Sasuke's True Form vs. Zabuza's Water Clone

A crisp "ding" rang out.

Having withstood countless strikes from the Sword of Indra, the Kubikiribōchō was suddenly sliced clean in half at the waist!

The cross-section was smooth as the blade clattered to the ground.

"This... how is this possible!..."

Seeing this, Zabuza's face was instantly filled with shock.

He didn't know exactly what level of weapon his Kubikiribōchō was, but it was definitely not some scrap metal that could be easily broken!

Yet this sword...

Not giving Zabuza a chance to dwell on it, Sasuke flickered, leaping into mid-air.

With a flick of his wrist, several Shuriken whistled through the air like shooting stars, darting toward Zabuza not far away!

Seeing this, Zabuza shed his previous lazy expression, instead swinging the remaining half of his Kubikiribōchō to swat away the incoming Shuriken.

Then, he brought his left hand to his mouth and bit his thumb, drawing a stream of blood.

The next moment, he smeared the blood from his fingertip onto the blade of the Kubikiribōchō.

In an instant, the broken blade seemed to find new life, regenerating to its original state at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This was the exclusive passive ability of the Kubikiribōchō: Blood-Drinking Rebirth!

In other words, this was a Ninja Sword that would never be destroyed!

"Good blade!"

With his Ninja Sword pointed diagonally at the ground, Sasuke did not take advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack.

Instead, he stood still, waiting.

Seeing the Kubikiribōchō restored and noting that Sasuke hadn't seized the opportunity to strike, Zabuza nodded in satisfaction and laughed:

"Kid, in all my years traveling the ninja world, you are the most heaven-defying sword genius I have ever seen!"

"What is your name?..."

"Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke..."

Sasuke replied with a smile.

He could sense that many times before, Zabuza had held back, fearing he might actually hurt him.

Heroes cherish heroes; this immediately made Sasuke feel a sense of respect for Zabuza.

Although they were on different sides, serving different masters, this man was honorable and worth knowing...

"Hahaha... Uchiha... No wonder, no wonder Konoha would produce a genius like you..."

"Now that we are at a stalemate, shall we continue?..."

Su Jian smiled and responded:

"No, this junior still has a few moves left to show, and I would like to ask for your guidance, Senior."

"Hahaha... Good, bring it on. This time, I won't hold back anymore..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke stopped wasting words.

His figure flickered as he activated the Body Flicker Technique. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly in front of Zabuza.

Seeing Sasuke leap high into the air, Zabuza felt a surge of joy.

He thinks this move is cool, but by flying into mid-air, hasn't he just made himself a sitting duck?

He thought this, but before Zabuza could be happy for even a second, his expression changed drastically.

Killing intent gathered, sword aura permeated the air, and chakra surged.

Though his eyes couldn't track it, his keen combat instincts as an elite Jonin faintly sensed a momentum like a rushing river, sweeping down from above with overwhelming force!

So young, yet so terrifying—is this even human!

Has the world gone mad?

Or have I, Zabuza, gone mad?

Why is this Konoha Style swordsmanship so incredible, yet I've never heard of it before?

Could it be...

"Not good!..."

Not giving Zabuza a chance to remain in shock.

To remain motionless would be no different than admitting defeat.

Seeing this, Zabuza dared not delay any longer.

He shifted his grip from one hand to two, swinging the Kubikiribōchō upward in a sweeping arc like a torch raised to the heavens, meeting the descending Sword of Indra head-on!

With a sharp "ding," chakra surged outward, the sound so piercing it threatened to burst their eardrums.

The raging shockwave rippled out from the two of them like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, spreading in circles in every direction!

The sheer momentum was no less than that of a Jonin!

"Ugh..."

Caught off guard, Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna were all sent flying by the wild shockwave, only coming to a halt after slamming into the thick tree trunks far behind them.

As for Kakashi, who remained trapped within the Water Prison Technique, he was completely unharmed because Zabuza's main body had not suffered a scratch, and the dome-shaped water prison remained as sturdy as ever.

Just a little more, just a little more and I can break free. Sasuke, you have to keep going! Teacher is counting on you now!

Kakashi was so engrossed in the performance that he had actually forgotten he was still trapped under someone else's technique.

Hearing this, Zabuza, who was maintaining the Water Prison Technique, glanced at the muttering Kakashi, a sudden and inexplicable sense of crisis rising in his heart.

"It seems I had better finish this lesson for the juniors quickly..."

Boom!

Just like when he had clashed with Kakashi that day, Sasuke's previous strike—Dance of the Crescent Moon: First Form: Wind Slash—though powerful, was still no match for the full-force strike of an elite Jonin due to the limitations of his cultivation.

Instantly, just like the three spectators, he was sent flying like a discarded sack the moment they made contact.

"In the end, his cultivation is still too weak. Is it over?..."

Seeing this, Zabuza, who had been preparing to strike again, pulled back his Kubikiribōchō and muttered to himself.

But just as he let his guard down, a "poof" sounded behind him. White smoke erupted, and a shuriken stuck in the ground transformed into the figure of Sasuke, who had reappeared out of thin air behind Zabuza!

"This... Transformation Technique?"

"But how is this possible? When did he hide behind me? Could it be..."

As he thought, Zabuza's pupils suddenly constricted!

"Could it be that this guy has been copying me, using a Shadow Clone to fight my Water Clone the whole time!..."

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead; the more Zabuza thought, the more shocked he became!

Who on earth raised such a genius?

At such a young age, to possess such heaven-defying combat instincts!

Could this guy be the reincarnation of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju?...

From the moment the battle began, Sasuke's endless array of tactics had left Zabuza in a state of constant shock.

But this time, Sasuke had no intention of stopping.

He leaped into the air, sword in hand, and slashed down with all his might!

At the same time, he shouted:

"Dance of the Crescent Moon: First Form: Wind Slash!"

The same sword technique, the same person.

But this time, perhaps because the main body was the one wielding the blade, the power was even greater than the strike performed by the Shadow Clone!

Seeing this, Zabuza dared not delay again.

He gripped his blade with both hands, intending to repeat his previous tactic!

But at this critical, decisive moment, a flash of red light flickered in the eyes of the Sasuke suspended in mid-air!

Immediately, Zabuza, who was about to raise his blade, felt his entire body sink!

His vision turned crimson, his thoughts stalled, and in that moment, the world spun as if his chakra had been sealed, leaving him unable to exert any strength!

"No! I... I've been caught in a Genjutsu!..."