28 Zabuza's 'Death'

The woods were dead quiet. Only the leaf rustling sound could be heard, along with some animal sounds from far away. Somewhere in the forest, a group of people was staring at a lone man. The man had a broad sword in his hand. His expression couldn't be seen very well because half of his face was covered.

"Well... Well… If it isn't the mist's missing nin Zubuza Momochi."

"This is going to be a little tough."

Kakashi said as he lifted his head protector, revealing his Sharingan. Sasuke's eyes widened upon seeing his red eyes with three tomoe.

'Is Kakashi sensei an Uchiha too?'

Sasuke's thoughts were all over the place. Many unanswered questions erupted within him. But he suppressed them as he focused his mind on the battle again.

"I'm honored", Zabuza looked intently into Kakashi's eyes. "I finally got to see the famous Sharingan... As well as Kakashi, the famous nin who is said to have copied over 1,000 jutsu."

"What's going on?" Sakura asked without understanding what was taking place.

Sasuke still couldn't process the information: 'Sharingan is a unique trait, appearing to only a few members of the Uchiha clan… How come Kakashi sensei has it?'

While this was happening, Naruto made no moves and let the events play out.

"Talks are over." Zabuza got into a jumping position. "I have to kill that old man now. Don't get in my way. We have no issues with each other."

Tazuna had shivers running all over his body. He was frozen in place and stared at Zubuza. His hands were trembling and his knees were clenched together. Tazuna wanted nothing but to run away. However, his body refused to listen to him.

"Don't worry. We won't let him get to you." Sakura went near Tazuna and consoled him.

Zubuza saw Kakashi was still not budging. "It seems I have to kill you first." He sighed as he used 'Hidden Mist no Jutsu'.

He disappeared without leaving any trace.

"Guys, be on your toes. He's going to come after me first. Don't ever be careless now. Zabuza is specialized in silent killing."

Kakahsi said as he focused his Sharingan through the ever-increasing mist after Zabuza used his jutsu.

Meanwhile, everyone except Naruto was sweating all over, uncertain when they would be killed. The hands of Sakura and Sasuke were trembling at the premonition of death looming around them in the dead quiet mist.

"It's over now."

A voice was heard behind Tazuna. Following that, the broad sword came, threatening to slice him in two.

However, his attacks didn't work as Kakashi blocked Zabuza's attack. Without wasting a second, Zabuza got behind Kakashi and cleaved him in two from his waist. Although the blood he expected didn't come as Kakashi turned into a puddle of water.

"You copied my jutsu," Zabuza exclaimed as he also got attacked by Kakashi and turned into water.

Naruto, who saw this, took it as a clue and got into the fight.

"SASUKE! SAKURA! Cover me from behind. Don't let him get behind me."

He ran at breakneck speed towards Zabuza, who was hiding in the mist and directed a kick at his waist. Seeing the attack, Zabuza quickly used his Kubikiribōchō to block the attack. Unknown to him, Naruto had placed a tracking seal on his broadsword. That split second of touching was enough for Naruto.

Noticing the strength behind his punch, he knew it would do him no good to fight him in close quarters.

Taking this chance, Kakashi attacked Zabuza with his kunai aimed at his throat.

'Since everyone knows it already, there is no point in hiding it anymore, I guess,' Naruto thought, wanting to speed up his plans.

"Shadow clone Jutsu"

Suddenly, hundreds of copies of Naruto appeared all around the fighting grounds. All of them had serious expressions as they took a fighting stance, directing their kunais at Zabuza.

He knew all his escape routes had been cut off. "How can this be?"

Not wanting to accept his defeat, he fought shadow clones over and over, trying to clear a path. Although the shadow clones didn't offer him much resistance, their sheer numbers made up for that.

Kakashi's relentless attacks didn't help him either. All this while Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna looked at Naruto's clones with their mouths hanging open in stiff postures. They didn't even have anything to do now.

"Are all these clones real?" Sakura asked with a shaky voice. She couldn't believe Naruto was able to produce that many clones of himself. Not just projection, even.

While all this was happening, Haku was looking at the scene of Zubuza being defeated, clasping her hands together. Noticing he may even be killed in this situation, she took out some senbon and approached the scene.

After getting on a branch close enough, she directed her senbon to Zabuza's neck and vital points, killing him. Well, he seemed to be dead to others.

'So you finally decided to intervene?'

Naruto looked at Haku, who wore a mask on top of a nearby tree branch. He knew Haku would need some space to use senbons. So he subtly made some space with his clones, just enough for her to do his work.

He couldn't lose a good workforce now. Can he?

However, others were startled to see Zabuza fall dead in front of them.

'It seems like he is a hunter." Kakashi thought as he looked at the unknown person who killed Zabuza. He also made sure to check his pulse to see whether he was really dead.

"Thank you for your help. I have been searching for him for a long time."

Haku said as she bowed slightly.

"Are you a hunter nin from the mist?"

"Indeed. My duty is to hunt down missing nins. I am a member of the hunting team."

After that exchange, Haku appeared next to Zabuza.

"He holds many secrets to our village. I hope you won't disrupt me from taking his body and belongings."

Not wanting to have any conflict with the mist village's official work, Kakashi could only watch Haku disappear in front of his eyes using a technique.

Although Kakashi didn't see the mist village hunter's face, looking at him, Kakashi believed him to be someone important, seeing how young he is.

──────𖥔⋅⋅──❀──⋅⋅𖥔──────

"We are finally here."

Tazuna said as he pointed toward the village.

***

<Naruto Pov>

We finally reached the village after traveling for a while.

Sasuke asked many questions along the way about Kakashi's Sharingan. But he didn't get much of an answer.

On the other hand, both Sakura and Sasuke were interested in Naruto's shadow clones and wanted to learn the technique.

However, after Kakashi told them how much chakra was needed for them to pull it off, they dropped the subject.

'I wonder where Zabuza is now.'

I thought as I checked the tracking mark.

My mouth curled up, seeing the mark moving through the forest.

I plan to give them two choices. It was either to follow me or enjoy eternal peace.

Since I am going to show them a portion of my true power, I would not have the choice to let them go since that would make me compromised.

I mean, following me is the least they could do for the favor I'm doing them. I'm literally saving them from their deaths.

I would probably have to use the Uzumaki curse seal to ensure they don't betray me. Otherwise, everything I've done so far will go out of control if I change the future without being careful.

<Pov End>

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