The thirteenth chapter of the manga finds Kakashi outmaneuvered on the Land of Waves job, snared inside Zabuza's watery cage. With the jonin sealed away, the duty of guarding Tazuna lands on his three genin, and Naruto chooses to charge forward rather than obey the order to run.
Summary
The chapter opens with an apparent triumph turning hollow: the Zabuza that Kakashi has cornered dissolves into water, exposing itself as a mere decoy. Momochi's true self strikes from behind, hurling the Leaf jonin into a lake and locking him within a sphere of Water Prison. Because the technique demands that its caster stay put, Zabuza conjures a fresh liquid double to menace the bridge builder and his young escorts.
Key Events
Kakashi's captive turns out to be nothing more than a clone, and the genuine swordsman seizes the upper hand. Trapped inside the Water Prison, Kakashi cannot break free without help and tells the others to flee. The three young ninja hesitate at the order. Naruto instead recalls the promise he made to himself never to retreat from a hard spot, and he throws himself at the water-based duplicate.
Notes
This installment belongs to volume 2 and the opening Land of Waves storyline. Its Japanese title, rendered as Ninja da, first reached print in early 2000. The Viz edition trims the name simply to Ninja.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to Kakashi in the Naruto chapter "I'm a Ninja!!"?
Kakashi is caught by Zabuza's real body and trapped inside a sphere of Water Prison after the Zabuza he had cornered turns out to be a water decoy.
Who is left to guard Tazuna while Kakashi is trapped?
The duty of guarding Tazuna falls to Kakashi's three genin students, since the Water Prison forces Zabuza to stay put and send a water clone after them instead.
Why does Naruto refuse to retreat in this chapter?
Naruto recalls the promise he made to himself never to run from a hard spot, so he charges at Zabuza's water-based duplicate instead of fleeing.
What arc and volume does "I'm a Ninja!!" belong to?
"I'm a Ninja!!" is chapter 13, collected in volume 2 as part of the Prologue: Land of Waves arc.
What is the Viz Media English title for this chapter?
Viz Media titled the chapter simply "Ninja!!", a trimmed version of the original Japanese title "Ninja da."
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
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