Lin Fan's crimson eyes stood out sharply against the layers of thick fog.
They added a sinister charm to his already handsome face.
"Well done, Lin Fan. Though the one you saved was my Lightning Style: Shadow Clone."
Just then, the shadow clone beside Lin Fan vanished in a flicker of lightning.
Kakashi emerged from behind a century-old towering tree and spoke leisurely.
Before knowing an enemy's abilities, he had used a shadow clone to bait them into attacking, while hiding in the shadows to observe and analyze.
It was Lord Kakashi's tried-and-true old trick.
"I didn't expect one of you brats to have the same Sharingan as Kakashi. You must be a genius."
Zabuza quickly got to his feet, straightened his jaw, and drew the Kubikiribōchō again. He spoke coldly.
"There are plenty of things you don't expect. Did that kick scare you?"
Lin Fan smiled faintly and replied calmly.
Zabuza's body trembled slightly with excitement.
"Geh heh heh. Back when I was in the Kirigakure Ninja Academy, I had a few genius classmates just like you."
"I always loved watching them show off their talents in front of me. Do you know why, kid?"
"Why?"
Lin Fan asked mildly.
"Because I knew they would all die after the graduation exam."
"And the sight of those geniuses on their knees, weeping and begging me to spare them, powerless to do anything as they died—that was the most wonderful thing I've ever seen."
After speaking, Zabuza stuck out his tongue and licked the tip of the Kubikiribōchō, revealing his chilling fangs.
Seeing Zabuza like that, Lin Fan couldn't help but feel a chill.
No wonder he was such a formidable character in the original story, capable of standing up to the Sixth Hokage, the reincarnation of Indra, and the reincarnation of Ashura all by himself.
That record could rival Kaguya Otsutsuki's.
His behavior and mannerisms even had a bit of Orochimaru about them.
"Kakashi-sensei, stay with Grandpa Tazuna and eat some Military Ration Pills to recover your chakra. Let me handle Zabuza for now."
Lin Fan smiled at Kakashi beside him.
"So the Sharingan saw right through me."
After using Lightning Style: Shadow Clone, Kakashi did need to recover some chakra.
He nodded, then silently returned to stand in front of Tazuna.
Zabuza, having quickly regrouped, vanished in an instant.
The Silent Killing Technique came into play once more.
The next second, he used Mist Body Flicker and swung the Kubikiribōchō, closing in on Lin Fan's throat.
By then, Lin Fan could see the approaching blade through the thin fog with his Sharingan.
He swiftly raised his Kunai to defend himself.
Clang! Clang!
A deafening clash of metal rang out, accompanied by dazzling sparks.
Clearly, Lin Fan was at a disadvantage when it came to weapon clashes.
He immediately used Taijutsu Body Flicker to get out of the Kubikiribōchō's range, looking for a chance to strike again.
Zabuza refused to let up and used Mist Body Flicker to swiftly pursue Lin Fan.
Clang! Clang!
All around the forest, startling clangs and flashes of sparks erupted through the thin fog.
Bang!
Bang!
Zabuza swung the Kubikiribōchō but couldn't gain the slightest advantage. Frustrated, he kicked Lin Fan straight in the stomach.
At the same time, Lin Fan copied Zabuza's move with his Sharingan and kicked him with the same motion.
The two were sent flying in opposite directions. They slid a long way across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
Pfft!
Lin Fan landed right in front of Kakashi and the others, spitting up a small mouthful of blood.
"Lin Fan, how are you feeling?"
Kakashi hurried over and asked with concern.
"I'm okay. Zabuza's injuries should be much worse than mine."
Lin Fan got to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He glanced at the Kunai in his hand, its blade bent and crumpled from the Kubikiribōchō, and gave a bitter smile.
The pain in his stomach was gradually spreading throughout his body.
As expected, Zabuza, an elite jonin, was far stronger than any enemy Lin Fan had faced before, except for Kakashi.
Meanwhile, Zabuza had collapsed on the surface of the lake.
The lake around him was stained bright red by the blood he'd vomited.
Lin Fan's Konoha Style Taijutsu had long since reached the maximum level.
Combined with a 100% Taijutsu boost, that kick had broken several of Zabuza's ribs.
Thud.
Zabuza drove the Kubikiribōchō in his hand into the lakebed to brace himself, then slowly stood up.
"I have to admit, you're the most talented genius I've ever met."
"But the harder you fight back, the stronger I become."
"Kneel down and beg for my forgiveness, weeping. Because all that's waiting for you now is death."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sky-blue chakra inside him surged.
He brought his hands together and began weaving hand seals at incredible speed.
Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Pig—Rooster—Ox.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A water-colored dragon rose slowly behind Zabuza, surging into motion.
Then, with an earth-shattering roar, it charged toward Lin Fan.
"Not good!"
Kakashi could clearly sense the danger of the technique.
He brought his hands together, ready to form the Earth Style seals and defend against Zabuza's attack.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
But before Kakashi had finished the seals, an angry shout rang out.
It was Lin Fan again.
Kakashi watched as Lin Fan finished his hand seals, then slammed both palms against the ground.
A gigantic earthen wall burst from the ground, shaped like a clenched fist with its middle finger raised.
It stood firmly in front of Team 7 and Tazuna.
Bang!
The sturdy Earth Wall completely blocked the Water Dragon Bullet's ferocious attack.
The Water Dragon Bullet dispersed into two streams of water, which quickly flowed past their feet.
"What?!"
Zabuza clearly hadn't expected Lin Fan to know a defensive Earth Style ninjutsu.
Lin Fan smiled, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear on the lake's surface opposite Zabuza.
"Don't get too cocky, brat. I've got other ninjutsu, you know."
Zabuza brought his hands together, preparing to form another set of seals.
Tiger—Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Pig.
Lin Fan's eyes shifted slightly as he began forming the same seals.
Tiger—Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Pig.
Zabuza watched Lin Fan's hand signs and was completely dumbfounded.
It wasn't just that Lin Fan was forming the same seals as him.
It was that Lin Fan's hands were moving several times faster.
How could his speed—honed over twenty-six years of being single—lose to a kid in his teens?
Could the Sharingan do more than copy an enemy's ninjutsu? Could it also see through their thoughts?
Zabuza was instantly stunned.
The next second, Zabuza spotted another version of himself beside Lin Fan.
"You guessed right. My hand speed is faster than yours."
Lin Fan smiled as he spoke.
Delivered by Shenqi Xiao Sima, author of Naruto: Starting with Infinite Skill Points.