"Why did you let Haku and Zabuza go?"
Naruto asked as they flew through the air.
Sakura countered with a question of her own:
"If this were following the original story, what would have happened to Haku and Zabuza?"
"They would have died," Naruto replied.
"And then?"
"Well… eventually, Kabuto would have used the Reanimation Jutsu to bring them back to continue working, right?" Naruto suddenly realized. "So… you're trying to weaken Kabuto in advance?"
"Living is far more valuable than dead," Sakura said. "Besides, I hope to find opportunities to improve myself by observing Haku."
"How do you mean?"
"Ice Release is a combination of Water and Wind Release techniques. I already have Water Release. Haku's abilities can serve as a reference for developing new techniques in the future, just like the Fusion Technique is a combination of multiple existing styles."
"A new technique… very interesting."
…
"Sakura, why didn't you tell me your true purpose?" Kakashi asked, eyes fixed on her.
Sakura's voice was soft, tinged with deliberate sadness.
"Kakashi-sensei, I've seen that masked boy before."
She was drawing from her knowledge of the original Naruto story.
"What?" Kakashi asked in surprise. "What did he tell you?"
Sakura shook her head lightly.
"He didn't try to deceive me. He only told me about his past. Because of his Kekkei Genkai, his family was killed, and he ended up on the streets. When he was at his loneliest, he met Zabuza."
"He always regarded Zabuza as his only family and obeyed him in everything—but Zabuza only saw him as a tool."
Zabuza snorted beside them.
"Hmph. Ninjas are merely tools to be used. You're too naive."
"Shut up!" Sakura's voice trembled slightly, causing Naruto—who was eavesdropping—to silently marvel at her professionalism.
Turning toward Zabuza with a mix of anger and sorrow, she continued:
"He loved you so much. Even if Sasuke had restrained him, he would have risked everything to save you. And you? You didn't care! He wanted to become as strong as you, and yet you treated him like this?!"
Zabuza froze, then turned to look at Haku, who was being trampled by Sasuke like an animal.
Sakura's voice cracked with a hint of crying:
"That boy didn't even have his own dreams… and yet he ended up like this… this is just… so cruel…"
By the story's end, Sakura's tears streamed down her face. Kakashi and Zabuza were equally moved. Naruto felt it, too.
"6666666… I've finished my speech—no, that was Naruto's line from the original novel… Wait, does this count as a girl helping a girl? And if a man is a girl, does that count too?" Naruto muttered to himself.
"You… shut up…" Zabuza stared blankly at Haku. Haku looked back and gave a bitter smile.
"I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama. I cannot fulfill your wish."
Sasuke awkwardly moved his feet, feeling a sudden illusion that he was the villain.
"In any case…" Sakura wiped her tears slowly.
"If Zabuza were executed like this, that boy would surely commit suicide for love… Yes, for love."
"He wouldn't have to die for his crimes," Kakashi said after a long pause, finally letting out a deep sigh.
"Alright, we'll bring Zabuza and this young man back to Konoha. But honestly, I can't guarantee that we won't encounter real pursuers on the way."
He gestured for Sasuke to knock out Haku, then struck Zabuza with a single blow, rendering him unconscious.
"Boss, one more thing," Naruto finally spoke up. "That bastard Gato… he hasn't appeared yet. Did he run away?"
From the start, Naruto had dispatched shadow clones to search nearby. Unfortunately, Gato seemed to have vanished from the Earth, leaving no trace.
To be more precise, many people had never seen him to begin with.
"This is bad," Naruto muttered, feeling a sudden toothache. If this guy ran amok, the consequences would be disastrous.
Perhaps after the Chunin Exam papers were finished, half the ninja world would be assimilated… becoming relatives.
"Naruto, don't think about chasing Gato for now," Kakashi suddenly said.
"We're all injured, and we still have to protect Mr. Daz to ensure the bridge is safely built, and take care of Zabuza and Haku. We're short-handed…"
Short-handed? Who says we are?
Suddenly, a huge explosion erupted around Kakashi, accompanied by billowing white smoke, within which several figures emerged.
"Kakashi, my eternal rival! Long time no see!"
From the center, a tall figure slowly emerged from the smoke. His black hair gleamed, his uniform majestic, gaze sharp, voice deep and commanding, muscles defined, eyebrows chiseled…
Konoha's supporter, Might Guy—master of taijutsu, Six Paths certified, Kakashi's rival—arrived with his taijutsu team to assist!
"Guy-sensei, can you tone it down a bit next time?" Sweetly whispered someone from behind.
"Ah! Guy-sensei, I feel my youth burning brightly! By the way, where are the enemies? Is it that guy in yellow?" He pointed toward Naruto, who had not yet released the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Indeed, Naruto looked a bit like a villain.
He chuckled, nodding repeatedly:
"That's right. I'm the enemy. Prepare to die!"
Neji, standing behind, held his hand to his forehead.
"He's wearing a Konoha forehead protector, Lee… save your energy…"
Before he could finish, Rock Lee charged at Naruto like lightning, unstoppable in his speed and force!
"Konoha Whirlwind!" Lee bent low, determined to knock Naruto down directly.
At this moment, the scene mirrored the original story—except in the original, Naruto rushed at Lee and was easily defeated.
Naruto squinted slightly, concentrating all the Nine-Tails' chakra. He grabbed Lee's strong legs and swung him in the opposite direction. The residual force of Lee's legs made Naruto's arms tremble violently.
"Enough strength and speed, but the angle isn't sharp enough," Naruto commented calmly.
Using the rebound from Lee's kick, he flipped in midair, summoning a shadow clone at light speed. Adjusting his balance, he hurled his true body like a javelin toward Lee!
A single strike, like a dragon unleashed!
Lee's eyes twitched, and he immediately delivered a powerful whip kick. Unexpectedly, Naruto summoned another shadow clone midair to adjust his position. Lee's whip kick only destroyed the clone, and the smoke from its disappearance momentarily blinded him.
"It's over."
When the smoke cleared, Naruto's kunai was pressed against Lee's neck, immobilizing him.
"You know why you lost? Not because you relied on taijutsu while I used ninjutsu, but because you were too impatient."
"Even if you didn't see my Konoha forehead protector, in close combat, you should always stay alert."
"To deal with a shadow-clone player like me, you must cover every blind spot. Then, strike defensively when I attack a blind spot. That's how you maintain the initiative."
Silence fell over the battlefield.
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All the fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead but this "A Witty Life in the Naruto World" is 30 chapters ahead there