Looking at Kakashi, trapped in Zabuza's Water Prison, Naruto's breath came in short gasps. With his Water Clone above them, the rogue Mist ninja stood confidently, one hand maintaining the prison in one piece. Even Sakura seemed scared, and Tazuna was shaking behind them.
"Fuck it! We can't just sit here." Naruto's fists were balled.
Sasuke gripped a kunai and narrowed his eyes. "We need a plan. It won't do to rush in."
The Water Clone of Zabuza smiled. "Oh. Planning? Against me? All you're doing is delaying your death."
Naruto clenched his jaw. His mind was racing. Then he thought of something.
He glanced over at Sasuke. "I have a plan. Do you trust me?"
Sasuke nodded and frowned. "Okay. Don't screw it up, please."
"Okay then. Let's give this guy something to see." Naruto grinned and ran forward, taking out a kunai. The Water Clone snarled and swung its massive sword, but at the last moment Naruto dodged under the swing and hurled his kunai at Sasuke, who jumped forward.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Enormous fireball yelled out of Sasuke's lips, consuming the Water Clone. Steam burst as fire and water collided, temporarily blocking the battlefield. "Fiolish." As the fog dissipated, however, Sasuke was already in motion, dashing past the clone and threw a shuriken at the actual Zabuza. "Too predictable." Zabuza sned.
He shifted his head, making the shuriken pass unseen. But after that—
Right behind Zabuza, Naruto suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke. "Freak, surprise!"
Naruto swung a kunai at Zabuza's arm before he had a chance to defend himself. The action rattled the Water Prison, but he was hardly able to turn back time.
Kakashi wasted no time. He vanished from the water the moment he was released. "Zabuza, you are defeated."
Zabuza's eyes widened. "What?"
Behind him, Kakashi came back with a kunai held to the throat of the rogue ninja. "It's over."
Zabuza grunted. But several senbon needles entered his neck as they hurtled through the air before he could react.
The rogue ninja steeled himself. His body convulsed, and he splashed into the water, face down.
A figure in a mask emerged from the trees. "Thanks for taking him down. I'll finish this."
Sasuke and Naruto whirled around, their weapons at the ready.
Kakashi loosened up a bit. "It's okay. He hails from the Hidden Mist and is a Hunter-nin. Eliminating renegade shinobi like Zabuza is their responsibility.
The masked ninja bowed. "I appreciate your assistance. I'll dispose of him now."
They lifted Zabuza's body and vanished into the trees.
Naruto frowned. "That was… too easy."
Kakashi sighed. "Don't lower your guard. Let's go to Tazuna's house first before something else occurs."
Tazuna's residence was a simple but strong house near the ocean. His daughter, Tsunami, greeted them with a hearty meal.
Kakashi massaged his temples and sat down heavily. "We have to talk. The fight wasn't over."
Naruto's eyes widened. "What are you saying? Didn't the masked man eliminate Zabuza?"
Kakashi shook his head. "No. The needles weren't fatal. He will come back."
Sasuke scowled. "Then we should have killed him ourselves."
Kakashi sighed. "It's not that simple. We train for the present. We need to be ready in case Zabuza comes back."
Naruto's fists balled up. He needed to get stronger. Fast. And he needed more than courage to do it.
He needed power.