Where is it like the current Konoha Village.
Under the seemingly powerful appearance.
In fact, it is extremely hollow and fragile on the inside.
Not to mention possessing the strength and confidence to face two or three great Ninja Villages head-on like during the previous Three Great Ninja Wars, even in a one-on-one confrontation, the current Konoha Village could probably only intimidate some small or minor ninja villages. When facing any of the other Four Great Ninja Villages, the pressure would be overwhelming. Therefore, the situation Konoha Village is in at present is extremely delicate. Before the new generation truly grows up and can independently shoulder responsibility, Konoha simply cannot afford another large-scale ninja confrontation like the past Ninja Wars.
This is also the most important reason why, in the original history, after Hyūga Hinata was targeted and nearly abducted by Kumogakure ninja, Konoha Village still had to provide an explanation and compromise with the Cloud Village. Of course, this does not deny that the Third Hokage and certain Konoha high-level officials, along with some elders of the Hyūga clan, played an ignoble role in the matter, making decisions filled with political calculation and cowardice. However, it must also be acknowledged that this was, at the time, a helpless choice forced upon Konoha Village by reality.
The Third Hokage was already old.
Not only physically.
But mentally as well.
At that time, Konoha Village simply could not withstand the consequences of another Ninja World War breaking out.
And the same was true for the current Konoha Village.
As one of Konoha's elite jōnin, Hatake Kakashi naturally understood this situation very clearly.
Chakra erupted throughout his body. At this moment, Kakashi's forward speed could be described as lightning-fast. His figure flickered continuously through the forest, pushing his Shunshin to its limit as he rushed toward the source of the distress signal.
Finally, he arrived at the battlefield at an extremely critical and precise moment.
Before his figure fully entered the scene, his ears caught it first.
A terrifying explosion echoed violently through the air.
Within his field of vision.
The enormous executioner's blade was being swung down fiercely from above, carrying a murderous momentum, slashing toward a crimson-clad figure below who had nearly lost all ability to resist. Kakashi's pupils shrank abruptly. In an instant, thunder-like chakra erupted beneath his feet. With a sharp flash of light, Kakashi appeared directly in front of the executioner's blade, intercepting it with the fastest possible posture.
"Keng!!!"
Metal collided violently.
A sharp, ear-piercing clash rang out.
Sparks scattered in all directions.
The confrontation lasted only an instant.
One touch, then separation.
An unexpected development.
The moment she saw Kakashi's figure, the red-clad jōnin showed an unmistakable expression of relief and joy. Meanwhile, the tall, bandage-wrapped man whose strike had been blocked frowned deeply upon recognizing Kakashi, his expression instantly turning grim and displeased.
Landing backward after being forced away, the gloomy man swung the executioner's blade back onto his shoulder with ease. A dangerous light flickered within his eyes.
"Heh… I really didn't expect that on such a low-level C-rank mission, I'd actually run into two jōnin. And one of them is the famous Copy Ninja—Sharingan Kakashi. This deal is really starting to feel like a loss."
The bandaged man looked at Kakashi and spoke with an unmistakable hint of mockery.
"Ahaha… I didn't expect to meet Kirigakure's Demon of the Mist here either—Momochi Zabuza. This really is an honor."
Kakashi laughed lightly, loosening his shoulders as if stretching casually. However, beneath that relaxed exterior, his body was completely tensed. While speaking in a seemingly easygoing tone, Kakashi's gaze toward Zabuza was filled with deep vigilance and seriousness.
Although he had avoided the worst-case scenario—encountering a full Kirigakure squad.
The man before him was still an extremely dangerous opponent.
If he made even the slightest mistake, he could be killed on the spot.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had always been synonymous with terror and strength.
As one of the strongest shinobi directly under the Mizukage, Momochi Zabuza's reputation was known throughout the entire ninja world.
Defeating such an opponent would be no easy task.
Kakashi thought inwardly as he watched the killing intent radiating from Zabuza.
"Kakashi-san…"
At this moment.
A soft voice reached his ears.
There was no need to turn around.
The red-clad figure he had just rescued entered his line of sight.
This person was none other than Yūhi Kurenai, who had only recently been promoted to jōnin and was currently leading Team Eight. As a jōnin who specialized in genjutsu, Kurenai's overall strength was by no means weak. However, against a veteran killer like Zabuza, she was clearly outmatched. Had Kakashi arrived even a little later, Kurenai would almost certainly have been slain, and Team Eight would likely have been wiped out as well. In fact, among Konoha's jōnin-led squads, there were very few capable of directly contending with a monster like Zabuza head-on.
And while Kakashi intercepted Zabuza.
On the other side of the battlefield, two figures who had been pressing Team Eight—Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyūga Hinata—immediately disengaged. After several rapid flashes, they retreated back to Zabuza's side, watching the Konoha ninja with extreme caution, especially the newly arrived Hatake Kakashi.
These two were none other than the Demon Brothers of Kirigakure, the same chūnin who had ambushed Team Seven earlier and had been effortlessly dealt with by Kakashi.
At this moment, although they appeared calm on the surface, panic churned wildly within their hearts.
What was supposed to be an easy C-rank mission had turned into a nightmare.
Not only had they encountered a Konoha jōnin-led squad, but even the three genin they fought against were abnormally troublesome. One controlled insects from the Aburame clan, another fought in coordination with a ninja hound from the Inuzuka clan, already possessing chūnin-level combat sense, and the seemingly timid girl was actually a Hyūga clan member whose Byakugan made ambushes nearly impossible.
They had not only failed to kill their target.
They had nearly been killed themselves.
Originally, they believed that as long as Zabuza eliminated the female jōnin, the battle would end instantly. But before they could even catch their breath, another reinforcement arrived.
And the most terrifying part.
It was another jōnin.
At this moment.
Was this really still a C-rank mission?
The two brothers, outwardly composed, were screaming internally in despair.
If you want, I can immediately continue with CHAPTER 71, or tighten Zabuza's killing intent and Kakashi's Sharingan activation to perfectly mirror the manga pacing.
The Duel doesn't end here… it only gets more intense.
30+ chapters ahead are already waiting.
If you want to see the next moves, the hidden strategies, and the outcome before anyone else—
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