While Naruto was effortlessly handling the two Akatsuki's members, Kakashi was locked in a fierce battle with Zabuza on the water's surface.
The water dragons controlled by the two clashed repeatedly, tearing into each other before colliding violently, their Chakra rapidly depleting with each exchange.
Although Zabuza had already expended most of his Chakra maintaining two Water Prison Techniques, Kakashi wasn't faring much better, as his own Chakra reserves were notoriously low!
Therefore, as their battle reached its climax, both knew they had to end it quickly.
When the two water dragons collided and collapsed once more, Zabuza didn't continue with Ninjutsu. Instead, he reversed his grip on his kunai and charged straight at Kakashi.
Meanwhile, Kakashi raised his hand to his mouth, lightly biting his fingertip.
[Summoning Technique!]
In an instant, eight dogs of varying sizes lunged at Zabuza.
Facing the trained Ninken, Zabuza slashed with his kunai, injuring two of them, only to have his thigh clamped onto by a larger dog moments later.
'Damn it.'
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his kunai, aiming to stab the dog's head.
"Taste your master Pakkun's special move!"
Suddenly, an unassuming pug leaped up like a facehugger, slamming onto Zabuza's face, its stubby little legs pressing against his skin.
With his vision blocked and his face filled with the stench of the dog, Zabuza no longer cared about his thighs. He reached out his hand, pulled the dog named Pakkun off and tossed him aside.
However, the moment he did, a flash of lightning was already upon him.
"Zabuza-sama!"
At the critical moment, Haku's figure suddenly appeared in front of Zabuza, throwing his body against Kakashi's palm.
The lightning-charged strike was deflected, but the Lightning Chakra still coursed through Haku's body.
"Argh!"
Even without being pierced by the lightning-charged strike, Haku was scorched by the electricity, his mask shattering under the force to reveal a delicate, androgynous face.
At this time, Haku's face was full of pain, but he still gritted his teeth and spoke to Zabuza behind him.
"Zabuza-sama… run…"
When Zabuza saw Haku's condition, he no longer hesitated and hurled his kunai at Kakashi.
By the time Kakashi dodged the kunai and looked back, the two had already vanished from the lake's surface.
As Zabuza left, the thick mist shrouding the area gradually dissipated.
Kakashi half-knelt above the water, somewhat exhausted, and gasped for breaths.
To be honest, if Zabuza hadn't retreated just then, Kakashi might have been the one to flee first.
His Chakra had always been limited, and with the added drain of the Sharingan, it was running out even faster.
Tap.
At that moment, a figure landed lightly beside Kakashi, standing effortlessly on the water.
Kakashi looked up to meet Naruto's eyes.
Looking at Naruto's flawless water-walking technique, Kakashi's mood grew heavier.
Without a doubt, a Genin who could easily handle a Ninja of Kakuzu's caliber was far beyond even what Kakashi had been at that age.
And judging by how Naruto's clothes didn't even have a single wrinkle, it was clear he'd dealt with the two assassins effortlessly.
"Kakashi-sensei, it seems you have a lot of questions."
At this time, Naruto took the initiative to extend his hand toward Kakashi.
"Coincidentally, so do I. Maybe we should talk… just the two of us."
Looking at Naruto's clear eyes without any malice and thinking of Naruto's true identity, Kakashi hesitated for a few seconds before finally taking the offered hand.
…
The sky had darkened, and since moving with three unconscious people was inconvenient, Naruto and Kakashi simply found a clearing nearby to set up camp and light a fire.
They were already deep within the Land of Waves, not too far from their destination. Once Tazuna woke up, they would continue their journey.
But before that, there were things that needed to be clarified.
"I know, Kakashi-sensei, you were probably sent by old man Third to keep an eye on me. And I don't plan on hiding anything from you."
Sitting against a large tree, Naruto casually grilled a fish over the fire as he spoke to Kakashi.
Kakashi, who had seemingly come to terms with something, stood nearby with a relaxed expression, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames.
When Naruto spoke, he didn't react with shock at being exposed, but simply nodded slightly.
"Here's the deal. You ask me a question, and after I answer, I'll ask you one in return."
"Sounds fair, doesn't it?"
As he spoke, Naruto handed the grilled fish in his hand to Kakashi.
"You go first."
After saying this, Naruto leisurely pulled out a flask of sake and took a slow sip.
Kakashi held the fish in silence, countless questions swirling in his mind, but in the end, they condensed into just one.
"How did you do it?"
"Do what? Handle those two guys, or…?"
"A Genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy… no matter what, you shouldn't be this strong. Honestly, I even wondered if you were replaced by someone else."
As he spoke, Kakashi's gaze shifted to Naruto. After asking this question, he was already prepared to turn hostile at any time.
But Naruto simply shook his head lightly in response.
"The truth is, even I'm not entirely sure."
"Kakashi-sensei, let me tell you a story."
"Once upon a time, there was a student at the Ninja Academy who, desperate to graduate, was tricked into stealing the Scroll of Seals..."
Amid the crackling of the firewood, Naruto slowly recounted a fantastical tale.
"...And so, that Ninja spent twenty years searching across the seas. Just when he was about to give up, he suddenly found himself back in his old home."
"Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it?"
Naruto gave a rough summary of his experiences, making no attempt to hide the fact that he had 'crossed worlds'.
As a man who had thrived on the open seas, he disliked the scheming, distrustful nature of Ninja's interactions.
At the same time, he didn't feel the need to hide his own experiences.
Even now, with no one but Kakashi knowing about his journey to another world, people still sought to kill him.
Weakness was what invited greed, while strength granted the right to live openly.
Of course, the second reason was that he sensed no malice from Kakashi.
In fact, just like with Hiruzen, his Observation Haki picked up a faint trace of guilt from the man.
Kakashi stood frozen, still processing the unbelievable story Naruto had just told.
The concept of 'crossing worlds' was something he had never heard of.
As he had not yet become the Sixth Hokage, he naturally had no qualifications to look up information about the 'Dragon Veins' mission, nor did he know that time travel was even a possibility in this world.
Though he couldn't fully understand or believe it, Kakashi could sense Naruto's sincerity.
To put it bluntly, given the strength Naruto had already displayed, being able to effortlessly defeat those two dangerous opponents without a scratch, there was no reason for him to lie to Kakashi, who was already out of Chakra.
'If what he said was true-'
Thinking of this, Kakashi turned his gaze to Naruto's face.
Looking at that face which was still very young but with a sense of vicissitudes in the corners of his eyes, Kakashi sighed silently in his heart.
'...Just how much suffering had he endured before finally making it back home?'
"Now, it's my turn to ask a question."
After saying this, Naruto set his sake flask down, his expression turning serious.
"Kakashi-sensei, I can tell that neither you nor old man Third have any ill will toward me."
"But why are there people specifically assigned to monitor me in the village?"
"Before coming here, someone even tried to attack me under old man Third's orders."
At these words, Kakashi's eye snapped open, his expression turning grave.
"So, I want to know… what secret is hidden in my past that makes so many eyes watch my every move?"
"This…"
Kakashi hesitated when he heard this, unsure whether he should answer.
"Kakashi-sensei, please tell me the truth."
"I've been completely honest with you about myself. And your answer will determine how I treat the village from now on."
"I hope you will think carefully before answering me."
The moment these words left Naruto's mouth, Kakashi felt an immense pressure weighing on his shoulders.
After a long silence, he finally spoke in a strained voice.
"The truth is..."
The conversation between the two faded into the night wind.