Some common words to cut in a novel might be overly descriptive adverbs like'very', 'extremely', 'incredibly' as they can often be removed without losing much meaning. For example, instead of 'He was very tired', you could just say 'He was tired'. Also, redundant prepositions can be cut. For instance, 'up' in 'pick up' might not be necessary in some cases.
Zabuza could be portrayed as more of a mentor figure. Instead of just being a ruthless assassin, he could be shown guiding Naruto in some aspects of combat or strategy. Maybe he survived his encounter with Kakashi and had a change of heart, and now he imparts his knowledge to Naruto who is now a sensei himself.
Zabuza could be quite cold to Naruto at the beginning. He's not exactly the warm - and - fuzzy type. But when Naruto shows his skills and tells his story of being banished unjustly, Zabuza might empathize on some level. He might not show it openly, but he could start to protect Naruto in his own way, perhaps because he sees a bit of his younger self in Naruto who was also wronged by the ninja system.
Common words to cut might be overly descriptive adjectives that don't add much to the story, like 'very' or 'extremely'. Also, redundant adverbs. For example, if you say 'He ran quickly' and the context already implies speed, 'quickly' could be cut.
He could learn Zabuza's signature water - style jutsu, like the Hidden Mist Technique. This would give Naruto an advantage in terms of creating diversions and hiding his movements during battles.
On a more practical level, Naruto's skills might be misused. Instead of using his power to protect Konoha and the people he cares about, he's using it for Zabuza's self - centered motives. This could also make him a target for other ninja who oppose Zabuza. So not only is he in danger from the people he used to call friends, but also from new enemies. And if he ever tries to break free from Zabuza, he might face severe retaliation from Zabuza himself, which could be life - threatening.
The 29 words could vary greatly depending on the style and content of the novel. If it's a mystery novel, perhaps words that give away too much too soon in the form of excessive foreshadowing. In a romance novel, overly flowery language that detracts from the emotional core of the relationship. In a thriller, words that slow down the pacing, like long-winded internal monologues of the characters that don't really build tension. It really requires a close reading of the text to determine exactly which 29 words should be cut.