Meeting Chiba's eyes, Zabuza Momochi, a veteran of countless killings, felt a fear he had not known in years rise within him.
Wh-what are those eyes?!
Zabuza Momochi muttered inwardly, feeling his body stiffen as though a chill had enveloped him.
Chiba had already entered Sage Mode.
In his normal state, he was confident he could take on Zabuza Momochi.
But he could not guarantee Tazuna's safety.
To guard against any mishaps, entering Sage Mode was the safest option.
His kunai pressed firmly against the Kubikiribōchō.
Though it was a Refined Kunai of excellent quality,
it still struggled against the Kubikiribōchō, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's blades.
After only a few breaths of their standoff, cracks had already appeared.
"You meddling brat!"
"Then I'll kill you first!"
That faint fear only stirred the savagery lurking deep within Zabuza Momochi's heart.
A man known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist could hardly be considered normal.
He did not know what exactly was going on with Chiba's eyes.
But that would not stop him from killing the boy before him!
The Kubikiribōchō swung upward, then hurtled toward Chiba's head with a howl of wind.
The force behind it seemed enough to cleave Chiba in two!
But Sage Mode had strengthened Chiba by far more than a little.
In his normal state, Chiba might have struggled against Zabuza Momochi.
Now, however, he could overwhelm him completely!
Senjutsu chakra gathered in his legs.
Crack!
A massive crater erupted in the newly built Great Bridge.
Chiba's terrifying speed was on full display!
Zabuza Momochi had only just raised the Kubikiribōchō and was preparing to bring it down.
A dark blur suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Before he could even make out what that blur was,
a tremendous force struck his chest.
Konoha Whirlwind!
This was the taijutsu technique Chiba had mastered most thoroughly.
Though its name sounded a little overdramatic, its effectiveness was surprisingly good.
In close combat like this, taijutsu was the best choice.
Zabuza Momochi went flying, tumbling dozens of meters.
The impact left his head spinning.
After finally struggling to his feet with the Kubikiribōchō as support, Zabuza Momochi shook his head.
"H-how is this possible?"
"How could a brat like you be this strong?"
Zabuza Momochi's roar echoed across the Great Bridge.
That kick seemed to have left him with a few lingering effects.
His bloodshot eyes stared at them all like those of a wild beast.
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Chiba in shock, scarcely able to imagine that his student had been hiding such strength.
By now, Chiba had already left Sage Mode.
His perfect control allowed him to enter Sage Mode whenever he wished.
If his chakra reserves allowed it, he could even remain in that state permanently.
"Kakashi-sensei, I'll leave Zabuza to you for now."
Chiba spread his hands and explained with a helpless air:
"I can only use that attack once within a short period."
"I haven't fully mastered the secret technique Jiraiya-sensei taught me yet."
Whatever. I'll just pin it all on Jiraiya.
He won't be coming back to the village anytime soon anyway.
Chiba felt quite reassured about that.
In this dangerous Shinobi World, keeping his true strength hidden was still necessary.
Chiba did not believe he was so blessed by this world that he could recklessly court death.
Even with some strength to his name, he could only just protect himself.
Although Kakashi Hatake still harbored some doubts,
after all the time they had spent together, he ultimately chose to believe Chiba.
At that moment, Zabuza Momochi seemed like a cockroach that simply would not die.
A Konoha Whirlwind infused with senjutsu chakra was far more powerful than normal.
Yet even so, Zabuza merely coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood before charging back in with the Kubikiribōchō.
Kakashi Hatake focused entirely on the fight, his gaze unwavering.
He had only one goal now.
To kill Zabuza Momochi!
The two figures clashed repeatedly within the mist.
The ringing clash of steel sounded like a stirring, soaring melody, building toward its finest passage!
At its most thrilling moment, another sound joined in, driving the entire melody to its peak!
Boom!
Chakra brimming with malice surged across the Great Bridge!
Chiba's expression briefly froze as he turned toward the other battlefield.
"So this is nine-tails chakra!"
Before you continue