Just as Sakura was scolding Naruto, a large blade came flying from the distance.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."
The blade sliced through the air at incredible speed.
Sensing the danger, Kakashi immediately shouted, "Everyone, get down!"
Although they didn't fully understand what was happening, everyone dropped to the ground without hesitation.
The massive blade flew over their heads and embedded itself in a large tree.
The next moment, a ninja wearing a Hidden Mist forehead protector appeared, standing atop the blade with his back to the group.
Everyone stared at the sudden arrival with confusion and fear.
Kakashi moved to the front, placing himself between the group and the mysterious ninja. His expression grew serious. "So, it's you… Zabuza Momochi, the rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist."
"It looks like things are about to get very troublesome."
Naruto, standing behind Kakashi, drew a kunai the moment he saw Zabuza. Without waiting, he charged forward, shouting, "Finally, someone to fight! This time, I won't lose to Sasuke and Yoruha!"
Naruto had been dissatisfied with his earlier performance and now saw Zabuza as the perfect opportunity to prove himself.
However, Kakashi intercepted him, his tone firm. "Don't interfere. He's not an opponent you can handle."
Naruto frowned in frustration. "Kakashi-sensei, I won't mess up like I did before!"
Kakashi's expression darkened. Zabuza wasn't just any ninja—he was an elite jonin. Unlike the two Chunin from earlier, even Kakashi had to tread carefully in this fight. One misstep could cost him his life.
At the same time, Zabuza, standing on the tree, narrowed his eyes when he recognized Kakashi.
"So, it's the Sharingan wielder, Kakashi Hatake," Zabuza muttered. "No wonder those two brothers failed."
Hearing Zabuza's words, Sasuke froze in surprise.
"Kakashi… has the Sharingan?"
After the Uchiha clan's massacre, Sasuke had believed he was the only one in Konoha with the Sharingan.
Sakura, on the other hand, was puzzled. She had never heard of the Sharingan, as Sasuke had never revealed it in front of her.
"Sharingan? What's that?" she asked.
Naruto was equally curious and turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, what's a Sharingan?"
Kakashi remained silent, but Sasuke answered. "The Sharingan is a special dojutsu that can see through ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu."
Zabuza glanced at Sasuke, then added, "That's right. The Sharingan can also copy an opponent's jutsu."
"Hatake Kakashi, back when I was still in the Hidden Mist, your information was recorded in our ninja manual."
"'Copy Ninja' Kakashi, the man who can replicate over a thousand jutsu—a dangerous individual."
Hearing Zabuza's words, Sakura and Naruto were utterly stunned.
Although Yoruha had mentioned Kakashi's strength before, they hadn't fully grasped what that meant.
Now, Zabuza's description made them realize just how powerful Kakashi truly was.
Sakura was dumbfounded. "So Kakashi-sensei really is that strong..."
Naruto stared at Kakashi in disbelief. "Kakashi-sensei can use over a thousand jutsu? That's terrifying!"
Meanwhile, Sasuke's gaze remained fixed on Kakashi, his thoughts focused entirely on the Sharingan.
What shocked Sasuke wasn't that Kakashi knew a thousand types of jutsu but that Kakashi actually possessed the Sharingan.
The Sharingan was a unique trait exclusive to the Uchiha clan.
Since Kakashi had yet to reveal it, Sasuke was still skeptical.
Kakashi stared at Zabuza with a serious expression. "It seems this is going to be a tough battle. Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, form a protective formation and guard Mr. Tazuna."
He then glanced at Yoruha. "Yoruha, it looks like today will be our first time fighting together."
Yoruha, standing quietly to the side, calmly stepped up next to Kakashi, a kunai already drawn in his hand.
Although Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were reluctant, they knew their strength couldn't match Yoruha's. They could only form a protective triangle around Tazuna in the middle.
Zabuza turned his gaze to Yoruha.
He couldn't discern anything special about the boy.
"It seems you trust this kid quite a bit. Is he your student?"
Kakashi didn't reply. Instead, he slowly lifted his forehead protector.
Sasuke, who had been watching Kakashi's every move, stared intently as the hidden eye was revealed.
When Kakashi lifted the protector, his left eye, bearing the three-tomoe Sharingan, came into view.
Sasuke froze in shock.
"It's really the Sharingan… and it's already the three-tomoe Sharingan. Even among the Uchiha clan, only a few could awaken it. Could Kakashi be an Uchiha?"
Sasuke couldn't help but think that Kakashi might belong to the Uchiha clan.
After all, to Sasuke's knowledge, only members of the Uchiha clan could wield the Sharingan within Konoha.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura were also stunned by Kakashi's Sharingan.
It was their first time seeing such a strange eye.
"What kind of eye is that? Why does it give off such an overwhelming aura?"
Naruto and Sakura both felt the intense killing intent emanating from Kakashi.
Naruto, in particular, found himself inexplicably uncomfortable just looking at the Sharingan.
Kakashi ignored Zabuza's comment.
Zabuza spoke again, as if talking to himself. "I know your profile well from the ninja manual. Do you really think I'd fight you on a battlefield that gives you the advantage?"
As he spoke, a thick mist began to rise around them.
The eerie sight startled Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura, who immediately drew their kunai and assumed a defensive stance.
Yoruha, however, remained calm.
Even though the mist gradually thickened, reducing visibility significantly, Yoruha could still sense Zabuza's chakra clearly.
This was one of the abilities granted by the chakra within his body.
Kakashi frowned. "Using the Hidden Mist Jutsu to obscure my vision, huh?"
"As expected of Zabuza Momochi. If I'm not careful, I could very well die here."
Turning to Yoruha, Kakashi voiced his concern. "Yoruha, don't leave my side."
"This is the Hidden Mist Village's signature Hidden Mist Jutsu, a silent killing technique."
"Stay alert for any movement around us."
Yoruha didn't respond, his gaze locked on Zabuza as the rogue ninja crept closer to their position.
Though the mist obscured everything, Yoruha could track Zabuza's movements with precision.
Kakashi, misinterpreting Yoruha's silence, began to worry.
Unleashing his chakra, Kakashi's aura erupted outward.
The immense force of his chakra blasted the surrounding mist away, revealing Yoruha standing there unharmed.
Seeing Yoruha safe, Kakashi let out a sigh of relief. "Why didn't you answer me?"
Yoruha glanced at him and chuckled. "I assumed Kakashi-sensei could sense my presence."
Kakashi shook his head in exasperation.
"Stay focused. The opponent is an elite jonin. Don't let your guard down for even a second."
When Kakashi unleashed his chakra, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura felt the weight of the killing intent radiating from him and Zabuza.
The oppressive atmosphere froze the trio in place.
"This… is the killing intent of a jonin battle? In such an environment, it'd be better to just die," Sasuke muttered, his voice trembling.
The killing intent from Kakashi and Zabuza had shaken the three so profoundly that it affected their mental state.
Sasuke, overwhelmed by the pressure, unconsciously raised his kunai, aiming it at his own abdomen.
His mind had succumbed to the combined killing intent.
Even Naruto's expression was pale with fear, and he seemed to lose all will to fight for survival.
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