Villains don't have to survive long or become recurring characters in order to retain a place in fans' minds and even their hearts, and the way Naruto handles some of its evildoers are great examples of this phenomenon. One of the best by far is Zabuza, the very first real threat that Naruto and his team faces in the Land of Waves after unknowingly taking on a mission much more dangerous than its listed rank.
In the span of just a few episodes, Zabuza is successfully set up as a nearly insurmountable threat. He even returns from the brink of death and comes back just as strong. Not only does the series manage to paint him as a powerful, ruthless villain, but it also subverts all expectations when it showcases his human side.
10 His Relationship With Haku Develops From Uncaring To Painfully Heart-Wrenching
For most of the time Zabuza spends on-screen with Haku, it's unclear if he harbors any actual feelings for the boy or if he's simply using him for his powers. He saves Haku from being orphaned and on his own, but there's the possibility that he's only using him for his insanely powerful Kekkei Genkai.
That is until Naruto uses his infamous Talk-no-Jutsu on Haku's behalf and asks whether the boy's sacrifices meant anything to Zabuza. The villain actually breaks down in tears, and his final request is that he gets to lie beside Haku in their final moments, a scene that fans can't seem to forget.
9 His Appearance Alone Is Enough To Strike A Sense Of Dread And Terror Into Team Seven
Zabuza's outfit is quite simple, consisting of little more than a black tank top and matching pants with striped gray arm and legwarmers. The bandages that cover the lower half of his face and trail down to his neck add an air of mystery, but for the most part, there's not much that stands out in his character design.
This is actually a brilliant move, as it means that nearly all of the focus is on his weapon- an oversized broad sword that's even bigger and more imposing than he is. It doesn't take more than a single glance at him to strike fear in the hearts of Team Seven.
8 He Poses A Real Threat To Kakashi, Who Seems Untouchable Up Until This Point
Kakashi seems like an almost untouchable character when he's first introduced by toying with Team Seven during their bell-grabbing test. When rogue ninja attack the team not long after leaving for the Land of Waves, the Copycat Ninja is able to take them down without much problem.
The dynamic shifts completely as soon as Zabuza enters, as Kakashi has to pull out his Sharingan for the first time to match his assailant. Zabuza manages to trap Kakashi as well, and he wouldn't have been able to escape without Naruto's and Sasuke's quick thinking.
7 Team Seven's Lives Feel Like They're In True Danger
In addition to this being the first time that Kakashi is pushed into using the full extent of his powers, it's also the first time that Team Seven's lives feel like they're in genuine danger. Kakashi even commands the team to abandon him when he's captured, because he knows their lives are in danger.
Zabuza is a master of the art of silent killing and is able to masterfully intercept the defensive formation that Team Seven forms around the bridge builder. There's an air of tense uncertainty that lingers throughout the encounter, and though the team obviously has plot armor, it still feels like they're in true danger.
6 He's So Deadly That He Disrupts An Academy Tradition Centered Around Students Fighting In Death Matches
Before the Fourth Mizukage comes into power, Kirigakure Academy's graduating exam involves students battling one another to the death. Exceptionally talented students who manage to survive are named prime candidates to become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Zabuza manages to take down over a hundred academy students, and this is while he's not even registered as a student himself. This incident is so chilling that it actually causes the entire practice to be discontinued, and he earns the title of Demon of the Hidden Mist.
5 He's Brave Enough To Attempt An Assassination On The Mizukage, And Wants To Try Again
The Kage of any given village is typically heralded as the most respected and powerful ninja in their area. Zabuza and some of his followers end up making an attempt on the Mizukage's life after disagreeing with his practices, but they're ultimately unsuccessful after one of their own betrays them.
This doesn't stop or disillusion Zabuza, however, as he simply takes Haku and his more dedicated men and flees the village. This is the reason that Zabuza's team ends up as hired mercenaries since they're attempting to collect funds to make another attempt on the Mizukage's life.
4 He'll Fight To The Death Even If His Arms Are Rendered Useless
One of Zabuza's most impactful scenes is undoubtedly when he turns against Gato and his men after realizing that he lost to Haku and isn't going to escape alive. He asks Naruto to throw him a kunai, and with his arms rendered useless, catches it with his mouth.
He charges against the horde of Gato's men without any hint of hesitation and is able to take out a remarkable number despite only having that single kunai at his disposal. Turning against Gato and the organization that kept the Land of Waves' residents living in fear is one of the most memorable moments for any of the series' early villains.
3 His Silent Killing Technique Is Second-To-None And Strikes Fear Into Naruto's Team
Zabuza is a master of the art of Silent Killing, and he's able to expertly eliminate targets even in zero visibility. Kakashi notes that this technique is able to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents before he even attacks, as even a simple eye movement is enough to alert Zabuza to their location.
Kakashi is able to protect his students up until this point, but Zabuza's ability to disappear and reappear wherever he desires without making a sound is a truly terrifying threat this early on. He's able to strike fear into Naruto's entire squad, and this includes Sasuke, who notes that the pressure of two jonin clashing is almost too much for him to bear.
2 He's So Strong His Giant Broadsword Doesn't Slow Him Down
With a weapon as heavy as Zabuza's greatsword, it looks like it would slow him down, but this is far from the case. He's so speedy that he's actually able to keep up with Kakashi, and he never tires, even in long battles. Other ninja, like Suigetsu, are worn out from wielding the same weapon.
If holding and swinging it without tiring isn't impressive enough, Zabutsu is even able to use it to launch throwing attacks. Zabuza can launch the blade with such force that it goes spinning through several enemies and ultimately lodges itself in a tree trunk.
1 He's Able To Cheat Death In Ways That Make Sense
Villains who survive certain death is a trope in anime and comics, but it often ruins the viewers' suspension of disbelief. In Zabuza's case, however, his extensive knowledge of the body's pressure points and vital organs is introduced early in the story.
He then teaches what he knows to Haku, who's able to hit the pressure points needed to put him into a state of near-death that he later wakes him from. Realizing that the two of them were skilled enough to successfully pull off this nearly impossible task, combined with the way that they left Team Seven weakened, makes them feel legitimately dangerous.