Chapter 27: Zabuza and Haku (Part 1)

After Sasuke underwent Kakashi's training, several days passed. Team 7 stood on the bridge under construction, surveying their surroundings. The villagers of the Land of Waves, led by Tazuna, were diligently working on the project.

"The bridge is 80% complete. It should be finished in a few more days, but..."

"Zabuza will attack around this time, right?"

Sasuke took over Kakashi's words, his tone devoid of nervousness and instead filled with eagerness. He wanted to see how much he had improved.

"Good. Let's go all out! This time, we won't let him escape!"

Naruto, standing alone on the surface of the water, raised his hands and shouted. After several days of training, he could now perfectly control his chakra to manipulate the flow of the chakra beneath his feet.

"Naruto, I know you're proud, but can you come up here and talk?"

Kakashi's expression became more resigned as he approached the edge of the bridge and lowered his head to shout at Naruto.

"What are you talking about, Kakashi-sensei? I'm seriously practicing walking on water. Look, no matter how I step, I won't sink. So, it means that out of the four of us, there's someone who can't walk on water, right? Oh well, does that make me the tail-end of the group?"

Naruto didn't realize how punchable his expression was at the moment. He ran a few laps on the water's surface, even gliding in a skating pose, skillfully provoking Sasuke's emotions.

"I'll kill you!!"

Sasuke's temples bulged with frustration at Naruto's taunting. He had spent quite some time studying genjutsu with Kakashi, and if it weren't for Kakashi holding him back, Sasuke would have used the newly acquired genjutsu on Naruto.

"Enough, don't make Sasuke angry!"

Sakura fiercely knocked Naruto on the head, grabbing his collar and dragging him along the bridge pillar to climb up to the main bridge.

"Focusing your strength with chakra, you're great, Sakura."

Kakashi nodded approvingly. He hadn't even taught Sakura, yet she had already mastered this technique. Considering her age, she deserved the title of "excellent."

"It's nothing, hehe."

Blushing, Sakura stuck her tongue out in embarrassment and looked at Sasuke. However, she saw Sasuke staring fixedly at Naruto, his anticipation turning to disappointment once again.

"...Be careful, he's here!"

At that moment, a thin mist swept across the bridge, enshrouding everyone. Kakashi immediately became alert, assuming a defensive posture with Team 7.

"You guys go. He's targeting me. Don't get involved."

Tazuna quickly set down his tools and instructed the villagers to take shelter.

"What about you, Tazuna?"

"I can't leave. If I do, it will weaken the fighting force of the ninja."

"Don't die."

Although the villagers were worried about Tazuna, they prioritized their own lives. Soon, all the construction workers fled, leaving only Tazuna behind.

"Kakashi, long time no see. Seeing you makes my old wounds ache."

Zabuza appeared before Kakashi, treading on the thin mist. It seemed he had no intention of approaching, and Haku calmly followed behind him, like a faithful dog waiting for its master's command.

"So, you people from there still won't let go of Mr. Tazuna?"

"Don't joke around. My goal has changed ever since I appeared here. Let that old man die. My target is the little brat behind you."

Zabuza unsheathed the large executioner's blade from his back, pointing its blade at the genin behind Kakashi.

"...?"

Kakashi turned his head to take a look, and Team 7 exchanged puzzled glances, unsure who Zabuza was referring to.

"The shortest one."

Zabuza gave a hint.

"Hey! I'll kill you, old man!"

Now everyone knew who he was referring to. Faced with the synchronized gazes directed at him, Naruto's heart surged with nameless anger.

"Naruto? I'm really curious about what attracted you to him. Weren't you supposed to be working for Gato? How about giving up on the mission?"

Kakashi became even more vigilant. If Zabuza had noticed something, it was undoubtedly the Nine-Tails inside Naruto. However, Kakashi couldn't understand how Zabuza knew. As a rogue ninja on the run, Zabuza's intelligence network shouldn't be detailed enough to infiltrate the hidden village of Konoha.

"Gato? He's just a rich bastard. He doesn't even know what a shinobi is. He goes around with his hired mercenaries, causing trouble. I alone can handle all of them."

"The reason I worked for him was only because I saw his wealth and his secret hideout, which I could use to hide from the Mist's Anbu's pursuit. As long as I want to, I can take his head anytime."

"Since that's the case, we have no reason to be enemies."

"Didn't you listen to what I said? I want that little brat behind you."

Impatiently, Zabuza knocked the ground with his executioner's blade, creating cracks in the bridge. Tazuna watched with great distress.

"I can ask for the reason, can't I?"

"I want to take him as my disciple, teach him assassination techniques, and make him the number one assassin in the ninja world."

"Hey, hey, that's not a joke."

"Do I look like I'm joking? I see the future in the eyes of this brat. My assassination techniques can kill even high-level shinobi, but he's different. He has the potential to learn all my skills and even assassinate Anbu.'"

"No, no, he's just a tail-end. He can't do that."

Kakashi was taken aback. Was this a fortunate turn of events? Indeed, Naruto harbored the power that even an "Anbu" couldn't contend with, but it wasn't about assassination!

"That's right! Who wants to learn assassination techniques from you? I want everyone to acknowledge me. I don't want to hide in the shadows like you."

"I still have Hinata. I want to live with her under the sunlight and let everyone see her smiling happily. I don't want secretive meetings!"

"Um, Naruto, actually, I was hoping you'd say something about not betraying me or something."

While Kakashi was relieved that Naruto had a strong sense of justice, it seemed unrelated to him as a teacher.

"...Yes, I still have Kakashi-sensei."

After a few seconds of sinking into thought, Naruto suddenly realized.

"You're hurting him even more."

"Hmph, since I'm here, I'm not here to negotiate. I'll kill you and forcibly take away this brat as a comrade."

Zabuza didn't waste any more words. He formed hand seals, and five water clones sprang from the sea onto the bridge, rushing towards Kakashi.

"Kakashi, leave this to me. I'm pissed off."

Sasuke stopped Kakashi, and since Zabuza mentioned taking Naruto away, a feeling of anger had been growing uncontrollably within him. It was becoming so intense that even his Sharingan couldn't suppress it, as if it wanted to activate out of fury.

"I understand."

Kakashi nodded, and Sasuke transformed into a shadow, disappearing. Sasuke moved swiftly among the five Zabuza clones, and by the time he returned to his original position, the chests of the Zabuza clones had all gained a gash, turning into liquid that scattered on the bridge.

"Oh? Growing to this extent in just one week. Truly deserving of a brat with a bloodline limit. Haku, I'll leave him to you."

Zabuza was amazed by Sasuke's growth. However, Sasuke wasn't his opponent. After giving instructions to Haku, Zabuza gripped his executioner's blade and dashed toward Kakashi.

"Hmm."

Haku lightly nodded, and his body spun rapidly like a spinning top. He moved quickly towards Sasuke.

"Zabuza, do you have to interfere with our mission? Didn't Naruto already say he doesn't want to go with you?"

Kakashi helplessly blocked Zabuza's attacks.

"That brat is just a part of it. I haven't forgotten the day you made a fool out of me. It's either I kill you, or you kill me. It's that simple."

"Figured me out, huh? How about I invite you for a drink as an apology?"

"Clang!"

On the other side, the clash of metal resounded as Haku's Thousand Needles clashed with Sasuke's shuriken. Intense sparks flew.

"Young Uchiha, not using your Sharingan?"

"No need against you."

"I've underestimated you. Although I don't want to kill you..."

Haku neither confirmed nor denied, holding the senbon needles in one hand while confronting Sasuke with his shuriken. His other hand swiftly formed hand seals in the air.

"One-handed hand seals!"

Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly. It wasn't surprising for a high-level ninja to perform one-handed hand seals, but this guy, who was only a little older than him, could do it too. It meant that his talent was not inferior to his own.

"Naruto, why don't you go help Sasuke!"

Sakura anxiously watched the exchange of sword and blade between Sasuke and Haku, but she couldn't leave to assist because she had to protect Tazuna. Annoyingly, Naruto was still standing there without moving.

"If I go help, it'll be annoying. Sakura, trust Sasuke a little more. He's a worthy opponent in my eyes."

Naruto shook his head. Sasuke had an absolute advantage in the current situation. Most likely, he could end the battle by himself.

"You two!"

"A Thousand Needles of Death!"

By now, Haku had completed his hand seals. The liquid formed by Zabuza's water clones floated in the air and transformed into countless water needles, piercing toward Sasuke's body.

"Interesting."

A smile crept up on Sasuke's lips as he recalled his training. He gathered chakra under his feet and disappeared instantly before Haku's eyes. The water needles missed their target.

"Disappeared, above?"

Haku was slightly surprised. He didn't expect Sasuke's speed to be so fast. Suddenly, he realized he was above him and looked up, but Sasuke had already descended, landing in front of him with a swift kick to his face, sending Haku flying several meters away.

"You don't want to kill me? Well, I really want to kill you."

Sasuke brushed off the water stains on his clothes and, in the first round of their battle, emerged as the clear victor.

"Sasuke is so cool! Kyaaah!"

Sakura had turned into a fangirl, her eyes filled with hearts as she admired Sasuke's proud appearance.

"Tsk, stealing the spotlight. Well, I'll go too!"