The road stretched endlessly before them, a narrow, winding path carved through the dense forest. The trees stood tall and unyielding, their branches whispering as the wind threaded through the leaves. The occasional snap of twigs beneath their boots was the only sound accompanying Zabuza and Haku as they walked in silence.
Kubikiribōchō rested against his back, its weight a familiar comfort, yet a burden all the same. His mind, however, was anything but at ease.
He hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
The mission was supposed to be simple—eliminate Tazuna, secure their payment, and move on. Yet now, here they were, jobless, their employer dead, and with no clear destination in mind.
Haku, ever silent, walked beside him, his face betraying nothing.
But Zabuza knew.
He knew Haku was worried. He knew Haku was waiting for him to speak, to decide their next course of action.
But for the first time in a long while, Zabuza didn't know what to do next.
The Hidden Mist Village was not an option—not as long as that damned tyrant Yagura sat on his throne.
A rogue ninja had no real home. The world had no place for people like them.
"Tch," Zabuza clicked his tongue, irritation prickling beneath his skin.
That brat, Naruto, had fought him like a true ninja. Even now, Zabuza could still feel the lingering sting from the kid's fist.
And yet…
Why the hell was he thinking about that?
Just as Zabuza was about to shove those thoughts aside, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Heh… You two look lost."
Both of them immediately stopped in their tracks.
Zabuza's grip tightened around the hilt of Kubikiribōchō as his sharp gaze snapped toward the source of the voice.
A lone figure stood casually against a thick tree trunk, bathed in the soft glow of the evening sun.
Naruto Uzumaki.
His arms were crossed, his head slightly tilted in amusement, a smirk playing on his lips. His bright blue eyes held something unreadable—something that irked Zabuza.
Haku instinctively stepped forward, his posture shifting subtly into a defensive stance.
"Naruto…" His voice was calm but cautious. "What are you doing here?"
Zabuza let out a low, rough chuckle, resting one hand lazily on his sword's handle. "Hah. You've got some guts, brat, showing up all alone."
Naruto shrugged. "Relax. It's just a clone."
As if to confirm his words, his form flickered slightly, a telltale wisp of smoke curling at the edges of his body.
Zabuza scoffed but remained on guard. "Then spit it out, kid. What do you want?"
Naruto's smirk didn't fade as he took a slow step forward, the dirt beneath his sandal crunching softly.
"I was just curious," He said, his tone light yet deliberate. "What do you two plan to do now?"
The question lingered in the air.
Zabuza's gaze hardened. "A ninja doesn't go around asking his enemies about their plans."
Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, I know."
He exhaled, his expression momentarily softening. "But I don't really see you as enemies."
That got their attention.
Haku's brows lifted slightly, but he remained silent.
Zabuza, however, barked out a laugh. "Oh? Then what do you see us as?"
Naruto's smirk returned, but his eyes remained serious. "You were just doing a job. That's how this world works, right? That's the kind of life we live as shinobi."
Zabuza's fingers twitched slightly, gripping his sword's hilt tighter.
Naruto took another step forward, his voice quieter but firm. "But tell me something, Zabuza… Are you really satisfied with just being a tool?"
A sharp gust of wind swept through the trees, making the leaves ripple like waves.
Zabuza narrowed his eyes. "Watch your mouth, brat."
Naruto didn't flinch. "You became a rogue ninja because of the Blood Mist, didn't you?"
The air suddenly felt heavier.
Zabuza's teeth gritted together. His jaw clenched as memories—ones he had long buried—resurfaced.
The screams of his classmates.
The bloodstained waters underneath his feet.
The smell of iron.
The silent horror in the eyes of children forced to kill their friends just to survive.
His breathing became slow, and controlled. He was calm… but deadly.
Naruto was playing a dangerous game.
But the kid wasn't wrong.
Naruto continued, voice even, yet carrying an undeniable weight. "The Fourth Mizukage made monsters out of his own people. He turned his village into a nightmare."
Zabuza remained silent, but the flames of hatred inside him burned hotter.
Naruto exhaled lightly before giving a small chuckle. "But tell me… aren't you even a little curious about going back home?"
Haku's shoulders tensed.
"We don't have a home." His voice was soft, but unyielding. "There's nowhere for us to return to."
Naruto's gaze met Haku's. "Then find one."
Haku's lips parted slightly, as if about to say something, but he hesitated.
Naruto continued, his voice gentle but unwavering. "No matter how far a person strays, no matter how lost they feel… everyone needs a place to belong. Even birds, no matter how far they fly, always return to their nest."
Zabuza's grip on his sword finally eased slightly.
And then, Naruto dropped the bombshell.
"Yagura is dead."
A deafening silence followed.
Haku's eyes widened. "What…?"
Zabuza's body froze.
Naruto's expression remained unreadable. "You heard me. The Fourth Mizukage is dead."
The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.
For the first time in years, Zabuza felt truly caught off guard.
Haku turned to him, seeking confirmation, but Zabuza said nothing. His mind was racing.
Naruto smirked slightly. "You look surprised."
Zabuza's fist clenched. He had spent so much time running, hiding, fighting—always thinking of the day he could go back and take revenge.
Yet now, the man he hated most was already gone.
Naruto continued, filling the stunned silence. "The new Mizukage is Terumi Mei. From what I hear, she's different from Yagura. Maybe it's worth checking out."
Zabuza gritted his teeth. He had heard of Mei before—a fearsome kunoichi known for her hatred of Yagura's rule.
The thought of returning to the village after all this time…
Naruto's smirk faded, and for a moment, there was a strange, almost knowing look in his eyes. "I think you should go back."
Zabuza didn't answer immediately.
Haku's gaze was filled with silent expectation.
For the first time in a long while, Zabuza hesitated.
Naruto exhaled. "Well, I've said my piece."
Poof!
The clone vanished in a soft explosion of smoke, the lingering embers fading into the wind.
Zabuza remained motionless.
The weight of his past, his decisions, and his future settled on his shoulders like a heavy fog.
Haku finally spoke. "Zabuza-sama… what do we do?"
Zabuza exhaled sharply through his nose. "Tch…"
For the first time in years, he wasn't sure how to answer.
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