"You've used Water Clones several times in a row. You must be running low on chakra by now, right? Unlike Shadow Clones, this Clone Technique takes a huge amount of chakra to use." Kakashi didn't argue with Zabuza's claim. He spoke up as well.
"In that case..." Momochi Zabuza lowered the Kubikiribōchō in his hand and raised both hands to form hand seals. To his surprise, Kakashi was making the exact same movements.
The two stood facing each other, as if looking at their reflections in a mirror.
"How can you...?" Momochi Zabuza said, staring at Kakashi's movements in shock.
"Don't forget what the Sharingan is also known as..." Kakashi's voice was low. "Let me tell you. The Sharingan is also called the Eye of Insight. That means I've been able to see through every thought you've had from the very beginning, including the Ninjutsu you're about to use. I can perform it perfectly, too."
"Damn Sharingan..." Momochi Zabuza had no time to worry about anything else. His hands flashed through the seals. This time, he was going to use the most powerful Water Release Ninjutsu he knew—the Great Water Dragon Technique!
It was a super technique that required a full forty-four hand seals. The Second Hokage had improved it, significantly reducing the number of seals it required, but Demon Zabuza of Kirigakure had clearly never had a chance to hear about that.
Kakashi began forming seals at the same time. Their hands moved at equal speed, and as they completed the seals, the chakra around them grew more and more intense.
"Watch closely and learn. You can ask around the village about the Great Water Dragon Technique later, though. It seems like a lot of these seals can be simplified—I've already spotted several repeated ones..." Nanfeng didn't reveal that he knew the seals for the Great Water Dragon Technique had been simplified. He only offered Sasuke a small hint.
Sasuke struggled to sit up. His hunger for combat experience made him ignore the pain in his body for the moment. His crimson Sharingan fixed on Kakashi and Zabuza's movements. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke had far greater control over the Sharingan than Kakashi. Even with only one tomoe, he could copy complex Ninjutsu.
But after watching their movements for a little while, Sasuke lowered his head. The Great Water Dragon Technique wasn't suited to him.
Unlike the chakra monsters Naruto and Nanfeng, Sasuke didn't have much chakra. Even using Wind Release Ninjutsu could leave him nearly drained. Even if he copied such an advanced Water Release technique, it would be useless without enough chakra to perform it!
As the two continued their movements, Kakashi and Zabuza finished preparing their techniques. Two identical water dragons surged toward each other.
But Kakashi had more chakra left than Zabuza. After the dragons destroyed their respective targets, Kakashi's kept going, its force undiminished, and charged toward Zabuza.
At the sight of the massive water dragon, Zabuza's eyes showed panic for the first time. But poisoned and completely out of chakra, he could no longer move. After taking the full force of the Great Water Dragon Technique's remaining attack, he collapsed unconscious!
The moment Zabuza hit the ground, Kakashi began to sway as well. Even so, he forced himself to stay alert and finish the final task.
He had to check whether the man was truly dead. A shinobi never left loose ends!
But just as Kakashi was about to check, the unexpected happened. A mysterious figure wearing a mask from Kirigakure's Hunter-nin squad appeared out of nowhere. Several Senbon pierced Zabuza's neck, and in an instant, the last signs of life vanished from his body.
"Is that Kirigakure's Hunter-nin squad? Did you come specifically to deal with a missing-nin?" Kakashi asked, relaxing a little when he saw the figure's mask.
"That's right. We investigated his mission reports and tracked him all the way here. Thanks to your help, I never could have dealt with Zabuza on my own." A pleasant female voice came from beneath the mask.
"In that case, we'll leave the rest to you." Kakashi could no longer keep his heavy eyelids open and fell heavily to the ground.
Naruto and Sasuke hurried over when they saw him fall. Only Nanfeng cast a subtle glance at the masked shinobi.
"Yuki Haku. What an interesting person. But to be so cute and still be a boy... How many hearts must that break?" Nanfeng watched Yuki Haku carry Zabuza away without trying to stop him.
He wasn't worried about facing Haku, but he had three burdens dragging him down. If Haku used them to threaten him, who knew what might happen?
More importantly, Nanfeng had a much bigger plan.
Two days later, Kakashi opened his eyes after being unconscious for a long time. He sat up warily at the sight of the unfamiliar surroundings, but when he heard Naruto and Sasuke talking outside the door, his caution quickly vanished.
"Teacher Kakashi, you're awake?" Nanfeng came in after hearing the noise and carefully examined Kakashi's wounds.
"Thanks, Nanfeng. How long was I out?" Kakashi asked weakly. This battle had really worn him down. He'd overused the Sharingan, and the chakra in his body still hadn't recovered.
It would probably take another week for him to recover fully. He could finally use that time to do his job as their teacher.
He'd start training these three troublesome students!
"But we've already dealt with the biggest problem. We've gathered plenty of information here, too. There are hardly any shinobi in the Land of Waves. The only ones around are the wandering samurai hired by that man named Gato. They're no threat at all." Nanfeng tended to Kakashi's wounds as he told him about what they'd learned recently.
"You've done well. But I suspect Zabuza wasn't actually dead. Did you examine his body afterward?" Kakashi asked, frowning.
"No. After you said they were from Kirigakure's Hunter-nin squad, I didn't question it. Do you think it was part of Zabuza's plan?" Nanfeng's expression turned a little grave, though he was only pretending.
"If he's still alive, he might keep interfering with our missions. I wasn't in good enough shape to make sure he was dead... But over the next few days, I'm confident I can make you stronger!"
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