Chapter 53: Zabuza Questions His Entire Life—This Is a Genin?!
Zabuza was dumbfounded.
Everyone present was dumbfounded.
What kind of timing was this?
Naruto still dared to openly mock his opponent?
Didn't he see how disadvantaged they were right now?
Kakashi—normally a 50-50 fighter—was now only 40-60 on the battlefield analysis. The enemy had 60, they had 40.
And why only 40?
Because he had to split his attention.
One part protecting Tazuna and the four students' safety,
the other part fighting Zabuza!
If Kakashi were fighting Zabuza alone,
he naturally wouldn't have so many concerns.
Sakura tilted her head in confusion.
She thought to herself:
"Did Naruto-kun ever work as a locksmith? How come I didn't know about this…"
"Maybe he did it secretly and just never told me."
"Yeah… he doesn't like me anymore anyway. Why would he need to tell me these things?"
As the one being mocked, Zabuza was not happy.
He didn't catch the locksmith joke.
But everything Naruto said before that
was pure provocation of his dignity!
Who did Zabuza think he was?
The slightest provocation could make him explode in rage.
Born with a short fuse!
The ninja world's angriest big brother.
The type to throw hands the moment words failed!
If the one mocking him was Kakashi, fine.
At least their strength could go blow-for-blow.
But a tiny genin dared to openly ridicule him?
Did he have no face at all?
"Heh! Very good—very good! You little brat are dead!"
"Damn it—you look exactly like some fresh-out-the-village rookie genin."
"Next life, choose a better womb. Learn who you can and can't provoke!"
Zabuza said coldly.
Then he wasted no more words. His hands flew through seals.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Thick white fog rapidly spread in all directions. In an instant,
the dense white mist
enveloped several li in every direction.
Kakashi frowned.
Naruto might be strong, but this time he was facing Zabuza!
He had to be cautious!
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura—you three protect Tazuna."
"This guy is mine!"
Naruto cracked his knuckles. Ignoring Kakashi completely,
he charged straight into the heart of the mist.
"Kakashi-sensei—take care of the uncle. I'll handle that guy."
"He's pissing me off!"
Kakashi's face changed instantly.
What the hell?!
Zabuza was seriously strong!
Though Zabuza hadn't introduced himself,
Kakashi had already deduced from the ninjutsu and that signature giant blade
that this was Momochi Zabuza—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
"Naruto, are you insane?! Get back here!"
Kakashi shouted in alarm.
If something happened to Naruto,
how could he face Minato and Kushina in the afterlife?
But Kakashi was still a step too late.
Naruto had already rushed in.
"Damn it!"
Kakashi cursed under his breath.
Instinctively he wanted to chase after him.
But he remembered Sasuke and the others behind him.
With Naruto suddenly gone,
the rear had lost a major combat asset.
If Zabuza had more accomplices
trying to trick them or launch a sneak attack,
they'd succeed quickly.
That would be disastrous.
House getting robbed—how do you play then?
Helpless, Kakashi could only choose to trust Naruto. He retreated to Tazuna's side.
This was also thanks to Naruto's earlier shocking combat performance.
And that effortless Rasengan.
Otherwise, Kakashi would've chased after him no matter what and dragged him back.
Sakura looked worried.
"Kakashi-sensei—hurry and protect Naruto-kun! Sasuke and I can guard the uncle here."
Right now, Sakura and Sasuke each held a sharp kunai.
They stood on either side of Tazuna.
If you looked closely,
it wasn't hard to see Sasuke's hand trembling as he gripped the kunai.
That was the fear of death!
Sakura also faintly sensed Sasuke's abnormality.
Because she felt the same!
But soon, she began thinking of Naruto.
Naruto had faced two solid chunin
without any fear—and killed them instantly.
Meanwhile Sasuke…
so cowardly…
She really didn't understand why she used to like this guy!
Kakashi shook his head slightly.
"Trust Naruto."
"He might bring us an unexpected miracle…"
Kakashi was gambling!
Betting that Naruto could handle Zabuza!
At Naruto's age, Kakashi had already been doing high-difficulty assassination missions in ANBU.
How many years had passed since then?
After the Uchiha clan massacre by Itachi,
only Sasuke remained—and he defected.
Konoha hadn't produced any real genius ninjas since!
Before Naruto displayed his monstrous talent,
Sasuke was considered a genius among his peers.
But compared to the geniuses Kakashi had personally witnessed—including himself—
there was still an uncrossable gap!
With Kakashi joining them,
Sasuke's tension visibly eased.
So did Sakura's.
Back to Naruto.
His azure blue pupils had—unknown to when—turned into rippling gold!
An invisible, overwhelming pressure radiated from him.
As if he were some lofty, untouchable emperor.
After several days,
Naruto once again activated the Rinnegan.
Golden hair, golden pupils—handsome enough to make people drool!
If he walked the streets of Konoha looking like this,
he'd kill it with every age group and gender.
A massive wave of fangirls would chase after him.
Unfortunately, no one could appreciate Naruto's current appearance.
Oh wait—there was one person.
The one hiding at the very center of the mist—Zabuza!
Zabuza frowned.
He sensed an aura rapidly approaching.
But the one coming wasn't the Copy Ninja Kakashi!
"Hm? This brat has a death wish?"
"Fine—if you're so eager to die, I'll oblige you!"
Zabuza's eyes flashed with cruelty.
His right hand gripped the massive blade radiating cold killing intent.
As if with one casual swing,
he could cleave this reckless genin in half.
"Eh—this speed is too fast! Wait, no!"
Zabuza froze.
In his perception, Naruto was still quite a distance away.
But in the next blink, the distance vanished.
Zabuza's hairs stood on end. The crisis of death pressed in!
He swiftly positioned his blade in front of his abdomen.
The air exploded—sonic boom!
A seemingly casual punch from Naruto carried such a deafening shockwave.
The fist wind howled!
One punch slammed into Zabuza's stomach.
But he managed to block most of the impact with the flat of his blade.
He had originally planned to kill instantly.
But remembering the system mission, he held back.
After all—a living Zabuza still had great future use!
Zabuza was sent flying more than ten meters.
Wherever he passed, water sprayed violently across the lake surface!
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