**Chapter 9: A Fated Encounter**
"Kakashi, you've pushed me to the brink without a scratch. It seems you've far surpassed me in strength," Zabuza said, straining to look up at Kakashi as he approached, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Why... am I so far behind you?"
"Zabuza, you weren't defeated by me."
Kakashi walked up to Zabuza, his cold gaze fixed on the defenseless figure. "You were defeated by my student, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Your student?"
Zabuza froze for a moment before erupting into laughter. "Hahaha, Kakashi, are you telling fairy tales? How could I possibly lose to a brat like that?"
"Do you really think I could have pushed you this far without a single scratch? Zabuza, you still don't understand."
Kakashi looked down at Zabuza from his superior height.
"Ha..."
The laughter cut off abruptly, and Zabuza's face gradually twisted into a grimace. "Impossible! How could I fall to a mere child? It can't be true!"
"Zabuza, no matter what you do, your fate is sealed: defeat. Your future holds only death!"
Kakashi, unwilling to waste further words, slashed downward with a single palm, unleashing a torrent of electricity accompanied by a sound like a thousand birds chirping.
"What?! He actually materialized Chakra?!" Zabuza's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Kakashi.
"Zabuza, my reputation isn't solely based on the Sharingan's copying abilities. Now, let me end you with my original technique, the Lightning Blade!"
Kakashi raised his lightning-charged hand and slammed it down.
*Shhhrrrk!*
Blood sprayed as Zabuza's eyes lost their light, his life extinguished in that instant.
"Wait a minute... Where's Haku?" Naruto frowned deeply. "Haku should have appeared at such a dangerous moment. How could this...?"
"Old Man Tazuna," Kakashi said, "with Zabuza dealt with, I believe your bridge construction will proceed much more smoothly now."
After burying Zabuza, Kakashi lowered his forehead protector to cover his Sharingan and turned to Tazuna, his voice returning to its usual lazy drawl.
"Ah... I can't thank you enough. Come with me, all of you. I'll treat you properly at my home."
Tazuna tugged at his straw hat.
"Alright. Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, let's go." Kakashi called out lazily to the trio.
"Okay, sure." Still puzzled but deciding not to dwell on it, Naruto nodded and jogged over to Kakashi.
"Ah, ha ha! This is my home, everyone. Make yourselves comfortable, don't be shy!" Tazuna said cheerfully, crossing his legs on the floor as the group entered his house.
"Kakashi-sensei, I need to step out for a bit."
The thought had been nagging at Naruto all this time. *Haku might still be suffering on that main street...*
"Naruto, what could you possibly need to do?" Sakura scoffed instinctively. "Making trouble out of nothing..."
"I really do have something to take care of," Naruto said with a wry smile.
"Alright, Sakura, stop teasing Naruto. Maybe he really does have something important to do. Besides, now that our biggest threat, Zabuza, has been dealt with, let him go."
Kakashi glanced at Sakura, then at Naruto, a helpless smile on his face.
"What's that supposed to mean? Sensei took down Zabuza, not Naruto..." Sakura pouted, muttering under her breath.
"Sakura, this time it really was Naruto who defeated Zabuza." Kakashi disliked taking credit for others' accomplishments.
"What?!" Sakura startled. "Kakashi-sensei, you must be joking! How could that be possible...?"
"Sakura, do you think I could have taken down Zabuza without a scratch? Besides, you witnessed Naruto's strength firsthand during our last training exercise, didn't you?" Kakashi picked up the fragrant tea on the table and took a sip.
"But..."
Though Sakura had inwardly acknowledged Naruto's growing strength, she still couldn't quite believe he could be *that* powerful.
*Naruto... compared to you, what am I? I was supposed to be the top graduate rookie, but it turns out I've always been just a weakling... a weakling!*
Sasuke's eyes were bloodshot.
"Kakashi-sensei, you didn't have to say all that."
Naruto chuckled wryly. He wasn't particularly fond of being in the spotlight.
"Would you rather I hog all the credit for your accomplishments?" Kakashi asked lazily, his gaze fixed on the wooden teacup before him.
"Uh... never mind. Well then, I'll be taking my leave now!"
Naruto, eager to avoid further discussion on the matter, promptly excused himself and vanished.
"What incredible speed!" Sakura marveled inwardly, while Sasuke seethed with frustration.
"Naruto, one day you'll become a legendary ninja, revered by the world. Consider this incident your stepping stone to greatness," Kakashi said as Naruto's figure disappeared.
The moment Naruto vanished, the lethargic glint in Kakashi's eyes erupted into a piercing, focused intensity. *Sensei,* he thought, *this is your son. He will undoubtedly become a ninja as great as you were!*
*Nine-Tailed Beast, push my speed to its absolute limit!* Naruto roared inwardly.
He absolutely refused to let such a gentle soul like Haku languish in that desolate place.
If Haku had appeared alongside Zabuza this time, Naruto might have faced a dilemma.
He understood Haku's character better than anyone—that fragile yet fiercely stubborn nature.
"But..."
Pale golden fur slowly spread across Naruto's body. "Since Haku isn't with Zabuza, I have to find her, no matter what!"
*Boom!*
Red Chakra enveloped Naruto's entire body, radiating an overwhelming, savage aura from his fully fur-covered form.
*Whoosh!*
Four fox tails swayed in the wind as Naruto transformed into a crimson streak of light.
*Thud!*
He crashed violently to the ground, creating a ten-centimeter-wide crater.
Fortunately, this secluded spot was rarely visited; otherwise, such a commotion would have drawn a crowd.
"Hmm, this should be the place."
Surveying the desolate surroundings, Naruto slowly withdrew the Nine-Tailed Beast's Chakra and began his search.
*Whoosh...*
A cold gust of wind swept past. Spotting a frail figure curled up in the distance, Naruto's eyes began to sting.
"Haku... you don't have to suffer anymore..."
Naruto slowly approached Haku, his breathing growing ragged.
As if sensing Naruto's presence, Haku slowly lifted her head. When her unfocused gaze met Naruto's eyes, an unprecedented light flared in her eyes.
Her heart stirred.
(End of Chapter)