Chapter 13: Golden Wind"What a heavy punch."Kakashi walked over and crouched down to check the situation of the two attackers.The two were already unconscious, their eyes rolled back, clearly having suffered severe head trauma, which made Kakashi click his tongue in surprise."Don't worry, I know what I'm doing; they'll wake up soon."Naruto waved his hand."Are you sure? They've started rolling their eyes back."Sakura and Sasuke also came forward and couldn't help but chime in."Because this is the effect of my unique secret technique. You just need to shoot the power in like this, in the form of a wave, to cause damage to the brain."Naruto gestured."Huh? I don't understand at all."Sakura pouted and retorted.Not just her, but even Sasuke and Kakashi were completely confused.However, this was normal, because Naruto's strike just now not only used Hamon but also utilized his Stand, 'Sun Echo'.After all, simple Hamon is a quite powerful technique against ordinary people, or even vampires and Pillar Men, but for Ninjas with Chakra, it is much weaker.And the ability of Sun Echo is to convert Hamoninto a Shockwave, greatly enhancing the destructive power of the Hamon.Just like now, even though Naruto intentionally weakened the intensity of the Hamon, the two attackers slept for a full hour before waking up.Facing the outcome of being tied to a tree, the two were quite straightforward and had no intention of putting up a desperate struggle."The Demon Brothers, rogue Ninjas from the Hidden Mist, our target was to assassinate Mr. Tazuna..."Naruto recorded their answers, and was then asked in return: "We lost this time, there's nothing to say, but I'm very curious, how exactly did you discover us?""Ah, it hasn't rained for a few days, yet there were puddles on the road; that looks suspicious no matter how you look at it, right? So when I passed by, I specifically sensed the area and discovered your presence. If there's a next time, remember to keep your head clear."Naruto patted their faces with a grin.In fact, he relied on the life sensing of Hamon to discover the existence of the Demon Brothers.However, Naruto knew the importance of information in battle, so he didn't tell the truth.After the interrogation, he stood up and looked at Kakashi."Hmm, you performed very well, Naruto." Kakashismiled back.Finding Sasuke and Sakura a bit disappointed, Kakashi spoke again: "Sasuke's performance was also good. You wanted to watch Naruto's battle, which is why you didn't act immediately, right? But we are a team, so it's best not to do that next time.""Understood." Sasuke replied with a cold expression."As for Sakura..." Kakashi looked at the girl again, paused amidst her expectant gaze, and said, "Keep working hard.""Heh, hehe..."Sakura froze in place."By the way, don't be arrogant, Naruto, you also had issues just now." Kakashi turned his head, "Next time you face an enemy attack, you cannot be overconfident like this time; you must fight with full strength. For a Ninja, ensuring the mission is completed is the most important thing, you know?""Understood, understood."Naruto agreed nonchalantly to this mild lecture, then looked at his teammates on the side: "I won't do such dangerous things next time. Sorry for making you worry."Facing the soft gaze from Naruto, Sakura's face flushed red: "Ah, i-it's okay."Even Sasuke's expression softened slightly: "It's nothing.""Hmm, it seems their relationship is getting better and better."Seeing this scene, Kakashi withdrew his attention with satisfaction and walked up to Tazuna: "Now, shall we have a talk, Mr. Tazuna?""T-talk about what?" Tazuna swallowed hard."The target of these two Ninjas is you. Opponents for C-rank missions are generally ordinary armed groups like the mafia or thieves; Ninja duels are not included.""Are you trying to break the contract? I didn't know I was being targeted by guys like this!"Tazuna said loudly.Although his attitude was tough, he was betrayed by the cold sweat on his forehead."Are you sure, Mr. Tazuna? The current situation is guaranteed to be at least a high-value B-rank mission. Did you really not conceal any mission information?"Kakashi usually looks lazy and unreliable, but once he gets serious, he possesses an extremely strong sense of pressure.Even Tazuna, who was over fifty and had seen many storms, couldn't help but feel his heart pounding under his gaze."I, I, I..." After stuttering for a long time, Tazuna's psychological defense finally collapsed; he hung his head and said weakly, "That's right, I did know that Ninjas might come to attack me because I offended a super terrifying guy.""A super terrifying guy?"The Three Little Ones said in unison."You might have heard his name; he is the boss of the shipping company, the super-rich 'Gato'!"The Three Little Ones looked confused, while Kakashi clapped his hands: "That founder of the Gato Company, the world-famous billionaire?""Yes, that's him!"Mentioning this name, Tazuna gritted his teeth: "On the surface, he runs a shipping company, but privately, he has monopolized the entire diplomacy and trade of the Land of Waves, and using the Land of Waves as a base, he uses the mafia and Ninjas to traffic drugs and contraband, and is even constantly expanding outward. He is a big villain who commits every crime imaginable!"As he spoke, his eyes almost spewed fury, and his body trembled slightly, clearly harboring immense hatred for Gato.After taking a deep breath to calm down, Tazunacontinued: "Returning to my hometown to build the cross-sea bridge this time is to break Gato's monopoly on trade and transport in the Land of Waves, which is why he targeted me.""Since you knew the opponent was so dangerous, why did you conceal it when declaring the mission, Mr. Tazuna? If the mission rank were higher, the people protecting you would be stronger. Moreover, Naruto mentioned earlier that a master bridge builder like you should have quite a lot of savings." Kakashi asked.Tazuna sighed: "The Land of Waves is a poor, small country; even the Daimyo doesn't have much wealth, otherwise it wouldn't have been easily controlled by Gato. Even if I took out all my savings, it would barely be enough to build the bridge, so I have no money left to post a higher-rank mission.""I see..." Naruto finally understood why Tazuna had suddenly fallen silent when he was being mocked earlier.Besides him, Sasuke and Sakura were also slightly moved.Compared to The Three Little Ones, Kakashi was much calmer: "Sorry, although I sympathize with Mr. Tazuna's situation, the upcoming situation might be very dangerous, so we can only...""Wait, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto interrupted him.Kakashi frowned upon hearing this: "What do you want to do, Naruto?""The mission..." Naruto looked him straight in the eye, "Continue!""What?"Everyone looked over in surprise.Tazuna's eyes widened to the size of saucers: "Kid, you...""Don't misunderstand, old man, I'm not doing this for you." Naruto waved his hand to stop him, "It's just that you said earlier that Gato guy is trafficking drugs, right?""So what if he is?""Then I can't just sit idly by. Evil things like drugs should not exist in this world!"Naruto narrowed his eyes, and a rare killing intent appeared in his pupils.It was a chilling killing intent, yet without a shred of evil; it wouldn't make people feel fear, but only make them feel a sense of justice as pure as a diamond."Naruto is... terrifyingly serious!"The same thought flashed through the minds of Kakashi and the others."But Naruto..."Sakura still wanted to say something, but was stopped by Naruto's gaze.However, Kakashi still spoke up: "You know how dangerous this is, right?""Of course, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it just because it's dangerous!"Naruto said word by word: "I told Kakashi-senseibefore that my ideal is to do the right thing and die without regrets, and now is the moment to practice my ideal!"As he said this, he pounded his chest: "The Golden Spirit is burning here, and it is driving the wind to surge from behind me!""I will never allow the existence of drugs!"
Chapter 14: Even If I Die, I Will Protect My Companions!Regarding Naruto's decision, Kakashi did not agree rashly, but instead sought the opinions of the other two.After all, everyone was a team now, and they couldn't make decisions based on just one person's thoughts.Sasuke barely hesitated at all, immediately agreeing to the decision to continue the mission.He had been competing with Naruto all along, and with this being a rare opportunity for real combat, he naturally wouldn't miss it.As for Sakura, in Team 7, she had always lacked much of her own initiative.Seeing that Naruto and Sasuke had already decided to continue the mission, although she was worried inside, she still did not object.And so, the matter was decided with almost no complications.The group continued their journey and arrived at the seaside a few days later."Such thick fog!"Boarding a small boat, the group drifted across the misty sea.Sakura had now evolved into the straight man: "I can't see anything at all. Are we really not going to get lost on this ocean?""Rest assured, my boat is famously stable," the boatman replied confidently. "We should be able to see the bridge soon. Following that bridge, we will reach the Land of Waves very quickly."Following the direction of the boatman's finger, it didn't take long for the group to see the massive, half-built bridge through the thick fog."Is this the cross-sea bridge that stopped construction because of Gato? It's truly spectacular."Sakura looked up and couldn't help but exclaim."Shh! Be quiet! I only dared to come out by boat because of the heavy fog, and I even specially turned off the engine to row by hand. If Gato's men find us, we're done for!" the boatman said hurriedly.Sakura nervously covered her mouth.Naruto sat at the edge of the boat, narrowing his eyes: "Gato..."To avoid being discovered by Gato's men, the boatman rowed through the waterway overgrown with aquatic plants.When the sun rose and the fog dissipated, the group finally reached the shore."I can only take you this far, Tazuna. Good luck!"After everyone got ashore, the boatman left a blessing and drove the small boat away."I'll have to leave the rest to you all!"Tazuna turned to Kakashi and the others.Ever since Naruto stood up and volunteered to continue the mission, his attitude toward the group had improved a lot."No problem."Kakashi replied, but he sighed inwardly.After all, the Demon Brothers who attacked last time were already at the Chunin level. If anyone else came to assassinate Tazuna, they would definitely not just be Chunin, but Jonin...What a pain...Kakashi was never an overly enthusiastic hot-blooded idiot, especially since this mission involved The Three Little Ones.Facing an attack by a Jonin under these circumstances was enough to give him a headache just thinking about it."Over there!"Just at this moment, Naruto suddenly acted, throwing several Shuriken into the bushes not far away.Sakura and Sasuke also immediately became tense, shielding Tazuna behind them and preparing for battle.However, a moment later, apart from the bushes shaking a few times, there was no reaction from inside."What are you pretending to do, Naruto? Isn't there nothing there?"Sakura was burning with anger, and Tazuna also chimed in from the side: "Kid, don't scare yourself. My old bones can't take the stress!""Hmph, that dead last is just..." Sasuke also couldn't help but mock.But before he could finish speaking, Naruto turned his head and stared at him.Sasuke was baffled by his look: "What?""It's one thing for Sakura and Uncle Tazuna, but the fact that you didn't notice is truly disappointing, Sasuke." Naruto's lips curled slightly, with a hint of mockery.Sasuke gritted his teeth upon hearing this: "What? You..."His words were interrupted once again.This time it wasn't Naruto, but a crisp clashing sound from the trees above.Clang, clang, clang.Everyone hurriedly looked toward the sound, only to see a tall, burly figure appearing where the sound came from.The man had half his face covered in bandages, his bare upper body had bulging muscles, and he was holding a massive blade in his hand.His gaze swept down, his cold eyes radiating undisguised killing intent."Is that the kubikiribōchō, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Hidden Mist? If so, then he must be..."Kakashi was the first to recognize the enemy's weapon, and immediately identified the opponent's identity through the weapon."The Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi!""It seems the Demon Brothers didn't lose unjustly. The opponent is not only the Copy Ninja Kakashi, but also you..."As he spoke, Zabuza Momochi raised his left hand and pointed at Naruto.Only then did the group notice that the cow-print sleeve on his left arm had been slashed open, and blood was flowing and dripping from the wound."What is your name?"Compared to Kakashi, Zabuza Momochi was even more surprised at this moment.After all, he had just sneaked close by and was preparing to observe the situation of Kakashi's team carefully.He didn't expect that blonde kid to seem to have sensed something and immediately fired Shuriken.At the time, Zabuza Momochi was startled, but immediately realized that the opponent's Shurikenwere aimed at the bushes of the tree beneath his feet.So he quickly relaxed, thinking it was just that the blonde kid was lucky.Zabuza Momochi never expected that the opponent's Shuriken would actually curve in mid-air, taking advantage of his moment of lowered vigilance to attack silently from below.Although he eventually discovered the incoming Shuriken, because the distance was already too close, Zabuza Momochi could no longer use the Substitution Jutsu to dodge and could only swing the kubikiribōchō to block.After blocking three Shuriken, his left arm was still scratched by one that had slipped through."Him? He is my prized student, Uzumaki Naruto."Kakashi raised his hand and patted Naruto on the head."Don't treat me like a child, Kakashi-sensei. At least call me your capable subordinate!"Naruto protested dissatisfiedly.Sasuke gritted his teeth slightly.Not just because of Kakashi's introduction of Naruto, but also because he indeed hadn't detected Zabuza Momochi's presence just now.Naruto's words, 'The fact that you didn't notice is truly disappointing,' felt like a knife, deeply piercing Sasuke's heart.Especially after Zabuza Momochi appeared and asked for Naruto's name specifically, it stung Sasuke's self-esteem even more."Uzumaki Naruto? I see." The Uzumaki Clan was also a well-known existence in the Ninja World. Zabuza Momochi nodded knowingly and then asked: "How did you discover me?""Your breathing was too loud. Remember to hold your breath next time."Naruto looked up and grinned."You really dare to say that, brat!"Zabuza's gaze was sharp, his killing intent fully revealed.That bone-chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire battlefield, making people feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, unable to breathe."Is, is this the killing intent of a Jonin? It's completely different from the survival exercise in the wild. It even makes me feel that if I move my eyes, I'll be killed while I'm at it!"Sasuke froze in place, unable to move.Sakura was even more drenched in cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably: "So scary! I feel like my life is already being held in the enemy's hands. I want to run away...""Don't be afraid!"Just at this moment, Sakura felt her cold hand being held by a warm palm.She looked up and saw Naruto turn back and flash her a sun-like smile: "Even if I die, I will protect my companions.""Naruto..." Sakura could feel his sincerity, sniffled, and whispered the boy's name softly.
Chapter 15: Am I Redundant?"Don't be afraid. Even if I die, I won't let you get hurt!"Naruto squeezed Sakura's hand and turned his head, flashing his usual warm and sunny smile."Naruto..." Sakura whispered his name, and the blood in her body, which had frozen due to Zabuza's killing intent, began to flow again.Sasuke also shook off his fear and replied coldly, "Stop acting tough."As if to respond to his own inability to move earlier, he drew a Kunai from his waist."Heh, you sure like to talk big, brat."Zabuza sneered and swung his kubikiribōchō: "After I finish off that old man, you'll be the first one I kill!"Sasuke remained silent but crouched slightly, as if ready to dash out and fight at any moment.This was not only to regain his pride after being frozen by the killing intent earlier, but also because of his desire to challenge the strong.Kakashi saw through Sasuke's intentions and reached out to block him: "This is no simple opponent. Leave Zabuza to me!"As he spoke, he pushed up his forehead protector, which had been covering his left eye, revealing an eye glowing with a crimson light."Is this... the Sharingan? And it's the three-tomoe level!"Seeing this, Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.After all, he was still young and hadn't heard of Kakashi's exploits.So, upon seeing the Sharingan, which belonged exclusively to the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke was instantly shocked."I didn't expect to see the legendary Sharingan so soon; what an honor. When I was in the Hidden Mist assassination unit, my handbook had an entry about you—the man who has copied over a thousand Ninjutsu, the 'Copy Ninja' Kakashi!"Seeing the Sharingan, Zabuza gave him some face by exchanging a few professional pleasantries."So, would you mind not interfering and letting me simply take this old man's life?""Ah, sorry," Kakashi shrugged. "While I also think fighting you is a hassle, I'm in front of my cute subordinates. As a teacher, it would be embarrassing if I didn't do anything, so...""I refuse!""Heh, you'll regret this!"Zabuza threw down a threat, then stomped his foot and leaped onto the surface of the water."Trying to use the terrain to cast Water Release?"Kakashi narrowed his eyes and threw several Shuriken, preparing to catch the opponent's casting animation.However, unexpectedly, Zabuza didn't use an offensive Ninjutsu requiring many hand seals, but instead formed a single simple seal.Then, his cold voice echoed across the battlefield."Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"The mist, which had been dissipating under the sun, suddenly thickened. In the blink of an eye, visibility dropped to the point where one couldn't even see their own fingers."Naruto, you three, form a manji formation and protect Mr. Tazuna."Kakashi shouted his orders, his brain racing as he began to analyze the situation.The Shuriken from earlier didn't hit, meaning Zabuza had already left his original position.Furthermore, observing with the Sharingan before he left, it was clear that Zabuza had consumed a large amount of Chakra to cast the Hidden MistJutsu.Are you planning to defeat me first, or prioritize the mission and kill Mr. Tazuna, Zabuza?Kakashi narrowed his eyes, making his judgment."It's all over!"Zabuza's voice appeared again, but this time it came from within the formation of Naruto and the others.He held his kubikiribōchō high, aiming for Tazuna's neck."What?!"Sakura and Sasuke hurriedly turned around, wanting to save their client.Only Naruto, addressing Kakashi who was rushing over to save the day, shouted: "Watch out behind you!"At the same time, Naruto threw a punch.Under the effect of his Stand, Sun Echo, golden ripples transformed into a Shockwave, released out of thin air, striking Zabuza squarely in the waist.Splat!Zabuza, hit by Naruto's Shockwave, shattered into a puddle of water."This is a Water Clone?"Seeing this, combined with Naruto's reminder, Kakashi immediately realized something was wrong and turned around, holding his Kunaihorizontally in front of him.Clang!Accompanied by a loud metallic clash, Kakashimanaged to block Zabuza's downward swing of the kubikiribōchō from behind in the nick of time.However, due to the difference in weapons and the force of gravity, although Kakashi blocked the blow, he suffered a disadvantage against the opponent's immense strength and fell to one knee.Having gained such an advantageous position, Zabuza naturally pressed his advantage, increasing the force of his blade.But just then, another Kakashi appeared behind him, holding a Kunai to his carotid artery: "It's all over, Zabuza."With just a light swipe of the cold-glinting Kunai, Zabuza would lose the ability to resist and would soon die from blood loss."Is this also a Water Clone? Did he copy my Ninjutsu while in the mist just now?"Zabuza speculated inwardly, while sneering: "You're the one who should be finished!"Kakashi's expression changed slightly, realizing something was wrong, but it was already too late.Another Zabuza appeared, and the kubikiribōchōslashed horizontally without mercy.Unable to dodge in time, Kakashi could only perform a limbo-like backbend.Zabuza seized the opportunity and kicked the opponent in the shoulder.Kakashi didn't resist, using the force to fly backward, attempting to distance himself from the opponent while scattering caltrops on the ground to prevent Zabuza from pursuing.The result was as he expected; Zabuza was blocked by the caltrops.However, what Kakashi didn't anticipate was a fourth Zabuza emerging from beneath the water."Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!"Zabuza finished the seals, and a water sphere infused with Chakra tightly encased Kakashi, preventing him from struggling at all.It's over!Kakashi frowned deeply.He hadn't expected that his idea to retreat into the pond would play right into Zabuza's hands, leading him into a trap instead.Now he could only hope that Naruto and the others would take Tazuna and leave as quickly as possible, otherwise...Thinking of this, Kakashi mustered his last bit of strength and shouted: "You have no chance of defeating Zabuza! Quickly take Mr. Tazuna and escape. He cannot leave this spot because he has to maintain the Water Prison Jutsu!""Heh, don't be so arrogant, Kakashi." Zabuzasnorted and gathered another Water Clone.This Water Clone was completely different from the previous ones, possessing at least one-tenth of Zabuza's strength.Kakashi wasn't bluffed by Zabuza and said again: "Water Clones cannot move too far from the main body. You must retreat immediately!"Seeing this, Zabuza's gaze turned cold. He stopped paying attention to Kakashi and turned toward Naruto and the others.Since his intelligence was exposed, he would use a provocation to keep them there."Haha, a bunch of brats, thinking that wearing a forehead protector makes you a Ninja? Unfortunately, a so-called Ninja refers to those who have faced life and death many times."As he spoke, Zabuza swept his gaze over each of them: "In other words, only those qualified to be registered in my handbook are true Ninjas. You are, at best, just brats playing Ninja."Upon hearing these words, a bad premonition flashed through Kakashi's mind.And immediately after, his premonition came true."I'll intentionally fall for your provocation then, you bastard! Let go of Kakashi-sensei!"Naruto walked over slowly, his gaze devoid of impulsiveness, radiating an incomparable heat."Oh, you dare to come over? Instead of choosing to run, you're walking toward me, Zabuza? It's rare that your teacher is like a student finishing an exam in the last second before the bell, desperately trying to pass you information."Seeing this, Zabuza sneered.He already disliked Naruto, and now that this brat was actively rushing over to die, it pleased him even more."I said it just now: even if I die, I will protect my companions! If I don't come over, how am I supposed to save Kakashi-sensei?""Ho ho, then why don't you come a little closer!"Zabuza's Water Clone brandished the kubikiribōchō."Naruto, look out!" Sakura shouted worriedly.Sasuke reached into his Ninja tool pouch, as if waiting for an opportunity to strike.Naruto picked up his pace, and finally, at a full sprint, leaped high into the air.While in mid-air, Naruto began to weave hand seals."No one can block this move! Die, Zabuza!"Under everyone's gaze, a puff of smoke exploded from Naruto—"Sexy Jutsu!"Wink!In the air, a blonde, blue-eyed beauty appeared.She struck a seductive and enchanting pose, her eyes shimmering with a charm that made hearts race."..."For a moment, the entire battlefield fell silent.No one expected that Naruto, who had been so serious and earnest just a moment ago, would actually use such a... special Ninjutsu."What is that idiot Naruto doing?! The opponent is the cold-blooded Demon, not someone like Iruka-sensei..."Sakura clenched her fists, her eyes spitting fire.Splat!The next second, as the sound of a blade slicing into flesh rang out, Zabuza's Water Clone was cut in half and shattered."Nice work, Sasuke. Looks like we have great chemistry!"Naruto laughed."It actually worked?!"Sakura looked at Zabuza, whose bandages were stained red at the nostrils, and felt her head spin.What are these two doing?!Naruto is one thing, but how was Sasuke also prepared? When Zabuza's main body and his Water Clone were distracted by the Sexy Jutsu, he actually threw a Windmill Shuriken and successfully took out the Water Clone.When did those two plan this? Why don't I know anything? Could it be that I'm redundant?
Chapter 16: Is This Guy Really Human?Did those two plan this? Why don't I know anything about it? Could it be that I'm just excess baggage?Sakura's brain was trembling; she felt isolated by Naruto and Sasuke.At this moment, Naruto and Sasuke had already launched a joint attack on Zabuza.Naruto charged ahead, ripples spreading under his feet on the lake surface, while Sasuke stood outside the water area, ready to strike again at any moment.Of course, the first thing Zabuza faced was the Fūma Shuriken, which hadn't lost momentum after destroying his water clone and was now slashing toward his waist."This brat is fast. If I use the kubikiribōchō to block, I'll immediately be entangled by the brat following up."The battle-hardened Zabuza scanned the area and immediately analyzed the situation.He leaped lightly, and the whistling Fūma Shurikengrazed past the soles of his feet.At the same time, the kubikiribōchō was swung horizontally toward Naruto.However, faced with this situation, Naruto curled his lips in a mocking grin: "You've fallen for it, idiot!""What?"Zabuza was stunned, only to see flames surging behind Naruto."Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"In the distance, Sasuke was performing hand seals rapidly.Even though he was nearly five meters away, the surging heat was already scorching Zabuza's face."This guy would even..." Zabuza frowned, then realized that the Naruto in front of him had exploded into white mist under the high heat. "Wait, this guy is actually a Shadow Clone. Where's the real one?"Naruto's voice came from behind, answering his question."Eat my fist!"Zabuza's eyes widened. He barely managed to turn his head and discovered that his opponent had appeared behind him without him noticing.He clenched his fist, which radiated a faint golden light, and struck toward Zabuza's back with terrifying momentum.When did this brat... Right, it's the Transformation Technique. He had transformed into the Fūma Shuriken earlier!Zabuza's mind raced, realizing Naruto's tactic.But figuring out the enemy's plan only now was of no help in his current situation of being caught in a pincer attack.However, Zabuza wasn't panicked; instead, he calmly analyzed the situation in his mind.Logically speaking, the Fire Release from the brat in front should be more lethal.But for some reason, the battle instincts honed over many years were warning me that the fist of the brat behind me was even more terrifying!Since that's the case...Thinking this, Zabuza didn't hesitate at all. He turned to face Naruto, held the kubikiribōchōhorizontally in front of him, and shouted: "Haku!"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome!An ice wall rose from the ground, and the surging flames collided with it, emitting a hissing sound of evaporation.Large amounts of water vapor rose, instantly enveloping the battlefield.And in the mist, Naruto's fist smashed heavily onto the blade of the kubikiribōchō.The facts proved that Zabuza's choice was correct.A strange vibration was transmitted from Naruto's fist. Zabuza felt the kubikiribōchō trembling violently, and even with his strength, he couldn't control it for a moment."How is this possible?!"Zabuza's eyes widened as the kubikiribōchō, which never left his hand, was knocked out of his grip.Seeing this, Naruto flew into the air and kicked the kubikiribōchō away: "Now you don't have a weapon.""Brat, you're looking for death!"Zabuza naturally treasured the kubikiribōchō, which had accompanied him for many years and had almost become a symbol of his identity.He subconsciously reached out his hand, wanting to snatch the weapon back.But the next second, the splashing water sound in his ears made Zabuza's expression change slightly, knowing he had made a mistake.Bang!A powerful impact came from his side, and Zabuzawas kicked, flying away.It was Kakashi!Zabuza's subconscious reaching action made it difficult for him to maintain the Water Prison Technique.Kakashi took this opportunity to break free from the restraint and launched an attack immediately.He originally wanted to pursue, but was blocked by an ice mirror that rose from the water surface."There are reinforcements?"Kakashi frowned, watching Zabuza adjust his posture, flip in mid-air, and land steadily on the water surface.Then, a masked youth appeared and stood beside Zabuza.The cold air radiating from the youth's feet froze the water surface."It seems to be a user of the Ice Release Bloodline Limit."Kakashi felt that this was a big problem.But now was not the time to fear trouble, because after landing, Zabuza didn't hesitate and immediately began to perform hand seals.Seeing this, Kakashi, known as the Copy Ninja, spun his Sharingan rapidly and mimicked the opponent's movements.Ox - Monkey - Rabbit - Rat - Boar - Rooster - Ox - Horse - Snake - Rat - Tiger - Dog - Tiger - Snake - Ox - Ram - Snake - Boar - Ram - Rat - Ren - Monkey - Rooster - Dragon - Rooster - Ox - Horse - Ram - Tiger - Snake - Rat - Monkey - Rabbit - Boar - Dragon - Ram - Rat - Ox - Monkey - Rooster - Ren - Rat - Boar - Rooster!The hands of the two were moving so fast that only a blur could be seen.Haku, the youth who appeared beside Zabuza, slapped the water surface at his feet."Hmm?"Naruto, who was originally going to rush up and interrupt Zabuza's jutsu initiation, narrowed his eyes. He looked down and saw that the water surface under his feet had frozen, sealing his shoes onto it as well.As for the Great Fireball Technique used by Sasukein the distance, it was also blocked by the ice mirror summoned by the youth while it was traveling toward them.Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!Both Zabuza and Kakashi were experts capable of performing five seals per second, but even so, it took them a full nine seconds to finally complete the Ninjutsu.The lake surface under their feet churned violently as if boiling. Under the guidance of Chakra, the water condensed into the form of a dragon, roaring as it rushed toward the opponent."Your jutsu has been seen through by me. What else can you do, Zabuza?"Seeing the two dragons about to collide, Kakashisaid coldly."Heh, who do you think I am? Today, the Copy Ninja will also die by my hand!"Zabuza retorted coldly without backing down, then turned his head and shouted to his subordinate beside him: "Haku!""Yes!"Haku responded and quickly performed three hand seals.Ice Release: Ice Crystal Frost!"Oh no!"Kakashi's expression changed slightly as he saw through the opponent's tactic.But it was too late now. The water dragon created by Zabuza instantly froze into an ice dragon under the effect of the Ice Release, far surpassing the previous one in hardness and impact force.The water dragon Kakashi copied was no match for the ice dragon at all and shattered upon impact.The ice dragon maintained its fierce offensive, opening its giant maw and flying toward them.Facing this critical situation, Kakashi's eyes widened, his Sharingan spinning like a top, the three-tomoe pattern blurring.Vaguely, the three tomoe seemed to have a tendency to fuse and connect."Don't even think about it!"Naruto rushed out from the side, his whole body enveloped in a faint golden light, and threw a punch with a force that could shake the mountains and the earth.Bang!The mighty and unparalleled ice dragon was hit by the punch, and ripples transformed into a Shockwave flooded into it frantically.Crack!Accompanying a crisp sound, the ice dragon, which had been unstoppable just a moment ago, shattered into ice crystals filling the sky.Although Naruto himself was knocked flying backward due to the huge recoil force and fell into the water in a sorry state.But his performance still made everyone's jaws drop."Naruto... he's practically a monster!""Is this guy really human?"Kakashi and Zabuza, these two experts famous in the Ninja World, couldn't help but be breathless at Naruto's astonishing performance.You, a mere Genin, can shatter Ninjutsu? You're even more awesome than Tyson!
Chapter 17: Hmph, can we call a truce?"Naruto... he's practically a monster!""Is this guy really human?"Kakashi Hatake and Zabuza Momochi, two experts famous throughout the Ninja World, couldn't help but be breathless at Naruto's astonishing performance.A thought flashed through both of their minds simultaneously—as expected of the Uzumaki Clan!Zabuza then laughed: "It seems this brat really shouldn't be underestimated; he's not even any worse than you, Haku.""Perhaps, but he will not be a match for me when I am fighting alongside Zabuza-sama!" Haku said indifferently.Hearing the two of them talking, Sasuke gritted his teeth.He didn't know how many times he had been ignored like this already.Whether it was regarding himself as a genius, or the 'Uchiha Clan' name he carried on his back, this was a tremendous insult."End this battle quickly!"Zabuza ordered, once again weaving hand signs rapidly.Seeing this, Kakashi Hatake also began weaving hand signs and issued an order: "Naruto, you handle that boy; I'll deal with Zabuza!""Don't forget about me!"Sasuke's voice appeared on the battlefield at lightning speed.After Haku appeared, he froze the surface of the lake, which actually gave Sasuke a chance to enter the fight.Seeing his gaze filled with fighting spirit and flames, Kakashi Hatake nodded without refusing, then quickly wove hand signs.This time, he didn't copy Zabuza's Ninjutsu again; after all, with Haku's help, the opponent's Water Release could be converted into Ice Release, which was far more powerful than any Ninjutsu he could copy.Since that was the case, he had no choice but to end it quickly!Ox—Hare—Monkey!Zzz-crack!Accompanied by the sound of a thousand birds chirping, a massive amount of Chakra gathered in Kakashi Hatake's right palm, blooming with a blinding, dazzling blue-purple electric light.Raikiri!In a flash of electricity, Kakashi Hatake launched himself, dashing in front of Zabuza in an instant."What? So fast!"Zabuza's eyes widened, and he pushed off with both feet, retreating backward with all his might.At the same time, Haku summoned an ice mirror, blocking Kakashi Hatake's path.With a crack, the ice mirror was broken through as easily as white paper.Kakashi Hatake's speed didn't slow down in the slightest as he pursued the retreating enemy.However, Zabuza wasn't slow either; Haku used Ice Release to create an ice slide under his feet, allowing him to retreat at high speed.But even so, the distance between the two was closing rapidly.Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!At this critical moment, Zabuza finally finished his hand signs, and the Chakra gathered in his throat gushed out, forming a high-pressure water column that rushed toward Kakashi Hatake.Ice Release: Ice Coagulation...Haku turned around, wanting to use Ice Release to amplify Zabuza's Water Release.Unfortunately, before he could finish his jutsu, the sound of something cutting through the air behind him forced him to interrupt."Hah!"Even with the massive volume of water comparable to a lake, it couldn't obscure the intense light of the Raikiri.Kakashi Hatake moved against the current, forcibly splitting the water column of the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave.Zabuza's pupils contracted, and he could only watch helplessly as the palm carrying the thunder struck into his body.Fortunately, the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave wasn't entirely useless; it managed to weaken the power of the Raikiri and deflect its trajectory.Ugh!Zabuza's left abdomen was injured, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.But at the same time, he stomped his foot, using the opponent's force to fly away."Zabuza-sama?"Haku, while dealing with the rushing Naruto and Sasuke, discovered that Zabuza was injured and could no longer maintain his indifferent attitude, calling out in panicked concern."Haku, finish off those two brats as quickly as possible, then join me to deal with KakashiHatake!"Zabuza ordered loudly in mid-air, then crashed heavily into the water.Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!After falling into the water, Zabuza disregarded his own exhaustion and performed the jutsu again, allowing the mist that had already dispersed to fill the area once more.Amidst the thick mist, Kakashi Hatake frowned, preparing to go back to support Naruto and Sasuke, but he immediately stopped in his tracks.After all, the heavy mist was Zabuza's home turf; if he rashly went back to reinforce them, it would only make the situation more disadvantageous.He had to deal with Zabuza before Haku finished off Naruto and Sasuke!Thinking of this, Kakashi Hatake bit his finger and simultaneously pulled a scroll from his ninja tool pouch.Summoning Jutsu!...Ice Release Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!Just as Kakashi Hatake was preparing to finish off the enemy as quickly as possible, Haku made the same choice.Therefore, he hesitated not a moment to activate his Ninjutsu, condensing a large number of ice mirrors around them, forming a huge ice dome that trapped both Naruto and Sasuke inside.Haku then entered the ice mirrors, and subsequently, his figure appeared in all the surrounding ice mirrors."Sorry, in order to go support Zabuza-sama as quickly as possible, I have no choice but to...""Kill you!"Haku's voice suddenly became incredibly sharp, erupting with intense killing intent.Although it didn't match Zabuza's, even so, it made Sasuke feel breathless."Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Naruto is one thing, but this guy looks about my age, how can he also have such powerful strength? What has my training all this time even amounted to?"A sense of frustration inevitably grew in Sasuke's heart.He had originally thought his strength was the strongest among his peers, but after witnessing the strength of Naruto and Haku, his mindset began to undergo some changes.Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!Sasuke was struggling, but Haku didn't hold back at all.In an instant, countless senbon gleaming with cold light shot in from all directions.Even Naruto couldn't help but look solemn, pushing the Hamon within his body to its limit while backhanding his jacket off.In the thick mist, the clothing was dampened by the water vapor, which actually facilitated the conduction of the Hamon.Naruto swung the jacket around, infusing it with the repulsive nature of the Hamon.Clang, clang, clang!Under the reinforcement of the Hamon, the originally soft jacket instantly stiffened, acting like a shield and blocking the incoming senbon.By comparison, Sasuke was far more disheveled.Although he had already activated the Sharingan, the configuration of one single tomoe in one eye and two tomoe in the other was completely insufficient.Therefore, facing Haku's attack, he could only barely dodge, and in the end, he wasn't fast enough, getting pierced in the calf by a senbon."Ugh,"Sasuke groaned in pain, his footsteps staggering.Haku seized the opportunity and immediately fired more senbon at Sasuke.Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!Sasuke wove hand signs and spat out raging flames.Although he twisted his body, expanding the coverage of the flames and melting most of the senbon, there were still some that slipped through.With a pfft, pfft sound, Sasuke's back, arm, and ankle were pierced by senbon.Blood flowed down from the wounds, making him tremble uncontrollably, once again raising his fear of the battle."No, no, I can't die here; I still have to take revenge on that man!"Just at this moment, Naruto finally freed up his hand and swung the jacket in his hand.The jacket, saturated with Hamon, spun over, circled around Sasuke, swept away the senbonshooting at him, and then flew back into Naruto's hand."This kid is too troublesome..."Haku's offensive slowed down, and he panted while thinking to himself.Even though he could use water vapor to create ice senbon, creating such a large quantity at once consumed a lot of his stamina.Calculating his remaining Chakra, Haku spoke up: "Hmph, can we call a truce?""Huh?"
Chapter 18: I Swear Upon My Pain"Can we reconcile?"Haku calculated his remaining Chakra, then said something astonishing."Reconcile? Right now? You aren't joking, are you?" Naruto scoffed.Haku, inside the ice mirror, spread his hands: "We seem to have no grudge against each other, and I don't want to kill you. So, if you just let me go and kill Tazuna, Zabuza and I will retreat. How about it?"Naruto leaped to Sasuke's side. While checking his companion's injuries, he refused: "Do you think that's possible?""I... I agree..." Sasuke's weak voice rang out."What?" Naruto's gaze was like a torch as he looked down at Sasuke.Sasuke subconsciously looked away, his body trembling slightly: "This mission was already beyond our capabilities to begin with. There's no need to..."Before he could finish, Naruto grabbed him angrily by the collar, and Sasuke's voice trailed off.Sasuke certainly knew this was wrong, but after being injured repeatedly, he realized that Haku's strength was by no means something he could currently withstand.He wasn't afraid of death, but he was afraid of dying here, afraid that he wouldn't be able to take revenge on his brother.So, even though it was shameful, Sasuke endured the humiliation and proposed the idea of abandoning the mission."In any case, that old man isn't worth risking our lives for!" Sasuke looked as if he was trying to convince Naruto, or perhaps himself. He suddenly raised his head, eyes wide with fury as he looked at the other, "Isn't your goal to eliminate Gato? That has nothing to do with Tazuna, right?""I don't know what you are carrying, Sasuke." Naruto let go, his gaze devoid of anger, replaced by understanding and sympathy, but this only made Sasuke feel even more ashamed."It seems the negotiations have broken down." Haku finally spoke again.The effect of those words just now was far beyond imagination, and he had taken the opportunity to complete his Chakra refinement.Now it was time to end the battle!Swish, swish, swish! Countless senbon attacked once again.Naruto picked up the dazed Sasuke and dodged the first wave of attacks, while calmly saying: "You who haven't experienced real combat are still too naive. What makes you think the enemy will let you go just because you abandoned the mission? Based on his word alone?"After being put down by him, Sasuke knelt on one knee due to his injuries, looking dejected, not knowing what he was thinking.Naruto didn't care about this, instead showing a confident smile: "I've already seen through your tricks, bastard!"As he spoke, he charged directly toward one of the ice mirrors. Seeing this, Haku sneered: "I hope so."Bam! Naruto punched the ice mirror, but it didn't cause any damage."As expected, it was just bluffing." Haku thought, preparing to launch another attack.But Naruto seized the moment when he let his guard down, forming a cross seal in front of him. Shadow Clone!Then Naruto grabbed his Shadow Clone and threw him forcefully toward the ice mirror above his head.Boom! With the augmentation of the Shockwave, this punch had extraordinary power. While easily shattering the ice mirror, it also struck heavily against the face of Haku, who was hiding inside."Ugh, that hurts! This guy was misleading me just now! But how did he know where I was hiding?"Haku's face twisted as he flew backward, feeling greatly puzzled.Of course, he didn't know that Naruto had already determined his true location by sensing life energy.It was just that Haku could move between the ice mirrors at the speed of light, so if he attacked directly, even if he could break the ice mirror, Haku could transfer before the mirror was destroyed.It was precisely for this reason that Narutopretended to attack blindly, making the opponent let down his guard, scoring a hit in one go."Stay down!" A smile appeared on Naruto's face.During the attack, he had already struck the Shockwave into the opponent's brain. Although it wasn't fatal, it was enough to knock him unconscious.The next second, the mask on Haku's face shattered with a crack, revealing a delicate and beautiful face."You're a girl?" Naruto was stunned.It was this momentary distraction that allowed Haku to thrust out the senbon in his hand, destroying the Shadow Clone while forming a seal in front of him.Suddenly, his figure turned into a stream of light and re-entered the ice mirror."My brain... is trembling... I'm not going to be able to hold on much longer..."Haku was very clear about his condition. But precisely because of this, he had to force himself to launch an attack, at least to reduce the opponent's combat power, otherwise Zabuza would be in danger!"Oh no, Sasuke!" Naruto reacted and immediately turned to rush toward Sasuke.Can I make it in time? No! I must make it!Swish, swish, swish! Drip, drip, drip...When Sasuke came to his senses and looked up, he saw Naruto standing in front of him.senbon, emitting a chilling cold, were densely embedded into his body, and blood slowly dripped down the needles.Seeing this scene, Sasuke felt his mind go blank.It was as if he had returned to that unforgettable night, when his parents and clansmen were just like this..."Naruto, you... why did you do this..."The surrounding Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals shattered, turning into countless ice shards. The incoming cold snapped Sasuke back to reality, and he asked, his lips trembling."Because I said, even if it means death, I will protect my companions..."Blood spilled from the corner of Naruto's mouth, and the blood surging within his body was frozen by the cold of the senbon. The Hamon was fading from his body!"You big idiot..."Sasuke caught Naruto's slowly falling body. In his wide-eyed pupils, a single tomoe was rapidly spinning and evolving into two tomoe.Seeing this, Haku tremblingly raised his senbon: "I should take this opportunity to kill them both, but I have already..."The Shockwave that Naruto had struck into him was taking effect, making his vision go dark, and he was about to lose control of his body."Chidori!" On the other side, Kakashi activated his signature Ninjutsu once again.He had originally planned to use his ninja hounds to track the residual blood of Zabuza on his hand, to find and finish him off.It was a pity that Zabuza had made up his mind to stall for time and hid in the water. Even the ninja hounds with sensitive noses couldn't find him.So Kakashi used Lightning Blade, plunging the lightning in his palm into the water. Only a burst of electrical sound was heard, and Zabuza, hiding in the water, let out a groan of pain, floating powerlessly to the surface."Zabuza-sama!" Haku noticed the battlefield here, gave up on continuing the attack, and forced himself to use the Mist Body Flicker to arrive at Zabuza's side."This is... that young man?! Then that means Naruto and Sasuke?" The moment he saw Haku, while recognizing his identity, Kakashi immediately realized that something had happened to Narutoand Sasuke.Although he was anxious, he didn't show it, instead watching calmly as Haku helped Zabuza up.Having used two Chidori and the Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu just now, his Chakra was bottoming out. Although he could still fight, Haku didn't seem to be injured. If they continued fighting, it would be disadvantageous for him! This was the judgment Kakashi made in his heart.Of course, he didn't know that Haku's brain had been attacked, and he was also weak on the inside despite looking strong on the outside; he was just holding on."You are strong, but next time we..." Haku supported Zabuza, and their figures disappeared from the spot. "...will win!""..." Seeing the enemy leave, Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. Then, ignoring his physical exhaustion, he passed through the thinning mist and found the battlefield of Naruto and Sasuke.At this moment, Sakura had also arrived and was holding Naruto's face, tears falling uncontrollably."For real? Naruto actually..." Seeing this scene, Kakashi's head went blank for a moment. He never expected that Naruto would be injured so severely, so he quickly stepped forward to check."Naruto, don't... don't do this, Naruto..." Sakura was sobbing silently. Although her voice wasn't loud, it still sounded like bolts of thunder exploding in Sasuke's mind.He trembled, viciously pulling the senbon from his body. With a clinking sound, he threw the blood-stained ice needles onto the ground."Sasuke?" The others looked over upon hearing the sound."I swear upon the pain I feel right now, I will never run away again. Even if it means death, I will protect my companions well!"In Sasuke's eyes, the two tomoe spun, emitting a fierce aura.
Chapter 19: Even Stray Dogs Have Noble Souls"I swear by the pain I feel right now, I will never run away again. Even if it means death, I will protect my comrades!"Sasuke slammed the senbon stained with his own blood onto the ground viciously. His eyes were wide open, and his tone was filled with unprecedented killing intent.Sakura covered her mouth, surprised to find that Sasuke's eyes at this moment looked very similar to Kakashi-sensei's.The only difference between the two was that Kakashi had three tomoe in his eyes, while Sasukehad two."Sasuke's Sharingan..." Kakashi looked up, stunned after seeing Sasuke's Sharingan.It seemed that Naruto's serious injury had indeed dealt him a huge blow, actually triggering his Sharingan to evolve.However, now was not the time to worry about that.Kakashi leaned down and pressed his ear against Naruto's chest.Although it had become somewhat faint, the heartbeat could still be heard.Then he checked his breathing and found that Naruto's breathing was still relatively steady."Kakashi-sensei, how is Naruto?" Sakura asked, her hands twisted together, looking over with a mix of anticipation and fear.Sasuke stood by with his head lowered; although he didn't speak, the two tomoe in his eyes spun even faster.Even the ill-tempered Tazuna showed an expression of worry.Although they had had verbal disputes before, after Naruto insisted on continuing the mission, Tazuna had already changed his opinion of him.After a few days of contact, Tazuna had long since come to regard the optimistic and cheerful Narutoas a close companion, and naturally, he could not sit idly by while his life was in danger."He's still alive. As long as he receives treatment in time, he should be saved."Kakashi stood up, his eyes showing surprise, while simultaneously letting out a sigh of relief.After all, the Jinchuriki had come out with him, and if any accident happened, it would be a huge problem.Moreover, besides his identity as a Jinchuriki, Naruto's other identities were even less simple.If he were in life-threatening danger, even if the Village didn't punish him, Kakashi would find it hard to forgive himself.However, regarding Naruto's condition, Kakashiwas actually being very conservative.Don't look at how Naruto was covered in senbon, making his injuries look terrifying.But in reality, most of those senbon didn't hit vital points and weren't life-threatening.Furthermore, with the support of Nine-Tails Chakra, the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline, and Hamon, Naruto's recovery ability was terrifying; some wounds had even started to heal already!"That's good!"Hearing Kakashi's words, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna all let out a long sigh of relief.Then, with Sakura's help, Kakashi removed the senbon from Naruto's body and performed simple hemostasis.Immediately, the group, not daring to delay, set off at once, heading toward Tazuna's home.It wasn't just Naruto; after going through such a fierce battle, Kakashi was also extremely weak and needed to rest as soon as possible."Grandpa, you're back!"Hearing the commotion outside, the young Inari ran out excitedly.However, he immediately stopped in his tracks, covered his mouth, and looked at the group walking into the courtyard in disbelief.The tall old man leading the group was undoubtedly his grandfather, Tazuna.He didn't recognize the others, but except for the pink-haired girl, everyone was injured.Especially the one lying on the stretcher; he was wrapped up like a mummy, looking quite terrifying."Yo, Inari, my good grandson!"Although Tazuna was unharmed under the protection of the Konoha Ninja, having witnessed the fierce battle between the Ninja and seeing Naruto injured in that state, his emotions had been on a roller coaster.Seeing his beloved grandson now, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, rushed up, picked up Inari, spun him around, and laughed heartily."Dad, don't always spoil Inari like that."A beautiful woman with long, pitch-black hair walked out and paused, stunned after seeing the few Konoha Ninja."Ah, Tsunami, my daughter, it's so good to see you again!"Tazuna was very excited, but he didn't lose his head, turning to introduce both sides."These are the Konoha Ninja I hired. Thanks to them risking their lives to protect me, I was able to return safely.""I see. Honorable Ninja, my name is Tsunami. Thank you so much for protecting my father."Tsunami bowed deeply to everyone, then noticed the pitiful state of Naruto on the stretcher: "Oh, this... is this one also?"Sakura, while taking care of Naruto, introduced him: "His name is Uzumaki Naruto! He is our comrade!""By the way, Tsunami, could you please help take care of him? This kid got injured like this just now protecting me!""Is that so? Then, then quickly bring him into the house!"Tsunami hurriedly greeted them and took charge herself, clearing out her own room to settle Narutoinside.After getting him settled, Kakashi checked Naruto's condition again and found that his breathing had eased and his heartbeat had become strong again. Finally able to relax, he rolled his eyes back and collapsed from exhaustion."Ah! An enemy! Kakashi-sensei has been killed!"Sakura let out a shrill scream....Drip, drip, drip.A familiar dripping sound came from his ears.Naruto opened his eyes and found that he had returned to his familiar mental world.Lying in the eerie, dark, and cramped pipe, the water beneath him soaked his clothes.He climbed up and walked slowly to the end of the pipe, raising his arm and waving vigorously: "Hey! Nine-Tailed!""..."The response he got was deathly silence.Naruto ran over, stood outside the barred gate, and cupped his hands around his mouth: "Nine-Tailed! I've come to see you!"In the deep, dark shadows behind the gate, that curled-up, massive beastly body seemed to be asleep, showing no reaction whatsoever."Tch, you're really cold."Naruto pouted, then grinned as he bent down and submerged his palms into the water.Zzzt!Hamon was channeled into it, spreading out like an electric current.!!!With a loud boom, the beast that had been curled into a ball jumped up, and the entire space trembled a few times."Hey, you brat! What are you here to annoy me for again?!"Lantern-like, blood-red glowing beast eyes stared fixedly at Naruto, and beneath its sharp fangs, a scorching breath surged forth.Nine-Tailed was angry, very angry.Because ever since that guy Naruto had come to the seal space that one time, he would appear here from time to time.And who knows where that bastard obtained that bizarre power; he could actually attack it from across the seal.Although it didn't cause any real damage, the feeling of being stimulated by the electric current was very uncomfortable.So upon seeing Naruto again, Nine-Tailed felt nothing but irritation; the disdain and indifference from before were gone."Ah, ah, just came to see you, that's all."Naruto relaxed his body, and with a splash, he fell backward into the water, his arms pillowing his head.Nine-Tailed noticed something wrong: "You'd be that kind?""There's an old saying: 'When a man is dying, his words are good.'"Naruto answered slowly.His memory stopped at the moment he blocked the senbon attack for Sasuke.Having suffered such serious injuries, he should be dying, right?However, dying to protect a comrade did not go against his original wish to die without regrets."What are you talking about? You're going to die?"Nine-Tailed raised an eyebrow, as if it had heard some huge joke.It was very clear that this kid Naruto was a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan.And among the Uzumaki Clan, he belonged to that special category with terrifyingly strong vitality.Unless it was something as terrifying as having the Tailed Beast stripped away, wanting to kill Narutowas harder than ascending to heaven.However, even so, Nine-Tailed wasn't kind enough to remind Naruto; instead, it laughed with sarcasm: "What, are you feeling scared facing death? That's right, a brat like you, always talking about not being afraid of death, but when faced with real danger, you're about to wet your pants."Nine-Tailed's mocking laughter echoed throughout the entire space, but Naruto didn't answer. He waited quietly for it to finish laughing, then asked: "If I die, will you die too, Nine-Tailed?""Of course..." Nine-Tailed drew out the tone, then laughed loudly again, "Not at all, idiot! After you die, I will dissipate and then re-coalesce somewhere else to revive! Hahaha, so don't count on me saving you at a critical moment, fool!"Naruto wasn't angry. He sat up and looked up at Nine-Tailed: "Then I can rest easy."Nine-Tailed's words faltered: "Huh?""Earlier, when I felt my blood slowly freezing, I wasn't afraid; instead, I felt very happy."Naruto lowered his head, looking at his palms, with specks of golden light dissipating from his palms."Because I felt that at least before I died, I protected my comrades, did the right thing, and could die without regrets.""But then I suddenly thought, Nine-Tailed, aren't you inside my body? If I die and you suffer a disaster because of it, what would happen?""Now that I've heard your words, I can die in peace.""Should I call you naive or stupid, fool." Nine-Tailedsneered, "I am the symbol of calamity, the embodiment of a natural disaster! I am the existence that killed countless people in your Konoha. Even your respected Iruka-sensei's parents died at my hands. You're actually worrying about me while you're on the verge of death?"In fact, it wasn't just them. For some unknown reason, Nine-Tailed subconsciously concealed the fact that it had also killed Naruto's parents.Perhaps it was because it didn't want Naruto to discover his own origins, preventing him from awakening some monstrous technique like 'Adamantine Sealing Chains'."I think so too, but then I thought, maybe you weren't like this from the beginning, right? Being destroyed again and again, then reviving and being reborn, is that why you turned into a natural disaster and released your malice upon this world?"Naruto looked up at Nine-Tailed.Nine-Tailed instinctively averted its gaze, then realized what it had done and became furious at its own reaction, baring its snow-white fangs: "What right do you have to judge my past, brat!""Because I have seen that even stray dogs have noble souls!"Naruto's azure blue eyes met the blood-red beast eyes.Man and beast stared at each other in silence.Water droplets fell from the ceiling, continuously making a dripping sound.After a long time, Naruto gave a start and suddenly laughed: "Looks like I'm in luck."As he spoke, he waved at Nine-Tailed: "See you."The next second, Naruto disappeared.Seeing the boy's figure depart, Nine-Tailed instead let out a sigh of relief.It lay down, curled up, and made a show of resting.It was just that those blood-red beast eyes remained open, gazing at the spot where Narutohad just been, not moving for a long time.
Chapter 20: I Have a Secret Recipe, Do You Want It?"Eek!" A piercing scream drilled straight into his eardrums.Naruto sat up in bed with a start, looking around in confusion.Unfamiliar bedsheets, an unfamiliar ceiling, and..."Whoa, an unfamiliar beauty!"Naruto blinked, looking at the mature, black-haired beauty by the bedside who was covering her mouth and screaming; he subconsciously wanted to raise a hand to greet her.However, he immediately realized his body was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, looking exactly like a mummy just dug out from underground."Y-you're awake?" Tsunami quickly calmed down, looking at Naruto in surprise, her beautiful eyes blinking repeatedly."May I ask where this is?" Naruto asked curiously."This is my home," Tsunami replied, then immediately explained, "My name is Tsunami, and Tazuna is my father. Your teacher and companions brought you here."Come to think of it, after Kakashi passed out, it gave Sakura and Sasuke quite a scare; both of them went to look after him, and Tsunami thus took on the task of caring for Naruto.Fortunately, this guy had already been settled in, so she just needed to keep an eye on him to make sure nothing unexpected happened.However, Tsunami never expected that, after only half a day, Naruto—who from his appearance had been hanging on by a single breath—would actually sit up in bed, full of vigor.It wasn't just Tsunami who was startled; upon hearing her scream, Sasuke and Sakura rushed over, and seeing that Naruto had already woken up, their mouths dropped open in astonishment."Naruto, how did you wake up so quickly?" Sakuraran over and grabbed Naruto's hand to check on him.Sasuke watched silently from the side, his gaze cooling a few degrees.Is this guy a cockroach? Where does such terrifying vitality come from?Having previously seen Naruto covered in ice senbon and on the verge of death, Sasuke had thought he was going to die, and for once, he had genuinely revealed his true feelings, swearing to risk his life to protect his companions in the future.He hadn't expected this guy's vitality to be terrifyingly tenacious; not only did he not die, but in less than half a day, he was already able to sit up!"Hurry up and lie down, stay there and recover properly, you idiot! Don't you have any self-awareness? Do you know how terrifying your injuries were just a moment ago?"Sakura held Naruto down as he tried to get out of bed."Haha, what does it matter? They're just minor injuries, they'll be better soon. I still need to hurry up and train to defeat that bastard Gato."Naruto laughed dismissively."Hmph, still talking big even when you've ended up like this."Inari appeared at the doorway at some point and mocked Naruto, who was on the bed.Naruto narrowed his eyes at this: "What did you say, kid?""I said you're all going to die soon."There was no light in Inari's eyes as he looked over, as if he were looking at a bunch of dead people."Because there is no good ending for opposing Gato!"Once these words were spoken, the few people in the room fell silent.They couldn't have imagined that a boy who should have been full of vitality would speak like a stuffy, old middle-aged man, and say such negative things.Even Tsunami only opened her mouth, not knowing what to say."Have you ever opposed Gato?" Naruto asked.Inari curled his lip: "Who would do such a stupid thing?"Although he spoke with disdain, the ripple in his eyes couldn't be faked."Ah, ah, ah, after saying so much, it turns out you're just a coward. Since that's the case, don't pretend to be an adult who sees through everything. Just curl up obediently and wait for a hero to save the world."Naruto laughed, but his words were as sharp as a blade."Forget about Gato or whoever; I'm going to wipe them all out!""Hmph, heroes... they're all just a bunch of idiots..."Inari's body trembled slightly, as if he had remembered something, but he quickly calmed down."If you don't want to die, I advise you to leave as soon as possible."After saying this, he turned and ran away with a thud-thud-thud."I'm really sorry," after a long while, Tsunami gave a bitter, awkward smile."This child has been spoiled by me, which is why he's so unreasonable. Please, don't be angry.""It's nothing," Sakura replied.Naruto smiled in a relaxed tone: "Spoiled? I don't think so. That kid must have suffered some kind of trauma, right?"Tsunami was speechless, her gaze towards Narutofilled with amazement.She had never expected that the young man before her would see through Inari's heart at a single glance."Can you tell me his story?" Naruto leaned against the headboard, unwrapped the bandages on his face, and smiled.Looking at his young face, Tsunami blushed slightly.Then, seeing the slightly expectant gazes of Sakuraand Sasuke, she sat on the edge of the bed and sighed: "Inari's story is a long one..."Under her soft narration, Inari's past was told.Once, Inari had also been a cheerful boy who worshipped his stepfather, a man named Kesha.Kesha had once disregarded the threat to his own life to resolve a flood disaster and was regarded by the people as a hero.A few years ago, Gato came to the Land of Wavesand began a reign of terror.Kesha led the people in resistance, but ultimately failed and was executed in public.Having witnessed Kesha's execution with his own eyes, Inari became what he is now.Tsunami's voice was melodious, immersing The Three Little Ones in the past.After a long while, Naruto finally spoke: "Ms. Tsunami, not just Inari, but also Mr. Tazuna and you, as well as the entire Land of Waves—I will save you all. I will do it, even if I have to bet my name, Uzumaki Naruto!"Looking at Naruto giving her a thumbs-up, Tsunamiwas a bit flustered: "Inari is just a child; Mr. Naruto, you don't need to mind him.""No," Naruto shook his head, "because I said I am a hero, and this is what a hero should do!"The next day.Early in the morning, Naruto climbed out of bed and removed the bandages from his body.Upon careful inspection, the terrifying injuries from yesterday were mostly healed, and even the scabs had fallen off, revealing the tender, newly formed skin underneath."Naruto, what exactly are you made of? Even with such severe injuries, you've actually healed in just a day!"Sakura examined his body and couldn't help but exclaim in wonder."Hmph, unkillable idiot." Sasuke curled his lip.Naruto stretched his limbs: "If I didn't have these capabilities, how could I dare to say I want to protect my companions well?"He grinned, revealing a smile full of powerful confidence."You guy..." Not to mention Sakura, even Sasukewas somewhat moved.Just then, Kakashi walked in: "Yo, Naruto, you're already okay?""Not bad. Although I haven't fully recovered, it doesn't affect my movement anymore."Naruto replied, then asked in return, "Kakashi-sensei, you look like you're still a bit weak, though."Although Kakashi wore a black mask that made it hard to see his expression, Naruto could tell from his somewhat unsteady steps that the massive exertion from yesterday was still affecting Kakashieven now."Ah, you even saw that, huh." Kakashi nodded helplessly in admission.Sakura couldn't help but retort: "Kakashi-sensei, you only used a few Ninjutsu yesterday, and there was basically no close-quarters combat, so how did you become so weak?"Kakashi rubbed his nose, his gaze sweeping over Sasuke.In truth, besides the two Chidori, the biggest drain on his stamina was the burden brought about by the Sharingan.However, in front of Sasuke, the lone survivor of the Uchiha Clan, he was not prepared to discuss this matter for the time being.However, while Kakashi avoided the topic, Narutostarted to exercise his imagination: "Could it be that Kakashi-sensei... is physically weak?""What do you mean?" Sasuke also chimed in."Look, Kakashi-sensei doesn't seem to have a girlfriend, and he likes reading books like 'icha icha paradise' that aren't suitable for children. He must have to resolve his problems in that way, so..."As he spoke, Naruto put on a look that everyone understood."Eek, Naruto, what are you saying!" Sakura covered her flushed face and complained loudly.Sakura's inner second personality: It must be like that, Kakashi-sensei is such an old virgin!"Tch, boring." Sasuke curled his lip in disdain.Although he appeared calm on the surface, his gaze towards Kakashi had an extra layer of inexplicable meaning."Cough, cough, cough!"Facing the strange looks from his students, Kakashibegan to cough violently.The lifelong reputation of the Copy Ninja collapsed in their hearts just like that.Just as Kakashi was about to refute this, he saw Naruto mysteriously lean in close and say in a very low voice: "Kakashi-sensei, do you have symptoms like soreness in the waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, night sweats, or a dry mouth and throat?""What are you talking about, I don't at all..." Kakashi denied it loudly.But before he could finish, a simple sentence from Naruto made him stop: "I have a secret recipe, do you want it?"This really wasn't him lying.One must know that the Hamon technique was originally a training method passed down for thousands of years in the Qinghai-Tibet region of Earth, and it had been influenced by a lot of Traditional Chinese Medicine during its development.Furthermore, the initial pursuit of the Hamontechnique was strengthening the body and prolonging life; becoming Hamon warriors to fight against the Pillar Men and vampires was a later development.Therefore, most people who practiced the path of Hamon also had deep research into methods of health preservation.Naruto was a good example when he was on Earth; a person in his seventies looking like he was only in his thirties, with an even younger mindset.He had seen many cases like Kakashi's, so naturally, he was full of confidence the moment he spoke, leaving no room for doubt.Hearing this, Kakashi looked over suspiciously.Meeting Naruto's firm gaze, he unconsciously believed a little bit.However, he immediately noticed that Sasuke and Sakura were curiously watching him and Narutowhispering to each other, so he quickly cleared his throat: "Ahem, that... actually, I came to find you all because there's something serious to discuss. Hurry up and eat breakfast, then gather outside!"Then, Kakashi quickly said to Naruto in a low voice: "We'll talk in private in a while."Watching him leave without looking back, Narutocouldn't help but laugh."Hey, what did you say to Kakashi-sensei? Why so mysterious?" Sakura leaned over and asked.Although Sasuke didn't speak, his eyes drifted over here unconsciously, and his ears were silently perked up."Children shouldn't pry, be good." Naruto patted Sakura's head."Jerk!" Sakura covered the spot where she was patted, her face flushing red.Seeing this, Sasuke left silently.After all, Naruto was the person capable of using the Sexy Jutsu when facing Zabuza; one only had to think about it to know that whatever he was discussing with Kakashi definitely had to do with that aspect.
Chapter 21: Naruto forced Sasuke to his knees, he must be intending to...While bickering, The Three Little Ones left the room.Seeing Naruto at the dining table, Inari snorted, grabbed a piece of bread, and ran off.Seeing this, Naruto didn't mind and sat down to wolf down his food.While eating, he kept praising Tsunami's cooking.Due to Gato's long-term exploitation, the Land of Waves was quite scarce in both ingredients and seasonings.But even so, the food Tsunami prepared was quite delicious and truly worth praising.Kakashi had already filled his stomach before The Three Little Ones came out; he sat not far away, watching silently, and gradually realized something was wrong."This kid Naruto doesn't seem simple at all. Is he really just a teenager?"Seeing how Tsunami was coaxed into such high spirits by him, Tazuna beside them also sensed something unusual, and his gaze towards Narutocarried a bit more wariness.Finally, when breakfast ended and Kakashi led The Three Little Ones away, Tazuna let out a sigh of relief for no apparent reason.Tazuna actually quite admired Naruto, this little guy who had taken the initiative to request that the mission continue and had protected his companions with his life during the battle.It was just that this admiration was limited to the level of appreciating a young person's outstanding performance.Thinking carefully, although Naruto was only twelve, he was already nearly 1.6 meters tall.The clothes he wore were no longer the heavy jackets from before; instead, he wore a short jacket with a white shirt and tie underneath, appearing quite simple and capable.Coupled with Naruto's mature speech and conduct, he looked almost no different from a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth.Of course, more importantly, this kid was very good at winning over girls.Based on Tazuna's experience, that girl named Sakura had already gradually fallen under Naruto's charm.His own daughter Tsunami had been a widow for several years, and now she had encountered such a youthful and vibrant boy; no matter how he thought about it, it was deeply worrying...Tazuna suddenly felt he had no mood to go to work and sat on the tatami mat with a splitting headache.On the other side.After breakfast, Kakashi took The Three Little Onesto a clearing in the jungle."Although Zabuza has escaped, given his personality, he will definitely attack Mr. Tazunaagain after he has recovered.""I can deal with Zabuza, but that boy named Haku cannot be underestimated either. Given your previous performance, I will be conducting special training for you for a period of time.""And before the special training begins, I want to talk to you about the most basic ability of a Ninja—""Chakra!""Chakra?""Hmm..." "Uh..." "Ah..."Seeing Naruto's constipated expression, Sakura, who had completely transformed into the straight man of the group, carried out her task: "Looking at you, you have no idea what Chakra is, do you? What on earth did you learn at the Ninja Academy? Are you even qualified to be a Ninja like this?"Of course, Naruto couldn't say that his student life at the Ninja Academy was already a distant memory from decades ago.Moreover, even without those decades, given how he slept every day back when he was in school, it was obviously impossible for him to be clear about this dry knowledge.So he could only awkwardly touch his head and respond with silence."Sigh," Kakashi sighed, "Sakura, you explain it."As the one with the strongest theoretical knowledge, Sakura naturally wouldn't refuse and began to explain it to Naruto concisely.The current Naruto was long past being the blockhead he once was. Ignoring the jargon Sakuraused, he quickly summarized the key points."Chakra is a special energy formed by mixing physical energy and spiritual energy in a precise ratio. Ninjas use this energy to enhance Taijutsu, and to release Ninjutsu and Genjutsu."Naruto muttered, his brows slightly furrowed, his thoughts wandering.Thinking carefully, Hamon utilizes and enhances life energy, while a Stand is the manifestation of powerful spiritual strength.So that meant he could perhaps try to change the simple and crude way of releasing Hamon in the past, and then using a Stand to convert it, instead combining them with the combat style of a Ninja?Just as Naruto was pondering, Kakashi stated his special training method and goal: "Your application of Chakra is not refined enough, which only leads to the waste of the extracted Chakra. So, your special training course is—""Tree climbing!"Kakashi pointed to the big tree beside him and said."Tree climbing?"The Three Little Ones frowned.With the physical fitness of a Ninja, even for Sakura, who was the worst at Taijutsu, climbing a tree was a piece of cake.But under their questioning gazes, Kakashi stepped onto the tree trunk as if his soles were suctioned to the tree, and in a way that defied gravity, stepped up to the top of the tree, step by step."The soles of the feet are the most difficult place to gather Chakra, and moving while resisting gravity places extremely high demands on Chakragathering. Therefore, training to climb trees like this can exercise both Chakra control and Chakraendurance."Kakashi stood upside down on a branch and called out to The Three Little Ones below.Then he dissipated the Chakra from his soles, flipped in the air, and landed lightly. He pulled three Kunai from the Ninja tool pouch at his waist and threw them to The Three Little Onesrespectively."You won't learn just by listening to my nonsense, so you'd better experience it for yourselves. Take the Kunai, mark the spot where you can climb to, and then improve step by step.""Okay!"Having received Kakashi's instructions, The Three Little Ones nodded and then each rushed towards the big tree in front of them.Bang!The first to fall was Naruto; he had only climbed less than two steps before he was bounced off and fell heavily to the ground.Sasuke climbed five or six meters before his Chakra could no longer be maintained.Upon discovering this, he immediately stepped on the tree trunk, carved a mark on the tree, and at the same time, used the force to flip in mid-air and land easily.As for Sakura, her performance was the most astonishing; she actually climbed directly to the top of the tree, looking as if it took no effort at all."It seems Sakura performed the best."Kakashi clapped his hands, congratulating Sakura.Compared to her two companions, she had the least presence in Team 7.Being able to reach the top first was indeed worth encouraging.Receiving the teacher's praise, Sakura showed a sincere smile and looked down excitedly.However, both boys were looking down, not knowing what they were thinking about, which made her feel quite disappointed."The properties of Chakra are different from Hamon; there is no 'adsorption' or 'repulsion' property. It seems my approach of releasing Chakraat the soles of my feet to climb the tree was wrong."Naruto reviewed his attempt just now, then stood up and rushed towards the tree trunk again.Bang!He fell heavily to the ground again, with the height of his climb being about the same as before."Failed again. It seems Chakra is different from Hamon and cannot have its power enhanced by concentrated release. I need to wrap the entire sole of my foot with Chakra."Naruto stood up and headed straight for the tree trunk."Heh, dead last, no need to be so desperate right from the start, right?"Sasuke raised an eyebrow upon seeing this.However, to his surprise, this time Naruto didn't fall off but instead stepped steadily onto the tree trunk.The first step was still a bit unstable, but by the second step, there was no awkwardness at all, and by the third step, he was striding directly upwards.This was no longer just climbing a tree; it was sprinting.In less than a second, Naruto had rushed to the top of the big tree.Not only that, he even had the energy to imitate Kakashi from just before, standing upside down on a branch."Done!"Naruto made a 'V' sign."This guy... how did he do it?"Sasuke looked up, staring at Naruto's blond hair, unwillingness rising in his eyes.Sakura was one thing; she didn't have much Chakra, and coupled with her delicate mind, controlling it came naturally to her.Naruto was different; the amount of Chakra he could extract at once far exceeded his own.Yet with such a massive amount of Chakra, this guy was actually able to perform precise control and maintenance, and succeeded in reaching the top after only trying twice.And looking at Naruto's posture as he dashed to the top, the first two failures were probably just him trying other methods of controlling Chakra, not a problem with his Chakra control precision.Clearly this guy, just like me, was only trying it for the first time!Sunlight filtered through the tree canopy and sprinkled down.Sasuke lowered his head, unable to tell whether it was the dazzling sunlight or the even more dazzling Naruto that made him afraid to look directly.Frustration filled his heart.Whether in combat or training, Naruto's performance was far better than his own.If this continued, what use would he be in Team 7?Sasuke gripped the Kunai in his hand tightly, his body trembling constantly, his knuckles turning faintly white.Naruto noticed this scene and sighed slightly in his heart.After this period of contact, he had gained a deep understanding of Sasuke's personality.Although this guy looked cold and ruthless on the surface, it was only due to the influence of the huge burden in his heart.In reality, Sasuke cherished the two companions he recognized immensely.His true nature possessed an indelible warmth and kindness.Unfortunately, this guy had an extremely self-consuming personality; seeing others stronger than himself only made him pressure himself endlessly.But human endurance is limited.When the dissatisfaction Sasuke accumulated within himself broke through his limit, he would embark on a path of no return."Can't this guy just be a little more frank and take a step forward on his own?"Watching Sasuke Stand up silently without asking himself or Sakura for any advice, just stubbornly trying over and over again, Naruto couldn't help but shake his head."Since that's the case, let me take the initiative to step forward!"Naruto flipped, landed lightly, then stepped forward with a dash, heading straight for Sasuke, who had failed to climb the tree again."What are you..."Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, and he subconsciously moved his feet to retreat, but it was already too late to dodge."Finger Pistol!"The name of the move sounded very cool, but in reality, it was just Naruto extending his little finger and poking Sasuke hard in the chest and abdomen."Ugh!"In an instant, severe pain rushed to his brain.Sasuke's eyes bulged, and he opened his mouth involuntarily.Although he didn't spit out blood, the subsequent intense feeling of suffocation still caused him to fall weakly to his knees."Wow, Naruto forced Sasuke to his knees; he must be trying to force him to go back and be a manual laborer!"Up in the tree, Sakura, who had transformed into the straight man of the group, excellently completed her task.