Naruto: I Am Uchiha Sasuke!?

"I didn't expect that Konoha's famous Copy Ninja, the man who has supposedly copied a thousand jutsu, would have heard of me."

The corner of Zabuza's mouth twitched into a smirk.

"Kakashi, I've been looking forward to fighting you."

Naruto and Sakura looked at Kakashi in surprise.

"Copy Ninja?"

"Kakashi-sensei, you're amazing!" Naruto exclaimed.

Kakashi waved his hand, signaling them to step back.

"Naruto, this enemy is extremely dangerous. You and Sakura-chan focus on protecting Tazuna." His voice was low and serious.

Miscalculation.

Kakashi hadn't expected that the assassin hired by Gato would be Momochi Zabuza.

An Elite Jōnin-level opponent!

Even for him, a battle with Zabuza wasn't one he could take lightly. And to have his students involved in this situation…

But if it's Sasuke…

Kakashi recalled Sasuke's incredible growth, his sharp instincts during the bell test…

He's already approaching Jōnin-level strength.

"No, Kakashi-sensei! I want to fight too!" Naruto gritted his teeth. He had already run away once. He refused to do so again.

"Naruto, don't be reckless. Against this opponent, you're not ready."

Lifting his headband, Kakashi revealed his scarlet Sharingan.

Zabuza's eyes narrowed slightly.

"So that's the famous Sharingan…" He let out a low chuckle. "Honestly, I have no real reason to fight you. Just hand over the old man, and we can avoid this battle."

Kakashi shook his head.

"As a shinobi, abandoning a client is unacceptable. That is an iron rule."

Naruto and Sakura looked on, still confused.

"Hey, what's this Sharingan you guys keep talking about?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.

"The Sharingan… It's the Uchiha clan's kekkei genkai. It can see through genjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu… and, of course, copy techniques."

His eyes turned scarlet, revealing his two-tomoe Sharingan.

Zabuza raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're an Uchiha brat, huh? I didn't expect to see one of you here. A survivor of that massacre…"

Naruto turned to Sasuke in shock. "Wait, Sasuke—you have the same eyes as Kakashi-sensei?!"

Sasuke remained silent.

"Well," Zabuza muttered, eyes flashing coldly, "since you're not willing to back down… I'll just have to take you all out myself."

In an instant, his figure vanished from the tree.

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

A thick fog rapidly spread across the battlefield, swallowing everything in a white haze.

Zabuza's presence disappeared.

"Careful! This is the Hidden Mist Village's assassination technique!" Kakashi warned. "Momochi Zabuza was a member of the Mist's elite assassination unit!"

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke tensed up, closing ranks around Tazuna.

"Hmph, Kakashi… If it were just you, this might be difficult for me. But with those kids around…"

Zabuza's voice drifted from the mist, thick with killing intent.

Naruto gripped his kunai tightly, sweat forming on his brow.

"Naruto, stay calm," Kakashi said firmly. "I won't let any of my comrades die today."

A chilling chuckle echoed from behind them.

"Really? We'll see about that."

A massive blade came slashing down from the mist!

The sheer force of the swing roared through the air. If it connected, they'd be torn apart!

"Not good!"

Kakashi's heart pounded. He hadn't sensed Zabuza move!

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

Sasuke had intercepted the blade with his kunai.

Zabuza's eyes widened slightly. "This kid… blocked my blade?"

Lifting the massive sword once more, Zabuza aimed to cleave Sasuke in two.

But—

Kakashi was faster.

In an instant, he appeared in front of Zabuza, his kunai piercing straight toward the enemy's chest!

"Did we get him?!" Naruto's eyes lit up.

But—

"Kakashi, behind you!" Sasuke shouted.

The Zabuza who had been struck melted into a puddle of water.

"A Water Clone?!"

A massive blade swung toward Kakashi's back.

Bang!

Kakashi was struck—but he too exploded into water.

Zabuza's real body narrowed his eyes. "He copied my Water Clone… that fast?"

A cold blade pressed against Zabuza's neck.

"It's over," Kakashi's voice murmured from behind him.

"Hah… You really are impressive, Copy Ninja."

But before Kakashi could react—

Shing!

The Zabuza in front of him dissolved.

"A double water clone?!"

A sharp kick landed in Kakashi's ribs, sending him flying.

With a loud splash, he crashed into the water.

Damn… So his real body was hiding the whole time…

Zabuza wasted no time.

"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"

A sphere of water instantly enveloped Kakashi, trapping him inside.

Kakashi's heart sank.

The water was too heavy—he couldn't move!

On the shore, the three Zabuza figures that had been fighting were all clones. The real Zabuza had been hiding beneath the water, waiting for this exact moment.

"Hah, the Water Prison is almost impossible to break from the inside." Zabuza sneered. "Now you get to watch as I take care of your little students!"

Forming a seal with one hand, he created another water clone.

"Against weaklings like them, this is all I need."

The water clone raised its massive sword.

"Die!"

With a burst of speed, it charged at Sasuke.

But—

Bang!

A figure shot forward, striking the clone so hard it rebounded backward!

Sasuke lowered his leg, a confident smirk on his face.

"Hmph… If this is all you've got, then you're not as scary as they say."