"Senju Tsunade? Didn't she die ten years ago in an accident?" Rock Lee asked, somewhat bewildered.
The woman standing before them didn't quite match the image of Tsunade Senju that everyone had in their minds—except for Zabuza.
"Yes, even her hair and eye color are different. Tsunade Senju had brown hair and hazel eyes," Sakura thought, placing a finger to her chin.
"Then how is this possible? Did she survive the accident?" Lee questioned, gently laying Sasuke down, having grown tired. Shino, on the other hand, kept holding Naruto tightly, wary that someone might try to snatch him again.
"It's impossible she survived. Unless... the person who died back then wasn't this woman. But the body was found, and the autopsy confirmed it. It should have been Tsunade Senju without a doubt!"
"You brats, would you stop digging into the past of a dead person?" Tsunade snapped coldly, making the teens fall silent immediately.
Zabuza raised his sword, his patience wearing thin. "So, should I assume your visit here was only for chatter?"
"Still as impatient as ever. Just wait a little longer—the star is almost here," Tsunade replied calmly.
Zabuza closed his eyes, then suddenly swung his massive sword as if it were weightless and charged straight toward Shino, who was holding Naruto.
"Watch out, Shino!" Sakura shouted.
Shino was startled by Zabuza's speed and had no time to evade. He saw the giant blade descend toward him—
—but all he felt was a gust of wind. Tsunade stood in front of him, arms raised, having intercepted the blow.
"What pressure... I told you to calm down, didn't I?" Tsunade smirked, gripping Zabuza's blade with tightly wound threads wrapped around both her hands. The threads were sturdy enough to stop even a beastly weapon like his.
She lifted her leg and kicked Zabuza hard in the stomach, sending him flying backward several steps. Sakura was astonished by the sheer power of the woman, and the others were no less shocked.
Zabuza spat blood and held his stomach, glaring at Tsunade. "What kind of inhuman strength is that?"
"Inhuman? How narrow-minded. I simply stand at the peak of humanity," Tsunade replied coldly.
She moved her fingers in a precise manner, and the threads wound around them darted toward Zabuza. But with a horizontal swing, he sliced them apart.
"That won't work on me, Tsunade."
He placed his sword back on the ground but was caught off guard when he felt a strange tension. Upon closer inspection, he saw that threads were wrapped tightly around his blade, trying to pull it away.
"When?!"
He yanked the sword back before Tsunade could snatch it, tearing off the threads and growling, "Enough with your games."
"Games? This is how I fight. Because if I used my bare hands, I'd end up disfiguring your corpse," Tsunade smirked coldly as she prepared her threads once again, her eyes locked on Zabuza's slightest move.
Annoyed, Zabuza lunged with his massive blade. Tsunade dodged, stepping just out of range. The others, standing at a safe distance, could only watch the fight unfold from afar.
They couldn't interfere. If any of them tried, they'd only become a burden—or worse, get killed.
Eventually, the two paused. Zabuza placed his sword down, leaning on its sheath, breathing heavily. He hadn't expected this outcome. Since when had people been able to match him like this?
The thought brought back fragments of the past—memories he'd long buried. That white-haired boy. His grip tightened on his head.
"Why am I remembering him now...?"
He was anxious, tempted to retreat. Could he truly defeat Tsunade? Killing her would be nearly impossible. At best, they'd both end up dead.
Tsunade noticed his hesitation and smiled slowly. She knew he realized how bad his position was. She took a step forward, her voice calm.
"Do you see now that fighting me is pointless? Why not become a piece on my board—help me reveal the truth about him?"
"Spare me your damned nonsense. Hand over the boy. This time, I'm going for the kill."
He ignored her offer and raised his sword, bloodlust surging toward both Naruto and Tsunade. He no longer cared to bring the boy back alive. A dead body would suffice.
Tsunade gritted her teeth and readied herself. But Zabuza didn't go for her. He charged toward Shino again.
"You coward!" Sakura cried.
His massive blade was mere inches from slicing into Shino when a voice—one powerful enough to halt the blade—rang out.
"Stop, Zabuza!"
Zabuza froze, lips trembling beneath his mask. He turned his head toward the end of the alley. There stood a man with spiky white hair, clearly worn from a recent battle.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
The students gasped in unison. Cold sweat trickled down Shino's cheek as he kept holding onto Naruto, eyes glued to the newcomer.
"Kakashi... Hatake..."
Veins pulsed in Zabuza's head as he removed his mask, revealing a scar on his neck—one that Izumi had once noticed. His hand gripped it tightly, fury burning in his gaze.
"Every time I think of you... this scar stings..."
Kakashi exhaled calmly and removed his headband, revealing a wound over his closed eye. He glared back with equal hatred.
"I felt the same... I always wanted to kill you. I wish I had back then..."
The air between them grew sharp. The students looked at their teacher, stunned—he seemed like a stranger to them now.
"You should've killed me... back when you were stronger. Now, your blade will never reach me. None of you will."
Zabuza's voice was icy as he raised his sword again. He'd forgotten all about Tsunade, Naruto, and the mission. All he wanted now—was to cut Kakashi in half.
---
A Few Years Ago...
Three figures sat leisurely on the grass—Itachi, Sasuke, and Izumi. Sasuke had begged his brother to tell him stories of his high school days.
"A man with white hair appeared… His name was Hatake Kakashi..."
"Hatake Kakashi!!"
Sasuke's eyes sparkled with wonder. The story reached its peak, and his curiosity grew insatiable.
"What happened next? What happened next?!"
He raised his hands like a cheering fan, eagerly awaiting the rest. Izumi sighed in exasperation, resting her head on Itachi's lap.
"He arrived like a hero, fought off five members of the White Fang gang alone, and marked their leader, Zabuza, on the neck. He banned him from ever returning to school. He ended the White Fang legend."
"That's amazing! Hatake Kakashi... he's a true hero, isn't he?" Sasuke beamed at his brother, who, smitten by his younger sibling's enthusiasm, gently patted his head.
"To me... Hatake Kakashi is a hero."
---
"A true hero..."
The Uchiha boy whispered, eyes fluttering open. His gaze landed on the white-haired man—the hero who filled his childhood dreams. How could Sasuke have forgotten such a thing?
"Sasuke?... Are you awake?"
Ino, noticing his murmuring, looked at him anxiously. Rock Lee, too, was surprised to hear such words coming from Sasuke.
"So I wasn't imagining things..."
"Imagining what?" Ino asked, puzzled. But as Sasuke stirred, she gently placed both hands on his face, worried.
"Thank goodness you're okay... it's my fault this happened to you..."
Sasuke smiled softly and replied, "What are you saying? Without you... I couldn't have done anything. You saved us."
Ino's eyes welled with tears. Before she could stop herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "I'm so glad you're safe..."
From the side, Sakura watched silently, unnoticed by the others. Lee awkwardly looked away. Meanwhile, the tension between Zabuza and Kakashi thickened—neither breaking eye contact.
"You say my blade won't reach you... but one of you has already fallen by my hand."
Kakashi raised his hand, stained with blood—his small dagger still dripping.
"Still playing those acrobatic tricks? Haven't you grown up yet?" Zabuza sneered, irritated by his subordinate's defeat.
"Those 'acrobatic tricks' were what ended your legend back then, Zabuza."
Kakashi didn't wait. He lunged with startling speed. The students, except for Shino, were shocked at their teacher's combat prowess.
Zabuza raised his sword and blocked the attack. Steel clashed with a sharp clang. Kakashi danced back, aiming for Zabuza's throat, but Zabuza stepped away, countering with a sweeping blow.
Kakashi leapt back again. Though he'd lost the advantage, he hadn't lost the fight.
Zabuza pressed the attack. His strikes were relentless. One blow finally grazed Kakashi's leg, forcing the white-haired hero to a knee.
The students shouted in concern. Tsunade, however, remained quiet, observing closely—analyzing both fighters, their styles, and stamina.
Zabuza paused to enjoy the sight of Kakashi kneeling. He felt victorious.
"I told you. Those childish tricks mean nothing now. We're no longer kids. This is the world of true crime. Your blade and your feelings will never reach me."
He raised his sword for the kill.
But Kakashi wasn't done. His eyes burned with determination. He sprang forward and stabbed, the blade slicing Zabuza's side.
Wounded, Zabuza staggered back, blood seeping from the fresh gash.
"You're still playing those stupid games... You haven't changed at all."
Kakashi stood, adopting his unique stance. Though unsteady, he remained composed.
"That doesn't matter... I don't care what others say about my style. I defeat my enemies with it."
He had never abandoned his unorthodox style—fighting with a small dagger, striking like a ninja. It was his own, forged from his father's legacy.
The two warriors clashed again. Steel rang through the air as the students watched in awe—some even spellbound.
"This is incredible..." Rock Lee whispered, captivated.
"You're right. I've never seen a fight like this... it's amazing," Ino added.
"They're fighting... but it feels like they're trying to understand each other," Sakura observed quietly. She had fought Ino before—this felt similar.
Eventually, both fighters backed away, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. Zabuza's scarf had fallen. Kakashi's headband too. They stared at the wounds they had dealt each other.
"Let's end this, Kakashi. Either you die... or I do..."
Kakashi said nothing. But the killing intent between them spiked. They both charged—
Time seemed to freeze. Kakashi saw flashes of his life.
They clashed.
Then, they appeared behind each other, back-to-back.
The students gasped as blood poured from Kakashi's side.
But Zabuza... was bleeding from the neck—and collapsed.
"Damn it... damn it..."
Zabuza whispered through tears. Kakashi dropped to one knee, and his students rushed to him.
"This isn't fair... not then... not now... Why can't I beat him? What was I missing?"
He felt anger, sorrow, frustration—all blending into one.
Despair filled him, until—
"Mr. Zabuza...?"
.
.
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#To_Be_Continued