Naruto: Bonds Unbroken

The road to the Land of Waves stretched on, flanked by thick forests and mist creeping along the path. The encounter with the rogue ninja had put everyone on edge, but Team Seven pressed forward.

Naruto, unusually silent, trudged ahead, his fists clenched. The feeling of helplessness from earlier still gnawed at him. I froze back there. If that had been a real battle, I wouldn't have stood a chance…

Sasuke walked beside him, his expression unreadable. He had reacted fast in their skirmish, but he knew it wasn't enough. Kakashi's effortless victory had reminded him just how far he still had to go.

Kakashi, on the other hand, remained alert. The rogue ninja they had encountered were skilled, but they were merely pawns. Someone more dangerous was pulling the strings.

And that someone was close.

---

As they neared the water's edge, a thick mist began to settle over the path. Sakura shivered. "Why is it suddenly so foggy?"

Tazuna's face paled. "This… This isn't normal mist."

Kakashi halted, his visible eye narrowing. He extended a hand, signaling his students to stop. "Everyone, stay close. Weapons ready."

The air grew heavy. The silence was suffocating. Then—

Swish!

A massive blade spun through the mist, cutting through the air like a guillotine. Team Seven scattered just in time, the sword embedding itself into a tree with a loud thunk!

A dark figure appeared atop the blade, crouched effortlessly. His voice was low, chilling.

"Well, well… Kakashi of the Sharingan. I was hoping to run into you."

The mist parted slightly, revealing the rogue ninja—Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

Naruto swallowed hard. The pressure coming from this man was overwhelming.

Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. "Zabuza Momochi… I should've known."

Sasuke's eyes sharpened. This man is different. He's dangerous.

Zabuza smirked. "They say the Copy Ninja has copied over a thousand jutsu… Let's see how many you can use before I cut you down."

---

The moment the words left his lips, Zabuza vanished.

Fast!

Kakashi barely had time to react as Zabuza reappeared behind him, swinging his massive sword downward. Kakashi dodged, flipping backward onto the water's surface.

Zabuza landed a few feet away, his hands forming a quick series of hand seals. "Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu."

The mist thickened, completely engulfing the battlefield. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura could barely see their own hands.

Kakashi's voice was steady. "Stay together. Don't move unless I say so."

A chilling whisper echoed around them.

"Too late."

SLASH!

Sakura yelped as a kunai flew past her, narrowly missing her shoulder.

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Damn it! Where is he?!"

Sasuke clenched his kunai, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. This isn't like before. This is real.

Then—

"Eight points."

Zabuza's voice seemed to come from everywhere.

"The lungs… the liver… the spine… So many ways to kill a person."

Naruto shuddered. He had never felt fear like this before.

But Kakashi suddenly chuckled. "You talk too much."

Zabuza's smirk faltered—just as Kakashi's hand shot out from the mist, gripping his wrist.

How?!

With a single pull, Kakashi dragged Zabuza into the open. His Sharingan glowed ominously. "Your mistake was thinking I wouldn't see through your jutsu."

Before Zabuza could react, Kakashi twisted, sending a powerful kick to his stomach. The rogue ninja skidded across the water but quickly regained his footing, grinning.

"Not bad, Copy Ninja." He licked his lips. "But let's see if you can keep up."

---

On the shore, Naruto and the others stood frozen. They wanted to help, but the sheer intensity of the battle left them paralyzed.

I can't do anything… Naruto clenched his fists. I'm useless again…

Sasuke, on the other hand, felt something stir inside him. This wasn't just a test—this was life or death.

"I won't be useless."

His grip on his kunai tightened.

Then, he moved.