Chapter 7: Zabuza Appears!
The journey through the Land of Waves was quiet—too quiet. But suddenly, Kakashi froze, dropping into a defensive crouch. A massive broadsword spun through the air, cleaving into a tree trunk with explosive force. A masked man landed atop the hilt. Clad in a Kirigakure Hunter-nin uniform, his eyes burned cold.
It was Momochi Zabuza—Demon of the Hidden Mist, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
The atmosphere shifted immediately. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke felt an immense killing intent pierce the air. Kakashi recognized him instantly. Zabuza had once killed over a hundred Mist Academy students during their final exam. He wasn't just dangerous—he was a monster.
Kakashi responded by lifting his hitai-ate, revealing the Sharingan in his left eye. Sasuke stiffened in shock—his sensei possessed the Uchiha clan's dōjutsu? Sakura's jaw dropped. "So that's the legendary Sharingan…"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes. "Copy Ninja Kakashi… they say you've copied over a thousand techniques."
"And they say you're a demon," Kakashi replied calmly. "But I don't let my clients die."
With that, he ordered his team into a protective formation around Tazuna. Zabuza made a single seal—Mist began to rise unnaturally fast, thick and blinding.
"Silent Killing Technique…" Kakashi warned. "He's going to strike without sound or chakra."
The oppressive killing intent made Sasuke tremble uncontrollably. "So this… is what a real fight feels like?" Even Naruto's hands shook—until he clenched his fists and steadied his breath. He remembered Kakashi's smile before the fight. The message was clear: "You've trained. Now prove it."
Zabuza appeared among them without a sound. His massive blade was poised to decapitate all of them—until Kakashi intercepted him mid-swing with a kunai to the stomach.
Water exploded from the wound—just a Water Clone.
The real Zabuza emerged behind Kakashi and swung. But this Kakashi was also a clone. The real Kakashi appeared with a kunai pressed to Zabuza's neck. "You're not the only one who can use clones."
Zabuza smirked. "You think copying jutsu is enough?" In a sudden splash, he vanished again—a clone.
The real Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and struck hard, sending him crashing into a lake. Kakashi submerged—but too late, Zabuza had already begun weaving signs.
"Water Style: Water Prison Technique!"
With a roar, he trapped Kakashi in a spherical prison of water, immobilizing him. With one hand maintaining the prison, Zabuza used the other to form clones that marched toward Naruto and the others.
Sakura screamed. Sasuke hesitated. But Naruto understood the situation instantly. He shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A dozen Narutos charged to intercept the clones. One clone launched "Wind Style: Gale Palm," disrupting Zabuza's vision with dust and slicing wind. Zabuza faltered as a shuriken flew toward him—he dodged, but a shadow passed through the wind and smoke.
Naruto.
Zabuza blocked Naruto's kick with both arms, but the force sent him skidding backward, breaking his concentration. The Water Prison collapsed.
Kakashi coughed but smiled. "Nice job, Naruto."
Sakura gasped in awe. "He… forced Zabuza to release the jutsu?" Sasuke ground his teeth. "Is he… leaving me behind?"
Now freed, Kakashi wasted no time. He mimicked Zabuza's hand signs exactly. "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Two identical dragons formed and clashed. The shockwave tore through the trees. Zabuza was stunned. Kakashi had mirrored the jutsu before he completed it. How?
"No… is he reading my mind?"
Kakashi didn't stop. "Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A tsunami slammed into Zabuza, smashing him into a tree. Before he could move, Kakashi's kunai pinned his limbs. Just as Kakashi prepared to finish him, a senbon shot into Zabuza's neck—dead center in the jugular.
Zabuza collapsed, seemingly dead.
A masked figure emerged from the mist. "Thank you. As a Hunter-nin, it is my duty to eliminate rogue shinobi."
Kakashi checked Zabuza's body. Pulse gone. No sign of life. "So… he's really dead."
Naruto clenched his fists. "No, that's not a kill shot. That's a fakeout."
But he didn't speak up. Like in the original timeline, Naruto chose to wait—for the rematch he knew was coming. Haku bowed politely and took Zabuza's body.
Sakura was still pale from the intensity. Sasuke's knuckles were white. "That boy… he's my age, and he's already so deadly…"
Once the masked ninja departed, Kakashi collapsed. His chakra reserves, depleted from prolonged Sharingan use, had finally given out.
Naruto and Sasuke supported him, while Sakura guarded Tazuna. "Let's get to the house."
They all knew this wasn't over. The true battle—the one that would test everything—was yet to come.