Wave Mission and Zabuza

Kakashi, ,answers, "Stronger than me... I couldn't see him or hit him even once. I really think he's stronger than me."

Hiruzen, though shocked, nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, Kakashi. I trust you completely. You have more experience, and I'm confident you can teach him the teamwork and skills he still needs to learn."

Kakashi nodded and left the office. In the days that followed, the team continued with their D-rank missions, but Naruto and Ino were notably absent, often sending shadow clones in their place. They spent their time together, training and improving their skills. Naruto taught Ino chakra control and basic jutsus, helping her become more capable of protecting herself.

Meanwhile, Sasuke and Kakashi handled the mundane missions, both growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of challenge. The turning point came when the Tazuna mission was assigned. 

During the briefing, Sasuke slammed his hand on the table, voicing his frustration. "Listen, Lord Third. I don't want to be disrespectful, but these missions aren't helping me improve my skills. I want a higher-ranked mission."

Naruto, sitting nearby with a bored expression, glanced away, while Ino looked at him and then at Kakashi, who sighed and nodded. Hiruzen considered Sasuke's request and then said, "Alright, Sasuke Uchiha. I'll give you a C-rank mission. You will escort a bridge builder to his homeland, the Land of Waves."

Sasuke's eyes lit up. "A serious mission at last," he muttered.

Kakashi accepted the mission scroll, and soon Tazuna entered the room. The elderly bridge builder eyed the team skeptically. "Are these kids really my escort?" he asked, prompting an angry reaction from Sasuke, who felt insulted. Ino was spared his derision, much to Sasuke's further irritation.

Determined to prove his worth, Sasuke trained intensively in the days leading up to the mission. When the team finally set out, Naruto and Ino were alert, having trained together to sense chakra. As they walked through a puddle, Naruto and Ino immediately noticed something was off.

When the Demon Brothers attacked, Naruto nodded to Ino, who quickly made hand signs. "Wind Style: Wind Bullets!" she called out. The wind bullets shot towards the brothers, hitting one and slamming him into a tree. The other demon brother lunged at Ino, but Naruto appeared in front of him, grabbing his arm and breaking it and punched him so hard in the face that he was sent flying towards a tree, breaking it apart, and then slamming into a second tree. Everyone was shocked, except for Ino, who knew how strong Naruto actually was. Kakashi, having already felt Naruto's power during their training, wasn't as surprised but still impressed.

Tazuna, relieved and impressed, thought, "Good thing I didn't make fun of him or his girlfriend. Otherwise, I'd be in that position."

After the fight, they interrogated the Demon Brothers, who divulged everything about their mission. With the immediate threat neutralized, they continued their journey until they encountered Zabuza.

When Zabuza arrived, he flung his massive sword towards the group. "Duck! Everyone, duck!" Kakashi shouted.

Naruto, however, ran towards the sword and caught it mid-air with ease, then slammed it into the ground. Standing on the handle, he smirked, "Well, well, if it isn't Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist. Nice sword you've got there."

Zabuza's eyes narrowed as he appraised Naruto. "Well, well, kid. I've never seen a Genin pick up my sword that easily. Now give it back to me."

Naruto grinned. "If you'd asked nicely, I might have considered it. But now..." He vanished from Zabuza's sight and reappeared in front of him, delivering a powerful punch that sent Zabuza crashing into another tree. "What?" Zabuza gasped, shocked at Naruto's strength.

Naruto picked up the sword like it was nothing and threw it back to Zabuza. "I like to fight my opponents fair and square. Pick up your sword and come at me. Show me what a demon can actually do."

Zabuza laughed, a dark and ominous sound. "I like you, kid. Too bad you have to die here." He picked up his sword and made hand signs. "Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

The area was enveloped in a thick mist, obscuring everything from view. Zabuza's voice echoed through the mist. "You think you can take me on, brat? Let's see how you handle this!"

Naruto stood calm, his senses heightened. When Zabuza appeared in front of him, swinging his sword to slice Naruto in half, Naruto caught the blade effortlessly. Zabuza's eyes widened in surprise. "Impossible!"

Naruto smirked, his grip on the sword unyielding. "You thought a little mist would help you? I've been trained to sense chakra better than anyone." With a swift movement, he disarmed Zabuza, sending the sword flying.

Naruto, clearly unimpressed with the mist, slammed his foot into the ground and said, "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Zabuza was shocked to see Naruto perform the jutsu without making any hand signs. The powerful wind technique blew away the mist, revealing Naruto standing confidently. 

"Your attacks are quite weak. Try again," Naruto taunted as he pushed Zabuza back with his sword. 

Zabuza, astonished, thought to himself, "This kid... he's dangerous." Then he noticed steam rising from Naruto's hand, and the bone was already healed. "What?" Zabuza muttered in disbelief. "This kid is really dangerous."

Determined, Zabuza made hand signs and called out, "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

Naruto mirrored his movements, declaring, "Water Style: Twin Water Dragon Jutsu!" Two-headed water dragons formed, with one colliding with Zabuza's water dragon and the other crashing into Zabuza, sending him flying once again.

Kakashi watched the battle unfold, impressed but not entirely shocked. "If Naruto can beat me without being seen, he can certainly take on Zabuza with no difficulty," he thought.

Zabuza struggled to get up and attempt another attack on Naruto, but before he could, needles pierced his neck. Haku appeared, saying, "I am an ally from Kirigakure. I'm here to retrieve Zabuza."

Everyone believed Haku's story, except for Naruto, who couldn't care less about Zabuza's fate. To Naruto, Zabuza posed no significant threat anymore. Haku thanked them and vanished with Zabuza.

As the group resumed their journey, Kakashi felt relieved he wasn't bedridden this time. Sasuke, on the other hand, was seething with anger. Once again, Naruto had demonstrated his superiority, leaving Sasuke feeling inferior.

Sasuke approached Kakashi with determination in his eyes. "Kakashi-sensei, I want you to train me. I want to learn jutsus like Naruto."

Kakashi nodded, "Alright, Sasuke. I'll teach you a couple of new jutsus when we reach our destination."

Sasuke smirked, eager for the opportunity. "Finally, I can learn more jutsus."

They arrived at Tazuna's house, and despite the familiar interactions, Naruto remained indifferent. He leaned against a wall and dozed off, not caring about the unfolding events.

Tazuna, speaking to his daughter, Tsunami, said, "That kid, Naruto, took good care of me. He saved my life twice."

Tsunami glanced at Naruto, her eyes filled with gratitude. "We owe him so much, Father."

As the night fell, the team settled in. Sasuke, still fuming, stewed over how to surpass Naruto. Ino, meanwhile, was quietly proud of Naruto's display of strength and skill.