Just as Sasuke was about to stab himself, Yoruha's gaze sharpened.
He unleashed the chakra within his body.
A burst of golden chakra erupted from Yoruha, instantly dispersing the suffocating killing intent exuded by both Zabuza and Kakashi.
The previously terrified Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura suddenly felt as if they were basking in warm sunlight in the midst of a harsh winter. The oppressive atmosphere was replaced by a comforting warmth.
Sasuke, clutching his kunai, stopped mid-action.
Coming to his senses, he turned to look at Yoruha, who now stood calmly.
"This… this is Yoruha's chakra. It's so strong," Sasuke muttered, his face filled with astonishment.
Until now, Yoruha had only displayed his prowess in taijutsu.
But the sheer intensity of the chakra he had just released left Sasuke deeply shocked.
Naruto and Sakura, who had also regained their composure, were clueless that it was Yoruha who had dispelled the bone-chilling killing intent.
Meanwhile, deep within Naruto's consciousness…
In a dimly lit cage-like space, a massive red fox slowly opened its eyes.
"This chakra… it feels both familiar and foreign. Could it be that annoying guy?"
The fox was none other than the Nine-Tails, sealed within Naruto.
The moment Yoruha unleashed his chakra, the Nine-Tails sensed a wave of energy that felt oddly familiar but slightly different.
The fox, known for its acute sensitivity to chakra, appeared pensive.
"If it really is that man, what could he be planning?"
Recalling the time when it was sealed by Hashirama Senju, the Nine-Tails' expression grew grim.
Yoruha's chakra bore an uncanny resemblance to that of Hashirama.
Though not entirely identical, it was brimming with vitality.
This type of chakra was extremely rare, seen only in Hashirama, the Sage of Six Paths, and his son Asura.
The Nine-Tails harbored a deep resentment toward Hashirama for sealing it.
However, glancing at the seal currently restraining it, the fox shook its head, closed its eyes, and went back to sleep.
Back on the battlefield, Zabuza, who had been hiding in the mist, was stunned by Yoruha's outburst of chakra.
In that brief moment, Zabuza felt an overwhelming pressure.
It was a type of chakra he had never encountered before.
What struck him the most was the sheer terror of Yoruha's chakra, which had completely dispelled the killing intent he and Kakashi had both conjured up.
Both of their killing intents had been forged with chakra.
For Yoruha's chakra to simultaneously negate that of two elite jonin was an extraordinary feat.
"This kid is definitely not ordinary. Kakashi must've recognized his strength to involve him in the fight," Zabuza thought to himself.
Kakashi glanced at Yoruha.
He understood why Yoruha had unleashed his chakra.
The combined killing intent from himself and Zabuza had placed an immense burden on Sasuke and the others.
If not for Yoruha, Sasuke might have actually stabbed himself.
What Kakashi didn't anticipate was how much stronger Yoruha's chakra had become.
"This guy really is a monster. Could it be because of that incident the other night?"
Kakashi speculated that Yoruha's sudden growth in chakra might be linked to the events of that fateful night.
However, the speed of his development had far surpassed Kakashi's expectations.
Yoruha, looking toward Zabuza hiding in the distant mist, said calmly, "Kakashi-sensei, you take the lead. I'll support you from the side."
Kakashi turned his head to look at Yoruha.
Kakashi: "Can you see where he is?"
Yoruha nodded slightly. "I can sense his chakra."
Kakashi froze. "Sensory ability?"
To sense Zabuza's chakra—this was a skill unique to sensory-type ninjas.
Yoruha not only had sensory abilities but could also pinpoint Zabuza's exact location.
This meant that Yoruha's sensory skills were exceptionally powerful.
Zabuza, however, was unaware that Yoruha had already located him.
With no further worries, Kakashi prepared to engage in the battle without restraint.
"He's on the surface of the lake," Yoruha said calmly.
Kakashi focused his chakra and used his Sharingan to look toward the lake.
In an instant, he spotted Zabuza standing on the water's surface.
Unbeknownst to Kakashi, Zabuza had also created a water clone.
As Kakashi prepared to attack Zabuza on the lake, Zabuza suddenly appeared in front of Tazuna.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were caught off guard, unable to react in time.
As Zabuza swung his Executioner's Blade toward Tazuna, the three tried to intervene but found themselves unable to move.
The oppressive killing intent of the jonin completely paralyzed them.
In a flash, Zabuza's attack was halted.
Tazuna was pushed away by a mysterious force, and Zabuza's hand, holding the massive blade, froze mid-air.
When everyone looked again, they saw Yoruha standing in front of Zabuza.
In Yoruha's hand, a kunai had already pierced Zabuza's chest.
But Yoruha's face showed no joy at the apparent victory. His expression remained calm and composed.
Moments later, water began dripping from Zabuza's chest—no blood, just water.
Yoruha glanced at Zabuza without any surprise.
It was merely a water clone.
The next second, Zabuza's water clone dissolved into a puddle.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura, who had collapsed to the ground, stared blankly at the scene before them.
From the lake, Kakashi observed Yoruha's actions, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Nicely done, Yoruha."
Although the attacker was just a water clone, if left unchecked, Sasuke and the others wouldn't have stood a chance against it.
Without intervention, the water clone might have truly killed Tazuna.
Tazuna, lying on the ground, let out a sigh of relief.
When Zabuza swung his blade earlier, he thought his life was over.
Looking at Yoruha, who calmly put away his kunai, Sasuke's expression turned grim.
"How can the gap between us be this wide? If I can't even surpass Yoruha, how can I ever kill that bastard?"
"I have to get stronger. Much stronger."
Naruto, meanwhile, was completely stunned. He couldn't believe the vast difference in skill between him and Yoruha.
Back in the academy, Yoruha had barely stood out.
They had all just graduated recently.
So how had the gap widened so drastically?
Naruto couldn't accept it.
They were the same age, and they had both just graduated from the ninja academy.
Why was Yoruha so much stronger than him?
On the other hand, Sakura felt an overwhelming sense of security.
On the lake, Zabuza, witnessing how Yoruha had effortlessly defeated his water clone, was visibly shocked.
"How is that kid so strong? He's supposed to be just a genin, right?"
"The combat experience and speed he just displayed are already at a jonin level."
"Who exactly is he? A prodigy trained by the Leaf Village?"
Zabuza was shaken by Yoruha's strength.
He had initially expected to face Kakashi and three mere genin.
Now, he was up against Kakashi, an elite jonin, and Yoruha, a ninja with strength that undoubtedly matched a jonin.
It was essentially a two-against-one situation.
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