Chapter no.50 Naruto

Chapter no.50 Team 7 Vs Zabuza Momoichi

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The mist thickened further, swallowing the world in dense, impenetrable white. Naruto and Sasuke flickered into position beside Sakura, her hands steady as she reinforced the pyramidal chakra barrier.

“We’re at a disadvantage,” Sasuke said, his voice quiet but grim.

Naruto and Sakura nodded. From power to experience, to the very environment itself, everything worked in Zabuza’s favor. The Demon of the Mist had the upper hand in every possible way.

“Sasuke, use Shadow Clone Jutsu.”

Sasuke stiffened at Naruto’s suggestion, fully aware of the toll it would take. However, through their training and countless D-rank missions, he had come to understand that Naruto was an extremely crafty combatant—his tactics were often unpredictable but goddamn effective.

Without hesitation, Sasuke formed the hand seals and pushed his chakra to the limit. Four clones materialized in front of him in a puff of smoke, their red Sharingan glowing faintly through the mist.

The original Sasuke dropped to his knees, his breaths labored as sweat poured down his face. His vision blurred for a moment, and his muscles screamed in protest, trembling under the strain. Every ounce of chakra he had left felt like it had been ripped out of him.

“Drink this,” Naruto said, shoving the Estus Flask into Sasuke’s mouth.

Before he could question it, Sasuke drank from the glowing golden liquid. Instantly, his body felt reinvigorated. The burning ache in his muscles faded, his chakra reserves replenished almost entirely. Even the lingering pain of old wounds, scars buried deep from years of training vanished.

What the hell… Naruto, just what did you make me drink?

Sasuke thought, his hand tightening around the flask as he stared at Naruto in disbelief. But there wasn’t time to ask.

“Focus. We’ve got work to do,” Naruto said, already stepping forward as he gestured for the clones to take position.

Naruto quickly outlined the plan, his voice low but filled with urgency. Sasuke’s clones moved swiftly, crouching on the water’s surface as they placed their hands into the rippling depths. Sasuke poured every ounce of chakra he had into the technique, channeling pure lightning into the water.

The effect was immediate. Lightning arced and surged through the surface, illuminating the mist with brilliant flashes of blue and white. The water crackled and hissed, small explosions ripping through it as though a storm had descended upon the battlefield. The sheer intensity of the move made the water undulate violently, forcing Zabuza to react.

From within the mist, the Demon of the Mist emerged, leaping high into the air to avoid the electrified surface. His plan to attack from beneath the water was thwarted.

Naruto moved.

His body flickered as he shot toward Zabuza with his Zweihander in hand, the massive blade aimed for a decisive strike. Zabuza raised the Kubikiribōchō, using the flat of the weapon like a shield.

The two blades collided with a deafening crash, wind chakra surging along Naruto’s blade as it clashed against the water chakra flowing through Zabuza’s. The force of the collision sent both combatants hurtling back, their feet skidding across the surface of the water as waves rippled outward from the impact.

Naruto raised his sword into the high guard position.

Zabuza’s lips curled beneath his bandages into a cold grin. He shifted the Kubikiribōchō slightly, holding it low and parallel to the water—a stance built for sweeping strikes and counters.

“Impressive sword for a kid,” Zabuza said. “Let’s see if you know how to use it.”

Naruto didn’t respond with words. Instead, he surged forward, his boots barely skimming the water as he swung the Zweihander in a crushing diagonal arc, the blade slicing down with brutal speed. Zabuza stepped back, pivoting smoothly as the blade grazed past him, kicking up a splash of water.

“You’re quick,” Zabuza remarked as he spun his massive blade in a sweeping horizontal arc, aiming low to take out Naruto’s legs.

Zabuza underestimated Naruto and intended to give him a painful death rather than a quick one.

Naruto shifted immediately into his low stance, bringing his sword down to meet his opponent’s. The clash of steel rang out across the water as Naruto angled his blade to deflect Zabuza’s strike upward. The force of the parry created an opening, and Naruto surged forward, aiming a thrust at Zabuza’s chest with the tip of his sword using an extended grip.

Zabuza twisted his body at the last second, letting the blade skim past his ribs. His blade came up in a short, brutal cut aimed at the boy’s torso.

Naruto stepped back, switching fluidly to his forward-pointing stance directly at Zabuza, creating a defensive barrier that kept the older swordsman at bay. Zabuza tested the distance with a quick feint, but Naruto’s tip followed his movements, controlling the range and keeping him out of reach.

“Not bad,” Zabuza muttered. His movements shifted, becoming looser, almost lazy, as he began circling Naruto. It was clear he was trying to bait Naruto into overextending.

Naruto recognized the tactic immediately. He dropped his blade into the fool’s guard.

“You think you can trick me with that amateur stance?” Zabuza sneered, lunging forward with a vertical slash aimed at Naruto’s exposed side.

Naruto’s trap snapped shut. With a sudden burst of movement, he pivoted on his back foot, his grip sliding along the pommel in a smooth motion as he brought the Zweihander up in a brutal diagonal cut. The sheer force of the counter knocked Zabuza’s blade off-course, forcing him to stagger back.

Zabuza grunted, his grip tightening on the Kubikiribōchō as he adjusted his stance. He shifted low, one foot forward, the blade angled for a precise, slicing attack. He darted in, closing the distance with assassin-like speed, his sword coming down in a quick, calculated strike aimed at Naruto’s weapon arm.

Naruto used a sliding grip to whip his greatsword across his body, the massive blade parrying the strike with a sharp clang.

The two swordsmen circled each other, their boots creating faint ripples on the water’s surface.



Naruto and Zabuza’s swords locked together grinding against each other in a brutal bind. Sparks flew from the clashing steel as their feet danced across the rippling water, each fighter adjusting their stance.

Naruto gritted his teeth, pushing hard against the sheer weight of Zabuza’s blade. His arms strained, but he shifted his grip into the standard lever position, using the pommel for extra control to redirect Zabuza’s force. Zabuza responded immediately, twisting his blade and stepping to the side, forcing Naruto to adjust and maintain the bind.

They moved in a deadly waltz, neither giving an inch as their swords remained locked together. The water splashed beneath their boots as they twisted, pivoted, and pushed each other to maintain the upper hand. Zabuza pressed forward, forcing Naruto back toward a deeper part of the river.

“You like playing with your food?”

Zabuza snorted. “No,” he said simply. “I was interested to see what you’d do. A greatsword like yours is barely—if ever—used by shinobi. You could say this was a moment of… interest. It allowed you to live this long.”

Naruto smirked, stepping to the side as he broke the bind with a quick pivot, resetting into his forward-pointing stance, the

Zweihander aimed directly at Zabuza’s centerline. “Well, thanks for the chance, I guess,” he said. “But, honestly, look—despite having no eyebrows, you seem like a cool dude. So why don’t you just, I don’t know, leave? Or something?”

Zabuza barked a short, humorless laugh, bringing the Kubikiribōchō into a horizontal guard. “Not how this works, kid,” he said, stepping forward with a sharp, measured swing. Naruto parried, sliding his grip up the pommel for better control. Their swords locked again, the bind forcing their faces close enough for Naruto to see the faint glimmer of amusement in Zabuza’s eyes.

“I’m a shinobi,” Zabuza said, pushing hard into the bind. “As long as we get paid, we kill. That’s what it means to be a shinobi.”

Naruto remained quiet, his blue eyes narrowing slightly as he absorbed Zabuza’s words.

“What? Not going to spew some idealistic nonsense about how shinobi aren’t supposed to be like that?”

Naruto shrugged, breaking the bind with a sudden push and sliding into his low stance, the Zweihander pointed forward like a spear. “Eh,” he said. “I don’t really care. I prefer the role of a knight anyway… or a squire.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Naruto grinned, the tip of his sword steady as he moved to keep Zabuza in range. “Precept the seventh,” he said, his voice taking on a quieter, almost reverent tone. “’A knight must stand as the light in the darkness, unyielding even in the face of despair.’”

“Precept the Seventh: A knight does not barter his blade, for his sword is sworn to those who cannot defend themselves. To trade life for coin is to weigh the worth of one’s soul in silver and find it gravely lacking.”

“What?”

“My master taught me that,” Naruto explained.

“Your master,” Zabuza said quietly, his voice losing some of its edge. “He must’ve been someone worth respecting. There aren’t many like that left in this world.”

Naruto blinked, surprised.

“How about this, kid?” Zabuza said. “If you want to honor your master so much, here’s an offer: kill your team, kill that bridge builder, and walk away. Do that, and I’ll let you live.”

“Guess you really did lose your brain along with your eyebrows.”

“You’re young. Foolish. Still clinging to your lofty ideals,” Zabuza sneered. “But let me tell you something, boy. You don’t know what it means to live in this world. Not yet.”

He took a step forward. “Tell me, back on that dock… when the helmsman was about to be killed, why did you move to protect that builder? Why did you care about him?”

Naruto said nothing.

“It wasn’t because of some knightly ‘precept’ or your so-called honor, was it?” He tilted his head mockingly, his voice turning sharp. “It was because you were hired to protect him. You were paid. You did it for the same reason I kill.”

Naruto said nothing as Zabuza took the opportunity to glance at the other two. Sakura and Sasuke were in a hushed discussion, their expressions flickering between shock and wariness.

Did they really think a genin could stall me? Zabuza thought. He sometimes forgot how fast Shinobi battles were to outsiders. What had felt like an eternity of exchanged strikes with Naruto had barely lasted a minute in real time.

“What?” Sasuke’s voice cut through the mist, his tone sharp and taunting. “Did our weakest member actually give you trouble?”

Zabuza rolled his eyes.

“I can create barriers over long distances!” Sakura snapped.

Sasuke turned to her, giving her a flat, unimpressed look.

Thankfully before the demon of the mist could act, Naruto finally broke his silence.

“I couldn’t save Kojiro-san,” the boy said suddenly, his voice quiet but heavy with emotion. “Because I was weak. Not because I was like you.”

Naruto unequipped it, the massive blade vanishing in a shimmer.

“Honestly,” Naruto continued, “it was my mistake to let you get into my head. Precept the Eight: Speak no words to the wicked; give them no chance to justify their deeds. The only language a monster understands is the cold bite of steel.”

Zabuza’s eyes widened and then he felt it—a massive buildup of chakra radiating from Naruto.

The demon of the mist felt it: killer intent stronger than his own.

It struck like a tidal wave, brief but devastating. For a fraction of a second, Zabuza wasn’t on the mist-shrouded battlefield. He was standing in the middle of a broken asylum, the air thick with decay and despair. The walls were cracked and stained, the flickering light casting long, jagged shadows. At the far end of the asylum, two massive doors rattled violently, the sound of frenzied banging echoing through the empty halls. Whatever was behind those doors wanted out, and the sheer force of its presence made Zabuza’s chest tighten.

And then, just as quickly as it came, it was gone.

Zabuza found himself back on the battlefield, the oppressive mist swirling around him.

That should be impossible, Zabuza thought, his mind racing as he remembered that weak killer intent could induce the sensation of fear, a primal unease. But strong killer intent? That could create visuals, break the mind’s defenses, and drag someone into their own subconscious horrors.

And Naruto—this brat, this loudmouth genin—had unleashed killer intent strong enough to do just that. Even if it was only for a second, Zabuza had felt it, seen it. It made no sense.

Naruto’s shout shattered the man’s thoughts.

“Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

A dozen shadow clones lunged at Zabuza with reckless abandon, their Zweihanders swinging in wide, heavy arcs. The Demon of the Mist cut them down effortlessly. The water exploded around him with each swing, mist and chakra residue mingling in the air.

But it was all a distraction.

From the mist, Naruto appeared with seven clones flanking him. Each one raised a glowing, flickering flame in their hands—the Pyromancy Flame. The heat was immediate and oppressive, cutting through the chilled dampness of the mist like a knife. Steam hissed and rose, obscuring the battlefield further as the mist began to warp and shift under the intense heat.

The faint, choking coolness that had clung to Zabuza moments before was now replaced by a dry, suffocating heat.

Eight fireballs launched forward, streaking through the dissipating mist like comets. The flames roared, their heat pulsing with every rotation as they flew toward Zabuza. He didn’t hesitate—letting go of his control over the mist, Zabuza dropped into the water below, vanishing into the depths like a phantom.

Beneath the water’s surface, Zabuza’s form blurred as he moved with practiced ease. The water was a kiri shinobi’s domain, and here he was a predator in his natural habitat. The currents around him shifted unnaturally as he manipulated the water itself with chakra to propel him forward, his movements near silent.

Suddenly, Zabuza saw Naruto leap high into the air. The boy’s shadow moved against the dissipating mist, outlined by the flames still hanging in the air.

Why?

The thought barely passed through Zabuza’s mind before he felt it—a massive build-up of chakra beneath the water. His eyes snapped downward, and he saw Sasuke crouched on the riverbed, holding the glowing Drake Sword in his hands. Floating beside him was an empty Estus Flask.

With a single swing, Sasuke brought the sword down, releasing its innate power. The water exploded in a massive arc, a shockwave parting the river with a deafening roar.

“Water Style: Geyser Jutsu!”

The water beneath him erupted, launching him upward at incredible speed, away from Sasuke’s strike and toward Naruto, who waited mid-air.

But Naruto wasn’t alone.

Twenty shadow clones formed around him in perfect unison, each holding a talisman. The clones surrounded Zabuza in a circle as they activated the Force Miracle.

A shockwave rippled outward, slamming into Zabuza from all directions. The attack was designed to stunlock him, freezing him in place long enough for Sasuke’s Drake Sword to finish the job and free Kakashi from his prison.

But Naruto’s confident smirk faded as Zabuza’s form melted into water, dissipating harmlessly into the air.

A water clone?!

The real Zabuza burst out of the water near the edge of the battlefield, directly in front of Kakashi’s Water Prison. He had used the Water Style: Sailfish Jutsu to propel himself at incredible speeds through the water, bypassing Naruto and Sasuke’s carefully laid trap.

“Water Style: Tidal Wave Jutsu!”

Zabuza slammed his palm onto the surface of the river.

The water surged and swelled unnaturally, rising into a massive wave that towered over the dock.

The shockwave from the wave’s impact split the river, shattering the remaining mist and sending planks of the dock, debris, and Naruto’s clones flying in all directions. The sound was deafening, a cacophony of roaring water and cracking wood. When the wave subsided, the battlefield was a chaotic mess of floating wreckage and broken waterlines.

Zabuza’s breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling as water dripped from his form. But before he could act, a massive Fūma Shuriken spun toward him.

As the weapons flew toward their target, Sakura clapped her hands together and shouted with confidence, “You lose! I’ll trap you in my barriers!”

Without hesitation, he swung his Kubikiribōchō and the moment steel met steel, the Fūma Shuriken erupted in a violent explosion.

Zabuza’s eyes widened as the hidden explosive tag Sakura had carefully planted detonated, the force of the blast engulfing him. Before he could recover, the second shuriken followed.

Sakura stood firm, her hands lowering slightly as the smoke began to clear.

In truth, Sakura couldn’t have activated her barriers at such a range—it was all a calculated bluff to make Zabuza focus on defending against the shuriken. And it worked.

But the dissipating smoke revealed Zabuza’s silhouette, bloodied and battered but still standing. The burns and cuts across his body told the story of just how much damage the explosions had inflicted, but his gaze remained as sharp as ever.

Naruto landed on the water’s surface, his body flickering as he surged forward with incredible speed.

The momentum from his Shunshin combined with the lack of air resistance turned Naruto into a blur, his blade poised for a devastating stab at Zabuza’s chest. The sheer velocity of his attack sent a shockwave across the water, parting it briefly as he closed the distance in an instant.

“Water Style: Pressure Dome Jutsu!”

Water surged upward, surrounding Naruto in a massive sphere that compressed inward from all directions. The weight of the water was immense, pressing against Naruto’s armor and restricting his movements. He struggled to lift his arms, but the crushing force pinned him in place.

The only thing saving Naruto was his armor and his innate damage resistance, but even that was beginning to waver under the relentless pressure.

Sakura’s eyes widened in horror as she saw Naruto trapped. Without hesitation, she started sprinting across the water toward him, chakra flowing to her feet.

“Hang on, Naruto!” she shouted.

But before she could reach him, a clone of Zabuza emerged from the water, cutting her off.

Sakura skidded to a halt, panic flashing across her face.

Suddenly, from beneath the water, Sasuke burst upward, his blade slicing cleanly through the clone and dispelling it.

The water pressed in from all sides, crushing, suffocating. Naruto’s limbs felt like lead, every inch of his body pinned under the immense pressure. The dome was heavy—unnaturally so, as if it carried the weight of the ocean itself. He couldn’t breathe properly, every gasp taking in more water than air, his lungs burning as he fought to stay conscious.

This thing is going to kill me.

The thought pierced through the fog in his mind, clear and undeniable. He wasn’t strong enough to break this. His Zweihander was useless in this cramped, crushing space. But Naruto wasn’t one to give up. He immediately unequipped the Zweihander, the sudden absence of its massive size creating a small gap in the dome for a fleeting second.

In that moment, Naruto raised his Pyromancy Flame, trying to cast a Fireball. But nothing happened.

His heart sank as he realized he had used up all his fireball spells.

Damn it!

Desperate, Naruto clung to the Pyromancy Flame, forcing chakra into it. He didn’t know if it would work, but he didn’t have another choice. He poured everything he had into the flame, huge amounts of chakra feeding the flickering ember.

The Pyromancy Flame burned brighter and brighter, the heat radiating through the water like a tiny sun. But it wasn’t enough. The dome fought back, compressing harder, and the flame began to sear his hand. The pain was excruciating, but Naruto grit his teeth and kept going.


Outside the Dome sakura stood frozen for only a moment. The water swirled violently, shimmering with the chakra Zabuza poured into it.

“Sasuke!” she shouted. “Tell me where the jutsu is weakest!”

Sasuke’s crimson Sharingan spun furiously as he analyzed the dome, his eyes locking onto the faint fluctuations in the water. “There!”

Sakura focused her chakra, pouring it into her arms and legs as she enhanced her strength. She pulled out a kunai, wrapped it with explosive tags, and hurled it. The kunai flew straight and true, embedding itself into the weak point of the dome.

The explosion sent a shockwave through the water, shattering the dome and releasing Naruto in a surge of broken waves.


Naruto lunged forward like a beast unleashed. His Pyromancy Flame still burned brightly in his hand, the flickering fire twisting and coiling like it had a mind of its own. Chakra radiated off him in waves, oppressive and suffocating, and with it came his killer intent.

Zabuza froze for a fraction of a second, his instincts flaring as the scene before him shifted.

It wasn’t Naruto he saw lunging at him.

It was the Hellkite Wyvern.

For the briefest moment, Naruto’s flaming hand morphed in Zabuza’s mind, becoming the gaping maw of a massive wyvern, flames licking at its jaws. Its roar echoed in his ears, primal and terrifying.

No… something far greater than a wyvern. In that moment, Naruto was a dragon.

Zabuza jumped back just in time to avoid Naruto’s blazing strike, the flames grazing his throat as he retreated across the water. But before he could regain his footing, Sasuke appeared out of nowhere, his leg swinging in a sharp tornado kick aimed at Zabuza’s side.

Zabuza blocked the kick, the Kubikiribōchō meeting Sasuke’s leg with a sharp clang. But instead of feeling resistance, the boy exploded into a puff of smoke.

“A clone?!” Zabuza snarled, spinning around just in time to see the real Sasuke erupt from the water, his body propelled by Zabuza’s own Water Style: Sailfish Jutsu. The Drake Sword gleamed as it tore through several water clones, dispelling them in a cascade of droplets.

The water prison holding Kakashi shattered, and the Copy Ninja emerged from the depths, his white hair plastered against his face, his expression dark.

Kakashi stood on the water’s surface, his chest heaving as he took in the battlefield. His visible eye scanned the scene, lingering on his students—Sasuke on his knees, Naruto holding his burning hand, Sakura rushing toward them.

His heart swelled with pride at how far they had come, but it was immediately followed by a surge of fury as his gaze locked onto Zabuza. His students had risked everything, and Zabuza had pushed them to the brink.

“First Gate: The Gate of Opening… open.”

“Second Gate: The Gate of Healing… open.”

A surge of chakra exploded from his body, rippling outward in an almost visible wave.

A sonic boom cracked through the battlefield as Kakashi appeared directly in front of Zabuza, his foot swinging in a brutal, lightning-fast arc. The impact was devastating. Zabuza’s body launched like a cannonball, skidding across the water’s surface, creating ripples and waves in his wake.

The demon of the mist coughed as he pushed himself up, his body aching from the force of the blow. He didn’t hesitate, forming rapid hand seals. “Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!”

The river churned violently as a massive dragon made of water rose from the surface, its serpentine body towering high into the air. With a guttural roar, it surged toward Kakashi, the sheer force of its movement splitting the water in its wake.

But Kakashi was faster.

His hands blurred as he performed his own set of seals.

“Water Style: Water Hydra Jutsu!”

The river erupted violently, splitting apart as three massive hydra heads burst from the surface. Each head was larger and more monstrous than Zabuza’s water dragon, their jaws filled with swirling torrents of water that mimicked teeth.

The hydra roared as it lunged forward, each head moving in perfect synchronization. The first head clamped its jaws around Zabuza’s water dragon, crushing it instantly. The second head coiled around the remnants, scattering them into harmless droplets that rained down on the battlefield. The third head surged forward, slamming into Zabuza and the dock.

The dock shattered under the hydra’s immense force, the wooden planks exploding into splinters and debris. Waves rippled outward, swallowing the remains of the platform as the hydra continued its rampage.

The sight was apocalyptic.

The sheer power of the technique left the battlefield in ruins, the once-calm river now a chaotic sea of swirling currents and broken wood.

Zabuza was nowhere to be seen.

Kakashi’s Sharingan scanned the battlefield, his instincts sharp. The Demon of the Mist could have been obliterated by the hydra, or he could be hiding. Either way, Kakashi wasn’t about to take chances. He moved toward the area where Zabuza had last stood, ready to decapitate the body to ensure the kill.

But before he could act, a scream cut through the silence.

Kakashi turned sharply, his Sharingan catching it immediately: Naruto, thrashing and screaming at the top of his lungs as Sakura tried to hold him down.

Flames engulfed Naruto’s right hand, wild and uncontrollable, burning with an unnatural intensity. Kakashi’s eye widened as his Sharingan saw the pyromancy flame hungrily devouring its host. The heat was palpable even from a distance, radiating off Naruto’s hand like a small sun. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, sharp and nauseating, as the flames charred the gauntlet protecting Naruto’s hand.

Kakashi acted immediately, appearing beside Naruto in a blur. Without hesitation, he placed two fingers against Naruto’s bicep, cutting off the chakra flow to his arm. He didn’t know the Gentle Fist like the Hyūga, but his Sharingan had copied enough of their techniques for him to replicate it in a moment like this.

The flames sputtered and flickered before extinguishing with a hiss, leaving behind a trail of acrid smoke.

But the damage was done.

Kakashi grabbed Naruto’s arm and carefully removed the gauntlet, channeling chakra into his own hands to protect them from the lingering heat. The metal was still searing, but he forced it off, revealing the extent of the injury beneath.

Naruto’s hand was blackened and cracked, the skin burned away to reveal charred muscle beneath. The flesh looked brittle, as if it would crumble at the slightest touch, and small wisps of smoke still rose from the tips of his fingers.

Kakashi’s stomach churned at the sight. He had seen severe burns before, but this was something else.

Naruto gasped, his body trembling violently as pain wracked his entire being. His vision swam, his breathing shallow and uneven. Every nerve in his arm screamed in agony, the pain so intense that he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.

A notification appeared in his mind, faint and distant through the haze of pain:

[ Warning: Naruto Uzumaki has been burned by Pyromancy Flame and afflicted by the Curse of the Witch. ]

[ Right Hand is severely burned and unusable. ]

As Naruto’s body went limp, Kakashi immediately moved into action. He knelt beside the boy, quickly removing the helmet from Naruto’s head to help him breathe more easily. Beads of sweat clung to Naruto’s forehead, his face pale beneath the streaks of soot and blood.

Kakashi’s sharp eyes moved to Naruto’s burnt hand, the charcoal-like flesh glistening faintly in the light. He grimaced but stayed composed. There wasn’t much he could do to heal it now, but he could at least ease the pain.

He pulled a small pouch from his medical kit, retrieving thin, gleaming senbons. “Hold on, Naruto,” he murmured. Kakashi learned know any medical ninjutsu, but he’d studied enough field medicine for emergencies like this.

With precision, he inserted the needles into key pressure points around Naruto’s shoulder and arm, numbing the nerves that connected to the damaged hand. He worked quickly, his Sharingan spinning faintly as it guided his movements, ensuring no missteps. One by one, the senbons slid into place, dulling the pain radiating from Naruto’s injury.

Kakashi exhaled, satisfied with his work, and gently lifted Naruto into his arms, holding him bridal style. The boy’s chest rose and fell faintly, his breathing shallow but steady.

“Sensei… is Naruto going to be okay?”

“Don’t worry,” Kakashi said softly. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Sakura nodded, though the fear in her eyes remained as her gaze flickered to Naruto’s burnt hand. The sight of it made her stomach churn, but she forced herself to be strong.

“Sasuke, Sakura,” Kakashi said. “Go get Tazuna-san.”

The two genin nodded in unison, their eyes lingering on Naruto for a moment longer before they turned and ran toward the collapsed old man lying near the edge of the destroyed dock.

Reaching into his pouch, Kakashi pulled out a small container of chakra pills. He tossed two into his mouth, chewing quickly. The bitter taste was harsh, but the surge of energy that followed was enough to keep him standing. It wasn’t a permanent fix—chakra pills were a crutch, not a solution—but right now, his team needed him functional.

Kakashi turned to look at the destroyed dock, the shattered wood and rippling water painting a grim picture of the battle. He would’ve loved to find Zabuza’s corpse, to ensure the man was dead and take his head back to Konoha as proof, but that wasn’t the priority anymore.

Setting Naruto down gently on the least damaged section of the dock, Kakashi formed a quick hand seal. “Summoning Jutsu.”

With a puff of smoke, Pakkun appeared The sharp-nosed ninken sniffed once, his eyes immediately landing on Naruto’s unconscious form.

“Kakashi, what happened here? And what happened to the brat?”

“I don’t know,” Kakashi admitted, glancing at Naruto’s burned hand before shaking his head. He pulled a scroll from his pouch, unrolling it and scribbling a message.

Pakkun hopped closer, reading over Kakashi’s shoulder.

“Get this to the Hokage immediately,” Kakashi instructed. “Don’t give it to anyone else. Team 7 requests backup and medical assistance.”

“Understood.”

The small dog bit down on the scroll, securing it in his mouth before disappearing in another puff of smoke, heading straight for Konoha.

Kakashi turned back to Naruto. The boy’s head rested against his chest, his body still trembling faintly from the aftershocks of pain.

Sasuke and Sakura returned moments later, Tazuna leaning heavily on Sasuke’s shoulder. The old man’s face was pale, his hands clutching his chest as he looked at Naruto in Kakashi’s arms.

“Sensei…” Sasuke said, his voice trailing off as his eyes fell to Naruto.

“Don’t stop now,” Kakashi said. “We need to move. Get to Tazuna-san’s house. I’ll explain everything when we’re safe.”

The team nodded, the weight of the battle still heavy on their shoulders. Kakashi led the way, his steps steady despite his chakra exhaustion, as Team 7 disappeared into the mist, heading toward the safety of Tazuna’s home.

When the coast was finally clear, a faint shimmer rippled through the air as a mirror of ice materialized amidst the broken dock and swirling mist. From its smooth, reflective surface, Haku and Zabuza emerged, though Zabuza nearly collapsed the moment his feet touched the ground.

Haku immediately moved to his side, catching him before he fell completely. “Zabuza-sama,” Haku said softly, concern lacing his voice. He removed his hunter-nin mask, his breathing heavy from the effort of using the ice mirror to extract them unnoticed.

“You… were slow in getting me out.”

“I’m sorry, Zabuza-sama,” Haku replied. “I had to ensure Kakashi Hatake’s jutsu was fully executed before moving, so no one could trace my actions.” He glanced at Zabuza’s damaged body. “But I failed… I wasn’t able to protect your beautiful body from injury.”

Zabuza let out a rasping chuckle that ended in a cough, blood flecking his lips. “You talk too much, Haku,” he said, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness. His gaze drifted toward the mist-covered battlefield, his brows furrowing as his mind lingered on what had transpired. “The enemy this time was…” He trailed off, his frown deepening.

“Something wrong, Zabuza-sama?”

“That boy,” Zabuza said quietly, his voice distant. The memory of Naruto lunging at him burned in his mind—the overwhelming chakra, the terrifying killer intent, and the vision of the Hellkite Wyvern. Even now, the image sent a faint chill through him.

“Not just that boy,” Haku said softly. Zabuza’s frown deepened as he begrudgingly acknowledged the truth. The other two genin had been more trouble than he wanted to admit.

Haku glanced down. “My apologize, I forgot to check all corners. If I had been more thorough—“

“You’re not the only one,” Zabuza cut him off gruffly. “I made the same mistake. Got too caught up in my own damn hubris.”

Haku noted the rare, unsettled expression on Zabuza’s face. “From my assessment, your injuries will take two weeks to heal completely, provided you rest,” Haku said. “You’ll need to stay immobile for most of that time.”

Zabuza remained silent.

“Look at the bright side, Zabuza-sama. Once this mission is over, you’ll have quite an expensive armor set, not to mention enough funds to move closer to your dream.”

Zabuza opened his eyes. “A mission,” he said. “Always remember this, Haku: dreams have no place with us. Only the mission matters.”

“Of course, Zabuza-sama.”

After a moment, Haku added, “So… next time, you’ll be fine?”

Zabuza let out a strained chuckle. “Next time,” he rasped, “I’ll make sure the mission is completed. One way or the other.”

____

[ Author Note: Well then, wasn’t that fun? Let’s dive into some explanations, shall we?

First, for those of you confused about why Naruto got the Curse of the Witch—allow me to explain. What is the Curse of the Witch, you ask? Simply put, it’s what happened to the Witch of Izalith when she tried to control the Chaos Flame. She was engulfed by it, her body transformed into that of a demon, and her entire kingdom turned into monsters. It’s a tragic tale of ambition and hubris, and Naruto essentially danced with the same fire.

By trying to feed his chakra into the Pyromancy Flame, Naruto thought he could brute-force his way into making the Fireball usable again. But in reality, he wasn’t “controlling” the flame; he was feeding fuel to an uncontrollable fire. The flame began to burn out of control, devouring his hand in the process. Had Kakashi not acted when he did to stop Naruto’s chakra flow, the flame would have completely consumed him. And yes, Naruto would have died.

Which brings up an interesting question, doesn’t it? What does happen if Naruto dies in the Shinobi world? Something tells me it wouldn’t just be a simple respawn like in Lordran… or would it? Let me know what you guys think—I haven’t fully explored that concept yet, but it’s definitely on my radar.

For now, though, Naruto’s right hand is effectively charcoal. Imagine it like this.




Now, onto the aftermath. With Kakashi sending a request for backup, we’re about to get some reinforcements. The big question is—who? Will it be Team Guy,? Team Asuma? Team Kurenai? Or maybe someone completely unexpected—like Anko or a wildcard character?

Who do you want to see step in and shake things up? Let me know, and I’ll make it happen!

Lastly, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Zabuza fight. Was it engaging? Easy to follow? Did the strategies and techniques make sense? Let me know what worked and what didn’t—I’m always looking to improve and make these battles as thrilling and immersive as possible.

Anyways, that’s all for now. Happy holidays! Take care, and stay tuned for what’s next!