Pervert?

"Pervert?!" Naruto's loud shout drew everyone's attention.

Sen had found their aimless walking boring, so he started chatting with Naruto about a movie he had watched at Chongguang Psychiatric Hospital.

"Yeah, yeah, that's right. Generally speaking, psychopaths have three defining traits. Double-Zero Two, do you know what they are?"

Uchiha Sen wanted to show off a little. In his world, he was the only smart one; everyone else was a bunch of ignorant native muggles.

After thinking for a few seconds, Naruto said excitedly:

"Loving ramen, barbecue, and dango!"

-_-||

That was exactly the expression on Kakashi and the others' faces right then.

Come on, by that logic, wouldn't most people in Hidden Leaf Village be perverts...

Their conversation had caught everyone's attention. Without realizing it, they all began pondering the three traits of a psychopath, each coming up with their own answer.

Sen was just about to give the answer when he realized he couldn't remember it no matter how hard he tried.

[Bedwetting, arson, and torturing small animals.]

"It's bedwetting, arson, and torturing small animals. I was just about to say that!"

Clearly, Sen was very dissatisfied with the reminder from the blue electronic panel before him! This was contempt toward him!

[Tch!]

Kakashi and the others exchanged glances. No one had interrupted just now... so who was Sen talking to?

Naruto was already used to this. He nodded and eagerly played both devoted fanboy and straight man, showering Sen with all kinds of extravagant praise.

"Wow, Big Sen really is invincible!"

Soon, noon arrived. After taking a short break, everyone set off again.

[Ding! An S-rank rogue ninja has been detected nearby. The system is beginning a scan.]

[Name: Zabuza Momochi; Alias: Demon; Weapon: Kubikiribōchō; Strength: Jonin; Danger Rating: 5.]

[The system recommends informing the accompanying Jonin, Kakashi Hatake, and engaging him in battle.]

Everything was as usual. To Uchiha Sen, the system notifications were no more significant than a fart. He was currently looking up at the sky, counting clouds. But those things were unbelievably annoying, constantly moving around. After counting for a while, Sen lost track, so he simply started over.

As a result, Sen missed the True Eye enhancement the system provided during its analysis.

Fate was always so ingenious.

Out of boredom, Naruto glanced toward the distant bushes. That was right—there was the perfect feng shui spot he wanted. He immediately pulled out several kunai and threw them over.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

The sound of weapons flying awakened everyone's battle instincts, and the atmosphere quickly became tense.

Determined to see the act through to the end, Naruto rushed to the front of the group. While pretending to look around, he shouted with great conviction:

"Where is it? Where is it? Just where is it?!"

Sakura, beside him, wasn't about to indulge him. She walked over and gave him two solid punches.

"Naruto! Stop making everyone nervous!"

The veteran Jonin, Kakashi Hatake, immediately stepped forward to investigate.

Parting the bushes, he saw a white, short-haired snow rabbit, which immediately aroused Kakashi's suspicion.

That fur color!

White fur should only appear in winter, when daylight hours were very short!

Which meant...

This was a snow rabbit raised specifically to serve as a substitute!

With that thought, Kakashi Hatake's gaze involuntarily swept toward the surrounding trees. In his view, the enemy had not gone far and was likely hiding on one of the nearby branches.

In the shadows, Zabuza the Demon chuckled.

"So that's how it is. It's actually the Copy Ninja of Hidden Leaf Village, Kakashi Hatake."

As he spoke, he hurled the Kubikiribōchō from his hand.

"Whoosh!"

The sound came from above and reached Kakashi Hatake's ears. He immediately shouted:

"Everyone, get down!"

Naruto and the others scattered to escape, but Sen alone continued picking at his ear, completely unaware of the Kubikiribōchō flying toward him from behind.

I'll take one brat's head first!

As Zabuza the Demon sped forward, he watched the scene below. Seeing the Kubikiribōchō's perfect trajectory and the dull-witted Uchiha Sen, his bloodthirsty nature surged forth, and he began anticipating the splendid sight of a head separating from its body.

[Ding! Danger approaching. The host has no time to evade. Automatic defense activated!]

Naruto, lying on the ground, ignored the danger to himself. Uchiha Sen was the first friend he had ever had, and he did not want to lose him. Courage burned in his heart.

He sprang to his feet and charged toward Sen, intending to shove him aside, but it was nothing more than an unnecessary gesture.

The Kubikiribōchō was already close. Compared to Naruto, the flying blade was clearly faster. Kakashi had already prepared to use the Body Flicker Technique.

What a pain. There was still a hard battle ahead. Using the Body Flicker Technique now would greatly reduce his strength.

Just when everyone thought Uchiha Sen was doomed.

A blast of air swept through the surroundings, and a white energy barrier enveloped Uchiha Sen.

A clear, pleasant collision rang in everyone's ears, and even Kakashi froze.

The Kubikiribōchō was blasted away by a force of Repulsion and embedded deeply into a distant tree stump.

Zabuza the Demon also halted, revealing a shocked expression.

How was that possible?

He had never seen such a technique. If Hidden Leaf Village had a genius ninja like this, he could not possibly be unknown. Just who was this brat?!

There were too many questions, but there was no time to think. He had taken someone's money, so he had to deal with their troubles. Zabuza the Demon feinted with his steps and rushed toward the Kubikiribōchō. Within two or three breaths, he stood atop the blade, looking down at the group.

"Hehehe, so it really is the famous Copy Ninja, Sharingan Kakashi. But that unremarkable brat beside you has some skill."

As he spoke, Zabuza the Demon fixed his vicious eyes on Uchiha Sen and released his senses.

How was that possible? Why couldn't he sense any chakra at all? Could that brat be an ordinary person? Impossible!

Years of living on the edge of a blade kept Zabuza's heart suspended. Humans always felt instinctive fear toward unknown powers, and Zabuza had clearly lost his nerve.

He formed hand seals, dispensing with further pleasantries. Moments later, thick mist blanketed the forest. As time passed, visibility grew lower and lower, until Team 7 gradually lost sight of one another.

The experienced Kakashi immediately gave the order:

"Form a protective formation around the mission target!"

Very quickly, the three members of Team 7 gripped their kunai and stood on high alert, forming a triangular formation around Tazuna.

Within the thick mist.

Zabuza the Demon's provocative yet gloomy voice drifted over.

"The heart~"

"The liver~"

"The back of the head~"

Where should I cut first?

[Ding! The environment has been altered by human intervention. True Eye activated. Automatically ignoring the thick mist and observing the enemy's situation.]

In Uchiha Sen's eyes, the forest remained exactly as before. That despicable bastard wearing a mask and carrying a strange weapon was hiding behind a tree, and Sen's temper immediately flared.

You bastard, you dare sneak attack Big Sen? I'll show you what it means to aaahhh!