Zabuza seems to have been praised far higher than his abilities allow him to be worth.
And unlike characters like Tsunade (who has support utility) and Shikaku (strategist), his praise was always direct to his battle ability.
What if he actually is that strong (enough to challenge and kill a kage) but we simply haven't been considering his potential combos?
Consider this combo:
1. Hidden Mist Tech
2. Clones
He showed against Kakashi that he can create multiple techniques and maintain them (Water Prison + Water Clone, which itself can cast techniques), so the idea is not a problem.
The combo would allow him to blind most enemies, then use clones to deliver attacks from multiple angles. The weakness of the clones wouldn't matter because the enemy can't really see him/them and their kunai throwing speed would be fast enough to do damage. For stronger enemies, the clones could create a Water Prison that Zabuza himself could augment, suffocating them to death. This combo works well because Zabuza can stay safe while learning any defensive tricks the enemy has - and as we know, knowledge is everything in Naruto fights.
Which degree of foe could feasibly counter this combo? Does that not justify his Hokage level hype?
And unlike characters like Tsunade (who has support utility) and Shikaku (strategist), his praise was always direct to his battle ability.
What if he actually is that strong (enough to challenge and kill a kage) but we simply haven't been considering his potential combos?
Consider this combo:
1. Hidden Mist Tech
2. Clones
He showed against Kakashi that he can create multiple techniques and maintain them (Water Prison + Water Clone, which itself can cast techniques), so the idea is not a problem.
The combo would allow him to blind most enemies, then use clones to deliver attacks from multiple angles. The weakness of the clones wouldn't matter because the enemy can't really see him/them and their kunai throwing speed would be fast enough to do damage. For stronger enemies, the clones could create a Water Prison that Zabuza himself could augment, suffocating them to death. This combo works well because Zabuza can stay safe while learning any defensive tricks the enemy has - and as we know, knowledge is everything in Naruto fights.
Which degree of foe could feasibly counter this combo? Does that not justify his Hokage level hype?