**Chapter 8: Effortlessly Facing Zabuza**
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei! We're lost on the path of life!"
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke emerged from Ichiraku Ramen Shop and spotted Kakashi waiting boredly on the other side of the street. They called out in unison.
"Alright, enough chatter. Follow me to Lord Hokage's office."
Kakashi glared somewhat irritably at the chattering trio before waving them over.
"Lord Hokage, Team Seven reporting for duty," Kakashi announced as they entered the Third Hokage's office.
"Hmm... come closer," the Third Hokage said, leisurely puffing on his pipe as he beckoned Team Seven closer.
"Your mission this time is to protect someone," he declared.
"Lord Hokage, protection missions are typically at least C-rank! How can Naruto and the others handle such a task right off the bat? Shouldn't genin start with D-rank missions to gain experience?" Iruka couldn't help but protest, his face etched with concern.
"Iruka... relax. I know what I'm doing."
The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe, a glint of shrewdness appearing in his aged eyes.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Iruka's worries eased.
"The person you must protect is this elderly gentleman," the Third Hokage said, pointing to a sliding door that slowly slid open.
"Hello. I am the one you will be protecting," Tazuna said, stepping out from behind the door and addressing the four genin.
"Oh, I see," Kakashi nodded, turning to face the Third Hokage. "Then, Lord Hokage, we'll set off immediately."
"Very well. Just follow the old man," the Third Hokage replied, taking another leisurely puff of his pipe and leaning back in his chair.
"Alright, let's get going," Kakashi called out, and the five of them filed out of the office.
"Mr. Tazuna, why don't you tell us about your situation?" Kakashi asked, glancing at the silent Tazuna as they walked. "After all, we need to fully understand what we're dealing with."
"Hmph, I'll make it simple. I'm the chief bridge builder for a major project. Your mission is to protect me until the bridge is completed."
With a hint of melancholy, Tazuna seemed to be concealing something as he spoke.
Though Tazuna tried to hide it well, Naruto noticed it immediately.
"Demon Zabuza, huh?" Naruto mused inwardly, already forming a plan.
*Splash...*
As they walked, Naruto's gaze was drawn to a puddle of water.
"The Demon Brothers?" he scoffed, peering disdainfully at the puddle. "Such amateur hiding techniques."
"Earth Release: Ant Hell!"
Whirling around abruptly, Naruto roared, slamming his palm into the waterlogged ground.
*Whirring...*
The earth beneath the puddle suddenly softened and began to swirl downward like quicksand in the desert, utterly inescapable.
*Glug...*
Sensing the danger, the Demon Brothers burst from the puddle, scrambling to escape.
"Too late," Naruto grinned. "Earth Release: Earth Splitter Palm!"
*BOOM!*
The sunken earth compressed violently, as if being squeezed by a giant hand.
"Heh heh, that's it for you, right? No chance of even a proper burial now..."
Naruto scoffed at the Demon Brothers again, unimpressed by their pathetic performance. *Chunin?*
"Naruto... what happened?"
Sakura, unaware of the situation, turned her head toward Naruto, a puzzled look on her face.
"Nothing much. Just took care of a couple of goons," Naruto replied, clapping his hands together casually.
"Hmm... that kid's actually pretty impressive..." Tazuna muttered inwardly, watching Naruto with grudging respect.
"Naruto, you bastard!"
Sasuke reacted far faster than Sakura, his inner turmoil evident after witnessing the entire scene.
*When did you get so strong, Naruto...?* Sasuke clenched his fists, the crimson glint in his eyes flickering faintly.
"Naruto, you've grown so much. You'll surpass me soon," Kakashi remarked, his gaze drifting slightly. "Sensei... can you see this?"
*Whoosh!*
A sudden gust of wind swept through the forest.
"Naruto, get down!" Kakashi shouted.
Reacting instantly, Naruto dove to the ground, narrowly avoiding the ambush. He turned to see what had flown past.
"Kubikiribocho?" Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Zabuza's here?"
*Clang! Crash!*
The Kubikiribocho slammed into a tree trunk, sending leaves cascading down in a torrential shower.
*Thud!*
The next moment, a man with a muscular upper body and wearing hemp pants stood atop the massive blade.
"Oh my, if it isn't Momochi Zabuza, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen," Kakashi drawled, lazily lifting one eye to glance at Zabuza.
"So that's why the Demon Brothers failed. It turns out our escort is the Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi. I'd love to spar with you, but I have a mission to complete. This time, it seems we can't. Now, hand over the old man."
Completely ignoring the other members of Team Seven, Zabuza's eyes remained fixed on Kakashi.
"This is going to be troublesome, but..."
Kakashi reached up and removed the headband covering his Sharingan eye, revealing the crimson Sharingan as he glared at Zabuza. "You won't be taking him."
"Thank you all for not holding my concealment of the mission's true difficulty against me," Tazuna said, looking gratefully at Team Seven, who stood protectively before him.
"It's troublesome, but since we accepted this mission..." Kakashi paused, "...we'll see it through to the end!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Kakashi roared, his hands forming a series of seals. A massive earth dragon erupted from the ground, hurtling toward Zabuza with a deafening roar.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Zabuza countered with a water dragon, but its elemental weakness proved fatal. The earth dragon crushed the water dragon, its momentum carrying it onward toward Zabuza.
"Hah!"
Zabuza swung his Kubikiribocho, severing the weakened earth dragon. In the next instant, he raised an arm, a single finger pointed skyward. "Hidden Mist Technique!"
"Heh, Hidden Mist Technique? Let's add a little something extra, then."
Watching the fog thicken around him, Naruto smirked maliciously. "Black Night Flight Technique!"
The sky instantly plunged into darkness, so thick you couldn't see your own hand in front of your face.
"What's happening?!" Sakura cried out in alarm.
"Oh? Someone's using Dark Release ninjutsu? How foolish. This only works to my advantage." Zabuza sneered dismissively.
"Really that foolish?" Naruto grinned sinisterly. "Mist Clone Technique!"
"Ugh... damn it!"
Zabuza's startled shout was followed by the ceaseless whistling of his blade as he frantically slashed at the darkness.
"Useless," Naruto thought, smirking inwardly. *In the darkness, the Mist Clone Technique is practically invincible.*
*Enjoy these shadows, Zabuza. Savor them.*
Naruto grinned wickedly, reveling in the multiplying shadows and the relentless attacks they launched against Zabuza. The sight filled him with vindictive satisfaction.
"Damn it! Water Release: Violent Water Wave!"
Zabuza roared furiously, his voice echoing with the crashing fury of a tidal wave.
"Earth Release: Four Earth Flowing Walls!"
Weaving hand seals, Naruto drew upon his limited chakra reserves and even channeled some of the Nine-Tailed Beast's chakra.
*Boom!*
The ground trembled violently, a testament to the sheer power of the technique.
*Enough shadows. Time for the final assault.*
Naruto made his decision instantly.
"Phantom Shadow Multi-Barrage!"
He bellowed, commanding the shadows to mimic his own Multi-Shadow Clone Barrage and unleash a flurry of attacks against Zabuza.
Muffled groans punctuated the steady, heavy thuds as the shadows pummeled their target.
"Heh heh, mental trauma, Zabuza. Enjoy it while it lasts."
Naruto stretched his arms. "Whew, after forming so many hand seals, my hands are aching."
The muffled impact sounds continued for a long time before finally stopping. Sensing the barely alive Zabuza, Naruto confirmed he could no longer pose a threat before dispelling the Mist Clone Technique and Black Night Flight Technique.
"Whew, what happened...?"
Finally seeing the light again, Sakura looked around in bewilderment. But when she saw the massive earth walls surrounding them, each as wide as a small hill's cross-section, her mouth dropped open in adorable disbelief. "How could... such enormous earth walls suddenly appear? And on all four sides...?"
*Boom!*
The four earth walls collapsed in succession, revealing the scene outside.
"The ground is so wet now. And so many of the surrounding trees have been felled, as if struck by a tremendous force."
Sasuke surveyed the surroundings, piecing together the thunderous roars from the darkness and Zabuza's affinity for water ninjutsu. He concluded, "Zabuza unleashed a high-powered water-style ninjutsu, but it was blocked by these earthen walls, preventing us from being harmed inside. But who summoned such a massive earth-style ninjutsu?"
Glancing at Kakashi, Sasuke frowned deeply. "Could it be him? If so, he's incredibly powerful, possessing such immense chakra reserves."
"Huff... such a barrage of high-level ninjutsu is enough to make even me feel ashamed," Kakashi said, his crimson Sharingan eyes fixed on Naruto, who was breathing heavily.
"It seems these powerful techniques were all your doing. Naruto, just how strong have you become? You've already far surpassed me..." Kakashi thought, inwardly stunned.
"That Zabuza guy... is he dead?"
Looking at Zabuza, who lay motionless on the ground in the distance, Kakashi began to cautiously approach.
(End of Chapter)