Chapter 57: Battle Against Zabuza
Sasuke and Sakura stood in front of Tazuna, ready for battle, protecting him.
Zabuza Momochi smiled, looking at Kakashi and Naruto, and said, "I have no intention of being your enemy. Can you hand over the great sword and that old man to me?"
After Zabuza Momochi finished speaking, he stared intently at Naruto and Kakashi.
Kakashi touched his forehead protector, looked at Naruto, and said, "You go, or I go?"
Kakashi was asking Naruto which of them should be wary of the other person who hadn't appeared yet.
Naruto looked at Zabuza Momochi and said, "The sword is in my hands! If you have the skill, take it back. If not, this sword is mine."
"An interesting brat! I've killed at least 20 brats like you."
After Zabuza Momochi finished speaking, he waved his hand, and mist gradually rose all around.
Then Naruto saw Zabuza Momochi leap onto the river surface and perform the Hidden Mist Jutsu again, making the surrounding mist even thicker.
Naruto shook his head speechlessly, placed his right hand in a sword-finger gesture on his chest, and took a deep breath.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
That's right, Naruto used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to blow away the mist.
Zabuza Momochi, standing on the water, looked at Naruto with a solemn expression.
Kakashi's mouth twitched slightly as he said, "Your Wind Release is a bit exaggerated! Just one hand seal, and it has such great power. You're really something!"
Naruto smiled but said nothing, instead staring at Zabuza Momochi standing on the water.
"Without the cover of the dense fog, your Silent Killing Jutsu can't be used. What other tricks do you have? Show them!"
No sooner had Naruto finished speaking than there was movement on Sasuke's side. Another Zabuza Momochi, holding a Kunai, was preparing to ambush and kill Tazuna.
With Naruto's planning, Sasuke's progress was also extraordinary. He sensed danger immediately, pulled out his Kunai, and began fighting Zabuza.
Naruto smiled and said to Sasuke, "That's a Water Clone! Its strength is a bit greater than yours, making it a perfect opponent for you."
Sasuke also became excited when he heard Naruto's words; what he lacked now was such an opponent.
Although Sasuke often sparred with Naruto, Naruto's strength was too great, essentially just feeding him moves, so his room for improvement was small. Now, with Zabuza's Water Clone as an opponent, it was indeed just right.
Seeing that Naruto and Zabuza had already engaged, Kakashi, just in case, still stood beside Tazuna, guarding against the other unseen enemy.
Naruto looked at Zabuza and said, "Aren't you going to make a move yet?"
"Brat! Don't think having a large Chakra reserve makes you great. I'll show you what a true Ninjais."
With that, Zabuza Momochi gripped his Kunai and charged towards Naruto.
Naruto smiled slightly, drew the Kunai from his side, and engaged Zabuza Momochi in close combat.
To be fair, Zabuza Momochi's combat power was indeed formidable, and Naruto appeared somewhat flustered in his defense.
Zabuza Momochi's face was grim, and he said in a low voice, "A hothouse flower is nothing but a facade."
Naruto naturally understood what Zabuza Momochi meant; in fact, what Zabuza said was true.
While Naruto's overall strength was indeed great, his lack of practical combat experience was his fatal weakness, especially in such a life-or-death battle, this shortcoming of Naruto's was exposed without reservation.
Before long, Naruto's body was covered in many cuts from the Kunai. Although none were fatal, they still hurt!
Naruto grimaced and said to the Demon Zabuza, "Killing people makes you great, huh! Today, your daddy will show you that even if I haven't killed anyone, I'll make you call me daddy!"
After speaking, Naruto put away his Kunai and unleashed the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Five Chakra Chains, like nimble snakes, attacked Zabuza.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Let's see if you'll still be arrogant after this! Don't think that just because you're good at theory, you're exceptionally strong! You're still far from it!"
Zabuza glimpsed the Chakra Chains behind Naruto, knowing something was wrong. As expected, the five Chakra Chains clung to him like a curse, forcing Zabuza to dodge left and right, finding it difficult to parry.
Ultimately, Zabuza had no choice but to leap onto the water surface again, performing the classic Forty-Four Hand Seal Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at this "classic" move. He formed a Rasengan with one hand, which then transformed into a Rasenshuriken.
When Kakashi saw the Rasengan, his heart was startled, and then the Rasengan actually transformed into a Rasenshuriken.
Kakashi said with a solemn expression, "An advancement of the Rasengan!"
Naruto smiled slightly and said in a deep voice, "An advancement of the Rasengan, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken! You'd best retreat far away and prepare your defenses! Don't blame me if you get hurt, I warned you."
Just as Zabuza Momochi completed the forty-four hand seals for the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, Naruto had already thrown the Rasenshuriken.
Zabuza saw Naruto's Chakra-infused sphere and couldn't help but frown. In a moment, it transformed into a shuriken, and Zabuza knew that this trouble was not small.
After using the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, Zabuza quickly fled the river surface, deciding to leave first.
However, to Zabuza's surprise, after the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique collided with the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique didn't even last a second before being sucked into the Rasenshuriken. The Rasenshuriken then became covered in a layer of water and sped directly towards where Zabuza had previously been standing.
The Rasenshuriken hit the water, splashing everywhere, followed by an earth-shattering explosion. The explosion range rapidly expanded, and Zabuza, who hadn't yet escaped this range, was injured by the edge of the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, his entire back a bloody mess.
Just as Naruto was about to bind Zabuza with Chakra Chains, a masked figure suddenly jumped out and fired a Senbon, which struck Zabuza's neck.
However, Naruto still bound Zabuza with Chakra Chains and pulled him closer.
The person who arrived was Haku, Zabuza's teammate. Seeing Naruto's actions, Haku was also afraid that Naruto would directly kill Zabuza. Although his expression under the mask was tense, he still pretended to be calm, his hands in his sleeves constantly maintaining the hand seal posture. If Naruto made any slight movement, he would immediately freeze Zabuza and take him away.
Naruto pretended to inspect him, leaving a Flying Thunder God Formula on the back of Zabuza's head.
Unless Zabuza shaved his hair, he wouldn't be able to see the Flying Thunder God Formula he left behind.
Naruto said without turning his head, "Hidden Mist's assassination squad! Hehe! Never mind! You can take him away!"
Naruto knew that the person who arrived was Haku, Zabuza's teammate. For the sake of the later plan, letting Haku take Zabuza away was the best option.