The air was thick with mist as the fight continued to rage. Kakashi stood in front of Zabuza, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, his Sharingan activated and focused. Zabuza, despite his immense strength and skill, seemed to be faltering. His sword was heavier now, his swings slower, and his breath ragged. Kakashi had managed to match every one of Zabuza's moves, and now the time had come to finish it.
Zabuza snarled, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Kakashi with contempt. "You think you can win this? You... who are you to challenge me?"
Kakashi's expression remained neutral, his Sharingan whirling as he calculated his next move. He wasn't just fighting Zabuza anymore. He was fighting for the safety of his team, and he wouldn't allow anything—anything—to stand in his way. The mist swirled around them, but it wasn't enough to hide the determination in Kakashi's eyes.
Without another word, Kakashi moved. His speed was unparalleled, even for someone like Zabuza, who was notorious for his own quick reflexes. Kakashi feinted left, dodged right, and before Zabuza could react, he was struck. A quick slash across his chest forced Zabuza back, his sword falling from his hands, his body trembling as blood oozed from the wound.
"It's over, Zabuza," Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm. He then followed up with a precise strike that sent Zabuza to his knees.
The once fearsome warrior slumped to the ground, his body twitching in exhaustion and pain. Kakashi sheathed his sword and turned away, already thinking ahead. Zabuza had been strong, but Kakashi had fought harder. He knew this wasn't the end for Zabuza, but for now, it was a victory—one that would ensure his team's safety.
Switch to Naruto's POV
The battle with Haku had escalated quickly, but Naruto, in his berserk state, was barely able to control the Nine-Tails chakra. His eyes, glowing with a feral red, saw everything in slow motion, like the world was both moving and still at the same time. Every movement felt more powerful, his senses sharper than ever. But there was a deep, gnawing feeling at the back of his mind, a warning that screamed this power came at a terrible cost.
His body trembled as the Nine-Tails chakra coursed through him, threatening to overwhelm his mind. He wanted to stop, to push back against the overwhelming rage, but the force of the chakra was too strong.
"Damn it...!" Naruto thought, gritting his teeth. "I need to control it! I need to—!"
But just as he was about to give in to the power, he felt a strange pull, like a heavy weight dragging him down. His chakra flared out uncontrollably, and the power within him surged, trying to break free.
Before he could react, a strange sensation washed over him—calm, like a soothing balm. His chakra seemed to quiet, the dangerous energy receding slowly, and with it, the red hue in his eyes began to fade.
Kakashi had placed a seal on him.
Naruto looked down in confusion as he felt the connection between himself and the Nine-Tails' chakra weaken. The tail-like energy that had surged through him was now gone, leaving him feeling strangely empty, as if something vital had been taken from him.
Switch to Kakashi's POV
Kakashi sighed inwardly, his hand still resting on the seal he'd placed on Naruto. He had seen the boy struggle with the Nine-Tails' chakra for long enough. If this continued, Naruto's connection with the beast would only grow stronger—and harder to control. Kakashi had no choice but to suppress the chakra, at least for now. It wasn't ideal, but it was the safest option for Naruto and for everyone else.
The mission wasn't over yet.
Kakashi turned away from the fight, not sparing another glance at Zabuza's fallen form. He quickly approached his team, who were all gathering near Naruto, watching him with concern.
"The battle's over," Kakashi called out as he walked toward them. "We're heading back. Naruto, we'll talk later."
Naruto, his eyes still unfocused, nodded weakly as he pushed himself to his feet, the last remnants of the Nine-Tails chakra slowly slipping from him. He felt strange—weak, almost—and yet, something inside of him felt... different. Like a part of him had been removed.
Kakashi didn't have the time to explain, however. He knew the mission was far from over. As he turned to leave, he spotted something from the corner of his eye.
A blur of movement. Haku.
Kakashi's senses flared, and before anyone could react, he was already on the move, his Sharingan activated. Haku appeared out of the mist, his figure flickering in and out of sight.
"I can't let you take him," Kakashi muttered to himself, a hint of annoyance in his voice. He knew Haku was going to come after Zabuza's body—it was inevitable. The mist-nin would try to take Zabuza's body back for a proper burial, or perhaps something more. But Kakashi wasn't going to let that happen, not with Zabuza's dangerous nature and the chaos still surrounding the mission.
Haku's eyes widened in recognition as he saw Kakashi approach. But it was too late. Kakashi had already taken the body of Zabuza and was moving fast.
Haku leaped forward, determined to stop him, but Kakashi was faster. He was a ninja of many skills, and speed was one of them. Carrying Zabuza's body over his shoulder, Kakashi darted through the trees, his movements smooth and deliberate, pushing forward even though his body was fatigued. His mind was focused solely on escaping, on getting Zabuza to safety.
But Haku was right behind him, cutting through the mist with ease, closing the distance between them.
Kakashi didn't slow down. He couldn't. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up the pace, but he had to hold on. This mission wasn't over.
He couldn't let Zabuza's death become a wasted effort.