"Battle power... 450?"
Kakashi Hatake's eyes narrowed. Everything about these intruders was growing more and more confusing.
Who were these people?
He was well-informed about the world, yet he had never encountered anything like this—a combat power measured in specific numbers.
In the ninja world, strength was gauged by ranks: Genin, Chūnin, Jōnin, and higher classifications like Elite Jōnin or even those with strength comparable to the Five Kage. But this numerical combat power system? That was something completely unheard of.
"Kakashi Hatake... Let's see."
Menma stared at Kakashi, his gaze focused through the armor's sensors. "Your combat power is a little higher—500. But... there's something it can't detect."
The combat power detector displayed an error, unable to fully analyze Kakashi's abilities.
Clearly, his power was more than just 500. Something was throwing off the readings.
"What?" Kakashi's expression was one of confusion.
What couldn't be detected? Was it the Eight Inner Gates? No, he hadn't even activated them.
The real question was whether this nonsense about measuring combat power was real or just some elaborate bluff.
"Playing tricks!"
Zabuza Momochi's irritated growl interrupted the tense atmosphere. Gripping his beheading sword tightly with both hands, he lunged forward, his massive blade slicing downward with terrifying speed and force.
Clang!
The sharp clang of metal against metal rang out.
"I think I recognize that sword of yours."
Menma held the beheading sword with just his armored forearm, the metal screeching as the blade tried and failed to cut through the armor. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, right? This sword of yours was one of their treasured weapons."
Zabuza's eyes widened, his bloodshot gaze locked on the armored man.
What the hell was this armor made of? His beheading sword couldn't even leave a scratch!
"But..."
Menma pulled one arm back, and with terrifying force, punched the blade.
Crack!
The beheading sword shattered, pieces of metal scattering across the bridge.
"After all, it's just a relic from a bygone era."
Kuro Kakashi commented in a calm, almost mocking tone.
Zabuza's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind completely blank for a moment.
He barely registered Kuro Kakashi's taunt. Instead, he focused on the fact that he'd been completely stunned. If that guy had decided to follow up with an attack just now... Zabuza would have been dead before he even realized it.
He forced himself to retreat, holding the shattered remnants of his blade in a trembling grip. The power displayed by these strangers wasn't just overwhelming—it was terrifying.
"Kakashi!" Zabuza called out, voice rough with desperation. "We need to join forces. If we don't, none of us are getting out of here alive!"
Kakashi glanced at Zabuza, the absurdity of the situation not lost on him.
Moments ago, they were locked in a deadly battle. Now, Zabuza was suggesting they team up.
"You people..." Kakashi started cautiously. "What exactly do you want? As far as I know, Konoha doesn't have any issues with you."
Menma chuckled. "Didn't I make it clear? No one here is allowed to leave." His gaze shifted briefly toward Naruto, making Kakashi's heart tighten.
So, they were after Naruto.
"In that case..." Kakashi said, exchanging a quick glance with Zabuza. "We have no choice but to fight."
"Just the two of you?" Menma laughed. "Even combined, your combat power doesn't reach half of mine."
Kakashi felt sweat trickle down his brow. If Menma was telling the truth, his own combat power was barely 500, while this man's was at least 2000.
This was insane. Everything about these people was bizarre. The way they just fell from the sky, the power of their armor, the strange way they spoke of combat power... It all felt like some surreal nightmare.
"Well," Menma said with a casual tap on his chest. "To make this fair, I'll take off the armor and only use my own strength. How about that?"
As he spoke, the nano-chakra armor covering his body began to disassemble. The fluid-like material flowed and retracted toward the core of the armor on his chest, revealing his true form.
Though his face was masked, his youthful figure was clearly visible.
"He's... a kid?" Naruto muttered, staring wide-eyed at Menma.
Sasuke's fists clenched. He had activated his Sharingan, but even then, this person's strength seemed unfathomable.
Don't panic. With the Sharingan, I'll surpass them all... and then I'll find him—Uchiha Itachi.
On the other side, Zabuza's lips twisted into a cruel grin.
"Hmph! So that's why you're so arrogant. You're just a little brat."
With the broken sword stabbed into the ground, Zabuza's hands flew through a series of rapid seals. More than twenty hand signs passed in a blur.
Menma raised an eyebrow. "What's he doing? That's a lot of seals. Doesn't he have barely any chakra?"
Seconds later, the water on the bridge rippled and surged upward, forming a massive water dragon towering over ten meters high.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Zabuza roared, thrusting his hands forward.
Menma stared at the incoming beast of water, feeling the air grow colder with the sheer pressure of the technique.
"Water Style Ninjutsu?" Menma smirked, bringing his hands together in a mockery of Zabuza's preparation. "I'm not very good at it... But I have a lot of chakra."
The ground trembled. The air around Menma began to hum with raw power.
Suddenly, water surged up from beneath his feet, expanding into a monstrous tidal wave that swept forward like an unstoppable force of nature.
"Water Style: Grand Waterfall Technique!"
The roaring wave collided with Zabuza's water dragon, smashing through it like it was nothing. The overwhelming mass of water continued forward, consuming everything in its path.
Zabuza's eyes went wide with terror.
What... what the hell kind of monster was this kid?!
As the waves crashed and the bridge trembled, both Kakashi and Zabuza realized something terrifying.
They were dealing with a power that shouldn't even exist in this world.