His face was covered in the same style as Kakashi's, with the lower half hidden.
The exposed, browless eyes were fierce and menacing.
From high above, his tone was cold and murderous:
"Sorry, but the old man behind you is my prey. Can I have him?"
Kakashi frowned, his voice heavy:
"It's you... the rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist, the Demon Zabuza Momochi."
He was just about to give orders to Team 7—
But Naruto spoke first, naturally giving instructions:
"Sensei Kakashi, there's another chakra presence at the seven o'clock direction, in the woods."
"Stronger than Iruka-sensei, but weaker than this no-eyebrows guy. Must be his partner."
"Sensei, please take care of that one."
He paused, gripping his sword:
"Sasuke, Sakura, you two protect Tazuna."
"I'll handle this guy."
Kakashi was momentarily stunned, then lowered his raised hand:
"Understood."
Without hesitation, he vanished.
Sasuke and Sakura formed a protective formation, shielding Tazuna in the center.
Zabuza looked at Naruto with surprise and disbelief:
"You little blond brat with sensing abilities, what's your name?"
Kakashi was a well-known elite Jonin.
He was the oldest, most experienced among them.
And yet, the core of this team was... this blond brat?
Also—
Kakashi actually left so decisively.
Did he really believe this brat could hold him back?
"Me?" Naruto slowly drew his sword.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
The blade shimmered with a dark red hue.
Zabuza's voice was low, gaze shifting:
"Uzumaki, huh?"
"That's a beautiful sword you've got."
"Rare to encounter a similar type of ninja outside the Hidden Mist."
"But—"
He crouched down slowly, grabbing his sword hilt.
"What a shame. I won't get the chance to exchange sword techniques with you. I need to take care of that old man quickly."
"And you too."
As his voice fell, he kicked off the ground, drew his sword, and leapt to stand on the water's surface.
Though carrying a heavy blade, he landed lightly like a water droplet, causing only faint ripples.
He formed hand seals.
Chakra exploded out like a flood.
The already thick mist was pulled and condensed by his chakra, and in the blink of an eye, it became a suffocating white haze, so dense you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
"Hidden Mist Jutsu."
Knowing that Naruto had sensing abilities, using this vision-obscuring jutsu wasn't pointless.
The mist was full of Zabuza's chakra.
To an ordinary sensory ninja, he was everywhere.
Sakura cried out.
"I can't see anything!"
And with that shout—
Zabuza's voice came from all directions:
"Eight spots—"
"Lungs, heart, throat, spine, liver, carotid artery, subclavian vein..."
"Which death would you prefer?"
They couldn't locate the direction of his voice.
The mist rolled, and killing intent stabbed in from all sides.
Sasuke gripped his kunai tightly, sweat trickling down his forehead.
He had experienced "Purgatory" and was extremely sensitive to killing intent, feeling it more acutely than the others.
"This is the killing intent of a Jonin."
He couldn't stop the thoughts in his head.
"Damn it, why is my body so stiff?"
"Am I going to die? If I look at Naruto right now, will I die? Probably!"
"Can't move..."
He was suffocating, the air around him choking.
But at that moment—
Naruto remained unaffected, turning his head without hesitation to look in a specific direction:
"Are you an idiot?"
"It's not like I ever hid the fact that I have sensing abilities."
Zabuza's spiritual presence floated visibly before his eyes, glaringly obvious.
Naruto grabbed it.
Instantly stepped forward and slashed.
Clang—
The blades collided, sparks flying, burning away parts of the mist, revealing Zabuza's shocked expression.
He can detect me?
The interference is useless?
What kind of sensing technique is that?
With mist ineffective, it turned into close combat.
Swords clashed, back and forth.
Zabuza gritted his teeth. No wonder Kakashi left so easily—this brat's swordsmanship was unusually tricky.
He had to think of a way to finish this quickly.
His subordinate couldn't stall Kakashi for long.
In the midst of the chaotic exchange—
The dense mist didn't hinder Naruto, but instead affected Zabuza.
His movements wavered in the fog, his vision lost.
When they clashed again, he couldn't predict Naruto's posture and left a huge opening.
But...
Naruto didn't pursue. He decisively turned and thrust his blade into the mist.
With flawless accuracy!
His other hand rose.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai (White Lightning)."
Without an incantation, lightning pierced through the dense mist, striking where he aimed.
"You're seriously disappointing—pulling the same worthless trick again?" Naruto said.
"I was really looking forward to fighting a real Jonin."
A flash of sky-blue light.
The "Zabuza" that was there shattered into water with a splash.
He had used the mist to cover his tracks and swapped with a Water Clone.
The sword strike was blocked by a massive blade.
It was the real Zabuza, preparing but not yet switching tactics.
"Sensory ninjas are a real pain," Zabuza spat, expression growing more vicious.
He could only clash blades again.
His Executioner's Blade was longer, his strength greater.
But it didn't give him an advantage.
During every blade exchange, bursts of lightning would occasionally zap him—strange jutsu that required no hand signs.
They weren't strong, but they were effective.
They caused brief paralysis, ruining the advantages he built with strength and movement, even injuring him at times.
And what's with this brat's body!
So young, yet such stamina? After over twenty exchanges, even Zabuza's hands were getting numb, and despite being physically weaker, Naruto showed little sign of fatigue.
Could this be the legendary Uzumaki physique...
Zabuza's heart grew heavy as he assessed the situation.
This kid unexpectedly counters me well.
Zabuza specialized in "silent assassination," all his techniques relying on stealth and swordplay.
But with Naruto able to track him at all times, stealth was useless.
And he couldn't win just on sword skill...
All of this led to one conclusion.
Run!
If Kakashi returned, escape would be impossible!
He tried to retreat.
Naruto caught the intent instantly and reached out.
"Bakudō #1: Sai (Restrain)."
Zabuza froze, his arms forced behind his back.
Was this a genjutsu?
But he hadn't seen hand signs or eye contact.
Chakra instinctively surged to his arms to strike pressure points—the basic method to break genjutsu.
To his surprise, it worked easily. His arms were free again—
But just as he regained freedom, golden ropes flew in, binding his arms and legs.
Zabuza struggled.
In his ear, Naruto's voice echoed, chanting something.
A moment later—
Zabuza cut the ropes and regained movement, but instead of stopping the chant, he tried to flee.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen (Beak-Piercing Triple Beam)!"
Naruto had already completed the incantation.
Golden light flashed behind Zabuza, and three beams struck his hands and torso.
They carried him off and pinned him tightly against a thick tree trunk.
Zabuza's eyes widened.
What kind of jutsu is this?
A secret sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan?
"Is that all you've got?" Naruto sheathed his blade, voice calm.
"A little disappointing."
Zabuza ground his teeth, humiliated.
To be spoken of like that by this brat—
Damn it!
(End of Chapter)