Future Hokage! Strongest Genin! Legend of the Ninja World! Unrivaled Under Heaven

"Damn! I didn't hit the right spot!" Naruto said with a fierce expression. "As expected of a Jonin, you could even dodge my Thousand Years of Death at a moment like that. You won't be so lucky next time."

Kakashi stared at Naruto in shock. Even when he fought Zabuza, it had been dangerously close, yet Naruto had actually managed to injure him.

Zabuza Momochi stared at Naruto, then said, "What's your name? Any ninja capable of making me bleed is qualified to be written into my handbook."

"Future Hokage! Strongest Genin! Legend of the Ninja World! Unrivaled Under Heaven!" Naruto announced his title in a bold voice. "I am Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha!"

"Uh..." Sakura looked at him as though he were an idiot. She had just thought Naruto was impressive, but seeing him boast so shamelessly now made her feel that he was still the same fool as before.

"Are you serious?" Even Kakashi could not stand it anymore. He muttered to himself, "I can't believe a Naruto like this managed to stab a Jonin."

Kakashi recalled the earlier battle. Zabuza Momochi had been the first to use the Hiding in Mist Technique, filling the surroundings with an incredibly dense fog. Naruto had begun preparing at that very moment.

Naruto had first hidden Tazuna, then created two Shadow Clones. One clone disguised itself as Naruto remaining on the field, while the other transformed into Tazuna. Naruto himself used the Transformation Technique to become a rock, waiting for an opportunity to attack.

Why does Naruto like using Thousand Years of Death so much... Did I teach him wrong... I should teach him something else next time...

"Naruto, you idiot," Sakura cried. "You said you were the future Hokage, so why are you also the strongest Genin? How can a Genin become Hokage? Stop saying stupid things."

"Uh... that's a little hard to parse..." Naruto froze instantly. I wasn't wrong, was I? Why does nobody seem to accept it? What exactly is the problem? That introduction just now was obviously so cool...

"Naruto Uzumaki! I'll remember that." Zabuza Momochi's eyes gleamed viciously as he tore a strip of cloth from his pants and wrapped it around the wound on his thigh to stop the bleeding.

"It's the honor of three lifetimes for you to remember my great name," Naruto said smugly.

"Which is why you need to die." Zabuza Momochi flashed forward in an instant, dark killing intent radiating from his entire body. "Weak as a monkey, yet you dared leave a wound on me." The Kubikiribōchō came down in a vertical slash at Naruto.

Even with death looming over him, Naruto still shouted, "That only means you're worse than a monkey."

Naruto was not panicking at all, because Kakashi was right beside him. He had successfully enraged Zabuza Momochi. With Kakashi present, Zabuza Momochi had actually ignored Kakashi and chosen to kill Naruto first, which already showed that he had lost his composure.

In a battle between Jonin, once someone lost their rhythm and their composure, defeat was inevitable.

Sure enough, Kakashi stepped forward and tangled with Zabuza Momochi. In taijutsu, Zabuza Momochi should have had the upper hand with the Kubikiribōchō, but Kakashi was now suppressing him.

Zabuza Momochi felt increasingly strained. The Kubikiribōchō in his hand had become unbearably heavy, as if it had suddenly become difficult to wield.

That damned brat... I have to forget about him, or I'll definitely lose...

Zabuza Momochi pulled himself together, adjusted his state of mind, and retreated while fighting, intending to lure Kakashi deeper and draw him toward the water. Zabuza glanced back at the water's surface. He had already laid a trap there, waiting only to lure Kakashi into it.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto suddenly shouted. "Don't go near the water! There's definitely a trap there!"

What?! Zabuza Momochi gritted his teeth in hatred. What was with that brat called Naruto? Why did he know there was a trap by the water?

Hearing this, Kakashi immediately broke off the fight and kept his distance from Zabuza Momochi.

"Naruto," Kakashi asked, "how did you know there was a trap by the water?"

"Zabuza kept retreating toward the water. I just thought that behavior was strange," Naruto continued. "We have to be on guard."

Kakashi was deeply gratified. Of his three students, Naruto had unexpectedly shown such outstanding potential. Though he was only a Genin, the combat experience and battle awareness he displayed were first-rate.

Naruto is actually even more outstanding than Sasuke. Before taking over Team 7, I wouldn't have even dared imagine it.

"Hmph, do you think I'm out of options just because you won't come near the water?" Zabuza Momochi stood on the water's surface, rapidly forming hand seals.

The moment Kakashi saw this, he quickly said, "Everyone, get behind the trees!"

"Water Release! Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Standing on the water gave Zabuza Momochi a major advantage when using Water Release. Kakashi was far from any water source and could not confront it head-on, so he could only avoid its edge.

In an instant, the waters surged skyward. A massive water dragon rose into the air, kicking up a ten-meter wave as it crashed toward Kakashi, flooding the forest.

Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all hid behind large trees, avoiding the raging torrent.

Watching the situation reverse in an instant, Naruto thought, No, I need to use something unexpected, or I won't be able to deal with that guy...

Zabuza Momochi finished using his Water Release ninjutsu and prepared to cast it again. Suddenly, Kakashi rushed out, leapt directly into the water, and submerged himself beneath the surface.

Kakashi surfaced and said, "What's going on? Why is this water so heavy? I can't swim at all."

"Kakashi, I'm so disappointed in you. I didn't expect you to charge in like this," Zabuza Momochi said. "Water Release, Water Prison Technique."

As the Water Prison Technique took effect, a huge sphere of water surged up around Kakashi, enveloping his entire body.

Kakashi struggled within the giant water sphere, but no matter how he struggled, he could not break free from its restraint.

"It's useless," Zabuza Momochi said. "This Water Prison has a continuous supply of my chakra. Even a Jonin can't escape it."

"Heh." Kakashi, trapped inside the giant water sphere, said, "Who said I was a Jonin? I already told you, I'm the strongest Genin!"

"What?!" Cold sweat broke out all over Zabuza Momochi. Had he been tricked again?

"Why are you capturing my student?" Kakashi flashed behind Zabuza Momochi, his tone fierce. "You can attack me, but you can't lay a hand on my student."

At that moment, white smoke burst from the Kakashi trapped inside the giant water sphere, and he transformed into Naruto.

It turned out Naruto had used the Transformation Technique to become Kakashi first, then rushed straight toward the water and jumped in, triggering the trap Zabuza Momochi had set.

Naruto had already known that Zabuza Momochi had only one trap: the Water Prison Technique. As long as he could trick Zabuza Momochi into using that technique on him, Kakashi could attack without concern.

At that moment, Zabuza Momochi wanted nothing more than to chop Naruto into pieces to vent the hatred in his heart.