"Hmph!" The water clone snorted coldly and looked at Naruto charging toward him.
"If I'm not mistaken, your Ninjutsu can only attack at close range!"
"So, at such a distance, do you think I'll just stand here and wait to die?!" the water clone said coldly.
"My sword is much longer than your arm!" Zabuza said, lifting his massive blade.
"Hmph." Sasuke, lying on the ground, sneered, "Idiot."
As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, something unexpected happened.
Just as the water clone raised its sword to strike, Naruto's figure suddenly flickered and disappeared from in front of him.
"What?!" The water clone widened his eyes, stunned by the empty space.
"Behind you!" On the water, Zabuza's real body narrowed his eyes and shouted.
He had actually seen the golden-haired brat shift from in front of the water clone to behind it.
"Is it space-time Ninjutsu?!" Zabuza exclaimed in shock.
"Well, who knows?" Kakashi casually turned the page of his photo album and smiled.
These guys coordinated beautifully.
Using Naruto's Shadow Clones to cover Sasuke's approach, Sakura coordinated movements by reading the clone's chakra with her Kagura Mind's Eye, and Sasuke took advantage of the distraction to place Naruto's Flying Thunder God mark.
Once the water clone was fully focused on Sasuke, Naruto slipped away unnoticed—teleporting behind the clone for the finishing blow.
Minimum risk. Maximum gain.
What perfect teamwork!
On the shore, the moment Zabuza's water clone received the warning, it was already too late.
Naruto's Rasengan slammed into its back, instantly shattering it.
"Success!" Sakura shouted with joy.
"You're a capable guy," Sasuke muttered coolly from the ground.
"Hehe…" Naruto rubbed his nose shyly and turned to look at Kakashi, still trapped in the water prison.
"Sensei, did we pass the trial?"
"Perfect," Kakashi said with a smile, closing his photo album.
"Yeah!"
On the shore, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all beamed with joy.
They had finally earned Kakashi's recognition—with their own strength.
"Well then, it's your turn next!" The three stood together, facing Zabuza's real body.
"Haha!" Zabuza chuckled. "You're capable. I underestimated you."
"You're indeed worthy of being added to my list," Zabuza said coldly.
"Too bad the listing comes with a death sentence."
As soon as he finished, Zabuza released the water prison and rushed straight at them.
These three kids were far too tricky. If given more time, he wouldn't be able to handle them.
So—he'd kill them now!
Zabuza vanished and reappeared behind the trio.
At that moment, the water prison dissolved, and Kakashi was freed.
"Go to hell!" Zabuza roared, swinging his sword downward.
If that blade connected, only Naruto might survive. Sasuke and Sakura wouldn't stand a chance.
But Naruto couldn't move fast enough to block it.
"And me!"
Just as Zabuza's sword was about to fall on Sakura, Kakashi's voice rang out.
Click!
Kakashi, charged with lightning chakra, appeared beside them in a flash.
Boom!
A metallic puppet appeared under Zabuza's sword and blocked the attack.
"I'm also part of Team 7," Kakashi said with a smug smile.
Though his soaking wet hair completely ruined the effect.
"Sorry I'm late," Kakashi said cheerfully. "From here on, it's between me and him."
The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.
What followed was a dazzling performance of Copy Ninja mastery—Kakashi unleashed a chain of precise and powerful techniques, leaving Zabuza overwhelmed.
Finally, Kakashi found his opening. He used Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique to blast Zabuza into a tree, knocking him unconscious.
As Kakashi approached to finish it, several Senbon needles flew from the forest, piercing Zabuza in the neck and seemingly killing him.
A masked hunter-nin appeared, exchanged a few brief words with Kakashi, and left with Zabuza's body.
After that, no more enemies appeared. Kakashi and his team safely escorted Tazuna back to the Land of Waves.
What they didn't expect was that while Tazuna was away, the Gato Corporation had destroyed the half-built bridge.
Everything had to start over.
When Naruto saw this, he was furious and declared he would stay and protect the Land of Waves until the bridge was completed.
He even contributed the bridge blueprint he had obtained from Haruto's Golden Egg Shop, which thrilled Tazuna.
The group stayed in the Land of Waves for the time being.
Everything proceeded just like in the original timeline. Kakashi taught the trio how to climb trees using chakra control.
Sakura, having read the Chakra Control Basics she got from Haruto's shop, mastered the technique immediately.
Naruto, however, struggled due to his massive chakra reserves and took over a week to succeed.
One night while training in the forest, he met a beautiful girl.
She said, "People grow stronger when they have something important to protect."
Naruto thought of Inari, Kakashi, and Iruka-sensei—and agreed.
The two talked comfortably, connecting like old friends.
But before she left, the girl said something shocking.
"Oh, by the way," she said earnestly, "I'm a boy."
"What?!" Naruto's mind broke.
"How can this be?! He's cuter than Sakura!"
Whatever small spark had flickered in Naruto's heart was ruthlessly crushed—and stomped on.
Later, through his persistence and actions, Naruto helped change Inari's mindset and lifted him out of the trauma of losing his adoptive father.
Eventually, thanks to Naruto's blueprint, the bridge construction advanced rapidly.
It was nearly complete—until all the bridge workers returned, battered and wounded.
End of the Chapter.
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