153. Zabuza: It Belongs To Your Uncle!

With the use of Sasuke's ninjutsu, the battlefield was enveloped in total darkness. Even Zabuza, hidden within his own mist, was momentarily stunned. Kakashi, equally taken aback, was left speechless.

Are all Uchiha fighting styles this chaotic now? Kakashi thought. Treating an enemy with their own tactics was clever, but what about the teammates caught in the crossfire?

"Sensei Kakashi, the enemy is behind you on your right! Please dodge!" Naruto's voice cut through the tension.

Despite the darkness, Naruto could track Zabuza's exact position using Kagura's Inner Eye. The ability, however, wasn't without its limitations. It thrived on the opponent's malice and intent but offered only vague chakra signatures when sensing allies.

"Damn brat!" Zabuza growled.

The Mist Shinobi Technique was designed to blind opponents, but the sudden Darkness Technique disrupted even his vision. While Zabuza could sense chakra vaguely through the mist, Naruto's precise tracking threw off his calculated, silent killing moves.

The realization hit Zabuza hard: even if Sasuke hadn't unleashed the Darkness Technique, his stealth tactics would have been compromised by Naruto's perceptive abilities.

Before he could adjust, a streak of lightning flashed through the blackened battlefield, forcing Zabuza to retreat.

"Gotcha! Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" Sasuke declared, swiftly forming seals and unleashing a massive fireball.

The blazing orb hurtled toward Zabuza's position, engulfing him in flames.

"I swear!" Kakashi muttered under his breath as the fiery heat roared past him. He barely avoided getting scorched himself. You just can't deal with the Uchiha!

Zabuza emerged from the flames, coughing and scorching. Though he had managed to mitigate the damage using a water clone, the Great Fireball still left its mark.

How careless of me! But no matter how I look at it… they're just kids.

The realization gnawed at him. The overwhelming pressure he felt wasn't from the infamous Kakashi—it was from the two young Genin. Could Konoha Genin really be this formidable?

Reflecting on the chaos, Zabuza realized his Mist Shinobi Technique had backfired. He had underestimated his opponents, losing his Decapitating Sword and vision. Worse, the enemy had strong sensory capabilities, rendering his silent killing tactics ineffective.

"Uncle Zabuza," Naruto's voice echoed confidently. "Staying in one place for too long isn't smart when you know we can sense you."

A chill ran down Zabuza's spine as Naruto's words registered. Before he could act, a blade pierced his arm. Jinsheng's tip had found its mark.

The tides had turned decisively against the Demon of the Mist.

Although Zabuza managed to evade at the last moment, a long, deep wound remained on his side.

"Damn it! This kid's perception is absurd!" Zabuza cursed internally. He loved the oppressive atmosphere silent killing brought to his enemies but despised feeling that same pressure himself.

"Haha! Uncle Zabuza, even if I can't see with my eyes, do you think you can hide from a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan?" Naruto's voice rang out, his tone laced with confidence.

Zabuza's evasive movements faltered when a sharp pain erupted in his side. Looking down, he saw that a dagger had pierced clean through his waist.

The Uchiha, having mastered combat methods to counter the disadvantages of the Darkness Technique, had clearly prepared for such scenarios. Despite losing vision, the Sharingan still offered a degree of perception that, while not on par with the Byakugan, was formidable enough. The Uchiha had long used this to their advantage, ensuring tight defences even back when they controlled the police force.

With Zabuza's body skewered by the blade, he tried to force Sasuke to withdraw the sword by launching a counterattack.

Sasuke, however, showed no greed for the fight. As soon as his attack landed, he swiftly disengaged. Retreating with agility and precision, he followed one of the Uchiha Combat Rules: attack decisively, ensure your safety, and prepare for the next opportunity.

This hit-and-run tactic left Zabuza in utter disbelief. As a veteran of countless battles, he had never encountered such an infuriatingly cautious approach.

What kind of nonsense is this? You stab me, then run away? Why not try to finish the job? I'm the one injured—why are you running? At least give me a chance to fight back!

Zabuza's frustration deepened as he recalled Naruto's earlier taunt: "It's dangerous if you stay still." Then Sasuke's mocking declaration: "It's dangerous if you move."

What am I supposed to do, then? Stand still? Move? These kids are impossible!

On the other side of the battlefield, Naruto and Sasuke refrained from using overly powerful ninjutsu. With their vision obscured and their perception only partially reliable, the risk of accidentally harming Kakashi or Sakura loomed too large. As a result, their attacks, while frequent and well-timed, were carefully controlled.

For Zabuza, this restricted the intensity of their onslaught but also prolonged the battle. As a Jōnin, he managed to hold his ground against the two Genin, but the fight was grinding down into a war of attrition.

Watching from the sidelines, Kakashi, Sakura, and Tazuna felt increasingly restless. The prolonged engagement left them feeling detached from the battle.

Equally impatient was Haku, concealed nearby. The range of the Darkness Technique obscured his sight, leaving him uncertain about the situation inside. As Zabuza's backup, Haku hesitated to intervene recklessly, knowing his role was to remain a trump card for the worst-case scenario.

Meanwhile, perched on a tree in the distance, Yagami observed the scene with his Byakugan, seeing everything with perfect clarity.

Yagami had arrived long before Zabuza, his speed of travel far surpassing that of standard shinobi.

At first, he thought Kakashi—without his Sharingan—might struggle to keep up with the two Genin, especially when dealing with Zabuza. Yet, as he watched the battle unfold, he found himself entertained by the chaos.

I didn't expect to witness such a bizarre fight between these two fools and Zabuza… Yagami mused, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

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