Kakashi and the other four walked along the only road through the woods. A vast lake appeared ahead, a sign that they were nearing the edge of the Land of Fire's interior.
Farther ahead lay the coast, and across the sea was the Land of Waves. They did not have much farther to go.
Whoosh!
Swish!
An enormous blade swept toward all five of them.
"Look out! Everyone, get down!"
Kakashi shouted a warning to the others while he leaped high into the air.
The enormous blade flew beneath Kakashi and skimmed over the heads of the others crouching on the ground.
Clang!
It embedded itself in a large tree behind them.
A figure appeared an instant later, standing on the sword's hilt with his back to the group.
Bandages wrapped around his body and covered half his face like a mask. Standing on the hilt, he turned to look at them, his gaze as cold as a starving beast spotting its prey.
Kakashi frowned. He recognized the man.
"That guy, that sword..."
Naruto looked at the man standing on the sword and could not help growing excited.
"He looks really strong."
Kakashi suddenly spoke in a teasing tone.
"Well, well, isn't it what's-his-name? Oh, right, Zabuza Momochi, the rogue ninja from Kirigakure. That was your name, wasn't it? I never thought you'd end up wandering all the way to the Land of Fire. How's the food treating you here without any seafood?"
Sakura froze for a moment at Kakashi's jabs.
Wait, since when did that closet pervert Kakashi-sensei have such a sharp tongue?
"A rogue ninja? Does that mean a ninja who betrayed his own village?"
Hearing the term, Naruto immediately caught on.
*No, this isn't the time to think about that. He's blocking our way, so does that