“The mist is so thick. Everything is white ahead!”
A small boat carrying Yukigetsu and his companions sailed slowly on the sea.
“You should be able to see the bridge soon.” Pushing the boat with a bamboo pole, the boatman looked ahead and said, “Follow it, and you’ll reach the Land of Waves.”
Yukigetsu lay leisurely on the deck, legs crossed, while the old man Tazuna gave him a glance. This guy hadn’t contributed at all so far, yet he acted all high and mighty. Truly an annoying brat.
Meanwhile, a grand bridge, mostly completed, gradually emerged from the mist…
Naruto exclaimed excitedly, “Wow! It’s magnificent!”
“Be quiet, kid! Behave!” The boatman broke into a cold sweat, lowering his voice, “You only got a boat ride because of the thick mist! If Kado finds us, we’re done for!”
Naruto quickly covered his mouth.
Yukigetsu tilted his head, observing the lingering fear on the boatman’s face. Looks like Kado has done many evil deeds. Killing him would be doing a public service. And his ill-gotten wealth should be put to better use, like buying me a house, improving my life, and saving up for a wife. Life isn’t easy these days… As they say, ‘a horse without night grass won’t get fat, and a person without windfall won’t get rich.’ Hand over the money to me!
While Yukigetsu was lost in his thoughts of plunder, the boatman whispered, “We’re almost at the national gate! Tazuna, it looks like we’ve been safe so far… To be cautious, we’ll go through the underwater channel with aquatic plants.”
Tazuna was not as grumpy as when talking to Yukigetsu. Instead, he was grateful, “I’m sorry to trouble you.”
A little while later, they safely disembarked. The boatman advised, “This is as far as I go. Be very careful!”
Tazuna waved, “Thank you!”
Yukigetsu remarked, “I didn’t expect you to be held in such high regard by the people of the Land of Waves!”
“Hmph, of course. Not everyone is as ignorant as you, you brat!” Tazuna adjusted his glasses, his tone habitually mocking.
Yukigetsu didn’t mind. In fact, after getting off the boat, he had been on high alert. Last time, it was Chunin; this time, it would be Jonin…
Suddenly, Naruto leaped and threw a kunai with a shout, “There!”
Everyone turned in shock.
Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed, “Uh… it was a rat!”
Kakashi wiped a drop of cold sweat, “Hey, Naruto! Throwing kunai recklessly is dangerous!”
Tazuna, obviously frightened, was furious, “Damn shorty! Don’t scare people for no reason!”
Yukigetsu frowned, staring intently at a nearby bush. He couldn’t see anyone, but something felt off…
“There!”
Naruto shouted again, throwing another kunai.
This time, a scream echoed, “Aah!”
But it wasn’t the enemy’s voice—it was Naruto’s. Sakura, furious, punched him, “Didn’t I tell you not to do that?!”
“But, but there really was an ambush…” Naruto, both in pain and aggrieved, stammered.
“Stop making excuses!”
Yukigetsu walked over and retrieved a rabbit pierced by the kunai.
Sakura put her hands on her hips, self-righteously, “Naruto! Look what you’ve done!”
Naruto hugged the rabbit, tearfully apologizing, “Little bunny, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
“Really… it was just a rabbit.” Tazuna patted his chest, relieved.
However, Yukigetsu exchanged a serious glance with Kakashi. This was a snow rabbit, only white in color during the short daylight hours of winter. It’s spring now, so its fur should be brown. Why is it white?
This rabbit must have been raised indoors, specifically for substitution jutsu!
At that moment, Kakashi shouted, “Get down!”
Yukigetsu instinctively ducked, sweeping his leg to knock down the slower-reacting Tazuna and Naruto.
Whoosh!
A massive blade barely missed their heads, its sharp edge raising goosebumps on their skin.
Bang!
The giant sword embedded itself in a tree trunk. The next moment, a man appeared, standing on the sword’s hilt. He faced away from them, but his slightly turned head revealed a single, sinister eye, exuding a deadly aura.
“Ah! It’s the rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi!”
In the tense atmosphere, Kakashi greeted him nonchalantly.
Sasuke and the others subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Naruto even took out a kunai, ready to show off.
Slap!
Kakashi’s left hand blocked Naruto. His voice was low, “Don’t do anything rash! Back off! These guys are way beyond those two from before!”
Everyone was startled.
Yukigetsu stared intently at the figure on the sword’s hilt, his body tensed. This was Zabuza Momochi, the infamous Demon…
“If the opponent is him, this might be tough…” Kakashi raised his left hand, slowly lifting the forehead protector covering his left eye.
Standing behind him, Yukigetsu’s forehead twitched. If you’re going to reveal it, just do it. What’s with the dramatic delay? At a time like this, you’re still trying to look cool…
“Meeting the Sharingan Kakashi here, I must apologize…” Zabuza said, his voice deep. “I want that old man!”
“Form a manji formation and protect Mr. Tazuna…” Kakashi instructed slowly. “No one is to interfere!”
Yukigetsu frowned, “Kakashi, I…”
“You too!” Kakashi’s tone was stern.
Yukigetsu nodded reluctantly, “Alright.”
He hadn’t finished speaking when he ignored the confused looks from Sasuke and the others. In a flash, he stood in front of Tazuna, holding a kunai and on high alert.
The old man was startled. He instinctively wanted to mock him but stopped, seeing the boy’s tense posture. This kid seemed different. Was it just his imagination?
“Zabuza, your opponent…”
With his forehead protector fully lifted, revealing a three-tomoe Sharingan, Kakashi shed his lazy demeanor, “Is me!”
“What’s with that eye?” Naruto asked, confused.
“It’s an honor to see the legendary Sharingan so soon!” Zabuza’s expression was serious.
Naruto, still confused, asked, “What kind of wheel eyes? What is that?”
Yukigetsu glanced at Sasuke, who also looked shocked, and explained, “The Sharingan! The wielder can instantly see through and counter any ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu.”
“What?” Naruto was even more confused.
Yukigetsu continued, “And that’s not all…”
“Hehehe… Indeed, it’s not just that!” Zabuza’s cold laughter interrupted. “Even more terrifying, he can instantly learn and copy any jutsu the enemy uses!”
“Having been in the Hidden Mist assassination squad, I carry a record of your abilities.”
Zabuza’s voice was chilling, “It says that you are a ninja who has copied over a thousand jutsus—Copy Ninja Kakashi!”
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