Author's Note:
I'd really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on this chapter in the comments—whether you liked it, disliked it, or noticed any strengths or weaknesses.
Your feedback helps me understand what works and what needs improvement, and it also creates a space for readers to discuss the chapter and its events together.
Feel free to be honest and speak your mind. This story grows with you and because of you.
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[—
"It's over…" Kakashi stood on a tree branch, staring at Zabuza, who was pinned against the same tree with two kunai embedded—one in his arm and one in his leg.
"How…? Can you see the future?"
Zabuza was stunned, feeling as though he had reached a dead end before Kakashi, who seemed almost capable of foreseeing what would happen next.
"Yeah… You're going to die."
Kakashi tightened his grip on his kunai, his crimson eye fixing Zabuza with the gaze of a dead man.
But before he could finish him off, a sudden change occurred.
Two sharp needles appeared out of nowhere and pierced Zabuza's neck in a breathtaking instant.
"!!" Everyone was shocked as Zabuza collapsed to the ground, blood pouring out.
"Hehe… You're right. He's dead."
A masked figure appeared, standing on a nearby tree branch.
It seemed he was the one who had attacked Zabuza.
—]
"Impossible!… Killed… just like that…?"
"Who is that masked kid? Is he a missing-nin hunter?"
Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected Zabuza to fall so easily.
Although the battle between Kakashi and Zabuza had been intense, with both sides heavily exhausted after a fierce fight full of twists and turns, that didn't mean one of them would be defeated so simply.
Hiruzen could clearly gauge the level of both Kakashi and Zabuza in this fight—it was extremely close, with Kakashi holding only a slight edge.
Using his Sharingan, Kakashi was able to copy his opponent's movements, making it seem as though he could glimpse the future itself.
"But that still doesn't mean Zabuza would fall this easily… Something isn't right here."
Hiruzen's sharp instincts caught onto something strange about what had just happened.
He quickly turned the page to the next chapter.
Chapter 16!
…
"Is he dead…?"
Young Kakashi was stunned as he watched his counterpart declare Zabuza's death.
"If Kakashi says so, then he must really be dead…"
Sakumo sighed. Even he felt a vague sense that things weren't truly over, yet somehow, Zabuza had indeed been killed.
"He really was a terrifying opponent…"
Young Kakashi relaxed his tightly furrowed brows, finally easing after the bitter battle ended.
"I thought I'd see someone killed by my counterpart… but it looks like someone stole that achievement."
"Don't be angry… it seems Kakashi did the Hidden Mist Village a great service,"
Sakumo added.
…
"A member of the Hidden Mist's Hunter-ninja team? What's that, Dad?"
Young Gai asked in confusion. At such a young age, he didn't know much—and he certainly wasn't as sharp or informed as Kakashi, who was the same age.
"They're an elite sub-division of Kirigakure's ANBU forces."
His father, Dai, replied with what he knew. Although he was only a genin and had remained at that rank for many years without hope of promotion, his true strength was already at the jōnin level. He had clashed with shinobi from the Hidden Mist before and knew a bit about them.
It wasn't hard to identify the Kirigakure Hunter-ninja team.
…
"He took advantage of the perfect moment to kill Zabuza… what a little bastard…"
"I really want to know what kind of thick-skinned face is hiding behind that mask…"
"How lucky… Zabuza was completely drained from fighting Kakashi…"
"On the other hand, Zabuza was incredibly unlucky… I almost feel sorry for him."
"Why pity that bastard? Did you forget how he brutally beat Naruto and Sasuke?"
"But he was strong… he deserved respect."
"My god, I didn't expect Kakashi to be this amazing! Incredible! He defeated a monster like Zabuza!"
"Will that kid who studies with us at the Academy grow up to be as strong as Kakashi in the manga…?"
"My god, he's really incredible… I didn't know the Sharingan was this powerful! Just one eye completely incapacitated Zabuza."
"Haha! Look at Naruto—he can't understand how a kid his age managed to kill a monster like Zabuza…"
"He didn't kill him! He stole Kakashi's prey!"
The Academy children were in an uproar, exchanging opinions and correcting one another. Some argued over who had been the better fighter, who had benefited the most, who was stronger, and whether the young Kakashi would become an overwhelming force in the future.
Some even began to feel jealous of the Uchiha children, who had the chance to awaken the Sharingan—this terrifying dōjutsu that had displayed such fearsome power in a real battle through Kakashi.
Not only the Academy kids, but many adults as well—shinobi and civilians alike—didn't truly understand what the Sharingan meant. The Uchiha clan had always been relatively reserved about their true abilities.
Their battles often ended quickly, and the details were usually known only to the victors—most often the Uchiha themselves. Thus, in the minds of most people in Konoha, the Sharingan was merely a bloodline ability that gave its wielder a slight advantage, much like the Byakugan of the Hyūga clan—the second dōjutsu clan in Konoha.
But now, through the manga, that perception was completely overturned thanks to Kakashi.
The members of the Uchiha clan felt this clearly.
The events of the manga surrounded them like a massive hand, gradually lifting the fog and mystery around the ancient clan.
At that moment, sweat was clearly visible on the forehead of the clan head, Uchiha Hugaku.
"My son… it seems things are going to change a lot for us… I don't know whether that change will be for the better or not… but you must become strong… stronger than Kakashi. You have the potential."
"The future of the Uchiha clan will be in your hands."
Uchiha Hugaku said plainly to his son.
Fugaku felt the pressure of his father's words. He was not yet fifteen, currently only a chūnin. He had just awakened his Sharingan, with only one tomoe… at his current level, he couldn't possibly compare to someone like Kakashi in the manga.
Still, he clenched his fist, glanced at Mikoto—who was watching him with concern—and then said,
"I will, Father… don't worry. I'll protect the future of the Uchiha."
"Good. I trust you. Let's see where Uzumaki Rubiro's wild imagination takes this story…"
"And what fate awaits the Uchiha clan in his fictional tale?"
Uchiha Hugaku had his own view of what was happening in this manga.
Yet he couldn't quite grasp the source of his unease—that point, that realization, felt closer than ever, yet just out of reach.
'I only hope it won't be a tragic fate…'
Hugaku wished silently as he sighed.
He knew his clan's fate was bound to sorrow and conflict. To awaken the power of the Sharingan—how many fathers had killed their sons, and how many sons had killed their fathers and loved ones?
'Such a fate…' Hugaku sighed helplessly.
It seemed everything would eventually be revealed in this manga.
…
Far from the Land of Fire, mist enveloped the hills and mountains ahead as Rob walked calmly with both hands in his pockets.
Before him, the surrounding fog grew denser and denser—a clear sign that he had already left the Land of Wind and entered the Land of Water, where the Hidden Mist was drawing closer and closer.
Upon closer observation, Rob seemed completely invisible to the world. That's right—he was utterly unseen, like a ghost walking through the fog.
"It's here, at last…" said the invisible Rob with a smile as he gazed at the massive village gate.
The village was built between two enormous mountains, and on its gate was an emblem of four rivers—two stacked atop each other—a clear symbol of the area's aquatic nature.
"So this is the Hidden Mist Village… beautiful…"
Rob murmured. The Mist shinobi ahead seemed completely unaware as Rob passed them and entered.
'Heh~ it's really more modern and advanced than Konoha and Suna…'
Rob thought as he looked at the tall buildings and the chilly atmosphere, with fog that seemed unwilling to disperse.
'Time to open my third store in this world.'
Rob smiled as he ventured deeper into the Hidden Mist Village.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 69: Third Art Store Established – Kirigakure!
Chapter 70: Pandora's Box Opens!
Chapter 71: Believe Me, Mizukage, It's Just Fiction
Chapter 72: Manga Is Your Only Way to See the Depth of the Real World!
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