While the training session unfolded, a formidable foe stirred from defeat deep within the Land of Waves' forest. A large treehouse nestled among the towering trees served as his refuge.
Inside, Zabuza lay recuperating, with Haku attending to his injuries.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Zabuza turned toward the door. He recognised the man who had hired them—Gato, with his unforgettable diminutive stature.
Gato entered, flanked by two bodyguards, samurai whose loyalty, like their allegiance, was bought and paid for.
"So, you return defeated," Gato began, his voice dripping with disdain.
"It seems the Hidden Mist's ninja are all bark and no bite. Those tales of their prowess were nothing but ghost stories, after all," he sneered.
"You can't even avenge your men, yet you call yourself a demon? Don't make me laugh," Gato continued, his arrogance growing with each word.
He strutted toward Zabuza's bedside, completely ignoring Haku's presence.
As Gato drew closer, Haku noticed the samurai bodyguards subtly unsheathing their katanas. 'An attack,' he thought.
"Hold on a second," Gato said, his attention fixed on Zabuza, who silently endured the insults. He leaned in, undeterred, attempting to remove Zabuza's mask.
"There's no need to stay silent," he taunted, his hand reaching for Zabuza's face.
Before he could make contact, Haku's hand shot out, gripping Gato's wrist with surprising force.
"Don't touch Zabuza with your filthy hands!" Haku hissed, his glare intense, his killing intent almost palpable.
"You!" Gato's bodyguards reacted instantly, preparing to strike Haku.
To their astonishment, Haku moved with impossible speed, a mere flicker in their vision. Before they could react, he reappeared, his blade pressed against their necks. 'No way…' they thought, sweat beading on their foreheads. 'He moved in an instant.'
"You shouldn't do that…" Haku warned, his gaze sweeping over them, conveying the threat that any sudden movement would be their last. "I'm angry now…"
Seeing how these "negotiations" were progressing, Gato decided to issue one final order, his face slick with nervous sweat.
"One more time… if you fail one more time!" he stammered, "You won't be welcome here anymore, remember that!"
With that, Gato gathered his men and hastily departed, his usual bluster replaced by a palpable fear directed squarely at Haku.
Haku returned to Zabuza's side, kneeling beside him.
"Haku, you didn't have to…" Zabuza began, though his hand instinctively gripped a kunai, poised to strike Gato down had the situation escalated.
"I know…" Haku replied, acknowledging the potential misstep.
"Besides," he continued, "it's too early to kill Gato… if we cause a commotion here, they'll be after us again. More importantly, if we disobey Mizukage-sama, we'll be dead before we know it."
Haku offered a reassuring smile. "We have to be patient," he said.
"Yeah… you're right," Zabuza conceded.
The day unfolded as Zabuza and Haku remained in their treehouse, awaiting Zabuza's complete recovery, while Team 7 continued their rigorous training under Kakashi's watchful eye.
Deep within the forest, Naruto and Sasuke pushed themselves to their limits. They were soaked in sweat, their bodies covered in bruises, yet neither would yield, despite their aching muscles screaming for rest.
They stood, hands on knees, panting heavily, sweat dripping from their foreheads onto the forest floor.
Sakura, taking a break from her own training, decided to check on her teammates. The sight that greeted her left her eyes wide with astonishment.
Multiple trees were scarred with deep gouges. Some emanated the smell of burning wood, others the faint hiss of sizzling energy. Destructive sounds echoed through the trees; screeching, wild slashes ripped through the air.
Sakura followed the racket of bushes, pushing through the dense foliage. As she drew closer, the very air seemed to crackle with energy. And there it was: a scene of utter devastation. Fallen trees lay scattered, the remnants of Naruto and Sasuke's relentless training. In the centre of the clearing, the two boys were still at it, infusing their weapons with chakra. This time, however, their chakra surged more quickly, building with greater intensity.
'They're still going at it? Those two have insane stamina…' Sakura thought, watching them with a mixture of awe and concern.
Kakashi, taking a break from his reading, observed his students. 'Naruto's chakra is the closest we have to Arashi's,' he mused. His reserves are far greater than any of ours. And Sasuke... he carries the Uchiha bloodline. They're both completely off the charts.' He opened his book once more.
"You'll both get stronger, no doubt about it…" he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "However… just how strong will you get?" He returned to his reading, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.