Chapter Nine: The Great Counterattack

Chapter Nine: The Grand Counterattack

"Alright, be careful!" Kakashi said, grabbing Naruto and instantly teleporting back to the shore.

"Sensei, do you think Captain Hatake will be alright?" Naruto asked, his face full of worry.

"Well~ I’m not sure either. I’ve never seen him like this before. Could this be the first time he’s ended up in such a sorry state and gotten angry about it?" Kakashi replied, feigning fear.

"Uh..." Everyone pictured their usually cheerful and sunny Shuster turning furious, and all shuddered in unison—wait, what exactly did you all imagine?

"Hey, have you had your fill of water yet, Lady Thunder of the Leaf?" Zabuza teased, eyeing the still-exhausted Shuster.

"Thanks to you, I think I won’t want to drink water for a long time," Shuster finally raised his head.

"Uh..." Sweat broke out on Zabuza’s face. What was he seeing?

Shuster’s hands crackled with immense arcs of lightning, illuminating his entire form. His face was expressionless, yet an undeniable aura of authority emanated from him.

"Lightning Style: Grand Ground Walk!" Shuster slammed his hands onto the water’s surface.

"Damn!" Zabuza leapt into the air.

"Lightning Style: Thousand Arrows!" Shuster, indifferent, turned the entire lake into a field of dazzling lightning, hurling bolts of energy like first-rank spells.

"Whoa—" Zabuza, with nowhere to land mid-air, was struck by several lightning arrows before dissolving into a puddle of water.

"Hm? A water clone?" Shuster looked up to another tree, where Zabuza was panting heavily.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!" Zabuza swiftly formed hand seals.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Dragon!" Shuster’s hands flashed through the Ram seal, unleashing a fifth-rank spell. The lightning dragon intertwined violently with Zabuza’s water dragon.

"Hmm? Not good!" Zabuza watched as Shuster’s other hand formed the Ram seal again. He quickly teleported away, just as a bolt of lightning struck and split the tree he’d been on moments before.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Strike Tornado!" Shuster spun the lightning into a roaring tornado, sending it hurtling toward the freshly landed Zabuza.

"This maniac..." Zabuza teleported again in a panic, cursing his own misfortune for angering a woman—wait, Shuster’s a man! But can’t men get angry too?

"Huff—" Zabuza caught his breath, looking toward the area just ravaged by the tornado.

"Where are you looking?" Shuster’s voice sounded behind him, and with a flash, he delivered a spinning roundhouse kick to Zabuza’s face.

"Whoa—bang!" Zabuza spat blood midair and crashed into a large tree.

"Swish—" The Blood-Dance Crescent Moon glinted with tears as it shot toward the just-recovered Zabuza.

"What the—?" Seeing the blade flying at him, Zabuza dodged with another water clone.

"Don’t think you can escape. My speed is unmatched!" Shuster’s voice echoed at Zabuza’s ear again, forcing Zabuza to swing his massive blade backward.

"Don’t waste your chakra. You can’t outrun me." Shuster’s voice sounded once more just behind him.

"Damn it!" Zabuza, frustrated, teleported onto the water’s surface.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Zabuza vanished into thick mist again.

"Tch, that trick only got me last time because I was careless," Shuster said, ceasing movement.

"Here we go again. Swastika Formation!" Kakashi saw the thickening fog and quickly shielded Tazuna with the three genin.

"Trying that again? Heh, let’s see how you like this. Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Shuster formed a cross seal, and in the next instant, over a thousand clones flashed through the mist at lightning speed, searching for Zabuza.

"Clang—clang clang—boom—" The sound of clashing blades and exploding clones echoed intermittently.

"Hmph, as my brother would say, the same jutsu doesn’t work on me twice," Shuster said, standing his ground.

"Hm? The real one’s over there?" In the same moment, all the clones instantly converged on Zabuza, who was trying to escape across the lake’s surface.

"Damn! Water Style: Water Barrier!" Realizing escape was impossible, Zabuza raised a circular wall of water around himself.

"Bang bang bang—" The clones that lunged forward were all repelled.

"Let’s see how your swordplay measures up. I’ll make you admit defeat!" Shuster spun his sword in his left hand.

"Tch, fine, let’s do this," Zabuza grumbled, knowing full well he was being used as an outlet for Shuster’s anger.

In a flash, both vanished, leaving only the sound of clashing steel in the air.

"Amazing! I can’t even see their movements," Naruto exclaimed, watching the duel.

"So this is Captain Hatake’s power? Kakashi-sensei, who’s stronger, you or him?" Sakura’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

"Well, we’ve never actually fought, but if we both went all out, I’d probably get myself killed," Kakashi admitted, equally astonished.

"Damn it, that kind of power... It could kill that man. He’s only three years older than me!" Sasuke clenched his teeth.

A hand on his shoulder snapped Sasuke from his thoughts. Turning, he saw Kakashi’s gentle smile.

"Sasuke, Shuster is one of the Hidden Leaf’s few true prodigies. You have to accept that. You’re not the only genius in this world. But that’s not the point. My younger brother is as strong as he is today not only because of talent, but because he’s worked harder than you. More importantly, he understands the reason his power exists." (Shuster: Since when did I know about this?)

"The reason... my power exists?" Sasuke was lost in thought. Power? My power is for... that man...

"Sasuke!" Startled, Sasuke looked at Kakashi’s serious expression.

"Sasuke, remember my words today. Revenge will not make you truly stronger! Instead, it will only drag you deeper into darkness! The power it brings will destroy everything you care about!"

The three young ninjas sank into contemplation. Why does one’s power exist?

——— Scene shifts to the sword fight ———

"Clang clang—" Deflecting several shuriken, Shuster teleported behind Zabuza. Having adjusted to the rhythm, Zabuza countered with a backward slash, spun with the momentum, and held his blade across his chest. "Clang—" The forceful parry left Shuster wide open, and Zabuza kicked out.

"Thud—" Shuster turned into a log. Sensing danger, Zabuza immediately used a water clone, but Shuster struck it down as well. Zabuza, listening for attacks from behind, struck out, but Shuster substituted again. After several rapid exchanges, Shuster finally landed a whip kick, sending Zabuza flying.

"Ugh—" Zabuza crashed into a tree, coughing blood. In the next moment, four kunai flew out, pinning his limbs to the tree.

"This time, it’s truly over." Shuster stood atop a branch above Zabuza.

"Whoosh—" The sound of something slicing the air, and blood spurted from Zabuza’s neck.

"Huh?" Kakashi noticed two senbon needles in Zabuza’s neck and looked toward the person who had thrown them.

"The Mist’s Assassination Squad?!" Kakashi recognized the mask.

"That’s right. Zabuza is dead. I’ll be taking his body back. Thank you, Leaf shinobi." After confirming Zabuza’s death, the masked figure instantly appeared by his side and took the body away.

"Damn it! Why? He’s about my age, so how could he kill someone as powerful as Zabuza so easily? How can I accept that?" Naruto complained, clearly frustrated.

"Smack—" "Huh?" Shuster teleported to Naruto’s side and placed a hand on his head.

"Don’t get discouraged. There are many geniuses in this world! Did you know? I became a Jonin at twelve, my brother at eleven. But during the Third Great Ninja War, there were others who became Jonin before us—they were all Leaf’s elite! If you’re not satisfied, then work harder next time!"

"Damn..." Naruto replied through gritted teeth.

"Alright, our mission isn’t over yet!" Kakashi reminded.

"Everyone, you’ve worked hard! Now, please come to my house as my guests!" Tazuna beamed with joy at Zabuza’s defeat.

"Let’s go!" Kakashi led the way but suddenly paused and fainted.

——— End of chapter ———

PS: I lost track while writing, my apologies to everyone!