Silent Killing Technique, Kakashi vs. Zabuza

"Using the time you spent talking to stall, trying to quickly recover your numbed right hand?

I've already seen through you, Zabuza..."

Kakashi fixed Zabuza with his scarlet left eye and spoke coldly. Raising his hand, he threw several Shuriken, sealing off every route of escape.

His body shot toward Zabuza like an arrow released from a bow...

"You think this is enough to defeat me?"

Zabuza snorted. His figure flashed into an afterimage as he dodged the Shuriken at even greater speed.

This is Mist Village's Silent Killing Technique!!

At the same time, Sasuke, who had just received the reward in a sudden rush of enlightenment, narrowed his eyes in silent amazement.

He had originally thought that the so-called Silent Killing Technique was merely a simple Taijutsu technique!

But that was not the case...

Mist Village's Silent Killing Technique:

It was a Nintaijutsu that concentrated and explosively released Chakra throughout the entire body, using the burst of Chakra airflow to muffle sound and accelerate high-speed movement...

When used beneath the cover of the Hidden Mist Technique to kill without a sound, the effect became even more unexpected!!

Zabuza's high-speed movement when he had just left was empowered by the Silent Killing Technique.

"Kakashi, you're still too slow to react!

Let me take all of you out at once—Ox, Monkey, Rabbit, Rat, Boar..."

Zabuza flashed and reappeared, his hands rapidly forming Hand Seals as he prepared his ultimate technique.

"I said I've already seen through you!

Ox, Monkey, Rabbit, Rat, Boar..."

Kakashi's left pupil trembled as his Sharingan spun rapidly, his hands forming the same seals in sync.

In an instant, the movement startled Zabuza once again!

He paused for half a second, and Kakashi caught up to his Hand Seal speed...

Forty-four seals for Water Dragon Bullet? These two really were something else! With that much time, I could kill someone seven times over and still get back out...

Kakashi was such a sly bastard too. He could obviously use Chidori to instantly kill him.

Yet he insisted on clashing with the same ninjutsu, dealing a double blow to both body and mind.

That was killing the man and crushing his heart...

Watching the two put on their act, Sasuke mocked them inwardly, yet he could not help feeling envious and eager!

The charm of ninjas lay in ninjutsu duels. Such an insanely cool moment, yet he could not personally take part in it.

What a shame...

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique..."

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique..."

Under everyone's anxious gaze, Kakashi and Zabuza shouted almost simultaneously.

In an instant, two savage water dragons over ten meters long roared forth, crashing into and tearing at each other...

The violent clash instantly churned up the river, unleashing a wave of water...

"So this is ninjutsu!!"

"What powerful Water Style..."

Naruto and Sakura cried out at the same time, witnessing for the first time what ninja combat truly was!

Meanwhile, Zabuza, who was experiencing it firsthand, had already lost his ability to judge...

"Your eyes look so arrogant, don't they!"

"Your eyes look so arrogant, don't they!"

"You can't beat me..."

"You can't beat me..."

"Monkey performer..."

"Monkey performer..."

As another round of psychological warfare unfolded, Zabuza's expression finally changed. His defenses shattered, and his mind crumbled!

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique..."

Seizing the opportunity, Kakashi struck first. The river beneath his feet instantly surged and transformed into towering waves that rushed toward the dumbfounded Zabuza.

With his psychological defenses broken, Zabuza offered no resistance at all as the river swept him away, battering him along the way...

This Water Style technique immediately sent Naruto and Sakura crying out and scrambling aside again.

"Bang..."

After a violent impact, Zabuza slammed into a massive tree and finally stopped moving.

"Y-you can... see the future!!"

Dazed and disoriented, Zabuza stared at Kakashi with wide eyes, his thoughts in complete turmoil...

"That's right...

Your future contains only death!!"

Kakashi looked calmly at the still-shaken Zabuza. He drew a Kunai, ready to deliver the final blow.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

At that critical moment, three Senbon tore through the air and pierced deep into Zabuza's neck.

Zabuza's eyes widened in unwillingness. His head tilted to one side, and he collapsed...

The next instant,

under everyone's horrified gazes, a young man wearing a Mist Village Anbu mask appeared in a Body Flicker.

"H-he's dead!"

Naruto's eyes bulged as he cried out, instinctively turning toward the newcomer.

Kakashi also glanced over, immediately stepping forward to inspect the body...

He finally appeared, Haku...

Sasuke looked at the newcomer and thought to himself, but he did not expose the clumsy act.

It was not that Sasuke wanted to immediately eliminate the two of them, nor did he have any special thoughts about Haku...

Rather, he did not want to push things to the point where both sides were destroyed!

Kakashi should already be at his limit...

With Sasuke's current strength, he was no match for Haku and Zabuza.

It was best to use this time to strengthen himself before fighting again!

"Then I'll take this person with me!"

Under Sasuke's silent gaze and Naruto's unwilling one, Haku smoothly took Zabuza and vanished in a Body Flicker.

"Damn it...

What the hell was that?!

Someone as strong as Zabuza was killed just like that!!

That guy, that guy was obviously around the same age as us..."

Watching Haku's departing figure, Naruto clenched his fists and roared in frustration.

Sasuke's mouth twitched at that...

You, the reincarnation of Asura and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had the nerve to say that about someone else??

Only four years after graduating, you would go from Genin straight to the pinnacle of the Ninja World!

How were other people supposed to live??

Well, this handsome guy was the same...

"All right, Naruto.

There are super geniuses in this world who are younger than you yet stronger than even me.

That's reality. Sometimes, we have no choice but to accept that we're ordinary!"

Kakashi sighed and tried to comfort him, leaving Sasuke speechless once again.

Ordinary? Did you have some misunderstanding about what ordinary meant??

Was there anyone ordinary in Team 7??

"Naruto, don't you think that makes things more interesting?

Defeating enemies also means surpassing yourself.

If you're unwilling to accept it, then train twice as hard!"

Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan and spoke calmly, instantly reigniting Naruto's fighting spirit.

"That's right, I won't lose to them...

Teacher Kakashi, you still haven't finished the ninjutsu training you promised me!

This time, I'm going to train even harder."

Naruto, fully revived and fired up again, shouted passionately, leaving everyone speechless for a moment...

This guy changed way too quickly!

"And me too, Teacher Kakashi..."

Sakura immediately followed suit. She also had to grow stronger and keep up with Sasuke.

"All right, let's continue onward..."

Kakashi looked at the three of them, nodded seriously, and readily agreed.

This time, it seemed he could not slack off anymore!

But when he thought of Naruto's headache-inducing talent for ninjutsu, Kakashi's scalp went numb again...

It was not that he had refused to teach Naruto ninjutsu after Naruto learned Tree Climbing. It was just too complicated to explain...

As for Sakura?

Her Chakra was simply too weak; she could not afford to play with it at all...

"Thud..."

Just as Kakashi took a large step forward, he collapsed without surprise.

The prepared Sasuke flashed in front of Kakashi and caught his body with his shoulder.

Sharingan... had he overused it?!

Looking at Sasuke's profile, that final thought crossed Kakashi's mind before he lost consciousness...