"Those are Shadow Clone Jutsu! We're not gonna just sit around and wait for trouble, knowing that Gatō would play dirty tricks. But Sakura, you were so impulsive. You almost got yourself croaked!"
"Naruto..."
Sakura's eyes were brimming with tears as she sobbed wordlessly.
"What are you all doing? Why don't you grab him quickly!"
Naruto swept his fierce gaze over Gatō. He jumped into the air, and with a spinning back kick, sent the bodyguard behind Gatō flying. Then, he bent his knees, carried two people on his back, and leaped into the air, getting out of Gatō's attack range.
The bodyguards behind Gatō still refused to give up and chased after them. A row of well - thrown Shurikens came flying towards them and stuck firmly in the floor.
"This is the line. Cross it, and you're on your own!"
Looking at Sasuke's sharp eyes and his skillful way of using Shurikens, Gatō's bodyguards hesitated and stood still, not daring to step forward.
After all, they were just here to make money, not really loyal to Gatō. How could they risk their lives for him!
"Kakashi, it's time to end this little game. Let's get to the main point!"
Zabuza, who had been silently watching the show coldly from the side, finally spoke up. He had seen enough of this farce and it was time to wrap it up.
"Zabuza!"
Kakashi pulled up the Forehead Protector covering his eye.
"You're finally getting serious, Kakashi. Haku, take care of those brats!"
"Yes, Mr. Zabuza."
Haku's figure blurred. With his most proficient speed, he rushed in front of Naruto and launched a chokehold towards Naruto's neck.
Naruto was used to Haku's speed. Almost as soon as Haku moved, he stepped back to the side, dodging the deadly chokehold.
Haku's palm swiped in front of his eyes. Naruto didn't miss this chance. He grabbed Haku's wrist tightly with both hands, spun around, and threw Haku over his shoulder, slamming him hard onto the ground.
"Ah---"
Haku landed on his back awkwardly, and his head hit the ground hard.
"Don't think you can use the same move on me many times!"
This time, he was smarter. He immediately kept a distance from Haku. Haku's Ninjutsu could only be used in close - range combat. As long as he stayed out of Haku's Ninjutsu attack range, Naruto was quite confident in his Taijutsu.
Naruto got into a fighting stance, wiggled his fingers, and looked provocatively at Haku, who was slowly getting up from the ground.
"Come on!"
Haku stood up slowly. Instead of looking too disappointed, he smiled slightly and made a Hand Seal with one hand.
"You're not the only one who knows about the enemy. I haven't been idle these days either!"
"[Water Release Secret Jutsu: Annihilating Thousand Flights]"
Here it comes! He wants to use the water stains on the ground to set the conditions for his secret jutsu. He's dreaming.
"[Wind Release: Pressure Damage]"
The high - pressure airflow from Naruto's [Wind Release: Pressure Damage] attacked Haku's [Water Release Secret Jutsu: Annihilating Thousand Flights], spinning and cutting through the limited space, scattering the water and charging towards Haku with full force.
This was the most powerful Wind Release technique he could use at present, aiming to win with one strike and leaving no room for Haku to fight back.
Haku didn't expect that he would be at a disadvantage in the confrontation of ninjutsu. It seemed that Naruto's chakra was several times more than his.
He crossed his arms in front of his face to block the interference to his vision caused by the Wind Release. After all, if his eyes were injured in the battle, he would really be blind.
Even though he could accurately determine the direction of the enemy in the dark, it was still inconvenient not to be able to see.
After the Wind Release, Haku's body swayed and he fell down. He knelt on his knees, gasping for breath as he looked at Naruto in front of him. He had improved so much! In just a few days, it seemed that Naruto's strength had grown a lot.
Looking into Haku's unyielding eyes, Naruto kind of liked this perseverant young boy.
"Throw in the towel! Neither me nor Teacher Kakashi has any intention of killing anyone. As long as you shut up and leave the Land of Waves obediently, we definitely won't stop you!"
"Leave? After leaving here, where can Mr. Momochi and I go?"
"I don't know. You can go wherever you want. Just don't do such things again from now on!"
"Ha~ The world is so big, but no matter where we go, we can't escape the pursuit of Kiri. We have nowhere to go."
"Why don't you leave him? Teacher Kakashi said that only Zabuza Momochi is being pursued. It has nothing to do with you. After leaving him, there'll be plenty of room for you to develop, just like fish leaping in the vast sea and birds flying in the boundless sky. You'll be free!"
Naruto didn't want to see a young boy of the same age as him getting involved in the endless ninja battles at such a beautiful age, so he kindly advised.
"No! I'll be wherever Mr. Momochi is! Since the moment we met, I've been destined not to leave him. Only the days by his side are the happiest!"
Looking at the young boy in front of him, smiling gently and stubbornly, Naruto couldn't understand what was so good about a man like Zabuza who was being pursued everywhere.
"What's so good about a traitor like Zabuza? Is he worth doing this for?"
"You also have someone who is very important to you, right? Will you give up on him or leave him just because of what he has done?"
After hearing Haku's words, Naruto fell into silent contemplation.
The person most important to me?
Who is it?
Is it Third Hokage Grandpa? Is it Teacher Iruka? Are they the companions of Team 7? Is it the Uchiha family that adopted me? Or...
The outline of a figure gradually became clear in his heart.
"Mr. Momochi is the most important person to me. I must fulfill his order even at the cost of my life!"
"[Ice Secret Jutsu: Demonic Mirroring Thin Ice]"
Naruto looked at Haku who was activating the secret jutsu in confusion. The distance between them was so far that the range of this secret jutsu shouldn't be able to reach.
This time, the ice crystals didn't form a cage to tightly wrap people inside like last time. Instead, there was a mirror standing at intervals, and these mirrors reached Sasuke's side.
"Not good! Sasuke!"
Naruto exerted all his chakra to the fullest and sprinted towards Sasuke, but Haku was even faster!
When the ice mirrors formed, light was reflected between the mirrors. Just like traveling with the reflected light, Haku appeared beside Sasuke in a split second. He picked up the senbon and stabbed at Sasuke's vital points.
"Sasuke!"
Almost when the senbon was about to pierce Sasuke, Naruto barely made it and tightly shielded Sasuke in front of himself.
"Drip - drip!"
The senbon pierced through Naruto's body, and blood dripped down. Haku was not in a good situation either. At the moment when Haku attacked Sasuke, Naruto also landed a close - range Fierce Gale Palm on Haku. Haku's body flew heavily backward like a broken doll.
..................
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