Hey everyone! 2020 still a doozy, but we'll pull through! In the meantime, I hope this chapter was worth the wait!

Kakashi sat up the next morning. He cautiously moved his arms a bit, and was quite pleased with the progress of his recovery. "Feeling in my legs are coming back. My headache's manageable." Kakashi stretched, and felt his muscles still screamed in pain. "But I'm not ready yet."

When he heard a knock on his door, he said "Come in."

Tsunami came in, carrying a bowl of rice and eggs. "How are you feeling, Hatake-san?"

"I'm on the mend." Kakashi affirmed. "But I'll need more time. By tomorrow, I'll be able to move." As he took his dish, he said "I'm sorry, but could you leave the room, please? I like to eat alone."

Tsunami blinked. "Oh, of course." She said, though she did not understand. "Please excuse me." With that, she left.

Sakura came back from her training. Though she mastered the climbing exercise, her physicality otherwise was rather lacking compared to her friends. A bunch of katas and calisthenics helped her work up a good sweat, and she could only hope it would benefit her in the long run.

Making her way back, she opened the door, coming face to face with Sasuke by the steps. The two just looked at each other, not saying a word. Sasuke got up to leave for his training, passing her by. "Sasuke-kun?" She asked. Sasuke ignored her altogether as he continued to make his way out. Realizing that Sasuke was not going to take time to hear her out, she just had to say it. "Sasuke, you were right!" Sasuke actually stopped, but didn't turn around. "It was wrong of me to treat Naruto that way. Whatever mistakes he may have made, in the end he did save me. You both did. I promise I'm not going to hold either of you back anymore." When there was no response, Sakura sighed. "That's all I wanted to say."

She made her way to the living room, while Sasuke just stood there. "I shouldn't have to apologize…and yet…" Finally, he ignored that impulse and went on his way.

Naruto snored peacefully on the couch, his leg up on the rim, an arm dangling over the edge, and snoring away with drool and a snot bubble forming. Sakura could only stare in horror. "You may not be a bad guy, Naruto…" she groaned. "But I hope I never have to lay eyes on THIS again." Mustering up the courage, she poked at his shoulder. "Naruto, time to get up. You're on duty now." No response. Sakura was told patience was a virtue. Sadly, this was one of many virtues Sakura needed to work on. "NARUTO!" Sakura shook him violently. "WAKE UP, BAKA!"

"AHH!" Naruto yelled as he jumped up, putting up his guards as he turned left to right. "Are we under attack!?"

"We could have been with the way you sleep like the dead." Sakura sighed.

Naruto gulped. "S-sorry, Sakura-chan. I-"

"I'm joking." Sakura held up her hand. "Don't worry about it." Stretching, she yawned. "Anyway, I'm taking the couch now."

"Hey, Sakura-chan." Naruto said. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"How did you do that thing with the chakra on your feet?"

Sakura blinked. "I just did what Kakashi-sensei asked of us."

"Uh, yeah." Naruto scratched his head. "But…how? I've been trying, and I'm just not getting it."

Sakura suppressed a groan. While a part of her was annoyed, her teammate genuinely needed her help. She did make a promise, plus she wasn't called for help for ANYTHING often. "Let me think a moment." Figuring out her first question, she asked "Okay, when you try, how does it feel?"

Naruto thought. "Well, when I try, I imagine pushing that chakra or whatever out of my feet, and pulling the bark towards me-"

"Ah." Sakura held up her finger. "That right there might be the problem." Sakura explained. "When you try to use your chakra to pull things towards you, the force pushes you back."

"Huh…" Naruto quirked his head. "I guess that makes sense. So, how do you imagine fixing this?"

"Well, I just try to find my center, and concentrate it on the soles of my feet."

Naruto sighed. Placing his hands together, he said to her "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I'm really trying to understand. Could you maybe dumb it down for me, please?"

Sakura sighed. "Let me think…" An idea popped in her head. "Ah! When I think of centering my chakra, I imagine it as a swirling whirlpool. Perhaps you could try that, and focus it on your feet?"

Naruto thought. "Okay…I think I can give that a try. Thanks, Sakura-chan!"

"Your welcome." Sakura yawned as she stretched her arms. "Now, if you don't mind, I need my beauty sleep." Sakura took her place on the couch, and began to snooze away.

Naruto couldn't help but admire her small smile.

"I'm glad you've all stuck with me up to this point." Tazuna told his foremen. "We're on the verge of completion."

His foremen were all strong, burly men. And they were fighters. Maybe not in the sense of his hired ninja, but they had endured many hardships, and kept going. In a way, that made them true warriors in his mind. As Tazuna's own neighbors began to turn on him out of fear, these men were more determined than ever to stand by him.

"I know we've had hardships. Believe me, no one understands that better than me." He thought back to Kaiza. "But through it all, you persevered. And we've come too far to quit now." He looked out the window to see Sasuke training, and looked back to the road leading to the mainland. "If you continue to work as hard as you have, we should finish by the end of the month." He then bowed his foremen. "Let us unite our humble island with the mainland!"

"Yes sir!" His workers bowed back.

Once again, Haku made his way towards the bridge, and it would be his last time coming here covertly. Carrying his flowers, he observed what was happening around him. He saw that it was Sasuke that was training this time. Perhaps he could gather some info out of him before delivering the message.

Sasuke jumped off the tree as he fell back onto the grass. He had just barely made it three fourths of the way up there. Looking to Naruto's tree, he was doing much better than him at least. But it bothered him that Sakura of all people was able to beat him in such a simple exercise. "She's so annoying…" Then again, she at least had the maturity to admit she was wrong…

"Oh! Is your friend not here?"

Sasuke turned to see the boy(?) with the flowers again. "No, he's not." Sasuke sighed. "We're taking turns."

"Ah. That's too bad." Haku said.

"I'm busy. Go bother someone else." Sasuke said as he ignored him and continued with his training.

Haku knew this one was not going to divulge secrets to him as liberally as Naruto did; best to move on. "Well, don't mind me. Please, carry on." Haku left, and Sasuke got back to work.

Tazuna got going with his paperwork, signing them as efficient as a machine . With the local yakuza breathing on his neck for years, he had learned to work like everyday was his last. Just then, he heard his door open. Though he did not look up, he knew who it was. "Sorry, kid. I don't want anything."

"I'm not selling anything today, Tazuna-san." Now THAT got his attention. He never told the strange flower boy his name. "I'm here to deliver a message." Haku laid down on a single flower, a black rose it seemed. As soon as he came, he left.

Tazuna got up and picked up a the flower, noticing the paper wrapped around the stem. Unwrapping it, he quickly read it.

Let us talk. We can still work things out. Come alone to Sunflower Café

-Gato

Tazuna's hands began to tremble in both fear and rage…

"Ugh!" Sasuke fell off again. It seemed he hit a block of some sort. He made it about 80 percent of the way up, but couldn't get any higher. "Damn it!" He punched the grass. "What am I missing!?"

Just then, he noticed Tazuna step out of his office, coat in hand. "I need some time. Daichi, you're in charge until I get back!" He called to one of his foreman.

Sasuke was about to call him out, but held back. "He should know better than to just leave by himself…" Something wasn't right. And he wouldn't find out what if he scared Tazuna out of whatever he was about to do. After Tazuna gained a good head start, Sasuke trailed after him, staying out of sight.

"Think of my chakra as a whirlpool…" Naruto repeated to himself as he repeated what Sakura told him earlier. As crazy as it was, he needed something to keep him sane while he waited for Sasuke to return. He heard the steps above him again. Though he didn't turn around to confirm his suspicion, judging by the sound it was a small person. Only one person currently residing here fit that bill. "I've a feeling you've got something you need to get something off your chest, Inari." Naruto said without turning around.

Inari only stared back at him, before looking away. As he turned to go back upstairs, Naruto said "I heard about your dad."

That caused Inari to stop. "You don't know anything about my father."

"I know he stood up to Gato." Naruto turned to look at him. "I don't know what it's like to lose someone…but I know very well how lonely it gets without someone looking out for you." Naruto sighed. "Inari…do you hate your Dad?"

Inari suddenly punched the wall as he looked down on him in rage. Naruto didn't react, only looking at him in sadness. He said nothing, giving Inari a chance to calm down. "He should have stayed with us." He whispered. "He should have known what Gato would do, Mom did. They had a big fight about it right before he left." Inari finally sat down as held his hand.

Naruto frowned as he realized Inari was struggling not to cry. "Why did he leave?" Inari sobbed out.

Naruto sighed. "I can't say for sure." He answered honestly. "But, if I may assume, I think he just wanted a better life for you. And he was willing to do something about it himself, even if it meant-" Naruto stopped himself, and looked back the other way. "Sorry. I guess I was reaching a bit." Naruto sighed. "But, to go all out thinking of nothing but his kid? I think that makes him a hero."

"Heroes are not supposed to die." Inari growled.

"When did your grandpa start on the bridge?" Naruto suddenly asked out of the blue.

"Right after dad died, wh-" Inari trailed off in realization. Grandpa was acting more of a grouch than usual after his passing. That was when he announced he was beginning construction of the bridge.

"Your grandpa misses him too." Naruto said. "I think he's building the bridge for him, to make sure he didn't die in vain. What happened to your dad was terrible, it shouldn't have happened. But I'd say your Dad's fight wasn't in vain. His spirit lives on through your family. Maybe, even one day, the whole island too."

Inari clenched his fists, and ran back up. Naruto turned back around, and sighed. He wasn't sure if he did the right thing, but he had to get his thoughts out.

Tazuna made his way to the teahouse the message indicated. Indeed, he found Gato sitting at an outdoor table, a waitress serving him a cup of tea. Gato raised his cup to him; if it wasn't for his shades, Tazuna thought he would have seen the gangster wink at him. Tazuna growled, but forced himself to walk over to him, angrily pulling up a chair at his table.

"Tazuna-san! It's been a while!" Gato greeted him.

"Could've done with a while longer." Tazuna mumbled.

"How may I serve you, sir?" A waitress came up to take his order.

"I'm fine. I'll only be a minute." He waved her off.

"A shame. Tea's great." Gato said as he took a sip. "I should know. I 'insure' them."

"What do you want?" Tazuna interrupted. "I doubt you're here to apologize. Not after you tried to off me."

"You survived." Gato said like it was no big deal.

"Doubt that little failure is going to stop you from trying again in the future."

Gato sighed as he finally set his cup down. "This has been a rather…costly, investment on my part. You wouldn't sell the project to me, and you left me know choice but to remind you."

"Remind me of what?" Tazuna growled.

"That I run this island." Gato hissed back. "A yen isn't exchanged here unless I get a cut."

As he was about to take another sip, with good aim, Tazuna suddenly spat into his tea. This did not go unnoticed by Gato, as he stopped before the cup touched his lips. "Yeah, you run this island." Tazuna answered. "That's the problem. You take and take, and whatever you do for us in return is only to keep the lords off your back. I've run the numbers; if you hadn't been here, our economy and standard of living could double, maybe even be triple of what it is now. Don't pretend like you're a noble dictator. If you really cared about the island, you would have built the bridge yourself a long time ago."

Gato's expression was unreadable, as he moved his tea cup over towards the flower pot on the sill and dumped the soiled tea in it. "Last chance. Sign over your rights to the bridge, and your family is safe. You have my word."

Tazuna snorted again. "No, we're not. We never will be." Tazuna stood up as he straightened out his coat. "You made that clear the night you murdered Kaiza." With that, he walked off.

Gato only sneered. "Very well, you fool. You're going to pay more than you could have ever imagined."

Little did he know, Sasuke was watching from the roof of the shop across the street. He didn't catch all of the conversation, but even Naruto would be able to tell that Gato threatened him. "Zabusa-sama is still recovering. He's safe…for now." Sasuke turned around to see the masked kitsune ninja at his side, jumping back and pulled out a kunai instinctively. "I'm not here to fight." The masked kitsune raised his hand. "I'm on protection detail myself at the moment. We'll probably be fighting soon enough, when we get the word. But, since we're here now, I feel I should make you an offer."

Sasuke said nothing, but didn't make a move. "Take your friends and retreat if you value your lives." The masked kitsune said. "Zabuza-sama survived the last fight; your tricks won't work on him a second time."

Sasuke only grinned. "Sounds like you're afraid. I think I'll call your bluff."

The masked nin stepped back to the edge. His body language was impossible as impossible to read as his face. "You've been warned. The next time we meet, you and your friends will die. I am sorry; I don't want to kill any of you, but if it is Zabuza's wish…I will do so." He then jumped backwards, clearing the street and landing on the next rooftop perfectly.

Sasuke made a motion to chase him, but stopped himself. His mission came first. "I'll tell Kakashi when I get back."

Later, Tazuna made his way back home, Sasuke following after him. "So, you heard everything?" He asked.

"I got the gist of it." Sasuke answered. "I'd be a lousy ninja if I let my protection go alone."

"Fair enough." Tazuna answered. "Guess we should discuss this with the others."

In the guest room, Tazuna told everyone what happened. "So, how worried should I be?" He asked.

Kakashi sighed. "Honestly, probably no more than before. But you should've have been VERY worried from the beginning, so I can't really say that as a positive." Kakashi turned to his genin. "We will proceed as planned. But make sure you take Gato's warning to heart. I don't think we'll have anything to worry about for a few days, but when they're ready to attack…it will be the fight of our lives."

Not even Naruto could make light of this situation.

"Well, I'm off." Naruto waved as he headed for the door. It was his turn to train now.

"Naruto!" Sakura called to him. "Remember: focus the chakra under your feet like a whirlpool!" Naruto smiled, and gave her a thumbs up.

Sasuke stretched, heading towards the couch. He was about to plop down, when something stopped him. A part of him didn't want to do this, but if he didn't let it out, he feared it would impair his missions later. "Sakura." He called to her. Sakura looked to him in surprise. "I'm sorry…for the things I said. What you said to Naruto was wrong, but I could have found a better way to tell you so. You both can still improve; just please, try to help each other more…okay?"

Sakura began to blush; she was surprised that she was able to handle what she said next with any semblance of maturity. "Don't be sorry, Sasuke-kun. I needed to hear it. It hurt…but I think you made me a better person because of it. So, thank you…" As she felt her heart began to rise, she suddenly bowed. "…and I accept your apology."

Sasuke then smiled. He gave a small, barely noticeable one…but a sincere smile nonetheless. "Don't get ahead of yourself just yet." Sasuke said as he settled into the couch. "As Kakashi said, we're going to have a big fight ahead of us. Let's focus on surviving that."

As Sasuke began to lull off, Sakura took up her guard duty…this time, she felt much more confident in herself now.

Naruto looked up the tree, and took a deep breath. "Focus my chakra…like a whirlpool." Naruto began to sprint towards the tree. He ran up, his highest according to the marks was maybe two meters. He quickly began to feel gravity pull him back down, and Naruto quickly closed his eyes. "Whirlpool!" He pressed his foot against the bark. For a moment, he felt himself stick. As soon as it began, it ended and Naruto fell back, but not before cutting the bark with his kunai.

Naruto hit the grass, gasping. "Ow…" Naruto took a few deep breaths as he looked up. His new mark was a good way above his last! It didn't last…but he stuck to the bark, if only for a moment. It was working!

Naruto slowly stood up, gripping his kunai tighter as he smiled. "Back to work." He ran up again, this time certain he would overcome this.

Haku meditated in a dark room, the overhead lamp his only illumination. His seiza was perfect, except for the fact that in his lap was a white rabbit doll. It was his only memento he had from his family, which he took time to remember...

He remembered his parents. How happy they were, how perfect it was all.

Then the bandit horde came.

Haku remembered very little of it. He only remembered his mother carrying him and hiding with him in their cupboard while their father ran outside with his hoe. His mother held him tightly. He tried looking outside, but he could only hear his father's blood-curdling screams. Then silence. His mother pulled him in tighter.

The door was suddenly kicked down as the bandits forced themselves in. Haku didn't scream, he was too scared to. One of the bandits suddenly pulled the cupboard open, and ripped his mother away. Haku didn't really didn't remember how she died. A sword to the throat? A club to the head? All he remembered was her falling in a pool of her own blood.

Suddenly, the cold Haku was familiar with became a white hot rage, and he let out a scream. More blood spilled, but it was not his own…

Haku curled up with his rabbit, finding himself in a castle of ice. The bandits were hung over the stalagmites of ice, their bodies slowly descending. He heard more people approaching, causing his heart and breathing to rise. He didn't know how he activated this power, but he would not let these monsters take him without a fight!

From there, one of the strangers appeared before him. He was different from the others, dressed in mostly black with a vest, different from the haphazard armor of the bandits. He also noticed the symbol on his headband. "I found a survivor!" He yelled back. He then reached out to him. "Come on, kid. I've got you…"

"Ahhh!" The traumatized child lashed out with his hand, and ice blades launched out.

Though he didn't land anything debilitating, the ice razors cut the chunin's hand. "Ah!" The ninja hissed as he grabbed his hand.

Other ninja came, but they did not attack. They just stared at Haku as the air around him crystallized, crouching like a cornered animal. "I think we found out who killed the bandits…"

Haku's eyes opened as he inhaled sharply. His slow breathing became hyperventilating as he desperately tried to calm himself down. As he managed to slow his heart, he closed his eyes again.

Meditation was always difficult for him, but it was necessary for him to relive his past, so he could remember why he fought in the present…

For the next year of his life, Haku was kept in a sterile, white room. Somehow, he adapted to that. He didn't care for most of the adults. All they did was check on his health, and instruct him on how to use his new found powers. Overtime, it became second nature to him.

But his feelings for them were as cold as the ice he made.

The only thing he liked about his new life he liked was Zabuza. He couldn't always be there (the staff would just tell him that he was busy whenever Zabuza was absent), but when he was, it felt like he could go on. Zabuza would listen to everything he had to say, and answer questions.

Haku thought back to one day in particular. He didn't know why he asked it; looking back, he supposed he sensed a change in the air. "Zabuza-sama?" He asked as he finished his meal.

"What is it?" The ninja expected another rather innocent question.

"Will we always be together?" Haku asked.

Zabuza seemed stunned at the question, and looked away. Suddenly, he stood and collected the empty tray. "Go to sleep, Haku." Zabuza left without another word.

Haku may have been a child, but he knew enough to know that was a grown-up's way of saying no without actually saying it. Haku pulled his rabbit in closer.

Haku tightened his grip on his stuffed rabbit, preparing for what came next…

Haku cried himself to sleep that night. Zabuza didn't confirm anything about his question, but he already feared the worst. Zabuza was the only ninja that treated him like a human being rather than an experiment. And now, if not tomorrow or a week from now, one day he would leave him just like that. Like he never mattered.

At that moment, Haku preferred to be the only human in the world. At least that way, there would be no one to lie to him and say he mattered.

It was then that he heard the doors to his room crash down to the floor. Haku woke up with a start, crossing his arms and creating ice needles in the air, ready to launch.

However, he did not expect to see the person in front of him. "Zabuza?" Zabuza was before him, wielding the largest sword he had ever seen in his life and covered in blood. And then his eyes. Haku always sensed Zabuza was a dangerous man, but he had never seen him fresh from battle. His eyes were eerily similar to the bandits who killed his parents. "Has he come to kill me?" Haku wondered. Haku felt he should have been scared, but strangely, he felt at piece instead. If this was what he thought it was, he would be able to see his parents again.

After he took a deep breath, Zabuza hung the giant sword on his back. "Haku." He said. "We're leaving."

"What?" Haku asked in disbelief. "They're letting me go?"

"No." Zabuza answered as he picked him up and held him close. Placing a piece of paper on the wall, he picked up Haku and turned away, holding him close. The wall exploded, and no sooner did that happen, he ran outside with Haku.

Eventually, they were kilometers away. The village was still in view, but for the moment they were safe. Zabuza set Haku down, and wiped his face down with a cloth. Neither said a word. Haku was just glad to be with him. Finally, Zabuza spoke. "Haku. We are on our own now, and we must fight to survive. I will train you, I can protect you. But only if you do what I say in return. Do you understand?"

Haku only smiled back. "Yes, Zabuza-sama."

Zabuza smiled under his mask. "Well said."

At last, Haku felt serene. Zabuza had been a hard master, but he did not cry once. His first kill, a lord who had abused his serfs, was even harder. Still he did not cry. And the other kills came easier overtime. It wasn't Haku's favorite thing in the world, but he had purpose to the man who saved him. That was all that mattered.

Sakura watched the sun begin to rise. Upon the realization it was dawn, she sensed something was wrong. She stood up and nudged Sasuke awake. "Sasuke-kun, get up. Naruto hasn't come back!"

Sasuke shot up. "Shit, that dobe!"

"What do we do!?" Sakura panicked.

"We go find him, that's what."

The two turned to see Kakashi at the stairs. Though he was standing, him using the bannister was telling enough he wasn't ready yet. "Kakashi-sensei-" Sakura began.

"I can fight. Not at full strength, but it's better than nothing. Let's move!" He ordered them.

The team raced to the park, Kakashi having left a clone behind in the house just in case. When they arrived, they immediately inspected the grass park. "There's no sign of a struggle." Kakashi observed, making note of it still being well-kept. He then sniffed the air. "And he was definitely here…"

"I AM here!" A kunai planted itself in the ground. They looked up and saw Naruto up on the top of his tree. Though he was sweaty, he couldn't help but give a smug look.

Kakashi looked at the trunk, seeing the scratches: they indeed reached the top, and they could have only been done cleanly if Naruto succeeded in climbing with his feet. "Well done, Naruto. Seems you mastered the exercise. But you need to be more punctual; you had us worried sick."

Naruto chuckled. "Sorry, Kakashi-sensei." He suddenly leaned back and looked like he was about to fall over. Everyone couldn't help but put on their panic-faces. Thankfully, he swerved towards them and smiled, hanging under the branch like a bat. "Took me quite a while to get the hang of this. I wasn't quite satisfied, so I kept practicing." Naruto began chuckling with pride. "I kept falling on my ass like an idiot these past few days. Now look at me!"

Kakashi sighed in relief. "Good for you, Naruto. Next time, though, stick with our schedule."

Sasuke looked away and growled. Though he was glad Naruto was okay in the end, he couldn't help but feel jealous. "He got it before me!"

Suddenly, Sakura placed her hands together and gave Naruto the sweetest smile he had ever seen. "Naruto, you got it! I'm so proud of you!"

Naruto blushed as he felt his heart race. "Sakura-chan…" Suddenly, a kunai shot past his face and onto the tree. "HOLEE-!" Naruto panicked, but still hung onto the branch.

"But the next time you worry us, you're eating that kunai! Got it!?" Sakura shouted as she turned angry again.

Naruto shook and gulped. "Yes, Sakura-chan." He squeaked. Naruto stretched, upside down. "Well, I am pooped. I should probably turn in…"

Suddenly, his grip slipped, and Naruto found himself falling head first into the grass. As Sakura and Kakashi could only panic, Sasuke rushed forward and ran up the tree. Halfway down, he caught Naruto by the ankle and stopped his fall. Naruto sighed in relief. "Idiot! Don't lose your concentration while you are in the middle of something!" Sasuke shouted.

"Well…" Kakashi clapped his hands softly. "Congratulations to you too, Sasuke."

"Huh?" Sasuke looked, and realized he was holding onto the tree with nothing but his feet. He used BOTH hands to grab Naruto, and had no other means of support.

"You did it, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura jumped up as she cheered him on.

Naruto and Sasuke touched down, as Kakashi addressed them. "Well done. I'm proud of you both. This training may not seem very useful, but as they say, 'You're only as good as your basics.' Trust me, this skill will come in handy."

The genin nodded. "So, what's the plan now?" Naruto asked.

"We prepare." Kakashi said. "Gato's planning something, and I'm not sure we can prevent it altogether. But hopefully, the four of us can thwart it and keep the family alive." The three nodded. "For now, let's rest. I've a bad feeling about tomorrow."

Zabuza slowly walked to a lone pool table. Picking up the 8-ball, he held it in his hand.

"It seems Kakashi will be back on his feet soon." Haku said, dressed in his shinobi attire as he stepped out of the shadows. "I could not discern anymore from the Uchiha."

"And the other?" Zabuza asked as he threw the ball up, calmly catching it again.

"He had his doubts; seems he's in a rocky relationship with the others. I tried to steer him into abandoning them, but it seems he's staying with them for now."

"I doubt we could have done that." Zabuza said. "But it is quite alright. Did you sense anything else about him?"

Haku blinked under his mask. "N-no, nothing unusual."

"I see." Zabuza said. "If it is what I think it is, he has no control over it. If we finish him quickly, it may not be a problem." Zabuza played with the ball for a moment longer before he spoke again. "Gato has a plan, which we will be apart of."

'What about Kakashi?" Haku asked.

"He has likely recovered by now." Zabuza caught the pool ball in his palm again, and gripped it tightly. "Luckily, so am I!" He crushed the ball like paper, its remains falling to the ground. "And now, I know how to beat that accursed eye of his!"

Haku only bowed. "As you command, Zabuza-sama."

I apologize for the wait, I recently moved and it's been hectic adjusting to a new schedule, but I think I got it under control now.

See you next time!