"Mr. Tazuna, we're almost there, and it looks like Gato hasn't noticed anything,"
the young man rowing the boat said as he glanced toward the shadow of the bridge ahead, letting out a breath of relief.
He knew the risk—leaving the island without Gato's permission, especially to pick up Tazuna, the man rebuilding the bridge. If caught, he likely wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.
"You've worked hard."
Tazuna tipped his hat, his face turning serious.
Carl, who overheard the exchange, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
He was well aware of what lay ahead—one near elite Jonin-level and one special jonin level enemies: Zabuza Momochi and Haku, a user of a bloodline limit.
Carl had a rough idea of what a Jonin's strength was like, having trained regularly with Chiriku. That was part of the reason he had wanted to join the mission to the Land of Waves in the first place.
Without Kakashi's power to rely on, he knew he couldn't face Zabuza and Haku alone.
Once they passed under the bridge, the fog cleared, and a beautiful island gradually appeared in the distance.
But the scene was far from peaceful. The houses were worn-down, the people onshore looked defeated and underfed, their faces void of hope.
"We've still got a bit of a walk. Follow me," Tazuna said after landing.
He led them through the rundown port town and onto a dirt path cloaked in thick forest.
"Hmph! Can't let Sasuke keep showing off!"
Naruto, who was walking just ahead of Carl, eyed Sasuke with irritation before dashing forward, pretending to scout the area like a seasoned ninja. He even threw a few kunai for good measure.
Of course, no one was fooled. Sakura immediately scolded him.
Meanwhile, Carl remained quietly alert.
His training as a monk had sharpened his senses, and just now, he had felt a chilling gaze sweep past him—full of murderous intent.
But he couldn't pinpoint where it had come from.
"There!"
Carl spotted something odd thanks to Naruto's kunai antics. He parted the dense brush at the side of the path and stepped forward carefully to investigate.
Naruto's kunai had embedded itself in the root of a large tree. Beneath it, a trembling white rabbit cowered in fear.
"Did someone use a substitution technique?"
Carl stayed sharp, pulling the kunai free and tossing it back to Naruto. Then, with a warm smile on his face, he scooped up the rabbit and returned to the others.
Kakashi, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes.
His years of experience told him this was no ordinary rabbit. Its clean white fur during the warmer season indicated it had been specially raised by a ninja—for use in Substitution Jutsu.
Off to the side, Sakura glared at Naruto.
"You almost killed an innocent rabbit, idiot!"
Carl returned to Tazuna, holding up the rabbit with a chuckle.
"Such a cute bunny… should we stew it in soy sauce, or steam it instead?"
Zabuza, who had just used that very rabbit for substitution, was perched in a tall tree. His eyes flinched at Carl's unexpected comment, which caused a small break in his otherwise perfect concealment.
That slight reaction was all Carl and Kakashi needed to confirm Zabuza's presence.
"Well, I've been marked. Time to go loud."
Knowing that Kakashi—the Copy Ninja—had likely spotted him, Zabuza stopped hiding. He pulled the massive Executioner's Blade from his back and hurled it down with force toward Tazuna.
"Everyone, get down!"
The oversized blade cut through the air like a spinning grinder, its attack radius wide enough to strike the entire group.
Kakashi instantly responded with the safest and most efficient tactic.
If he blocked the sword, he might leave himself open to an unseen attack. But if everyone hit the ground, they'd dodge it cleanly and stay alert for any ambush.
Carl admired Kakashi's decisiveness.
"As expected from an elite Jonin," he thought.
But unlike the others, Carl didn't hit the ground. He stayed focused, locked in, and as the Executioner's Blade flew toward them, he waited for just the right moment.
In a fluid motion, Carl leaned back, raised his monk staff, and—like threading a needle—jammed it into the ring-shaped hole of the giant sword. With his powerful core and balanced stance, he stopped the blade mid-flight, then yanked it backward with brute strength.
He wasn't afraid of a sneak attack—Kakashi had his back. What he wanted was to take Zabuza's weapon.
"What?"
Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly in surprise.
To stop that sword mid-flight, especially by inserting a staff through its ring and holding it steady without recoil, required insane levels of strength, speed, and precision.
This young monk from the Temple of Fire clearly had excellent physical skill.
It made sense, though. The Temple was renowned for taijutsu. Its current head, Chiriku, had once served as the Daimyo's bodyguard, same as Asuma. As his apprentice, Carl naturally inherited incredible physical prowess.
Elsewhere, Zabuza, having thrown his weapon, used Body Flicker to appear at the tree where it should've landed—only to find nothing there.
"…Where's my sword?"
Standing on the branch, Zabuza blinked in confusion.
His Executioner's Blade was gone.
"…Where's my sword!?"
His imposing entrance had failed spectacularly, leaving him momentarily stunned.