superior naruto

Twenty-two self-destructing clones exploded simultaneously.

The ice mirrors stood still...

But Naruto collapsed.

He had been struggling to hold on, but the overwhelming pain caused him to lose control of his body, and he fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.

His skin was red and swollen, covered in blood, making him look like a bloodied corpse.

Naruto had wanted to release the clones, but the timing of the detonation wasn't synchronized. Canceling them directly would have wasted many of the explosions, so Naruto chose to endure the pain.

"Crack..."

A fissure appeared in one of the ice mirrors, and a chunk of ice fell to the ground.

The force of twenty-two detonation tags had only managed to chip off a fist-sized piece of the ice mirror!

This level of defense far exceeded Naruto's expectations.

Haku emerged from the ice mirror, his mask shattered by the explosion. As he stepped out, the mask fell away, revealing his youthful yet refined face.

Haku: "What a crazy opponent..."

"But fortunately, it's over."

Haku walked over to Naruto, who lay motionless, drenched in blood. "I'll remember you."

He raised his hand, and an ice senbon appeared between his fingers. He aimed it at Naruto's heart.

Naruto's vision was blurred, but he vaguely saw Haku preparing to strike.

Naruto's thoughts raced: I can't die! Move!

With a desperate effort, Naruto mustered all his strength and kicked his body upward, just as Haku's attack came down. The ice senbon missed his heart but pierced his stomach instead.

Haku: "Oh? Still not giving up?"

"Your will is impressive, but unfortunately, you hurt Zabuza-sama. For that, I can't let you live."

Haku summoned another ice senbon.

Haku: "Give up. This time, I won't miss."

"But don't worry, you won't feel any pain. I'll infuse the senbon with ice chakra. When it pierces your body, you'll freeze instantly and be at peace."

Haku hurled the senbon toward Naruto.

Naruto: "Nine-Tails!"

Kurama: "Ah... I see."

Within the seal space, a massive chakra claw reached out from the Nine-Tails' cage and pressed against Naruto's soul.

For a moment, Naruto felt as if he'd been doused in boiling oil.

The senbon flew toward him, but Haku turned away, confident the attack would finish Naruto.

However, as he turned, a sudden sense of danger surged through him.

Haku's instincts screamed: Danger!

Without understanding what was happening, Haku instinctively merged back into the ice mirror.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The senbon struck the ground, and ice chakra erupted, freezing the area and creating a beautiful yet deadly ice flower.

Haku's thoughts raced: I missed! How is that possible?

Inside the ice mirrors, Haku had absolute vision. He saw Naruto clinging to the top of the ice dome like a raccoon cat, having somehow dodged the attack.

Haku: "Still not ready to die? But I won't let you escape!"

The unease Naruto inspired in him made Haku's heart race. He decided to end this quickly.

Using the reflective properties of the ice mirrors, Haku shifted positions, intending to attack from Naruto's blind spot. But as he lunged, Naruto turned his head, their eyes meeting.

Haku was stunned: He can see through my speed? Impossible!

The reflections in the ice mirrors were nearly instantaneous. In this world of ice, Haku was supposed to be invincible!

Haku's body separated from the ice mirror as he attacked Naruto.

Naruto moved, leaping from the ice above and swinging his fist toward Haku.

The ice senbon clashed with Naruto's fist, but it was the senbon that shattered.

Naruto's fist continued its trajectory, piercing through Haku's chest.

Haku gasped: Defeat...

The two landed, and Naruto pulled his hand free from Haku's body.

Blood gushed like a fountain.

Haku coughed up a mouthful of blood, his strength fading.

Haku murmured: "Zabuza-sama... I've failed... I'm useless..."

His voice grew weaker, the light in his eyes dimming.

Naruto stood over Haku: "Any last words?"

Haku coughed again, blood spilling from his lips. "Spare Zabuza-sama..."

Naruto: "I can't do that."

Haku closed his eyes. "Then... bury me with him..."

Naruto nodded. "I will."

The last glimmer of life faded from Haku's eyes.

Kurama: "As expected, killing the enemy and touching their body allows you to pull their soul here."

Haku's soul was drawn into the Nine-Tails' seal space.

Naruto said nothing.

While the Nine-Tails' chakra still flowed through him, he needed to finish Zabuza.

Naruto: "Multiple Shadow Clones!"

With the Nine-Tails' chakra fueling him, thousands of Naruto clones scattered in all directions, searching for Zabuza.

Soon, a few clones found Kakashi.

Kakashi: "Naruto!"

Beneath Kakashi lay Zabuza's lifeless body, still warm. It was clear he had just been defeated.

Naruto's clones dispersed, and the information was relayed to his main body.

Twenty-five minutes later, Naruto arrived at Zabuza's body. He placed his hand on Zabuza's chest.

Then, he collapsed, unconscious.

When Naruto opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in a farmhouse.

Beside him was Kakashi—though Kakashi wasn't sitting up. He was lying on another bed, exhausted from overusing his Sharingan and the battle with Zabuza. It would be a while before he recovered.

Naruto muttered: "This time... I almost died."

"I need to get stronger, no matter what it takes."

Naruto's consciousness entered the Nine-Tails' seal space.

Zabuza and Haku's souls lay on the ground, peaceful as if asleep.

Kurama: "These two have strong souls."

Naruto: "Hmm..."

Naruto raised his hand and pressed it against Zabuza's soul.

The soul twisted and merged into Naruto's body.

Naruto's soul power surged, and his mind grew clearer. The sensation was intoxicating.

Naruto: "Teacher Nine-Tails, can you see any changes in my soul?"

Kurama's chakra seeped out of the cage.

Naruto pressed his hand against the chakra.

Surprisingly, the burning sensation wasn't as intense as before. Was he adapting to the Nine-Tails' chakra?

Kurama: "Your soul's attributes haven't changed, but your soul power has more than doubled."

Naruto: "Zabuza had water-natured chakra, but I only inherited the water attribute. Why is that?"

Kurama: "It's likely because the water attribute imprint in his soul was more complete. Over time, the imprint would have faded if the body had been left too long."

Naruto nodded. "Is my soul power at its limit now?"

Kurama: "Not yet. The Uzumaki bloodline is stronger than you think."

"Normally, when a tailed beast is extracted from a jinchūriki, they die instantly."

"But when I was extracted from Kushina, she was still able to fight."

Naruto absorbed this information.

Then, he turned to Haku's soul.

Haku's power was immense. If Naruto could absorb it, he would gain incredible strength.

If not for the Nine-Tails, Naruto would have been no match for Haku.

Naruto approached Haku's soul.

Naruto: "Becoming part of me... maybe that's another way to live on."

He placed his hand on Haku's soul.

The moment they touched, Haku's soul began to liquefy, flowing into Naruto's.

Naruto braced himself for the strain on his soul power.

But the toll was far greater than he expected.

His vision blurred, and he lost consciousness.

When Naruto woke again, it was nighttime.

The room was dim, with no candles lit.

Naruto muttered: "Seems like I've been passing out a lot lately..."

He glanced around. Kakashi was still asleep.

Naruto closed his eyes and entered the Nine-Tails' seal space.

Kurama: "What the hell are you?!"

The Nine-Tails' outburst confused Naruto.

Naruto: "What happened after I passed out?"

Kurama: "You don't remember anything?"

Naruto: "I remember placing my hand on Haku's soul... then everything went black."

"Did it work? Can I use ice release now?"

Kurama didn't answer immediately, making Naruto uneasy.

He looked up at the cage, then back at Kurama. "Did the cage get bigger?"

Kurama growled internally: No, it's not the cage! It's me! I've gotten smaller!

Kurama wanted to devour Naruto right then and there, but the memory of what had happened made him hesitate.

When Naruto's soul power had nearly depleted, a claw had emerged from Naruto's soul, bypassing the seal and draining Kurama's chakra.

The experience had been terrifying.

Kurama decided then: Naruto must never know the truth.

If this happened a few more times, Kurama would be finished.

Kurama: "It's not the cage. I've gotten smaller."

"After you absorbed that soul, your soul power drained rapidly. If I hadn't shared my chakra, you'd be dead."

Naruto: "So... you saved me?"