You Can Rent Out Your Unused Ninja Tools, Can't You?

The wind howled through the river valley, and visibility was poor.

Hearing Naruto, Zabuza spread his hands and teased him.

"Sorry, I'm from the Land of Water. I'm not part of this godforsaken Land of Waves..."

At that, Naruto got even angrier!

He pointed at Zabuza's nose and cursed.

"So you're helping that bastard Gato commit evil! How is that any different from being a bandit? And you're supposed to be an elite Jonin, just like Kakashi-sensei!"

"But you're not fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Kakashi-sensei!..."

His whole body trembled, and his voice turned exceptionally sharp.

But Zabuza just laughed when he heard that.

"Hahahaha... That's the funniest joke I've ever heard."

"Kid, that's easy for you to say."

"I'm committing evil, am I? Then tell me, what's a rogue ninja supposed to do when he can't get missions or earn a commission?"

"What am I supposed to eat? What am I supposed to drink?..."

"When sheep eat grass, the grass dies, but the sheep are innocent."

"When wolves eat sheep, the sheep die, and the wolves are unforgivable sinners?"

"Hahahaha... Konoha really is so self-righteous. You're actually asking someone who's constantly teetering on the brink of starvation why he doesn't drink meat porridge..."

He changed tack and looked at Kakashi.

"Kakashi! Instead of having your Genin accuse me, why don't you explain to him what Konoha Anbu and Root have been doing behind the scenes all these years to grow stronger?"

"I don't get it. You get to live high on the hog, and that's justice."

"But we rogue ninja, struggling to survive on the razor's edge between life and death, are evil?..."

At that, Kakashi's expression shifted again and again.

He had, after all, been in Root. He knew that what Zabuza had said wasn't made up...

But Naruto stepped forward, gritting his teeth in outrage.

"You're lying!"

"How could an elite Jonin like you have no way to make a living?"

"Why not take on some escort missions?"

"And if all else fails, you can rent out your unused ninja tools after work, can't you? How could you possibly go hungry?..."

"Hahahahaha..."

Hearing that, Zabuza threw his head back and laughed.

"You're not wrong, but no one hires rogue ninja like us for escort missions."

"Or rather, you Five Great Shinobi Villages have monopolized that line of work, leaving us with only the evil deeds you're talking about now."

"As for renting out ninja tools?"

"Give me a break. I really don't know how someone in the same class as Sasuke could be so different from him..."

"Move!..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zabuza gave a cold order.

At once, Haku, wearing a mask behind him, darted forward like a gust of wind and made straight for Tazuna, who stood behind the rest of Team 7!

Tazuna's legs gave way at the sight. He stumbled and nearly fell flat on his backside.

"Damn it!..."

Sakura stood beside Tazuna, shielding him.

Seeing Haku rush toward him, Naruto realized the ninja was around his age and charged forward without hesitation!

"Watch out!..."

Haku moved like a gust of wind, astonishingly fast. Kakashi felt a sudden sense of unease.

Seeing Naruto charge into that gust of wind, Kakashi paused for just an instant before following close behind.

But just then, a sharp whoosh cut through the air. In the blink of an eye, Kubikiribōchō was already held half a meter in front of Kakashi!

"Let's leave the youngsters to deal with the youngsters."

"But if you want to fight, I should be your opponent, shouldn't I?..."

Zabuza held his great sword before his chest and spoke in a cold voice.

Could Kakashi get past Zabuza and go straight to help Naruto?

He could!

But Sakura, behind him, definitely wouldn't be able to stop the ferocious Zabuza.

If he didn't help Naruto, Naruto probably wouldn't stand a chance against that boy who had just moved like a gust of wind.

But if he did, Tazuna would surely be cut down mercilessly by Zabuza!

Neither advancing nor retreating was an option. Only now did Kakashi realize this was a deliberate trap!

The only way out of the predicament was to defeat Zabuza in front of him with everything he had, as quickly as possible.

With that thought, a murderous glint entered Kakashi's eyes. He asked coldly once more.

"Zabuza, since we're both elite Jonin and it wasn't easy for either of us to reach this point, I'll ask you one last time. Are you really set on fighting to the death?..."

"Hahahaha... You're the ones who want to fight me, Zabuza, to the death!"

"You're stealing our livelihood and acting so righteous about it!"

"Come on! Enough talk! If you want to fight, then fight!..."

As if he'd been sick of Kakashi for a long time, Zabuza swung the great sword in his hand. In a flash, he charged toward Kakashi!

Kakashi saw him coming and reached to his waist with his right hand.

The next moment, a Kunai appeared in his palm as if from thin air, its blade glinting coldly, razor-sharp.

Clang!

Kubikiribōchō collided with the Kunai. The two men darted back and forth, and in an instant, they were locked in fierce combat!

"Damn it!..."

"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

As Naruto charged, he changed his hand seals. In an instant, several solid-looking Shadow Clones appeared!

Haku wore a mask, so her expression was hidden, but she remained perfectly calm.

She merely raised a delicate hand, then gave her wrist a slight flick.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The next instant, several Ice Needles shot toward Naruto, streaking through the air like a sudden downpour!

Thud, thud, thud!

A series of loud pops rang out, followed by clouds of white smoke as the clones vanished.

"Ugh... Damn it... This guy's so strong..."

Dozens of clones burst apart, and Naruto slumped to the ground, suddenly unable to fight back.

One Ice Needle was stuck in each of his legs.

The needles were as long as a forearm and looked terrifying!

"Don't worry. For Sasuke's sake, I won't kill you."

"But you need to behave and stop interfering with our business..."

Beneath her mask, Haku spoke slowly, her voice utterly emotionless—a stark contrast to her earlier, girlish manner.

"Hm?... You're a girl?..."

Hearing the ninja speak for the first time, Naruto looked a little surprised.

In his eyes, girls his age should be like his goddess, Sakura.

He hadn't expected this one to make him feel so overwhelmed.

Naruto had no time to think about it.

As soon as Haku finished speaking, she flicked her wrist.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several more Ice Needles shot toward the vital points across Naruto's thighs!

It all happened in the space of a moment.

But just as the Ice Needles pierced Naruto's legs—

The next instant—

A bang rang out!

The figure slumped on the ground suddenly burst apart and vanished without a trace!

"T-That was a Shadow Clone too!..."

Beneath her mask, Haku's eyes widened in shock.

But she was only stunned for a moment before she quickly collected herself. Then she scanned the area, instantly on guard.

But just then, a pair of hands suddenly clamped tightly around her ankles.

At the same time, Naruto's voice came from beneath her.

"Hehehe... Didn't see that coming, did you?..."

At that moment, he felt just like Sasuke.

The thought gave him a strange little thrill of pride.