Zabuza's Bewilderment

[2025, wishing everyone prosperity! May all go smoothly! Wishing: the brothers reading this book talent and wealth, the sisters reading this book grace and beauty!

Nineteen Words here pays you an early New Year's greeting! Happy New Year!]

The smoke and dust cleared, and the large tree where Zabuza had been standing was completely snapped in half, the Kubikiribōchō sent flying.

"Oh? You're the brat who took down the Demon Brothers. Not bad." Zabuza's eyes were bloodshot as he locked onto Jimo.

"Ara ara, didn't kill him..." Jimo scratched his head and made an apologetic gesture.

"Jimo, don't act rashly!" Kakashi warned.

"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei! Next time I'll aim before I strike!"

"Is that really the point here?! Hey!" Kakashi refocused on Zabuza. This kid Jimo was too erratic—he himself couldn't keep up with that jumpy train of thought.

On the other side, Zabuza wore a look of indifference on the surface, but inwardly his mind was churning.

A coppery sweetness rose in his throat.

"What technique did that brat use, to rattle me like this?"

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

"Your opponent is me, Zabuza!" Kakashi adjusted his forehead protector. "You three protect Tazuna-san. Don't interfere lightly in the coming fight. This is a test of your teamwork."

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

"When I was in the Mist Assassination Squad, the operations manual had your file—the ninja who's copied over a thousand techniques, Copy Ninja Kakashi!"

While Sasuke nearby wondered why Kakashi had the Sharingan, the battle between the two had already begun.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

Zabuza's form gradually melted into the mist as he released the technique.

"You three, be careful..."

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

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

"Eight spots... throat, spine, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, carotid artery, and subclavian vein... which part would you like me to strike?"

Zabuza's voice came from the mist, accompanied by a killing intent so dense it was suffocating.

Under the pressure of that killing intent, the three youngsters could barely breathe.

The first to falter was Sasuke. Beneath that despairing bloodlust, he even felt a flicker of thought toward ending himself.

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

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

"That's not—urgh!"

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

A figure was sent flying backward in a sorry state, tearing through the mist.

"Found you!"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice. Where Tazuna had been standing was now Jimo, frozen in a lunge-punch stance.

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

Zabuza's speed and assassination technique were indeed top-tier, but as long as he was a living person, Jimo could sense his qi.

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

"This guy... just how strong is he? Can he really still be considered a genin..." Sasuke watched Jimo, sinking into deep thought. Many times he had wanted to train with Jimo and Naruto, but his own ridiculous pride had stopped him every time.

"Nice one, Jimo!"

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

"Ara ara, looks like my words went in one ear and out the other... but that's fine. Let's see how much Jimo has grown in this time." Kakashi shook his head, but his hands never stopped maintaining a hand seal.

Zabuza crashed through several trees before steadying himself. He wiped the blood spilling from his lips, shock raging in his heart.

"Is this kid really a Konoha genin... how does he have this much power..."

He then decided he couldn't keep probing like this. A quick resolution was the most appropriate move now...

Zabuza returned to the battlefield, somewhat battered, and swung the Kubikiribōchō at the four-man team.

Kakashi rushed forward to block.

But the moment he stopped the blade, a force struck his side and sent him flying into a nearby large lake.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

Zabuza suddenly emerged from the lake, trapping Kakashi in a water prison.

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

"Don't think that just because you put on a forehead protector, you're ninja. Let me show you the gap between you and real ninja!" The real Zabuza on land split off another clone to deal with Jimo alone.

"Only those who have survived the baptism of life and death deserve to be called ninja!"

Zabuza's voice came from behind Naruto.

"Naruto!"

Just as Jimo was about to make his move, another of Zabuza's Water Clones swung its massive blade to block him.

A tremendous force struck Naruto, sending him flying backward. If not for the headband blocking Zabuza's fist, Naruto's brains might have already been splattered by now.

"You three, run! Its water body can't stray too far from the original!" Kakashi shouted from within the water prison.

A Water Clone was the same as a Shadow Clone, evenly dividing chakra among the copies. If Jimo was held up, the three brats had no way of stopping Zabuza's clone.

"Only those recorded in my notebook deserve to be called shinobi... You trash... don't make the cut!" Zabuza's voice rang out again.

Naruto stared at Jimo, blocked by Zabuza, and at the headband crushed beneath his foot.

Iruka's words echoed in his ears.

"Don't you... dirty... the headband Iruka-sensei gave me!" A red chakra silently replaced Naruto's original chakra.

Crimson vertical pupils appeared in Naruto's eyes.

"I'm not... running anymore!" Naruto charged at Zabuza, who was stepping on the headband, and even managed to nimbly dodge a downward slash from him.

The instant his fist was about to connect with Zabuza's body, he was kicked flying backward again.

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

Through the dust, Naruto slowly stood up. He tied the headband across his forehead.

"You eyebrowless bastard, you better write this down in your notebook! I'm the man who will become Hokage one day—Hidden Leaf Village's genin, Uzumaki Naruto!"