A/N: Funny thing is I got the inspiration for this while reading The Mist in the Forest by munie munie. Since it hadn't been updated for almost two years now, I decided to listen to my own plot bunnies and write my own version. This is very much AU, seeing as Haku and Zabuza lived through the battle on the Great Naruto Bridge in order for this to be possible. So, I hope you all can enjoy the first fic I've posted in the longest time. Don't worry about how short this is, it's only the intro, and I promise there's seven more, each approximately longer than this.

Warning(s): Unbeta'd and blood/gore.

Chapter 1: Kiri Takeover (Introduction)

Two years after facing Team Seven on the bridge and Gatou's death, Haku and Zabuza took what funds they had earned from other odd jobs and planned out their attack on the Land of Water. Zabuza called once more upon the Demon Brothers Meizu and Gouzu; as well as his old friend, Hoshigaki Kisame (who brought Uchiha Itachi). After a few more months, they began the assault.

First, the small team divided up to take out the local feudal lords, as well as the daimyo. This part was carried out quickly and simultaneously. They all rejoined at the Hidden Mist Village and continued their plot. The advance team of the Demon Brothers went and started killing guards at the main gate. Once they were taken care of, the others walked right in. Using the mist that always cloaked the village, as well as the dark moonless night for cover, the missing-nin all headed for the Mizukage's residence.

This time Haku took the lead, scouting ahead of the others. Silently, he moved about the shadows and took out the jounin guards that the ever-paranoid Mizukage charged with guarding his home every day and night. Once he was definite most, if not all, of the guards had been killed, he opened a window and threw a needle made of ice toward the location where the others were hidden. One-by-one, the squad entered and dispersed to search for the sleeping old man. On the lowest two floors below ground, the Meizu, Gouzu, and Haku each found nothing but water clones. Kisame and Itachi had similar luck on the ground and first underground levels. Zabuza, however, found the village head passed out at his desk, surrounded with bottles of sake, on the second floor. Smirking in triumph, he lifted zanbatō over his shoulders easily and cleaved the Mizukage's head right off. Blood spurted everywhere as the desk splintered and collapsed under the massive sword. Bottles smashed, sending shards of glass flying only to be covered in red spray as the body fell to the floor. The head rolled, stopping face down at Zabuza's feet. The Demon of the Bloody Mist picked it up and carried it out of the office. The others, who had heard the racket, met him at the stairway, where he held up his grisly trophy.

The Demon Brothers shouted praise to their employer. Kisame grinned darkly and clapped his old friend on the shoulder, while Itachi glanced indifferently at the slowly revolving head before turning away. Haku nodded once, his hunter-nin mask hiding the proud smile he wore.

The next day Zabuza stuck the head on a pike and placed it prominently from the roof where all could see it. He declared himself as the new Mizukage and ordered ANBU and tracker ninja to leave Kisame, Gouzu, Meizu, Itachi, himself, and Haku alone. A month later, all traces of resistance to the new rule of Mizukage Momochi Zabuza had been squashed. Kisame and Itachi returned to report to the Akatsuki, with a gift of the Three-Tailed demon, some weak-willed man was given the position of daimyo (but listened under threat of death to Zabuza), and Meizu and Gouzu left to do as they pleased, leaving Haku with Zabuza in Kirigakure.

One night, Zabuza took Haku up to the cliff overlooking the Hidden Mist where he first declared to leave behind the Water Country. They stood in silence for a minute just staring out over the village.

"Haku, just as I told you all those years ago, this land is now mine," Zabuza said, putting his hads behind his back.

"I remember, Zabuza-san," he replied, smiling. "And now all your hard work has paid off. The people here have finally accepted you as Mizukage."

"And I'm thankful for all you've done to make this possible," the older man told his protégé. "Which is why I'm going to let you go. You have served your purpose to me, so now you are free to leave."

"B-but Zabuza-san!" Haku cried out.

"No buts," he ordered, already walking back. "Just… go…."

Haku could feel his heart shattering as the rest of his body went numb. He clutched at his chest as tears burned at his eyes, fighting to escape. Suddenly, he turned on the spot and ran off into the woods just as the first drop hit the ground.

As fate would have it, Zabuza hadn't wanted Haku to go at all. He had merely thought that Haku wouldn't have cared either way, that the now 18 year old would want a chance not to live his life as a tool. After all, he had raised the boy to be a true shinobi, an emotionless killing machine.

Hadn't he?

A/N: Please don't forget to review. :)