Zabuza Momochi

Zabuza Momochi bore the title Demon of the Hidden Mist. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure and wielder of the Kubikiribōchō, he had become a rogue ninja after failing to assassinate the Mizukage. However, Zabuza had not simply become a rogue ninja—he had carved a slash across his Kirigakure forehead protector, signifying a complete break.

"Get back. This guy is nothing like those two from before." Kakashi stared at him solemnly and lifted his forehead protector with his left hand, revealing the left eye it had always concealed. It was a Sharingan with three black tomoe.

Zabuza stood atop the sword's handle, his back to Kakashi and the others. Looking down at them with his head tilted, he said, "To think I'd run into Kakashi of the Sharingan. I want that old man. Can you hand him over?"

"Sharingan!" The moment Sasuke heard those words, he looked at Kakashi. This was the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan, yet Kakashi's surname was Hatake—he did not belong to the Uchiha Clan at all. Even within the Uchiha Clan, few could awaken the Sharingan, let alone a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Form a Swastika Formation and protect Mr. Tazuna. No one is to interfere. Zabuza, I'm your opponent!" Kakashi's words made his resolve clear.

Whoosh!

Zabuza vanished along with the Kubikiribōchō and reappeared on the lake at the edge of the forest. Mist instantly spread everywhere. Zabuza disappeared into it using the Hidden Mist Technique, reducing visibility to less than two meters.

"He's gone!" Kakashi's killing intent surged. "When Zabuza Momochi was still in the Hidden Mist Assassination Squad, he was famous for his Silent Killing Technique. In this environment, even my Sharingan is greatly limited, so don't let your guard down."

"Yeah!" Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke drew their kunai and watched their surroundings vigilantly, fully on guard. Even though they knew everything from Awen's memories, it felt completely different to experience it firsthand.

"Eight places: the throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, collarbone, kidneys, heart... Which one do you want me to attack next?"

Zabuza's eerie voice echoed from all around within the mist. His killing intent made Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura feel as though an invisible pressure were bearing down on them.

Zabuza's killing intent clashed with Kakashi's in the air. Sakura and Tazuna were so frightened that they barely dared breathe, while Sasuke gripped his kunai with trembling hands.

"Th-this overwhelming killing intent... Even blinking could get me killed. So this is what it feels like. Is this what a Jonin is? Completely at their mercy... If that's the case, then I might as well..."

"Sasuke..." Kakashi's voice snapped Sasuke back to himself. In that instant, his unease and fear vanished without a trace.

Kakashi suddenly turned his head, revealing a brilliant smile. "I will never let him kill my companions!"

"That remains to be seen..."

Zabuza seized this opening and instantly appeared in the center of the Swastika Formation. The Kubikiribōchō swept horizontally through the air. If that strike landed, not only Tazuna, but all of Team 7 would be cut in half at the waist.

Tazuna's face went deathly pale, his lips trembling.

Clang!

Naruto was the first to react. The kunai in his hand blocked Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō. The sound of metal colliding placed immense pressure on Naruto, and cracks appeared in his kunai. Kakashi's Sharingan shifted, and he launched a Body Flicker assault, driving his kunai into Zabuza.

Splash...

Zabuza's body turned into a puddle of water. It was a Water Clone.

"Hmph!" At that moment, Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and Naruto.

Naruto, who had been watching for this, flicked his cracked kunai and buried it in Zabuza's chest.

Zabuza's body turned into liquid once more. Clearly, this one was also a Water Clone.

"Good job, Naruto. Protect Mr. Tazuna!" Kakashi praised him, then his own body turned into a puddle of water. This was the Water Clone he had copied earlier.

Clang, clang, clang...

The sound of metal clashing rang out from within the mist. Visibility was extremely low, but Kakashi had already exchanged blows with Zabuza. From Zabuza's attack on Tazuna until now, only a few breaths had passed.

Sasuke was still shocked by Naruto's performance just now. Unwilling to lose, he watched the area warily and pulled himself together.

The mist gradually dispersed as the effect of the Hidden Mist Technique faded. Zabuza and Kakashi's figures became clearer and clearer. The two stood atop the lake, their hands forming seals.

Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

Within the mist, Zabuza and Kakashi unleashed the technique at the same time. The complex hand seals took only two or three breaths, their hands moving at incredible speed.

Two water dragons let out roaring cries as they coiled and crossed through the sky.

"Move!" Naruto was the first to retreat with Tazuna, putting distance between them. Sasuke and Sakura followed close behind, watching from afar.

Boom...

As the twin dragons collided, Kakashi gripped a kunai and clashed with Zabuza once more, blocking the Kubikiribōchō.

Zabuza was deeply shocked. Kakashi had not only copied his ninjutsu, but had unleashed it at the exact same time as him. And earlier, that blond brat had not only withstood his attack, but had ruined his plan, causing his strategy of trapping Kakashi with the Water Prison Technique to fail.

"Your subordinate wasn't bad just now, was he?" The cloth covering Zabuza's face had already torn apart, revealing a somewhat ferocious expression.

Whoosh!

The Water Dragon Bullet Technique ended as it struck the ground. Kakashi and Zabuza separated, seeming to circle each other as they ran. When they stopped, their hand movements were completely identical, without the slightest difference in timing.

Kakashi's copying let him strike after Zabuza yet arrive first, which infuriated Zabuza. That scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan had copied every one of his movements.

"Hm?" Suddenly, Zabuza's gaze sharpened. Behind Kakashi, another Zabuza appeared, carrying the Kubikiribōchō on his back.

"Th-this is genjutsu?"

Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!

Kakashi formed seals first, seizing Zabuza's opening. A violent torrent surged forth, far more powerful than the earlier Water Dragon Bullet Technique, washing Zabuza away head-on.

Sasuke and Sakura hid in the trees, while only Naruto stood on the water supporting Tazuna. The surroundings had turned into a river.

Zabuza was blasted into a tree and collapsed onto the ground. "W-why? Can you see the future?"

Whoosh, whoosh!

Suddenly, two senbon shot through the air and pierced Zabuza's neck. He instantly fell to the ground. Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he turned to look, only to see a masked youth standing on a branch at some unknown time.

The water had already dispersed. Naruto was wondering what to do now. Zabuza had passed out—should he expose them now, or wait a little longer? Speaking of which, was Haku male or female? If she was male, then why did she wear a skirt? Among ninjas, she seemed to be the only one who wore one!

Compared with killing Zabuza or protecting Tazuna, Naruto was far more interested in Haku's gender. Besides, although Zabuza would later return with a strategy targeting the Sharingan, Kakashi would likewise find a way to counter Zabuza and defeat him completely.

The masked youth in the umbrella skirt spoke. Her voice was somewhat hoarse yet gentle, making it impossible to tell whether she was male or female. "I've been searching for an opportunity to kill Zabuza completely. Thank you."

Kakashi checked Zabuza's condition and found that he had already stopped breathing, his heart no longer beating. "Looks like she's a member of the Hidden Mist's hunter-nin squad."

Kakashi then explained the Hidden Mist's hunter-nin squads to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. They specialized in hunting rogue ninja, their purpose being to prevent their village's secrets from leaking out. All Five Great Nations had such squads, including Konoha.

"His corpse contains too many secrets, so I'll take it with me." The masked youth walked over to Zabuza, then turned into a gust of wind and vanished before everyone's eyes.

Kakashi pulled down his forehead protector to cover his Sharingan and called out, "All right, the mission continues. Let's keep moving!"

Suddenly, as Kakashi finished speaking, his body toppled over. Naruto, who had been watching Kakashi closely, hurriedly caught him. Kakashi had fallen unconscious from overusing the Sharingan.