Severing Sword

The battle between elite Jonin left no room for the slightest mistake. The students had only become a burden to Kakashi.

At that moment, he suddenly regretted not taking Keiichi's advice and returning to the Leaf Village to prepare before setting out again. If they had treated this as a B-Rank Mission, perhaps things would have gone much better. But what use was there thinking about that now?

All he could do was bring out his full strength and give it everything he had!

Kakashi straightened his Forehead Protector and slowly opened his left eye, revealing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Sasuke was stunned by the sight. He had never imagined that the Sharingan, the pride of the Uchiha Clan, would appear in the possession of an outsider like Kakashi!

How could this be?!

"Is that the Sharingan?" Zabuza's eyes widened. He finally understood what "Copy Ninja" meant, and suddenly felt that his situation was rather dangerous.

How could he not know the Sharingan's fearsome reputation?

The thick fog made this the perfect environment for the Hidden Mist Technique, so Zabuza immediately disappeared into it, leaving Kakashi without a target.

What he didn't know was that the Sharingan's powers of perception far exceeded his imagination. The moment he vanished, it had already "copied" all the information it needed.

"Heh heh, a bunch of little kids. You really think you can protect him?" The voice came from every direction, making it impossible to tell where it was coming from.

But when Naruto and the others heard it, their faces turned deathly pale and their bodies trembled uncontrollably. The voice carried an endless bloodlust—the vicious killing intent of someone who had slain countless people!

When a natural enemy attacked its prey, the prey's body often stiffened, leaving it unable to move. This was the bloodline suppression dictated by nature.

To these fledgling rookies, Zabuza was a true superior. His killing intent was like bloodline suppression!

For the first time, they felt how terrifying a Jonin could be.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you," Kakashi said hurriedly when he saw that something was wrong.

That's right. They had all experienced firsthand how strong Kakashi-sensei was. With him protecting them, what was there to fear?

His words did ease the pressure in their hearts, and they were no longer as helpless as before.

But the instant everyone's guard relaxed, a towering figure abruptly appeared within the defensive formation they had made. It was none other than Zabuza!

How had he broken through their defenses?!

Tazuna was about to lose his head. The three had only just regained the ability to move and couldn't react in time. Keiichi was the first to notice something was wrong. He darted forward to meet the attack head-on and used his Kunai to block the descending Kubikiribōchō.

Keiichi was a little surprised. His opponent's strength wasn't all that great—so much so that Keiichi had actually managed to hold him back. That gave Kakashi enough time to react. The next moment, he appeared behind Zabuza and stabbed him in the back.

They'd done it!

The three clenched their fists, their faces bright with joy.

But in the next instant, a strange sight unfolded before them. Zabuza slowly melted into a puddle of liquid. He had been nothing more than a Water Clone!

Keiichi immediately understood. No wonder he had been able to withstand the force of the Kubikiribōchō. It hadn't been real in the first place.

"You fell for it!" The real Zabuza ambushed Kakashi from behind, stabbing him in the back in the same manner.

Before the three could cry out in shock, Kakashi also melted into a puddle of water. He, too, had only been a Water Clone.

The dazzling exchange of offense and defense between the two showed them what a high-level ninja battle really looked like.

"A copy?!" Zabuza raised an eyebrow, realizing he had fallen for a trick within a trick. He was about to retreat when a cold blade pressed against his throat.

"This is where it ends, Zabuza." Kakashi's cold voice came from behind him.

"Kakashi-sensei is amazing!" Naruto's eyes sparkled. He was practically turning into a fanboy on the spot.

Even Sasuke was tremendously excited, staring at the Sharingan with longing.

So this was the Sharingan? If I could awaken this ability, could I become as strong as Kakashi, too?

Keiichi alone showed no joy. He knew things couldn't possibly be this simple. Haku hadn't even appeared yet, so how could Zabuza have been defeated so easily?

The real test hadn't even begun!

"Heh heh, the Copy Ninja really is impressive. Even with your vision blocked, you managed to copy the Water Clone Technique I used in the thick fog. It's hard to imagine how powerful the Uchiha Clan must have been at its height," Zabuza remarked calmly, as if he weren't worried about his predicament at all.

"This time, you're not a Water Clone, are you?" Kakashi tightened his grip on the Kunai, cutting Zabuza's neck and drawing blood.

"Oh? You think you can hold me like this?"

The next moment, the Kubikiribōchō fell straight from the sky, hurtling toward Kakashi's head. Zabuza had prepared a backup plan from the very beginning!

Kakashi had no choice but to let him go. He dodged the Kubikiribōchō, but Zabuza pressed his advantage, caught the sword, and launched a furious barrage of attacks.

Kakashi retreated again and again, barely able to defend himself. He gathered chakra beneath his feet and suddenly sprang upward, leaping dozens of steps back to catch his breath.

But the next moment, he realized he was standing on water. He had been driven into the lake, and a foreboding feeling rose in his heart.

Sure enough, Zabuza used the Body Flicker Technique as well, appearing behind Kakashi. At the same time, he finished forming his Hand Seals.

"Water Style: Water Prison Technique!"

The lake water surged upward, enveloping Kakashi in a sphere. Zabuza also stuck one hand into the water prison, continuously pouring in chakra to strengthen his control.

"Damn it!" Even Kakashi, a Jonin, couldn't escape the prison's hold right away. His mind turned chaotic with worry.

He wasn't worried about his own safety. He was worried about the safety of his three students!

Although Zabuza had to use one hand to maintain the Water Prison Technique, as long as his other hand was free, he could slaughter everyone present with ease!

Did they really think the name Demon was a joke?

What should he do?

What could he do now?

For a moment, even Kakashi was at a loss.

Sure enough, Zabuza formed Hand Seals with one hand. Though his movements were much slower, a Water Clone still slowly rose from the surface of the lake, taking on Zabuza's appearance.

"The slaughter begins now," Zabuza said with a cruel smile.

Chapter 11: Severing Sword

The moment Keiichi saw Kakashi trapped by the Water Prison Technique, long-buried memories suddenly came flooding back.

That's right!

It was exactly like this!

It seemed that even with Keiichi's involvement, the story hadn't changed much. Kakashi had still ended up trapped by Zabuza.

But with their strongest teammate out of the fight, and only a group of kids left, how were they supposed to turn things around?

If events played out as they had before, Naruto and Sasuke would surely find a way to break through. But what would Keiichi gain from that?

He hadn't joined the protagonist's team on this mission just to coast along. If that were all he wanted, wouldn't it have been more comfortable to stay in the Leaf Village?

He was here to earn Magic Modification Points!

He hadn't lifted a finger when they encountered the two Kirigakure Ninjas earlier, and afterward, he hadn't received even a single Magic Modification Point. That proved he couldn't earn points by sitting back and doing nothing.

So he had to take the initiative and figure out a safe, effective way to earn points.

And now, without a doubt, was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

When he had blocked Zabuza's Water Clone earlier, he'd realized something: a Water Clone couldn't fully inherit all of its original's strength. In other words, this Water Clone couldn't possibly be as powerful as an elite Jonin.

I can't beat the real one. But surely I can beat a clone!

As Keiichi pondered this, Naruto and Sasuke had already engaged the Water Clone.

As expected of the future Seventh Hokage, Naruto was the first to charge in, even as everyone else was cowed by Zabuza's ferocity.

His recklessness ended up inspiring Sasuke and Sakura. If even the weakest of them, Naruto, dared to attack Zabuza, did that mean they were less brave than him?

The young and fearless trio traded blows with the Water Clone, and for a moment, the fight was lively.

In terms of overall strength, the Water Clone might not have been as strong as Naruto and Sasuke. But Zabuza was controlling it, and his combat experience was far beyond what those two rookies could match. The clone soon gained the upper hand.

When Naruto charged in again, shouting all the while, the Water Clone kicked him flying with a single move. Keiichi immediately rushed over and caught him.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I'm fine! This guy's nothing special!" Naruto said smugly, clutching the Forehead Protector he'd snatched from beneath the clone's foot.

His face was bruised and swollen, but he acted as if nothing had happened.

After that fierce exchange, Keiichi had keenly realized that the Water Clone really wasn't very strong. Even Naruto could hold his own against it for a few rounds. It was nowhere near the real Zabuza.

"You three, protect Mr. Tazuna. I'll handle this Water Clone." Keiichi stepped in front of Naruto, fixing a serious gaze on the clone.

"I'm coming too!" Naruto said, refusing to back down.

Sasuke said nothing. He simply wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his fighting spirit blazing.

"Naruto, Sasuke, listen to him!" Kakashi's body was trapped, but his voice still carried.

Seeing Keiichi step forward on his own, a glimmer of hope stirred in his heart.

Someone who had defeated a Chunin might really be able to handle Zabuza's Water Clone.

"Hmph, another brat looking to die!" Zabuza's gaze darkened as he issued a command in secret. The Water Clone raised the Kubikiribōchō and charged at Keiichi.

Damn it, I forgot about the Kubikiribōchō!

The Water Clone might not be very strong, but the weapon in its hand was one of the famous Seven Ninja Swords!

So you were holding back when you fought Naruto and the others?!

The moment they clashed, Keiichi was sent flying. He landed without much trouble, but seeing the Kunai in his hand broken in half made his heart ache.

Ninja tools were absurdly expensive. Commoner Ninjas could use a single Kunai for years, and now his was ruined just like that!

If he hadn't had the system, he'd have been ready to cry his eyes out.

You broke my Kunai, did you?!

Kubikiribōchō, huh?!

Then I'll show you the fury of a Commoner Ninja!

"Spirit: Destruction, activate!"

Without hesitation, Keiichi activated the ability he had obtained from the gift pack.

In an instant, the scene before him changed. Pale golden cracks appeared across everything, and the Kubikiribōchō was no exception.

The cracks converged, all focusing on a single point on the blade...

Keiichi took a new Kunai from his ninja pouch and charged the Water Clone again, directing every strike at that point.

Missed...

Still missed...

So close...

Hit!

But every time, the Water Clone dodged by a hair's breadth. Instead, it seized the opportunity to counterattack several times, leaving Keiichi at a disadvantage.

"See? He's nothing special either. He might even be weaker than me," Naruto muttered.

"Shut up! Can't you see he's protecting us?" Sakura said.

But in her inner world, Sakura was stomping her feet in anger and cursing Keiichi out, thinking he was utterly useless. How could he be seven or eight times stronger than her?

Only Sasuke seemed to realize something. He frowned and said nothing.

Keiichi leapt back to put some distance between them. Blood trickled down his arm as he stood there panting, a bitter smile on his face.

At twelve, his body had only just begun to develop. Even with the combat experience from his previous life, his body often couldn't keep up with his movements. That was why he was always squeezing in time to train, but he had simply had too little time.

He had wanted to test the system skill, but even a mere Water Clone had managed to injure him. That showed just how powerful the real Zabuza must be.

Fortunately, he was gradually figuring out the clone's habits and had come up with a plan.

When the Water Clone charged at him, Keiichi quickly retreated, his hands steadily forming Hand Seals.

The distance between them closed. The Kubikiribōchō came down again, cleaving Keiichi in two.

Sakura was horrified by the sight. She couldn't help covering her mouth.

But then a surprising sight appeared before them. The two halves of Keiichi turned into two identical people, as if he had split in two.

Shadow Clone Technique!

Kakashi recognized it at a glance.