Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Peach Field Will Not Be Cut Again: Not Good, Hasty
The atmosphere was tense as Hatake Kakashi and Momochi Zabuza squared off, their presence radiating the strength of seasoned Jōnin. Naruto Uzumaki stood back, observing the clash with curiosity and excitement, eager to glean valuable combat experience.
The battle began with Zabuza employing his Mist Shinobi Technique, enveloping the battlefield in a thick fog. The oppressive mist carried an aura of killing intent that pressed heavily on everyone. Suddenly, Kakashi erupted with a powerful chakra burst, dissipating the mist around Naruto and his team.
Uchiha Sasuke's chest tightened under the invisible pressure of their chakra clash, his breath becoming erratic. Overwhelmed by fear, Sasuke momentarily considered taking his own life, but Kakashi quickly reassured him.
"Don't worry. I won't let my companions die," Kakashi said with a confident smile, calming Sasuke's turmoil. Naruto, however, was unfazed, more curious than frightened. His mind raced with questions about how chakra could be so explosively released.
In his mindscape, Naruto excitedly addressed the Nine-Tails. "Hey, big fox! Did you see that? Mr. Kakashi's chakra just exploded out of him!"
The Nine-Tails flicked its tail dismissively. "Hmph. It's nothing but child's play. You're too easily impressed."
Sasuke, watching the playback of the battle in his own mind, felt a mix of embarrassment and frustration. He vividly remembered how intimidated he had been during the confrontation, while Naruto seemed unaffected and focused on learning. The gap between them felt insurmountable.
Back on the battlefield, Kakashi and Zabuza exchanged a few probing attacks, but Zabuza's superior strength quickly showed. With a powerful kick, Zabuza sent Kakashi flying into the lake. Before Kakashi could recover, Zabuza trapped him in his Water Prison Jutsu.
"Hah! Kakashi, you may be skilled, but you're no match for me," Zabuza gloated. "With you out of the way, dealing with those brats will be child's play."
Zabuza left a water clone to guard Kakashi and moved toward the others. Kakashi shouted, "You need to get Dazuna to safety! Forget about me!"
Sasuke immediately protested. "Are you kidding? We can't outrun him! The only way we survive is if we save you first."
Naruto, after a moment of thought, agreed. "He's right. Let's focus on freeing Mr. Kakashi."
Zabuza sneered, taunting the group. "You brats think you're ninjas? True ninja live on the edge of death. Only those strong enough to be remembered in my notebook deserve the title. And you? You're nothing but children playing pretend."
Ignoring Zabuza's taunts, Sasuke launched a flurry of kunai at his water clone, using the distraction to close the gap. However, the clone easily countered, grabbing Sasuke by the neck and tossing him away like a ragdoll.
Naruto caught Sasuke before he hit the ground. "You okay?" he asked.
Sasuke groaned, frustrated by his failure. "He's too strong…"
"Then use your Sharingan," Naruto suggested casually.
Sasuke froze, realizing he had completely forgotten to activate his Sharingan in the heat of battle. Embarrassed, he gritted his teeth.
Determined to make up for Sasuke's setback, Naruto stepped forward. Haruno Sakura, nervous and clutching her kunai, called out, "Naruto, do you have a plan?"
Naruto nodded confidently. "I'll try something."
He pulled out a massive shuriken from his backpack, spinning it in his hand as he addressed Zabuza. "Hey, you! The bandaged guy with no eyebrows!"
Zabuza turned to him with a look of disdain.
Naruto continued, "You think we're just kids, huh? Well, remember my name. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to make you remember it!"
With a powerful throw, Naruto hurled the shuriken toward Zabuza. It cut through the mist, heading straight for the water clone. Zabuza's clone smirked. "A simple shuriken? Is that all you've got?"
But as the shuriken flew past, Zabuza's smirk faltered.
"Wait… five shurikens? Impossible!"
To his shock, the single shuriken multiplied mid-flight. "That's the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Kakashi exclaimed.
Zabuza's expression turned grim. "That's a technique of the Third Hokage… How does a brat like him know it?"
Realizing the threat, Zabuza had no choice but to release his Water Prison Jutsu and dodge the incoming shurikens. Freed from the prison, Kakashi wasted no time, appearing next to Zabuza. "Looks like you're too distracted to deal with me now," Kakashi said with a grin.
Naruto stood back, proud of his contribution. Kakashi gave him an approving nod. "Naruto, I underestimated you. That was impressive."
Meanwhile, Sasuke's frustration deepened. Not only had Naruto successfully executed a high-level jutsu, but he had also managed to rattle Zabuza, something Sasuke had failed to do.
The battle resumed, with Kakashi taking the lead. His Sharingan glowed as he engaged Zabuza in a series of intense clashes. The fight showcased Kakashi's mastery of ninjutsu and strategy, forcing Zabuza to constantly adapt.
Sasuke and Sakura watched in awe, their earlier fears replaced by admiration. Naruto, however, remained focused, analyzing Kakashi's movements and thinking about how he could replicate such techniques.
Zabuza, realizing he was at a disadvantage, used the mist to retreat. "You're not bad, Kakashi. But this isn't over," he said before disappearing into the fog.
The team regrouped, with Kakashi praising their teamwork. "You all did well, especially you, Naruto. That shuriken jutsu was impressive."
Naruto beamed at the compliment, while Sasuke silently vowed to train harder. He couldn't let Naruto outshine him again.
As they continued their journey, the team reflected on the battle. It was a harsh reminder of the dangers they would face as ninja, but it also showed them the importance of working together and supporting each other.
For Naruto, it was another step toward becoming Hokage. For Sasuke, it was a wake-up call. And for Sakura, it was a chance to see the strength of her teammates and her own potential.
Kakashi, though proud of his team, remained vigilant. He knew Zabuza would return, and next time, the stakes would be even higher.
The battle with Zabuza was over for now, but the lessons they learned would stay with them forever.
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