Chapter 244: Is It Really Worth It?
Zabuza's thoughts turned murderous.
A second user of the Flying Thunder God Technique had appeared.
And unlike Minato Namikaze, this one was still young.
Still inexperienced.
Still possible to kill.
Then the best choice was obvious.
Destroy him before he had the chance to grow.
Naruto, meanwhile, kept his sky blue eyes fixed on Zabuza's real body beside the Water Prison.
He needed to get close.
That was the key.
As long as he could force Zabuza away from Kakashi, the Water Prison would collapse.
But Zabuza knew that too.
The newly created Water Clone had already disappeared into the mist.
Naruto slowly tightened his grip around the three pronged kunai.
Against the two Hidden Mist Chunin from earlier, he had moved without hesitation.
Zabuza was different.
This was a veteran Jonin.
A rogue ninja who had survived countless battles.
Even with Flying Thunder God, Naruto could feel the pressure.
The fog around them swallowed every sound and movement.
His eyes moved constantly.
Left.
Right.
Behind.
Nothing.
Then Asuramaru's voice sounded in his mind.
"He's going after the girl."
Naruto's expression changed.
"Thanks, Asuramaru!"
He turned sharply.
"Sakura!"
His arm snapped forward.
A three pronged kunai tore through the mist toward her.
"Move!"
Sakura reacted on instinct.
She jumped aside.
At almost the same moment, Zabuza's Water Clone emerged from the fog.
The clone had been closing in from Sakura's blind spot, but Naruto's warning ruined the ambush.
It shifted sideways to avoid the incoming kunai.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed.
"How did you find me again?"
Naruto gave no answer.
Zabuza studied him.
That was twice now.
Naruto had detected attacks he should not have been able to see through the Hidden Mist Technique.
Interesting.
Then another thought occurred to him.
This brat cared deeply about his teammates.
Zabuza's gaze hardened.
That could be exploited.
Another Water Clone rose beside him.
Now two identical Zabuzas stood within the mist.
Neither attacked Naruto.
One turned toward Sakura.
The other toward Tazuna.
Naruto immediately understood.
His hands formed a seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof!
Smoke spread across the road.
Seven Shadow Clones appeared around Naruto.
Each held a three pronged kunai.
"Go!"
The clones scattered.
Two rushed toward the first Water Clone.
Three intercepted the second.
The remaining clones circled around, searching for openings.
Metal clashed.
Feet struck the wet ground.
Kunai flashed through the dense fog.
Zabuza watched the exchange carefully.
His expression gradually changed.
The clones were not merely overwhelming his Water Clones with numbers.
Their taijutsu was sharp.
Their timing was disciplined.
Their coordination was excellent.
And their physical ability...
Zabuza cursed beneath his breath.
"This brat's close combat is already at the level of a Jonin?"
That was absurd.
Naruto had only recently graduated from the Ninja Academy.
Flying Thunder God.
Jonin level close combat.
Massive chakra reserves.
And he was only twelve.
Zabuza's killing intent deepened.
Fortunately, Naruto had yet to reveal many powerful ninjutsu.
That meant there were still ways to pressure him.
One Water Clone disengaged from Naruto's clones and rapidly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
The clone inhaled.
Then an enormous torrent erupted from its mouth.
Water flooded across the ground with terrifying force.
Trees shook.
Mud vanished beneath the rising current.
The road disappeared in seconds.
Naruto's expression tightened.
He immediately threw one of his marked kunai away from the oncoming wave.
Flying Thunder God.
Flash.
His original body vanished from the path of the torrent.
The Shadow Clones could not follow him with Flying Thunder God.
They scattered as quickly as possible, jumping between trees and rocks to escape the rushing water.
That was exactly what Zabuza had been waiting for.
The second Water Clone was already forming another sequence of hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The water beneath them surged.
A massive dragon erupted from the current.
Its roaring head rose above the battlefield before crashing toward Naruto's scattered clones.
Several were swallowed immediately.
Poof!
Poof!
Poof!
Smoke erupted as the clones vanished.
But the Water Dragon did not stop.
Its enormous body twisted through the torrent.
Then it changed direction.
Straight toward Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna.
Naruto's eyes widened.
Zabuza understood something simple.
He did not need to catch Naruto.
He only needed to attack the people Naruto refused to abandon.
Despicable.
But effective.
Naruto immediately reached for another Flying Thunder God Kunai.
Inside him, Asuramaru spoke.
"Wait."
Naruto paused for less than a heartbeat.
"One of Zabuza's clones is waiting near them."
Naruto understood immediately.
It was a trap.
The Water Dragon was bait.
If he teleported over to save Sasuke and the others, Zabuza would be ready for him.
Asuramaru's voice remained calm.
"You know he's waiting for you."
"Are you still going?"
Naruto looked toward his teammates.
Sasuke was bracing himself.
Sakura had gone pale.
Tazuna stood behind them with no ability to defend himself.
The Water Dragon was almost upon them.
Naruto gave a helpless smile.
"I have to."
Asuramaru said nothing.
"They're my teammates."
Naruto threw the kunai.
It cut through the mist and landed beside Sasuke and the others.
The Water Dragon descended.
Naruto vanished.
Flash.
He appeared beside the marked kunai.
And at that exact moment, Zabuza's Water Clone moved.
It had been waiting.
The clone's hands were already finishing the seals.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
Water surged up from the flooded ground.
Naruto barely had time to turn.
The current wrapped around him.
Around Sasuke.
Around Sakura.
Around Tazuna.
Then it closed.
A massive sphere of water formed around all four of them.
Naruto tried to move.
Nothing.
The pressure of the water pinned his body in place.
Sasuke struggled beside him.
Sakura could barely breathe.
Tazuna's eyes widened in terror.
Outside the prison, Zabuza's Water Clone kept one hand inside the sphere to maintain the technique.
The real Zabuza smiled from beside Kakashi's separate Water Prison.
"So that's it."
His voice carried through the mist.
"Even someone who can use Flying Thunder God can still be trapped if they lack experience."
Zabuza looked toward Naruto.
"Powerful technique."
"Terrible judgment."
Naruto's expression tightened.
Not far away, Kakashi watched the second prison form.
His heart sank.
"Naruto!"
He pushed against the water surrounding him.
No use.
He had to break free.
Now.
Sasuke turned toward Naruto, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Why did you come back?!"
Naruto looked at him.
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
"If you stayed outside, we still had a chance!"
"You could have rescued Kakashi!"
"Why would you walk into an obvious trap just to save us?"
Naruto fell silent.
He knew Sasuke was right.
If he ignored the others, Flying Thunder God gave him enough mobility to continue harassing Zabuza and search for a chance to free Kakashi.
He could have kept fighting.
He could have forced Zabuza into making a mistake.
But that would have meant abandoning his teammates to the Water Dragon.
Could he do that?
Naruto already knew the answer.
No.
If he could calmly watch Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna die merely because saving them made the battle more difficult...
Then he would no longer be himself.
Naruto lowered his gaze.
"Sorry."
Sasuke's expression stiffened.
Outside the prison, Zabuza heard the exchange.
He laughed.
"Your teammate understands the situation better than you do."
His eyes settled on Naruto.
"If you had abandoned them and focused on freeing Kakashi, even I would have had trouble dealing with you."
"But you couldn't do it."
Zabuza's voice turned colder.
"You chose your comrades over the correct tactical decision."
"How foolish."
He slowly raised his head.
"In the Shinobi World, foolishness gets you killed."
Another Water Clone approached through the mist.
Kubikiribōchō rested across its shoulder.
The enormous sword looked even more terrifying as it drew closer.
Sakura stared at it.
The color drained from her face.
This was no sparring match.
No Academy exercise.
No bell test.
The man approaching them intended to kill her.
Her breathing became ragged.
"No..."
Her voice trembled.
"Please..."
Tazuna closed his eyes.
Tears ran down his weathered face.
He had hired these children under false pretenses.
Now they were about to die because of him.
"I'm sorry."
His voice cracked.
"This is all because of me."
"I'm sorry..."
Sasuke remained tense, his eyes locked on the approaching Water Clone.
Naruto was equally calm.
Zabuza noticed.
Even trapped inside the Water Prison with death approaching, the two boys were not screaming.
Not begging.
Not collapsing in fear.
He could not help but admire them.
"Interesting."
His gaze settled on Naruto.
"Even now, you're still composed."
Zabuza gave a low laugh.
"You really might be the greatest genius I've ever seen."
The Water Clone lifted Kubikiribōchō.
"Don't worry."
"When you're dead, I'll remember your name."
The sword began to descend.
At that moment, Naruto's consciousness vanished from the battlefield.
The mist disappeared.
The Water Prison disappeared.
Zabuza vanished.
Naruto opened his eyes.
He stood once again at the boundary between endless sea and sky.
The mental world.
Asuramaru stood in front of him.
His expression was visibly irritated.
"You really are an idiot."
Naruto blinked.
Asuramaru stared at him.
"You knew it was a trap."
"You knew the enemy was waiting for you."
"And you still teleported straight into it."
Naruto gave an awkward smile.
Asuramaru's crimson eyes narrowed.
"You've managed to get yourself killed because you couldn't stop trying to save everyone."
His voice sharpened.
"Was it really worth it?"
Naruto's smile faded.
For a moment, he thought about Sasuke.
Sakura.
Tazuna.
Kakashi.
Then he looked back at Asuramaru.
"I don't think saving your teammates is something you measure by whether it's worth it."
Asuramaru said nothing.
Naruto scratched his cheek.
"Sorry."
He smiled helplessly.
"Looks like I'm going to die."
There was no panic in his voice.
Only regret.
Asuramaru continued staring at him.
Then his expression changed.
"Risking your own life for other people without even considering whether it benefits you..."
He sighed.
"You really are hopeless."
Naruto tilted his head.
"But maybe that's exactly why you have a chance."
Naruto frowned.
"A chance?"
Asuramaru stepped closer.
For the first time, the atmosphere around him felt different.
His crimson eyes looked directly into Naruto's.
Not merely at his face.
It felt as though Asuramaru was looking into the deepest part of him.
"All these years, I have lived inside you."
"I trained you."
"I guided you."
"I watched you grow."
"But Naruto..."
"You have never truly gained my recognition."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly.
Asuramaru continued.
"Now I'm willing to give you that opportunity."
Naruto stared at him.
"What do I have to do?"
"I will give you power."
Asuramaru's voice became grave.
"But there is a price."
Naruto listened carefully.
"If you fail to control it, you will lose yourself."
"You will become an evil spirit that knows nothing except slaughter."
Naruto fell silent.
"An evil spirit..."
There was no time to hesitate.
Outside this mental world, death was already approaching.
Sakura and Sasuke were trapped beside him.
Kakashi was still imprisoned.
If Naruto did nothing, all of them could die.
His expression hardened.
The decision came naturally.
Just as every Sword Master before him had once made their own choice.
Naruto looked directly at Asuramaru.
"Then let's begin."
Asuramaru studied him for one last moment.
Naruto smiled.
"I'm ready."
Asuramaru raised one hand.
"Then I wish you luck."
He waved.
The world changed.
Darkness spread across the endless horizon.
The sea vanished beneath it.
The sky disappeared.
Blackness swallowed everything.
It wrapped around Naruto from every direction until his figure was completely consumed.
Asuramaru remained outside the illusion.
He watched the darkness settle into place.
Then his expression collapsed into annoyance.
"Do we really have to go through this every single time?"
The system responded immediately.
[Ding! If the Sword Master wishes to use the power of a template, the corresponding conditions must naturally be fulfilled.]
[This is a Demonic Sword Template.]
[Power must come with a price.]
Asuramaru stared into the darkness.
He had heard essentially the same explanation before.
It did not make the process any less troublesome.
"Fine."
He sighed.
Then he turned toward the illusion.
His hands began to move.
If Naruto wanted Asuramaru's power...
First, he had to survive the trial.
....
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