The air around Naruto was filled with pressure.
He stood among the broken pieces of Haku's ice mirrors, his red demonic chakra spiraling around his body like an angry flame. The chakra was wild because of his anger, and it mixed with the demonic qi inside him, making the air around him feel heavy.
Slowly, Naruto raised his hand.
Demonic qi and red chakra gathered in his palm, moving like living fire.
He placed his glowing hand on the handle of his sword and slowly moved it along the blade, all the way to the tip. As his hand passed over it, red energy spread across the sword.
The blade began to glow.
It now looked like a chakra blade, burning with red power.
Naruto pointed the tip of the sword toward Haku.
His voice was cold.
"Let's see where you got the nerve to think you're better than me."
Haku stood still for a moment.
The sight in front of him was hard to ignore. Naruto's chakra was overflowing from his body, and even his sword was covered in that strange red energy.
At that moment, Haku remembered Zabuza's warning.
Two Days Ago...
Haku moved quickly through the forest, jumping from one tree to another while carrying Zabuza's body on his back.
Zabuza's wounds were serious, but they were not life-threatening.
Still, Haku's heart was heavy.
'Master, you must live. I will take care of you.'
After reaching their hideout, Haku laid Zabuza carefully on the sofa.
For the whole day, he treated Zabuza's injuries. He cleaned the wounds, wrapped the bandages with great care, and fed him medical soup made from herbs.
The next morning, Zabuza's eyes finally opened.
"Ahhhh..."
He groaned and tried to sit up, but pain immediately crossed his face.
"Ahhhh..."
Unable to endure it, he lay back down on the sofa.
"This is... the most shameful defeat of my life," Zabuza growled.
His fists clenched tightly.
"A brat. A child. He outsmarted me and forced me to release his sensei."
His voice filled with anger.
"That other one beside me made me release Kakashi, but I think all of it was set up by that brat. Naruto."
Zabuza remembered Naruto's grin during the fight, and anger burned in his eyes.
"I'll kill him next time. I'll kill him in a way he will never forget."
Then Zabuza shouted.
"Haku!"
Haku immediately knelt before him.
"Yes, Master?"
Zabuza turned his eyes toward him.
"When we fight them again, I will deal with Kakashi. You will take care of the brats."
His voice became more serious.
"But there is one brat you must be careful of. Do not underestimate him. Fight him with everything you have. He may look like a normal kid, but he is a demon."
Zabuza's eyes darkened.
"His name is Naruto Uzumaki."
Present...
Haku looked at Naruto through his mask.
"Are you Naruto Uzumaki?"
Naruto smirked.
"Yeah, I am. What's it to you?"
Haku stared at him silently.
'So he is Naruto.'
His voice became more respectful.
"I underestimated you before. I won't make that mistake again. From now on, I will fight with all my strength."
Naruto's grin widened as his glowing blade pointed toward Haku.
"Good. Let's see what you've got."
Haku quickly formed a series of hand signs.
His fingers moved very fast.
At the same time, Naruto rushed forward with his sword in hand. The distance between them was only around ten meters.
"Ice Style: Ice Domain."
The ground beneath Naruto shook.
In the next moment, thick ice spread across the bridge. Sharp ice spikes rose from the surface, all pointing upward. Then a massive sphere of ice formed around Naruto and Haku, sealing both of them inside.
Inside the sphere, the air became painfully cold.
The ground was covered in ice. The air felt sharp against the skin, and snowflakes began falling from the white space above.
Haku, who had been standing in front of Naruto a moment ago, had disappeared.
Naruto looked around, trying to locate him.
'What is this? Am I in an illusion?'
He knelt down and touched the icy ground.
The cold feeling was real.
"No... this is real," Naruto muttered. "A different space? I don't know what kind of jutsu this is, but it's impressive."
Naruto stood up again, his body relaxed despite the cold.
A small smile appeared on his face.
'You are good. Then I will nurture you and make good use of you later.'
Hidden somewhere inside the Ice Domain, Haku prepared for his next move.
Naruto looked around with sharp eyes.
"Where are you hiding? Come out already."
Outside the Sphere...
Outside the ice sphere, Sakura and Tazuna were anxious.
They could not see Naruto anymore, and at the same time, Kakashi and Zabuza were fighting somewhere in the mist.
"Where is Naruto?" Sakura asked, her voice shaking. "I can't locate him."
Tazuna stood beside her, his eyes wide with shock.
"That boy... he's not a genin, is he?"
Sakura hesitated.
"He is. Technically, at least."
Tazuna's disbelief deepened.
"Impossible. A mere genin can't fight like this. He must be a jonin in disguise."
Sakura sighed.
"I understand why you're surprised. Honestly, I'm just as shocked."
Her eyes moved toward the ice sphere.
"Naruto is using combat techniques that I have never seen before. His movements are not normal. His chakra is also strange."
She clenched her fists.
"I'm not a sensory ninja, so I can't understand what kind of chakra it is. But that red glow and the feeling it gives off... it doesn't feel like Naruto's usual chakra."
Sakura's voice lowered.
"I don't know where he got that power, but it is definitely helping him. It made him stronger than me and Sasuke..."
Before she could finish, a loud sound came from the water.
"Vrroom... rrrrrrrr!"
Sakura turned quickly.
A motorboat was speeding toward the bridge.
Standing on it was Gato, and beside him were a group of armed goons.
Tazuna's face turned pale.
"It's Gato... and his men!"
Sakura tightened her grip around her kunai.
Her hands were tense, but she forced herself to stand in front of Tazuna.
"Stay behind me, Mr. Tazuna."
Her eyes hardened as she looked at the approaching enemies.
"I'll handle them."
(To Be Continued...)