Zabuza's Confusion

As the dust settled, the tree Zabuza had been standing in was blasted clean through, and Kubikiribōchō went flying.

"Huh? You're the brat who took down the Demon Brothers? You've got some moves." Zabuza's eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Jimo.

"Uh-oh, I didn't take them down..." Jimo scratched his head and made an apologetic gesture.

"Jimo, don't rush into a fight!" Kakashi warned.

"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei! Next time I'll make sure I aim first!"

"Is that really what you took away from this, you idiot?" Kakashi kept his eyes on Zabuza. Jimo was far too unpredictable; Kakashi couldn't keep up with his train of thought.

Zabuza looked unconcerned on the surface, but inside, his thoughts were already in turmoil.

A sickly-sweet taste rose in his throat.

"What kind of jutsu did that brat use? The recoil alone hurt this much?"

Kakashi stepped in front of Jimo. With his current strength, Jimo was no match for Zabuza.

"Your opponent is me, Zabuza!" Kakashi adjusted his Forehead Protector. "You guys, protect Mr. Tazuna. Don't interfere in the fight unless you have to. This is your chance to prove you can work as a team."

"To think I'd get to see the legendary Sharingan right here... What an honor." Zabuza gave a sinister laugh.

"When I was with the Mist Assassination Squad, your file was in our field manual. A ninja who's copied over a thousand jutsu—the Copy Ninja, Kakashi!"

While Sasuke wondered how Kakashi had acquired the Sharingan, the two had already begun fighting.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

As Zabuza released the jutsu, his figure gradually blended into the mist.

"You three, stay alert..."

Kakashi cautiously sensed his surroundings. He was certain that Zabuza's primary target was him.

"He used to serve in the Mist Assassination Squad. His specialty is Silent Killing Technique! This enemy is strong, so look after yourselves!"

"Eight places... the throat, spine, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, carotid artery, and subclavian vein... Which one do you want me to attack?"

Zabuza's voice came from the mist, followed by an overwhelming wave of killing intent.

Under its crushing pressure, the three kids could barely breathe.

Sasuke was the first to falter. Faced with that despairing killing intent, he even felt an urge to end his own life.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you with my life..." Kakashi said gently, his back to the three kids.

"I won't let him kill my comrades!"

"That's not necessarily—ugh!"

Zabuza's voice came from the mist, but the next second, it abruptly cut off.

A figure went flying backward in a clumsy tumble, scattering the mist.

"Found you!"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw that Jimo had taken Mr. Tazuna's place. He was frozen in a forward lunge, fist thrust out.

Jimo shook his hand, a gentle smile on his face.

Zabuza's speed and assassination skills were top-notch, but as long as he was alive, Jimo could sense his Ki.

"No way..." Sakura stared at Jimo in admiration.

"How strong is this guy, anyway? Can he really still be called a Genin?" Sasuke gazed at Jimo, lost in thought. He'd often wanted to train with Jimo and Naruto, but his own ridiculous pride had stopped him every time.

Only Naruto cheered for Jimo without a care in the world.

"Good job, Jimo!"

"Honestly, it seems my warnings went in one ear and out the other... But that's fine. I can see how much Jimo's grown lately." Kakashi shook his head, though he kept his hands in the Hand Seals.

Zabuza crashed through several trees before he managed to steady himself. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, utterly shocked.

"Is that kid really a Genin from the Hidden Leaf Village...? How can he be that strong?"

Then he decided to stop testing them. Ending the fight quickly was the best choice now...

Zabuza returned to the battlefield, looking somewhat worse for wear, and swung Kubikiribōchō at the four of them.

Kakashi hurried forward to block him.

But the instant he stopped the blade, a force struck him in the side and sent him flying into a nearby lake.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

Zabuza suddenly emerged from the lake and trapped Kakashi in a Water Prison.

"Water Clone Technique?!" Kakashi hadn't expected Zabuza to have another trick up his sleeve.

"Don't think that wearing a Forehead Protector makes you ninja. Let me show you the difference between you and real ninja!" On the shore, Zabuza's original body created another clone to face Jimo alone.

"Only those who've survived a baptism by death deserve to be called ninja!"

Zabuza's voice came from behind Naruto.

"Naruto!"

Jimo was just about to move when another of Zabuza's clones swung its blade at him, holding him back.

The enormous force of Zabuza's punch sent Naruto flying. If his Forehead Protector hadn't blocked the blow, Naruto might have had his skull crushed.

"You guys, run! His Water Clone can't stray too far from the original!" Kakashi shouted from inside the Water Prison.

Like Shadow Clone, Water Clone divided Chakra evenly among its copies. If Jimo was held up, the three kids couldn't stop Zabuza's clone.

"Only the people I've recorded in my manual deserve to be called ninja... You worthless trash aren't fit for it!" Zabuza's voice rang out again.

Naruto looked at Jimo, who was blocked by Zabuza, and at the Forehead Protector under Zabuza's foot.

Iruka's words echoed in his ears.

"Don't you... dirty... the Forehead Protector Iruka-sensei gave me!" Red Chakra quietly replaced Naruto's own.

His eyes turned red, with vertical pupils.

"I... won't run away anymore!" Naruto charged at Zabuza, who was standing on the Forehead Protector, and nimbly dodged one of Zabuza's slashes.

Just as his fist was about to reach Zabuza, Zabuza kicked him and sent him flying again.

"Naruto!" Sakura and Sasuke's hearts leaped into their throats.

Through the dust, Naruto slowly rose to his feet. He tied the Forehead Protector around his forehead.

"You no-eyebrowed freak, make sure you write this down in your manual! I'm the man who'll become Hokage someday—the Hidden Leaf Village's Genin, Uzumaki Naruto!"