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Kakashi was free! From here on, things were going to become troublesome again, and all of it was because of that kid ahead!
"Die!"
Zabuza raised the Fuma Shuriken he had caught earlier and began spinning it furiously, preparing to hurl it at Naruto.
At this moment, Naruto was still suspended in mid-air, utterly incapable of dodging. He was as good as dead!
Clang!
However, in the very second before Zabuza could release the Fuma Shuriken, a hand blocked it with sheer, brute force.
It was Kakashi!
Kakashi habitually wore a pair of gloves, and on the back of these gloves was a layer of metal plating. It was this metal plating that Kakashi used to block the Fuma Shuriken in Zabuza's grasp.
Even so, blood began to trickle down Kakashi's hand.
Kakashi stared fixedly at Zabuza, who in turn glared back at Kakashi. The two remained silent, locked in a tense stare-down for a moment.
Zabuza understood clearly that the real battle was only beginning. He had already managed to trick Kakashi once before; it was unlikely he could deceive him again with the same method.
This indeed proved to be the case, as Kakashi was the first to break the silence.
"Let me tell you something right now. The same trick won't work on me a second time. What are you going to do about it?"
"Hmph!"
Zabuza snorted coldly, increased the strength in his arm, and pressed down hard on the Fuma Shuriken, trying to force it through Kakashi's guard.
A sudden, sharp pain caused Kakashi's eyes to widen.
Reacting swiftly, Kakashi mustered his strength and pushed violently, sending the Fuma Shuriken flying out of Zabuza's hands.
Tap, tap!
Both men stepped back across the water's surface, retreating a certain distance before coming to a halt.
Zabuza raised both hands and began forming hand signs.
Boar, Monkey, Hare, Rat, Boar, Dog, Boar...
The Sharingan in Kakashi's eye spun slightly. To Zabuza's shock, Kakashi also began forming hand signs—and they were exactly the same as Zabuza's!
Within the mist, a voice spoke with a hint of surprise.
"Perfect synchronization. Truly impressive. As expected of the Copy Ninja, I suppose?"
Kakashi using his Sharingan to copy Zabuza's ninjutsu was not particularly surprising in itself. What truly astonished the speaker, Kagaya, was that Kakashi's speed in forming the seals was completely identical to Zabuza's!
One must understand that when the Sharingan copies a technique, it fundamentally requires observing the opponent's hand seal sequence first, then "stealing" it via the Sharingan and replicating the signs.
This process generally meant that the one being copied would release the jutsu a step ahead of the copier. After all, the copier was, in essence, following the lead of the one being copied; it was impossible to be faster.
Yet now, Kakashi, while supposedly copying Zabuza's technique, had achieved perfect synchronization in forming the seals.
This situation should have been impossible. Since it was happening now, there was only one explanation!
Kakashi had already completely seen through Zabuza's technique!
This could no longer be credited solely to the Sharingan. It was more a testament to Kakashi's vast knowledge of ninjutsu and his rich combat experience.
Zabuza was likely about to perform the Water Dragon Bullet Technique. Since Kakashi also knew this jutsu, he was simply forming the seals alongside Zabuza, creating the illusion that the copier had surpassed the one being copied.
It was deeply demoralizing to face an opponent who not only used your own technique against you but executed it even better than you did.
Kakashi's actions here could also be considered a form of psychological warfare.
On the river's surface, Kakashi and Zabuza completed their hand signs simultaneously.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Two massive water dragons surged up from the river, entwined with each other in mid-air, and collided with tremendous force.
Following the impact, the two water dragons dissipated, sending vast quantities of river water cascading down.
Sasuke paid no attention to the falling water around him, his gaze firmly locked on Kakashi and Zabuza.
'To complete such complex hand signs in mere seconds... and to perfectly copy his technique on top of that!'
This was Sasuke's first time witnessing an exchange of ninjutsu between elite Jonin.
Sakura, shielding Tazuna, wore an expression of utter disbelief.
'What's going on? Is this... ninjutsu?'
The enormous volume of water plummeting from the sky washed onto the banks, its momentum overwhelming. This kind of battle, which mobilized the forces of nature to create such a spectacle, was almost unbelievable to Sakura.
Zabuza swung his Executioner's Blade at Kakashi, who blocked it with a single kunai.
Zabuza stared intently at Kakashi, unable to comprehend how Kakashi had managed to release the jutsu at the exact same time as him.
The Sharingan was supposed to first memorize the opponent's technique before replicating it. So how could this guy synchronize the release with him?
'It can't be...'
With this thought, Zabuza exerted force and leapt backward to create distance.
Kakashi mirrored the movement, jumping back as well.
Their actions were identical.
Within the mist, Kagaya clicked his tongue.
"What a nasty personality."
Kakashi's behavior, completely mimicking Zabuza's actions, was undoubtedly a form of contempt. It gave off a feeling of "Let me show you how it's done."
Defeating someone using their own techniques and identical movements was infuriating.
After creating distance, Zabuza extended his hands once more, preparing to form another set of hand signs.
Kakashi, unchanging, mirrored Zabuza's posture and spoke to him.
"Looking pretty cocky with those eyes, aren't you?"
Zabuza glared at Kakashi. A sense of foreboding was already growing in his heart, but he stubbornly retorted.
"Hmph! It's just copying, nothing more than rehashing old tricks—"
"You can't win against me, you cheap mimic!" Kakashi finished the sentence in unison with Zabuza, as if he had even seen through what Zabuza was about to say.
This provocative mimicry finally shattered Zabuza's cool. He snarled, his hands moving into a final, desperate sequence of signs.
"I'll make sure that monkey mouth of yours can never speak again!"
Within the mist, Kagaya shook his head slightly.
"Alright, Karin, Haku. Get ready to clean up the aftermath."
Kagaya saw the situation clearly. This time, Kakashi did not deliberately follow Zabuza's hand signs. Although it was still the same technique, Kakashi was now faster!
Sure enough, in the next moment, Zabuza was still forming seals while Kakashi had already completed his.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive torrent of water surged towards Zabuza, completely interrupting his hand signs and sweeping him up in a violent current that crashed mercilessly onto the riverbank.
To an observer, it appeared as though a giant waterspout had erupted from the river and slammed into the shore.
The scale of this jutsu was indeed considerable. Even Kagaya and his companions, positioned some distance away, were affected. However, in the next instant, the three of them used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from the water's surface.
It was like a miniature tsunami had erupted. Trees in the forest were submerged up to half their height.
Zabuza, carried by the raging water, was slammed into a tree trunk. Immediately after, several shuriken flew out, embedding themselves in his body.
At this point, it was already impossible for Zabuza to continue a head-on fight with Kakashi.
Kakashi stood on a branch of the very tree Zabuza was slumped against, looking down at him.
"This ends here for you."
Then, Kakashi shifted his gaze to another branch on the same tree.
"So, what will you do now?"
On that branch, Kagaya and his companions stood quietly.
Kakashi knew perfectly well that the real crisis was only just beginning!