Chapter 35

"Relax Kakashi," Zabuza spoke in a laid back manner. "Sit back and enjoy the show. Let's see how they last, one-on-one." The Leaf Jounin's eyes hardened.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at Haku in one of the many mirrors, trying to figure out how to break through. All of their other attempts had failed. Naruto gritted his teeth.

"I couldn't break through… so what? He's not going to stop me!" he declared, standing.

"Huh?" Haku questioned, not understanding as to why the boy wouldn't just give in

"I'm not giving up and I'm not going to loose here. Cuz I have a dream and no one is going to take it away from me! Someday I'll be respected in my Village, and that's my dream! To be the greatest Hokage!"

The rouge thought about those words, remembering when he first met Zabuza as a child on the streets, abandoned, homeless, hungry, cold. "It was not my desire to become a Shinobi," he stated, catching the Genins' attention "It's painful… I don't want to kill you, but if you advance I will have no choice. Then I will kill the kindness inside my heart and fully embrace the Shinobi way. And there will be no mercy, no turning back. This bridge will be the battlefield where our dreams collide. Now I must fight for my dream. Just as you fight for yours."

Haku raised a hand, holding three needles, ready to attack. "Please do not blame me. I fight for someone who is precious to me. I live for him, and I face death for him. So that his dream may become reality. That is my dream. And for the sake of that dream, if I must, I will act as a Shinobi and take your lives."

Sasuke and Naruto grinned in response, enjoying that fact that Haku was still going to fight them.

"Go Sasuke! Go Naruto!" Sakura yelled from where she stood next to Tazuna.

"Stop it, Sakura," Kakashi ordered. "Even if they did get through, they'd never be able to beat this ninja."

"How can you be so sure?"

Zabuza laughed darkly, grinning under his bandages. "They have the desire to win, not the instinct to kill," the Sensei answered. "That boy is a whole other breed. He lives for pain, he thrives on it."

"Exactly," Zabuza spoke up. "Your Village has become complacent. Your trainees never learned the most important lesson of all. To kill the feelings in their own hearts, to crush an opponent mercilessly, to destroy with no emotion or regret."

"But then… Sensei!" Sakura exclaimed. "What are we going to do? Please tell us!"

Kakashi began thinking of possible ways to help his students, however, they all resulted in Tazuna or Sakura's death if he left them along. "I have no choice," the man muttered before pulling up the headband that hid his eye.

"You're no fun, Kakashi, using the same old trick," Zabuza noted, reaching into his back pocket. The assassin rushed forward with a kunai, aiming for the Leaf ninja's left eye.

"Sensei, no!" Sakura exclaimed.

However, Kakashi put up his other hand, taking the bow to the palm instead. "If it's just an old trick, why did you just try and stop me?" Kakashi questioned, glaring at Zabuza. Blood trickled down the blade and to the ground.

The young man chuckled. "Let your opponent see your Jutsu too many times and he'll find a way to use it against you."

"Then count yourself lucky. You're the only man alive to see my Sharingan twice. Show's over. There won't be a third time."

"Even if you did defeat me, you have no chance against Haku," the man stated. "When I found him, he was just a street kid, but I trained him I the most advanced Ninja techniques. I taught him everything I know. Plus, he had special abilities that he refined on his own. The boy developed quickly. Soon, he would face the most powerful enemy, out numbered, in total darkness, it didn't matter. He could strike with perfect accuracy. He cared nothing for his own life or the lives of others. He'd become a unique fighting. A Shinobi. In the end, his powers surpassed even mine. His bloodline trait cannot be defeated. I have created a tool to kill anyone who stands in my way. Unlike the useless punks who follow you around!"

Zabuza pulled away the blade.

"You think those Genin punks together can defeat Haku? He's the ultimate battle tool of destruction."

"Are you finished bragging?" Kakashi asked, annoyed. "You're starting to put me to sleep. Let finish this, now!"

"Fine, but there's one more thing you should know. A little more… bragging as you say."

"Hmm?"

"Did you think our last battle was win or lose? That I took your attacks like some ranked Genin? Haku was there, hiding, watching every move you made, studying your Sharingan. Haku can see a Jutsu once and then devise a lethal counter attack. It's one of his gifts. I was waiting to see your face when you found out that your Sharingan is worthless. You said the same Jutsu you use won't work on me twice, well now I'm telling you that. Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

The mist began to thicken into a heavy fog, Zabuza disappearing completely.

Suddenly the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra broke from Naruto's body, attacking Haku with such speed and strength, it startled the boy. This newfound power came from the death of his comrade, whom had been filled with needles in an attempt to escape. He couldn't keep up, the energy over powering his clan jutsu. Then Naruto's fist slammed into the teen's face, breaking the glass and sending him flying through the air, defeated.

However, the rouge ninja stood again as Naruto ran forward for the final punch as the shattered mask fell from his face. Seconds before impact, the Leaf Ninja halted, seeing who it was. "It's you! From the woods!"

It was true. On one of the teen's trips into town he had come across Naruto in the forest passed out from training all night. He could've killed him in that instant. The boy had been defenseless. But that was not his way. So the two talked instead when he woke. About their dreams, and ambitions, Haku avoiding giving too much information on his partner because he recognized the Genin from the first fight against Kakashi.

Head rolling to the side, he stood confused. "Why didn't you strike? Didn't you vow to kill me for your friend? Or was that just empty words?" Naruto did punch Haku to the ground again, the rogue struggling to stand once more. "That won't do. You're still holding back. If that is all the strength you can put into it then you will never keep your vow. Perhaps he didn't mean as much to you as you pretend? To show mercy to those who oppose the one you serve, to allow his enemies to live when you could strike them down, this is not compassion. It's a betrayal of your life's very purpose. For what reason do you exist then? This has shown that I am no longer of any use to Zabuza anymore."

"Zabuza? Why that guy anyway? To devote your life to a rotten skunk who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'honor'? If he's really the one person who matters to you man that's the sorriest thing I've ever heard!"

"You don't know him." He stared at the ground in thought, thinking of a time when he was alone wandering the streets cold and hungry. "There were once others… Not anymore… I was happy when he found me, and took me in. I have now failed him, broken and of no further use." Looking up their eyes connected. "Naruto, kill me."

"Took you all long enough," Gato growled, not liking that he had to wait. "What happened to you?"

"Damn target was more of a hassle then we gave her credit for," a thug snarled. "She killed four of us off."

That comment surprised Gato and a few of the other thugs he had hired. A man pulled Lacey forward by the hair, the young woman panting heavily and bleeding everywhere. Seeing her, the short man grinned, walking forward. "You're one surprise after another, my dear. That partner of yours, Zabuza, his time is up. Though I'm willing to offer you something in return. Join me and I'll give you everything you've ever wanted." One of his hands caressed Lacey's beaten and bloody cheek. "It could be fun."

She managed a glare before spitting in his face, saliva mixed with blood. The man recoiled in surprise, wiping it away. "You bitch, respect the boss!" a thug growled, slapping her across the face harshly.

"There will be no need for that," Gato growled, clearly angry, but trying to keep it under control. "She is a very loyal servant. It'll take a bit to break her. I'll prove to you that the Demon of the Mist is nothing. That will change your mind about my proposition."

I'd rather die…

A/N:I don't own anything