"That brat actually broke through Haku's Bloodline Limit? Impossible!!"
Zabuza's eyes widened in disbelief. He had never seen anyone escape from Haku's Demonic Ice Mirrors before. But Naruto? Naruto had punched straight through them like they were made of paper.
Just how strong was this kid?!
"Nothing is impossible. Naruto's strength, even at his age, is beyond my reach."
Kakashi kicked Zabuza in the chest. Though Zabuza blocked with his beheading sword, the force still sent him skidding backward.
It wasn't that Kakashi wanted to retreat—he just realized something.
The Beheading Sword was ridiculously sharp, and in close combat, Zabuza had the edge.
Kakashi's gaze unconsciously drifted toward Naruto again.
'It's not surprising a genius like Minato could have such a monster of a son.'
Meanwhile, Haku, still reeling from the impact, skidded across the water's surface before sinking beneath the waves. No one knew if they were dead or alive.
Naruto, however, didn't seem worried.
'Eh, I only hit the ice. That energy blast shouldn't have been fatal.'
He turned back to Zabuza, cracking his knuckles. "So, if you don't surrender, it's about to be two-on-one. Think you can handle both of us?"
Naruto darted across the water, chakra clinging to the soles of his feet, landing beside Kakashi in an instant.
"Tch! You brats—"
Zabuza's gaze flickered toward where Haku had fallen. For a brief moment, worry flashed across his face.
Naruto caught it.
'Ohhh? Someone's worried about their murder apprentice?'
Zabuza tensed, debating whether to charge toward Haku. But Naruto and Kakashi were already blocking his path. Frustrated, he swung his massive blade in a wide arc and rushed at them instead.
Clang! Clang!
Naruto and Kakashi met him head-on, kunai clashing against steel in rapid succession.
To his credit, Zabuza wasn't just a brute with a big sword. Even with two opponents, he held his own, deflecting blows and counterattacking fluidly.
Several times, the Beheading Sword came dangerously close to slicing Naruto in half.
Kakashi bailed him out every time.
'Damn, I really need to work on my taijutsu.' Naruto winced as he narrowly avoided another slash.
It wasn't for lack of trying. He'd spent months accumulating Anger Points, drawing rewards… but not a single damn taijutsu scroll had appeared.
"Go to hell, brat!!"
Zabuza roared, eyes bloodshot with either frustration or concern for Haku. Maybe both. Either way, he swung his blade like a raging beast—relentless and precise.
Naruto backflipped away, narrowly dodging a vertical slash.
'Okay, yeah. Enough of this close-range nonsense.'
Poof!
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Hundreds of Narutos popped into existence, identical grins stretching from ear to ear.
"Alright, guys, let's show Mr. Muscles how we do things around here!"
"Ohhh!!" the clones cheered in unison before charging forward.
Zabuza grimaced. "These damn clones again?"
He was already struggling against Kakashi. Now, surrounded by an army of orange-clad menaces, things weren't looking good.
The Narutos swarmed him, kunai glinting under the misty sky.
"Enough of you damn flies!"
Zabuza swung his Beheading Sword wildly, slicing through the clones.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
White smoke filled the air as the clones vanished one by one.
But Kakashi had been waiting for this opening.
Suddenly, a burst of lightning crackled through the battlefield.
Chidori!!
Sparks erupted from Kakashi's palm as he dashed forward, his hand glowing with blinding blue energy.
Zabuza barely had time to react.
The Chidori was already inches from his back.
'So… this is how it ends?'
He had spent his entire life as a warrior, and now it was over.
SPLASH!
Just as the lightning strike was about to land, water exploded upward.
A slender figure burst from the ocean, arms outstretched.
Haku.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Even Kakashi hesitated.
Naruto, however, did not.
BAM!
In a blur, Naruto slammed his elbow into Kakashi's ribs, sending him veering off course.
Chidori missed.
Haku, who had braced for death, slowly opened their eyes. Their stunned gaze met Naruto's.
"Naruto… why?" Kakashi canceled his jutsu, looking at him with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Ehehe… no real reason?"
Truth was, after watching Haku's story in another life, he really didn't want them to die here.
'Not on my watch.'
Zabuza stared at Haku, an unreadable expression on his face.
That moment when he felt death approaching… Haku had chosen to step in front of it for him.
"Haku…"
Haku smiled softly. "I won't let you die, Zabuza-san. If you die, my existence has no meaning."
Their words were spoken with such unwavering devotion, but the sadness in them was suffocating.
Naruto felt his stomach twist. 'Damn. That's messed up.'
The bond between them wasn't just about master and tool. It ran deeper than that.
And now, everything had changed.
(End of Chapter)