Bridge

Haku laid on the ground motionless.

Naruto shouted, "We did it!"

Daichi said, "We did. That was a nice…"

All three of them froze in place as Haku rose to his feet. "I have failed you master Zabuza."

"What, you shouldn't be conscious now!" Naruto exclaimed a little afraid at the resilience of the tracker.

Haku coughed and looked at his feet. "I may be up, but you three have beaten me. Now I have a request."

Sasuke scoffed, "Shove it. We won't listen to your…"

Something about the way Haku was speaking told Naruto that he should at least listen to the boy's request.

Naruto stopped his teammate. "Sasuke, let's hear him out."

Sasuke didn't say anything else, but he looked slightly annoyed.

Haku's head rose. "Thank you. My request is as follows. I want you to kill me."

This caused Naruto, Daichi, and even Sasuke to be shocked.

Haku continued, "I am a failed weapon. I could not do what Master Zabuza wanted, so the only thing left for me is to die."

Naruto shouted, "No, that's out of the question. You and Zabuza were just doing a job you were paid for."

Sasuke said, "We will not kill an enemy that's lost their will to fight."

"Please, do it quickly. You three want to be mighty warriors. right? Then kill me." Haku begged.

Naruto angrily said, "No! That is not all there is to being a mighty warrior. It's not all about fighting and killing."

"A true warrior knows when to stop fighting or when it wouldn't do anything to kill your opponent." Daichi added.

Naruto said, "There's more to being a Shinobi then battling until one of you is dead."

Haku said, "You don't understand. I am asking you to kill me. Any of you. Show that you can finish the job. Show that you are strong. The world will not miss a creature such as myself. I've been alone with no one but Master Zabuza and before him I was nothing. I lost. I failed my master and am nothing again."

Haku stood up with great effort and removed his mask. To everyone's shock, it was that boy from the forest.

Haku said, "You spoke about becoming Hokage, and you said that killing is useless if it does nothing for anyone. Well it would let me rest in peace. If I live, I will only walk this world an empty shell. You three defeated me, and I want to die by your hands. Please one of you, as a fellow Shinobi, honor my last request and take my life."

Sasuke said, "Fine, I'll..."

Naruto's head was down, but now it rose. "No, I will do it Sasuke."

Sasuke nodded his head. "Then do it if your since you're so insistent."

Naruto had his kunai out and faced Haku. The boy he'd spoken with in the forest and the enemy.

"You're sure there is no other way?" Naruto asked.

Haku replied, "No, there isn't. This is what I want. I want to go out on my terms while Zabuza has not left me. Now do it."

"Fine, this is for Daichi and Sasuke as well because they have dreams of there own." Naruto said running at Haku

Haku thought, "Yes, all of you hold onto those dreams."

Sakura and Tazuna had been obscured in fog for a long time. Now it was finally starting to lift.

Tazuna said, "The blasted fog is finally leaving."

Sakura say some people in the distance. "Look, they are standing still like they're squaring off."

Tazuna said, "I can't see a thing."

Sakura asked, "Which one is Kakashi Sensei and which one is Zabuza?" She gasped. "One's moving!"

At that moment Haku felt a heart beat and gasped. He grabbed Naruto's arm that held the kunai which caused the three male Genin to gasp.

Haku said, "I'm sorry to all of you, but there's been a change of plans."

Naruto struggled to move and Daichi and Sasuke prepared to move as Haku began doing one handed hand signs.

"I'm not ready to die quite yet." Haku said.

Haku vanished.

Kakashi ran towards Zabuza ready to end this with his Lightning Blade. Just as he thrust it forward, a mirror appeared, and Kakashi impaled Haku. Zabuza and Kakashi were both shocked and Sakura even gasped.

Haku's blood fell onto the bridge. The dogs disappeared as Kakashi's scroll had been hit by by a senbon. The lightning faded and more blood came from the wound.

Haku grabbed Kakashi's arm. "Za…bu…za."

Zabuza said, "So my future is all used up huh." He chuckled. "Wrong again Kakshi."

Naruto frantically looked around. "Where did he go!"

Daichi said, "I don't know, but the fogs lifting."

Sasuke saw something in the distance. "Is that him?"

Naruto took off running in that direction, and Sasuke and Daichi weren't to far behind. The three of them arrived to find Haku impaled. Blood falling from his wound."

Naruto was shocked. "I don't get it. What's going on?"

"Isn't that… the young man in the mask?" Tazuna asked.

Kakashi said, "The boy threw himself in front of my attack." Zabuza closed his eyes. "He saved your worthless life, at the cost of his own."

Zabuza said, "Well done boy." He swung his massive sword. "You not only saved my life, but gave me Kakashi's as well."

"Kakshi Sensei, look out!"Sakura worriedly yelled.

Zabuza said, "I knew I'd found a treasure when I found you boy."

Kakashi pulled Haku's body in close and jumped away before the sword could hit either of them.

Zabuza chuckled. "Not bad for having a corpse in your arms."

"You'll pay for that!" Naruto angrily exclaimed.

Daichi and Sasuke had both drawn kunai ready to aid Naruto.

"No, You three stay out of this! Kakashi sat Haku down and closed the tracker's eyes. "This is my battle. Zabuza's mine." He then glared at Zabuza.

Sakura noticed her fellow Genin. "Guy's over here! I can't believe you all made it!"

Daichi said, "Kakashi Sensei want's us to stay out of this fight, so I want you two behind Tazuna. I'm only a bit banged up from the fight, so I'll take point with Sakura."

Sasuke said, "Very well, but if Sensei fails, I will be the first to rush in."

"Me to!" Naruto exclaimed.

Daichi said, "Understood."

The 3 of them then ran over to Sakura. "Sasuke you made it! I knew you wouldn't fail."

Sasuke walked past her. "Whatever."

He was followed by Naruto and Daichi stood next to Sakura.

Transition

The two Jonin had been going at it. They just came back to the ground after clashing with each other. Zabuza was far worse that Kakashi as he was panting hard and has two kunai embed in his left arm. He was kneeling while Kakashi stood up right.

Zabuza thought, "Why? Why can't I keep up with him."

Zabuza, despite his injuries, rushed at Kakashi. Kakshi punched him in the face causing the Jonin to stumble. He regained his footing only for Kakashi spnn and throw another punch causing Zabuza to stumble yet again.

Zabuza continued to pant. "I will slice you in half!"

He charged again swinging his sword with his one, good hand. Kakshi vanished and appeared behind Zabuza grabbing the Jonin's neck.

"Look at you. You're falling apart. I knew you didn't have what it takes for the long hall." Kakashi taunted.

Zabuza asked, "What did you say!?"

"You have no idea what real strength is." Kakashi replied.

Kakashi had two kunai in one hand and spun them on two fingers. He held them away from Zabuza.

"Game over. You lose." Kakashi said ready to strike.

Kakashi went to plunge the kunai into Zabuza's good arm at about the same time he swung around with his blade. Kakashi was just a bit faster plunging the kunai into Zabuza's arm. Kakashi then flipped away as the large blade skidded along the bridge.

Kakashi said, "Now both of your arms are useless. What now? You can't even make hand signs."

It was at this moment that a small man in a suit with sunglasses and a cane appeared drawing everyone's attention. He had bad widows peak and his hair was all over the place. Behind him was an army of thugs.

The man said, "He really did a number on you Zabuza. I must say I'm… disappointed."

Transition

The man's name was Gato and he's appeared to kill Zabuza voiding their contract. Which meant they no longer had to fight and Tazuna was safe. Naruto berated Zabuza for what he did to Haku. Tears appeared in Zabuza's eyes reaching his heart.

Naruto tossed Zabuza the kunai which he caught with his mouth. Gato retreated past his thugs as Zabuza charged in. Even without the use of his arms, Zabuza was still a force of nature.

He charged past every thug taking numerous hits, but also killing many of them in the process. Zabuza continued on past all the thugs and stabbed Gato. He then finished Gato off sending him off the unfinished bridge.

He looked at the thugs causing them to part. With all the weapons still in his body, he slowly walked back towards Haku's corpse. He fell to his knees.

Transition

The four Genin and Tazuna just looked as Zabuza as fell to the ground completely. Daichi and Sasuke continued to stared while Naruto and Sakura tried to look away.

"Don't look away. When you live like a warrior, this is how it ends." Kakashi said.

Naruto and Sakura turned to look at him now as well. Naruto sighed and Sakura was saddened. Everything was silent for a moment.

One of the thugs, in front of the group of thugs, banged his sword's sheath on the bridge getting everyone's attention. "Hey, don't go getting to comfortable."

Another thug said, "This party ain't over yet. Who's going to pay us now that Gato's gone?"

"No way we're leave here empty handed. We'll just have to hit the village and see what they've got." Said the first thug.

All the other thugs agreed.

Kakashi said, "Not good."

"Come on Kakashi Sensei. You must have a jutsu that can take care of these losers." Naruto said.

Kakashi said, "Not right now. I used to much of my chakra.

A thug said, "Get them boys."

Daichi was reaching for his kunai when a cross bolt came form the other side of the bridge. Behind the ninja stood the whole village headed by Inari.

A villager said, "There's one thing you're forgetting about. Before you set one foot in our village, you'll have to go through all of us."

The villagers all shouted together.

Naruto happily exclaimed, "Inari!"

Inari rubbed his nose and laughed. "Hero's usually show up at the last minute ya know."

Tazuna was on the verge of tears. "They've all come. The whole village."

Naruto and Daichi looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement. No way they were going to miss out on this.

In unison they both said, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Now there were 5 Daichi's and 5 Narutos. This new decampment scared the thugs.

Kakshi said, "Hm, I might have just enough chakra to help you out. Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Many Kakashis appeared and they spoke in unison. "Kakashi style."

The thugs were terrified.

All the Kakashis said, "Okay, you still want to fight?"

The thugs turned tail and ran away.

Inari held the arm with the cross bow in the air. "Victory!"

The whole village was celebrating now. Tazuna looked around with a smile on his face. The village finally had its courage back.

Kakashi walked over to Zabuza who was still alive, for now.

Zabuza said, "Sounds like it's over."

Kakashi said, "Yeah."

Zabuza said, "Kakashi, I have a favor to ask.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked.

Zabuza turned his head to look at the silver haired ninja, "Take me to him. Before I go I need to see him one last time."

Kakashi covered his Sharingan with his head band. "Sure."

Kakashi removed all the weapons and carried Zabuza, bridal style, as a gentle snow began to fall. The villagers marveled at the snow as it was not the right time of year for it. Kakashi laid Zabuza next to the boy, then walked away.

Zabuza said, "Thank you Kakashi."

Zabuza looked at Haku. "You were always by my side, so the least I can do is be by your side at the end." Zabuza reached out his hand and laid it on Haku's face. "I know it cannot be, but I wish I could go to where you have gone. I wish I could join you there. Haku…"

Zabuza died. It continued to snow, but light broke through the clouds shining on Haku's and Zabuza's bodies."

Naruto was crying freely and Daichi had to wipe away the tears. The first tears he's cried in months.

Haku and Zabuza's Graves, Some Time Later…

The sun was setting as Squad Seven stood before the two Shinobi's graves.

Sakura asked, "Is that really it Kakashi Sensei? Is that the ninja way? To use and be used by people like tools?"

"Shinobi are all merely tools in the hands of destiny. No point in wondering weather it's right or wrong. It just is. It's the same in The Village Hidden in the Leaves." Kakashi explained.

Naruto said, "Well If you ask me, if that's what being a ninja is about, then something's out of whack. Is that why we go through all this training, just to end up like them?"

Sasuke asked, "What is the reason for that?"

Daichi asked, "Why does it work like this?"

Kakashi replied, "Well, it's a question without an answer. That is something we ninja have to deal with every day of our lives. Like Zabuza and the kid."

"Ok." Naruto said perking up.

The others said, "Huh."

"I've just come to a decision. From now on I'm finding my own ninja way. A way that's straight and true without any regrets. From now on I'm following the way of Naruto." Naruto happily stated.

Daichi laid a hand on his friends shoulder. "I think that's a great idea Naruto. No one way should exists instead everyone needs to find there own way in this world."

Kakashi smiled at his students words.

Finished Bridge, Squad Seven's Departure…

the whole village turned up to see the group off.

"We never could have completed the bridge without you. I can't tell you how much I'll miss you." Tazuna said with a mix of happy and sad.

Tazuna's daughter said, "Do be careful."

Kakashi said, "Thank you for everything."

"Now now, don't get all chocked up. We'll be sure to come back and visit soon." Naruto assured the people.

Despite what Naruto said, Inari was all choked up and. "You swear you will?"

Now Naruto was getting choked up as well. "Of course, You know Inari, it's okay to cry if you want. There's nothing wrong with that. Go for it."

Inari said, "Who says I want to cry. Anyway if there's nothing wrong with it, then why don't you go on ahead and cry?"

"Oh brother." Daichi said, rolling his eyes and pushing his friend forward

Neither of them could contain it any longer as they ran up to each other, hugged, and cried.

Sakura thought, "Boys can be so pathetic."

Daichi smiled. "See, it wasn't so hard."

Just a bit Later…

Squad 7 walked over the bridge.

Tazuna said, "It was all that blond kids doing. He made you stronger, and you in turn made us all stronger. It was thanks to that boy that we could build a bridge to place we never knew. A place where we all found our courage."

A villager asked, "Now that it's finished, what should we call the bridge?"

"Of course a name. I know just the name. We'll call it, The Great Naruto Bridge." Tazuna replied with a smile.

As they were walking Naruto said, "As soon as I get back, I'm going to let Iruka Sensei fix me up a whole mess of ramen to celebrate. Just wait until Konohamaru hears about this. The kid's going to worship me."