Kakashi yanked his forehead protector down over his left eye, his exposed eye filled with shock.
"What terrifying control over genjutsu."
Kakashi took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Uchiha Xin's back.
He knew very well how resilient Zabuza's will was.
Ordinary genjutsu could never make someone of that caliber collapse in an instant.
What exactly did that kid Xin do to Zabuza?
Sasuke stood a short distance away, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, blood dripping between his fingers.
His gaze was locked on Uchiha Xin's scarlet eyes.
Three black tomoe slowly rotated within them.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan!
Sasuke's breathing grew ragged, his teeth grinding audibly.
He had always considered himself a true genius of the Uchiha Clan.
He trained desperately every day, yet he had not even awakened a single tomoe.
And this guy, who had always been unremarkable at school and only practiced taijutsu...
Had actually awakened three tomoe already!
Why him!
Intense resentment and jealousy churned in Sasuke's chest, almost burning away his reason.
Naruto poked his head out from behind a tree and ran over, his face full of excitement.
"Whoa! Xin! Those patterns in your eyes look so cool!"
Naruto leaned in front of Uchiha Xin, pointing at his Sharingan and exclaiming loudly.
"What ninjutsu is that? Can you teach me? I want to learn it too!"
Kakashi stepped forward, placed a hand on Naruto's head, and sighed helplessly.
"Naruto, that's the Uchiha Clan's kekkei genkai, the Sharingan. Other people can't learn it."
Just then, a figure appeared without warning on a nearby tree trunk.
The newcomer wore a kimono and a Kirigakure Anbu mask.
It was Haku.
Haku leaped lightly down from the tree and bowed slightly to Kakashi.
"I'm a hunter-nin from Kirigakure. I've been tracking Zabuza for a long time."
"Thank you for subduing him. Please allow me to take this missing-nin's body."
Uchiha Xin stood where he was, sweeping his gaze over Haku.
Although Haku wore a mask and had a slender, delicate build, he had long known Haku's actual gender.
Someone this pretty just had to be a guy.
Uchiha Xin felt a quiet pang of disappointment and deactivated his Sharingan.
He turned toward Kakashi and took the opportunity to voice his agreement.
"Kakashi-sensei, since he's a hunter-nin from Kirigakure, let them handle Zabuza."
"Our mission is to protect Mr. Tazuna. There's no need to invite extra trouble."
Kakashi considered it briefly, then nodded.
Haku thanked them again, stepped forward, hoisted the unconscious Zabuza onto his shoulder, and vanished into the depths of the woods in a few bounds.
Watching the direction Haku had left in, Kakashi spoke with heartfelt admiration.
"Xin, you really have made me see you in a new light."
"Even Zabuza, who's killed countless people, was completely overwhelmed by your genjutsu. Your talent for it is simply incredible."
Uchiha Xin remained composed and casually brushed the dust off his clothes.
"It's all thanks to the Sharingan. I merely borrowed my clan's power."
Hearing this, Sasuke could no longer stand it.
He strode forward and stared hard into Uchiha Xin's eyes.
"Xin! Don't get cocky just yet!"
Gritting his teeth, Sasuke declared each word distinctly.
"I swear I'll awaken the Sharingan. I'll surpass you!"
With that, Sasuke turned and strode away without looking back, his retreating figure radiating determination.
Meanwhile, inside a secluded cave on the border of the Land of Waves.
Haku laid Zabuza on a straw mat and began treating his wounds.
Before long, Zabuza's eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright.
"Lord Zabuza, you're awake." Haku leaned closer in delight.
Zabuza ignored Haku. His eyes looked somewhat vacant before abruptly filling with brutality and murderous intent.
"Gato... That bastard actually dared to withhold my funds!"
Zabuza grabbed the Kubikiribōchō beside him, his temperament changing drastically as he sank into a frenzied state.
"I'll kill him! I'll wipe out the Gato Company!"
Haku froze, his face blank with confusion.
He had no idea why Zabuza had suddenly developed such bitter hatred for their employer.
No one knew that Uchiha Xin's Illusion World went far beyond ordinary mental torment.
Illusion World concealed a special brainwashing ability.
It could temporarily alter another person's thought processes through high-intensity ocular power.
Within the genjutsu space earlier, Uchiha Xin had already implanted an absolute command in Zabuza.
He was to destroy the Gato Company and then take his own life.
Zabuza charged out of the cave with his massive sword, heading straight for Gato's headquarters.
A one-sided massacre unfolded inside Gato's base.
Like a tireless killing machine, Zabuza slaughtered Gato and every thug under his command.
Blood stained the entire base red.
Once the slaughter was over, Zabuza stood beside Gato's corpse.
He raised the Kubikiribōchō and drew it across his own neck without hesitation.
Haku arrived at the scene and looked at Zabuza's corpse.
Overcome with grief, he then drew a kunai and followed him in death.
Inside a single-occupancy apartment in Konoha.
Uchiha Xin sat cross-legged on his bed, his right eye turning scarlet.
He used the visual resonance mark he had planted earlier.
He took in the entire process of Zabuza and Haku wiping out Gato's forces.
After confirming that the potential threat had been completely eliminated, he severed the visual connection.
Team 7 arrived safely at Tazuna's home.
The original plot had changed. Zabuza had died ahead of time, and Naruto's encounter with Haku had vanished entirely.
Over the next few days, Kakashi guided everyone through basic tree-climbing and water walking training as usual.
In the woods.
Naruto tried again and again to concentrate chakra in the soles of his feet, but he could never get the amount right.
"Damn it! Why can Xin and Sasuke both do it!"
Naruto shouted impatiently, and the chakra inside him began fluctuating violently.
Suddenly, a surge of savage red chakra, brimming with an evil aura, spilled out of Naruto's body.
For some unknown reason, Naruto had caused the Nine-Tails' seal to loosen, and his chakra went completely out of control, leaking out.
Fierce winds howled, and the surrounding trees shook under the force, threatening to topple.
Kakashi's expression changed drastically, and he was just about to step forward to stop it.
Standing on a distant tree branch, Uchiha Xin secretly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Sharp five-pointed star patterns spun rapidly in his pupils.
He stared intently at the red chakra surrounding Naruto.
With the Mangekyō's extraordinary perception, he caught a trace of mysterious chakra that appeared for a brief moment.
That chakra was exceedingly ancient and pure, hidden in the deepest reaches of the Nine-Tails chakra.
"This is..."
Uchiha Xin was deeply shaken.
He instantly deduced that the Sage of Six Paths was laying plans in secret.
That old man had been watching the Shinobi World from the Pure Land all along.
Deliberately supporting Naruto and Sasuke, the reincarnations of Indra and Asura.
After realizing the truth, Uchiha Xin grew intensely wary.
Although he now possessed the Mangekyō and the Eight Gates Released Formation.
He was still no match for an existence on the Sage of Six Paths' level.
I have to keep lying low.