Konoha: The Honored One

"Wow, that was incredible!" Naruto Uzumaki exclaimed, his blue eyes shimmering with excitement as he watched Gojo from afar. "Sensei, Zabuza's moves were so cool!"

"Gojo-sensei, teach me the Water Dragon Bullet!" he called out, clearly captivated by the five massive water dragons Gojo had summoned earlier.

Standing beside Sakura, Naruto's mind began to wander. A mischievous grin crept across his face as he imagined a heroic scenario. In his mind's eye, Team 7 was cornered—Sasuke down for the count, Sakura in mortal danger. Then, like the knight in shining armor he fancied himself, Naruto would arrive. He'd summon five colossal water dragons to obliterate the enemy, their sheer power leaving everyone in awe. Especially Sakura. She'd be smitten, no doubt.

Naruto let out a dreamy chuckle, muttering to himself, "Sasuke, just kneel and watch! The hero always comes in at the last moment."

"Idiot," Sasuke muttered, his dark eyes narrowing as he raised a skeptical brow.

"Stupid Naruto! You're delusional if you think Sasuke would ever kneel," Sakura snapped, rolling up her sleeve. Without hesitation, she swung her fist down like a hammer.

Thud!

Naruto hit the ground with a loud crash, clutching his head where a comically large lump had already begun to swell. "Ow! Sakura-chan, what was that for?!"

"For being an idiot!" she shouted, fists still clenched. "And leave Sasuke out of your ridiculous fantasies!"

Rubbing his aching head, Naruto grumbled, "Geez… you didn't have to hit me so hard. Just you wait, Sasuke! One day, you'll be the one kneeling!"

From a distance, Gojo observed the scene, spinning Zabuza's oversized blade in his hand with ease. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Kids these days," he muttered. His attention drifted to Naruto's chakra, noticing the boy's natural affinity for wind. "A Water Dragon Bullet with wind chakra? That'll be a sight to see."

Before he could continue, the temperature plummeted. The calm lake abruptly froze over, sharp icicles erupting from the ground and racing toward him. Gojo flicked his finger, and the deadly projectiles stopped mid-air, suspended as if time itself had obeyed him.

A masked figure emerged from the mist, their presence as cold as the ice they controlled. Without hesitation, they raised a hand. "Ice Release: Ice Prison!"

The frozen lake trembled, and a towering ice wall erupted, blocking Gojo's path. The figure moved swiftly, forming hand seals.

"Water Style: Hiding in Mist! Ice Release: Certain-Kill Ice Spears!"

The battlefield became a blur of thick mist and glistening ice as countless spears hurtled toward Gojo with lethal precision.

Gojo yawned. "Dramatic." With another casual flick, the ice spears halted mid-flight, hovering inches from his face. He inspected one of them, feigning interest. "What do you think, kids? Would this turn me into a popsicle or a spiky cocktail garnish?"

The masked figure froze momentarily, clearly taken aback. But Gojo turned toward Team 7, calling out, "Hey, brats! Pay attention! I'm about to teach you a forbidden technique!"

Team 7 paused their bickering, all eyes now glued to Gojo.

"Forbidden technique?" the masked figure whispered, doubt creeping into their voice.

Just as they began forming seals to retreat, Gojo vanished and reappeared directly behind them. His voice dropped into a mockingly serious tone. "Behold… my ultimate move: One Thousand Years of Death!"

The figure let out a strangled yelp as Gojo jabbed his fingers into their rear. They shot into the air like a bottle rocket, flailing wildly before crashing back to the ground.

"…That's it?" Naruto's voice cracked with disbelief.

Sakura buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe I watched that."

Sasuke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're doomed. This guy's supposed to be our teacher?"

"Bastard!" the masked figure snarled, their voice trembling with equal parts rage and humiliation. They retaliated with a flurry of ice attacks, sending spears hurtling toward the group. One particularly large icicle struck Naruto, sending him flying into the air.

"Haha! What's wrong, Sasuke? Too slow?" Naruto taunted, dangling precariously.

"What an idiot," Sasuke muttered, shaking his head.

"NARUTO!" Sakura yelled, panic in her voice as more icicles raced toward him.

Gojo sighed. "Troublesome brat." In a flash, he appeared above Naruto, plucking him off the icicle with ease.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall," Gojo murmured, summoning a massive wall of earth to shield the group from the incoming attack. He dropped Naruto unceremoniously back onto solid ground. "Try not to get skewered next time."

Naruto knelt, looking sheepish. "Sorry, Gojo-sensei… The enemy got away because of me."

Gojo glanced down, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his expression. "Apologize with ramen."

Naruto grabbed his sensei's leg, pleading, "Sensei, I'll treat you to as much as you can eat!"

Sasuke crossed his arms, glaring. "Enough messing around. We need a real plan, not ramen."

Gojo smirked. "Fine. Tazuna, lead the way."

Tazuna took a swig from his flask, stepping forward. "Come on, kids. My house isn't far. You can rest up there."

"Thank you for your hospitality, sir," Sakura said politely as they followed Tazuna.

And so, their journey continued, with more chaos undoubtedly waiting just around the corner.