away rapidly.

Narudo?!

Unfortunately, this was a battle. There was no time for him to react.

"Kakashi-sensei, watch your back!"

Sakura hurriedly shouted.

Sure enough, the severed Zabuza before Sakura turned into a puddle of water again.

Another Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi.

Kakashi died again and again and again.

Naruto, who had watched everything, rolled his eyes.

At a time like this, he was still acting?

He'd even messed up in the original story. Hopefully Kakashi wouldn't mess up later.

Splash—

Kakashi likewise turned into a puddle of water.

"A Water Clone?"

"I didn't expect you to see through it even in this Great Mist and copy my Water Clone."

Zabuza knew that the real battle was about to begin. He did not rush in again, instead putting some distance between them.

"That brat... damn it, how could she have so much strength?"

Unfortunately, Kakashi had already anticipated his movements.

The moment Zabuza stepped onto the branch,

Kakashi once again pressed a kunai against his throat.

"It's over, Demon Zabuza."

Kakashi's voice was calm.

But to Zabuza's ears, it was filled with mockery.

Sakura's eyes lit up as well. Kakashi's killing intent might not compare to Zabuza's, but his strength was enough to suppress him.

Uchiha Sasuke snapped back to his senses, his expression dark. He could not ignore the Sharingan in Kakashi's Left Eye.

Besides, the opponent before him truly was not someone he could match yet.

Perhaps... Naruto could!

"Hehehe... Hahaha~!"

Zabuza burst into wild laughter.

"Interesting. Very interesting!"

"So this is the Sharingan?"

"Looks like it's nothing more than—"

Splat—

Kakashi moved his hand, driving the kunai into Zabuza's throat, but Zabuza's voice rang out from behind him.

"—than this!"

Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly.

A Water Clone?!

When had he made so many of them?

Zzzt—

Chidori!

Lightning Release Chakra stimulated Kakashi's body, making him even faster.

He bent low to evade Zabuza's attack, then struck back with a heartfelt remark.

After all, Kakashi was rather familiar with speaking from the heart.

Zabuza lowered his head and gave him a disdainful glance.

Splash—

He transformed into a puddle of water again.

Bang—

Kakashi spun and attacked the tree trunk.

Yet by the time he passed through the trunk and pierced Zabuza behind it, it was already too late.

Because the Zabuza behind the tree was also a Water Clone.

And Zabuza's attack had already arrived.

Thud—

A powerful kick sent Kakashi flying.

Pressing his advantage, Zabuza first fired several kunai, then darted behind Kakashi like a ghost.

Confirmed. This one was the Original!

Kakashi used Chidori to block the incoming kunai.

Dispelling Chidori, he rapidly formed hand seals.

Bang—

Shadow Clone!

Then he stepped onto the Shadow Clone and dropped into the water.

The Shadow Clone, meanwhile, was pierced through by Zabuza.

With a bang, the Chakra Hoarder's Shadow Clone was gone just like that.

Seeing Kakashi hide beneath the water and wait for an opportunity, Zabuza narrowed his eyes.

But he spoke in a mocking tone.

"Are you planning to stay underwater for the rest of your life?"

"Not a bad idea. It can indeed restrain me, but water can restrain you too."

"Did you forget? I'm a Mist Ninja."

Kakashi sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly surfaced.

But it was already too late.

He knelt on one knee atop the water, droplets continuously falling from his hair.

"Why does it feel so heavy?"

"Water?!"

Looking at his reflection in the water, Kakashi's face filled with horror.

"Masaka?!"

The next instant, the reflection in the water changed, revealing Zabuza's face with a cold, mocking smile.

"So this is Konoha's famed Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan?"

Kakashi, half-kneeling on the water, had no time to react before heavy water suppressed his entire body, leaving him unable to resist in the slightest.

Splash—!!!

In an instant, countless torrents of Heavy Water surged at Kakashi and trapped him.

A spherical prison formed from Heavy Water appeared.

Zabuza climbed out of the water as well, forming hand seals with one hand.

"You truly can copy everything. You even copied my tactic of entering the water."

"Unfortunately, it seems you copied it a little too late."

"Ninjutsu: Water Release!"

"Water Prison Technique!"

Kakashi's face went pale.

He had lost!

He had lost because he was underprepared and inexperienced.

Damn it! Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, run!

"Hehe, now you can't keep jumping around. It's time to end this, Kakashi."

With that, Zabuza formed hand seals with one hand, and several Water Clones appeared.

He lowered his head and said sinisterly, "Thank you for keeping the Kubikiribōchō for me. Now..."

Zabuza suddenly raised his head, his face full of viciousness.

"It's time to return my Kubikiribōchō!"

What!!!

Sakura was warming up?!