Land Of Waves :
The Land of Waves was a world of shifting greys and heavy, salt-laden air. As Team 7 moved along the shoreline, the soft rhythm of their footsteps was the only sound breaking the silence, save for the rhythmic lapping of the lake against the marshy banks.
Kakashi took the lead, his posture deceptively relaxed as he flipped a page of his well-worn orange book.
In the center, Sasuke and Sakura flanked Tazuna; the Uchiha's eyes were sharp, scanning the unfamiliar horizon with a restless hunger for growth, while Sakura allowed herself a momentary, fragile smile, captivated by the way the sunlight fractured across the water's surface.
Naruto brought up the rear. To any observer, he was merely the rearguard, a blonde Genin ensuring no one snuck up on their flank. But internally,. His Kagura's Mind Eye was wide open, pulsing like a sonar through the thick humidity.
He felt them before they even manifested an intent to strike. One signature was a jagged, rusted edge—thick with the copper tang of old blood and the restless energy of a seasoned butcher. The other was a chilling contrast: a presence as thin and sharp as a needle, cold as a mountain spring, and frighteningly still.
(They're already here,) Naruto mused, his expression remaining a mask of calm.
Unlike the protagonists of the legends ,Iruka loved to recount, Naruto felt no surge of protective "Will of Fire."for those he didn't consider comarades.
That's why
Naruto wasn't here to be a hero, nor was he keen on performing a grand display of his true Prowess for the sake of a bridge builder he barely respected.
In his cold, analytical calculation, people were assets, and Team 7 had yet to prove their value as anything more than placeholders.
Comrades - Maybe
Investmentas - 100%
Mission success was a secondary priority. If the situation devolved into a massacre, he would ditch Tazuna without a second thought. Sakura's optimism, Sasuke's revenge, even Kakashi's life—none of it was worth revealing the Hiraishin, his Adamantine Sealing Chains, or the secrets of his true prowess , this early in the game .
( God knows if I am being Observed )
As they walked, Naruto's hand brushed against the trunk of a tree, then later, a stone marker. With each touch, a microscopic seal was etched into the world—a spatial anchor.
He had been seeding the trail with spatial markers for miles—a fact Kakashi and the trailing ANBU had noticed but dismissed as the over-caution of a prodigy.
Naruto knew the political reality of his existence better than the Hokage did. If the worst happened and Team 7 fell, he was the Jinchuriki. He was too valuable to discard.
Naruto could return to Konoha, weave a tragic tale of a mission gone wrong, play the "depressed orphan" for a few weeks to appease the masses, and then simply move on with a new team.
Even Tsunade-nee, for all her affection, wouldn't expect a Genin to die for a C-rank contract that had been falsified into a A-rank ambush with Kirigakure Elite.
(If they were truly my friends, I'd take them with me when I jumped with Hiraishin,)
Naruto thought, watching Sasuke's tense shoulders. (But for this team? I'll only save them if the cost of the reveal is lower than the benefit of their survival. Otherwise, a fresh start isn't so bad.)
In the end , they were investments , with Sasuke being the biggest one .
Naruto looked at them one last time. Sakura was momentarily distracted by the shimmering lake's beauty , Sasuke was scanning the horizon with curiosity , and Tazuna was clutching his hopes like a rosary.
Only Kakashi was truly ready, his thumb hovering over the page of his book, poised and ready for anything , Naruto already told His Captain about the stalkers just as before , But Kakashi once again ordered for wait and see attitude .
( ANBU Guards are still not ashore , and-)
Naruto sensed the shift in the Observers Chakra , one in particular
(All pieces are on board,) Naruto thought, a shadow of a smirk touching his lips. (Let's see if I can achieve my goals while they dance.)
Naruto let out a low, sharp whistle. The sound was like a whip-crack in the humid air. Sasuke and Sakura instantly tensed, their hands flying to their kunai pouches as they dropped into defensive stances.
"Two curious birds," Naruto spoke, his voice a low, melodic rasp that carried only as far as his teammates. "One of them is a big one, Captain "
The temperature didn't just drop; it plummeted. The air became thick, not just with moisture, but with a murderous bloodlust that felt like a physical weight pressing against their lungs.
"GET DOWN!" Kakashi roared.
A massive, whistling sound tore through the silence—a giant, iron-heavy blade, the Kubikiribōchō, slicing through the mist like a falling guillotine. It hummed inches over their heads, the wind of its passage biting cold against Naruto's skin as he dropped into a lazy, effortless crouch.
Thud.
The sword embedded itself deep into a massive oak, vibrating with a low, ominous hum. A tall, bandage-masked figure flickered into existence, standing atop the handle with his back to them, silhouetted against the grey veil.
"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi whispered, his hand reaching for his headband. "The Rogue Demon of the Mist."
Naruto didn't hesitate. With a metallic shing, he unsheathed his mechanical blade, stepping 'forward' to take the point. His blue eyes were narrowed, his breathing rhythmic and deep as he initiated his Breathing technique with new Focus .
Seeing Naruto closeing the distance, Kakashi intercepted him with a firm hand, his gaze never leaving Zabuza.
"Get back, you guys," Kakashi commanded.
"Huh?" Naruto 'grunted' ,though he didn't lower his sword.
"But Sensei—!" Sakura started, her voice trembling.
"Why?" Sasuke demanded, his knuckles white as he gripped his kunai.
"He's on a completely different level compared to the guys from the other day," Kakashi said, his voice dropping into a register of grim finality. He looked back, sliding his protector upward to reveal the spinning crimson of the Sharingan. "Protect the client, and absolutely do not interfere."
Looking at That Red Eye , Zabuza's eyes widen but soon Zabuza's cold laughter echoed through the trees. "Kakashi of the Sharingan... the Copy Ninja. I didn't expect to see that eye so far from the Hidden Leaf."
The Demon of the Mist let his killing intent leak. It was a suffocating, oily pressure. Sasuke and Sakura froze, their bodies locked in a primal state of terror, feeling the Killing intent for the first time , even Naruto took a 'moment' to compose himself
Seeing his Team , Kakashi hummed his chakra fast
"Don't fret," Kakashi said, his voice a steady anchor in the storm. "I will protect this team with my life."
The battle moved in a blur. Zabuza vanished from the tree and reappeared mid-air, his target clearly the bridge builder. Kakashi intercepted him instantly, a kunai clashing against the massive reach of the Executioner's Blade in a shower of sparks.
But as the two powerhouses locked eyes, Naruto's senses flared. His Kagura's Mind Eye screamed a warning from a completely different direction. Without looking, Naruto swung his mechanical blade backward at a sharp, tricky angle, the edge whistling between Sasuke and Sakura.
"Wha—!?"
Before the team could react, a second Zabuza appeared amidst them, his hand outstretched for Tazuna's throat. Naruto's blade bit deep into the assassin's chest—but instead of blood, the wound gushed with clear water. The figure collapsed into a puddle.
"This?" Sakura gasped.
"Water Clone," Naruto replied flatly.
The clearing began to fill with a mist so thick it felt like liquid. Naruto realized the situation was evolving. Kakashi was being lured away, and the "Hidden Cold" signature he had sensed earlier was still lingering on the periphery.
(Time to begin,) Naruto thought. He slammed his sword into the ground, the tip burying itself in the dirt between his feet.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Five plumes of white smoke erupted. Five Narutos appeared, each carrying a fraction of his staggering reserves. He turned his head slightly, addressing Sasuke through the gloom.
"There's another one out there, Sasuke. I'll hold the perimeter with the clones. Can you handle him ?"
"Huh?" Sasuke blinked, his brain momentarily stalled , still taking time to understand the words
"Should I go and you stay here to protect Tazuna?" Naruto's voice turned serious , sharp and devoid of its usual mock-cheer.
"No need," Sasuke snapped, his pride returning with a vengeance. "Where is he? I can't see a thing in this."
"I remember the position. Follow the clones."
"Good. I'm leaving this spot to you," Sasuke said, his eyes flashing with a competitive heat.
"I'm counting on you, Sasuke. The opponent's chakra signature is similar to ours—not significantly stronger. Go."
Sasuke grunted and vanished into the fog, trailing two of Naruto's Shadow Clones.
Sakura watched Sasuke go, her hand reaching out. "Sasuke-kun...!" She bit her lip, realizing that in this moment of high-stakes life and death, neither the Uchiha nor the Jinchuriki had considered her a factor in the plan.
( Now then )
Naruto stood over the trembling Tazuna, his remaining clones forming a pentagon of steel around them. From the heart of the fog, Zabuza's disembodied voice drifted, cold and mocking.
"Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart... now then, which one shall I target next?"
The air within the clearing grew static, charged with the rhythmic, silent counting of chakra. While the world outside the immediate radius focused on the looming silhouette of the Demon of the Mist, Naruto's three clones had already begun their work.
Their hands were a blur—a frantic, weaving of tens of complexHand seals. Since the beginning since they were summoned , the clones have been performing the Hand-seals . Their movements hidden in the mist
(If he wants to use the mist , Then I'll use it too ) Naruto thought, his main body standing perfectly still, his mechanical blade humming with a low-frequency vibration.
The clones snapped into a perfect equilateral triangle around Tazuna, Sakura, and Naruto. Their voices harmonized in a low, guttural chant that vibrated through the damp earth.
"Triple Pillar Barrier Technique "
( San-chū Kekkai..!! )
A searing white light erupted from the ground, surging upward like three pillars of jagged lightning. Before Zabuza or even Kakashi could register the surge of energy, foggy, glass-like walls slammed into place between the pillars.
The barrier didn't just rise; it solidified, forming a shimmering, translucent cone that sealed them off from the world. Sakura gasped as the ground beneath them trembled, watching as the crystalline walls dug deep into the soil, creating a Triangular white Diamond of protection.
"This is a sealing barrier," Naruto explained, his voice echoing slightly within the reinforced dome. He didn't look back at the trembling Sakura or Tazuna "Stay inside. As long as the walls holds, we are safe "
Outside, Zabuza's massive blade, the Kubikiribōchō, descended like a falling mountain. It didn't meet flesh. It met the barrier with a deafening CLANG that sent sparks flying into the fog.
"Wha—" Zabuza's raspy voice barely began to express his shock before the earth beneath his feet erupted.
Naruto's hidden explosive tags, meticulously buried during the initial confusion, detonated in a synchronized burst of fire and pressure. The Zabuza at the barrier disintegrated into a violent splash of water. It was a clone.
A sudden, violent wave of pure chakra rippled through the clearing. Kakashi, realizing the field had shifted, surged his own reserves to forcibly dissipate the surrounding mist.
Zabuza and Kakashi soon saw the field
But soon two hands grew out of the ground and claimed Zabuza, who swept his ovesized sword to easily cut the hands , Zabuza Grunted and took some distance while looking at the clearing again.
As the grey veil thinned, the scene was surreal: a glowing, white-walled pyramid protected the Genin, while two additional Naruto clones stood flanking Kakashi like seasoned veterans.
Inside the barrier, the main Naruto leaned against his blade, offering a casual V-sign to his shell-shocked Captain.
"Naruto! I told you to stay out of this!" Kakashi shouted, his Sharingan spinning with frantic intensity as he kept his eyes glued to Zabuza.
"Relax, Captain," one of the clones replied, spinning a kunai with practiced ease. "The main body is following your orders , We're just the expendable support staff."
".......Where is Sasuke?" Kakashi demanded, his voice tight.
"Dealing with the other one" the clone grunted. " Don't worry about the Uchiha; he's got backup , just like you "
Kakashi let out a long, weary sigh, the weight of his responsibility shifting. "Fine. Support from a distance only. Do not engage him in a direct power struggle!"
Zabuza, standing twenty yards away, didn't interfere with the talk. His grip on his sword was white-knuckled. The mention of another Genin going after Haku caused a flicker of genuine murderous intent to cross his eyes, but he suppressed it.
He was a professional; he believed in Haku's lethality.
( I need to end the Copy Ninja first ) Zabuza decided.
(The brat with the barrier is an annoyance, I'll deal with later )
The battle reignited with a savagery that made the previous skirmish look like a playground dispute. Zabuza manifested a Water Clone to keep Naruto's two field-clones occupied—a high-speed Taijutsu dance of clashing steel and shattered water.
The pressure in the clearing was suffocating. From inside the Triple Pillar Barrier, Naruto watched the two titans square off.
Zabuza didn't move his feet, but his hands blurred into his weapon pouch. A dozen shuriken whistled through the air, their paths curved to strike from multiple angles. Kakashi didn't flinch. With a fluid motion that looked almost lazy, he drew a handful of kunai and threw them in a calculated spread.
Clang. Cling. Sparks.
The projectiles met mid-air with surgical precision, knocking each other into the dirt. Kakashi fully utilising his Sharingan, It was a formal greeting in the language of killers—a test of reflexes.
Zabuza Moved and in the middle , he once again threw Kukuricucho to a surprised Kakashi , who dodged the heavy sword with a Roll .
Without a word, the distance between them vanished. Zabuza moved with the heavy, predatory grace of a shark, lunging forward with a straight-lead punch aimed at Kakashi's throat.
Kakashi parried, his palm sliding against Zabuza's forearm, redirecting the momentum. What followed was a blur of high-level Taijutsu.
Zabuza's strikes were brutal and efficient, designed to crush bone; Kakashi's movements were eerie, perfectly mirroring the Demon's rhythm.
For every kick Zabuza launched, Kakashi's leg was already there to check it. It wasn't just a fight; it was a psychological assault. Kakashi was showing Zabuza that he was already inside his head.
Growing frustrated with the stalemate, Zabuza stepped back, his fingers locking around the handle of the Kubikiribōchō that has come close to him during the High speed Taijutsu , With a guttural roar, he swung the massive slab of iron in a horizontal arc that would have cleaved a stone wall in two.
Kakashi didn't retreat. He lunged inward, closing the gap to minimize the sword's lethal arc. He raised a single kunai, bracing his other hand against the back of the blade.
The impact was bone-shaking. The massive executioner's blade ground against the tiny sliver of Leaf steel. Sparks showered Kakashi's flak jacket as he slid backward through the mud, his sandles carving deep furrows in the earth.
The sheer physical disparity was obvious, but Kakashi held. He twisted the kunai at a precise angle, letting the heavy blade slide harmlessly off to the side, buried deep into the ground.
Kakashi and Zabuza moved in a synchronized, terrifying rhythm. Every movement Zabuza made, Kakashi mirrored with haunting precision. It wasn't just physical mimicry; it was the theft of technique in real-time.
Soon through the fight Zabuza moved to the nearby lake , Kakashi followed Zabuza while copying his movements
"Enough of this!" Zabuza hissed, his hands snapping together.
The air began to vibrate. This was the moment the Genin's breath hitched. Both men began a sequence of hand seals so fast the air itself seemed to scream.
1…10…25…40…
They hit 44 hand seals in a matter of seconds. It was a staggering display of manual chakra molding. As Zabuza barked the final command, Kakashi spoke the exact same words, his voice a haunting echo of the Demon's own.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Forty-four hand seals. A grueling marathon of manual chakra molding. Both men finished at the exact same micro-second. Two massive, serpentine dragons erupted from the lake, their liquid bodies roaring as they collided in mid-air.
The impact sent a tidal wave of freezing water across the clearing, the sheer pressure cracking the nearby trees.
Inside the barrier, Sakura watched with wide-eyed terror. She saw the sheer scale of the power—the gap between a Genin and a Jonin was a chasm she couldn't even fathom. Naruto, however, was watching the undercurrents .
(He got baited ) Naruto realized, his sensory mind picking up a ripple in the water beneath Kakashi's feet.
In the wake of the colliding dragons, Kakashi surged forward to deliver the finishing blow, his hand crackling with intent. But Zabuza's form shimmered. It was another clone. The real Zabuza rose from the surface of the lake behind Kakashi, his hand already reaching out.
"Foolish Copy Ninja," Zabuza hissed. "You focused too much on the eyes and forgot about the water!"
Zabuza's hand plunged into the water, and a massive, spinning sphere of high-pressure liquid encased Kakashi.
"Water Prison Jutsu!"
The sphere solidified, trapping Kakashi in a lightless, airless and heavy tomb of swirling chakra. Zabuza stood with one arm submerged in the orb, a victorious, bloody grin splitting the bandages on his face. He looked toward the Triple Pillar Barrier, his eyes burning with malice.
"Now then," Zabuza chuckled, the sound muffled by the roar of the river. "Let's see how long your 'invincible' walls last once I start drowning your Sensei."
Naruto watched this with indifference , seeing the Canon outcome .
( Zabuza used 44 hand-seals to keep Kakashi focused on the seals , while the Clone dipped under water to prepare water prison jutsu , Kakashi was fully confident with sharingan and failed to notice the real intent behind the attack , Zabuza used his main body , A Big Jutsu and everything to hide the real attack )
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Author's Notes :
Hmm , 1 more
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