The figure gleamed mysteriously as he spoke"kakashi hatake of the sharingan, It's an Honor to meet you"
"Zabuza momochi, one of the 7 ninja swordsmen"
'how the hell did these transmigrator made it look easy'
Haruto thought as his legs were shaking due to his presence alone
The mist rolled in thick and cold, smothering the air like a blanket. Zabuza vanished.
"Tch—he's gone," Sasuke muttered, kunai ready.
"Protect Tazuna!" Kakashi's voice rang out. "Don't move unless you have to!"
Haruto's hands trembled as he stood beside Naruto, eyes darting in all directions. The mist was suffocating—he could barely see five feet ahead.
Suddenly, a glint.
"Left!" Haruto shouted instinctively.
A kunai zipped through the fog, grazing Sasuke's cheek instead of hitting his throat. Sasuke flinched, barely dodging the follow-up strike.
"That was… close," he muttered, not looking back.
Haruto breathed heavily. 'Did I actually help…?...no I did! The transmigrator power activated!' haruto thought but
Before he could process it, a massive wave of killing intent crashed over them—Zabuza had found them again.
"I'll slice that old man in two," Zabuza's voice whispered from somewhere in the fog.
Naruto panicked and threw a flurry of kunai wildly. Haruto tried to join in, fumbling a tag from his pouch—but dropped it.
"Darn it—" he scrambled, hands shaking, and tossed it forward blindly.
BOOM.
The flash tag exploded near the ground—not near Zabuza, but it disoriented him for a second. It was enough.
Kakashi burst from the fog and slammed Zabuza back with a water-charged punch.
"You gave me an opening," Kakashi muttered.
Haruto blinked. "I did?"
"You did," Kakashi confirmed without looking at him. "Don't get cocky."
Haruto smiled faintly. His legs were still shaking, and his kunai grip was weak, but… he wasn't useless...thank anything that's holy
The battle between Kakashi and Zabuza roared like a storm. Water jutsu clashed, blades rang out, and chakra cracked through the mist.
Kakashi had managed to save Tazuna for now, but Zabuza was fast—faster than anything Haruto had ever seen.
Sasuke was tense, eyes wide, heart pounding. Naruto clenched his fists, muttering, "Come on, come on…"
Haruto stood near Tazuna, sweat running down his neck. He wanted to help more—really help. But his body wouldn't listen. His fear made his limbs heavy.
Suddenly, water began swirling to the side. A Water Prison Jutsu—Zabuza had trapped Kakashi.
"No! Sensei!" Naruto shouted.
Haruto's mind raced. Do something, do something—
Sasuke growled, stepping forward. "I'll distract him. Naruto, we need a plan!"
"I know!" Naruto replied, forming a quick clone.
They coordinated fast—Naruto threw the huge shuriken, Sasuke leapt up, the clone disguised—classic trick. It worked. Zabuza turned, caught off-guard, just for a second—
—and Haruto threw two kunai clumsily.
They missed.
But one of them bounced off a rock and hit Zabuza in the arm—not deep, just enough to break his focus for a second.
That second was all Kakashi needed. The water prison cracked.
Kakashi blurred forward. "Your mistake."
Zabuza barely blocked in time, but now the fight had shifted. Kakashi's Sharingan was active, his every move matching Zabuza's perfectly.
Haruto fell back beside Naruto, panting. "I… I think I helped again?"
Naruto looked at him, surprised. "Yeah, kind of! That was almost… cool?"
Sasuke didn't say anything, but gave him a glance—not praise, but not disdain either.
Suddenly, two needles flew through the air—thud, thud!
Zabuza froze. Then he collapsed.
A masked boy landed softly on the branch above them. "Thank you for weakening him. I'll take him now."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "Hunter-nin?"
The boy nodded, hoisting Zabuza's body. "Yes. He's wanted in the Mist. I'll make sure he's disposed of."
Then, just like mist, the masked boy disappeared.
The team stood silent. Kakashi finally exhaled. "It's over… for now."
Haruto sat down heavily. He was sore, humiliated—but oddly relieved. He hadn't won the fight. Not even close.
The team didn't speak much on the way to Tazuna's house. The mist still hung thick in the trees, and everyone stayed alert. Even Naruto had gone quiet.
Haruto walked slowly, his legs heavy, not from battle… but from self-loathing. He hadn't done much. Not really.
Tazuna's house appeared just past a worn dirt path—a cozy home near the water, surrounded by a small fence and a garden that had seen better days.
A woman—Tazuna's daughter—rushed out to greet them. "Father! You made it!"
Tazuna nodded. "Barely."
As she ushered them inside, Haruto was the last to step through the doorway—
thud.
Behind him, Kakashi collapsed face-first onto the porch.
"SENSEI?!" Naruto and Sasuke shouted at once.
Haruto turned, eyes wide. "W-What happened?!"
Kakashi groaned weakly as they flipped him onto his back. "Too much… chakra… copying…"
Haruto's eyes narrowed. Sharingan must've drained him.
The woman helped them carry Kakashi into a guest room. He was breathing, but out cold.
Haruto sat near the door as Naruto paced, furious. "What if that Hunter-nin was lying? What if Zabuza's still alive?"
Sasuke crossed his arms. "Then we'll fight him again. We don't have a choice."
Haruto didn't speak. He just stared at Kakashi, passed out on the futon.
He fought like a real ninja. Like a hero. What am I doing here?...just helping Naruto increase his intelligence?
He looked down at his trembling hands. He didn't feel strong. Not skilled. Not ready.
Just lucky he hadn't died.
Tazuna entered quietly. "He saved my life… I owe all of you. Especially your sensei."
Haruto nodded numbly.
That night, as the team rested in their borrowed rooms, Haruto lay awake, listening to the soft creak of the waves outside.
Next time, I won't just throw kunai and hope. I'll be better. I'll find a way.
Suddenly an Idea clicked...
(This chapter turned out a bit odd as I wanna nerf haruto but don't worry, in later chapters he's strong)