Author's Note:
I'd really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on this chapter in the comments—whether you liked it, disliked it, or noticed any strengths or weaknesses.
Your feedback helps me understand what works and what needs improvement, and it also creates a space for readers to discuss the chapter and its events together.
Feel free to be honest and speak your mind. This story grows with you and because of you.
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"Can he really copy the enemy's techniques just by seeing them?"
"Amazing! Can the Sharingan really give its user the ability to copy any jutsu they see!?"
"I don't think so. Maybe Kakashi is just talented at chakra control, and with the Sharingan, it's like giving a tiger wings."
"Hah! So the ability to copy techniques is inherent in the Sharingan?"
"That's true. I haven't awakened my Sharingan yet, but my father once told me he can copy simple techniques just by looking at them."
"You're from the Uchiha clan. Why haven't you awakened your Sharingan yet?"
"Sigh… my father said I live an easy life."
"Stop talking nonsense, Sugikaki! How dare you reveal clan secrets to outsiders?"
At that moment, one of the Uchiha clan members shouted at Sugikaki, making him fall silent in embarrassment.
Indeed, the excitement of reading the manga made him speak impulsively about things he shouldn't have, and this warning was necessary.
"I'm sorry…" Sugikaki Uchiha looked down shyly, then moved away from the gathering of people from all over Konoha and approached his clan members.
"Tsk… The Uchiha clan really doesn't change, no matter what happens."
"That's right, they seem like a bunch of clowns."
"Hehe, it's great to know that not all of them can awaken the Sharingan… With this eye, there will be no competition at all—they'll control everything in the village."
"Speak quietly—they'll hear you…"
"I don't understand. Why does Kakashi have a Sharingan in only one eye?"
"Maybe he stole it from a Uchiha clan member…"
"Just imagining it… having the eye removed… I feel sorry for the original owner…"
Little did the last speaker know that the original owner of that eye would later become Konoha's nightmare…
...
Not far from the heated discussions among the readers gathered from all over Konoha, Sakumo was watching the ongoing battle between Kakashi and Zabuza in the manga with attentive eyes.
"Water Clone no jutsu… This is what distinguishes a Mist ninja."
"Zabuza seems extremely skilled at chakra control as well… He's no ordinary shinobi."
"At my current level, fighting someone like Zabuza would be a bit troublesome for me."
"I didn't expect Kirigakure to produce a talented boy like Zabuza." Sakumo smiled, praising his son's enemy in the manga.
He loved watching this battle and wished it would go on much longer.
"Oyaji, who are you really cheering for in this battle?" Young Kakashi puffed his cheek, thinking his father was supporting Zabuza over him.
"Haha! Of course, I'm on Kakashi's side. Look, he copied Zabuza's technique perfectly." Sakumo laughed, seeing Zabuza's sword pass through Kakashi's body, which had transformed into a water clone.
"Haha! Zabuza's shocked expression is refreshing…" Young Kakashi laughed after seeing Zabuza's surprise at witnessing Kakashi copying his technique—even though he had carefully performed it in the mist to prevent copying.
"Don't move!! It's over!"
In the next scene, Kakashi placed a kunai at Zabuza's neck from behind, declaring the battle over after just a few seconds.
A battle between elite Jounin—intense and astonishing—but it ended quickly… or so they thought.
Chapter 12 ended in a dazzling rush, leaving readers in a state of excitement. For the first time, they felt the number of chapters in the volume was insufficient.
Just seeing the remaining pages of the volume made them feel sad, reluctant to finish it.
[—
"What? This water is heavy…"
"Heh, fool." Behind Kakashi, Zabuza appeared, performing hand seals.
'Water Prison no Jutsu.'
'Damn!!' Kakashi felt the heavy water pressing from all directions, forming a huge sphere that trapped him inside.
"What?!" shocked Kakashi.
"You may have been trying to escape to the water, but that was a big mistake." Zabuza pressed his hand into the water prison to stabilize it.
"Hehehe, I now have you in my inescapable special prison. It makes things tougher if you can move, you know?"
"Now… Kakashi, we can finish things later. First, I'll deal with them." Zabuza looked at the group of children and sent a water clone to attack them.
'He's stronger than I expected…' Kakashi felt shocked.
A water clone of Zabuza appeared in front of Naruto and the others.
"Hehe, wearing headbands and acting like real ninjas…"
"But you know what? A real ninja is someone who has survived numerous brushes with death." Zabuza mocked Naruto and the others, then continued:
"Basically… once you're good enough to be listed in my handbook, you can start calling yourself a ninja… You guys shouldn't be referred to as ninjas."
After saying this, he vanished into the mist. Naruto sweated:
'He disappeared again!!'
Before he realized it, he was kicked so hard that his headband fell off, landing on the ground, where Zabuza stood on it.
—]
A terrifying silence fell over the art store at this moment.
The battle scene made readers' hearts race, whether shinobi or civilians.
"This… he's strong."
The Third Hokage muttered in astonishment.
"What's with this dazzling display from Sakumo's son? I thought he'd be much better than this."
Danzō looked at young Kakashi and his father with disdain.
"…Wh-"
Before young Kakashi could speak, Sakumo placed a hand on his shoulder, signaling him to stay calm.
"This humiliation must be returned somehow… he's standing on the symbol of our village, Konoha!" Hamura shouted in frustration, clenching his teeth in anger.
He didn't like the scene, which seemed full of political symbolism.
'No doubt the Mist shinobi will love seeing this scene. What are you doing, Rubiro-kun…' Koharu thought in annoyance.
Meanwhile, Kushina was disturbed seeing Naruto's blood splatter when Zabuza mercilessly kicked him in the face.
"Let's see how you handle this, Naruto… the opponent is a seasoned Jounin, ruthless, unforgiving, and one of the Seven Mist Swordsmen… what will you do?"
Minato said calmly, wanting to see how Naruto would react in this desperate situation, with Kakashi trapped inside the water prison and no way to save them for the time being.
"He said he won't let his comrades die… Kakashi is amazing."
Mito smiled, saying that, having full confidence in Kakashi since reading the previous chapter.
...
In Sunagakure, readers were equally astonished by the chapter.
Unlike the silence over Konoha readers, this place was full of noise and laughter. It felt as if they had nothing to do with the battle—only Konoha and Mist shinobi were fighting life-or-death battles, making the Sand shinobi feel like they were witnessing a lavish performance.
"A high-level battle between two powerful Jounin, drawn in great detail… incredible. I never thought such art existed in this world." The Third Kazekage smiled.
"This book will become an important strategic reference… not bad having a shop like this in our village," Ebizo admitted quietly.
He truly loved Naruto's manga and looked forward to the day when Sand shinobi would appear in its pages.
"I agree with my younger brother… this missing Mist shinobi shows exactly how Mist shinobi should truly be."
"If I didn't know it was fictional, I would have believed this Zabuza actually exists in the Mist Village," Chiyo said with an honest smile.
"And what prevents him from existing?" The Third Kazekage spoke with narrowed eyes.
"If Old Hiruzen exists, Sakumo's son exists, and rich Satou exists, what prevents Zabuza from existing in reality?"
"He might just be a little child now…"
The Kazekage's words left the listeners in utter astonishment.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 65: Leaf Village Ninja, Uzumaki Naruto!
Chapter 66: Valuable Information About the Hidden Mist Village!
Chapter 67: The Astonishing Combat Style of the Copy Ninja!
Chapter 68: Zabuza's End? The Hidden Mist Village on the Horizon!
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BlackStar_BH:
The chapters currently available on Patreon are up to Chapter 88.
There are 25 advanced chapters available now:
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In the coming days, chapters will be made available for all tiers, reaching up to 50 advanced chapters… Enjoy!