The Battle Begins
Sasuke's body trembled, but not from fear—from excitement. Naruto had stolen the spotlight during their bell test, but now, with his Sharingan activated and new techniques mastered, Sasuke was determined to prove himself. This battle would be his chance to show he could stand toe-to-toe with a jonin, just as Naruto had.
"Hmm," Sasuke muttered, his voice low and confident. "The wind today is noisy."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. (?_?)
Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, sneered. "Konoha's genin are getting cocky. Let me show you the gap between a lower ninja and an upper ninja."
In an instant, Zabuza disappeared, reappearing on the surface of the water. He formed a series of hand seals, his movements fluid and precise. "Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Technique!"
A thick, white mist began to spread, engulfing the forest in seconds. Visibility dropped to almost zero, and the air grew heavy with chakra.
"This ninjutsu alters the environment," Naruto observed, his voice calm. "It's impressive, but it's not without weaknesses."
Sakura, struggling to see through the fog, asked, "Can Zabuza even see through this mist?"
"Likely not," Naruto replied. "But he's probably adapted to fighting in these conditions. Still, this technique is less effective against sensory-type ninja or those with perception-based Bloodline Limits."
As if to prove his point, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing a Sharingan. The crimson eye glowed faintly in the mist.
"Sharingan!" Sasuke exclaimed, his voice tinged with shock and disbelief. "Kakashi… has a Sharingan? But he's not an Uchiha. Did he… steal it?"
For a moment, Sasuke's mind raced with questions and anger. But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the battle at hand.
Zabuza's voice echoed through the mist, cold and menacing. "Eight places. Throat, spine, lungs, liver, carotid artery, subclavian artery, kidney, heart. Which one should I target first?"
The sheer weight of his killing intent pressed down on the team. Sakura's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, trembling. Sasuke, too, felt the crushing pressure. His confidence wavered, and his body froze.
"Is this… the true power of a jonin?" Sasuke thought, his Sharingan straining to track Zabuza's movements. "Even with my Sharingan, I'm helpless against this level of strength. How can I ever hope to defeat Itachi like this?"
Naruto, however, remained unfazed. He stood calmly, his expression serene. "This is the killing intent of Kirigakure's Demon. Impressive, but not enough to break me."
Sasuke glanced at Naruto, his shock deepening. While he struggled under Zabuza's pressure, Naruto seemed completely unaffected. The gap between them was glaring, and Sasuke's pride took a hit.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke," he muttered, his voice trembling with resolve. "I won't run. I won't falter. I'll fight with the pride of the Uchiha!"
In a sudden burst of determination, Sasuke drew a kunai and slashed his left hand. Blood dripped to the ground as he declared, "I swear on my blood—I will never fear, never retreat. I'll fight to the end, for the glory of the Uchiha!"
Naruto, ever the pragmatist, handed Sasuke a handkerchief. "You'll bleed out if you keep that up."
Sasuke's dramatic moment was cut short as he fumbled to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, Zabuza's killing intent had already been disrupted by Sasuke's outburst.
"Hmph, interesting kid," Zabuza said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Konoha truly is a breeding ground for geniuses. But I've killed plenty of geniuses in my time."
In a flash, Zabuza appeared beside Naruto and Sasuke, his massive Kubikiribōchō swinging toward them. Sasuke's eyes widened—he could see the attack coming, but his body couldn't react in time.
"Too slow," Zabuza taunted.
But before the blade could connect, Naruto stepped in. Kyoka Suigetsu flashed, deflecting the blow with a resounding clang. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air.
"Attacking genin directly? That's not very gentlemanly," Naruto said, his tone light but his eyes sharp.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed in surprise. "A genin with this much strength? Konoha's monsters never cease to amaze me."
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he formed a series of hand seals. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Zabuza laughed, his voice booming. "You think a simple Wind Release can dispel my mist? My chakra is far superior to yours. This fog won't budge!"
But as the wind surged forward, Zabuza's confidence wavered. The mist, thick and oppressive, was swept away as if by a typhoon. The battlefield was left clear, the ground littered with debris.
Zabuza stared in disbelief. "How…?"
Naruto smirked. "Your mist is strong, but not invincible. And as for chakra… well, let's just say I have a bit more than you'd expect."