Everyone who saw the incident (Except Tazuna who couldn't see anything due to the fog and panic, and Sakura herself who had secretly launched the attack with her Magnet Release to deflect the kunai) was shocked to see a kunai that could change direction in mid-air as if controlled remotely.
It was an unusual maneuver.
Zabuza didn't have time to think about the kunai's strangeness.
His anger peaked.
He wanted to immediately slash Naruto, who was closest to him.
But Kakashi, who had managed to escape the water prison because Zabuza had to release it, moved quickly.
He easily blocked Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō slash with his own kunai.
"Naruto, fall back!" Kakashi ordered.
Although Kakashi still had many questions for Sakura regarding the deflected kunai, he knew this wasn't the time.
He had to wait until after he successfully defeated Zabuza.
The fierce battle between Kakashi and Zabuza resumed, this time much more intense than before.
The fog began to thin slightly as Zabuza was no longer focused on maintaining it.
Kakashi, with his Sharingan fully active, began to show why he was nicknamed the "Copy Ninja."
He successfully read and copied every water jutsu Zabuza used, even turning them back with greater power.
Culminating, Kakashi used one of the ultimate water jutsus he had just copied.
Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!
(Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!)
An incredibly strong and violent torrent of water, like a colossal collapsing waterfall, swept towards Zabuza with terrifying force.
Zabuza, who was already tiring and slightly wounded, had no time to dodge and was instantly swept into the strong current.
He was already injured and had no way to escape such a massive rush of water.
The rushing water continuously washed over and battered Zabuza.
Zabuza's body was slammed hard against a large tree on the riverbank, and he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
He lay there weakened.
"It's over!"
Kakashi said, slightly out of breath, walking towards the helpless Zabuza with a kunai in hand, ready to end the fight.
Just as Kakashi was about to cut Zabuza's neck with the kunai to ensure he could no longer move, two soft yet sharp whistling sounds were suddenly heard.
Swish! Swish!
Two senbon needles, gleaming with cold silver light, shot out from the direction of the trees and pierced directly into a vital point on Zabuza's neck.
Instantly, his eyes, which had still shown resistance, now widened in surprise, before finally dimming.
Zabuza fell to the ground with a soft thud and lay motionless beside the large tree.
Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto simultaneously turned towards the direction the senbon came from.
They saw a figure standing gracefully on a tree trunk not far away.
Long black hair fluttered gently in the wind, and they wore a white Kirigakure Anbu mask with a distinctive pattern on its face.
Kakashi carefully extended his finger and touched Zabuza's neck, checking his pulse.
"He... he's indeed dead,"
Kakashi muttered, slightly surprised by this sudden end.
The mysterious masked newcomer bowed slightly to Kakashi as a sign of respect.
"Thank you very much for your help," the figure said, their voice sounding young, perhaps Genin-aged, yet their tone was calm and professional.
"I have been waiting for an opportunity to kill Zabuza Momochi."
Kakashi frowned and looked at the mysterious newcomer intently.
"That mask... you are a hunter-nin from Kirigakure?"
"As expected of you, Kakashi-san. You know a lot," the mysterious newcomer said in a very humble tone, confirming their identity.
After a brief subsequent conversation, the mysterious newcomer informed everyone of their identity as a member of Kirigakure's Anbu, tasked with hunting down and eliminating rogue ninja like Zabuza, as well as retrieving any village secrets he might carry.
'This kid... they should be around Naruto's age and the others, yet they're already a hunter-nin, an Anbu member. Ruthless and efficient,'
Kakashi was secretly shocked.
Kakashi might have forgotten that when he was Naruto's age, he had already reached the rank of Jonin.
Just then, Naruto, who could no longer contain his emotions, rushed out and shouted at the mysterious newcomer:
"Hey, you! Why did you do that?! You're still so young, the same age as us!"
Naruto's face showed a mixture of anger, confusion, and frustration.
"How could you just kill Zabuza so easily?! He... he didn't even have a chance to fight you!"
Sakura and Sasuke just watched from the sidelines, still processing the rapid turn of events.
However, Kakashi walked over to Naruto and spoke to him in a calming tone, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder:
"Naruto, calm down. I understand your disbelief and anger."
Kakashi said softly.
"But this is also the reality of the ninja world."
He sighed.
"There are children in this world who may be smaller than you, yet can be far stronger and more ruthless than even I."
The mysterious newcomer, standing on the tree trunk, ignored Naruto's protest.
They turned into a thin puff of smoke and appeared beside Zabuza's body the next moment with an almost invisible movement.
Then they carefully lifted Zabuza's lifeless body onto their shoulder.
"Your fight should be over now," they said to Team 7.
"I must dispose of this corpse as soon as possible."
They looked at Zabuza's body.
"After all, the body of a missing-nin like him holds too many village secrets that must not fall into the wrong hands."
"Alright. I'll take my leave now."
Then they turned into a gust of wind and disappeared on the spot with Zabuza's body, as if they had never been there.
Naruto knelt on the ground in anger and despair.
He punched the ground repeatedly with his fists.
"Why! How could this happen! What are we doing here?!" he shouted in frustration.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
He felt useless and angry at himself for not being able to do more.
Sakura shook her head at Naruto's reaction.
She walked to Naruto's side and crouched beside him.
"Naruto," she said in a sincere yet gentle tone,
"Please be more careful with your feelings. This is the ninja world. Things like this... will happen often. We have to be strong."
Hearing Sakura's calming words, Naruto slowly stopped punching the ground, though his shoulders still trembled.
"Everyone! Don't let your guard down! Our mission isn't over yet!"
Kakashi shouted to the others, his voice firm, reminding them of their main objective.
Sakura helped pull Naruto to his feet.
Tazuna, who had only been able to hide and tremble in fear, finally dared to speak with a relieved smile.
"Yosh! You all were great! Come on, let's go to my house and rest well from now on. You must be very tired after that fight."
Then the group was about to continue their journey.
However, Kakashi had only taken two steps when he suddenly felt a severe dizziness.
His vision blurred, and he fell to his knees, almost fainting.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto and Sakura shouted in unison, immediately rushing over.
Sakura quickly checked Kakashi's condition.
"Naruto, it's okay," she said after a moment.
"Kakashi-sensei seems to be just exhausted."
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief hearing Sakura's explanation.
Then, with some help from Tazuna, Naruto and Sasuke together supported the semi-conscious Kakashi, continuing their journey towards Tazuna's house in the Land of Waves.
In Tazuna's simple house, amidst the morning silence broken by the distant sound of crashing waves, Kakashi finally awoke.
His head felt heavy and throbbed.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura immediately surrounded the futon where Kakashi lay.
Their faces showed relief as well as curiosity.
"Ugh, why do I feel a little uneasy?"
Kakashi said, holding his still-aching forehead, trying to sit up.
"It feels like something is bothering me."
"What? What is it, Kakashi-sensei?"
Naruto asked worriedly, moving closer.
"Are you still not feeling well?"
"It's not that, Naruto,"
Kakashi shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowing as he tried to recall the details of yesterday's fight.
"Did you notice the weapon that masked kid used to 'kill' Zabuza?"
Sasuke, who had been silent, seemed to remember something. His eyes widened slightly.
"Senbon?!" he exclaimed softly, more to himself.
"Could it be!"
Sakura chimed in, her analytical brain immediately connecting the dots.
Senbon were usually used to paralyze, not kill instantly unless they hit a very specific vital point.
Kakashi nodded in agreement, looking at his students seriously.
"Yes, Sakura, Sasuke. It's just as you thought. Senbon can indeed kill, but the method that kid used... is more like a technique to put someone in a state of suspended animation."
He paused for a moment, letting the implication of his words sink in.
"I'm afraid... Zabuza Momochi is still alive."
When those words left Kakashi's mouth, Naruto immediately exclaimed in shock.
"WHAT?! STILL ALIVE?! NO WAY! Didn't we see him die, Sensei?!"
Sakura glanced at Naruto beside her with slight annoyance, wondering inwardly why the blond boy always had to shout and snap for every little thing, as if he had never seen the world and all its deceptions.
But she could understand Naruto's shock.
Now that things were clearer, and the potential threat of Zabuza still lingered, Kakashi decided to give them more intensive training.
This training was aimed at helping them face emergencies and tougher battles in the future.
In a lush forest not far from Tazuna's house, sunlight only managed to shine faintly onto the ground through the dense canopy.
The rustling of leaves in the wind and the songs of summer insects could be heard all around, creating a calm yet potent atmosphere.
Kakashi stood before his three students with the help of two simple wooden crutches Tazuna had made for him.
His legs were still a bit weak from the overuse of his Sharingan.
He began the training session by re-explaining the definition and fundamentals of chakra to Naruto, who, despite being able to use some jutsu, still had a very poor basic understanding.
"What? Basic training again?"
Naruto said with great dissatisfaction, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"I already know some great ninjutsu, dattebayo! My Kage Bunshin was even really useful yesterday!"
Sasuke, for once, agreed with Naruto.
"Like Naruto said, Sensei. Some of us can already use ninjutsu. Wouldn't it be better if we practiced fighting techniques?"