The moment Kakashi and Sasuke laid eyes on the enemy, they almost couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Just a few moments earlier, both had been thinking to themselves, "There's no way an enemy would fall for this kind of taunt."
After all, ninjas are supposed to be calm and rational beings. It's incredibly difficult to provoke them into a rage.
Yet, not even five minutes had passed before they saw a towering man, nearly 1.8 meters tall, his eyes bloodshot and his body radiating heat like an enraged bull, charging toward them with a massive sword in hand. This guy was clearly infuriated by something Naruto had said.
Everyone, including the elderly Tazuna, gasped in shock.
"Hiss— Could it be that this guy really... likes men?"
"Wait... Does the Hidden Mist Village indulge in... such eccentric things? Or could there be some hidden truth behind the infamous 'Bloody Mist'?"
Kakashi couldn't help but wonder if the recent bizarre behavior from the Hidden Mist Village could be due to a male-loving Mizukage. Was their lockdown policy just a cover for hosting secret shadow parties within the village?
Good grief! What a terrifying thought!
The three men on the scene all visibly tensed at this realization, their bodies instinctively tightening in a shared motion.
Beware of the Hidden Mist's male enthusiasts!
At that moment, Zabuza's mind went completely blank. The rage within him surged like a volcano ready to erupt.
"You little brat!" he growled. "I'm going to kill you!"
Zabuza had completely lost his cool. He didn't care about strategy, didn't care about sneak attacks or ninja techniques—he just wanted to charge in and cut Naruto down with his executioner's blade.
No one here was leaving alive today!
Of course, Zabuza wouldn't normally be this angry. The main reason was that Haku was nearby. What if that blonde brat's taunts made Haku misunderstand? That would be a disaster.
Hiding in the mist, Haku's gaze softened as he looked toward Zabuza, his thoughts lingering on the words Naruto had said earlier. His heart was pounding in his chest.
"So... was Zabuza-sama really thinking this all along?"
Naruto's mockery had clearly hit its mark, and now Zabuza only wanted to cut him down before even thinking about the mission.
First, silence the brat.
Whoosh—
Zabuza swung his massive blade, the Executioner's Blade, slicing through the air with a fierce sound. As he approached, Naruto felt as if his entire body was being pricked by needles, every sense screaming that this opponent was far stronger than anything he had faced before.
Eager to test his strength, Naruto pulled out his trusty iron door—yes, an actual door—and braced himself for the clash with Zabuza's blade. This thing had proven so reliable in battle that Naruto was already thinking about whether he could enchant it later.
Clang!
The moment the iron door met the Executioner's Blade, sparks flew, accompanied by a piercing metallic screech that set everyone's teeth on edge.
Zabuza stared in disbelief for two full seconds.
That blond brat... was holding up a door—one that was taller than he was—and had used it to block the attack?
What was this kid's deal?
If Zabuza hadn't caught a glimpse of Naruto's Leaf Village forehead protector earlier in the battle, he would've seriously doubted whether this kid was even a ninja.
Who fights like this?
Meanwhile, Sasuke, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't stop trembling. His gaze was fixed on Zabuza's Executioner's Blade.
Sakura, noticing Sasuke's strange behavior, leaned over with concern.
"Sasuke, are you okay? You look like—"
"Xuan Zhong Ruler!"
Sakura blinked, confused. "Huh? What's that?"
Pointing at the massive Executioner's Blade, Sasuke, with a glint of excitement and greed in his eyes, continued, "Ever since I read that novel, I've been imagining myself wielding a giant weapon like the protagonist Xiao Yan."
Previously, Sasuke's ideal weapon was something sleek, like a katana. But after reading that novel, his dreams shifted to something bigger—much bigger.
Now, seeing the Executioner's Blade, it felt as if it was calling to him.
I must have that weapon!
As Sasuke started laughing to himself, both Kakashi and Sakura exchanged puzzled glances, unable to understand what was going on with him.
Not to mention...
That was the Hidden Mist's Executioner's Blade, not some "Xuan Zhong Ruler." What on earth was Sasuke thinking?
Kakashi felt a bad premonition creeping in. For some reason, Sasuke was starting to remind him more and more of Naruto.
"I'm going to help Naruto!" Sasuke suddenly declared, his body crackling with electricity as he disappeared from his spot. His speed was so fast that even Kakashi was surprised.
Clearly, Sasuke had cranked up his Lightning Style to its maximum output, driven by his obsession with the blade.
Zzzzt—
As Naruto continued to clash with Zabuza, trading blow after blow, both could hear the crackle of electricity approaching.
Knowing it was Sasuke, Naruto shouted, "Sasuke! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Hm?"
Zabuza, however, didn't wait for Sasuke to act. He kicked the door Naruto was holding, sending a shock through the metal and straight to Naruto, who had been distracted, waiting for Sasuke's move. The force sent Naruto reeling back five steps.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Sasuke finally made his move, launching a fireball toward Zabuza. Though Naruto had told him to use Thunderbolt, Sasuke chose to go with something a bit more... fiery.
The fireball's intense heat clashed with the surrounding mist, making it even denser.
Seeing this, Sasuke grinned to himself.
Got him!
This opponent wasn't so tough after all.
"Heh, nice sword you've got there," Sasuke smirked. "It's mine now!"
Naruto could only sigh inwardly at Sasuke's premature celebration. Everyone knew it was a major mistake to pop the champagne before the battle was over.
And... there was no way a small Fireball Jutsu would take down someone like Zabuza. It was clearly one of those "all smoke, no fire" situations.
Just as Naruto predicted, the air was soon filled with a whistling sound.
Damn it!
Zabuza was coming straight for him!
Had Sasuke's attack failed to draw the boss's aggro?
"You brat! I'll make sure you die here!"
"You've angered me enough!" Zabuza shouted, raising his Executioner's Blade high, ready to sever Naruto's head just as his weapon's name implied.
Naruto, feeling the blade getting closer, didn't even flinch. Instead, he launched himself forward, aiming a headbutt directly at Zabuza's gut.
Come on! Let's settle this with a taijutsu brawl!
Whoever backs down is Akamaru!
Zabuza hadn't expected Naruto to get so close. He had been planning his next move to chase down the brat, but now that Naruto had closed the gap, his initial attack missed.
Still, it wasn't a big deal. After all, what kind of strength could a kid barely in his teens muster?
"Haaah—"
Naruto's head struck Zabuza's stomach with enough force to fold the Demon of the Mist in half, sending him flying backward like a shrimp. Zabuza's eyes bulged in shock as his mind went completely blank. His brain was buzzing, and there was only one thought left in his head:
What the hell is this kid?
How does he have this much strength?
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