After landing, the group followed the wet, muddy forest path of the Land of Waves towards Tazuna's home.
Tazuna was visibly on edge and restless the entire way. He constantly felt a faint, bone-chilling sense of terror following him, making his back prickle.
He didn't know where this chill came from, whether it was due to his fear of Gato's pursuit or something else... He could only place all his hope in Team 7, hoping these Konoha Ninja would protect him when danger truly arrived.
However, he didn't realize that the terror making his spine tingle originated from one of his escorts behind him. Every time Satsuki seemingly glanced at him unintentionally, her gaze was as cold as if she were looking at a dead man.
Although Naruto decided to continue the mission and she chose to obey, the thought that all the potential dangers ahead were due to this Old Man's lie made it difficult for her killing intent to subside.
If Naruto were to suffer any accident because of this level of mission... I would absolutely kill you with my own hands!
The team proceeded cautiously. As they walked, a sudden, unnatural rustling sound came from the dense bushes by the roadside...
"A wild rabbit?" Sakura instinctively thought, trying to ease her tension.
But the next second—"Watch out!"
Naruto's warning cry went off almost simultaneously with a subtle whooshing sound!
Sakura and Tazuna reacted extremely quickly, squatting down sharply the moment they heard the sound! A cold glint flew past just above them!
Naruto and Kakashi, on the other hand, had already determined the attack trajectory the instant the sound occurred. Both of them almost simultaneously drew their kunai and swung them forward with precision!
"Clang! Clang!"
Two crisp metallic clashes rang out, and the incoming projectiles were successfully parried, falling powerlessly to the ground.
Satsuki, on the other side, executed a swift side jump, avoiding the cold glint aimed at her.
The attack paused, and everyone immediately looked at the objects that had been struck down on the ground.
"Shuriken?"
Naruto looked at the ordinary-looking shuriken on the ground, a hint of doubt rising in his heart. This kind of probing attack didn't seem quite right...
Just then, a tall, burly figure silently descended from the treetops, looking down at the group below. His face was revealed.
Naruto instantly recognized this guy—Zabuza Momochi!
Half of his face was wrapped in white bandages, his black short hair stood on end, and he exuded the sharp killing intent of a seasoned warrior.
And his signature Kubikiribocho...?
Where was the Kubikiribocho?
Naruto was stunned; Zabuza's back did not bear that exaggeratedly huge cleaver—instead, there was only a fairly ordinary-looking standard long sword.
"Why?" Naruto's heart was filled with shock and confusion. "Is this another change caused by the butterfly effect?"
"Oh? Isn't this the Hidden Mist rogue Ninja, Zabuza Momochi?" Kakashi's tone still carried his characteristic laziness, but his entire body's muscles were already tensed.
"I didn't expect this mission to give me the honor of 'visiting' Konoha's Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan," Zabuza spoke. "No wonder the Demon Brothers failed earlier."
"I apologize for ruining your subordinates' 'good time,'" Kakashi responded indifferently. "However, I wasn't the one who defeated them."
"Such trivial matters are irrelevant."
Zabuza pointed at Tazuna, who was being protected behind them, "Excuse me, let's end the small talk here. Can you hand over the Old Man behind you to me? This is a private matter between him and me."
The two exchanged casual pleasantries, but their gazes locked on each other in the air, and a battle was imminent.
Satsuki's heart stirred slightly when she heard the title "Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan."
After returning home on the day of team assignments, her father Uchiha Fugaku, upon learning that her Jonin instructor was Kakashi, specifically told her about the Copy Ninja's exploits. The most important point was that Kakashi Hatake was the only Ninja outside of the Uchiha Clan who had successfully acquired and utilized the power of the Sharingan...
Just then, Naruto actively stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Kakashi, his gaze fixed on the powerful enemy ahead.
"Kakashi-sensei, let me help," Naruto's voice was full of confidence. "Let's team up and defeat this troublesome guy as soon as possible, so we can finish the mission earlier."
Kakashi glanced at Naruto beside him and immediately recalled the Taijutsu, reaction speed, and calm judgment Naruto displayed during the bell test. He pondered for a moment and then made a decision.
"Hmm, alright."
Kakashi nodded, but his tone became exceptionally serious, "But, you must prioritize protecting yourself! Remember, unless it's a true last resort, you are absolutely not allowed to use that power without permission, understood? The burden and risks of that power are still unknown to you."
Facing Kakashi's warning, Naruto readily agreed. "I understand, Sensei."
However, in his heart, he quickly assessed the comparison of their strengths.
Though it might sound a bit arrogant... Zabuza, to him, might only be like a roadside pebble.
Satsuki watched Naruto stand shoulder to shoulder with Kakashi without hesitation, preparing to face the imposing Hidden Mist rogue Ninja. A strong sense of unease and worry instinctively surged within her, and she subconsciously wanted to step forward to stop him.
But in the end, she forcibly suppressed this impulse, once again pushing back the protective urge that was almost breaking free from her heart. Only her tightly clenched hands had knuckles slightly whitened from the effort.
"Satsuki, Sakura, do not intervene in the battle. Protect Tazuna-san."
Kakashi commanded, simultaneously raising his hand and flipping up the Konoha forehead protector that had been covering his left eye, revealing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan beneath that could not be closed.
"Let's end this boring small talk."
Zabuza's voice came from the gradually thickening mist, "I need to quickly kill that Old Man."
As he spoke, the surrounding air visibly filled with a dense, impenetrable mist, and visibility sharply decreased.
"To let that Genin participate in our battle, it seems you're truly overconfident, Kakashi."
Before his words finished, Zabuza's figure flickered, appearing on the nearby lake surface. He raised one hand towards the sky and pressed the other hand to his chest in a hand sign, striking a somewhat flamboyant pose.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
Accompanied by Zabuza's voice, his figure completely merged into the dense fog, disappearing from the lake surface.
However, at the exact moment Zabuza's figure vanished.
"Everyone not participating in the battle, stay still!" Naruto's voice suddenly rang out.
Before the others could fully react, Naruto's hands were already flying, completing hand signs at an astonishing speed!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Instantly, a surging stream of water appeared out of nowhere, not for attack, but like a living entity, it precisely spread rapidly across the ground surrounding Kakashi and Naruto, forming an expanding shallow water area, yet cleverly avoiding Satsuki, Sakura, and the three protecting Tazuna behind them.
"Kakashi-sensei, use Lightning Release!" Naruto immediately shouted.
Looking at the conductive water rapidly spreading on the ground around them, Kakashi instantly understood Naruto's tactical intent! This was to use water to conduct lightning for indiscriminate area attacks!
"I see, Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave!"
Kakashi's hand sign speed was even faster, leaving only afterimages! He slightly lowered his head, and from beneath his mask, he violently spewed out dazzling, hissing, and leaping torrents of wild lightning!
The lightning infused into the water at his feet and spread wildly in all directions across the water surface at a terrifying speed, forming a net of lightning that covered a vast area!
"Ugh—!"
Sure enough, the next moment, an irrepressible grunt of surprise immediately came from the thick fog not far from them!
Naruto's idea was simple and effective: even if your Hidden Mist Jutsu can conceal your body, as long as you want to launch a close-range attack, you will inevitably step into this water! Under this wide-range Ninjutsu coverage, you have nowhere to hide!
At the same time, Naruto had already named this impromptu cooperative Ninjutsu in his mind.
Water-Lightning Release: Heavenly Sky Water Mirror Lightning Prison Thousand Cries Annihilation Style!