Zabuza's Escape Method

The density of the mist continued to rise until one could not see their own hand in front of their face; even with the Sharingan, Kakashi could not pinpoint Zabuza's location.

Within the thick fog, Zabuza's voice drifted from every direction, accompanied by intense killing intent:

"Throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, subclavian vein, kidneys, heart... which one would you like me to strike?"

However, the reaction of the four people before him was completely different from what Zabuza had anticipated; there wasn't even a hint of nervousness.

"The 'Silent Killing Technique,' is it? If it were just me, this would be quite difficult to deal with."

Kakashi muttered to himself before raising his voice: "Naruto, blow this mist away!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" ×10

A gale tore through the thick fog, ripping up the topsoil and toppling trees.

Zabuza stood not far away, staring at the scene that looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster, his face full of shock.

Is this brat a monster? Just how much chakra does he have!?

Zabuza cursed inwardly. Glancing at the surrounding situation, he realized things were looking grim: I've lost the Kubikiribōchō, the surrounding trees have been blown away, and Haku can't sneak in close... In this situation, continuing to fight the Copy Ninja and that monster brat is very disadvantageous for me. I need to find a way to retreat and come back once I'm prepared.

Kakashi roughly guessed what Zabuza was thinking and approached quickly, kunai in hand: "I won't let you escape."

"Tch!"

Zabuza let out an annoyed sound, casually pulled out a kunai, and began a close-quarters battle with Kakashi.

Sakura glanced at Tazuna behind her and asked Naruto and Sasuke: "Are we just going to watch?"

Sasuke's face was as calm as water: "For now, there is no room for us to intervene."

"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei has the upper hand right now."

Naruto looked quite relaxed: "That Zabuza is probably used to his heavy blade; while his strength and speed are higher, his movements are a bit uncoordinated. Plus, creating all that mist earlier must have consumed a fair amount of his chakra."

As if to prove Naruto's words, after a dozen exchanges, wounds began to appear on Zabuza's body, while Kakashi remained unscathed.

"I see it."

Kakashi spoke suddenly. The three tomoe in his left eye rotated slowly, as if trying to suck a person in. Then, as if predicting the future, he moved his body half a second early to dodge Zabuza's attack, simultaneously piercing Zabuza's left forearm with his kunai: "The future where you die here."

Even without Kakashi saying it, Zabuza could feel death closing in on him. However, as long as he ran fast enough, death would never catch him!

Zabuza tensed his muscles, using brute force to force Kakashi back, then leaped backward. Enduring the pain in his arm, he quickly formed hand seals.

Kakashi widened his left eye, his hands moving instinctively, forming the exact same seals at the same speed and with the same movements as Zabuza.

"They're about to use a large-scale offensive ninjutsu."

Sasuke frowned and looked behind him: "Naruto, do you know any defensive ninjutsu?"

"No, but it doesn't matter."

Naruto stood in front of them: "Depending on how you use them, offensive ninjutsu can also function as a defense."

Seals formed, ready.

Kakashi and Zabuza completed their ninjutsu almost simultaneously, shouting in unison: "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

The seawater nearby surged, transforming into two massive water dragons. After a moment of confrontation, they let out a silent roar and slammed into each other.

Although it was only water, the sheer volume, combined with the enhancement of chakra, created a staggering impact when the two dragons collided. At the center of the clash, the ground shattered in large swaths, and the seawater surged like a raging tide, smashing fiercely into the surroundings.

Naruto released his ninjutsu at the perfect moment: "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."

A powerful whirlwind erupted from Naruto's mouth, meeting the incoming seawater head-on, scattering and deflecting the water directly in front of them as if a "wind wall" were blocking the way.

"So Wind Release can be used like this."

Sasuke watched the seawater being kept at bay by the invisible wall of wind, wondering if any of the ninjutsu he had mastered could perform a similar feat.

Sakura, on the other hand, looked at Naruto with envy: "It's so good to have so much chakra!"

The aftershocks of the two water dragons colliding took a full two minutes to completely subside.

Kakashi walked back, dripping wet, his forehead protector already pulled back down. His tone was laced with exhaustion: "He still got away."

"He probably used that ninjutsu specifically to make an escape."

Naruto expressed his understanding: "Speaking of which, Kakashi-sensei, why is your chakra consumption so high? You haven't even used that many ninjutsu."

"It's likely because of the Sharingan. It is a power that only the Uchiha Clan can truly master; others must pay a price to use it."

Sasuke speculated: "But, Kakashi-sensei, why do you have a Sharingan?"

"This was a gift from a friend, and also his legacy."

Kakashi gently rubbed his forehead protector with his fingers, his tone calm: "Just as Sasuke said, although I can use the power of this Sharingan, I cannot stop it from being active, so the chakra in my body is constantly being drained. I usually cover it with my forehead protector to slightly reduce that consumption."

"As expected, one's own power is the most comfortable to use."

Naruto sighed and asked: "Have you tried using sealing jutsu to control that eye?"

Kakashi nodded: "Sealing jutsu can indeed stop this Sharingan from continuously draining chakra, but once a seal is applied, it has to be undone every time I use it. In a real battle, there might not be enough time."

"That's not what I meant."

Naruto explained: "I mean, carving the sealing formula onto your forehead protector. That way, you can control the eye simply by pulling the protector up or down. While it might not completely suppress the chakra drain, reducing it by seventy or eighty percent is definitely doable."

"That sounds feasible indeed."

Kakashi thought for a moment, then shook his head: "But I don't possess that kind of technique, and no one in the village can do it either."

"Hmm..."

Naruto pondered for a while and said: "I can ask Master. If Master doesn't intend to do it himself, I should be able to manage it if I spend more time practicing."

"It's good that you have the heart for it."

Kakashi smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair: "After all these years, I've already gotten used to it."

The five of them rested on the spot until Kakashi recovered, then set off to escort Tazuna home.

The Land of Waves was currently very impoverished, and Tazuna's household situation was equally dire, yet his daughter still did her best to host them.

Only Tazuna's grandson acted like a brat who had lost all hope, mocking Tazuna for building a bridge to defy Gato, as well as their actions in escorting him.

Tazuna apologized for his grandson and explained the reason why the boy had become this way.

"So that's how it is; then it's simple."

Naruto laughed: "Master once said that courage is something very easy to obtain, yet just as easy to lose. Even if one loses their courage for a time, as long as there is some sort of catalyst, they can regain it immediately."

Tazuna hurriedly asked: "What do you mean by a catalyst?"

Naruto looked at Tazuna: "The bridge you are building."

Sasuke was the first to grasp Naruto's meaning: "Before the bridge is completed, Gato will certainly find a way to come and sabotage it."

Sakura understood as well: "At that time, as long as we take care of Gato, perhaps Inari will be able to summon his courage."

Naruto wanted to say that wasn't actually what he meant, but explaining it in detail would be too much trouble, so he said nothing at all.

That afternoon, Tazuna called over a few familiar workers to continue the construction of the bridge, while Team 7 silently stood guard at the site...