Two Thousand Barrage!

Sealing Space

The entire space shook violently. The waves beneath Minato's feet were like a hurricane-tossed sea, crashing wildly against the surrounding walls and sending spray everywhere.

"Nine-Tails, what's happening?"

"You've lived here for so long and still don't understand? That brat is angry, so this place turns out like this."

The Nine-Tails flicked his ears, shaking off the liquid that had splashed onto him as he spoke absentmindedly.

"I see. This doesn't look like ordinary anger. What's the reason?"

"Seems to be because of a woman."

"...Isn't that a little early?"

Minato understood his son's feelings. Back when Kushina had been in danger, he had been furious too. But as he spoke, the shaking stopped again. The waves calmed, yet a light drizzle began to fall.

"This rain is filled with sorrow."

Minato held out his hand to catch the falling raindrops. He could clearly feel the emotions they carried. Without the Nine-Tails needing to explain, he understood that Naruto was crying.

"Nine-Tails, Naruto has been sensible since he was little. He's never shown such sorrow before. If you can, please help him."

"How ridiculous. You want me to use my Chakra to save someone?"

The Nine-Tails could not be bothered to respond. He found a comfortable position and lay down. As far as he was concerned, it did not matter what happened to humans. Sleeping was better.

"Will helping kill you?"

"No."

"You stinking fox! Naruto likes you so much, hurry up and help him!"

Minato walked over to the Nine-Tails, grabbed his whiskers, and kept tugging on them.

"Do those two things necessarily have anything to do with each other? Stop pulling my whiskers, you parasite!"

The Nine-Tails angrily rose to his feet, shaking his massive head in an attempt to throw Minato off. But Minato's grip was too tight, and no matter what he did, he could not shake him loose. His whiskers were practically about to be torn out.

"I won't let go. Not even once do I want to see Naruto look so sad. His childhood has already been sad enough!"

"Tch. Fine, fine, I give in."

Hearing Minato's words, the Nine-Tails gradually stopped struggling. He had watched Naruto grow up step by step as well. Minato had not been there at the time, but he had watched all along. Naruto had already shed all the tears he could possibly shed.

"Brat, Haku and I both knew that day would eventually come. Crying can't change anything. All I can do is keep fighting!"

Taking advantage of Naruto's daze, Zabuza swung his blade at Naruto's head. After Naruto dodged, Zabuza quickly shoved him aside and got back to his feet, charging forward while swinging the broken Kubikiribōchō.

"Sister Haku is already dead. What's the point of fighting like this?"

"You don't get to decide whether it has a point!"

[Brat, listen to me. That girl isn't dead yet.]

Naruto dodged Zabuza's attack when the Nine-Tails' voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

"What? Really?"

[There's still a faint pulse of Chakra. If she isn't treated now, she really will die. Do as I say and put the Chakra I refined onto her.]

The Nine-Tails had never imagined that one day, he would refine his own Chakra to save a human—removing all its harmful elements and turning it into the purest Chakra for healing.

"If you want to save Haku, stop!"

Seeing Zabuza still trying to strike, Naruto shot him a fierce glare and ran to Haku's side. He reached out to check her, and sure enough, she was still breathing faintly. Fortunately, Haku was short. The Lightning Blade, which had originally been aimed at Zabuza's heart, had struck her shoulder instead. If it had hit her heart, no one could have saved her.

"Sister Haku, I'll definitely save you."

Naruto raised his index finger. The Nine-Tails had already passed the Chakra to him. A tiny emerald-green flame of Chakra floated above his fingertip.

"Medical Ninjutsu? Something's off. That Chakra is far stronger than a Medical Ninja's."

Kakashi was puzzled by the Chakra in Naruto's hand, but he quickly dismissed the thought. After Naruto placed the Chakra on Haku's wound, a miracle happened. The charred wound slowly healed and scabbed over, while the shattered bones inside mended completely. Her pale face regained its color. Perhaps only one of the legendary Three Ninja could accomplish something like this.

"Brat, who exactly are you...?"

Seeing this, Zabuza finally gave up on attacking. He picked up Haku's body. Other than still being unconscious, she had truly recovered her health.

"I'm a Konoha genin, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto let out a breath, raised his thumb, and pointed at the forehead protector on his brow as he declared confidently.

"Tch, what kind of lousy person are you? You're really useless. Didn't you fail to kill even one person?"

As he spoke, a large group of people suddenly appeared on the far side of the bridge. They climbed onto the bridge from transport ships and, led by a short man, approached Naruto. Most of them were samurai and bandits armed with machetes. There was not a single proper ninja among them. The short man at the front glanced at Zabuza and said disdainfully.

"Gato... Hmph."

Zabuza could not even be bothered to look at him properly. Holding Haku in his arms, he stepped back a few paces and placed her somewhere safe.

"Is that little brat dead already? Serves him right. Don't make any rash moves, ninjas. Take a look at this."

Seeing the killing intent in Naruto's eyes, Gato clapped his hands. Two of his subordinates dragged a mother and son forward—it was Tsunami and Inari. Their bodies were bound by Gato's samurai subordinates, leaving them unable to move.

"Tsunami, Inari! Gato, you're too despicable. Can you even still be called human?"

Tazuna angrily pointed at Gato and cursed him. This pitiful bridge builder could only vent his dissatisfaction in such a weak manner.

"People? Before money, things like people are nothing. Zabuza, I'll give you one more chance to kill them all. Otherwise, I'll do it myself."

"Zabuza, you're risking your life for someone like this? Heh."

Teacher Kakashi laughed at Gato's threat, even letting out a faintly mocking sound. Even with little Chakra left, he could still kill that short man in an instant. Yet the fool was still spouting nonsense from across the way, relying on that pathetic bunch of samurai and bandits?

This idiot...

Zabuza was extremely annoyed. Gato was an idiot, but hadn't he himself been an idiot for working for him before?

"Mr. Ninja, please, please save my daughter and grandson..."

Tazuna threw himself before Teacher Kakashi, tearfully begging.

"Don't worry, Mr. Tazuna. Something this small won't trouble a ninja. Sasuke, it's time to let them see your Genjutsu."

Teacher Kakashi's calm demeanor was no act. If the enemy had been a hundred fully armed ninjas, they would have basically lost. But samurai and bandits were like newborn babies before ninjas.

"Got it."

Sasuke nodded and walked into the effective range of his Sharingan. He locked eyes with the two samurai holding Inari and his mother hostage, channeling Chakra to draw them into the vortex of Genjutsu. Without realizing it, they released Inari, and mother and son immediately began running for their lives.

"Bastards, what are you doing?! Go catch them!"

When Gato saw his two subordinates cut the ropes binding the mother and son and let them go, he hurriedly ordered his other men to chase them.

"Crying... crying is meaningless! I'll protect Mom!"

Just as they were about to be caught, Inari finally awakened something called courage. He charged alone toward the pursuing samurai, using his young body to shield his mother from their attacks.

Whoosh!

A shadow flashed past. By the time Inari came to his senses, Naruto had already scooped him into his arms and carried him to Teacher Kakashi's side. His mother was safe as well. Samurai were still samurai; their speed simply could not compare to that of ninjas.

"Inari, you're strong. Leave the rest to me."

Naruto patted Inari on the head. He admired the kid's final burst of courage. He had finally grown out of being a crybaby.

"Teacher Kakashi, he said he was going to kill us all. That means he's already interfering with the mission, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Teacher Kakashi nodded. He knew what Naruto wanted to do. Gato had brought this on himself; even he couldn't save him now.

"Then it's fine to kill him, right?"

Naruto glanced at the people behind him. Teacher Kakashi had used up quite a bit of Chakra, Zabuza was protecting Haku, Sakura had to protect Tazuna, and the only fighters left were Sasuke and himself.

"Don't look at me. Genjutsu uses more Chakra than I expected."

Sasuke waved a hand. He believed Naruto could handle these petty thieves on his own.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto formed Hand Seals with both hands and fell into thought. Haku had fallen into danger because he wasn't strong enough.

500

His own techniques were still insufficient.

1000

If he were stronger, he could protect Haku properly.

1500

And Sakura, Teacher Kakashi, Sasuke—they were all people he had to protect.

2000!

He couldn't let them suffer even the slightest harm. He had to become stronger, stronger still! Strong enough to protect everyone who had to be protected.

"Naruto, stop! What are you doing?!"

Sasuke's voice snapped Naruto awake. When he opened his eyes, he found his Shadow Clones densely packed all around him. Not only was the bridge covered, but even beneath it was filled with Shadow Clones clinging to the underside with Chakra.

"Huh? That might have been a few too many..."

"I'm telling you, we're getting crushed!"

"Hehe, then everyone, charge!"

Naruto smugly wiped the tip of his nose, drew a kunai, and raised it toward the sky, sounding the call.

"OOOOOH!"

The Shadow Clones let out an earth-shaking roar, drawing their kunai in unison as they charged Gato's hundred-man force.

"M-Monsters!"

Gato's men were naturally all capable fighters. Saying one of them could take on ten would not have been an exaggeration. But today, what they faced was not one against ten, but one against twenty. No matter how many of Naruto's Shadow Clones they killed, more swarmed over them like locusts, taking down their comrades. Faced with such a situation, the samurai finally broke. One after another, they jumped into the sea and fled.

"Do you have any last words?"

Before long, Gato was the only one left standing. Naruto walked up to him and asked indifferently.

"Don't kill me. I'll give you money. I'll give you all my property... Urgh?"

Gato fell to his knees, begging nonstop. He pulled out every valuable thing on him, hoping Naruto would spare him, but before he could finish, a kunai slit his throat.

"Oh, what strange last words."

"Did you see that, Kakashi? Even after killing so many people, this kid didn't waver in the slightest. It'd be a waste not to hand him over to me."

Zabuza was somewhat obsessed with Naruto's gaze and movements. He was practically a natural-born killer, making Zabuza want this uncut jade even more.

"What kind of teacher gets beaten by his own student? Go wash up and sleep."

Kakashi was deeply displeased with Zabuza repeatedly trying to poach his student. He waved him off like he was swatting away a fly.

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PS: A little rant—Kishimoto really forced this death for the sake of the plot. At the time, Zabuza couldn't move, so Kakashi's Lightning Blade definitely should have been aimed at Zabuza's heart. But when Haku came out to take the hit, it struck her heart instead. So here's the question: was Haku twenty centimeters shorter than Zabuza and still got her heart pierced through? Or was Kakashi aiming at Zabuza's stomach from the start? Another rant: Teacher Kakashi has specialized in ripping out hearts for twenty years. Probably an occupational habit. Rin, Obito, and so on...