Chapter 5: The Demon and the Copy Ninja
Mist thickened like a veil across the forest floor, chilling the air and silencing the birds.
Sasuke's muscles tensed. His body was calm, but his mind was alert.
Zabuza is coming. The Demon of the Mist. And Kakashi is about to show the Sharingan.
He remembered every beat of this moment. Every tactic. Every outcome.
[System Alert: Threat Level – A-Rank Combatant Detected]
Engage: No
Observe: Yes
Mission Priority: Survival & Tactical Logging
Suddenly, a massive blade hurtled through the air, spinning end-over-end until it slammed into a tree. Bark exploded. Sakura gasped.
A man appeared on the branch above.
Shirtless. Bandages wrapped around his face. A monster of a weapon on his back.
Zabuza Momochi.
"I'm not here for you brats. Just the jōnin."
Kakashi's eye narrowed. "You'll have to go through me."
He reached up and lifted his forehead protector.
The Sharingan shone beneath it, glowing softly in the mist.
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Whoa… that's—!"
"Stay back," Kakashi said. "This isn't your fight."
Kakashi vs. Zabuza – Round One
Zabuza vanished.
Water erupted at Kakashi's feet—Zabuza exploded upward, blade swinging.
CLANG!
Kakashi blocked with a kunai, sliding back across the wet grass.
Zabuza struck again, using the flat of his blade like a club. Kakashi ducked, countered with a sweep, and sent a wave of water surging at Zabuza's legs.
"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" Kakashi fired.
Zabuza met it head-on. "Water Wall!"
A spinning wall of liquid intercepted the bullet, exploding outward.
Sasuke watched each clash from the trees. He wasn't just observing—he was studying.
[SP +2 – Advanced Battle Tracking (Jonin-Level Combat)]
[Attribute Gained: Intelligence +1]
He's fast. But Kakashi's faster. Still—Zabuza's movements are designed to lure the Sharingan. He's testing visual range, pacing, and deception. I need to remember this style.
Then it happened—Zabuza dove into the water and reappeared behind Kakashi.
Mist surged.
Then—trap.
Zabuza's water prison snapped shut, locking Kakashi in place.
"You move… and he dies," Zabuza hissed.
The Plan Unfolds – Sasuke Steps In
Sakura screamed. Naruto panicked.
But Sasuke didn't.
Now. This is the moment Naruto forms a plan.
"Wait!" Naruto shouted. "I've got an idea!"
Good. Now I make it better.
Naruto created two clones and vanished into the trees.
Sasuke nodded quietly. "I'll cover the kill strike."
Moments later, Naruto returned with a massive Fūma Shuriken, hurling it with a roar.
Zabuza caught it mid-air. "Tch. Pathetic."
Then came the second one—spinning low.
Zabuza sidestepped.
But Sasuke exploded from the shadow of the shuriken.
This time, he wasn't just aiming for Zabuza's wrist.
He knew where to hit.
He drove his kunai into the elbow joint, twisting sharply—targeting tendons, nerves, and muscle in a fluid spin.
CRACK.
Zabuza's arm convulsed. The prison collapsed.
[SP +5 – Canon Impact Surpassed]
[Attribute Gained: Control +1 | Agility +1]
Kakashi blurred through hand signs the second he was free.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive serpent of water crashed down onto Zabuza.
But the Demon wasn't done.
He retaliated with his own copy.
"Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Two dragons collided mid-air, drenching the battlefield.
Then—hand signs continued.
"Water Clone Jutsu!"
Three Zabuza clones burst forth from the lake, flanking Kakashi.
Kakashi activated his Sharingan fully.
"Too slow."
He mimicked every move, matching Zabuza seal-for-seal.
Two clones exploded in a burst of steam.
The third lunged with a slash—but Kakashi ducked, tripped the clone, and pierced it through the chest with a kunai.
Mist parted.
Zabuza stood coughing blood, shoulder burned.
[SP +3 – High-Level Combat Analysis Logged]
The Fall of the Demon – For Now
Before Zabuza could recover, senbon needles struck his neck.
He staggered.
Collapsed.
From the trees, a masked hunter-nin appeared.
"I've been tracking him. I'll dispose of the body."
Kakashi said nothing at first—then nodded. "Fine. But hurry."
The hunter vanished with the corpse.
Naruto cheered.
Sakura collapsed with relief.
Kakashi slumped to one knee.
"I overdid it…"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
That was no fatal blow. That was Haku.
[System Notification: Disguise Identified – Zabuza's Ally Recognized]
[SP +2 – Timeline Memory Synced]
Camp – That Night
They set camp by the water. Kakashi was resting. Sakura and Naruto had fallen asleep by the fire.
Sasuke sat in silence, staring at the night sky. His heart wasn't racing—but his mind was.
I didn't just follow canon. I changed it. I hurt Zabuza enough to free Kakashi without risking Naruto.
He opened his system menu.
SP: 55
Available Purchases:
Chakra Control Lv.2 – 10 SP
Shuriken Enhancement – 10 SP
Silent Movement – 10 SP
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu – 60 SP (Locked)
He hovered over Chakra Control Lv.2.
Then closed the window.
Soon.
[Chapter 5 Complete – Final Combat Enhanced Edition]
SP Gained: +12
Total SP: 55
Updated Attributes:
Strength: 2
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 7
Perception: 1
Control: 5
Resolve: 12
Known Techniques:
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu)
Substitution Jutsu (Kawarimi no Jutsu)
Clone Jutsu (Bunshin no Jutsu)
Tree-Walking (Chakra Control Foundation)
Basic Taijutsu (Uchiha Clan Style)
Shurikenjutsu (Throwing Arts)
System Shop:
Chakra Control Lv.2 – 10 SP
Shuriken Enhancement – 10 SP
Silent Movement – 10 SP
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu – 60 SP (Locked)
Next Objective: Prepare for Haku's Mirror Style