Naruto...
Sakura, seeing Naruto covered in blood, couldn't help but gasp, her eyes filled with both anger and sorrow. Though she sometimes found Naruto annoying, it didn't diminish her bond with him or her view of him as a comrade.
Now, seeing Naruto on the verge of death, how could she remain indifferent?
"I'm sorry, Tazuna-sensei.
Sasuke and I are going to avenge Naruto..."
Wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes, Sakura's pretty face was pale as she spoke with a trembling resolve.
She formed hand signs, ready to rush into battle. On the other side,
Kakashi-sensei also paused upon hearing the commotion, his face changing drastically!
"This is the cruel reality of a Ninja. Those two kids are probably experiencing a comrade's death for the first time, which is why they're so agitated.
But Kakashi, you seem very tense too... That useless brat, he's also a subordinate you cherish, isn't he!"
Zabuza seized the opportunity to mock and interfere, using psychological warfare to find a weakness and defeat his opponent in one move.
But Kakashi-sensei had no time for his verbal sparring. He immediately pulled out a summoning scroll, preparing to end the fight quickly.
At the same time,
"Pfft..."
Just as Sakura was about to move, Naruto's body suddenly erupted in white smoke. The ice blades and arrows embedded in Naruto's body were violently flung away, and his wounds healed at a visible rate.
Simultaneously, crimson Chakra burst forth from Naruto's body, enveloping him.
It shattered all the surrounding ice blocks, ice blades, and ice arrows, turning them into steam. "No, how is that possible!!"
Haku, who was closest, widened his eyes, staring at the erupting Naruto in disbelief.
After such an attack, how could he still unleash such terrifying and repulsive Chakra?
"This is..."
Sasuke's pupils, with his Bloodline Limit activated, suddenly constricted. Two black tomoe were firmly fixed in his crimson eyes.
"That hurt like hell, you idiot Sasuke... You didn't even recognize that I was the real one and ran off with my Shadow Clone!
You almost got me killed..."
Naruto reopened his eyes and shouted indignantly, completely oblivious to the Chakra changes on his body.
"The Nine-Tails, huh... Sure enough, how could Naruto possibly die here!
I was so caught up in the moment, I actually forgot about the Nine-Tailed cheat..."
Sasuke instantly sobered up, realizing this inwardly, a slight smile playing on his lips.
It's good that he's not dead. The Ninja World would be too boring without Naruto...
"Naruto, you're okay..."
"Naruto..."
Sakura and Kakashi-sensei simultaneously exclaimed in surprise upon hearing the commotion.
The situation had turned around!
"Idiot, who told you to secretly switch places with a Shadow Clone..."
Sasuke leaped to Naruto's side, scolding him with a smile, his gaze fixed intently on Haku.
Now, they had the advantage!
"Your eyes, they're different... Is it because someone you care about was hurt, causing your Bloodline Limit to evolve?
That's truly an enviable bond... However, it seems we'll have to engage in an even more brutal life-or-death struggle now!"
Haku stared at Sasuke's eyes, his expression complex, causing the angry Naruto to look at Sasuke with curious, childlike eyes.
"You talk too much... Sakura, fall back and protect Tazuna-sensei.
Naruto, use Wind Release now..."
Sasuke snorted coldly and immediately urged, preparing to strike first.
With the temporary burst of Nine-Tails Chakra, Naruto's Wind Release should be usable and perform beyond its usual capacity!
"Huh? Again??"
Naruto, who was intently watching Sasuke's eyes, grimaced and weakly called out. But seeing Sasuke already forming hand signs, he could only follow suit.
Never mind, since Sasuke could trust him a second time!
He just had to give it his all... Sakura also quickly retreated to protect Tazuna.
"Is it the same move again...?"
Haku instantly understood the situation and also formed hand signs, preparing his Ninjutsu.
Almost at the same time,
"Summoning: Earth Release: Fanged Pursuit Technique..."
Kakashi-sensei roared, activating his Ninjutsu. Eight Ninja dogs instantly emerged from the ground, biting onto Zabuza, who was hidden in the mist.
"Next is my own unique technique!
Sorry, Zabuza.
I have to deal with you as quickly as possible... Lightning Release: Chidori..."
Kakashi-sensei said with icy eyes, his hands rapidly forming signs as lightning flickered in his palm.
Although Naruto was fine, he had to quickly check if there were any problems with the Nine-Tails' seal.
If the Nine-Tails broke through the seal, it would be big trouble... Haku, who was forming hand signs to deal with Sasuke and Naruto, heard the commotion and her pretty face changed.
She immediately abandoned her hand signs and rushed towards Zabuza at top speed. It was also at this moment,
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique..."
Sasuke, having completed his hand signs, roared, and a fire dragon once again surged and roared.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough..."
The next instant, Naruto's shout also rang out.
This time, there were no mishaps; a violent gust of wind instantly erupted. Wind fueled the fire, and fire amplified the wind's power.
The fierce gale instantly expanded the fire dragon into a hurricane of flames, filling the entire bridge with a thunderous roar. Kakashi-sensei, who was about to unleash his Chidori, frowned at the sight. He burst Chakra into his feet, leaped up, and temporarily avoided the onslaught.
"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome of Doom..."
Meanwhile, Haku swiftly shielded Zabuza, erupting with emergency Chakra.
In a flash of lightning,
A thick ice wall rapidly formed, blocking their path.
The next instant,
The scorching, violent gale and fierce flames crashed onto the ice wall with a bang.
Thanks to Naruto's Tailed Beast Chakra-enhanced Wind Release, under the cutting of the gale and the scorching of the flames, the ice wall only lasted half a second before melting into steam. The eight Ninja dogs, seeing the unfavorable situation, immediately disappeared, and the lingering force of the Ninjutsu slammed hard into the two of them.
"This, this is a bit too exaggerated!"
Sakura exclaimed in surprise, her vision instantly clear, as she watched Haku and Zabuza engulfed in flames.
"Sasuke and I are this powerful when we work together... No wonder Kakashi-sensei said this was the most suitable Ninjutsu for me."
Naruto was also full of pleasant surprise, finding it hard to believe for a moment.
"You two cooperated very well, Sasuke, Naruto..."
Kakashi-sensei simultaneously jumped to their side, praising them, his eyes fixed on the front, preparing to deliver the finishing blow.
"This is Chidori!!"
Sasuke glanced at the lightning-infused palm of Kakashi-sensei, his eyes flickering, an idea forming.
"Hmph..."
As a gust of sea wind blew, Haku and Zabuza's figures reappeared.
"Haku, well done... You truly are the tool I acknowledge!"
Zabuza supported Haku, who was covered in burns, and said coldly, his bloodthirsty eyes fixed on Kakashi-sensei.
Just now, Haku had used all his strength to erupt Chakra and protect him.
Aside from dog bites, he had no other injuries. However, completing the mission in their current state was impossible.
"Kakashi, we will meet again..."
Zabuza glared fiercely at Kakashi-sensei and the other three, then issued a threat and prepared to jump into the sea for a temporary retreat.
"Zabuza, you're still getting beaten so badly... And that bastard brat who broke my arm, he must be almost dead by now!
What a bunch of useless dogs, I knew I couldn't rely on you homeless strays..."
Sasuke and the others' expressions changed as they were about to pursue, when a voice suddenly rang out from the bridgehead.
Everyone turned to look, only to see Gato approaching with his subordinates, surrounding them. "What kind of Ninja are you, still getting played like fools by me... Now that you're both injured, I don't even have to pay a cent to kill you.
Go on, kill them..."
Gato arrogantly shouted with disdain, and his numerous thugs all revealed fierce glints in their eyes, drawing their swords.