Haku's sleeve spilled blood onto the cold bridge metal. At his feet, the broken pieces of his Crystal Ice Mirrors glimmered faintly. His tone was softer, yet his hunter-nin mask prevented his eyes from displaying emotion.
"The two of you are strong. Stronger than I expected."
With senbon stuck in his left shoulder and a gash on his cheek, Sasuke stood beside Naruto, panting for breath. "You're fast.but now I can see through you completely."
Naruto cleaned blood from his lips and smiled weakly. "And now it's our turn to inflict the pain now that we're out!"
On hearing those words, Naruto's fists tightened.
'Did Zabuza give you a reason?'
He thought of Iruka. Kakashi. Sakura, as well. those who had believed in him when others did not.
"Then I'll show you the truth and remove that mask!"
He charged forward, employing a newly devised strategy. "Pokémon Jutsu: Flame Wheel!"
He whirled forward like a blazing comet, charging at Haku as a circle of fire burst about him.
Haku arrived just in time, but his robes were singed by Naruto's fire. A glimmer of pale skin was seen as heat seared through the edge of the mask.
With a burst of shuriken, Sasuke followed close behind. "Covering fire!"
Most of them Haku dodged as he blurred once more, but one blade scraped against his leg. He winced.
"You're doubting me," Sasuke breathed. "Why? This is slower than you."
Haku growled, "I. don't want to kill you."
Alongside him, Naruto fell flat. "Then don't! You can leave!"
Haku looked down. "No. I cannot. I swore."
Chakra burst around him then as he spread his arms wide. "I will no longer restrain myself."
He did a few swift hand seals.
"Secret Jutsu: Thousand Flying Needles of Death!"
Off the bridge, puddles of water came up, forming countless shining senbon. Like icing on rain, they suspended in midair.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Get moving!"
The needles flew.
Naruto was shoved aside by Sasuke, who was hit several times on the side and leg. He cried out but stayed upright.
"Damn it. That hurt."
Dumbfounded, Sasuke looked at him. "Why did you take the blow, you idiot?"
"Because you're our only hope to hit him!" Ouch, even in pain, Naruto grinned and yelled.
Haku's hands trembled slightly. "You would take damage for your friend?"
Slowly, Naruto got up. "Of course. I defend people that are valuable to me."
There was a lengthy silence.
At last, Haku commented, "Just like I guard Zabuza-sama."
The bridge shuddered beneath a mighty explosion before either could act.
Elsewhere – Kakashi vs. Zabuza
Coughing out water, Zabuza ran into the railing. "That cocksucking eye."
Sharingan twirled as Kakashi advanced. "Zabuza, it's finished. You move slowly. Before you even strike, your movements are read."
Growling, Zabuza thrashed his sword across the bridge. "You think you've won? The Demon of the Hidden Mist is me!"
"You're human too," Kakashi said. "And you're no longer working with your heart."
Zabuza stood momentarily frozen, but he quickly masked it with a charge.
Kakashi yanked his sword away with a swift motion, meeting him halfway through his swing. Zabuza stumbled back, gasping.
"Why—why won't you stay down?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he inquired.
Zabuza shifted around toward Haku's battle. just in time to see Naruto strike him again.
His face faltered.
"Because I owe that boy everything."
Back to Haku and Naruto
Limping now, Naruto took another step forward.
"Haku, you're powerful. more powerful than most ninjas I've met. But because someone told you to, you're fighting us? That isn't strength. Slavery is that."
Haku's fists gripped tightly.
"You're not getting it. I had nothing. No family. No friends. I was just a tool to be discarded."
Naruto glared at him.
"Yes, I do get it."
Haku blinked.
Naruto's voice trembled a bit.
"I was hated when I was a child. I was treated like garbage by all of them. But I made up my mind to disprove them. By being a hero, not an instrument."
His arms crossed, Sasuke stood beside him. "He prattles on a lot, but he's not entirely wrong."
Haku looked from one to the other. Feeling creeping through, the mask cracked a little further. Unease.
"But I. I've already set my path."
Naruto's fists curled.
"Then make a new decision."
Those words echoed.
Make a new decision.
Haku stared at him with wide eyes.
Was it that simple?
Could he?
A shower of kunai exploded from the fog, shattering the tension.
"Ambush!" Sasuke shouted.
Haku leapt between Naruto and the kunai in a split-second reflex.
A few plunged with nauseating thuds into his side.
"Haku!" Before he could fall, Naruto shrieked and clutched him.
Blood accumulated beneath them. Sasuke glanced around. "Where did those come?!"
Gato's men pushed out from the bridge edge, a bunch of thugs wielding swords and kunai.
"Well, well. How touching," Gato sneered, walking on. "However, I no longer need the boy or Zabuza. They're too expensive. I'll just kill them all myself."
Naruto stared at the bleeding Haku in his arms. "You—bastard!"
Zabuza heard everything behind them. He slowly turned and walked towards Gato with heavy footsteps.
Kakashi stared. "Zabuza?"
Zabuza knelt beside Haku. His hands shook.
"You. got hurt. for them?"
Haku's face turned pale as he looked up. "Zabuza-sama. I apologise. I. let you. down."
Zabuza didn't say anything at first.
Then he took off his headband and threw it aside.
"You succeeded. You didn't fail."
He faced Gato and his crew and stood up. His eyes burned with anger.
"You played us dirty. You lied to us. You will never be as human as Haku was."
Graping for his massive sword, he faced the crowd.
"I defend him this time."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Zabuza."
Haku stayed quiet. He glanced between the two of them instead. "I need to protect Zabuza, but I don't want to harm you. He gave me a reason."