The soft lapping of water against the wooden sides of the small ferryboat was the only sound as Team 7 crossed the narrow river into the Land of Waves. The mist clung to the surface like a second skin, curling around the boat and obscuring the distant shoreline. The air was cool, damp, and heavy with an unspoken tension.
Naruto Uzumaki sat at the bow, his legs dangling over the side, eyes wide with excitement. This wasn't some boring D-rank mission—this was real. The kind of danger he had dreamed about. His hand tightened around the hilt of his kunai, the thrill of anticipation buzzing in his veins.
Beside him, Raven Kamizuki leaned casually against the side of the boat, her violet eyes scanning the thickening fog. She was calm, as always, but even she could sense the shift in the air. Something was coming. At her feet, Yuumi, the nine-tailed fox disguised as an ordinary pet, lay curled up, though her golden eyes gleamed with alertness.
Behind them, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno sat quietly. Sasuke's usual brooding glare was focused on the distant shoreline, his mind already turning over battle strategies. Sakura, while trying to maintain her composure, kept stealing glances at Sasuke, her nerves betraying her calm facade.
Kakashi Hatake stood at the rear, his single visible eye scanning the mist. His posture was relaxed, but Raven knew better. He was ready. They all were.
As the boatman guided them toward the dock, the mist thickened, swallowing the landscape until even the water beneath them seemed to disappear into nothingness. The soft sounds of life from the distant village were muffled, creating an eerie, otherworldly silence.
Tazuna, the bridge builder they were assigned to protect, grumbled under his breath, his grip tightening on the bottle of sake he clutched like a lifeline. "This mist isn't natural," he muttered. "Something's not right."
Naruto grinned, unfazed. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
Raven chuckled softly, her eyes never leaving the swirling fog. "Careful what you wish for, ramen boy."
Suddenly, the boat jerked to a stop as it scraped against the dock. The team disembarked, their footsteps muffled against the damp wooden planks. The fog pressed in around them, dense and suffocating.
That's when they felt it.
A presence. Heavy, oppressive, and undeniably hostile.
Before anyone could react, a deep, menacing voice echoed through the mist. "Well, well… what do we have here?"
A massive figure materialized from the fog, standing atop the water with an aura of sheer menace that made the air feel heavier. His towering form was silhouetted against the gray, his massive blade resting casually across his shoulder.
Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, stared down at them with cold, calculating eyes.
"So, these are the brats assigned to protect the bridge builder?" Zabuza sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "This will be easier than I thought."
Kakashi stepped forward, his visible eye narrowing. With a swift motion, he pulled up his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan.
"Team 7," Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm, "this isn't an opponent you can take lightly. Stay sharp."
For a moment, the team stood frozen, the weight of Zabuza's presence pressing down on them like a physical force. Then, in the blink of an eye, Zabuza vanished into the mist.
The world exploded into chaos.
Zabuza reappeared behind Kakashi, moving with blinding speed. His massive blade sliced through the air, aiming for Kakashi's neck. But Kakashi was ready. He ducked and countered, their blades clashing with a deafening clang that echoed through the fog.
"Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu!" Zabuza snarled, forming hand signs with lightning speed.
Suddenly, multiple water clones emerged from the mist, surrounding Team 7 with deadly precision. The clones lunged, their blades gleaming in the dim light.
Naruto's grin widened. This was exactly what he'd been waiting for.
"Ramen Noodle Clone Technique!" he shouted, slamming his hands together.
Dozens of Naruto clones burst forth, their bodies formed from swirling strands of steaming noodles. The clones charged at the water clones, their fearless determination lighting up the fog.
"Take this!" Naruto grinned, launching a Ramen Whip at one of the clones, entangling it in a web of noodles before slamming it into the ground with a wet splat.
Raven wasn't far behind.
"Pizza Clone Technique!" she called out, her voice steady and confident.
A dozen Pizza Clones materialized around her, some perfect replicas, others grotesque pizza monsters with stretchy mozzarella limbs and pepperoni eyes. The clones swarmed the water clones, their cheesy tendrils clinging to their enemies and slowing their movements.
"Pizza Monster: Mozzarella Bind!" Raven shouted, sending one of her clones to wrap around a water clone, immobilizing it with sticky cheese.
Sasuke moved in with precise strikes, his eyes narrowing as he targeted the weakest points in the water clones' defenses.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" he shouted, launching a barrage of small, controlled fireballs at the clones. The fire hissed as it met the water, creating a cloud of steam that mingled with the mist.
Sakura wasn't far behind. She formed quick hand signs, her eyes narrowing in concentration.
"Genjutsu: Cherry Blossom Illusion!" she called out, casting an illusion of blossoming flowers that disoriented the remaining clones, making them easy targets for Naruto and Sasuke.
Despite their combined efforts, the real Zabuza was far from impressed.
With blinding speed, he formed a series of hand signs.
"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!" he growled, encasing Kakashi in a swirling orb of water, trapping him completely.
Kakashi struggled against the watery prison, but Zabuza's grip was like iron.
"Let's see how well your brats do without you," Zabuza sneered, turning his attention back to Team 7.
Naruto's grin didn't falter.
"Alright, guys," Naruto said, his voice steady. "We've got this!"
"Don't get cocky, ramen boy," Raven smirked, her eyes gleaming. "But yeah, let's do this."
Zabuza lunged at them with his massive blade, swinging it with terrifying strength. The team scattered, their movements quick and practiced.
"Ramen Clone Barrage!" Naruto shouted, sending a wave of clones at Zabuza.
The clones swarmed him, but Zabuza cut through them like butter, his blade moving with inhuman speed.
"Pizza Monster: Spicy Pepperoni Bomb!" Raven called out, sending one of her clones to explode near Zabuza, covering him in scalding sauce and molten cheese.
Zabuza snarled, shaking off the attack with a growl.
Sasuke moved in from the side, his eyes sharp and focused.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" he shouted, sending a stream of fire toward Zabuza.
Zabuza dodged, but the heat singed his arm, making him grunt in annoyance.
Sakura supported from the backline, casting another illusion.
"Genjutsu: Falling Petal Mirage!" she whispered, making Zabuza see dozens of false attacks coming from all directions.
But Zabuza was far from beaten.
With a roar, he dispelled Sakura's illusion and swung his blade in a wide arc, forcing the team to scatter.
"You're all pests," Zabuza snarled. "But I'll enjoy cutting you down."
He lunged at Naruto, but Raven's Pizza Clone intercepted the blow, sacrificing itself in a burst of marinara and cheese.
Despite their combined efforts, the team was beginning to tire. Zabuza's strength and skill were overwhelming. They needed a new strategy—and fast.
As Zabuza advanced, his blade gleaming in the mist, the members of Team 7 regrouped, their eyes filled with determination.
They weren't out of the fight yet.
But Zabuza's next attack would push them to their limits.
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