His face was dressed like Kakashi, covering the lower half.
The exposed part, with its eyebrow-less and fierce eyes, was terrifying.
Looking down, he spoke with a murderous tone: "Sorry, but the old man behind you is my prey. Can you hand him over?"
Kakashi frowned, his voice heavy: "It's you, Momochi Zabuza, the rogue ninja from Mist Village."
He was about to give orders to Team 7.
Naruto spoke up faster, naturally arranging things: "Hatake-sensei, at seven o'clock, there's another chakra presence in the woods."
"Stronger than Iruka-sensei but weaker than this eyebrow-less guy. It should be his companion."
"Please, Hatake-sensei, go deal with that person."
He paused, gripping his sword: "Sasuke, Sakura, protect Tazuna."
"I'll deal with this guy."Kakashi was taken aback, his raised hand falling: "Understood."
Without hesitation, he vanished in an instant.
Sasuke and Sakura formed a formation, guarding Tazuna in the center.
Zabuza was surprised, incredulously looking at Naruto: "That perceptive blonde kid, what's your name?"
Hatake Kakashi was a renowned elite Jōnin.
He was also the oldest and most experienced among them.
Yet, the backbone of this team was this blonde kid?
Moreover...
Kakashi dared to leave so decisively.
Did he really think this kid could hold him off?
"Me?" Naruto slowly drew his sword, "Uzumaki Naruto."
The dark red blade was striking.
Zabuza's voice was low, his gaze shifting: "Uzumaki, huh?"
"Your sword is beautiful."
"Meeting a similar type of ninja outside Mist Village... is rare."
"But—"
He crouched down slowly, gripping his sword.
"Unfortunately, I can't exchange sword techniques with you. I need to deal with that old man quickly."
"And you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he leapt up, drawing his sword, landing on the water's surface.
Carrying such a heavy sword, he landed lightly like a drop of water, creating only a faint ripple.
He formed hand signs.
Chakra surged out like a flood.
The already dense fog, pulled by his chakra, quickly gathered, covering the sky, so thick that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.
"Ninjutsu: Hiding in Mist Technique."
Knowing that "Uzumaki Naruto" had sensory abilities, using this sight-obscuring jutsu wasn't pointless.
The mist was filled with Zabuza's chakra.
To ordinary sensory ninjas, he was everywhere.
Sakura gasped.
"I can't see anything!"
With that sound.
Zabuza's voice came from all directions into their ears.
"Eight places—"
"Lungs, heart, throat, spine, liver, carotid artery, subclavian vein..."
"Which way do you want to die?"
Unable to discern the direction of the voice.
As the mist swirled, killing intent came from all directions.
Sasuke gripped his kunai tightly, sweat rolling down his forehead.
Having experienced "purgatory," he was extremely sensitive to killing intent, the first to sense it, feeling it the most.
"This... is a Jōnin's killing intent."
He couldn't stop his thoughts.
"Damn it, why is my body so stiff!"
"Will I die? If I look at Naruto now, will I die? I will, won't I!"
"I can't move..."
The air was suffocating, and so was he.
At that moment—
Naruto was unaffected, turning his head without hesitation, staring in one direction: "Are you stupid?"
"It seems... I didn't hide my sensory ability."
Zabuza's presence was glaringly obvious to him.
He grabbed it.
Instantly moving forward, he swung his sword.
Clang—
The blades clashed, sparks flying, dissipating some of the mist, revealing Zabuza's surprised expression.
He could sense him?
Interference useless?
What kind of sensing technique was that!
Hiding in Mist ineffective, close combat ensued.
Their swords clashed, back and forth.
Zabuza gritted his teeth. No wonder Kakashi left confidently, this kid's swordsmanship was unusually tricky.
He needed to find a way to end this quickly.
His subordinate couldn't hold off Kakashi for long.
In the chaotic exchange—
The thick mist, instead of hindering Naruto, affected Zabuza.
His figure swayed in the mist, losing sight.
When he got close again, he couldn't predict Naruto's posture, exposing a huge flaw.
But…
Naruto did not pursue, but immediately turned decisively, swinging his blade into the rolling white mist.
He raised his other hand.
"Hadō #4. Byakurai (白雷, Pale Lightning)."
Abandoning the incantation, lightning pierced through the thick fog, aimed at the previous position.
"You are truly a disappointment, playing the same useless trick twice?" Naruto said, "I was really looking forward to a real fight with a Jonin."
A flash of sky-blue light passed by.
The original "Zabuza" shattered, turning into a stream of water splashing onto the ground.
It was a "Water Clone" substitution, hidden in the moment of obscured vision by the thick mist.
The stabbing blade was intercepted by a large sword.
It was the real Zabuza, who was preparing but had not yet had time to change tactics.
"Sensory ninja, truly troublesome." Zabuza spat, his eyes becoming more ferocious.
He could only swing his sword to counterattack.
The Kubikiribōchō was longer, and his strength was greater.
But these advantages did not allow him to gain the upper hand.
In the midst of the sword clashes, lightning occasionally surged, a peculiar technique that required no hand seals.
The damage was minimal, but the effect was significant.
It caused him to be paralyzed momentarily, losing all the advantages he had accumulated through physical strength, and he even got injured.
Moreover, what's with this kid's body!
So small, yet his stamina is so great? After more than twenty exchanges, Zabuza's hands were a bit numb, but the obviously physically weaker Naruto showed no signs of fatigue.
Could it be the legendary constitution of the Uzumaki clan...
Zabuza's heart grew heavy as he contemplated the situation.
This kid unexpectedly restrained him well.
Zabuza excelled in "assassination," with most of his skills relying on "silent killing" and "sword techniques."
But now Naruto could track him at all times, rendering "silent killing" useless.
And his sword techniques could not achieve an overwhelming victory...
All these factors led to one conclusion in his mind.
Escape!
Once Kakashi returns, he won't be able to get away!
He attempted to retreat.
This intention was immediately noticed by Naruto, who reached out his hand.
"Bakudō # 1. Sai (塞, Restrain)."
Zabuza's movements stiffened, his hands uncontrollably going behind his back.
Forced control of the body... is this a Genjutsu?
But he didn't look at Naruto's hands or eyes.
Chakra instinctively surged towards his arms, hitting acupuncture points, the most basic method to break a "Genjutsu."
To his surprise, he broke free easily. But just as his hands regained freedom, another golden rope came and bound his hands and feet.
Zabuza struggled.
Naruto's voice sounded in his ear, chanting some incantation.
The next moment.
Zabuza cut the golden rope, regaining his freedom, but instead of interrupting the chanting, he attempted to leave instantly.
"Bakudō #30. Shitotsu Sansen (嘴突三閃, Beak-Piercing Triple Beam)!"
Naruto had already released the spell.
Golden light flickered behind Zabuza, three beams flew over, striking his hands and torso.
The beams carried him, pinning him firmly to a large tree nearby.
Zabuza's eyes widened.
What kind of Jutsu is this?
A secret sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan?
"Is this all you have?" Naruto sheathed his sword, his tone calm, "It's a bit disappointing."
Zabuza gritted his teeth, feeling humiliated.
Being look down by a kid...
Damn it.
~~~
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