Chapter 9 - The Mist Settles

Disclaimer: Still applies.

[Bridge Construction Site, Land of Waves]

Current Time...

The clanging of metal was heard throughout the bridge as Naruto and Zabuza continued to clash. Zabuza, much to Naruto's delight, was doing much better this time around as Naruto block a lot more than in his last encounter with the Swordsman. While Zabuza was taking everything that Naruto was unleashing upon him the missing-nin could tell that his opponent was still holding back a lot of his strength. While that annoyed Zabuza to an extent he knew how much trouble he would've been in if Naruto went all out. His thoughts were interrupted by another vertical swing from Naruto. Zabuza managed to block the blade in the nick of time before he jumped back several yards to give himself some room to catch his breath.

"Not bad. You've definitely gotten better since last time," Naruto said as he rested his blade on his shoulder.

"I've had time to rethink my strategy a bit. Though I can still tell that you're still holding back quite a lot," Zabuza said with a heavy breath as he had his blade rest on the ground.

"If I didn't this fight would've been over rather quickly. No offense to your skills, mind you," Naruto said; considering the opponent he was facing the blonde tried to not undersell Zabuza's kenjutsu abilities.

"None taken. I'm equally impressed that you dismantled Haku's ice mirrors; I've never seen anyone do that before," Zabuza said; Zabuza, having trained his associate himself, knew that she was actually more dangerous than he was with her mirrors being one her deadliest abilities since they were supposedly unbreakable.

"You should be proud of Haku; she is an impressive shinobi herself with that kind of power. To be honest I don't want to have to take away her father figure from her," Naruto said only to hear a scoff from Zabuza.

"Some father. I've only seen her as a tool, not a daughter, the whole time," Zabuza said to which Naruto shook his head.

"She sees you as a father and if you really wanna fight to the bitter end it will only cause her great pain," Naruto said as he looked to Haku who was watching the battle with fear clearly in her eyes.

"I'm a shinobi and it only makes sense that I fight to the end; this is something she'll understand when she's older. So you ready to end this or not?" Zabuza asked as he lifted his sword off the ground; Naruto sighed as he twirled his sword one time in a circle.

The two began their clashed swords yet again with the pace picking up with each swing. Zabuza made one vertical swing with just about everything he had... which missed Naruto, creating a huge crack on the ground instead. Naruto used Zabuza's prone position to his advantage by stabbing Zabuza's left arm rendering it useless. Zabuza grunted as he recuperated himself. Haku was horrified by this and started to run to Zabuza's aid only to be stopped by Kakashi. Haku could only look on helplessly as her adoptive father tried to continue fighting with only one arm. Zabuza was swinging wildly now as his broken left arm meant that he couldn't control his sword properly. Naruto side-stepped everthing Zabuza threw at him and struck the missing-nin the moment he began slowing down. Just as with his previous attack Naruto struck the other arm and rendered it useless.

Zabuza's sword hit the ground with a huge clang, which sounded like an explosion in the otherwise silent construction site. Zabuza staggered as his breathing became even heavier as he stood staggering, both his of arms now completely limp at his sides. Naruto just looked at the former Swordsmen of the Mist with an emotionless face as if waiting for his opponent to decide his own fate. Zabuza didn't say a word to Naruto; he only nodded before closed his eyes in anticipation of his own death. Naruto obliged his opponent by bringing the tip of his zanpakuto to Zabuza's heart and piercing it. Zabuza gasped and coughed up blood before he stumbled over. Naruto caught him and laid him on his back before he nodded to Kakashi who let Haku go to the dying Zabuza. Haku rushed to Zabuza's side and began to cry.

"Zabuza-sama, please don't go!" Haku said with tears streaming down her face as the blood poured out of Zabuza.

"Don't grieve Haku. Our time together might be over, but you've still got plenty of time left. Take care of yourself, stay strong, and I know you'll go on to do great things," Zabuza said, while smiling underneath his bandages at his adoptive daughter who continued to cry.

"Hopefully the afterlife will be kind to you Zabuza," Naruto said to which Zabuza gave a small chuckle.

"I wouldn't hold my breath, kid. I haven't exactly been the nicest person in the world. I guess anything's possible in the end, though," Zabuza said as his eyes closed; a few seconds later his breathing stopped, marking Zabuza's end.

Haku was now crying even harder and, as if she was subconsciously reaching out, started to cry into Naruto's chest. Naruto was a little shocked but he put his hands on her back and patted her in a attempt to comfort the grieving Haku. Sasuke had regained consciousness from Naruto's backhand attack and wondered what he had missed when he saw Naruto holding Haku while Zabuza was lying dead on the floor. Kakashi had his head down as a act of respect for the fallen swordsman. Then, from out of nowhere, everyone heard slow clapping coming from the other end of the bridge. Everyone had a scowl etched on their face when they saw Gato standing there with a small army for hired thugs.

"Looks like Zabuza and his that little bitch couldn't get the job done. Oh well; at least I don't have to pay him for his services," Gato said; the little man began to cruelly laugh at the death of Zabuza's while his henchmen did the same.

"Bastard!" Haku said; she was about charge at Gato before Naruto seized her arm.

"I'll handle this piece of trash, Haku-chan," Naruto said; Naruto noted that that Haku blushed at the suffix added to her name.

"Hang on, kid. Look I know you're the one that defeated Zabuza so how about you leave your teammates and come work for me? I can pay you handsomely and-" Gato said before he and his thugs were suddenly being suffocated by an invisible force.

"You are either very pathetic or very stupid if you're actually willing to think for one second that I would work for a scumbag like you," Naruto said as he refused to let up on the pressure of his reiatsu.

"What is he?" Haku asked as she looked on with Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke.

"He's human; he just has a power much greater than anything else in the ninja world," Kakashi said, getting a nod from Haku who was still watching of the power shown by Naruto in awe.

A power that should be mine," Sasuke selfishly, and unrealistically, thought to himself; the Uchiha's anger grew as Naruto continued to keep Gato and his thugs pinned to the ground.

"P-please ha-have mercy," Gato said as Naruto now stood above him, zanpakuto in hand.

"I can think of a thousand bastards here who deserve mercy. Unfortunately, for you anyways, you nowhere on the list," Naruto said before he drove his blade right through Gato's skull, killing him instantly.

Naruto then released the pressure he was applying and let the hired thugs get to their feet. They were all full of fear after witnessing their boss's death. They looked at Naruto, fearing he would end them next. Naruto simply gave them a straight face.

"Boo," Naruto said and in an instant the group yelled in terror and ran off of the bridge. Naruto smirked and sheathed his zanpakuto. Naruto then walked back to his group, who were still just staring at him.

"I'd say this mission is just about wrapped up," Naruto said to which Kakashi nodded at him.

"Yes, but what should we do with her?" Kakashi asked as he looked over at Haku who was back near Zabuza's side.

"She'll come with us when this is over. Unless you have an objection to that?" Naruto asked; before Kakashi could answer, however, Sakura decided to make herself heard.

"Hell No! That tried to kill us and nearly did with Sasuke-kun. I am not having her with us," Sakura said before she found herself face-to-face with Naruto.

"I'm sorry, Haruno. I don't seem to recall asking you for your opinion on a matter that doesn't concern you; however, if you're feeling brave and also feel like putting down a girl who just lost someone dear to her, then by all means continue," Naruto said to which Sakura shrunk down. The kunoichi also felt a little guilty about what she said and decided to remain quiet for the rest of the day.

"It's okay, Naruto; she has no reason to trust me," Haku said as Naruto nodded at her; Haku still gave Sakura an angry glance, however, which made the pink-haired girl even more ashamed of herself.

"Well, in any casr, the bridge is still unfinished so we still have to stick around. Though I think the threat level has definitely gone down by a lot," Kakashi said while giving an eye smile as he and his team of genin all went back to their post to protect Tazuna.

The group continued to protect Tazuna while he worked on the bridge. When they weren't protecting him, they were at his house hanging around. Naruto and the group also buried Zabuza on a hilltop, his sword being placed next to his tombstone. Naruto introduced Haku to Jango and Tiraran, the latter of who was overjoyed of meeting someone new. Naruto also got to hang around with Inari for a while and pretty much became an older brother to the boy.

When the bridge was finally finished, the group gathered up their things and made their way to the bridge. When they arrived, everyone in the village was waiting for them. Tazuna, Tsunami, and Inari were at the front of the group.

"Our entire village is indebted to you for all that you have done. You are welcomed back anytime," Tazuna said as Tsunami smiled at the group.

"Will we ever see you again, Naruto?" Inari asked before Naruto put a hand on his head.

"You can count on it," Naruto said while smiling with Inari as he turned to leave.

"Dad, we haven't named the bridge yet," Tsunami said as the group left the village.

"Oh you're right. Well, how about, in honor of that kid, we call it 'The Great Naruto Bridge'," Tazuna said who got an approving yell from the village.

"Looks like you made that village a better place, Naruto-sama," Tiraran said as she walked with Naruto on his right and Jango on his left.

"Yes, but everyone here helped in some way. The rest is up to them now," Naruto said while he put his hands in his pockets.

"What will happen to me?" Haku, who was on the far side of the group, asked.

"We have to report to the Hokage about the mission. He will decide what will happen," Kakash said; made Haku a little anxious.

"Don't worry Haku-chan; the Hokage is not as bad as you think," Naruto said before giving her a comforting smile.

Enjoy that smile, loser. Once I get the council to make you handover your power, you will be nothing, and I will once again be on top," Sasuke thought to himself as he mentally smiled at the plans he had for Naruto; he was completely oblivious to reality at that moment, though that would not be the case for long...

Next Time – The Chunin Exams