Just as Sakura was scolding Naruto—
A massive blade suddenly came flying from the distance.
Whoooom—whoooom—whoooom—
The giant sword tore through the air at terrifying speed.
The moment he sensed it, Kakashi shouted:
"Everyone, get down!"
Although no one understood what was happening, they instinctively obeyed and dropped flat to the ground.
The blade swept just above their heads and slammed into a large tree with a heavy thud.
The next second—
A man wearing a Kirigakure forehead protector appeared, standing atop the blade with his back facing them.
Everyone stared at him in shock and confusion.
Kakashi stepped forward, placing himself in front of the group. His expression turned serious.
"So it's you… the rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist—Zabuza Momochi."
"It looks like things just got troublesome."
Behind him, Naruto immediately pulled out a kunai and rushed forward.
"Finally! This time I won't lose to Sasuke or Orion!"
Still frustrated by his earlier failure, Naruto saw this as his chance to prove himself.
But before he could get far—
Kakashi stopped him.
"Don't interfere. He's not an opponent you can handle."
Naruto frowned stubbornly.
"This time I won't mess up like before!"
Kakashi's expression hardened.
This wasn't like facing a couple of chūnin.
Zabuza was an elite jōnin.
Even Kakashi himself had to be cautious—one mistake could cost him his life.
At the same time, Zabuza's eyes narrowed as he looked at Kakashi.
"…The Copy Ninja, Kakashi of the Sharingan."
"No wonder those two brothers failed."
Hearing that, Sasuke froze.
"Sharingan…?"
"Kakashi… has the Sharingan?"
Since the fall of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke had believed he was the only one left.
Sakura looked confused.
"What's a Sharingan?"
Naruto also asked,
"Yeah, Kakashi-sensei, what's that?"
Kakashi remained silent.
Sasuke answered instead, his voice low:
"The Sharingan is a dōjutsu that can see through ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu."
Zabuza glanced at Sasuke and added:
"That's right. And it can also copy an opponent's techniques."
"Kakashi Hatake… even back in Kirigakure, your name was listed in the bingo book."
"The 'Copy Ninja'—a dangerous man said to have copied over a thousand jutsu."
Naruto and Sakura were stunned.
They had heard Orion mention Kakashi's strength before—but now they truly understood it.
Sakura muttered,
"So Kakashi-sensei really is that strong…"
Naruto stared in disbelief.
"A thousand jutsu… that's insane…"
But Sasuke's focus never left Kakashi.
He didn't care about the number of jutsu.
He only cared about one thing—
The Sharingan.
Kakashi stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Zabuza.
"This is going to be a tough fight."
"Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura—form a defensive formation. Protect Tazuna."
Then he looked at Orion.
"Orion… this will be our first time fighting together."
Orion calmly stepped beside Kakashi, already holding a kunai.
Sasuke and the others were unwilling—but they knew the truth.
They weren't as strong as Orion.
The three of them quickly formed a protective triangle around Tazuna.
Zabuza glanced at Orion.
He couldn't sense anything special.
"You trust that kid quite a bit."
"Is he your student?"
Kakashi didn't answer.
Instead—
He slowly lifted his forehead protector.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
When Kakashi revealed his left eye—
A three-tomoe Sharingan appeared.
Sasuke froze.
"A Sharingan… and a fully matured one…"
"Even among the Uchiha… only a few awaken this…"
"Could Kakashi… be from the Uchiha Clan?"
Naruto and Sakura were equally shocked.
They had never seen such an eye before.
"What kind of eye is that…?"
"Why does it feel so… terrifying?"
They could clearly feel the killing intent radiating from Kakashi.
Even Naruto felt instinctively uncomfortable.
Zabuza smirked.
"You think I'd fight you on a battlefield that favors you?"
The moment he spoke—
Mist began to rise around them.
Thick fog rapidly spread, swallowing everything.
Visibility dropped to near zero.
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura immediately raised their kunai, nerves on edge.
But Orion remained calm.
Even though the fog obscured everything—
He could still clearly sense Zabuza's chakra.
Kakashi frowned.
"Using the Hidden Mist Technique to block my vision…"
"As expected of Zabuza."
Then he said,
"Orion, stay close to me."
"This is Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique."
"Be alert."
But Orion didn't respond.
His gaze remained fixed ahead—
Locked onto Zabuza's position.
Even within the dense mist, Zabuza's movements were completely clear to him.
Kakashi's expression changed.
No response?
For a moment, he thought—
Something had happened to Orion.
Boom—
Kakashi released a burst of chakra.
The force blasted away the surrounding mist instantly.
Orion's figure appeared clearly.
Seeing him unharmed, Kakashi let out a breath.
"Why didn't you answer?"
Orion smiled slightly.
"I thought you'd be able to sense me, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi shook his head, speechless.
"Focus. He's an elite jōnin. Don't let your guard down."
Meanwhile—
Behind them—
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were trembling.
"This… is what a jōnin battle feels like…?"
The killing intent alone crushed their minds.
It felt suffocating.
Hopeless.
Like death itself.
Sasuke's eyes lost focus.
He slowly raised his kunai—
And aimed it at his own stomach.
His mind had been overwhelmed by the killing intent.
Naruto, too, stood frozen—
Fear filling his face.
Even the will to fight…
Was beginning to disappear.
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