T/N: +1 Extra Chapter per 100 power stones.
Visit my p@treon for advance chapters.
https://patreon.com/Supreme_1_Raushan
____________________________
[The video feed continued, picking up from the intense battle on the Great Naruto Bridge.]
[In the scene, Naruto, witnessing Sasuke seemingly dead after sacrificing himself to save him, was overwhelmed with rage. The raw power of the Nine-Tails' chakra erupted around him, and with a furious cry, he launched an attack that sent Haku's intricate mask flying, shattering upon impact.
But as Naruto saw Haku's face – the face of the kind, gentle youth he'd met in the forest, the one he'd mistakenly thought of as an 'older sister' – his fist, poised to strike, froze mid-air.
On one hand, there was the person who had shown him kindness; on the other, his fallen comrade, Sasuke. Naruto was trapped in an agonizing dilemma.
At this moment, Haku began to speak, his voice soft but filled with a deep sorrow, telling Naruto about his past, about Zabuza taking him in, and his desperate, singular purpose: to be a useful tool for the one who had given his life meaning.
"Naruto-kun... kill me," Haku pleaded, his eyes reflecting a profound emptiness. "I am useless now. I could not protect Zabuza-sama. I will never gain his approval..."
"I..." Naruto stammered, his heart warring with itself, unable to comprehend the cruelty of Haku's request.]
[The perspective shifted.]
[ Elsewhere on the bridge, Kakashi had summoned his Eight Ninken, his pack of ninja hounds, who had successfully tracked Zabuza through the concealing thick fog. Kakashi, resolute, prepared to finish the Demon of the Mist with his signature technique, the Raikiri.
Just as the lethal Lightning Blade was about to strike Zabuza, Haku, who had appeared resigned to his own fate only moments before, performed a blindingly fast one-handed seal. In an instant, he materialized between Kakashi and Zabuza, shielding his master with his own body.
The Raikiri pierced Haku through the chest.
Zabuza, seizing the sudden, horrific opening, attempted to cut down Kakashi, intending to slash right through Haku's intervening form. This utterly ruthless act enraged Kakashi. With swift, precise strikes, he disabled both of Zabuza's arms, rendering the fearsome Kubikiribōchō useless in his grasp.]
_____________________________
Within Konoha Village,
The members of the Rookie Nine and Team Guy watched with bated breath, a cold sweat forming on many of their brows. They remembered their own naivety.
"To think," Kiba muttered, Akamaru whimpering softly on his head, "they were just genin fresh out of the Academy then, just like us..."
Shikamaru sighed, "Escorting Tazuna, the bridge builder, was supposed to be a simple C-rank mission. For it to escalate into an A-rank situation like this... troublesome doesn't even begin to cover it."
Ino shuddered. "If it hadn't been Kakashi-sensei leading Team 7, would any other jonin have even survived against Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist?"
Choji, pausing mid-chew, looked somber. "I can't believe Zabuza was that cruel. Haku was willing to die for him, and he actually tried to cut Haku down too!"
Tenten shook her head. "Someone like that... he doesn't deserve to be the most important person in Haku's life!"
Hinata spoke softly, her voice filled with empathy, "If Haku... if he had lived in Konoha Village... I think he would have been a very kind and wonderful comrade."
Neji nodded grimly. "The Land of Water was truly in turmoil back then. Such desperation breeds such tragedies."
___________________________
Inside Kirigakure,
A profound sadness settled over the Mist shinobi viewing the events. The sight of the battle involving Zabuza and Haku, two of their own, brought a fresh wave of regret.
Mei Terumi, the Godaime Mizukage, watched with a pained expression. "If Kirigakure hadn't been torn apart by so much civil strife, by the bloody purges of the Kaguya and other Kekkei Genkai clans... perhaps so many skilled shinobi wouldn't have been forced to become missing-nin."
An elder councilman sighed. "If we had remained united, Kirigakure would undoubtedly not be perceived as the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages today."
Chojuro murmured, "It's such a waste... Haku, and even Zabuza..."
[Back on the screen, the fierce battle between Kakashi and the now-disabled Zabuza was abruptly interrupted. An even more despicable figure arrived: Gatō, the shipping magnate who had terrorized the Land of Waves, swaggering onto the bridge with his army of thugs.
He strode up to Haku's lifeless body, kicked it contemptuously, and sneered, "Huh, what a worthless piece of trash! Couldn't even finish the job!"]
["Kakashi," Zabuza said, his voice heavy and strained, "I'm sorry, but our battle ends here." He turned his gaze towards Gatō.]
[Naruto, witnessing Gatō's vile desecration of Haku's body, felt a fresh surge of rage. He rounded on Zabuza, his voice trembling with fury, "Zabuza! He's treating Haku like that, and you just stand there?! Don't you feel anything?!"
Zabuza's visible eye was cold. "Why should I? Haku was merely a tool. I used him. I have no attachment to a broken instrument."
"You BASTARD!" Naruto roared, tears of anger and grief welling in his eyes. "Are you SERIOUS?! Haku cared for you! More than anything! Does becoming strong like you mean becoming this heartless and cold-blooded?! He threw his life away for you! He didn't even have any dreams of his own, except to be your weapon! To die as nothing more than a tool... It's too cruel! It's just too painful!"
At Naruto's impassioned words, something in Zabuza finally broke. Tears began to stream down his face, cutting paths through the grime and blood. He choked out, "Kid... don't say... any more..." His voice was thick with unshed grief. "Your words... they cut deeper than any blade... He was always... too gentle... Haku fought you with all his heart. It was... a good fight..."
A broken sob escaped him. "You're right, kid... Ninjas are human too... We can't... we can't just be emotionless tools... I've lost." His gaze shifted to Naruto, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Kid... your kunai... lend it to me."
Naruto, stunned by Zabuza's sudden display of emotion, silently handed over a kunai.
Zabuza, biting down on the kunai with his teeth, his arms useless at his sides, turned towards Gatō and his men.
With a primal roar, he charged into the horde of thugs. He moved like a demon unleashed, a whirlwind of desperate fury, ignoring their pathetic attempts to stop him, his only focus on the man who had desecrated Haku – Gatō!
He carved a bloody path through them, swords and spears sprouting from his back, until finally, he reached Gatō and silenced him forever. Then, Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, collapsed to the ground, his lifeblood ebbing away.
Kakashi, in a gesture of respect, gently lifted Zabuza and carried him to Haku's side as snow, out of season, began to fall.
Zabuza looked at Haku's peaceful face. "Haku... If I could... I'd like to go... to the same place as you..." His voice was a mere whisper. "Thank you... for everything... I'm sorry..."]
[The screen faded to black.].
.....
_______________________________
T/N: +1 Extra Chapter per 100 power stones.
Visit my p@treon for advance chapters.
https://patreon.com/Supreme_1_Raushan