The Great Sword Wielder

"Wasn't that a bit too harsh, Hinata?" Naruto asked quietly.

"I'm sick of it. He keeps trying to get me to go out with him."

Kiba Inuzuka slowly got up and moved to another seat, glaring at Naruto all the while. A few minutes later, the sound of running suddenly echoed through the classroom. The door flew open, and Sakura and Ino rushed inside.

"I'm first!" Sakura shouted, panting heavily.

"What are you talking about? I obviously got here first," Ino replied.

Sakura took the opportunity to run toward the seat beside Sasuke, but someone was already sitting there.

"Kiba Inuzuka, move. I want to sit with Sasuke."

Kiba merely frowned, wondering what was so great about Sasuke. He jumped onto the desk and began glaring at Sasuke. Suddenly, a student from the row below stood up and shoved Kiba, sending him stumbling toward Sasuke.

Bang.

Sasuke's face collided with Kiba's. Unfortunately, their lips collided too. The entire class froze.

Shikamaru woke up and watched everything unfold. Choji, who had been eating, went stiff, while Shino adjusted his glasses slightly.

"Looks like Kiba Inuzuka finally found someone," Naruto said loudly.

All the boys in the class burst out laughing. Kiba and Sasuke immediately sprang apart.

But soon afterward, Kiba was beaten up by Sasuke's female fans and ended up on the floor, bruised and battered.

After the farce, the class quieted down. The front door opened, and Iruka entered with a stack of papers.

"Good morning, everyone," Iruka said.

"From now on, each of you is a ninja of Konoha Village, though only a genin," Iruka began. "Now, you'll be divided into teams of three, each led by a jonin instructor. The teams are as follows..."

"Team One: ..." Naruto began dozing off at that point.

"Team Seven: Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, Kiba Inuzuka. Your teacher will be Kakashi Hatake," Iruka said.

Naruto was glad that he had not been placed on the same team as Sasuke.

"Team Eight: Naruto Uzumaki, Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame. Your teacher will be Kurenai Yuhi," Iruka said. Naruto and Hinata were clearly both very happy to be on the same team.

That day, Team Seven received a mission to protect Tazuna, a master bridge builder from the Land of Waves.

Suddenly, Kiba sensed movement in the bushes. He swiftly drew a kunai and threw it.

"Idiot, don't play around with kunai!" Sakura shouted.

"I'm not playing around. I thought there was someone there," Kiba replied. He walked over to inspect the bushes, only to find a small snow rabbit.

"You idiot, Kiba. You almost killed that poor little rabbit," Sakura said, causing Kakashi to fall into thought. "Hmm, a snow rabbit appearing in spring is too strange. Unless... it was used as a substitute."

"Get down!" Kakashi shouted. Everyone immediately dropped to the ground as Kakashi pulled Tazuna down with him. At the same instant, a huge, broad metal sword flew over their heads and embedded itself in a tree. A moment later, someone appeared atop the sword.

He was a tall, muscular man with pale skin, short spiky black hair, brown eyes, and very thin eyebrows. Bandages covered the lower half of his face like a mask. Beneath them, he had a rather narrow jawline and jagged teeth. His forehead protector sat crookedly on his head.

"What is this, a bunch of children playing games?" the ninja said.

"Zabuza, an S-rank rogue ninja from Hidden Mist Village," Kakashi said as he prepared to face him.

"Oh, isn't this Kakashi, the one with the Sharingan?" Zabuza said. "Just hand over that old man, and you can leave."

"Zabuza, you know I can't do that." Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing the fully developed Sharingan in his left eye.

"To face the Sharingan right from the start, I'm truly honored," Zabuza said. He drew his great sword, formed several hand signs, and said:

"Hidden Mist Technique."

The air began to grow thick. Within seconds, dense mist covered the entire area. Kakashi could barely see his own hand.

"Everyone, stay alert. Zabuza is an expert at silent killing," Kakashi said, and everyone shuddered.

"I order you to show yourself, Zabuza, and face me head-on!" Sasuke shouted.

"Are you serious?" Zabuza asked. His voice spread through the surrounding mist, concealing his position. Sasuke began to tremble.

"Relax, Sasuke. I won't let any of you die," Kakashi shouted.

Suddenly, Zabuza appeared among them. He drew his sword and swung it horizontally, ready to cut them down in a single strike. But Kakashi was faster. He pierced Zabuza, only to discover that it was a water clone. Another Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and slashed him in half, but Kakashi also turned into water.

Seeing this, Zabuza suddenly felt his throat tighten. He slowly turned his head and saw Kakashi holding a kunai, ready to end his life. Kakashi had not expected the Zabuza before him to be a clone as well. As the Zabuza in front of him dissolved into droplets, he looked around, only to be sent flying into a nearby lake by a powerful kick.

Zabuza instantly appeared in front of Kakashi.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique."

The surrounding water surged up and began spinning around Kakashi, trapping him inside a sphere of water.

Damn it, I've been caught. "Everyone, take Tazuna and run. His water clone can't get too far from his main body," Kakashi said.

"I'm a genius. Zabuza is no match for me." Sasuke charged toward the enemy. Zabuza created several water clones. Sasuke engaged them in close combat, but quickly realized that he had misjudged the situation.

Sasuke could not keep up with Zabuza's speed or strength. Zabuza kicked Sasuke into a tree with tremendous force, and the fight quickly ended.

Sasuke could not get up and could barely breathe.

"You should have taken the chance to run," Zabuza said. His clone raised its sword, ready to end it all. Sasuke trembled all over and barely managed to stand, while Tazuna had already collapsed onto the ground, his legs too weak to support him.

Seeing Sasuke in danger, Kiba charged at Zabuza. Sasuke might have been an idiot, an arrogant bastard, but he could not just stand by and watch him get killed. As Kiba closed in on Zabuza, he tried to punch him, but Zabuza effortlessly caught his wrist. With his other hand, he grabbed Kiba by the neck and beat him mercilessly. After only a few blows, he brutally hurled him to the ground.

Sasuke remained frozen in place as Zabuza walked toward him. Sasuke knew he was no match for Zabuza.

Just when all hope seemed lost, Zabuza heard...