After the resounding thud of a punch connecting with the mask, even though Naruto had deliberately held back most of his strength at the last moment, the remaining impact was still incredibly astonishing.
Haku's figure flew backward like a kite with a broken string, tumbling awkwardly several times on the ground before finally coming to a stop on the bridge.
With Haku's defeat and the rapid depletion of his Chakra, the Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals jutsu that had trapped Naruto and Satsuki could no longer be maintained.
All the ice crystals forming the cage instantly lost their shape, transforming into countless clear water droplets that splashed onto the ground with a 'whoosh'.
Haku struggled to prop up his upper body with trembling arms; his mask was shattered and fallen, revealing a delicate face behind it, filled with shock and despair.
He saw that Naruto, across from him, had already dispelled his terrifying crimson Chakra cloak; his aura was stable, and far from being heavily injured, there wasn't even a noticeable scratch.
In contrast, Haku had not only nearly exhausted his Chakra, but his body was also in excruciating pain from the impact just now, making it difficult even to stand steadily.
"I'm sorry, Zabuza-sensei… I… I am no match for this boy." Endless despair and self-reproach instantly engulfed Haku.
But to his surprise, Uzumaki Naruto did not press his advantage, delivering a final blow to him, an enemy who had lost his fighting capability; he merely stood silently, watching him.
"Why… why don't you kill me?" Haku's voice trembled slightly from exhaustion and emotional turmoil, carrying deep confusion.
Failure, for him, often meant the end of his value.
Naruto, hearing this, showed a puzzled expression, "That's a strange question, isn't it? I didn't want to kill you in the first place… not to mention we've crossed paths before; do you really want to die?"
"…What Zabuza-sensei needs is a useful Ninja who can help him achieve victory." Haku lowered his head, his voice and eyes equally hollow, "I lost to you, which has proven my incompetence… You have deprived me of my reason for existence."
Looking at the young man before him, who was only a few years older than himself, with eyes that had lost all their light, like a snuffed-out candle, and who only sought an end, a complex emotion welled up in Naruto's heart.
Children of the Ninja World… how many more times must I witness this kind of mentality, so unbefitting their age?
Is the loneliness of not being needed truly more terrifying than death?
"Please… I'm sorry to dirty your hands… but please, give me an end."
Haku's voice carried a heartbreaking plea, as if death was the only dignified end he could choose for himself.
Naruto watched him in silence, but his mind was rapidly calculating.
Kakashi-sensei's battle… it should be nearing its end, too.
The process was probably as expected… given the time, Gato and his mob of subordinates should also be appearing.
In Naruto's perception, Menma's Shadow Clone and Kakuzu's Chakra were clearly located in a hidden corner not far away; so that's it… everything was in place.
Seeing Naruto, who showed no intention of approaching to finish him, and Satsuki, who was slowly walking up behind him with wary eyes, the last flicker of light in Haku's hollow eyes extinguished.
He slowly, resolutely raised the sharp metal senbon in his hand, pointing it at his own throat.
"Don't move!"
Naruto suddenly let out a low growl, instantly stopping Haku's attempt at suicide.
"Your life is not yet at a point where it needs to end in this manner!"
Haku's arm froze in mid-air, his eyes full of confusion, completely unable to understand why Naruto would prevent a defeated enemy from seeking release.
However, in the very next moment—Haku suddenly understood the unspoken deeper meaning in Naruto's words! An indescribable emotion, mixed with shock, realization, and a faint glimmer of hope, surged into his heart.
"Thank you…"
Although still unclear why Naruto would do this, Haku instinctively, softly, uttered his thanks.
Immediately afterward, without any hesitation, he used the last of his remaining Chakra, his hands completing the final hand seal at the fastest possible speed.
A crystalline ice mirror instantly formed beneath his feet! Haku's body, as if melting into water, quickly sank into the mirror's surface, and the next second, he used this final Ice Mirror Instantaneous Body to rush towards another decisive battlefield!
——————
On the other battlefield, the outcome was already clear.
Kakashi's summoned Ninja dogs were firmly biting Zabuza's limbs and torso, completely immobilizing him.
And on Kakashi's right hand, the mass of highly compressed Lightning-style Chakra, the Chidori, was emitting a hair-raising chorus of chirps, glowing with a deadly blue light.
Zabuza's heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of dread and panic.
He had never imagined that Kakashi's intentional injury in the subsequent close-quarters combat was to allow the Ninja dogs to remember his blood scent, thereby enabling them to use a tracking Ninjutsu!
Damn it… my arms are completely locked, I can't form any hand seals.
"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi said with a tone of judgment, "Your ambition has already led to too many sacrifices.
This is by no means the behavior a Ninja should exhibit.
What you are attempting to destroy is the hope this country is desperately struggling to preserve."
"…What does it matter to me!" Even in a desperate situation, Zabuza still growled defiantly, his eyes flickering with fanatical light, "I fight for my own ideals! That will never change!"
"Then, let your ambition end here." Kakashi said no more, his body suddenly lowered, and accompanied by a piercing thunderclap, he charged at the firmly restrained Zabuza with extreme speed for the final assault! The lightning aimed directly at Zabuza's heart!
Is this the end…
Feeling his still-immobile body and the ever-enlarging, certain-death blue light before him, intense unwillingness surged in Zabuza's heart, but he could only watch this scene in despair.
"Boom—!!!"
The sound of flesh being pierced exploded! Warm blood splattered everywhere!
However, Kakashi's Chidori did not pierce Zabuza Momochi's chest!
In that split second, an ice mirror appeared out of thin air in front of Zabuza! Haku's figure leaped out from it, unhesitatingly using his thin body to precisely block in front of the Chidori!
The wild lightning completely and unreservedly pierced through Haku's chest!
The summoned Ninja dogs disappeared as the jutsu was completed.
Both Kakashi's and Zabuza's pupils contracted violently at that moment, watching the sudden, bloody scene before them in disbelief.
Note:
Happy Lunar New Year 2026!
First of all, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for always being by my side and supporting me throughout this journey.
To ensure the quality of upcoming stories, I've decided to take a week off during the Lunar New Year (February 15th to 22nd) to rest and spend time with my family.
I will return on February 23rd, 2026. During this break, I will prepare many new chapters to post regularly upon my return. So please look forward to it!
Wishing you a warm, joyful, and wonderful holiday season!