As the battle with the Superior Enemy rages, the young Ninjas put up a scrap despite the overwhelming odds. It is Naruto who comes up with a plan to surprise his opponent. Breaching the defensive line of Momochi Zabuza, Naruto's attack causes his enemy to release his Hydro Prison hold upon the captive Kakashi.

     

Kakashi now battles the enemy, throwing him back, and as Momochi Zabuza manufactures new techniques, the experienced fighter and sensei to the young Ninjas initiates his duplication skills. Water demons emerge from the lake to clash in a giant waterspout. Despite the many seals and techniques initiated by Momochi, Kakashi is able to rapidly counter each by duplication. Kakashi and Momochi battle head to head and blade to blade. The enemy's resolve begins to fade, as he encounters something new.

His opponent, Kakashi, is supposed to be a Sharingan only, which embodies the ability to memorize his opponent's techniques and copy them, but Momochi Zabuza is astounded to realize that the techniques are being executed simultaneously.

While they battle, a mysterious young figure arrives on the scene, and studies the combatants from a tree branch.

Momochi is astounded that his moves are perfectly predicted by Kakashi. He is stunned to realize that the Sharingan has read his mind. He chuckles and accuses Kakashi of having nothing original, but just to mimic him like a monkey. It is then that Momochi attempts another assault, but Kakashi beats him to the punch, preceding his opponent's technique.

Momochi Zabuza is struck by a water demon, driven back against the trees, then pinioned by an assault with throwing knives. He gasps as he begins to expire, looking up to Kakashi and demanding to know if his opponent can see the future. Kakashi replies, "Yeah, you're going to die."

Knives strike Zabuza, but they have come from another direction, and now the new assailant is discovered. It is a youthful figure in a mask. Momochi Zabuza lies unmoving while the mysterious figure looks on. Kakashi tests the pulse at his opponent's neck and concludes that the once powerful Momochi Zabuza is dead.

The mysterious figure bows and thanks Kakashi, revealing that he has waited for a chance to kill Zabuza. Naruto is hostile towards the newcomer, jealous about this self-proclaimed hunter-nin. Sakura informs Naruto that a hunter-nin is one who assassinates exiled ninjas like Zabuza who have gone against the village in which they were born. They do it to conceal any secret of their village. Even Kakashi is impressed that this young ninja is so powerful, yet not much older than any of his own students.

Naruto is angry, demanding to know the masked kid's identity. He is jealous that one such as Zabuza was killed by a youth no older than himself. He proclaims that it makes them look like idiots. Kakashi tells him to settle down and accept the reality that in this world there are others who are more powerful than them all.

The hunter-nin then appears beside the body of the fallen enemy, and just as quickly disappears in a whirlwind along with the corpse.

As the group departs, to resume their mission of escorting the old bridge builder to his home, Kakashi suddenly falls to the ground and lies very still. It is as if he has been struck down by an unknown force.

(continued in episode 10)