"Clang!" A teeth-grating clash of metal rang out beside Sakura's ear.
A not particularly tall figure stepped in front of her and blocked what should have been a fatal blow. "What terrifying strength. The opponent is at least a jonin-level taijutsu expert. Just as the Golden Silkworm Gu said." Naruto looked at the kunai in his hand, now nearly twisted out of shape, and the enormous weapon that had fallen nearby.
An Executioner's Blade.
"Sakura, are you alright?" He casually flung the ruined kunai toward the place where he had sensed hostile intent, then gave Sakura, who had collapsed onto the ground in fright, a sunlit smile.
"I-I'm fine," Sakura said softly, sounding both startled and embarrassed.
Inner Sakura: "Wow, that was so cool! Mm-hmm, Naruto is actually pretty handsome too. No wonder Young Lady Hinata likes him. She really has good taste."
Anyone could tell that Hinata liked Naruto. Naruto was just too dense to notice.
"Hmph, you actually threw your weapon out. Oh, not bad. It's quite heavy, but it handles well enough. Too bad I don't know how to use a greatsword." Naruto picked up the Executioner's Blade and weighed it in his hand.
"Hey, brat over there, you're pretty strong. But could you return my weapon? Perhaps I'll consider leaving you an intact corpse." A man with no eyebrows and bandages wrapped around the upper half of his neck appeared on a tree branch not far from them.
"You are... Demon Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from the Land of Water." Kakashi recognized Zabuza the instant he saw him.
"Well, well. I didn't expect to run into Konoha Village's famed Copy Ninja, Konoha's Number One Technician Kakashi, here. Since when did someone as powerful as you start working as a