"Haruno Sakura, can you stand? Come over here and protect Mr. Tazuna."
Watching the two figures fighting the enemy on even terms, Sakura stood there in a daze, her eyes gradually welling up.
Why is it like this again? We're all on the same team. Why do they always leave me behind...
"Sakura, can you do it?"
Kakashi's voice rang out again.
"I-I... I can!"
Sakura bit her lip until it bled, and the pain cleared her head. She stood up and held her kunai in front of Tazuna.
"Even if it costs me my life, I won't take a single step back!"
Had she finally found her resolve?
Kakashi was a little surprised. The girl was quite capable after all. He praised her, saying, "Keep it up."
At a small lake in the woods.
Zabuza stood on the surface of the water, forming hand seals as he performed a jutsu.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
He poured chakra into the lake. The water turned into mist and rapidly spread through the air, soon blanketing the entire area.
"Hey, weren't we supposed to not use jutsu?"
Naruto stopped at the edge of the lake.
"No one agreed to that, brat. You can just wait to die!"
Zabuza's voice drifted through the thick mist, impossible to locate. Concealing his presence, he crept toward Naruto and lunged, driving a kunai toward his neck.
"What?!"
Zabuza was horrified. Naruto had grabbed his wrist with one hand and swung his other fist into Zabuza's chest.
"Inch Punch: Heaven Breaker!"
Thud!
A sharp pain shot through his chest. Zabuza's face twisted in agony, his eyes bulging as his body curled into a ball and flew backward. He smashed through several trees before finally coming to a stop.
"Lord Zabuza!!!"
Haku instantly lost the will