Bab 9: Chapter 9: Masked man

As I slowly started walking up to Zabuza's clone he suddenly tried to punch me, but I easily dogged it and punched him in the stomach. The clone suddenly turned into water.

I turned to Zabuza with a grin as I said, "Well, that was easy. I guess you're not as strong as I thought. I was expecting more of a fight. Oh well, I'll just go after the real you next."

As I started running towards Zabuza, he created one more water clone. It attacked me, but I easily evaded it and stabbed it with a kunai and continued towards the real Zabuza. Throwing a kunai and a shuriken, he skillfully dodged them.

Suddenly, I appeared and attempted to punch him, but he reacted quickly and kicked me. As I flew back, I turned into a puff of smoke, revealing my clone.

"Gotcha, ya!"

Zabuza turned around and saw me about to stab him with a kunai, but he quickly jumped back, releasing the water prison.

I looked at Kakashi-Sensei, thinking, 'I better let him handle this before I lose control.'

At that moment, Zabuza attacked me with his sword, but I instantly appeared next to Sasuke.

I turned to Kakashi sensei and smiled as I said, "Hey, sensei! Since you let us handle the ninjas from before while you watched, I'll let you handle this one, while I watch. So, don't lose!"

Kakashi-Sensei chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I won't."

The battle between Kakashi and Zabuza began.

Zabuza employed the Water Dragon Jutsu, but Kakashi, with the Sharingan, analyzed and copied the technique. The forest became flooded as the two water dragons clashed continuously. Zabuza attacked Kakashi with his sword, but Kakashi defended with a kunai.

Zabuza, bewildered, thought, 'What the hell is going on? Sharingan's power is only to memorize and copy jutsu, but why is he able to execute it at the same time as me?'

I suddenly sensed someone else's presence but before I could do anything Kakashi once again copied Zabuza's jutsu and executed the Water Style: Water Vortex Jutsu, creating a huge vortex that went towards Zabuza, smashing him into a tree. As a bunch of water came towards us.

Kakashi sensei then threw four kunai, hitting both of Zabuza's arms and legs.

Zabuza had a shocked expression on his face as he asked, "Why? Can you see the future?".

Kakashi: "Yes, and you are going to die."

Suddenly, two senbon needles hit Zabuza's throat, causing him to fall. When a person with a mask said, "What you said was true; he really died."

Naruto, Sakura and Tazuna emerged from the water and were shocked to see Zabuza lying motionless. Naruto rushed forward and noticed the person on the tree.

As Kakashi-sensei checked Zabuza's pulse he said, "Hmm, he is certainly dead."

The masked person approached us before and saying, "Thank you very much. I have been after Zabuza for a long time, and today I finally got to kill him."

As Kakashi sensei looked at the masked person he said, "That mask... If I am not wrong, you are a tracker ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist, right?"

The masked man replied, "It seems you are well-informed."

Naruto had a confused look as he asked, "Tracker ninja?"

Sakura sighed as she said, "You don't even know about tracker ninjas? They taught us about it in the academy. A tracker ninja is someone who hunts down rogue ninjas like Zabuza, who act against the village that raised and trained them, in order to ensure that the village's secrets are not revealed. They assassinate these rogues to protect the village. It's common knowledge; you should study more, Naruto."

The masked person added, "You are right. I am indeed a tracker ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist, and I came to assassinate this rogue ninja to prevent the revelation of our village's secrets."

Naruto suddenly rushed forward and repeatedly scanned the person and Zabuza's body, then shouted, "What are you?"

Kakashi sensei looked at Naruto as he said, "Relax, Naruto, he is not an enemy."

"I'm not asking about that. I mean, Zabuza was killed by him and Zabuza was so strong, but he died at the hands of a kid nearly my age. It makes us all look like fools."

"I know, Naruto. In this world, there are people who are younger than you and stronger than me."

The masked man then came to the ground, held Zabuza's body, and said, "Your fight here is over, for now. I will take his corpse and dispose of the secrets." Before disappearing with Zabuza's body

As the masked person left Kakashi sensei turned to us as he said, "The mission is not yet completed. We have yet to take Tazuna home. Let's go."