"Did you see that?" Kakashi said calmly. "When identical ninjutsu collide, the deciding factors are chakra quantity and the precision of control."
He continued teaching as if this were a classroom rather than a battlefield.
"Naruto, did you feel how much chakra I used just now?"
Naruto tried hard to recall the sensation.
"Uh… a lot?"
"To be exact," Kakashi replied, "about one-tenth of my total chakra. Yet the power was still enough to clash head-on with Zabuza's full-strength attack. That's the importance of chakra control."
Zabuza's veins bulged.
"You bastard… are you seriously lecturing in the middle of a fight?!"
"Of course," Kakashi said sincerely. "Otherwise, how could I demonstrate a real battle for my students?"
"Damn you!"
Zabuza rapidly formed hand seals.
Mist surged outward.
"Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
In an instant, thick fog swallowed the entire beach. Visibility dropped to less than five meters.
"This is a signature technique of the Hidden Mist," Kakashi's voice echoed calmly through the fog.
"Using dense mist to block vision and carry out assassinations. Sakura—what should you do in a situation like this?"
"U-Use sensory perception?" Sakura answered nervously. "Or disperse the mist?"
"Good thinking," Kakashi praised. "But the simplest solution is—"
A crimson glow flared within the fog.
"A dōjutsu capable of seeing through chakra."
From afar, Sasuke's heart pounded.
"The Sharingan… it can see chakra even inside the mist…"
Zabuza's silhouette suddenly flickered at Kakashi's side.
"Found you!"
"Silent Killing Technique!"
The Kubikiribōchō swept in from a vicious angle.
Kakashi raised a kunai.
Clang!
Sparks flew as kunai and great blade collided.
"Sasuke, watch carefully," Kakashi said.
"When blocking a large weapon with a small one, the key is finding the point of force. You don't clash head-on—you redirect."
He twisted his wrist.
A subtle force traveled through Zabuza's grip, knocking the massive blade aside.
Kakashi followed up instantly, driving a kick into Zabuza's abdomen.
Bang!
Zabuza staggered back several steps.
"Observe the opening after an enemy's attack and counter during the moment of stiffness," Kakashi continued.
"That's the foundation of taijutsu."
Zabuza was completely enraged.
This man… he's really treating me like a training dummy!
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!!"
Zabuza swung the Kubikiribōchō wildly, his attacks growing more ferocious—and more reckless.
"See that?" Kakashi said as he evaded.
"When someone loses their temper, their attacks become stronger, but they also expose more openings. Sakura—what's the correct response?"
"Exploit the opening and finish it in one strike!" Sakura shouted.
"Perfect."
Kakashi suddenly accelerated.
At the instant Zabuza swung, Kakashi's body blurred into an afterimage.
"The key to the Body Flicker Technique," Kakashi explained, "is using it when the enemy's focus is locked onto their own attack."
Sasuke's two-tomoe Sharingan spun frantically, barely able to track the movement.
"Too fast… this is jōnin-level speed…"
Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza.
Lightning gathered in his hand.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Bzzzz—!
A shrill cry of lightning tore through the mist, blue-white light illuminating the fog.
"This is an S-rank ninjutsu I developed—Lightning Release: Chidori," Kakashi said calmly.
"By compressing Lightning Release chakra into the hand, it creates extreme piercing power. When combined with the Body Flicker Technique, it can break through almost any defense."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"S-rank…"
Even from fifty meters away, he could feel the terrifying chakra.
Zabuza's hair stood on end.
That chakra… I'll die!
He tried desperately to evade—
Too late.
Just as the Chidori was about to pierce him—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several senbon shot out from the forest, striking Zabuza's neck with uncanny precision.
His body stiffened, then collapsed face-first into the sand.
Kakashi halted instantly. The lightning dispersed from his hand.
A masked youth stepped out of the woods, dressed like a Hidden Mist Hunter-nin.
"Thank you for subduing Zabuza," the youth said coolly.
"I am a Hunter-nin from the Hidden Mist, tasked with eliminating rogue ninja."
Kakashi glanced at the fallen Zabuza, then at the youth, his eye narrowing slightly.
"A Hunter-nin, huh… you arrived at quite the perfect moment."
He crouched beside Zabuza and examined the senbon.
Their placement was extremely subtle.
Kakashi pressed two fingers to Zabuza's neck.
"No heartbeat?"
"Yes," the masked youth replied.
"The senbon struck a vital point."
"I see," Kakashi said as he stood. "Then I'll leave him to you. However—"
He turned abruptly, his Sharingan locking onto the youth.
"Hunter-nin masks from the Hidden Mist have spiral patterns. Yours is plain."
The youth froze.
"Your senbon technique is impressive—accurate enough to strike the neck of a moving target," Kakashi continued.
"But the point you hit was too perfect. You avoided the fatal area and induced suspended animation instead."
His gaze sharpened.
"You're Zabuza's accomplice, aren't you?"
The air went still.
From a distance, Naruto and the others tensed.
"Kakashi-sensei…" Sakura whispered.
The masked youth remained silent for several seconds.
"…You truly live up to the name Sharingan Kakashi."
His voice steadied.
"Yes. I am Zabuza-sama's subordinate."
"Why admit it?" Kakashi asked.
"You could have continued the act. I might not have exposed you."
"Because," the youth replied, meeting Kakashi's gaze,
"you could have killed Zabuza-sama just now—but you stopped at the last moment."
Kakashi smiled faintly. "So you noticed."
"That's why I thought… you must have other intentions."
"Smart," Kakashi nodded.
"I do have other plans."
He turned toward Team 7.
"My students need stronger opponents to grow. Watching alone isn't enough—their progress would be too slow."
Kakashi looked back at the masked youth.
"Zabuza should recover in seven days. Let's fight again then. Next time, my students will participate."
He pointed at the youth.
"And you—will be their opponent."
The masked youth fell silent.
"…Why would you do something like that?"