Author's Note:
I'd really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on this chapter in the comments—whether you liked it, disliked it, or noticed any strengths or weaknesses.
Your feedback helps me understand what works and what needs improvement, and it also creates a space for readers to discuss the chapter and its events together.
Feel free to be honest and speak your mind. This story grows with you and because of you.
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Back at the Art Store — Konohagakure, as the first round of the battle between Zabuza and Kakashi came to an end, with Kakashi trapped inside the Water Prison, silence spread throughout the store.
The anger felt upon seeing Zabuza standing atop Naruto's headband— a symbol representing all Leaf shinobi— made words lose their meaning in that moment.
The fight between Kakashi and Zabuza in the manga was not merely a clash between ninjas. On a deeper level, it was a confrontation between two villages, each represented by a single figure.
Konohagakure was represented by Kakashi.
Kirigakure was represented by Zabuza… Although it was stated in the manga that Zabuza was a missing-nin from the Village of the Mist, he had not removed his headband, nor had he even slashed it across the middle.
This meant that he still considered himself a shinobi of Kiri and harbored a clear intent to return.
At least, that was the conclusion Hiruzen had reached so far.
And not just him— most of Konoha's shinobi arrived at the same conclusion the moment they saw Zabuza's headband intact and properly worn.
Even though the battle held political significance for Konoha's higher-ups, for ordinary shinobi, Academy students, and civilians alike, it was nothing short of a breathtaking visual spectacle of combat prowess.
So far, the battle contained everything— taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu.
Skill, quick thinking, and the ability to face death head-on.
The readers' eyes were glued to the pages, pulsing with fear and admiration at every movement, every water clone, and every astonishing strategy that revealed the true power of the jonin ninjas.
…
"Get up, Naruto… don't disappoint me."
Watching the scene where Naruto was kicked away by Zabuza's water clone, Jiraiya felt a knot of tension in his chest.
He feared that the overwhelming pressure from a jonin would cause Naruto to forget the promise he had once made to himself when he injured his own hand. Still, Jiraiya held onto hope that this time would be different.
"Hm, Kakashi is still present… mentally, at least."
Jiraiya nodded when, in the next scene, Kakashi warned Sasuke and the others to flee— or at least move out of Zabuza's effective range of control over his clone.
Zabuza's real body could not move, as he was maintaining the Water Prison on Kakashi.
…
[—
'This is a jonin, a real ninja. At this rate… I'm really… really… going to die!!' Naruto wanted to run away in that moment.
"Ouch," but when he placed his hand on the ground to stand up, he felt pain— and remembered the promise he had made before.
("I swear to this pain in my left hand!!")
("I'm not going to need to be saved ever again!! I'm not going to get afraid and try to run away!!")
He then remembered Sasuke's earlier mockery. ("I won't lose to Sasuke!!")
Naruto looked at his headband. Zabuza was standing on it.
("Sensei, can I borrow the Leaf headband?")
("Oh, this? No, no. This is the symbol that you've graduated and have grown up.")
Naruto recalled his conversation with Iruka-sensei when he was given the headband and declared a graduate. The happiness he had felt at that moment resurfaced.
How could he run away and leave it behind now? Wouldn't that mean abandoning his identity as a shinobi?
("You guys are all punks who don't deserve to be ninjas.")
("You will be risking your lives on missions.")
("You all pass.") He also remembered their struggles with Kakashi before he finally acknowledged them as shinobi.
("I'm not the troublemaking kid you still think I am!!")
("I'll surpass the Hokage!! And then have the whole village acknowledge my existence!!")
Naruto stood up. 'That's right… I became a ninja, and I decided I wouldn't run away anymore.'
'I won't run!!' Gathering his courage, Naruto charged toward Zabuza's water clone.
—]
That scene was reflected in the eyes of Jiraiya and the readers alike.
Those who had previously believed Naruto would flee again swallowed their mocking words.
As for Jiraiya, a radiant smile spread across his face.
'The moment you choose to run in the face of adversity, you've already lost something far greater than a battle…'
'Running away means stepping down from being a shinobi forever,' Jiraiya thought.
His smile grew even brighter when he saw Naruto successfully retrieve his headband— despite being struck by a second, even stronger kick.
Kushina covered her mouth. "That damn bastard!"
In the next instant, her sorrowful expression vanished, replaced by a fiery glare as flames nearly seemed ready to ignite her hair.
Her anger was directed at Zabuza's character in the manga— the man who had kicked Naruto twice with brutal force.
"Ah… calm down…" Minato, standing beside her, began to sweat, feeling the temperature rise for some reason.
It seemed Kushina wasn't the only one enraged— even the beast within her was stirred.
…
In a watery world, where the Kyūbi was imprisoned, the beast's eyes opened— blood-red fox eyes filled with malice, cruelty, and a terrifying aura.
"Tsk, tsk. Even in fiction, you insult me by binding me to this cowardly child."
At that moment, the Kyūbi was watching the scene through Kushina's eyes— the moment Naruto had tried to run again after feeling fear.
"Release me, Naruto! And you'll see how I tear that shinobi to pieces…"
Massive claws slammed against the watery ground of the sealing world.
"Hm… interesting."
A strange, unexpected smile appeared on the beast's face.
Because it had witnessed something truly impressive.
"It seems the child chose not to run away again."
…
Back in the real world, the readers were stunned— their shock even greater than that of the Kyūbi.
In the manga panel, Naruto stood up once more, this time gripping his headband in his hand.
"He took it back from a jonin…"
The head of the Hyūga clan, Hyūga Masanori, smiled as he watched the scene. That was precisely why he liked Naruto's character.
"Good. He didn't drag the village's name through the dirt."
Beside him, his eldest son, Hyūga Hiashi, nodded in agreement with a faint smile.
"But how will he fight a shinobi of that level? Does he really have a plan?"
Hyūga Hizashi, Hiashi's younger brother, looked unsettled.
"He can create thousands of clones. If he uses it properly, he might create miracles."
Hyūga Masanori's pale eyes reflected Naruto's face— and the blood streaming from his mouth.
…
Hey… you eyebrowless freak…
The readers froze in terror when they saw the title Naruto gave Zabuza.
They were afraid for Naruto's safety, of course.
"When you look closely… Zabuza really doesn't have eyebrows…"
"Haha! He really pissed him off…"
Ikkaku Umino watched the scene tensely.
Beside him, his wife Kohari Umino felt the same tension— but moments later, she couldn't suppress her laughter upon seeing the "eyebrowless" Zabuza.
…
Put it in your handbook… the man who will one day become Hokage…
Leaf Village ninja… Uzumaki Naruto!!
As Naruto said this while putting his headband back on, chills ran through the readers' bodies.
Smiles widened on the faces of the boys— Kakashi and Gai— and on their fathers as well.
"You truly didn't disappoint my expectations…" Jiraiya said with a smile.
Not far away, Tsunade was also fired up.
"Good, good… now show me what you'll do next."
"Sister, I really feel like Naruto will become Hokage one day…" Nawaki's eyes sparkled like a star-filled sky as he spoke.
"If Naruto can do it, then you can too, Nawaki… Learn from Naruto not to back down from challenges— they're what make you stronger."
Tsunade smiled, loving how Naruto's character had influenced her little brother.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 66: Valuable Information About the Hidden Mist Village!
Chapter 67: The Astonishing Combat Style of the Copy Ninja!
Chapter 68: Zabuza's End? The Hidden Mist Village on the Horizon!
Chapter 69: Third Art Store Established – Kirigakure!
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