Konoha: The Female Ninja Fell Apart After the Diary Was Exposed

But at the moment, none of that mattered when it came to Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto...

How had he become so strong?

Judging by his performance in the fight just now, Naruto was at least as strong as he was.

A Genin who had graduated from the Ninja Academy less than a year ago already had the strength of an Elite Jonin...

If word got out,

the entire Shinobi World would probably be stunned.

Most importantly, he had always been called the "dead last" at the Ninja Academy!

So,

he had to find out the truth.

Sasuke Uchiha stared at Naruto Uzumaki without blinking. He wanted to know how Naruto had become so strong, too.

Maybe

he could do the same.

Then

he could take revenge on Uchiha Itachi sooner!

"Ahem... shouldn't we deal with this guy first?"

Naruto Uzumaki pointed at Zabuza.

"No, he doesn't matter."

"That's right. Compared to you, Naruto, this guy is nothing."

Kakashi and Sasuke Uchiha spoke at the same time.

At their words, Zabuza rolled his eyes resentfully.

Seriously?

Did they have to insult him, too?

What did they mean, he was nothing?

Kakashi,

you were going at it with me just now,

and now you're acting like I don't even matter?

Zabuza shot Kakashi Hatake a wounded look. What a blow to his pride.

"Well... it's actually pretty simple."

"The Nine-Tails is the only reason I have this power."

Naruto Uzumaki gave them the excuse he had prepared long ago.

"The Nine-Tails?"

Kakashi Hatake couldn't help exclaiming.

Of course he knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

But

being a Jinchūriki didn't mean someone could use a Tailed Beast's power.

If they couldn't control it, they might go berserk.

And Naruto

showed no signs of losing control.

"It's a long story."

"The Nine-Tails and I made peace. He's willing to lend me his power."

[Nine-Tails: I did not agree to this!!! (muttering under his breath)]

"The Water Release Ninjutsu I used just now? The Nine-Tails taught me that."

Naruto Uzumaki explained.

Kakashi Hatake nodded when he heard this.

If that was true, Naruto's performance today was no surprise.

After all,

he had seen the Nine-Tails' power with his own eyes years ago.

"If that's the case, that's wonderful!"

Once he knew the truth, Kakashi Hatake excitedly patted Naruto on the shoulder.

Konoha was nowhere near as strong as it used to be.

If Naruto could use the Nine-Tails' power, it would be a huge boon for Konoha!

"The Nine-Tails..."

"Is that why people call Naruto a Demon Fox?"

Sasuke Uchiha murmured.

Before,

he had known the villagers called Naruto a "Demon Fox," but he hadn't known why.

So

it was because Naruto had

the power of the Nine-Tails inside him?

At that thought,

Sasuke Uchiha looked at Naruto Uzumaki with envy and jealousy burning in his eyes.

If only he had that kind of power inside him, too!

"Hey... now that that's cleared up, shouldn't we kill this dangerous guy first?"

Sakura Haruno reminded them.

Zabuza: Thanks a lot.

"Zabuza, who hired you?"

"Are there any other Assassin Ninja besides you?"

Kakashi Hatake composed himself and questioned Zabuza.

"Hmph!"

"Don't waste your breath."

"I'll never tell you."

Zabuza gave a cold snort.

"Fair enough."

Kakashi nodded as if he agreed.

There was probably no hope of getting anything out of a ninja like Zabuza.

"In that case..."

Kakashi's eyes turned cold, and blue arcs of electricity instantly wrapped around his right hand.

Chidori!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Just as Kakashi was about to strike a killing blow, three Senbon flew in from the side and pierced Zabuza's neck with perfect accuracy.

Thud!

Zabuza's body hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Dead?"

Kakashi stepped forward and found that Zabuza was no longer breathing.

"Who's there?"

Sasuke Uchiha immediately readied himself for a fight.

"Relax. I'm Haku, a hunter-nin from Kirigakure."

"We've been tracking Zabuza for a long time, waiting for a chance to kill him."

The masked ninja spoke gently.

"A hunter-nin?"

"An Anbu operative who specializes in hunting down the village's Missing-nin."

Kakashi gave a brief explanation.

Sasuke Uchiha's expression darkened at Kakashi's explanation.

This guy looked about his age, yet he was already carrying out missions to hunt down Missing-nin like Zabuza?

Damn it!

"Thank you for your help today."

"But... please allow me to take Zabuza's body."

"After all, it holds far too many secrets."

Haku bowed to the group as he spoke.

"Go ahead."

Kakashi Hatake nodded at Haku's request.

It was an accepted rule among the Ninja Villages.

"Then... I'll be going."

With that,

Haku moved forward to take Zabuza away.

But just then,

something whistled through the air,

and a Kunai struck the ground precisely in Haku's path.

"Heh... a hunter-nin from Kirigakure?"

"What a coincidence."

A sultry voice rang out.

Then

a seductive woman emerged from the Dense Woods.

She wore a blue strapless dress that left her shoulders bare, and her long reddish-brown hair reached her waist.

She had a full figure, soft pink lips, and skin as pale and tender as water.

"Allow me to introduce myself. Mei Terumi, an Elite Ninja of Kirigakure."

Mei Terumi covered her mouth with a playful laugh, then walked up to Haku.