Flame Ninja System

"That Kazama guy just loves showing off!" 

Kakashi knew that with Kazama's current strength, he could control chakra effortlessly. 

But Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had never seen Kazama pull off something like this before. 

So, they were all completely blown away by his skills. 

"Hmph! It's just tree-climbing, right? I can do that too!" 

Sasuke had already set Kazama as the target he needed to surpass. 

So, no matter what it was, he had to compete with Kazama. 

Without hesitation, he took a running start and charged up the tree trunk. 

But after only five or six steps, he came crashing down hard. 

"Haha!" 

Naruto burst into laughter, practically doubling over. Nothing brought him more joy than watching Sasuke make a fool of himself. 

While Kazama and the others were having their fun, 

Zabuza and Haku were already plotting their second attack. 

"Zabuza-sama, it looks like we won't be able to complete this mission. The guy you fought earlier was just too terrifying!" 

After Haku brought Zabuza to a hidden spot, he immediately used a secret technique to revive him. 

"I know! But my Kubikiribōchō is still in that brat's hands. I *have* to take it back!" 

Zabuza spat out blood as he spoke, his voice filled with determination. 

"Things are looking pretty bad, aren't they?" 

The next day, while Kakashi led Kazama and the others to protect Dazuna as he worked on building the bridge, 

a thick fog suddenly rolled in around them. 

It was exactly like the mist from Zabuza's Kirigakure no Jutsu last time. 

"This is bad!" 

Kakashi finally pieced it together—Zabuza might not be dead. Someone must have saved him. 

He was about to warn everyone to stay on guard, 

but at that moment, several of Zabuza's water clones and Haku's secret ice needle technique came rushing toward Kazama. 

*Thud!* Kazama fell to the ground, playing along with the attack. 

"No way!" 

Kakashi couldn't believe his eyes. The genius Kazama, taken down so easily by the enemy? 

"Kazama-kun!" 

Sakura let out a cry and fainted on the spot. 

"Hmph! I thought you were some kind of big shot, kid. Guess you're nothing special!" 

Zabuza's tone was cocky, but deep down, he was a little shocked. 

Kazama had been so powerful before. 

And now, he'd been taken out so easily? 

Something felt off to Zabuza, but he didn't dwell on it. 

His original plan was to grab his Kubikiribōchō and make a quick escape. 

But seeing that Kazama, the strongest among them, was seemingly dead, 

Zabuza changed his mind. Why not take this chance to wipe out Kakashi and the others too? 

Too bad for him, the Kazama he defeated was just a Mokuton Bunshin—a Wood Release clone. 

Thanks to his incredible sensory abilities, Kazama had already picked up on Zabuza's presence. 

He'd used a Mokuton Bunshin in advance, fooling not only Zabuza but Kakashi and the others too. 

His goal? To make everyone think he was dead and push Naruto to unleash the power of the Kyūbi. 

"You bastard! You killed my friend, you eyebrowless jerk!" 

Naruto's furious roar echoed as the Kyūbi's chakra began to swirl around him. 

He hadn't fully transformed into a tailed beast yet, but his power was already overwhelming. 

"Your opponent is me! Hyōton: Makyō Hyōshō!" 

Haku appeared, blocking Naruto's path with his Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. 

"Get out of my way!" 

Naruto, consumed by rage, fought with reckless abandon. 

Fueled by the Kyūbi's wild chakra, 

he shattered Haku's ice mirrors in just a few blows. 

Haku was forced to retreat, barely holding his own. 

"Now's the time!" 

Kazama, who'd been hiding in the shadows, sprang into action. In an instant, he absorbed Naruto's Kyūbi chakra.