Chapter 24: A Deadly Encounter

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Dialogue

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 24: A Deadly Encounter

"Attacked?" Sakura looked around. Everything appeared to be tranquil. "I don't see anyth—"

Naruto put his hand on the back of her head and pushed her down, as well as Tazuna.

"Ahh! Naruto, what are you d—"

A moment later, something massive flew over their heads and ended up hitting a tree.

"A sword?...wait," Sasuke was staring at the giant sword when a tall man appeared on top. "A ninja."

"Momochi Zabuza, a missing ninja from the Mist Village," Naruto said.

They all turned to Naruto and looked at him like he had grown a second head.

"What? I read the Bingo Book. It seems useful to memorize it before going outside," Naruto told them.

"But you didn't know who those two guys from before were," Sakura said, cleaning the dust from her clothes.

"I only paid attention to the highest rank criminals…like this one," Naruto stared at Zabuza.

"Haha! You have some clever newbies…Sharingan Kakashi," Zabuza spoke directly to Kakashi. His eyes did not move away from the silver-haired ninja even for a moment.

Sasuke reacted at the name. His eyes moved to the back of his teacher.

'Sharingan?...could it be?'

"Everyone, get back. Like Naruto just said…this opponent is on another level. I will handle this," Kakashi stepped forward. His left hand moved away the bandana covering his left eye.

"I'll have to use this…it's been a while."

"Just save yourself the trouble, Kakashi. Give me the old man and I will leave you alone. There is no need for this," Zabuza offered.

Kakashi ignored his words and instead addressed his students. "Surround and protect the client. That is your only job."

The bandana was moved away from his left eye, revealing something bizarre. His iris was red and he had three pupils circling around it in the shapes of some 'tomoes'.

"What is that?" Naruto, near Kakashi's side, could see the eye clearly. Even in his previous life, he had never seen an eye look like that.

There were some disciplines that could manipulate the eyes and by the use of many alchemy ingredients, they would eventually change the same slightly. But not to this point.

"Oh…I get to see the famous Sharingan. I am honored," Zabuza spoke.

"Sharingan," Sasuke repeated.

"This is the Sharingan? Isn't that a technique from the Uchiha clan?" He had read some basic things about Konoha clans but didn't have time to delve very in-depth into them since he had other priorities.

Not that there was much information about the clans' unique techniques. Those things were kept secret and guarded well.

"Is it true then? Does that eye allow you to analyze and copy techniques with just one glance? In my country, they call you Copy Ninja Kakashi, the man with over one thousand ninja techniques," Zabuza said.

'Copy techniques with one glance? Can that eye do that?' Naruto could not help but feel a tinge of greed while staring at Kakashi. If he could have an eye like that…it would make his learning process so much faster.

'Huh?...what's going on there?' He noticed the look of suspicion and anger in Sasuke's eyes.

'I guess he dislikes the fact that someone else is using his clan technique. He may think that Kakashi stole it,' Naruto concluded.

But he was sure that their teacher would not have stolen anything. He had only known the man for a few weeks, but Naruto could tell that Kakashi was a very righteous individual. This means there must be a good explanation for his possession of the Sharingan.

"Well…since you are not in the mood for a talk…" Zabuza stated. "I'm going to have to kill that old man now."

The ninja disappeared from the tree, along with his sword, and in the next instant, he was standing on top of the lake.

"Hidden Mist technique…" As Zabuza said this, a very thick mist manifested around him and began to envelop everything in the surroundings.

"He's gone!" Sasuke said.

"I can't see anything!" Sakura started to panic.

"He'll come after me first," Kakashi said, trying to calm his students in the process. "He used to be an elite ninja from the Mist Village…back then he was well known for his expertise in silent killing. You won't know he's coming until you are already dead."

"Can't that eye see through this mist? It is a ninja technique after all," Naruto pointed out.

"To some degree, yes. But I can't use the Sharingan perfectly since I am not an Uchiha. So be very careful," Kakashi warned them.

"The mist is getting thicker…and closer," Naruto noticed.

"Liver, lungs, spine, clavicle vein, neck vein, brain, kidney, heart. Which one should I go after?" The voice of Zabuza was heard from all around them, making it impossible to pinpoint an exact direction.

Along with it, the group was hit by a very intense bloodlust intent.

'Oh? It's been a while since I felt this,' Naruto was reminiscing about his past while his teammates trembled in terror.

"Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto! Don't worry, I will protect you all with my life. I don't let my comrades die!" Kakashi said with confidence. With this, he was able to dispel most of the effects caused by Zabuza on them.

But the attack had just begun.

The Mist ninja appeared in the middle of the group, with his back against the old man.

"It's over." He twisted his body and with a knife in hand, he prepared to kill Tazuna.

Kakashi had been more than ready for this and immediately drove a kunai into Zabuza's chest and pushed him further away from his students.

"Behind you!" Naruto warned his teacher.

As Kakashi heard this, he noticed the ninja in front of him began to dissolve into water.

"A clone."

The real one was behind him, with his massive sword raised in the air and just a moment away from cleaving him in half.

"Teacher!"

"Kakashi!"

His students screamed when they saw Zabuza's sword cut him at his waist.

But much like the Mist ninja…Kakashi had also created a water clone. The real one was now standing behind Zabuza with a kunai aimed at his neck.

"It's over. Don't move," Kakashi said.

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