"That's Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi said, his grave and tense voice barely masking the weariness that weighed on him like lead, his Sharingan's crimson eyes displaying an intense gaze, charged with a cold intensity. "The Demon of the Hidden Mist. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, a Jōnin-level criminal. Do not underestimate him; he is an extraordinary threat."
Naruto, his eyes fixed on the imposing figure that loomed like a shadow in the thinning mist, threw four kunai. Intricate seals glowed briefly on the blades as they cut through the air, embedding themselves in the ground in a precise pattern that encircled the group. His fingers danced through a swift sequence of four hand seals, and a translucent cubic barrier instantly sprang into existence, complex lines of fuuin pulsing on its faces, enclosing Naruto, Sakura, Tazuna, and Sasuke. It was Kekkai Ninjutsu (Barrier Technique). The silence that followed its creation was almost palpable.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, his voice firm despite his young age, maintaining the Tiger hand seal, chakra flowing into the barrier that shimmered gently, "this is a high-level containment barrier. He won't be able to enter. Now, fight with everything you've got."
A cold laugh echoed from Zabuza's figure, and his killing intent manifested as a wave of invisible pressure. Sasuke and Sakura shuddered at the intensity of the pure hostility. Naruto, however, kept his gaze fixed on Zabuza.
Zabuza displayed a slight smile upon seeing the boy face him. 'This one isn't trash.'
"Insolent brat!" Zabuza hissed, his voice laden with scorn.
Kakashi, without taking his sharp gaze off Zabuza, spoke with a reassuring firmness to his students, "Don't worry. I will protect you." A quick glance at Naruto, a silent acknowledgment of the boy's skill, preceded his full return of focus to the dangerous enemy before him.
The confrontation exploded in a fury of steel and chakra. Kakashi advanced, his kunai cutting the air towards Zabuza, who responded with a wide swing of his Kubikiribōchō. The weapons clashed with a metallic clang, the force of the impact reverberating through the air, and each exchange of blows sounded like a death knell.
Kakashi attempted a swift and precise strike, but the blade passed through Zabuza's body, which dissolved into water, revealing it to be a Mizu Bunshin. In the next instant, the real Zabuza emerged from behind, attacking with his sword, and Kakashi managed to defend, but Zabuza delivered a powerful kick that struck Kakashi in the chest, sending him violently into the icy river. The shock cut off Kakashi's breath.
Before Kakashi could recover, the water around him began to swirl, swift and fluid hand seals emanating from Zabuza. It was the Suirō no Jutsu, the water prison technique. The aquatic sphere began to form, trapping Kakashi inside. However, with surprising agility, Kakashi executed the Kawarimi no Jutsu, replacing his body with a log at the last second. The water prison closed around the log with a dull thud, while the real Kakashi reappeared on the bank, panting and his clothes soaked, but unharmed. That instant of vulnerability ignited a cold flame in his eyes.
That brief forced dive seemed to awaken a new intensity in Kakashi's gaze. The Sharingan in his exposed eye spun rapidly, his sharpened perception now reading Zabuza's every intention, every micromovement of his muscles. He was one step ahead, anticipating each attack as if the future unfolded before his eyes.
Zabuza initiated a new sequence of hand seals, the river water beginning to rise around him, foreshadowing a powerful jutsu. But Kakashi was faster. His own seals were executed with lightning speed, the water responding to his command with an even greater fury. Before Zabuza could even complete his jutsu, a colossal water dragon emerged from the depths of the river, charging furiously towards the swordsman of the mist. The aquatic creature swallowed Zabuza in a raging torrent, the force of the impact throwing him far away. The battle, at that moment, seemed to have reached its climax.
Kakashi, giving Zabuza no time to recover, struck kunai at Zabuza's vital points, who used his arms and legs to block, the metal cutting his skin deeply. However, before he could capitalize and deliver the final blow, a rain of precise senbon struck Zabuza from behind, causing him to stagger and fall, a wet sound accompanying each perforation.
Naruto felt Kakashi's chakra waver dangerously after the water jutsu, exhaustion surrounding him like a cold shadow. Despite the forced smile and the attempt to act as if he were fine, his sensei's energy reading screamed otherwise. 'He's at his limit...' Naruto thought, a conflict stirring within him. Should I say something? Intervene? But Kakashi-sensei told us to trust him.
As he watched Kakashi check Zabuza's condition and then step back, the hunter-nin then took Zabuza's body away. Naruto noticed the persistent, albeit weak, chakra signature of the swordsman. He's not dead. I know he's not. But the image of a weakened Kakashi – the exhaustion would soon be visible in every line of his body, he couldn't fight anymore – kept him silent. If I say it now, Sasuke will act impulsively. And Kakashi-sensei... he needs to rest. The responsibility for the team's safety weighed on his shoulders.
As soon as the masked figure disappeared into the dense forest, carrying Zabuza's seemingly inert body, Kakashi exchanged a few hesitant words and staggered. For a brief moment, he tried to maintain his composure, a weak, forced smile directed at his students, but his crimson eyes revealed the price of the battle. In the next second, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious, his chakra depleted, dropping him like a cut puppet string.
Immediately, Naruto's cubic barrier dissipated, the fuuin lines fading like cold embers. Without hesitation, the young boy rushed to support his sensei, the weight of Kakashi's body in his arms confirming the extent of his exhaustion. Sakura, her face pale and her eyes wide with the intensity of the confrontation, ran to help. Sasuke, tense and on high alert, watched the dark forest with a lingering suspicion. "It's chakra exhaustion," Naruto informed them, his voice hoarse. "He needs to rest. The best we can do now is find a safe place."
Naruto remained alert while two shadow clones supported Kakashi's inert body, while Sasuke led the way, silent anger emanating from his tense posture. His mind was still absorbed in his sensei's display of power. 'He's much stronger than he lets on,' Naruto thought, a hint of admiration mixed with confusion. 'But why does he hold back so much in teaching us?'
Sasuke walked ahead, his jaw tight. The ease with which Naruto had erected that barrier consumed him. Once again, his chance to show his strength, to prove he wasn't behind the Dobe, had been thwarted. The anger against Naruto bubbled silently with each step, fueled by his own momentary impotence in the face of Zabuza's threat.
Sakura, her eyes fixed on Kakashi, stayed close to Tazuna, worry creasing her brow. Her hand gripped her kunai tightly, a remnant of the sudden battle.
After a long walk, Tazuna's house appeared ahead, a soft light escaping through the windows. The bridge builder sighed, a mixture of relief and exhaustion on his face. "We're here," he murmured.
The door opened before they could reach the porch, revealing a woman of gentle beauty, her dark eyes filled with apprehension upon seeing the group and, especially, Kakashi's condition. "Father! What happened? Who are they?" she asked, her voice choked with worry. Her distressed gaze swept over the young ninjas' faces and stopped on Kakashi, unconscious and supported by Naruto's clones.
Tazuna placed a comforting hand on his daughter's arm. "Calm down, Tsunami. These are ninjas from Konoha. I hired them to protect us."
After the brief introductions – "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and these are Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha," Naruto said, gesturing to his teammates – and a nod from Tsunami, who still showed concern but accepted her father's explanation, Team 7 settled into a spacious room. Kakashi lay on a makeshift bed, conscious but visibly exhausted and immobile.
Naruto, with his heightened sensory perception that went beyond simple chakra detection, couldn't fool himself. Zabuza is alive. I know he is.
"Kakashi-sensei," he said, his voice serious, breaking the tense silence of the room, "Zabuza is alive. I can still feel a faint signature of his chakra from when the hunter-nin took him away."
Kakashi sighed lightly, his eyes fixed on the wooden ceiling. "You're right, Naruto. I suspected it. That hunter-nin... his behavior was strange. A hunter-nin's priority is to destroy the body immediately to prevent information from being stolen. The way he 'finished' Zabuza and took him away... it was very... odd to use senbon, a weapon that isn't ideal for killing."
Sakura shuddered at the possibility of encountering that ninja again.
Sasuke exploded, his frustration finally overflowing, the anger against Naruto boiling in his veins. "How could you let them escape, Dobe?! You knew he was alive and didn't say anything? You should have warned us immediately! We could have stopped him!" His voice carried a palpable rage, directed straight at Naruto.
Naruto faced Sasuke, his blue eyes steady, the weight of his decision still present on his face. "The enemy was retreating, Teme. And Kakashi-sensei was pretending to be okay, but the truth is he could barely stay conscious. My priority was to ensure the safety of the mission and bring our sensei to a safe place." I know Zabuza is dangerous, but we couldn't risk losing Kakashi-sensei.
"Coward! You're a coward and a traitor!" Sasuke hissed, his fist clenched, his gaze fixed on Naruto with contempt.
"Sasuke!" Kakashi's weak but firm voice cut through the argument, the exhaustion evident in every syllable. The Uchiha fell silent instantly, turning his furious gaze to the Jōnin on the bed. "Naruto acted correctly. Continuing the fight in that state, without information about the hunter-nin and with my chakra reserves depleted, would only put us all at risk. The priority was the mission and the team's safety."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on Naruto, frustration and anger still dancing in his gaze. He clenched his fists tightly, visibly displeased with Kakashi's decision, but unable to refute the cold logic of his sensei. A heavy silence hung in the room, charged with unresolved tension, Sasuke's gaze burning into Naruto's back.
Top Notes:
Samuel Santillan - Yes, Naruto can use seals that create barriers and silencing, among others. He can also combine some of them. At this moment, he is almost a high-level sealing technique user, managing to apply some of them.
Regarding a classification in fuuinjutsu, I haven't thought about that, but I will consider using one.
About Haku, I haven't decided yet. If anyone has an opinion, I am willing to hear Haku's fate.
