Zabuza, I'm Here to Ask You to Be My Dog

Naruto's fingers brushed over the cold hilt as his gaze swept across the bloodstains left on the ground. An unnoticed smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"There's no use chasing after him." Naruto withdrew his gaze, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the weather. "The Hidden Mist's Silent Killing Technique is best at escaping under cover of mist. Chasing into it would just make us live targets."

"Besides, he has that little brat with him. That guy looked like he cared a lot about Zabuza!"

"Facing a Bloodline Limit user willing to fight you to the death isn't worth it. There's a saying: don't chase a cornered enemy!"

Kakashi put away his Sharingan, his brow beneath the mask furrowing slightly.

He understood the reasoning behind Naruto's words all too well, but what unsettled him even more was that this twelve-year-old brat had shown not the slightest panic in the face of the infamous Demon of the Ninja World. He had even seemed relaxed enough to mock him.

This was not the mindset a newly graduated Genin should possess. Kakashi even felt that Naruto was more seasoned than an ordinary Jonin!

"Alright, let's head back first." Kakashi suppressed his doubts and spoke gravely. "Zabuza is badly injured. He won't come again anytime soon. We need to use this time to rest and prepare for the next attack."

The group turned and headed back toward the village. The rising tide soon washed away their footprints on the beach, leaving only the lingering scent of blood in the air to remind them of the thrilling battle to the death that had just taken place.

Naruto walked at the very back, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the sheath of the Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade. Schemes swirled in his eyes that no one else could understand.

"Zabuza Momochi, huh? I think highly of him. Looks like I'll be busy tonight. I hope you don't disappoint me!"

Zabuza Momochi, the most untamed lone wolf among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, had perfected the art of assassination. Other than Haku, he had never trusted anyone in his life.

Naruto felt that he would make the best blade to hold in his hand.

The night was as dark as spilled ink, and all around was silent.

The sea breeze of the Land of Waves carried salty, damp air, sweeping fine white mist over the windowsills of the decrepit wooden house.

The breathing inside was soft. Sasuke and Sakura had long since fallen asleep. Kakashi's breathing was steady, yet there was still a trace of vigilance that never faded.

Naruto silently lifted his blanket and stepped barefoot onto the cold floor without making the slightest sound.

He casually picked up the Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade leaning in the corner. His figure flashed like a shadow blending into the night as he vaulted out the window and vanished into the thick white mist.

Almost the very second he disappeared, Kakashi slowly opened his eyes. Looking toward the empty window, he let out a silent sigh.

"This kid..." Kakashi tapped his forehead protector with his finger, his masked voice carrying a mixture of helplessness and indescribable wariness. "His grudge runs that deep? He really went after him alone."

He did not get up to pursue him.

He had seen the daytime battle clearly—Naruto had not used his full strength at all. As long as Naruto's life was not in danger, Kakashi would not interfere with whatever he wanted to do.

Naruto's Wind Release hand signs from the battle earlier, his utterly ruthless swordsmanship, and his bottomless chakra reserves— even Zabuza at full strength might not have gained the upper hand against him, much less now, when he was seriously injured.

He just had not expected that Naruto had never intended to kill Zabuza.

The abandoned temple by the shore had long been weathered into ruin by the sea wind.

A half-broken Buddha statue stood in the corner, covered in cobwebs. Rotten wood gave off a damp, moldy stench that mixed with an overpowering smell of blood, filling the cramped space.

The bonfire crackled, and its flickering light stretched two shadows long across the ground.

"Ahhh... Damn it, that hurts! Those bastards hit hard!"

Zabuza leaned against the icy wall, his chest heaving violently. Every breath brought tearing pain.

The clothes on half his body had been charred black by the Great Fireball. Blood still seeped from his wounds, but his hand continued to grip the Executioner's Blade tightly, a weapon as tall as a man.

The blade rested against the ground, its rusted edge gleaming with a cold light in the firelight.

"Mr. Zabuza, don't move yet."

Haku knelt on one knee before him, using slender fingers to hold a strip of disinfecting cloth as he carefully cleaned Zabuza's wounds. Worry filled his delicate features. "Kakashi's Water Release and that Uchiha Clan brat's Fire Release both injured your internal organs. They have to be treated quickly, or they'll leave lasting damage."

Zabuza's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. His gaze, steeped in killing intent year after year, was now like an ice-tempered blade as it snapped toward the rotted wooden door of the temple.

He had spent more than a decade crawling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. His ability to sense killing intent was sharper than that of the finest hounds in the Hidden Mist.

No matter how well that presence was hidden, no matter how little chakra its owner leaked, he could still smell that familiar youthful aura of defiance and ruthlessness.

"So you still came. I wonder whether it's that brat, the famous Copy Ninja Kakashi, or both of you?"

At that moment, Naruto pushed open the temple door and casually said, "Good evening, my dear Mr. Zabuza. How are you feeling?"

Zabuza's voice was as hoarse as sanded stone. The hand gripping the Executioner's Blade suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white. "You really are a stubborn little ghost. What? The Copy Ninja Kakashi didn't come with you?"

The ruined temple door was gently pushed open.

White mist drifted in through the crack, wrapping around the tall figure of a young boy.

Naruto stood in the doorway with the moonlight at his back, the Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade in his hand glowing coldly. There was not a trace of excess chakra around him. He looked like a ghost that had stepped out of the night.

He walked into the ruined temple, his gaze passing over Zabuza against the wall before settling on Haku, who was half-kneeling on the ground and had instantly clenched his senbon. A faintly amused smile tugged at Naruto's lips.

"Teacher Kakashi has to protect Tazuna. He doesn't have time to deal with such a trivial matter, so I came alone. What, am I not enough to satisfy you?"

Naruto stopped on the other side of the bonfire, three meters away from Zabuza—just beyond the Executioner's Blade's reach, yet close enough to close the distance in an instant.

The distance was like the first bargaining chip he had thrown out, precisely landing on the psychological boundary between them.

"Mist rose tonight. Without the Sharingan, do you think you can beat me?" Zabuza let out a low sneer. Even badly wounded, the murderous aura honed in mountains of corpses and seas of blood could still make ordinary ninja shiver. "Brat, I was careless during the day. Do you really think that just because I'm badly injured, you can do whatever you want with me?"

Haku had already risen to his feet and stood in front of Zabuza. The senbon in his hand gleamed coldly. There was no expression on his delicate face, only absolute vigilance.

If Naruto made a single move, the senbon in his hand would shoot toward every vital point on Naruto's body within 0.1 seconds.

But Naruto did not even glance at him. His eyes remained fixed on Zabuza, and his voice was calm, yet it struck Zabuza's heart like a heavy hammer.

"Mr. Zabuza, don't worry too much. I'm not here to kill you."

"Zabuza, I'm here to ask you to be my dog."

"Are you willing?"

With those words, the air in the entire ruined temple instantly froze.

Even the crackling of the bonfire seemed to stop. Only the sea wind outside howled as it swept the white mist along.

Zabuza froze for a moment. Then, as though he had heard the funniest joke of his life, he erupted into wild laughter. His chest wound split open again, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, yet the towering fury inside him could not be contained.

Who was he?

He was the Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi!

He was the man who had dared to assassinate the Mizukage alone and stir up rebellion in the Hidden Mist! He was an assassin among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who made the entire Ninja World tremble at the mere mention of his name!

And now, a twelve-year-old Konoha brat was telling him to become his dog right to his face?!

"Brat! You're asking to die!"

Zabuza suddenly tightened his grip on the Executioner's Blade and tried to rise, only for the agonizing pain to make his entire body shudder. He crashed heavily back against the wall, another mouthful of bloody foam spilling from his throat.

"Haku! Move! Kill this brat who doesn't know his place!"

His roar shook dust loose from the ruined temple's ceiling.

Without the slightest hesitation, Haku's body turned into an afterimage. The senbon in his hand cut through the air as they shot instantly toward twelve fatal points across Naruto's body!