"Long time no see, Hatake Kakashi."
As Zabuza's voice echoed through the Hidden Mist Technique, four identical Zabuza figures appeared outside the protective formation formed by Kakashi and Furen.
The four Zabuza clones simultaneously swung their massive decapitating swords downwards!
While the others were still in shock, Furen calmly formed hand seals and used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, summoning four copies of himself, who quickly drew their kunai and swiftly slashed at Zabuza's throats.
The four Zabuza clones, slashed at the neck, instantly transformed into puddles of water on the ground.
As expected, all four were water clones.
After cleanly dispatching Zabuza's water clones, Kakashi, using his Sharingan, gestured for Furen to step back.
From the thick mist ahead, Zabuza's real form gradually became visible. "Kakashi, aside from your Sharingan… is there anything else you can do?"
With those words, Zabuza charged toward Kakashi, this time wielding a kunai instead of his sword.
Clang!
The sound of kunai clashing echoed as Kakashi and Zabuza faced off with their kunai.
After a brief exchange, Zabuza and Kakashi both retreated.
Casually discarding his kunai, Zabuza began to speak slowly, "You mentioned before… 'Don't use the same ninjutsu against me twice.' Am I wrong?"
As he spoke, Zabuza began forming hand seals again. "I've already seen through your boring eye tricks! Don't think I was just an idiot who let you toy with me last time!"
"Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Technique." With that, Zabuza completed his hand seals and used the Hidden Mist Technique again, vanishing from sight.
Kakashi felt beads of sweat form on his brow. This time, the mist was thick, reducing visibility to just a few feet.
"Even with the Hidden Mist, this fog is too dense… At this rate, Zabuza won't be able to see me either," Kakashi analyzed the situation, sensing that this Hidden Mist Technique was different.
But just as he pondered, Zabuza's figure reappeared behind him, and the decapitating sword came crashing down!
Kakashi rolled sideways to evade, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"You managed to dodge that… Truly worthy of the title 'Copy Ninja Kakashi!'" Zabuza remarked coolly. "But… when we meet again, it'll all be over."
Zabuza closed his eyes, his figure disappearing once more.
"You're overestimating your Sharingan," Zabuza's voice echoed. "Even though you speak as if you can see everything, the result isn't as you predicted."
"Kakashi… you can't see into my heart, nor can you predict the future. The Sharingan is merely an illusion that makes people think it can do so. To put it simply, it's just a technique that combines the powers of an observational eye and a hypnotic eye."
"With those two abilities, combined with body duplication techniques, psychological replication techniques, and ninjutsu replication techniques, you create the illusion that you can see the future."
"You first observe your opponent's every move quickly, causing them to hesitate. After fully mimicking them, you use your hypnotic eye to ensnare them in a genjutsu. Finally, you just have to continue mimicking."
"That's how your ninjutsu replication works!"
Zabuza's voice suddenly rose in volume, and then the decapitating sword swung at Kakashi from the side once again.
Kakashi hurriedly dodged, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Now that I know how your ninjutsu replication works, I'll first use the thick mist to hide, blocking your observational eye. Then I'll close my eyes, preventing you from using your hypnotic eye in close combat."
"Are you curious why I can see through this heavy mist?" Zabuza laughed. "I can lock onto your position just by sound; I don't need my eyes!"
Zabuza's figure reappeared, and this time Kakashi didn't manage to dodge in time, receiving a long gash across his chest from the decapitating sword.
Meanwhile, Furen, who had been protecting Dazna, nodded after hearing Zabuza's analysis.
Known as the Copy Ninja, Kakashi was said to have mastered thousands of ninjutsu, and Zabuza's analysis of ninjutsu replication was indeed accurate.
This also explained why, despite many hearing about Kakashi's ability to copy ninjutsu, few had actually seen him do it.
There were simply too many ways to counter Kakashi's ninjutsu replication. Simple tactics like Zabuza's use of the Hidden Mist Technique, combined with closing his eyes, could easily negate it, let alone other methods. Furthermore, most bloodline jutsu couldn't be replicated with the Sharingan.
Although Kakashi was currently in a disadvantaged position in battle, even suffering a cut from Zabuza, Furen didn't worry at all about Kakashi losing; after all, he was known as the man who could go toe-to-toe with anyone.
After shifting his gaze, Furen began searching for Haku.
"Where did Haku go?"
----------
A/N:
Get 40 advanced chapters at p@treon.com/Ashborn69. Your support helps me so much Thank you!