Choose: Naruto Dies, or Sasuke Dies?

To complete this Master-Disciple Mission, he had to find that crazy woman Tsunade. She was the only person in the entire Ninja World who knew how to carve the Yin Seal's Runes.

After all, she had developed the technique.

"I'll go back to sleep." Aogetsu Hyuga walked into his tent.

The little tools of Team 7 had already gone to their appointment and were hard at work completing his Side Mission for him.

As their teacher, the least he could do was go back to sleep.

Work hard and earn your teacher a Lottery Pack.

At the border of the Land of Waves.

An enormous bridge stretched across the sea. Its far end was nowhere in sight, yet only two-thirds of it had been completed!

The vast morning mist shrouded the bridge, lending it an oppressive air.

On the bridge...

"Will that rogue Ninja from Kirigakure, Turtle Man Momomo Slash, really show up?" Naruto Uzumaki tightened his Forehead Protector and stared gravely into the vast expanse of pale morning mist ahead.

He had spent the past few days training intensely with his clones. Only last night had Teacher Cangyue, for once, told them to stop thinking about anything and just eat and sleep.

So he was full of energy now.

"Naruto, you idiot. How many times have I told you? The enemy is called Demon Zabuza Momochi!" Sakura Haruno sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead. Naruto's stupidity had left her speechless.

"Idiot. Think about it. The enemy's target is Tazuna, and as his guards, we're in the way." Sasuke Uchiha stood with his hands in his pockets and shot Naruto a cold glance. "That means he'll deal with us first."

Even so, something felt strange.

Wasn't the person who had chatted with Teacher Cangyue that day—the one who looked like a girl but was a boy—the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai Ninja from before?

Why had an enemy been smiling and chatting with Teacher Cangyue?

It was strange!

Was Tazuna really their target?

Something about this doesn't add up...

"Tch. Quit showing off. Of course I know that!" Naruto Uzumaki curled his lip. "Pretty bold talk from third place."

He had been the first in Team 7 to complete the training Cangyue had assigned.

Sakura Haruno had finished second, while Sasuke had come in last!

"You're asking for it!" Sasuke Uchiha's face darkened as he glared at Naruto Uzumaki. He had intended to finish Cangyue's training first and earn the right to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams.

But he had never imagined that idiot Naruto would finish first!

And that ugly girl Sakura Haruno had finished right behind him. He, a genius of the Uchiha Clan, had been the last person in Team 7 to complete the training!

Ever since last night, that idiot Naruto Uzumaki had been mocking Sasuke for coming third. It was driving him mad.

Naruto Uzumaki lifted his chin proudly and grinned. "Third place? I came first."

Yes!

Finally...

It's finally my turn to shine!

Just look at Sasuke's angry face. Ha!

This feels amazing!

"Naruto, keep picking on Sasuke and I'll hit you!" A vein throbbed on Sakura Haruno's forehead. She rolled up her sleeve and punched Naruto Uzumaki.

Bang! Naruto Uzumaki hit the ground. He staggered back to his feet, stars swimming before his eyes, and clutched the painfully swollen lump on his head. "Sakura, you already hit me!"

That hurt!

Sakura's fist was like steel!

Damn you, Teacher Cangyue! Why did you teach Sakura Chakra Enhanced Strength?

Sakura Haruno raised her wrist, checked her watch, and said in exasperation, "Teacher Cangyue's probably still sleeping in."

It was already six o'clock!

Sasuke Uchiha raised his chin and gave Sakura a cool glance with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan. "Good. Let Cangyue be late. I'll take care of every enemy!"

After all his hard training, he could feel how much stronger he had become. He had even learned the powerful Chidori.

He had gained the power to take revenge!

With the power I have now, I could even fight Uchiha Itachi, couldn't I?

"That's right! Let's beat all the enemies and give Teacher Cangyue a shock!" Naruto Uzumaki punched his palm and flashed a spirited grin. "Sasuke, if you're scared, go back and sleep in with Teacher Cangyue."

"Hmph. Just don't hold me back, idiot dead last," Sasuke Uchiha said with a snort.

"Right back at you, third place," Naruto Uzumaki shot back.

Sasuke Uchiha gritted his teeth and was about to reply.

Hum! Bloodthirsty killing intent swept across the bridge. The pale mist thickened until Team 7 could barely see their own hands.

"Watch out!" Sakura Haruno's face turned grim as she drew a Kunai and kept watch.

"Mist Body Flicker." Zabuza Momochi sped through the fog and appeared behind the three members of Team 7. Kunai in hand, he slashed viciously at Sasuke's neck.

In an instant—

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Sasuke Uchiha spun around, flashed through Hand Seals, and breathed out a stream of scorching flame. It formed a Fireball as it flew.

Zabuza Momochi sprang backward, dodging the searing Fireball. He stared coldly at Sasuke Uchiha. "You knew where I was? Was it those Sharingan eyes?"

"Cangyue told us you liked little tricks. If the white mist gets thicker when you appear, you'll attack from behind!" Sasuke Uchiha fixed Zabuza Momochi with a cold stare, his Two-Tomoe Sharingan active.

Cangyue had told Team 7 last night how to fight the Demon of the Mist. If the fog thickened when Zabuza appeared, he was sure to launch a sneak attack.

Teacher Cangyue really is incredible. He even predicted where the enemy would strike!

"Aogetsu Hyuga is an idiot. He actually sent you worthless Genin to face me."

Zabuza Momochi gave a cold, mocking laugh. "That stupid kid really thinks five days of hard work would make you worthless brats a match for me. What a joke."

"I've killed plenty of weak Genin like you. Aogetsu Hyuga sent you here to die!"

When he had woken up three days ago and heard about Aogetsu Hyuga's little game, he had nearly laughed himself sick. The man had sent Team 7—three worthless Genin with no strength—to fight a member of the Seven Blade Swordsmen.

It was sheer stupidity!

Aogetsu Hyuga was strong, certainly, but as a teacher he was naive and foolish. He actually believed three Genin could train for five days and then stand against a Jonin like him.

Ridiculous!

He would kill every member of Team 7 first, then find a way to deal with Aogetsu Hyuga!

"Your name's Zabuza Momochi, right? Look down on Teacher Cangyue again, and I'll kill you!" Naruto Uzumaki glared furiously at Zabuza Momochi in the distance. He complained often, but he respected Cangyue.

Everyone in the village saw him as a monster and treated him like a worthless dead last. Aogetsu Hyuga, though, had not given up on him. He had gone out of his way to help him grow stronger.

That was why Naruto liked Aogetsu Hyuga so much!

"Aogetsu Hyuga never taught you?" Zabuza Momochi said coldly. "A Ninja is a tool for completing missions. Feelings only get in the way."

Grief or anger, it made no difference.

Such emotions were useless. A Ninja's only worth lay in completing the mission.

"Naruto, ignore him! Just focus on beating him!" Kunai in hand, Sakura Haruno sprang forward and drove her fair-skinned fist toward Zabuza.

One punch. I just need to land one punch!

"Fool!" Zabuza Momochi leaped up and kicked Sakura Haruno away.

"Cough, cough..." Sakura Haruno pushed herself up after landing, a thin line of bright red blood running from her mouth. She stared at Zabuza Momochi in disbelief.

He's so fast!

And his blows are heavy, too.

Teacher Cangyue beat a monster like this so easily?

That's absurd!

"Sakura! Damn it! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto Uzumaki crossed two fingers. A great cloud of white smoke burst around him, and dozens of Shadow Clones charged out of it. They swarmed Zabuza and attacked.

"You bastard! How dare you hurt Sakura!"

"You mocked Teacher Cangyue! I'm going to send you flying!"

"Five days of training was useless? Teacher Cangyue made Team 7 much stronger in five days! I finished first!"

Dozens of Shadow Clones chattered as they converged on Zabuza Momochi from all sides.

"Shadow Clones? An annoying technique, but you're too weak!" Zabuza Momochi gripped his Kunai, cutting down clones one by one and sweeping whole groups away with his kicks.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Zabuza Momochi was fast, and his blows were heavy. Naruto Uzumaki's Shadow Clones vanished one after another. Naruto had grown stronger, but he still could not fight a Jonin hand to hand.

Zabuza Momochi had no intention of using Ninjutsu yet. He needed to save his Chakra for Cangyue. Cangyue had beaten him last time, but with Haku's help, he should be able to defeat him for good!

The Demon of the Mist... He's so strong!

Every member of Team 7 looked grim. Seeing Teacher Cangyue defeat Zabuza Momochi so easily had given them the wrong impression.

They had thought Zabuza Momochi was weak for a Jonin!

Now that they were actually fighting him, they realized how powerful he was. Forget beating him easily—they could not even get close to him head-on!

Sasuke Uchiha watched Zabuza Momochi for a moment through his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, then glanced at Naruto Uzumaki beside him. "Naruto, listen up, idiot. I'm only saying this once."

Naruto Uzumaki looked at Sasuke in confusion.

Keeping a wary eye on Zabuza, Sasuke Uchiha whispered his plan into Naruto Uzumaki's ear. "Keep using Shadow Clones. Then..."

He hated working with others, especially Naruto Uzumaki. But he could not defeat Zabuza alone, so he had to swallow his pride and cooperate.

Naruto Uzumaki punched his palm and grinned. "All right! Let's do it!"

"Does Sakura know?" Naruto Uzumaki asked.

"That ugly girl's smarter than you. She'll spot her chance." Sasuke Uchiha glanced at Sakura Haruno, who was watching Zabuza warily from a distance.

He had not told Sakura Haruno the plan. There was no time.

But even without being told, she would understand!

"You bastard! Quit showing off! Once I beat Momomo Slash, you're next!" A vein throbbed on Naruto Uzumaki's forehead as he glared at Sasuke through gritted teeth.

"Enough talk. Go!" Sasuke Uchiha said coldly.

Demon of the Mist, you're a fool!

You're fighting Team 7, and you still dare to save your Chakra for Aogetsu Hyuga. I'll make good use of that!

He had noticed that Zabuza Momochi had fought entirely with Taijutsu so far. Apparently, he did not think defeating Team 7 was worth spending Chakra on Ninjutsu.

Underestimating them would cost him!

"Don't order me around, third place! I finished first!" Naruto Uzumaki crossed two fingers to form a seal, and a vast cloud of pale smoke billowed around him.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

Nearly a hundred of Naruto Uzumaki's Shadow Clones rushed out of the pale smoke. They surged forward, splitting into teams of three.

"With the Disaster Ninja gone, you three worthless Genin can try as hard as you like. You'll never beat me!" Zabuza Momochi paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes as nearly a hundred Shadow Clones closed in.

The blond brat's name is Naruto Uzumaki, if I remember right?

Naruto Uzumaki had just used dozens of Shadow Clones, yet he could immediately summon nearly a hundred more. The amount of Chakra he had was absurd.

Many Jonin could not field nearly a hundred Shadow Clones in battle. The technique consumed far too much Chakra.

That brat Naruto's Chakra reserves might already surpass a Jonin's!

But too bad for him. More worthless clones won't change a thing!