Chapter 16: Surpassing Kakashi-sensei
In the end, Zabuza agreed to bring the person who hired him.
After all, he was a rogue ninja; what did it matter if he betrayed his employer and broke his word?
Nothing was more important than his own life.
"However, he needs to stay here as a hostage. I will return him to you when you bring the person who hired you," Seeing Zabuza agree, Kakashi put away his Kunai and pointed at Haku.
"..."
Zabuza heard this, glanced silently at Haku, and without saying much more, just turned and left.
"Mr. Zabuza, please wait until your injuries have healed before leaving!" Haku tried to speak and persuade him to stay, but Zabuza seemed not to hear him and continued walking forward without looking back.
"Then, for now, the matter is concluded. Mr. Tazuna, shall we continue?"
Kakashi then turned to look at Tazuna, who had been quietly observing from the back.
If she didn't go lie down again, she would collapse on the ground. Ever since the battle started, the Sharingan had been used at high intensity, constantly fearing missing even a small detail that could lead to Sakura and the others being instantly killed by Zabuza.
Moreover, she had continuously used several Water Clones, an Electromagnetic Rasengan Gun, and a Raikiri Lightning Sword.
Her Chakra was nearly depleted; her legs were trembling slightly now, so weak that she could barely walk!
To be exhausted to this extent just fighting Zabuza—how much harder would it be against Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, or the even more insidious Uchiha Itachi?
Unless she used the Mangekyo Sharingan to unleash Kamui right at the start, if she waited until the middle of the fight, she would probably collapse right after Kamui finished activating!
That's right! Facing powerful enemies like Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi, she had to use Kamui right at the beginning! Catch them completely off guard!
...Soon, everyone arrived at Tazuna's house.
Kakashi then announced their dispersal, telling everyone to go rest.
"Wait, Kakashi-sensei, quickly teach us that Lightning Release Electromagnetic Rasengan Gun! And the Raikiri too!"
Uzumaki Naruto was still focused on learning those incredibly powerful Ninjutsu so everyone would look at him with new respect!
Although Uchiha Sasuke kept a cold expression, his gaze toward Kakashi held a hint of anticipation.
Sakura didn't say anything, but after this incident, she wanted to become stronger even more than before.
Especially since Kakashi-sensei was actually a girl who was so powerful—this couldn't help but make Sakura look forward to it: if she could become as strong and cool as Kakashi-sensei, would Sasuke perhaps fall in love with her?
"...If there's anything, let's discuss it tomorrow." Kakashi leaned against the doorframe with one hand, barely managing to keep from falling over.
"No, no, it's still early, and there's plenty of time! Kakashi-sensei, please teach us!"
Uzumaki Naruto was extremely impatient about becoming stronger!
"Go fight Haku and recognize just how weak you currently are. You are still far from learning S-rank Ninjutsu." Seeing this, Kakashi had no choice but to ask Haku for help.
On the way back, Haku had already introduced himself to them and stated that for the time being, they could command him for anything.
After speaking, Kakashi hurried into the room and closed the door, walking unsteadily forward before immediately collapsing onto the bed.
"Damn it! Kakashi-sensei actually said we are still far behind! We've clearly gotten stronger, and we even managed to rescue her from Zabuza's Water Prison just now."
Uzumaki Naruto grumbled somewhat unconvinced. They had been training desperately during this time, and now they could even rescue someone from a Jonin! Didn't that prove they had gotten much stronger?
"Although... but the one trapped in the Water Prison was Kakashi-sensei's Water Clone, right?" Sakura corrected him weakly.
"It's basically the same thing," Uzumaki Naruto pouted.
"Um, Mr. Kakashi said for me to spar with you. When should we start?" Haku waited quietly until they finished speaking before raising his hand and asking softly.
"Okay, let's start right now! I'll go first! I must defeat you and earn Kakashi-sensei's approval!"
The thought immediately energized Uzumaki Naruto, and he eagerly ran out. "Let's go to the forest outside."
The remaining members all followed.
Soon, they arrived at an open area and began their one-on-one duels.
"Take this..."
Uzumaki Naruto rushed forward head-on at the start...
A few minutes later.
Uzumaki Naruto was beaten to the point of questioning his existence, momentarily thinking if he was truly, as Kakashi-sensei said, still far behind!
"Wow, so strong!"
Sakura, watching from the side, looked at Haku with amazement.
"Hey Haku, you look about our age, right? How can you be so powerful?"
"No, I am still far behind." Haku shook his head. He felt he was too weak for failing to protect Mr. Zabuza.
"How can that be? You are already very strong, and you are so young!" Sakura just felt he was being modest. Then she curiously asked, "By the way, how old are you now?"
"...Fifteen," Haku replied after a moment of silence.
"Wow! You're only two or three years older than us, and you're already this strong!"
Sakura was truly astonished this time.
Naruto, who was sprawled on the ground, heard this and sprang up with a 'carp flip,' standing again. His heart felt incredibly heavy. He looked at Haku, opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
Uchiha Sasuke, standing nearby, was also somewhat silent.
"Oh right, I remember Zabuza saying earlier that his little notebook contained data on Kakashi-sensei. Did it say how old Kakashi-sensei is?"
At this moment, Sakura suddenly recalled this matter. She was also curious about Kakashi's age, as Kakashi didn't look much older than them either! Yet, she was much stronger than them!
"..."
Upon hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke also perked up their ears.
To this, Haku shook his head. "There is no record of Mr. Kakashi's age."
"Is that so..."
Not only Sakura, but Naruto and Sasuke also felt a bit disappointed.
"However, it records that Mr. Kakashi became a Genin at age 5, passed the Chunin Exams at age 6 to become a Chunin, and passed the Jonin Exam at age 12, becoming the youngest Jonin in history."
Following this, Haku relayed the basic information about Kakashi that he knew.
"What?!!"
"Genin at 5?"
"Chunin at 6?"
"Jonin at 12???"
This time, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke were completely shocked. Wait, 5 years old?
What were they doing when they were 5?
What were they doing when they were 6?
At 12... well, they had just become Genin...
And this person was already a Jonin at 12!
Sasuke suddenly recalled what Kakashi had said earlier—that she could fight that man evenly—perhaps it wasn't bragging?
Thinking of this, Sasuke's hands trembled slightly, and he immediately clenched his fists.
This meant that as long as he could defeat Kakashi, he could go seek revenge on that man!
"Kakashi-sensei... is truly frighteningly strong!"
After the shock, an intense fighting spirit surged in Uzumaki Naruto's heart. If he couldn't even surpass Kakashi-sensei, how could he surpass the past Hokage!
"That guy who is always late, has a somewhat unpleasant personality, and always seems careless—he's actually this strong and this famous?"
Sakura's impression of Kakashi also changed somewhat.