This was absolute humiliation.
Even Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but sigh, deeply shaken.
Just Naruto surviving Zabuza's sudden sneak attack alone—if that scene were to spread—would be enough to make Naruto famous throughout the entire ninja world.
Surviving that kind of killing intent at such close range…
Is this what a true genius looks like?
Taking advantage of Zabuza's momentary surprise, Kakashi immediately acted. With a swift motion, the Water Clone standing before him collapsed into a puddle of liquid and dispersed completely.
His voice turned sharp and commanding.
"Sasuke. Hinata. You two protect Tazuna-san."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"Naruto," Kakashi continued gravely, "even if you miraculously survived that attack, Zabuza is not someone you can handle right now."
"Retreat immediately. Stay with Sasuke and Hinata and protect Tazuna-san."
"I'll deal with him personally."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Kakashi took a deep breath.
Then—for the first time in front of Team 7—he reached up and removed the forehead protector covering his left eye.
The moment it slid aside, a terrifying crimson light burst forth.
A Sharingan, red as blood.
Three tomoe spun rapidly, radiating an oppressive visual force that seemed to distort the air itself.
Devastating.
Sasuke's breath caught in his throat.
"…T-that eye…"
"The Sharingan?!"
"Kakashi-sensei… why do you have—"
The Sharingan.
The bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan.
After the clan's annihilation, Sasuke had believed that only two people in the entire ninja world still possessed it—himself and that cursed brother, Uchiha Itachi.
So why did Kakashi Hatake have one?
Even Zabuza felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"That eye…"
"So this is the legendary Sharingan?"
"It really does give off an ominous aura…"
Naruto, caught in the middle of the battlefield, swallowed nervously.
"Is this the same Sharingan as Sasuke's?!"
"Then why does Kakashi-sensei have one…?"
At that moment, Kakashi and Zabuza stood facing each other, with Naruto caught directly between them.
For a brief instant, neither of the two Jonin moved.
But Zabuza's mind was racing.
Team 7… that's his weakness.
As long as those brats were nearby, Kakashi would be forced to divide his attention.
If he kept attacking Naruto, Kakashi would have no choice but to protect him.
And that meant—
I'll never lose.
Zabuza's eyes flashed.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
The river behind him surged violently. A massive water dragon rose into the air, baring its fangs as it roared toward Naruto with overwhelming force.
But the next scene made Zabuza's blood run cold.
Almost simultaneously, Kakashi formed hand seals—perfectly synchronized.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Another water dragon erupted, identical in every way.
Like mirror images, the two dragons collided head-on.
BOOM!
Water exploded in every direction, drenching the battlefield.
Naruto staggered back, soaked from head to toe.
"What the—?!"
"Impossible…" Zabuza muttered, eyes wide. "Even if he could copy my technique, there's no way he could activate it at the exact same time…"
"Move, Naruto!" Kakashi barked.
Naruto didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward Sasuke and Hinata.
Zabuza snarled and charged again, executioner's blade raised high.
But before he could reach Naruto—
A figure appeared between them.
Kakashi.
Like an unbreakable wall.
Naruto finally reached the others, standing alongside Sasuke and Hinata as they guarded Tazuna.
Behind them—
A true battle began.
A fight to the death between Jonin.
"Naruto-kun… are you alright?" Hinata asked anxiously.
Naruto scratched his head and laughed.
"I'm fine! Someone as amazing as me can't be taken down that easily! Hahaha!"
Sasuke snorted. "I nearly got my head chopped off, and you're still bragging."
Naruto bristled. "What did you say, you jerk, Sasuke?!"
"Enough," Hinata said quickly. "Now isn't the time to argue."
They all understood the gravity of the situation.
The three formed a triangle, placing Tazuna safely at the center, watching Kakashi's battle from a distance.
A Jonin-level fight was far beyond what they could intervene in.
Steel clashed against steel.
Blades rang out.
Ninjutsu followed taijutsu, feints countered by traps, strategies answered with deception.
The sheer complexity of the battle left all three stunned.
"So this is what real Jonin combat looks like…" Naruto whispered.
"They're on a completely different level…"
"I never imagined Kakashi-sensei could be this strong," Sasuke muttered. "He always looks so lazy…"
Hinata glanced at Sasuke but said nothing.
She knew he was thinking about the Sharingan.
Suddenly—
Another figure carrying an executioner's blade calmly stepped out of the mist.
Kakashi's expression changed instantly.
"He still had another Water Clone?!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata were stunned.
Kakashi knew he couldn't divide his attention anymore.
Everything now depended on them.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Hinata!"
"Even if it's a clone, it's still a Jonin-level opponent!"
"You have no chance against it. Protect Tazuna-san and retreat immediately!"
Sasuke clenched his fists.
"Impossible."
"If we can't fight it, then retreating is impossible too."
"If that's the case… we might as well fight with everything we have!"
Kakashi sighed.
But Sasuke was right.
"You kids…" he muttered.
Zabuza laughed cruelly. "Kakashi, you don't have the luxury of worrying about those brats!"
His attacks intensified, pressing Kakashi relentlessly.
Meanwhile, the Water Clone had already closed in on Naruto's group.
"Perfect," it sneered. "I'll kill you brats first… then the old man."
Raising one hand, the clone performed another technique.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
The Land of Waves was already damp and saturated with moisture, providing the perfect environment.
Thick fog spread instantly, swallowing Naruto and the others whole.
Visibility dropped to zero.
The three instinctively stood back-to-back, shielding Tazuna.
"At this point," Sasuke said coldly, "the only option is to fight to the death."
"Hinata. Sasuke…"
"Let's go!"
Inside the dense mist, Naruto raised his arm and shouted passionately—
Only to erupt into violent coughing.
"Cough—cough—cough—!"
Hinata couldn't hide her worry.
"Naruto-kun… you've been training nonstop for three days."
"It's already evening, and you used Shadow Clone training all day."
"And earlier, you used the Wind Body Tremor Technique…"
"You're almost completely out of chakra, aren't you?"
She was right.
Naruto cursed internally.
Zabuza's timing was flawless—attacking him at the exact moment he was at his weakest.
But Naruto still forced a grin.
"Don't worry, Hinata! I've still got plenty of chakra left!"
"Just watch how I blow this mist away!"
"Wind Release: Great Break— cough, cough!"
Sasuke scoffed. "You're already exhausted. Stop showing off."
"I'll do it."
"Sharingan!"
At that moment, Sasuke finally activated his Sharingan.
Two tomoe spun rapidly, radiating intense eye power.
Hinata spoke immediately. "Naruto-kun, rest for now. Sasuke and I will handle this."
"Byakugan!"
Her veins bulged as her vision expanded.
In terms of perception, the Byakugan far surpassed the Sharingan.
Moments later—
"There!" Hinata pointed sharply.
A surprised voice echoed from within the fog.
"So it was the Hyuga clan's Byakugan…"
"And that kid with the Sharingan must be an orphan from the Uchiha clan…"
"Kakashi Hatake wasn't lying."
"Team 7 truly is exceptional."
"But unfortunately…"
"You'll all be buried here today."
The mist churned.
The real fight was just beginning.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)