Greetings once again, True Believers! Alright, here's where everything in the Land of Waves comes to fruition. We'll get to see the reason for Punisher's envolvement in the first place, Sasuke's condition, and the passing of Zabuza. Plus, there's also a special surprise instore for you in here as well. What is it you may ask? Well, read on and find out...
Chapter 11: There and Back Again.
Darkness. All he saw was an endless void of darkness and despair, enveloping him and consuming him from the inside out. It was almost as though it was alive, beckoning him deeper and deeper into it's gaping, hungry maw. Though his body was heavy and weary from battle, he forced himself to awake, to break through the gloomy darkness and into the light of day. As his eyes slowly fluttered open, he was rightly puzzled by what he saw before him. He was lying prostrate on his back, staring weakly at the hazy sky above him with confusion in his soul. The violent, thunderous sounds of heavy gunfire reached his still ringing ears and he turned his head in their direction, only to see a high wall of grey steel girders blocking his view of the chaotic battle that lay beyond them. It was then that he heard another noise; it sounded like someone was crying. Then, in sudden realization, he knew in the back of his mind that he recognized that voice, and that pained him greatly to hear her of all people cry.
"S-S-Sakura-chan," Sasuke said wearily as looked up at her. Sakura had been kneeling over him as she and Tazuna took cover from the firefight behind them, carefully pulling the icy senbon from his body as she continued to cry over his 'loss'. However, the second she heard him speak her name, she started for a moment in surprise, then looked down at him with a mixed look of shock, joy, ad relief on her face. "W-w-why are you crying?" he asked her.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried out joyously as she carefully lifted his shoulders off the pavement and hugged him closely, fearing she'd loss him again if she let go. It was a miracle, he was alive! She couldn't believe it! If this was a dream, then she didn't want to wake up ever! She couldn't now, nor ever again, stand to live in a world without him there for her. "Oh, Sasuke-kun!" she said again happily, this time crying tears of joy instead of sorrow. Then she added softly over his shoulder, assuming he couldn't hear her, "I can't believe you almost died without me telling you."
"Telling me what?" he questioned a bit confused, causing her to suddenly let got of him and blush profusely in embarrassment. She was about to tell him a quick cover story, but she never got around to it. Sasuke looked up at her and in that moment, nothing else seemed to matter anymore. As long as he was there with her, nothing else mattered.
As they held one another in their eyes for a moment, Tazuna looked at the two of them with a smile on his face. Maybe, just maybe, his sudden brush with death had shown Sasuke that there were more things to live for than just vengeance. He sure seemed happy enough when Sakura had hugged him like she had a moment ago. 'Well, well, looks like everything's worked out in the end,' he thought happily as he watched Sakura help Sasuke to his feet, before Punisher's M16 roared to life once more beyond the barricade. 'Okay, almost everything.'
Meanwhile, as Sasuke was returning from the grave, Zabuza was nearing it himself. With the last of the thugs ruthlessly done in by the Punisher's M16, all became as still and as quiet as the early morning. Looking up at the sky, Zabuza could almost swear that he saw Haku's image floating carefree and finally at peace amongst the clouds that had gathered above on the overcast day. Thinking back to all of the times they had shared with one another, Zabuza's already failing heart was filled with sadness and regret for how he had treated the boy over the years. He had always stood by him, and now he was gone from him forever. 'Haku, I suppose that his is goodbye. Not once did I ever thank you. Please... forgive me for that.' Just then, the sounds of soft footfalls reached his ears and he turned to see Naruto, Kakashi, and the Punisher standing over him victoriously. "'Sounds like it's finally over," he observed wearily.
"Yeah, I guess it is," Naruto replied morosely, willing his plasma claws to dissipate as he spoke.
"Hey, Naruto, Kakashi-sensei!" shouted Sakura's voice from behind them. In unison, both Naruto and Kakashi quickly turned around expecting another adversary, only to see Sasuke standing beside Sakura and Tazuna with a tired look on his face. "Look, its Sasuke-kun! He's okay! He's alive"
Naruto couldn't believe his eyes! How was this possible, unless... Then, he remembered what Haku had said to they earlier in ice dome. "I can't help but prefer the two of you not force me to kill you." So, he really didn't want to kill them after all, but instead used his knowledge of pressure points to put Sasuke into a death-like state, just as he'd done with Zabuza. "Heh," Naruto grinned happily, giving his friendly rival a thumbs-up. "Welcome back, teme."
On any other day, Sasuke would've pounded him for calling him that. But, considering what the both of them had just been through, he decided he'd let it slide... this time. Truth be told, he was genuinely relieved to see that everyone had made it out alive. "Hmph," he grunted, the faintest of smirks on his face as he returned the blonde's gesture. "Good to be back, dobe."
"Well, well," Kakashi thought aloud as he breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Sasuke alive. "Would you look at that? Will wonders never cease?" Then in the back of his mind he added, 'I sincerely hope not.'
Ignoring the others all together, Zabuza painfully turned his head in the Punisher's direction and gave the skull-clad man a hard stare. "I think that I owe you some information now, don't I?" he asked nonchalantly after a moment. Frank nodded silently as he knelt down to the injured man's level, his heavy leather trench coat brushing the stony pavement as he did so. "Well then, I'll tell you everything you want to know about what I gleaned on Gatou's organization for the brief time I was in his employ."
"Go ahead," Frank urged in emotionless monotone. As the once nuke-nin began to speak, the Punisher silently thumbed a button on the tape-recorder he'd clipped to his belt before the fighting had started. Anything he learned from Zabuza was vital to his campaign against his adversary, so he wasn't going to leave anything to chance. He had to be sure he collected every word the man said, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Microchip would be able to use it later to help him gather more Intel on him for future reference to his Crime Files archive.
"While Haku and I stayed in Gatou's private compound," Zabuza began wearily, thinking back to the first day that they had been hired by the midget mobster, "I had Haku meticulously monitor all that went on in there. Seeing as his security was less than exceptional, it was a fairly easy task to undertake, so I too decided to see what I could learn about my employer and his 'clients'. Apparently, he'd been utilizing the Land of Waves as the main nerve-center for his overseas smuggling operations for quite some time. Drugs, weapons, contraband, and even rare exotic animals were on the list of valuables he had smuggled into and out of the Five Great Nations. Then, about two months back in his shipping and financial records, I found that he had been dealing with a mysterious new client from far outside of the Elemental Nations. The client's main headquarters was based in North America, and went by the corporate name of Fisk Enterprises."
Upon hearing the name of the Kingpin's hated corporation, Naruto stiffened slightly in frustrated irritation. He and some of the X-Men had had run-ins with Fisk's thugs in the past, and every time the fat man's ruthless and gut-wrenching activities made him sick. The gangs he had under his oversized thumb were nothing but merciless cretins who blindly obeyed Fisk no matter what he told them. The gang wars that went on between his faction and the Maggia Crime Syndicate were bloody and meaningless, resulting the deaths of countless innocents in the crossfire. Remembering to keep his emotions in check, Naruto suppressed his memories and anger for later as Zabuza continued with his story.
"Once I read the name and saw where the shipments were coming from," the man continued, "I became curious as to what they were shipping and where it was headed. So, about a week ago, Haku and I silently slipped out of the compound and went down to the docks to investigate. Carefully looking through a few of the crates, we found a number of advanced weaponry and equipment that looked as though it were crafted by madmen. Even stranger, we found a few of the crates that contained nothing but seemingly useless nick-knacks and bric-a-brac, things you'd find in a museum or an old warehouse. However, some of the items irradiated an odd power, like they were alive or something."
"Where was it all headed?" Punisher questioned adamantly, a look of concern on his face as he spoke. With a vast shipload of advanced weaponry and possibly mystic artifacts, whoever this mysterious buyer was could do a large amount of damage in a small amount of time.
"The logs said they were being shipped somewhere inland," Zabuza replied weakly, a small trickle of blood streaming out of his mouth. "I believe it was going to some recently established lesser nation, called the Land of Sound or something like that. The way Gatou spoke of it in his records, it seemed as though he was to be greatly repaid by both parties for his services. Anyway, that's all I found out while I was there. The records are still kept in his private compound on the Southwest side of the island, nestled in a large tree house surrounded by miles of thick swampland. If you need more information, then I suggest that you look there."
"I think I may just do that," Frank said gruffly as he released the button on his tape-recorder and silently rose to his feet. For a moment, he considered ending Zabuza's life right then and there, his right hand drifting slowly to the holster where his Browning sat tucked out of sight. However, knowing that the ninja had been shot in a series of vital spots during the firefight earlier, he decided there was no point in it. Besides, he was an honorable man, and in some way he actually respected Zabuza, even though he was still considered a wanted criminal. "Thanks for the info," he sighed heavily, then without a word, he turned and silently strode away from the group.
"Take care Frank," Naruto called after him as he walked back towards the island. "See ya around." As if to wave 'goodbye', The Punisher wordlessly hefted his gleaming M16 onto his right shoulder as he slowly began to sink from view in the distance.
"Is he always like that?" Kakashi wondered aloud as he watched the black-clad vigilante leave.
"Yeah, he is," smirked the young X-Man as he turned his attention back to his sensei and Zabuza. "Frank's had a really hard life ever since the mob murdered his family. He usually prefers to keep to himself and rarely teams-up with anyone unless the situation calls for it, or if it's unavoidable. That and not many heroes agree with his... questionable methods of dealing with criminals. What happened here was probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
"I see," said the Copy-nin as he finally lowered his hitai-ite to cover his Sharingan eye. It was finally over. With Gatou out of the picture and Tazuna safe, their mission was nearing its end. Just then, much to everyone's surprise, something completely unexpected happened: it began to snow. As everyone looked on in awe, the softest blanket of snowflakes began to float down delicately from the hazy clouds above. Almost immediately, all those beneath its gentle touch felt an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort. Fighting was forgotten, and differences were pushed aside as it seemed that Jack Frost had decided to pay the Land of Waves an early visit this year.
"It's... so beautiful," Sakura said softly from where she stood with Tazuna and the still recovering Sasuke.
"He told me," Naruto said breathlessly as he stared up at the snow-filled sky, remembering what Haku had said about his home, "it was always snowing where he lived."
"Of course," Kakashi said understandingly as he looked up at the sky along with his student. "His spirit was as pure as the first snow of winter."
As they watched the snow drift slowly down from the clouds, Zabuza watched it all through tear-filled eyes, the pain and remorse he felt in his heart for his lost pupil eating him up inside. Haku had given him so much, and he had ever asked for anything in return, only to be loved and be precious to someone once more. Yes, he truly was a saint, a pure soul in the company of the lowest and worst of Hell's demons. What had he done to deserve such a pupil, such a kind-hearted friend? 'Is it you, Haku?' he wondered as he watched the snowflakes fall, sorrow plaguing his already heavy soul. 'Are you weeping?'
"You were always by my side, Haku," he continued aloud, not caring who heard him now. He was nearing his time, so it didn't matter to him one bit what anyone thought about him anymore. In the end, he would only have one regret in his heart as he departed from this world to the next. "My only regret is that I couldn't be by your side in the end. I know that it cannot be but, I wish that I too could go to where you have gone. Oh, how I wish that I could join you there... Haku."
Feeling a twinge of sympathy for the broken man as he slowly began to fade from the world of the living, Naruto knelt by Zabuza's side, Kakashi watching over him in an almost fatherly manner. "You never know, Zabuza," the blonde said compassionately as he looked up once more at the falling snow, the nuke-nin following his gaze with his own teary eyes. "Maybe, you will join him there… who's to say?"
Five Days Later…
Things in the Land of Waves had calmed down a bit ever since Zabuza's passing. Following the monumental defeat of Gatou's thugs and the Punisher's sudden departure, Inari and Tsunami came rushing to the bridge with the entire village in tow. Apparently, Inari had convinced everyone that if total strangers were willing to risk themselves to take on Gatou and his criminal empire, the so could they. However, by the time they all reached the bridge, all of the fighting was over and Zabuza's spirit had left him. After he had died and was buried honorably, life when back to normal for the most part. Sasuke was given time to recover from his injuries, Naruto had to explain to Kakashi about his and Sakura's true nature as mutants (which he seemed to be alright with), and the bridge to the mainland had finally been finished, and at a much smoother pace than before. But now, as the bridge's construction was complete, it seemed like Team 7's stay in the village had reached its end. Even though he was genuinely happy to be going home, Naruto felt as though things there were somewhat... unfinished.
As he mulled over all that had happened in his mind, he looked out over the distant horizon. At the moment, he and the rest of Team 7 were standing at the top of a picturesque hill that overlooked the sleepy village below. They had gone there to take on last look at the city before they left for Konohagakure. Nostalgia tugging at the back of his mind, Naruto looked off to his right at the peaceful little spot where they had laid Zabuza to rest, his great Kubikiri Hocho impaling the soft earth to mark his gravesite. After the battle, Haku's corpse was never found, but Naruto felt the boy deserved to be beside the person he found precious to him in the end, and had fashioned a small wooden cross as his grave marker, laying it beside Zabuza's own grave. "Is that really it, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked as he cast the gravesites one last glance and followed his team back down the hill's winding path to the completed bridge. "Is that really the shinobi way? To be tools that are tossed aside in the end, like we don't even matter?"
"... All shinobi are merely tools in the hands of destiny," Kakashi finally said as they walked, feeling somewhat regretful for having to break this harsh truth to them at such a young age. It was sad, but this was the life a shinobi led. "There's really no point in questioning whether it's right or wrong... it just is, the same way it is in Konohagakure."
"Well, if you ask me, that's just crazy," the young X-Man rebutted, a little frustrated by what he was hearing. "Is that the reason why we train the way we do? Just so we can end up like them." On that last sentence, he jerked his head back in the direction of Zabuza and Haku's grave markers.
"What's the purpose in that?" Sasuke asked, he himself wanting to know why they did what they did as shinobi. Ever since his near-death experience at the hands of Haku, he had become less of a distant loner and had started to really connect with the rest group as a whole. He was even beginning to show somewhat of an interest in Sakura, a fact that she was quite pleased by.
"That's a question without an answer," Kakashi replied solemnly, know all to well that he himself had asked himself that same question many times before. Try as he might, he had yet to figure it out himself, and maybe there truly was no real answer at all. "It's one that we shinobi have to deal with everyday of our lives, like Zabuza and Haku did."
"You know," Naruto said introspectively, remembering the words of an old friend, "someone once told me that we make our own destinies, that it's a path we all have the choice of following. If that's the case, then I'm glad that I'm following my own path. One that's straight and true with no regrets and one devoid of senseless bloodshed."
For a moment, Kakashi had the same reaction as both Sasuke and Sakura. They were all genuinely surprised at the maturity of his words and the unwavering confidence with which they were spoken. As he watched the young X-Man walk beside his two friends, Kakashi saw something in Naruto that reminded him of someone from his past, someone that he would never forget. That person had trained him, made him who he was today, and taught him to never be simply a pawn of fate. 'Naruto, you sounded just like your father for a moment,' he thought with a veiled smile. 'Minato-sensei would be so proud to see how you've grown. I just know it.'
Upon reaching the bridge, Team 7 was surprised to see that the whole village had turned out to see them off. As soon as they came into sight, everyone present began to cheer and applaud them, like they were some kind of heroes or something. A bit embarrassed by this extravagant fanfare, they decided to be polite and gave them a slight wave as they slowly approached the huge crowd. Once they reached the crowd, there were a few moments of heart-felt thanks, generous hand-shakes, and even a pat on the back from some of the community's older members. "We can't thank you enough," said Tazuna truthfully as they prepared to leave. "Our entire nation owes you a great debt of gratitude."
"Now, now," smiled Kakashi modestly as he adjusted his backpack, "we were more than happy to help. It's what we do."
Naruto knelt down to Inari's level and put a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. Even though he did his best in hiding it, Naruto knew the boy was trying not to cry as he watched his new friends leave. In the short time he'd known him, Inari had come to think of Naruto as a big-brother of sorts. "Bye Inari," said the blonde regretfully, "take care of your grandpa okay?"
"(Sniffle) Okay Naruto," Inari replied sincerely, wiping his eyes. "And I promise, no more crying... unless I'm happy that is, right?"
"That's right," Naruto said, flashing his foxy grin as he slid on his cyber-visor. "Don't worry, I'll come visit you as soon as I get the chance."
"Take care now," Tsunami called after them as they turned to leave. It seemed kind of fitting, that they would be the first ones to use the new bridge to cross over to the mainland. In everyone's opinion, after everything they'd done for the Land of Waves and her people the honor belonged them. "They really are heroes, aren't they?"
"They sure are mom," Inari agreed as he watched his new friends disappear over the horizon as the sun rose, beckoning the new day to begin. Just then, something struck him that he cursed himself for not thinking of earlier. "Hey grandpa, I just realized something! The bridge doesn't have a name yet!"
"You know Inari, I thought of the same thing yesterday when we finished construction," Tazuna replied with a slight chuckle. "At first I proposed that it be called, 'The Great Naruto Bridge'. But, then I remembered what Naruto had said about your father being a hero, and of how much the boy reminded me of him as well. So in the end, I think that the name I finally came up with fits the bridge quite well."
"Well, what'd you name it?" asked Inari excitedly. A smile on his face, Tazuna pointed to a gleaming bronze plaque that had been screwed into one of the columns of the structure's main archway. It was positioned directly at eye-level, so that all who walked the bridge's path would be able to read it and know its name. At first Inari tried in vain to read it himself, but he was to short, seeing as it had been placed just high enough to be read by an adult. So, Tazuna picked up his grandson and plopped him down on his shoulders, effectively making him tall enough to read it. Once he saw what it said, Inari smiled like he hadn't in a long time. Still perched on his grandfather's shoulders, he swiveled his head in the direction that he'd last seen Team 7 heading. 'Thanks Naruto, thanks for every thing.'
The gleaming plaque read as follows:
The Kaiza Memorial Bridge.
Dedicated in honor of those who gave their all to accomplish their dreams.
On the opposing end of the bridge, hidden atop the entering archway and out sight, another pair of watchful eyes was observing Team 7's epic departure from the Land of Waves. The figure looked on with a renewed sense of interest as Naruto and his friends made their way home, pondering his own undetermined future as it secretly watched their's unfold before them like an open book. These past few weeks had been a perilous trial for both of them, even if Naruto hadn't seen it as clearly as he had. At first he had been hesitant and had avoided the boy for fear of compromising all he had been taught. But after meeting with Naruto and getting to know him a little better as a person, he decided things in this world weren't as frivolous as he had first thought.
Flashing an unseen smile to the blonde as he and his friends left for Konohagakure, the figure stood and turned to face his own destiny, which he felt lie somewhere to the far West. He knew his broken wrist would be a slight hindrance as he traveled to his new destination, but he knew that it would heal with time, like all things did. Just as his saddened heart had managed to heal with the regretful passing of his mentor. Casting Naruto one final glance, to satisfy his growing sense of nostalgia, he leapt from the high archway and landed softly on the ground below with the uncanny grace of a cat, then silently went on his way.
"Who knows Naruto," Haku whispered with a sincere, friendly smile, before vanishing wraith-like in a frigid gust of wind and snow. "Maybe our paths will cross again... some day."
Well, would you look at that? Looks like Haku survived his encounter with the Raikiri after all. What does his existance mean for the Naruto and Marvel universes? We'll just have to wait and see I guess. Now, don't clock out just yet True Believers, because next time things get really interesting. Now that there are mutants in Konohagakure, there's going to have to be someone to train them, isn't there? Stay tuned as we bear witness to a monumental event that will greatly shape the future of Konoha! Also, remember to R&R as well. EXCELSIOR!