Although he was still far away, Gekkō Raito's keen senses detected unusually violent chakra fluctuations there.
Zabuza had a sharp nose. He had actually run into them first.
Meanwhile, at the mouth of an alley three streets away from the hospital.
Zabuza rested the Kubikiribōchō on his shoulder, eyeing the shadows with amusement.
"Stop hiding. That lousy concealment technique would only fool a Genin."
"I never thought I'd run into an old acquaintance in a place like Kirigakure."
The shadows in the alley stirred.
A figure slowly emerged, revealing his signature silver hair and forehead protector.
"Kakashi Hatake."
A bloodthirsty smile curled Zabuza's lips.
"The famous Copy Ninja. Here to do some sightseeing in Kirigakure?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Kakashi's dead-fish eyes.
"An S-rank rogue ninja openly strolling around Kirigakure? That's the real news here."
Zabuza scoffed and shook his forehead protector.
"I'm an honorable Chunin of Kirigakure now."
Although he had been taken back at a demoted rank, down from Jonin, his status meant nothing to him.
As long as he could stand on Kirigakure's soil and swing his blade, that was enough.
"I didn't get my fill last time. Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, you can leave your life here!"
Before he finished speaking, the ground burst apart.
Zabuza moved like lightning, bringing the Kubikiribōchō down hard with a howling blast of wind pressure!
Kakashi raised a kunai in a reverse grip to block, his chakra erupting instantly.
Clang!!
Sparks flew, and the piercing scrape of metal set teeth on edge.
Kakashi frowned slightly. The situation was very unfavorable for him.
This was the enemy's home base.
If this dragged on, Kirigakure's ANBU would swarm him like locusts.
But then he reconsidered. If he could draw most of their fire, the other teammates who