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Chapter 180 He's Just a Genin, They Said…
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The woods were quiet.
Not peaceful, just quiet. The kind of quiet that comes after something breaks.
With Tazuna's house now a pile of rubble, Team 7 and Team 8 had relocated deep into the forest. The camp they made wasn't much. Just tarp-covered tents and string-bound tripwires surrounding a clearing barely wide enough to stretch in. But it was defensible. That was enough.
A modest fire cracked in the center. Tazuna sat beside it with Inari curled against him, the boy finally asleep, his breathing soft and uneven. Sakura slept nearby, smiling faintly in her dreams. Somehow, her sleep remained undisturbed even as the firelight flickered across her cheeks. Tsunami stirred a pot over the fire, the scent of stew drifting on the air.
Away from the warmth and quiet conversation, the shinobi stood in a separate ring of trees. Four bodies lay before them. The Hōzuki Family and Aoi Rokusho. Their features were sealed beneath preservation cloths, each wrapped in bands and marked with talismans.
Oscar circled the tarp once, then stopped and jabbed a claw at the hole in Kazan's chest, still faintly steaming in the cold.
Naruto gave him a half-smile and a thumbs-up. "Getting cocky now, huh?"
Oscar gave a soft snort, puffed out his chest like a proud little dragon, then trotted off to pounce on Akamaru's tail.
"How much bonus is this gonna get us?" Kiba asked, rubbing his hands with a grin.
Naruto blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"You probably don't know this," Kiba said, glancing at him, "but the Inuzuka clan supplies a lot of Konoha's hunter-nin."
"Hunter-nin?" Naruto turned to Kakashi.
Kakashi nodded. "The Hunter-nin Corps, also known as the Corpse Processing Team. They're part of the ANBU. Their job is to track down missing-nin and eliminate them. Haku wore the uniform of a hunter-nin from Kirigakure."
Naruto and Sasuke both made thoughtful sounds.
"Anyway," Kiba went on, clearly excited, "my sister told me that when a regular ninja brings in the body of a missing-nin or even an enemy shinobi, they get a bonus. And we've got three bodies for the Konoha Forensic Division."
Sasuke frowned, glancing at Kakashi. "Isn't that different from what you taught us before? With Gōzu and Meizu, we had to behead them, bury them deep, layer the grave with animal carcasses to mask the scent."
"That method works for ordinary ops," Kakashi said, snapping his book shut. "But when clan shinobi are involved, the rules change. These bodies are preserved with a sealing jutsu and stored in scrolls. They're shipped back to Konoha for analysis."
"Analysis?" Naruto echoed.
"The Konoha Forensic Division studies the corpses for chakra signatures, herbal traces, unique ninjutsu, even genetic traits," Kakashi explained.
"The teams study the bodies to understand enemy techniques and develop counters. And if we're lucky, they might even be able to rework the Hōzuki Clan's Liquidation Technique for our own use."
Everyone fell silent.
"You mean..." Hinata started, eyes wide.
Kurenai stepped in. "Yes. Thanks to Team 8's kills, Konoha might be able to replicate the Hōzuki techniques. Maybe even create a new Hōzuki branch within our village."
That hit hard. The idea of a new clan, born from a single mission, settled over the group like a weight.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Is that why the ANBU has a special division to hunt missing-nin? To keep village secrets from leaking?"
Kakashi nodded. He saw the fire in Sasuke's expression and knew exactly who he was thinking about. Sasuke was already imagining the hunt for Itachi.
"Looks like you're finally getting your first paycheck," Naruto said, nudging Oscar with a grin.
Oscar, the crystal lizard, closed his eyes and let out a pleased chitter, his crystals glinting in the sunlight as he swayed gently side to side. He was already imagining the shiny things he could hoard or maybe trade for snacks. Who knew what lizards liked to buy?
"Too bad you guys won't be getting the big bonus," Kiba smirked, folding his arms behind his head.
Before he could say more, Naruto flicked him hard on the nose. "Doesn't matter, dog breath. Money isn't everything."
"Says the guy who's literally broke," Kiba snapped back, rubbing his nose.
Naruto raised his hand, clearly ready to retaliate again.
"Alright, cut it out. No fighting," Kurenai said, stepping between them. "And Team 7 will be getting a separate reward for recovering the Sword of the Second Hokage."
"Wait, what? We have to give the sword back?" Naruto cried, visibly annoyed. "But Sasuke killed the guy who used it. That's called finder's keepers, no?"
Kakashi sighed, already feeling the headache forming behind his eyes. "Naruto, the man stole the sword. It was never his to begin with. That blade is a village treasure."
Naruto crossed his arms and pouted. "What's the point of a weapon if you're just gonna stick it in a museum and never use it?"
"Tell that to the Hokage," Kurenai said with a shrug.
"Oh, I will," Naruto said defiantly, then turned to Sasuke. "Don't worry, teme. I'll make sure the old man hands over that sword to you."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't matter. I already have the claymore."
Naruto stared at him. "Bullshit. That claymore melted when you channeled both fire and lightning chakra through it. You fried it."
Sasuke didn't respond.
"Also," Naruto continued, "wasn't your whole deal about power? The Lightning Blade of the Second Hokage is practically made for you. You'd be stupid not to take it."
"And how exactly are you going to convince the Hokage to just hand over a Senju relic?"
"I'm gonna talk to him. Calmly. Persuasively," Naruto said with exaggerated patience. "And if that doesn't work... I'll guilt trip him until he cracks."
He broke into a devilish grin, laughing to himself while the others exchanged a collective sweatdrop.
"And if that doesn't work?" Sasuke pressed.
"Then stop whining. I'll get your claymore reforged and reinforced. You'll be able to run fire and lightning through it without turning it into a liquid."
"Hn," Sasuke said, clearly tempted.
"Or better yet," Naruto added with a shrug, "I'll just get you a better sword from Lordran."
Everyone turned at once.
"Naruto, the Sword of the Second Hokage is a masterpiece," Kakashi said, unusually serious. "It was crafted by the finest smiths of the era. It allowed a chūnin to fight on par with a jōnin. That's not something you just replace."
Naruto tilted his head, unimpressed. "And? My Drake Sword came from Lordran. That thing's tougher than any blade this village's ever seen. And that's not even one of the top-tier weapons. You've seen the Black Knight arsenal, right? And don't get me started on the legendary stuff that Andre always says he wants to make..."
He trailed off into a full-on monologue, rambling about cursed blades, divine-infused axes, magic swords, and the nameless blacksmith deity.
No one could keep up..
"Hn," Sasuke said again, unsure whether to be annoyed or impressed.
Naruto clapped a hand on his teammate's shoulder. "So relax, teme. Whether it's the Hokage's prize sword or something even better from Lordran, your big brother Naruto will make sure you're armed like a damn boss."
"You're younger than me," Sasuke said, his eye twitching.
Naruto grinned wider. "Details."
Oscar chittered approvingly and tried to climb onto Naruto's shoulder, possibly voting in favor of the Lordran option.
"Anyways, give me back the claymore," Naruto said, holding out his hand expectantly.
Sasuke pulled the weapon from his storage seal. What he produced, however, was no longer a proud greatsword. The hilt remained intact, but the blade had melted off in a twisted, jagged mess that was charred and warped, like it had barely survived a volcano.
"Yikes. Yeah, that thing's cooked. I'm pretty sure Andre could work his magic on it. If he doesn't laugh at us first." Naruto casually tossed it into his inventory. "But until then, you're gonna need a replacement."
As Team 8 sealed the corpses in their respective scrolls, Naruto turned his eyes to the sky, humming to himself like he was thinking of lunch. Then he snapped his fingers.
"Oh! I've got just the thing."
From his inventory, he pulled out a longsword. It wasn't flashy, but it had weight, presence, and clean craftsmanship.
The blade was straight, double-edged, and tapered to a lethal point. The crossguard was a no-nonsense bar of steel, gently curved to catch and deflect strikes. The grip was long enough for a two-handed swing, wrapped in dark leather for a firm hold, while the round pommel at the end provided perfect balance and could knock a guy out cold if used right.
Naruto held it up with both hands. "Ya know, I made this sword myself."
Everyone turned.
"You what?" Kiba said.
"Made it myself," Naruto said proudly. "Andre, the old blacksmith I trained under, told me to forge a proper battle-ready sword as my final test... well, here it is."
Sasuke stepped forward and took the sword from Naruto. He gave it a test swing. The balance felt right. The arc was clean. It cut through the air with a crisp whoosh.
"This is... better than the claymore," Sasuke admitted, surprised. "The swing feels stronger too."
Naruto puffed out his chest. "I don't wanna brag, but yeah... it kinda is."
Sasuke gave him a look. "This shouldn't be a substitute. A blade like this deserves to be used."
Naruto waved his hand. "It doesn't matter if a sword is weak or strong, flashy or plain. If it does its job, if it cuts when it needs to, it's a real sword. Use it if you want. Or maybe we'll get lucky and the old man will hand over the Second Hokage's sword after all."
There was a pause.
"...Thank you," Sasuke said quietly, his voice almost too soft to hear.
Naruto blinked. The others exchanged glances. Even Kiba stopped chewing on his protein bar.
Then Naruto smiled wide and clapped Sasuke on the back. "Aw, don't get all sentimental on me, teme. We're teammates. Brothers in arms. Partners in crime. Buddies who cover for each other when stuff explodes."
The warmth in the air was real until Naruto opened his mouth again.
"Oh, by the way," he added casually, "I named that sword the Bastard Sword. So it's totally appropriate. A bastard wielding a bastard sword."
Sasuke's expression froze. His grip on the sword tightened. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you."
"It's just a name!" Naruto shouted, laughing as he ducked the swing Sasuke aimed at his head.
"You named it that on purpose!"
"You're damn right I did!"
Team 8 burst into laughter as Naruto took off running, with Sasuke chasing him at full speed, red in the face and ready to commit violence.
"Come back here and fight me like a bastard!"
Naruto shouted over his shoulder, "Come on! I named it after you out of love, you ungrateful bastard!"
Kiba nearly fell over laughing. Hinata covered her mouth, giggling. Shino adjusted his shades but even he looked amused.
Kurenai sighed. "This is what happens when you don't separate them."
Kakashi, still unfazed, flipped a page of his orange book and muttered, "Thank god Sakura's not here. One more idiot and we'd legally qualify as a circus act."
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Around dinner time, Sakura stirred from her rest. She sat quietly by the fire, her eyes fixed on the flames, but her mind somewhere far away.
"Here you go, Sakura," Naruto said, walking over with a steaming bowl of stew in his hand.
She took it with a faint hum, then flinched as the hot bottom of the bowl burned her fingers. She didn't complain, just held it in her lap and stared at the food like it was a puzzle she couldn't solve.
"I noticed your axe got wrecked in the fight," Naruto added as he sat down beside her. "Don't worry, it's an easy fix. I'll even reinforce it, make sure it can handle your freakish strength next time."
He grinned at her, waiting for some kind of reaction. A joke, a glare, a shut up, Naruto. Anything.
But Sakura said nothing.
Naruto's smile faded. "Something wrong?"
Still no answer.
Sasuke sat down across from them, folding his arms. "Staying quiet isn't going to fix it. Naruto might be an idiot, but he's probably your best bet at figuring out what's happening."
Sakura glanced between them, unsure where to even start.
"One step at a time," Kakashi said gently, handing her a cup of water. "We all felt that… presence at the bridge."
Sakura gave a small nod and drank slowly. After a long moment, she spoke.
"Okay, so… you know how sometimes you have a voice in your head? That little voice that whispers the stuff you don't want to hear? Like… doubts. Fears. The parts of you that suck?"
"Hn," Sasuke muttered.
"Yes," Kakashi said calmly.
"Nope," Naruto said, honestly.
Sakura's eye twitched, but she moved on. "Well… I've always had that voice. I called it Inner Sakura. My private self, the one who screams when I'm too scared to. But after the fight today… it's like that voice isn't just in my head anymore. It feels separate. Like another person living inside me."
The campfire crackled.
Naruto blinked. "Is it... because of the humanity I gave you?"
Sakura slowly nodded. "I think so. I don't know for sure. But she's real. And when I saw her fight... she was a berserker. Wild. Uncontrollable. She laughed while ripping people apart. She didn't feel like me at all. But what if that's the real me?"
"No, she's not," Sasuke said firmly.
"How do you know that?" Sakura asked. Her voice cracked. "What if I've been pretending this whole time? Pretending to be composed, kind and helpful. What if I'm just a fake wrapped around something ugly? Something violent. What if I'm just playing the role of the good kunoichi and I've been doing it so long, I forgot it's not even real?"
Her hands tightened around the bowl. "What if… I don't deserve to be part of this team? A cog that is too unpredictable."
The silence was heavy. Then Kakashi leaned forward.
"Sakura," he said quietly, "everyone has shadows inside them. Feelings we don't like. Impulses we pretend we never had. That doesn't make you a fraud. It makes you human. You're not fake. You're conflicted, and that's a sign you're still fighting for who you want to be."
Sasuke gave a nod.
"Plus, the role of the unpredictable wild card is Naruto's."
Sakura snorted a little, the tension in her shoulders loosening.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "You know... when I woke up after the dragon thing. When everything changed. I felt the same. Like I wasn't... me anymore. Like I'd lost something important and didn't even know what it was."
He grew quieter, more serious.
"But someone helped me. My senior in Lordran, Sir Seigward... he told me something that stuck."
Naruto looked up, eyes calm now.
"What makes you who you are... isn't your body, or your blood, or even what's inside your head. It's your actions, your ideals, and your memories."
He leaned toward her.
"So tell me, Sakura. Are you still the brave kunoichi who swore to be the cog that keeps Team 7 running?"
She hesitated, then slowly nodded.
"Are you still Sakura, who swoons over Sasuke for no damn reason?"
A tiny smile tugged at her lips. "...Unfortunately."
"Are you still Sakura, our frontline seal barrier specialist?"
"I'm... not on that level."
Naruto squinted at her. "Sakura."
"Okay, okay," she said, rolling her eyes, "I'm working on it."
Naruto grinned. "There we go."
Sakura sighed and looked into her bowl. "Yeah... that helped. It really did clear up my mind."
She paused, then glanced at him again, more hesitantly this time. "Still… why did the humanity I got give shape to her? Why that side of me? The rage, the brutality, the part that didn't hesitate?"
Naruto didn't answer right away. Neither did Sasuke or Kakashi.
Because that was the real question, wasn't it?
What did it mean when the part of you you always thought was just a voice… became a person? What did it mean when the part you kept buried turned out to be real?
"Don't worry," Naruto said, waving it off. "I'll ask around in Lordran."
"You didn't think of doing that before giving it to me?" Sakura said dryly.
"I did ask," Naruto said defensively. "But most of the people I met didn't know much about humanity. This time, I've got someone smarter to ask. Griggs. He's a real nerd. Probably reads books for fun."
"Thank you," Sakura said sincerely.
She looked down into her bowl. "Is there a spoon?"
Suddenly, Oscar waddled over and gently dropped a spoon at her side.
Sakura blinked. "Thanks, Oscar," she said, patting his head before digging in.
The stew wasn't anything special. But for the first time since waking up, she didn't feel alone. Whatever was happening inside her, Team 7 wasn't going anywhere.
Not now. Not ever.
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After dinner, the night shift was up.
Normally, it would've been Kiba's turn... part of his punishment for getting into a fight with Naruto at the start of the mission. But the Inuzuka had argued loudly again that his punishment only applied to guarding the house, not the camp. After much groaning and a very dramatic straw draw, Naruto and Hinata were stuck with night duty.
The stars winked high above them through the breaks in the trees. Their campfire crackled softly in the distance, casting dancing shadows against the tents. But out here, just past the ring of light, it was quiet. Only the night breeze rustled the leaves, and the occasional soft chirp came from Oscar, who nestled against Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto had deployed shadow clones around the perimeter, each one alert in a different direction. That left the real him and Hinata time to kill, so they decided on a quiet game of archery, taking turns with the longbow.
"You know," Hinata said as she drew the bowstring and let her arrow fly, "I still can't believe this mission is almost over."
The arrow thudded into the target. Solid hit. She exhaled.
Naruto stood a few feet away, eyes on the sky as he gently tossed Oscar into the air with both hands. A moment later, he used subtle bursts of telekinesis to slow the lizard's descent and float him back down, to the creature's visible delight. Oscar chirped happily and curled his tail, already squirming to be tossed again.
"Things always come to an end, Hinata-chan," Naruto said softly as he set Oscar down. Then he picked up the bow and fired as his arrow split Hinata's cleanly down the middle. "But yeah… feels weird, huh?"
Hinata laughed softly and scooped up Oscar, tossing him skyward. "Weird doesn't cover it. This mission... I don't know what to even call it. I feel like I've changed so much."
"You have," Naruto said with a grin. "At least you're not stuttering every time I say your name."
Hinata flushed bright pink. "N-N-Naruto-kun...!"
They both burst into quiet laughter, the kind you have to bite back so you don't wake the others. Oscar landed gracefully in Hinata's hands, tail flicking.
Hinata drew the bow again, eyes narrowing with focus. She fired, and her arrow split Naruto's dead center.
"Nice shot," Naruto admitted, blinking.
Hinata handed the bow back and exhaled deeply. "I'm glad for everything that's happened. Even the hard parts. I feel stronger now."
"You are stronger," Naruto said, his voice more grounded now. "It shows. You've come a long way, Hinata."
There was a beat of silence between them, peaceful but weighty.
Then, as if summoned by the mood, Oscar climbed up onto Naruto's shoulder.
Hinata smiled at the sight. "You know, Naruto-kun…"
"Hm?"
"I really am thankful. For a lot of things. But mostly… for showing me that I don't have to be afraid of moving forward anymore."
Naruto blinked, scratching the back of his head. "I mean… I didn't really do anything. I just ran my mouth. You're the one who actually listened and put it into practice."
"Maybe," she said softly. "But sometimes… hearing it from someone else makes all the difference. You gave me something I couldn't find on my own."
Naruto gave her a warm, lopsided smile. "Well… I'm glad it helped, then."
They fell quiet again. The stars glittered above them like pinpricks in the black sky.
Hinata looked over, eyes gentle. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think… we'll stay like this? Even after the mission ends? Team 7, Team 8, everyone?"
Naruto didn't answer right away. He looked out into the forest, the breeze brushing his face.
"I hope so," he said finally. "But even if we change, even if life pulls us apart... I think what we've got here? It'll always stick. Even if we're not together, it doesn't mean we're not still connected."
Hinata nodded quietly. "I hope so too."
Naruto leaned back, looking up at the stars again.
"Besides," he said, "when things get crazy again, which they will, you'll probably be the one dragging my butt out of whatever fire I threw myself into."
Hinata giggled. "Deal."
Oscar chirped in agreement.
Suddenly, the air shifted.
She stepped closer to Naruto, eyes narrowing. "Zabuza is approaching the camp," she said quietly.
"I know," Naruto replied. His hawk-eyes locked on a shadow moving through the trees. "Two hundred meters. Coming in slow. He's alone."
"I'll wake the others."
"No."
Hinata looked back at him, unsure. "Naruto..."
"Let's check it out. Just us," he said, already moving toward the trees. "I've got a plan."
Hinata hesitated for only a second. The intensity in his expression silenced her argument. She nodded. "Alright. I trust you."
The trio moved quietly, stepping into the dark forest. Leaves whispered underfoot. Oscar, sensing the tension, clung tightly to Naruto's back, unusually quiet. Then, from the shadows ahead, a figure emerged.
The Demon of the Hidden Mist stumbled into view, dragging one foot behind him, shoulders slumped. His massive blade wasn't on his back, it was dragging behind him, the tip carving a shallow line through the dirt. He was breathing hard, blood streaking down his arms and soaking through the wrappings on his chest. His eyes were unfocused, wild.
Naruto stopped in his tracks, Hinata by his side.
One glance, and Naruto knew. He's been in a fight. A bad one.
Zabuza coughed, blood flecking his lips. He looked at them, and for a moment, there was something strange in his eyes. Not hatred. Not bloodlust.
Just… desperation.
"So…" Naruto drawled, resting a hand on the pommel of his blade. "You're not gonna attack us, no-brows?"
Zabuza's voice was hoarse but steady. "No. I need help."
Hinata's eyes narrowed. She didn't lower her stance, chakra still humming beneath her fingertips, but she stayed silent, letting Naruto take the lead.
"Well, that's new," Naruto said, quirking a brow.
Zabuza didn't waste time. Between strained breaths, he laid it all out: the ambush, the betrayal, Guren's sudden arrival, Gato turning on him, and worst of all, Haku's capture. When he finished, the woods were dead quiet.
"Man... I don't know if I should laugh or pat you on the back."
Zabuza bared his teeth. "You can do whatever the hell you want. Just get me to your sensei. I need backup."
Hinata opened her mouth, hesitating. But Naruto raised a hand, just a slight gesture. I've got this.
"Yeah, that's not happening."
Zabuza's patience snapped. Instantly, the clearing flooded with murderous bloodlust, thick and suffocating. Hinata tensed, muscles coiled, ready to strike—but Naruto didn't flinch.
He yawned.
"Don't give me that look, no-brows," he said, waving lazily. "Let's think this through. You limp into camp, half-dead, and beg for help. You think Kakashi-sensei's just gonna roll out the welcome mat for the guy who tried to carve us up this morning?"
Zabuza's glare could've split stone.
"You want our help?" Naruto said. "You'll need more than a sob story. You need something impossible."
"You offering that?"
Naruto smirked. "Maybe. I'm offering me."
"Just you? You think you are enough?"
"I don't know, you tell me." Naruto shrugged. "I can convince Kakashi to actually listen. I can heal you. I'm technically a healer. I can get you back on your feet. Fast."
Zabuza's eyes narrowed. "...Is that why Kakashi was that strong?"
"Now you're getting it."
Zabuza stared at him for a long beat. Then: "What's your price?"
Naruto held up one finger. "First, you're going to lead me straight to Gato. I want him dead. Personally."
Zabuza grinned despite the pain. "That, I can live with."
"Second…" Naruto glanced at Oscar, who blinked like he already knew where this was going. "Hand over your sword. Kubikiribōchō. I think it would suit me better."
There was silence.
Zabuza studied him, expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he dropped the giant cleaver at Naruto's feet with a heavy thud.
"I've come to learn what actually matters," Zabuza said, voice low but sincere. "A sword can always be replaced. Someone precious… can't. The blade is yours, if it means Haku lives."
Naruto blinked. He hadn't expected that. He picked up the massive weapon and gave it a curious look. "So does this sword have anything special to it?"
"It absorbs iron from the blood of its victims to repair itself," Zabuza said.
Naruto made a face. "That's… gross."
Then, with zero hesitation, he dropped it and kicked it back toward Zabuza like it was a bad birthday gift.
"Changed my mind. Don't want it."
Zabuza's eyes flared. "Then what the hell was the point of asking?!"
Naruto shrugged. "Thought it was a cool blade. Turns out it's a creepy blood sword. Also, I wanted to test you."
Zabuza's eye twitched.
"I needed to know if you still saw Haku as a weapon," Naruto said, folding his arms. "Or as a person. Glad to see it's the latter now, no-brows."
Zabuza stared at him. Then, for the first time all night, he let out a low, rasping laugh. "You little bastard. You remind me of someone I used to be."
"Yeah? Well, I'm not interested in who you used to be. I'm interested in who you're gonna be next."
Hinata let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Oscar chirped in approval.
"Can we talk less and just move?" Zabuza grunted. "You talk to your sensei, heal me enough to fight, and let's go."
Naruto didn't say a word. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a glowing talisman. Before Hinata could ask what he was doing, he slapped it against his palm. A burst of golden light exploded outward, washing over the clearing like a rising sun.
Zabuza staggered, eyes wide, as the light surged through him. Cuts vanished. Blood rewound. His muscles steadied, breath came easier. Strength returned like a crashing tide.
"What… the hell was that?" he muttered, flexing his fingers like he couldn't believe they still worked.
Hinata stared, stunned. Her Byakugan flared, picking up the golden energy mending flesh, bones, and chakra flow at a speed that shouldn't be possible. "Naruto-kun…"
"The part where the Archer of Providence patches up the Demon of the Mist," Naruto said, voice calm as his hair fell into his eyes. He turned, his grin lazy but dangerous. "And they team up to take down Gato."
Zabuza hesitated.
Everything in his instincts screamed that this kid was dangerous. More dangerous than any shinobi he'd faced in years. And now he realized why. It wasn't just the raw strength or the strange healing jutsu Naruto could perform. It was the way he thought.
Zabuza wasn't stupid. He could see it now.
The words Naruto had thrown at him during their first battle. Words Zabuza had dismissed then but now understood. Naruto was dangerous because he didn't live by the rules of shinobi. He lived by his own rules. His own ideology. And worst of all… he had the strength to back it up.
Before Zabuza could answer, Naruto's face turned strangely solemn.
Zabuza grunted. "What about your sensei and the others? You gonna convince them?"
"I mean, we could…" Naruto shrugged. "But honestly? I'd rather not deal with Leaf politics right now. Unless you're scared to try it with just me and Oscar."
Zabuza growled low. "I'm not scared. But it doesn't hurt to stack the odds."
"Too late." Naruto jerked his head toward the treeline. "It's just me. You. Oscar. And maybe Hinata if she wants in."
"Arrogant little bastard," Zabuza said, cracking his neck. "Fine. Let's see if Haku was right about you. That boy always saw something in people."
In the blink of an eye, Zabuza's blade swung up in a vicious arc meant to cleave Naruto in two.
But Naruto didn't flinch.
He responded with a brutal, two-handed swing that collided with Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō with a deafening crack!
The two blades stopped just short of impact, hovering centimeters from each other. A shockwave erupted from the clash, blasting leaves and dirt outward in a circle around them.
Hinata gasped, bracing herself against the pressure, heart pounding. Naruto is on another level now.
Zabuza clicked his tongue. Frustrated. Impressed. In that single moment, he knew: if they actually fought to kill, it wouldn't be an easy win. Not for either of them.
"...Fine," Zabuza muttered, stepping back. "We'll do it your way."
"Great!" Naruto turned with a grin. "Hinata, you wanna come?"
"Hey, hey... we didn't agree on your little girlfriend tagging along," Zabuza snapped.
"Hinata's Byakugan will help us spot traps, enemy placements, and maybe even Haku. You want him saved or not?"
Zabuza growled but didn't argue. "Fine."
Naruto looked at Hinata. "Up for a nighttime rescue mission?"
Hinata smiled, her eyes steady and calm. "Someone's gotta pull you out of the fire, right?"
While Naruto was glad Hinata had volunteered to come along, he couldn't shake the uneasy knot forming in his gut. He glanced sideways at her as they waited in the clearing. The moonlight reflected off her pale eyes, but her stance was calm and focused. She was ready.
Still, he couldn't help himself.
"Hinata," Naruto said seriously, his tone shifting as he formed a shadow clone beside him, "listen. If anything happens, anything, I need you to run."
Hinata blinked. "And fire support arrows from cover, right?"
"Sure," Naruto replied, already forming the clone. "But if it comes down to choosing between helping me or staying safe, you pick yourself every time. Got it?"
Hinata gave a reluctant nod, even as the clone stepped toward her and unfurled a scroll. From the scroll, it produced a Lordran caliper compass. A tool used by blacksmiths to measure proportions with fine accuracy. The clone adjusted it with care, gently positioning it to measure her shoulders, waist, hips, and limbs while referencing the scroll like a trained artisan.
Hinata stiffened, going bright red. "U-Um… is this necessary?"
"Completely," the clone said, professional to the core. "Andre's work demands precise specs for optimal protection and comfort."
"Trust me. By the time we run into enemies, you'll be wearing gear better than some jōnin."
Zabuza narrowed his eyes at the whole process. "Wait a second...? You're having custom armor made right now?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. The clone's gonna return to Lordran. Andre's the blacksmith there. Best I've ever met."
Before Zabuza could process that, the clone shimmered in golden light and vanished with a flash of soul energy.
Zabuza blinked. "Is Lordran some kind of summoning realm?"
"Pretty much," Naruto said, already pulling out a pouch. "Now hold still."
He sprinkled golden Repair Powder over the Kubikiribōchō. The worn, chipped cleaver hissed faintly as glowing particles seeped into its metal. The edge reformed. Scratches vanished. The blade looked freshly forged.
Zabuza stared at it. Then at Naruto. Then back at the blade. "...Am I in a genjutsu?"
"Nope," Naruto said.
Hinata smiled softly.
Zabuza held his sword up, turning it in the moonlight. "This blade was ruined in the Mist Purge. It hasn't looked this clean in years. I've reforged it six times and it's never come out like this."
Naruto, already fishing through another pouch, said casually, "Don't worry. It'll hold. Still not a fan of the blood-drinking part, but hey."
Zabuza blinked again. Just who was this kid?
Then Naruto turned to Hinata. "Give me your hand."
She obeyed quietly, her blush still lingering. Naruto slid a silver ring onto her finger.
It was the Wolf Ring.
Hinata gasped softly as the ring touched her skin. Because she felt it. This was different than chakra. Her breath slowed. Her balance shifted, as if the earth itself had anchored her. Curious, she activated her Byakugan.
Her vision adjusted, then widened in silent awe.
This energy wasn't chakra. It didn't flow through her tenketsu or surge along familiar pathways. Instead, it formed a layer of almost invisible armor that wrapped around her body like a second skin. It shimmered in strange patterns she couldn't read, woven like invisible steel.
"What are you doing?"
"Making sure she doesn't die," Naruto replied. "She's precious to me. Just like Haku is to you."
Hinata's fingers curled around the ring, holding her hand close to her chest. She couldn't find the words, but her eyes said everything.
"...Aren't you two a little young to be tying the knot?"
Naruto blinked. "What?"
Hinata, on the other hand, turned her head slowly, her expression darkening. Her chakra flared in a way Zabuza immediately recognized as dangerous.
Zabuza took a tactical step back. "Right. Touchy topic. Got it."
Naruto, as usual, remained blissfully unaware of the implication as he had slid the Wolf Ring onto Hinata's ring finger. He summoned several more clones, this time lining them up around the camp perimeter.
Zabuza watched the scene unfold without breaking a sweat. He exhaled slowly. "...Kid."
Naruto turned. "Yeah?"
Zabuza looked at him, really looked at him. "I've been around shinobi my whole life. Fought jōnin, ANBU, and missing-nin. Killed more than a few. But I've never seen one genin pull this much weight alone. You're a walking logistics division."
Naruto shrugged. "I do my best."
"No," Zabuza muttered, more to himself now. "You're dangerous. And not because of your power. Because you're prepared. You're the kind of soldier that turns wars."
Naruto blinked. "Cool."
"And yet you're still an idiot."
"Oh, by the way," Naruto said, casually pointing at Zabuza's face, "congrats."
"...On what now?"
"Your eyebrows. They grew back."
Zabuza froze. His hand shot up to his face. Sure enough. Very faint, very thin brows had returned. "What? No. That's not... these were burned years ago. My whole forehead needed grafts."
"I told you, I'm a healer," Naruto said with a grin. "Apparently even for eyebrows."
"...So now I'm stuck with baby brows?"
"Would you prefer thick catepillars?"
Hinata snorted. She couldn't help it.
"I swear," Zabuza muttered, gripping his sword, "if I wasn't morally obligated to get Haku back alive, I'd cleave you in half."
Naruto smirked. "So would half the people I know."
"Let's just go," Zabuza growled, turning toward the woods. "Before I start questioning reality."
"By the end of tonight," Naruto whispered to Hinata, leaning in with a grin, "I guarantee Zabuza's gonna need a drink, a nap, and maybe a support group… all because of me."
Hinata giggled, covering her mouth as Zabuza growled ahead of them, already regretting every life choice that led to this moment.
With that, the group slipped into the forest's embrace, vanishing beneath moonlit branches and whispering leaves, completely unaware they were marching straight into a night so chaotic, bloody, and insane that even Zabuza would one day swear he hallucinated half of it.
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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 86, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.
To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!