......
At Tazuna's house, Sasuke was still resting in bed.
His body was tired after practicing through the whole night. For a while, even though he slept deeply, but faint noises slowly reached his ears.
Then a loud crash came from outside.
BAM!
Sasuke's eyes opened at once.
The sound of the gate breaking was clear.
He quickly got out of bed and rushed toward the window. When he peeked outside, his sharp eyes saw eight rough-looking men dragging Inari out of the house.
"Help!" Inari cried, struggling against the goon's grip.
Sasuke's face turned cold.
He grabbed his kunai and dashed outside without hesitation.
His Sharingan activated, glowing red.
"You picked the wrong house," Sasuke said coldly.
The goons turned toward him and sneered.
"A kid? You think you can take us on?"
Sasuke smirked.
"Try me."
Outside the Ice Sphere...
On the bridge, Kakashi and Zabuza were locked in a fierce battle.
Their jutsu clashed again and again, sending shockwaves through the mist.
Zabuza swung his massive sword in wide arcs, trying to cut Kakashi down with each strike. But Kakashi's Sharingan followed every movement. He used his kunai to block and redirect the attacks, reading the path of Zabuza's blade before it fully came.
At the same time, Kakashi copied Zabuza's jutsu and countered him without giving him a chance to take control.
"You're slowing down, Zabuza," Kakashi said bluntly.
Zabuza growled in frustration.
"Don't think you've won, Copy Ninja!"
Even while fighting Zabuza, Kakashi kept glancing toward the ice sphere.
His concern grew.
'That masked boy... even though he is around Naruto's age, he is not like the others. His strength is almost on par with Zabuza's.'
Kakashi's eye narrowed.
'Naruto, be careful.'
Meanwhile, Sakura stood at the bridge entrance, her heart beating fast as Gato's motorboat reached the shore.
One by one, armed goons stepped out.
More and more of them appeared, holding swords, axes, and other weapons. Soon, nearly a hundred men began marching toward the bridge entrance, with Gato standing proudly in front of them.
Sakura's hands trembled.
She tightened her grip on her kunai and whispered under her breath.
"Naruto, hurry... come fast."
Inside the Ice Sphere...
Naruto stood in the center of the frozen domain, his crimson sword glowing in his hand.
The cold bit into his skin, but the fiery red chakra around his body kept him warm.
"Come out already!" Naruto commanded.
His voice echoed through the frozen space.
Suddenly, a massive ice spike shot toward him from the air.
Naruto reacted instantly and swung his sword.
The spike was cut cleanly in half.
The broken pieces scattered across the icy ground, but before they could fully settle, more spikes formed in the air. They came from all directions and launched toward Naruto at the same time.
Naruto moved his sword in a blur.
He deflected one spike, cut another, and shattered the next before it could reach him. The sound of breaking ice filled the sphere again and again.
Then Haku's voice echoed from somewhere unseen.
"Who are you fighting for?"
Naruto paused for a moment.
His eyes narrowed.
"Are you sane, asking me that in the middle of a fight?"
Haku's voice remained calm.
"Why do you want to become strong, Naruto?"
Naruto answered without hesitation.
"For myself."
Haku's voice became softer.
"You will never achieve true strength if you fight only for yourself. True power comes from fighting for something, or someone, you care about."
Naruto chuckled.
"That's cute, but it's flawed."
He slowly raised his sword.
"What happens when you set a goal and reach it? Your growth stops there. And if you fight for someone or something, then sacrifice yourself for it, what good is it for you if you don't even live to enjoy the result?"
His red eyes looked around the frozen space.
"My reason is simple. Set no final goal. Don't fight for anyone or anything. Just keep improving. Break your limits again and again. That's how you truly become strong."
Naruto's words struck something deep inside Haku.
For the first time, Haku's calm voice cracked.
"Wrong!"
Haku stepped out from the frozen shadows, his emotions no longer hidden.
His hands trembled slightly.
"I don't believe you! I have fought my whole life for Zabuza-sama! That is my purpose! That is my strength!"
Haku dashed toward Naruto, his speed sharp and direct. His hand moved with clear intent, aiming to strike Naruto down.
Naruto smirked.
"Did I strike a nerve? Good. You've finally come out of your shell."
Haku's attack landed.
But Naruto's figure suddenly distorted and faded like smoke.
It was not his real body.
It was an after mirage, a movement trick he often used in his past life.
"What—?!"
Haku's eyes widened behind the mask.
Before he could react, Naruto appeared behind him.
Naruto's fingers moved fast. In a series of quick strikes, he pressed specific points on Haku's body.
Haku's limbs suddenly lost strength.
His body collapsed to the icy ground.
He tried to move, but his arms and legs would not listen to him.
Naruto knelt beside him and looked at his body with interest.
"I pressed your meridian points, and it seems they are chakra points too."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your chakra flow stopped. Is there a connection between this world and my past world?"
Haku's eyes widened in confusion.
"What... what are you talking about?"
Naruto smiled.
"You don't need to know that."
He stood over Haku, looking down at him calmly.
"And I will make good use of you."
Haku lay on the ground, unable to move.
His mind raced with confusion, anger, and frustration.
Naruto stood before him, his red sword still glowing in his hand.
(To Be Continued...)