"Naruto, this isn't a fight you can get involved in. Run farther away!"
Kakashi was frantic. The trio had grown stronger quickly, but compared with the infamous rogue ninja Zabuza, they were still hopelessly outmatched.
"Got it, boss. Steal a hit from behind and run—that's what being a ninja is all about!" Naruto nodded, tensing the muscles in his arm and thrusting his kunai forward with all his might!
But Zabuza's body instantly transformed into river water. His real body appeared from the thick mist behind Naruto, and his great sword cleaved straight toward the two of them, stirring up a fierce gust of wind!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Zabuza instantly felt the temperature behind him begin to rise. In the moment he was distracted, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to carry Naruto away, causing Zabuza's slash to miss, then sidestepped the fireball.
The rising heat dispersed some of the Chakra in the air, and the Mist Technique began to waver.
Although Sasuke had to protect Tazuna in the distance, he could still provide long-range support with Fire Style Jutsu.
"Boss, don't run toward the water," Kakashi said, glancing at Naruto. A flash of brilliance crossed Naruto's eyes as he leaped out of Kakashi's arms again and joined Sasuke in protecting Tazuna.
Sakura's real body also jumped out and tossed her ninja tool pouch to Naruto. The trio once again formed a swastika-shaped formation.
"Don't go toward the water?" Kakashi looked at Naruto.
"The water is his home turf. If he manages to pin you down there, he can send a Water Clone to kill Tazuna directly," Naruto said with a grin.
Kakashi's heart tightened.
So the trio had been holding Zabuza back just now, preventing him from driving them toward the water?
According to the original story, after disrupting their formation and catching Kakashi off guard, Zabuza kicked him into the water. The clone waiting there immediately rushed forward and used the Water Prison Technique to restrain Kakashi.
This was a battle of wits between ninjas. Zabuza might not necessarily beat Kakashi in a one-on-one fight, but since his objective was to kill Tazuna, once Kakashi was restrained, dealing with Tazuna would be effortless.
Unfortunately, he had been hit by the trio's counterattack, which was as troublesome as a stick of filth. After all that maneuvering, he had ended up right back where he started.
"It's all right, big brother," Naruto waved at Zabuza. "You specialize in assassination. Group activities are clearly a little too much for you!"
The veins on the back of Zabuza's hand began to bulge and throb, while a huge "anger" mark appeared beside his temple.
"Brat!!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto in surprise. He was still provoking Zabuza at a time like this?
But then again, Naruto had remained completely at ease throughout the entire fight. Despite the intensity of the battle, he had shown no sign of panic...
So was momentum the key?
Sasuke felt that he had learned something. From now on, he would fight Itachi like this.
"Still have time to watch other people?" Kakashi seized another opening and charged straight at Zabuza. Zabuza instinctively swung his sword, and the two became locked in combat.
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu."
"What?"
"Boom!" A hand thrust up from beneath Zabuza. Zabuza leaped up like a thunderbolt, instantly releasing his great sword as he began rapidly forming hand seals with both hands.
Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Boar—Rooster...
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Kakashi copied the technique and easily canceled out Zabuza's attack. At that moment, Zabuza's advantage as an assassination expert was compressed once again.
He could not avoid beginning to waver.
What should he do?
No, don't panic! This guy could only copy techniques. He did not even have any of his own!
Just then, the whistle that drove Zabuza mad rang out again.
"Big brother, are you really this useless? Why don't you go home? Go home!"
"You're more suited to being a pile of dog shit."
Zabuza's silence was deafening...
He was completely enraged. Even if he could not kill Tazuna today, he would definitely kill this brat!
Zabuza adjusted his direction and pushed off hard with his foot, but Kakashi quickly blocked his path.
He caught sight of Naruto's eyes, and the latter had actually begun to show a trace of pity!
Zabuza charged toward the riverbank again, rapidly forming hand seals with both hands. On closer inspection, it was clearly Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique, capable of completely destroying this place.
Kakashi was also forming hand seals, and he was even faster than Zabuza!
Seeing this, Naruto thought, Things are back on track now. The question is, how should I deal with Haku afterward? Should I just attack directly?
Could that end the dungeon directly? But there's still Tree climbing training afterward. I have to collect this experience pack.
Sakura seemed to see what Naruto was thinking and whispered into his ear, "Take out Haku, then focus on dealing with Gato."
Naruto immediately understood. The storyline had already changed, and Haku and Zabuza might not be the greatest threats anymore.
Later, he would simply have Haku and Zabuza wrapped up together like dumplings.
With that thought, he once again entered his mental space and began his journey to access the Nine-Tails.
Meanwhile.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Kakashi was faster than Zabuza, causing the river's raging floodwaters to surge toward Zabuza with a thunderous roar. Zabuza completely began to question his life. As he screamed, "Impossible!" he was spun around and around by the whirlpool until he was utterly dazed.
"Pff! Pff! Pff!" Several kunai pinned the nearly unconscious Zabuza to a tree. Kakashi was already prepared to finish him off.
At that very moment, Haku arrived as promised.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Several needles stabbed viciously into Zabuza's neck. He fell straight to the ground, utterly lifeless.
Kakashi was startled. He looked toward the masked youth. The dark-green combat uniform outlined his figure, silver patterns glinting across it. He was cold and ethereal, forming a stark contrast with the killing needles in his hand.
"Thank you so much. You gave me the chance to kill Zabuza."
Haku's tone was polite as he expressed his thanks, but it also carried a detached coldness that kept strangers at a distance.
"A Pursuit Force member from the Mist?" Kakashi looked at the group and briefly explained the origins and duties of the Pursuit Force.
"I see," Naruto said, nodding seriously as he extended a hand. "All right, please show me your Pursuit Force credentials."
Kakashi: "?"
Sasuke: "?"
Tazuna: "?"
Sakura: "..."
"What? Was there something wrong with what I said?" Naruto looked around. "Just because he's wearing a mask, he's a member of the Pursuit Force? Then I'm wearing a Konoha forehead protector. Does that make me the Fifth Hokage?"
Kakashi and the others were stunned, but they also felt that Naruto's words made a fair amount of sense.
At that moment, Sakura spoke up as well. "I agree. There was an incident in the village before where a swindler impersonated an elite jonin to defraud people of their money. The reason people fell for it was that they didn't verify his identity."
Of course, Sakura had made that up, but it did sound plausible that a fraud case might have happened in the village.
"Preventing fraud is everyone's responsibility," Naruto said with a nod. "Also, our personal files are in the village. If you don't believe us, you can come back to the village with us."
Sakura was speechless. It was just an act—did he really have to be this thorough?!
Haku fell silent. He truly had no proof to produce.
Even a genuine Pursuit Force member probably would not carry an identification card around, right?!
At that moment, Naruto suddenly became dazed.
Haku noticed Naruto's distraction and instantly developed the idea of snatching Zabuza and escaping.
The main problem was that Zabuza was rather large and difficult to carry. And what if he injured Zabuza's handsome body?
What a dilemma.
As Haku was thinking, Naruto returned to normal.
"What were we talking about just now... Never mind, who cares?"
Naruto's eyes had already turned red, and his pupils transformed into slender, almond-shaped slits.
He said flatly to Sakura:
"Just fight him directly. My cheat is online."
Before you continue