You Must Be Konoha's Finest Ninja

Zabuza Momochi desperately wanted to kill Naruto Uzumaki to vent his rage, but Kakashi was watching him like a hawk from behind. Left with no choice, Zabuza could only dispel the Water Prison Technique and let Naruto slip away right under his nose.

Before making his escape, Naruto even flashed Zabuza Momochi a brilliant smile.

"Damn it!" Zabuza Momochi turned to defend himself. Though he blocked Kakashi's attack, his disadvantageous position still left him wounded.

After struggling free from Kakashi's relentless assault, Zabuza Momochi widened the distance between them again. Since they were standing on water and surrounded by it, Water Release techniques held an enormous advantage. He intended to make one final gamble with Water Release.

Zabuza Momochi formed hand seals!

Kakashi formed hand seals as well!

Zabuza Momochi was stunned. Kakashi's hand seals were exactly the same as his own. Zabuza quickly recovered and continued forming seals.

Kakashi imitated Zabuza's movements. From his hand seals to his stance and motions, the imitation was nearly flawless.

Zabuza Momochi's heart began to pound. Naruto had dealt him such a crushing blow that he found himself distracted even while facing Kakashi.

At that critical moment, Zabuza Momochi noticed a figure appear behind Kakashi. Looking closely, he realized it was Naruto.

"That brat! Why is he behind Kakashi?" Zabuza Momochi slowed his hand seals.

"Water Release! Great Waterfall Technique!" Kakashi completed his technique first. Violent waves surged across the water's surface, and the raging torrent swept toward Zabuza Momochi with overwhelming force.

It was like a master of water drowning in a flood. Zabuza Momochi, famed for his Water Release, was battered senseless by the torrent. Kakashi pressed his advantage, throwing four kunai in succession and striking Zabuza Momochi precisely in all four limbs.

At this point, Zabuza Momochi could not even dodge kunai. It seemed he had lost the ability to fight.

Suddenly, two senbon needles flew out and pierced Zabuza Momochi in the neck. He immediately fell stiffly to the ground.

Someone had struck from the shadows and killed Zabuza. Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all looked in the same direction.

A masked figure emerged from there. Judging by his height, he was about the same age as Sasuke and should have been a child as well.

"That mask... are you a Hidden Mist hunter-nin?" Kakashi asked.

"That's right." The masked boy said, "Zabuza is a rogue ninja from my village. I have waited a long time for the right opportunity and killed him at a crucial moment. Now, I will take his corpse back to the village to report my mission."

Kakashi walked over and crouched beside Zabuza's body. After inspecting it several times, he confirmed that Zabuza was indeed dead.

"All right." Kakashi said, "Zabuza really is dead."

"You can take the body." Naruto stepped forward and said, "But first, let me make a hole in him and drain some blood." Naruto acted ruthlessly, leaping straight over and driving the kunai in his hand toward Zabuza's heart.

The masked boy was shocked. He flashed to Zabuza's side and caught Naruto's kunai with his palm. The kunai pierced through the masked boy's hand.

The masked boy was highly skilled. Ignoring his wounded palm, he spun around and side-kicked Naruto, forcing him away.

The masked boy picked up Zabuza. Just as he was about to leave, Sasuke flashed behind him and kicked toward his head. Sasuke's kick knocked off his mask, revealing the gentle, handsome face of a young boy.

The situation had developed beyond all expectations. The boy truly could not understand where he had exposed a flaw or why the plan had failed.

The boy retreated several steps and took up a fighting stance, his gaze firm as he formed hand seals with one hand.

"Hahaha, surrender." Naruto was crouching beside Zabuza, with a kunai already held against his neck. "If you don't surrender, I'll stab through Zabuza's throat."

Kakashi was shocked. Was Naruto really this vicious?

"Isn't he a hunter-nin?" Sakura asked, unable to make sense of the situation. "Why did things turn out like this?"

Naruto explained, "He isn't a hunter-nin at all. He's Zabuza's companion."

"But didn't he attack and kill Zabuza?" Sakura pressed. "How could he be Zabuza's companion?"

"That only proves Zabuza never died." Naruto held his head high and puffed out his chest. "He must have used some trick to put Zabuza into a state of suspended death, planning to deceive us, take Zabuza away, nurse his injuries, and return for revenge later. What a sinister scheme."

The boy looked deeply at Zabuza and said helplessly, "May I ask you a question? How did you discover that I was not a hunter-nin?"

"I had no idea whether you were a hunter-nin." Naruto said proudly. "I only wanted to make a hole in Zabuza's corpse, but you stopped me. That alone was enough to prove that Zabuza wasn't dead, and that you weren't a hunter-nin but Zabuza's companion. Am I right?"

"So this is a Konoha ninja... Just as ruthless and merciless as the rumors said..." Fighting spirit rose in the boy's eyes. He did not seem willing to surrender.

"Think carefully. If you dare form hand seals, you'll see Zabuza's head roll the next second." Naruto grabbed Zabuza by the hair and pressed the kunai deep against his neck. "Put your hand down. If I see you make any motion to form seals, prepare to meet Zabuza again in the next life."

"Put both hands down!" Naruto continued to shout. "Who knows if you can form seals one-handed? Stop breathing too! You're not allowed to breathe hard!"

Naruto was going too far. Who in the world could form seals with one hand? Kakashi thought, I've never even seen anyone who could form seals one-handed. What made Naruto become so cautious?

The boy smiled faintly, and the fighting spirit in his eyes vanished. His voice was very gentle. "Naruto Uzumaki, that is your name, isn't it?"

"Huh?" Naruto did not understand why he was asking that.

"You must be Konoha's finest ninja." The boy said helplessly, "Opposing you was our mistake."

"Tch." Sasuke was displeased nearby, but he had nothing to say. Naruto was simply too dazzling at this moment.

"Are you willing to surrender?" Naruto asked.

"Can you spare Zabuza?" the boy asked in return. "As long as you spare Zabuza, I can surrender."

"Don't answer a question with a question. You can only choose surrender or battle." Naruto gripped the kunai tightly. "I'll decide whether Zabuza lives or dies based on your choice."

Sakura took a step back. Naruto now felt like a stranger to her. The Naruto before her was completely different from the Naruto she knew. He was terrifying now, terrifying enough to seem like someone else.