Hey everyone! I know, these aren't coming nearly fast enough, but trust me, I think this is much better than it used to be.

Anyway, I think many of you know what's coming next…

Enjoy!


"What?" Naruto repeated.

"Kill me." Haku repeated himself. "There is nothing for me to live for now, and it is the only destiny of defeated shinobi."

Naruto grimaced, clenching his fist.


"Thank you for listening, Kakashi…" Zabuza wheezed. "It felt nice, to get that off my chest."

"I do appreciate your sincerity," Kakashi answered honestly. "But the fact remains you are a criminal. And you will kill Tazuna if I let you live."

"Indeed." Zabuza agreed. He finally managed to stand, using his broken sword to support him. "So, let us give it our all. And no hard feelings…" Zabuza lifted his sword, and impaled himself with the remaining blade in his stomach. Kakashi would have gasped in horror, but he knew Zabuza was planning something. "…to whomever wins!"

Slowly, Zabuza pulled out the sword; as the blade extended, it went from a wide zanbato to a thin long blade. As it was pulled, Zabuza began losing mass, his buff build becoming slimmer."Shit!" Kakashi realized he was absorbing the iron from his blood and muscle to rebuild his blade! Finally, Zabuza pulled it out as a thin, but sharp, 3 meter blade. While it's structure was likely compromised, Kakashi could see the new blade was extremely sharp; one strike and he would fall dead. "One shot." Kakashi quickly made his signs: the ox, the rabbit, and the monkey. "Let my signature technique be your parting gift!" Electricity surrounded him, and concentrated into the palm of his hand. "Raikiri!"


"Come on!" Tazuna hissed, pumping Sasuke's chest. The boy continued to lay still. "Shit!"

Sakura suddenly broke the surface and climbed onto the pier. Sakura stared in disbelief, the color of her skin draining. Tazuna looked to her, sighing sadly. "I'm sorry kid." He saw Sakura tremble, her eyes watering but refusing to cry. "It's okay; I could see you liked him. You should cry."

Sakura bit her lip, nodding no. "Among shinobi, displaying emotions or vulnerability is discouraged."

"Discouraged, not forbidden." Tazuna interrupted her. "And besides, I think that is a load of crap." Sakura looked up to him. "You may have agreed to be tools for a village of mercenaries, but you will always be human." His look softened. "That brat Hiruzen would have allowed that much, at least." He gave her a sad smile, as a single tear rolled down his eye. Touching her shoulder, he offered a sad smile. "I won't tell a soul." He assured her.

Sakura nodded, as she broke down and let her tears flow freely. She fell to her knees, hugging Sasuke's still body. Tazuna could only look away. "What kind of world do we live in, where children are forced to experience life and death in service to others?"


Kakashi charged first to Zabuza's surprise. His speed seemed to increase too; no doubt due to the Raiton technique. "I'll cut him first!" Zabuza thought. His sword was much lighter now, and therefore, faster. Zabuza swung on Kakashi's left, away from his electrified hand as the copy ninja stepped into his range. "I did it!" Zabuza thought. "I won!"

Indeed, the blade made contact with Kakashi's left arm. However, as soon as it drew blood, Kakashi suddenly twisted and flew towards him like a drill. "WHAT?!" The attack grazed Zabuza's side, causing him an enormous amount of pain he never felt before. "AAUGH!" It wasn't just the pain; Zabuza smelled a large amount of flesh burning.

Kakashi skidded across the concrete, breathing heavily. Zabuza dropped his blade, and clutched his side. A good chunk of flesh was missing; Zabuza worried he was feeling things on the wound that he shouldn't. It seemed one small blessing was that he wasn't losing anymore blood, the wound being cauterized almost immediately. Even so, he felt faint.

Kakashi looked on his arm; the blade managed to embed itself in him. Groaning, he used his right arm to help himself up. He carefully gripped the metal, and pulled it out. The cut was so clean, he barely felt any pain pulling it out. "We're done here, Zabuza." Kakashi told him, as the assassin tried to rise but fail. "I win."


"No." Naruto said, though he choked a little. "I won't do it."

Though his words trembled, Haku could see he was serious. "Then you are a fool." Haku said. "What's to stop me from coming back, and finishing the job?"

"That's not you." Naruto shot back. "You said it yourself: everything you've done, you've done at Zabuza's direction. If you were anything like him, you would have killed me in the tunnel."

Haku breathed deep. "And of your friend? Will you let him pass unavenged?"

"Killing you won't being Sasuke back." Naruto said with certainty. "And if I truly wanted you punished…which I do…killing you would be too good for you. I don't care where the gods decide you go when you die, I want to see you pay for your deeds in this life."

Haku looked down to the sand. This boy, to be so enraged at him, and yet so merciful! "Then how would you ensure I receive just punishment!? How would you protect those you love from me!?" Haku looked back up at him. "Or…did I already take everything from you?"

Naruto closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He thought of Tenchui and Ayame. He thought of Iruka. He thought of the Sandaime. Of Kakashi. And…Sakura. "No." Naruto breathed. "When you truly live, you will always find bonds to treasure." Getting back on topic, Naruto said "That's not up to me, to be honest. But I believe in gramps. He can be a grump, but he's a fair man. Trust me, I know from experience. If you come quietly, I'm sure he can give you a second chance. I'll do everything I can to ensure it."

Naruto then scratched his chin, smiling nervously. "Granted, I don't think Sakura-chan would approve; she really liked him. Maybe…if I hold you, you'll let her hit you a couple of times? She can be pretty scary."

The two just looked at each other. Despite it all, Haku began to chuckle. Naruto also chuckled, and soon they erupted into full-blown laughter.

Naruto's eyes suddenly widened, and he turned serious. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled something out…


Zabuza grunted as the pain kicked in again. As the mist cleared, he eyed the mainland's beach. Even from this distance, he could see well enough to make out individuals, recognizing Naruto and Haku, and see the orange one reach behind him. "No!" Zabuza threw down a pepper bomb, covering the immediate area with an irritable gas.

"Shit!" Kakashi shielded his eyes, but the peppers still caused him to tear up. However, his hearing was unimpeded, and he had a good layout of the bridge. Focusing on Zabuza's footsteps, who had now abandoned stealth, he followed after him.


Naruto picked his weapon…a rock…and threw it. The stone whizzed past Haku's hair and nailed a samurai in the face, looking to take him on. The swordsman gave a dazed look as he stumbled, trying to find his footing, and finally falling over. "Sorry." Naruto chuckled, scratching his head.

Haku nodded, and smiled. His eyes widened as he saw Zabuza materialize behind Naruto, a shiv in his hand. "No!" Haku ran forward, pushing Naruto out of the way. By then, Zabuza had made his thrust, and there was no taking it back.

As Naruto tried to stand again, his eyes widened in horror: Zabuza had stabbed Haku in the chest! "Did he substitute himself?!"

Zabuza could only look in Haku's eyes in horror. Despite everything, Haku still smiled as he cried. Even though blood dripped from his mouth, Haku reached for Zabuza's shocked face and gently stroked his cheek. Finally, his hand dropped, and Haku closed his eyes for the last time. Zabuza began to tremble…


Haku just sat on the grass, hugging his knees. His stomach growled, joining the chorus of the smoldering fire and embers. "Hold on." Zabuza said, unusually gentle. "They're almost done." The missing nin eyed the two rabbits cooking on the make-shift skewers.

After another minute, he took them off the fire, and handed one to Haku. Zabuza began to chow down on his before noticing Haku just staring at his. "What? Are you not hungry anymore?"

Haku bit in. "It's…sad. I like bunnies."

"And other animals would have eaten them. Their cuteness wouldn't save them." Zabuza lectured him as he took another bite. "The law here is eat, or be eaten. If you wish to have different food, we will both have to earn it."

Haku nodded, and continued eating.


Zabuza cut down the last man, his target before him vulnerable. "W-wait!" The yakuza boss waved, trying to stop him as he desperately scrambled away into the wall. "I'll pay you whatever you want!"

"I do appreciate the offer." Zabuza said. Raising his sword, he growled "But if I accept, no one will take me seriously as an assassin again. I've mouths to feed."

He didn't see a henchman behind the rice paper, holding a blowpipe. As he got ready to hit Zabuza, he felt a sudden chill. Needles of ice suddenly surrounded him, and skewered him, staining the door.

Zabuza went on with his kill. Opening the door as if nothing was wrong, he eyed Haku standing over the man. Zabuza nodded in approval.


The two walked through a village. Zabuza had taken his mask off, ironically disguising himself when amongst the people. Haku's clothes were becoming tattered, and they now had the money for new ones. Zabuza chose a run of the mill department store; he figured neither of them were looking for anything fancy and preferred function over form. Besides, it was economical.

How wrong he would be.

Finding some jackets and t-shirts he walked over to Haku. Before he could say anything, he saw Haku eyeing a kimono with flower petals. Zabuza looked away. Was it disgust? Embarrassment? "Oh, we are so not getting that. I better find a way to get that out of him…"


Haku walked out the store wearing the kimono, oblivious to the stares of the strangers. Though he was taught to hide his emotions, he couldn't help but smile. Not even Zabuza had it in him to kill this moment of happiness.

"Sir?" Zabuza eyed the receptionist behind him. "I just wanted to say, that boy is lucky to have you as a father. It's hard to find people with such open minds."

Zabuza looked away, blushing slightly. "Shut up." He muttered.


Haku got to work as he sewed the wound on Zabuza's wrist close. Zabuza had went up against a formidable opponent; he won, of course, but it was a close call. Though he refused to show it, Haku must have sensed his pain. After giving him puppy dog eyes, Zabuza relented and allowed Haku to treat him. "Are you feeling better?" The young assassin asked.

"Shinobi do not divulge their weakness." Zabuza said. "I told you that."

"Yes. Forgive me." Haku finished the suture.

Zabuza flexed his wrist, feeling relief. "We shall both strive to improve." He said. "Still, I was not satisfied."

"Satisfied?"

Zabuza smiled eagerly under his mask. "Growing old is not for us, to slowly experience our bodies decay and lose purpose. I wish to fight to the death at the peak of my prime, giving it all I got while coming close to victory."

"And me?" Haku asked.

Zabuza looked at him in shock. For some reason, he felt regret from saying that. "It is only natural for me to die first. When that happens, your destiny will be yours to decide."

Haku gave him a far off look, clearly surprised by his answer.


Zabuza trembled. He did not show any obvious emotion. But Naruto could see by the slight tremble, he was furious. In spite of his shock, he pulled his arm out of Haku, seemingly indifferent to the boy's falling body. The assassin lunged for him, Naruto helpless to stop him.

However, Kakashi rushed in and punched him down. "Stop it, Zabuza!" Kakashi was also on his last legs, but in this instance, that might just be enough. "It's over! You do not need to hurt yourself any further!"

"This…this is all your fault!" He growled at Naruto. "Haku…was not supposed to die!" Zabuza rose and lunged at Kakashi, but the copy ninja back-handed him away.

Throwing all technique and subtlety out the window, Zabuza picked his shiv back up and charged. "Just stop already, you fool!" Kakashi spun around him, and pulling out two kunai, stabbed him straight through the shoulder. The tearing of his tendons and nerves caused Zabuza's hand to go limp, dropping his weapon.

Falling to one knee, he breathed. "I found him!" He wheezed. "I taught him! Once my time was up, he was supposed to be strong! Strong enough to find his own happiness!"

Naruto, in spite of the situation, slowly began to approach him. "Naruto!" Kakashi warned him. "Stand back! He's still-!"

"I'm sorry." Naruto said honestly. "It was my fault you thought I was going to hurt Haku." His look went from sympathetic to stern. "But you also bear responsibility."

"You shut your mouth, you bastard!"

That insult hit closer to home than he anticipated. "Haku told me everything. You did a good thing, taking him away. But you could have done so much more if you weren't so selfish."

"What?!"

"Haku became a ninja only for you! He never wanted to be one himself! You could have hidden him away from danger! Found him another family! But he's dead now, because you set him on this path!"

Zabuza said nothing. Tazuna, Sakura and the family were approaching by boat, Sasuke's body laid to rest inside. In spite of all that happened between them, they couldn't help but listen in silence.

"Why did you make him do this?" Naruto asked.

"Shut up!"

"Why?!"

"Piss off!"

Naruto growled, and punched him across the face. "WHY?!"

"I DIDN'T WANT TO BE ALONE!" Zabuza finally shouted. "I knew no other way of living. For him, I betrayed all I fought for. My kage, my nakama. I threw it all away for him! If I were to push him away after all that…" Then, the unexpected happened. He began to cry! "…I couldn't bear to go on…"

Everyone looked upon him as he broke down. "Haku…" he choked. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air, and went through Zabuza's body.


Hope you enjoyed! Thought I would take the time to explore Zabuza's bond with Haku, and I wanted him and Kakashi to settle their stand off.

what did you all think of Zabuza killing Haku instead of Kakashi? Please let me know!

Until next time!