Chapter 16 Fyodor Dostoevsky

As Zabuza and Kakashi both landed, Zabuza suddenly hurled several Kunais at Kakashi. With swift precision, Kakashi effortlessly deflected them using his own Kunais. In the blink of an eye, Zabuza closed the distance between them, swinging his sword towards Kakashi. With agile reflexes, Kakashi dodged the attack, bending his body backward.

Next, Kakashi channeled chakra into his feet, propelling himself at incredible speed. With a burst of chakra, he jammed his right leg into the Kubikiribocho, then, channeling chakra into his other foot, he rocketed sideways, delivering a powerful back hook straight to Zabuza's face.

Bam!

The force of the blow sent Zabuza flying five meters away, blood trickling from his mouth as he staggered. Without even looking, Zabuza instinctively halted a stab attempt by Kakashi.

"Hmph! Even though you're slightly stronger than I anticipated, Kakashi, it won't change anything," Zabuza sneered, emanating more bloodlust and killing intent.

'Although it would be convenient if it were just a bluff, I can't deny he's right. He predicted my moves flawlessly, even anticipating my next strike,' Kakashi thought, realizing he needed to end the fight with Kamui or his deadly Raikiri.

Suddenly, Zabuza launched a knee attack towards Kakashi. Anticipating it, Kakashi swiftly blocked it with his free left hand. But before he could react, Zabuza forcefully pulled Kakashi towards him.

'So this is the true Kakashi,' Zabuza thought, 'foolish to think he could escape my Water Prison Jutsu—'

Before Zabuza could finish his thought, a bolt of lightning jolted him as Kakashi's Electric Shadow Clone struck him. The electricity left scars on his body, causing fresh blood to flow.

"YOU!!!" Zabuza cursed Kakashi, scanning the area for the elusive Copy Ninja. Sensing danger, he leaped towards a nearby tree, glaring fiercely at Kakashi as he emerged from below with his Head Hunter Jutsu.

In the dense foliage of the tree, Zabuza swiftly weaved multiple hand signs, molding a vast amount of chakra to unleash his devastating Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu. The colossal water dragon surged towards Kakashi with lethal speed, threatening certain annihilation upon impact. Yet, Kakashi remained composed, poised to counter and turn the tables on his adversary.

Meanwhile, Kakashi had also completed his intricate hand signs, evoking the ominous sound of a thousand birds. A tremendous surge of chakra gathered in his palms, morphing into crackling lightning that tore through the ground with ferocity. "RAIKIRI!" Kakashi's cry echoed as he unleashed the full force of his lightning-infused attack.

Bending down slightly, Kakashi concentrated chakra in his feet, propelling himself at dizzying speed, almost akin to teleportation in the eyes of Sakura and Tazuna. With lightning reflexes, he ascended rapidly, wielding his Raikiri with lethal intent. As he closed in on the water dragon's path, he unleashed his attack, a clash of titans that rent the air with explosive force.

The collision erupted in a small explosion, leaving Kakashi with minor wounds as he pressed on, his resolve unyielding. His Raikiri sliced through the water dragon effortlessly, akin to a knife cutting through paper, with bursts of energy rippling through the clash.

In a swift turn of events, Kakashi and Zabuza found themselves in close proximity, setting the stage for Kakashi's next decisive move. With remnants of electricity crackling in his hand, Kakashi delivered a powerful palm strike to Zabuza's chest, propelling him backward with staggering force. The impact sent Zabuza hurtling through the dense forest, uprooting nearly twenty trees in his wake.

Amidst the chaos, Naruto, Dazai, and Sasuke swiftly closed in on Zabuza, bombarding him with a barrage of kunais, their determination unwavering.

As the dust settled, Kakashi landed gracefully on the ground, his attention turning to Mr. Tazuna with genuine concern. "Are you alright, Mr. Tazuna? I apologize for any discomfort caused by the earlier skirmish," Kakashi offered, his tone laced with sincerity. Tazuna reassured him, expressing understanding and admiration for Kakashi's prowess.

Just as they prepared to resume their journey, a sudden presence disrupted the tranquility, plunging everyone into shock. Emerging from the shadows, an enigmatic figure revealed himself—neither Haku nor Gato, but none other than Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Clap! Clap!

"That was certainly a captivating performance, dear Shinobis," Fyodor remarked, his tone shifting from playful to cold, all while maintaining his signature smile. "However, I must apologize for the interruption. Would you be willing to hand over those two boys, Uzumaki-san and the brown-haired boy, to us?"

Kakashi's glare intensified as he met Fyodor's gaze. "And what if I refuse? How do you even know Naruto's identity?" he demanded, bracing himself for a potential confrontation.

Fyodor's smile remained unfazed as he responded, "Ara~ I had intention of harming only the brown-haired boy, but circumstances have dictated that my associates require the Uzumaki boy for what lies within him." His words hinted at a deeper, more ominous purpose behind their request.

Naruto's confusion quickly turned to realization as he pieced together the true motive behind Fyodor's interest in him—the power of the Nine-Tails sealed within him.

Kakashi's resolve solidified as he addressed Fyodor with a steely gaze. "Whoever you are, whatever your motives, I cannot allow you to take these boys. You have two choices: surrender peacefully or face the consequences."

Fyodor chuckled in response, his demeanor unwavering. "You find me amusing, Copy Ninja, but let me pose a question to you," he countered, his cape fluttering in the wind. "What can a Shinobi like you, who is not even half as strong as I am, hope to achieve against me?"

Kakashi refused to be intimidated, his mind racing with disbelief at Fyodor's claims of superiority. 'This must be a bluff,' he thought, unwilling to accept that anyone could rival the strength of his former sensei, Minato.

Fyodor's next revelation sent a chill down Kakashi's spine. "I assure you, Kakashi-kun, I am not bluffing. My strength rivals that of your esteemed sensei," he declared, causing Kakashi to tense involuntarily.

As Kakashi grappled with this unsettling revelation, the others watched with a mix of concern and curiosity, their cautious tone betraying the gravity of the situation.

"Enough talk," Kakashi declared, his voice laced with determination. "Let's settle this the old-fashioned way. But first, introduce yourself." He brandished a kunai, assuming a defensive stance in preparation for the impending confrontation with Fyodor, whose formidable strength he could sense.

Fyodor responded calmly, revealing his identity as well as the inadequacy of Konoha's intel on him. "Well about that, I believe Konoha had enough information about me. My name and such. But about my strength, it seems to be that they didn't possessed enough information. Since they sent simple chunins for my investigation. Truly a pity, it seems. My name is Fyodor Dostoevsky," he stated matter-of-factly, punctuating his introduction with yet another shocking revelation.

"Then let's begin the fun, shall we?" Fyodor's playful yet menacing tone filled the air as he prepared for the impending battle, maintaining his battle stance with unwavering confidence.

Kakashi's expression twisted into a grimace as he tensed up, preparing himself mentally and physically for the challenge ahead.

With a bored and apathetic demeanor, Fyodor wasted no time in closing the distance between them, his movements swift and decisive. In a fraction of a second, he launched a simple punch with his left hand towards Kakashi, who swiftly blocked it with his right elbow before countering with a stab from his left.

However, Fyodor quickly discerned that he had struck a clone—a Lightning Shadow Clone, to be precise—and received a jolt of lightning as a consequence.

'Now!' Kakashi's thoughts raced as he remained hidden beneath the ground, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

Emerging from his concealed position, Kakashi wasted no time in unleashing one of his most powerful jutsu: the Raikiri. With crackling lightning coursing through his hand, he surged forward—

Only to be abruptly intercepted by a devastating kick from Fyodor. Despite blocking the blow with the Raikiri, Kakashi was sent hurtling through the air, rolling a considerable distance before coming to a stop.

Struggling to his feet, Kakashi couldn't help but acknowledge Fyodor's monstrous strength and unwavering resolve. 'What a formidable opponent. My plan to capitalize on his distraction backfired, and his chakra-enhanced kick caught me off guard.'

"Yes, it's a chakra-enhanced kick, Kakashi-kun," Fyodor confirmed, his voice laced with amusement.

Kakashi's eyebrows twitched in response as he realized the gravity of the situation. "It seems I'll have to take you more seriously," he admitted, a hint of determination in his voice.

With a focused gaze, Kakashi began channeling chakra into his left eye, causing his Sharingan to undergo a transformation—a manifestation of the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Ho~ So that's the famed Mangekyo Sharingan," Fyodor remarked with genuine intrigue, his grin widening at the sight. For someone like Fyodor, encountering such a rare and powerful ocular technique was a rare treat.

As both combatants braced themselves for the clash to come, Kakashi made a calculated move, throwing a kunai coated with Lightning Chakra towards Fyodor, setting the stage for the next phase of their intense confrontation.

Meanwhile, Fyodor pondered Kakashi's next move, analyzing the situation and preparing himself for whatever formidable ability the Mangekyo Sharingan might unleash.

"KAMUI!!!" Kakashi exclaimed, unleashing the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan to transport half of the Kunais to the Kamui Dimension in an instant.

"I see, a space-time ability, is it?" Fyodor muttered, coming to a complete stop as he anticipated the incoming onslaught. He quickly deduced that the Kunais would likely emerge from his surroundings, and just as he guessed, they came hurtling towards him from almost all sides via a portal.

The combined efforts of Dazai, Sasuke, Ichika, Ranpo, and Naruto intensified the assault, attacking Fyodor from every angle. Observing the chaos, Fyodor analyzed the situation with keen insight.

'That Ranpo is fake. Which means it's likely a transformation Jutsu... And considering he became a Nara clan member... He will surely attack me using that shadow technique from somewhere,' Fyodor thought, preparing for the inevitable counterattack.

"Let's see how powerful these Kunais truly are," Fyodor remarked, attempting to gauge their strength by allowing them to strike him. However, he soon realized his mistake. "No, wait... These Kunais... They possess considerable strength, at least equivalent to B-rank or even A-rank. It seems I underestimated them."

Observing Fyodor's actions with his Mangekyo Sharingan, Kakashi noted the buildup of immense chakra, signaling a formidable attack.

"Elemental Chakra Infusion: Cyclone Barrage!!!" Fyodor announced, unleashing his devastating jutsu. Surrounding himself with swirling chakra, he effortlessly blocked the incoming attacks from all sides, leaving their opponents astonished.

"Hahaha! Did you truly believe those Kunais would be enough to defeat me?" Fyodor taunted, his chakra morphing into water with lethal potential.

"You guys! Did you know that when water is under extreme pressure and can travel at multiple times the speed of sound, its destructive potential is enough to actually do this?" Fyodor said, wearing an amused and satisfied smile.

Then, with tremendous speed and pressure, he hurled the water at Kakashi, its destructive force capable of cutting through even the hardest metal. As the attack bore down on Kakashi, he could only think one thing, 'What a Jutsu! It can easily kill me if I get touched by it... And I don't think my Kunais can be of any help. This Jutsu... It's definitely an "S - RANKED JUTSU".'

And now Kakashi swiftly side-stepped in multiple directions, deftly evading the rapid onslaught of water attacks. Sakura and Tazuna, unable to match his speed, could only watch in awe.

Utilizing the incredible reaction speed granted by his Mangekyo Sharingan, Kakashi narrowly avoided Fyodor's devastating jutsu. However, he soon realized he was at a disadvantage and decided to resort to his trump card once again.

"KAMUI!" Kakashi exclaimed, preparing to teleport away from the incoming water. However, Fyodor had underestimated his next move as that's what he was likely thinking that the kamui shall be used on his Jutsu.

'...now with this, Hatake Kakashi is sure to deplete his chakra reserves... And I can finally engage in a battle to the death with my dear chess partner,' Fyodor thought, his amusement evident in his expression.

But before Fyodor could react, Sasuke appeared before Kakashi and linked their chakra, teleporting them both away to safety.

Boom! Boom!

Fyodor's jutsu ravaged the surrounding area, obliterating trees and tearing through the ground with the force of numerous buildings. However, Fyodor's shock was palpable as he realized his mistake.

'What!? That's Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique. Which means that kamui? I see it was not supposed to teleport the water away at all. Its target is none other than... Me!'

With lightning reflexes, Fyodor narrowly evaded the imminent danger, but not without sustaining moderate wounds.

"Thanks a lot, Sasuke. Also, you must now take the lead in this battle. With the limited chakra I have left, I won't be able to provide much assistance," Kakashi said, relinquishing control to Sasuke.

"Don't worry, Sensei. I've got this," Sasuke assured him with a cold glare directed at Fyodor. With chakra coursing through his feet, he dashed towards Fyodor, covering the distance in the blink of an eye.

Slash! Clang!

But alas, Fyodor blocked it, causing Sasuke to recoil from the tremendous force behind Fyodor's kunai strikes.

'I see...' Thought Sasuke, his expression turning empty and colder, a darkness lurking within him.

Without hesitation, Sasuke resumed his assault, striking with even greater speed and ferocity.

Slash! Clang! Slash! Clang! Slash! Clang!

"What!?" muttered Fyodor in shock, unable to comprehend Sasuke's unbelievable speed and strength. Despite his best efforts, Fyodor found himself on the defensive, barely managing to block Sasuke's rapid onslaught.

And the most intriguing aspect?

Sasuke hadn't unleashed his ultimate power yet.

Once again, Sasuke launched into another series of relentless attacks.

Slash! Schlitt!

'In order to defeat him, I must be stronger, faster, or smarter,' thought Sasuke, noticing a slight scratch he had inflicted on Fyodor's neck moments ago, drawing blood.

"Hahaha! I see. It's amusing how you managed to surprise me and land a scratch before I could react," remarked Fyodor, his tone laced with amusement. "But how will you fare against this? Elemental Chakra Infusion: Torrential Barrage."

With a surge of chakra, Fyodor unleashed a torrential barrage of water towards Sasuke, the quantity triple that of his previous attack on Kakashi.

With lightning reflexes, Sasuke dodged left, right, left, and left again, narrowly avoiding the onslaught. His movements were fluid and graceful, akin to a mesmerizing dance, yet some parts of the attack still grazed him.

"I suppose it's time..." Sasuke muttered, his eyes glinting with determination.

"It's Sharingan time..."