Nine-Tails Chakra, A Sudden Shift in the Situation

"Naruto..."

Seeing Naruto covered in blood, Sakura couldn't help but cry out, her eyes brimming with both anger and sorrow.

Although she usually found Naruto a bit annoying, that didn't affect the bonds she shared with him, nor how she viewed him as a comrade.

Seeing him on the verge of death now, how could she remain indifferent?

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tazuna. I'm going to go with Sasuke to avenge Naruto..."

Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Sakura said with a pale face and a trembling, resolute voice.

She began to form hand seals, ready to rush into the fray.

On the other side, Kakashi paused at the sound, his expression changing drastically.

"This is the cruel reality of the Ninja World... Those two brats must be experiencing the death of a comrade for the first time, which is why they're so agitated. But Kakashi, you seem quite nervous yourself... That useless brat is a subordinate you cherish, isn't he?"

Zabuza took the opportunity to mock and distract him, using psychological warfare to find an opening for a decisive strike.

However, Kakashi was in no mood for verbal sparring; he immediately pulled out a summoning scroll, prepared to end the fight quickly.

At the same time, "Puff..."

Just as Sakura was about to move, Naruto's body suddenly erupted in bursts of white smoke.

The Ice Blades and Ice Arrows embedded in his body were violently repelled, and his wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Simultaneously, scarlet Chakra burst forth from within Naruto, swirling around his body.

It shattered all the surrounding ice, Ice Blades, and Ice Arrows, turning them into water vapor.

"No, how is this possible?!"

Haku, who was closest, widened his eyes, staring at the erupting Naruto in disbelief.

Under such an attack, how could he still unleash such terrifying and repulsive Chakra?

"This is..."

Sasuke's pupils, fueled by his surging Dojutsu Power, suddenly constricted, two black Tomoe firmly fixed within his scarlet irises.

"That hurt like hell, you idiot Sasuke... You didn't even recognize that I was the real one and dragged my Shadow Clone away! You almost got me killed..."

Naruto opened his eyes again and shouted indignantly, completely ignoring the changes in the Chakra on his body.

The Nine-Tails, huh... As expected, how could a guy like Naruto die here? I was really blinded by the situation; I actually forgot about the Nine-Tails cheat code in my shock...

Sasuke instantly sobered up, realizing this as the corners of his mouth curled upward. It was good that he hadn't died; a Ninja World without Naruto would be far too boring.

"Naruto, you're okay..."

"Naruto..."

Hearing the commotion, Sakura and Kakashi both exclaimed in pleasant surprise.

The situation had reversed!

"Idiot, who told you to secretly swap places with your Shadow Clone..."

Sasuke leaped to Naruto's side and scolded him with a laugh, his gaze burning as he stared at Haku.

From here on out, they held the advantage!

"Your eyes... they're different now. Did your Kekkei Genkai grow because someone you care about was hurt? It really is an enviable bond... However, it seems we have no choice but to engage in an even more brutal life-or-death struggle!"

Haku stared at Sasuke's eyes with a complex expression, causing the angry Naruto to immediately look at Sasuke like a curious child.

"You talk too much..."

Sakura retreated to protect Tazuna.

"Naruto, use Wind Style now..."

Sasuke snorted coldly and urged him immediately, preparing to strike first.

With the temporary burst of Nine-Tails Chakra, Naruto's Wind Style should be usable and perform beyond its limits!

"Huh? Again??"

Naruto, who was staring intently at Sasuke's eyes, saw his face fall and cried out weakly, but seeing Sasuke already beginning to form Hand Seals, he could only follow suit.

Forget it, since Sasuke could trust him a second time!

He had no choice but to give it his all...

Sakura also hurried back to protect Tazuna.

"The same move as before..."

Haku saw this and realized it instantly, likewise forming Hand Seals to prepare a ninjutsu.

Almost at the same time:

"Summoning: Earth Style: Tracking Fang Jutsu..."

Teacher Kakashi roared as he activated his ninjutsu, and the Eight Tracking Dogs instantly emerged from the ground, biting onto Zabuza who was hidden in the mist.

"Next is my own original ultimate technique!

Sorry, Zabuza.

I must finish you off as quickly as possible...

Lightning Style: Chidori..."

Teacher Kakashi said with cold eyes, his hands moving rapidly through Hand Seals as lightning flickered on his palms.

Although Naruto was fine, he had to check as soon as possible whether the Nine-Tails seal had any issues.

If the Nine-Tails broke through the seal, it would be a huge problem...

Haku, who was forming Hand Seals to deal with Sasuke and Naruto, saw the commotion over there and his expression changed.

He immediately abandoned his Hand Seals and rushed toward Zabuza at top speed...

It was also at this moment:

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique..."

Having finished his Hand Seals, Sasuke opened his mouth and shouted, a fire dragon roaring forth once again.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough..."

The next instant, Naruto's shout rang out simultaneously.

This time there were no accidents, and a fierce Gale Wind erupted in an instant...

The wind fueled the fire, and the fire bolstered the wind.

The violent gale instantly expanded the fire dragon into a Hurricane Fire Stream, filling the entire bridge and roaring like thunder...

Teacher Kakashi, who was preparing to unleash his Chidori, frowned at the sight, channeled Chakra into his feet, and leaped into the air to avoid the brunt of the attack.

"Ice Style: Ice Prison: Dome of Ice..."

Haku flew to shield Zabuza, unleashing his power in an emergency.

In the blink of an eye:

A thick wall of ice formed rapidly, blocking the path in front of them.

The next instant:

The scorching, violent gale and flames slammed into the ice wall with a boom.

Thanks to the high-intensity Wind Style fueled by Naruto's Tailed Beast Chakra, the ice wall only lasted half a second under the cutting of the gale and the searing heat of the flames before it melted into water vapor...

The Eight Tracking Dogs sensed the danger and vanished immediately, and the residual force of the ninjutsu slammed heavily into the two of them...

"Th-this is a bit too exaggerated!"

Looking at the suddenly clear field of vision, Sakura cried out in shock as she watched Haku and Zabuza engulfed in flames.

"I didn't know my coordination with Sasuke could be this powerful...

No wonder Teacher Kakashi said this was the most suitable ninjutsu for me."

Naruto was also full of surprise, finding it hard to believe for a moment.

"You two coordinated very well, Sasuke, Naruto..."

Teacher Kakashi jumped to their side to praise them, his eyes fixed firmly ahead as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow.

So this is Chidori!!

Sasuke glanced at the Lightning Style on Teacher Kakashi's palm, his eyes flickering as an idea took hold.

"Whew..."

As a sea breeze blew past, the figures of Haku and Zabuza appeared.

"Haku, well done...

You truly are the tool I recognize!"

Zabuza supported the severely burned Haku and spoke coldly, his bloodthirsty pupils locked onto Kakashi.

Just moments ago, Haku had exhausted all his Chakra to shield him.

It left him with no injuries other than a dog bite...

However, in their current state, completing the mission was impossible.

"Kakashi, we will meet again..."

Glaring fiercely at Kakashi and the others, Zabuza spat out his threat and prepared to jump into the sea to retreat for the time being.

"Zabuza, you're still getting beaten to such a pathetic state...

And that brat who broke my arm, he's probably dying by now, right!

What useless trash, I knew I couldn't rely on stray dogs like you..."

As Sasuke and the others changed expressions and prepared to pursue, a voice suddenly rang out at the bridgehead.

Everyone turned to look, only to see Gato approaching with his men...

"What kind of damn ninjas, you were just dancing in the palm of my hand...

Now that you've both been crippled, I won't have to pay a single cent after I kill you all.

Go, kill them..."

Gato shouted with arrogant disdain, and his numerous thugs drew their blades with murderous glares.