The scene starts with a young Sasuke and a masked boy attacking each other. They hit each other but nobody gets hurt yet.

'Sasuke again!' Ino cheers. She's always happy to see her favorite boy on the screen.

'I wonder who the other guy is.' Sakura hums.

Then a man with a little more face showing than Kakashi, he uses bandages, appears on the screen. He can keep up with Haku's speed.

'Who's that?' Naruto asks as he points to the screen.

'He's from the mist. More than that I do not know. At least the other boy is called Haku.' Kakashi explains. The man's face is a little familiar, but a name doesn't come to mind.

Then it's Kakashi's turn to appear on the screen. 'Sakura! We have to cover Tazuna. Take that side and stay close! Let Sasuke handle Haku!'

'Yes sir!' Sakura shouts back. She's standing right next to a man that must be this Tazuna person.

'Where's Naruto?' Hinata asks. The rest of the team is there. Just not her crush Naruto.

'Good question.' Kiba blinks a couple times. He didn't notice that Naruto was missing.

The masked boy appears on the screen. 'I don't want to have to kill you, but… you probably won't leave quietly, will you?'

Sasuke smirks. 'Don't be stupid.'

'Go! Sasuke!' The girls in the audience cheer. Sasuke is good looking and with such a smirk the ladies can't help but swoon. Though each for other reasons.

'Just as I thought… however you won't be able to match my speed for long and I've laid the groundwork for two attacks.' The boy explains.

'Two attacks?' Sasuke asks. He might as well get as much information as he can.

'Do you seriously think he'll explain?' Neji reprimands the boy in question.

Sasuke shrugs. 'It's worth a try.'

'Firstly, there's the water splashed all around us. Secondly, I've trapped one of your hands with parrying this move which leaves you only one hand free to defend yourself from my attacks!' Then with one hand the boy starts making signs.

'He did explain…' Neji feels the need to plunge his head into his palms. He doesn't. He has an image to uphold.

Sasuke is a little shocked. With just one hand he's…

'Secret art of water. The thousand stinging needles of death!' The boy says and the water around them starts rising, forming needles in the sky.

Sasuke starts focusing on himself. Gotta remember the training. Summon all of the chakra energy you can and focus it in my feet. Not a second later Sasuke flies up into the air. He just manages to dodge the attack.

'Yes!' Naruto and Ino cheer. Even if Naruto doesn't want it to be known that he does support Sasuke. He can't help but be taken with what's shown on the screen.

'I wonder what they're fighting about.' Sakura says. She has her hands on her chin.

'They seem to be protecting someone. But that doesn't seem like a very genin type mission. These guys look a little too strong.' Itachi narrows his eyes. Even he might struggle a bit. Those people did look strong.

'I can't disagree with that.'

The masked boy looks around for the sign of Sasuke. Then he notices an attack focused on him. Several shuriken are aimed at him. With a couple of jumps he is able to dodge them all. Haku grunts. 'You're not that fast.

Then Sasuke appears behind him, smirking. 'Now, you're the one who has to worry about defending yourself from my attacks.' Then Sasuke rushes forward for the hit. Haku dodges the first one and then the next one. Until eventually he does get hit and he stumbles backwards.

The man in the bandages looks surprised. Haku is actually losing a battle of speed?

'Take that strange mummy man!' Naruto yells.

Sasuke tilts his head to the side. 'Mummy?'

'You know with those bandages.' Naruto's face turns red. Iruka did tell him once that he was too quick to give people nicknames. It's a little embarrassing.

Sasuke smirks once again. 'You're fast. I'm faster.'

'You had that coming for underestimating my team and for name-calling. He may not look like much but Sasuke here is the top-rated rookie from tall of Konoha village and Sakura here is our sharpest mind.'

Sakura smiles from the sidelines. A strange figure appears behind her, with inner Sakura written on her forehead. That's for sure! The strange figure says.

'What in the world is that?' Tenten blinks a couple times. Did she see that correctly?

'That's my inner.' Sakura explains. There is a trace of a slight blush on her cheeks.

'Inner?' Now Inoichi is interested. He has never heard of that phenomenon before.

'She's like me but on the inside. She helps me sometimes.' Sakura smiles. Inner could be annoying, but she does help a lot with her confidence.

'That doesn't sound very normal.'

'And last but not least. Let's not forget our own comedy ninja, the most unpredictable ninja. The one and only Naruto!'

'So, Naruto is there?' Kiba doesn't get it. Is Naruto fighting someone else? If so why isn't he on the screen.

'I don't see him.' Lee agrees with Kiba.

'Knowing him he might have overslept or something.' Sasuke snorts. It happened plenty of times before. Naruto stumbling late into something has become a bit of a joke.

'Hey!' Naruto yells. It's not like he has someone to wake him up every day. Not to mention that alarm clock of his somehow always ended up in pieces after he woke up, it's got to be some sort of ghost that does it.

The man with the bandages and the HUGE sword on his back starts snickering. Sasuke looks a little surprised. 'Haku. Do you understand if this goes on you could end dying at the hands of the very person you sought to spare?'

'Could he be one of the seven swordsmen?' Itachi asks. They had seen Kisame before and he also carried such a large sword around.

'That sword does look like Kubikiribocho.' The Hokage confirms. He's seen all of the swords before during one of many diplomatic meetings.

Sasuke looks at the fallen boy. Why does the air suddenly feel so cold?

'Cold?' Sasuke tilts his head to the side. Why does it get cold?

Haku stands up and the air around him seems to be cooling. 'What a pity.' And he once again forms a sign. The water behind Sasuke starts to rise. 'Secret art of water: Ice crystal magic mirror technique!' and the water around Sasuke crystalizes into ice mirrors that surround the boy. There is no space to escape.

'He has a bloodline limit!' Chouza says as he grabs a large hand of chips and puts it in his mouth.

'That could be scary.' Inoichi wonders how these kids would handle that situation. It's not often you fight against someone with ice powers.

'Yeah. Ice fucking hurts.' Shisui puts his head on the stack of paper beside him. Not that he could relax as not a second later Mikoto hits him on the head.

'Language!'

Kakashi watches on. I don't know this technique.

'That's extra scary.' Tenten mutters. If even someone like Kakashi doesn't know it… who knows what it does.

Haku walks up to one of the mirrors and enters it. Then all of a sudden there is a copy of him in each and every one of these mirrors. It's really hard to see which one is the real one.

Meanwhile the bandage man starts attacking Kakashi. 'Let's not forget I'm your enemy.' The man says. 'Our children can play together while my boy kills yours.

Kakashi is not of the same mind. No.

'Yes! No way Sasuke is going to lose!' Ino and Sakura cheer on for the boy.

Sasuke blinks a couple times. 'You really think I can beat him?' He feels touched. He never had people believe in him like that before. Not even his parents would say things like that.

'Of course.' Sakura tells him as she takes his hand in between hers.

Sasuke meanwhile is feeling a little trapped. Now that it's all in place what's he planning to do with these mirrors?

Then Haku starts speaking. 'Let me show you some real speed.' Then Haku appears from one mirror, rushes past Sasuke, and enters another one. This continues on and on and each time he hits Sasuke somewhere on his body.

Sasuke screams.

'That's one scary attack.' Hiashi mutters. He might be able to deal with it with some clan techniques but even then. It's a terrifying thought.

'That could be very deadly. At least we know that Sasuke survives.' Kakashi says. That's one good thing about watching the future in distorted order. They saw Sasuke older. That means he does live.

'Thank goodness.'

Which is heard by the outsiders. Both Kakashi and Sakura are worried about him. It's clear on their faces.

Sakura even tries to throw a kunai at the boy but to no avail. The boy catches it and gets out of the mirror. But he's stopped by someone.

It's Naruto!

'There he is.' Kiba cheers. It turns out that Sasuke was right and Naruto was just late.

'Why does he make such an entrance?' Neji wonder out loud.

'Some people are just like that.' Iruka explains with a forced smile. 'Gai does that quite often as well.'

'Don't remind me.' Kakashi mutters as he recalls several instances of that happening. That man could really use a bit of stealth.

'Uzumaki Naruto at your service!' He smiles as he finally enters the scene. 'Here I am, to save the day. You know how the story goes. Things look bleak till the hero arrives and then POW! Bye, bye bad guys.'

'Real life doesn't work like that.' Itachi points out.

'With Naruto there it probably will.' Shikaku mutters.

'What are you talking about.'

'That kid seems to have some altering ability that's scaring me a little.' He won't deny it. They might not have seen too much of Naruto, but that boy has a tendency to have the world bent to him. It's a little scary to think about.

Kakashi doesn't share the sentiment. Exasperating little—. What we needed was an ambush. Instead he all but paints a target on himself!

'Give up Kakashi. Naruto wouldn't know subtlety even if it was right in front of his face.' Jiraiya laughs. Inside however he wonders how that kid didn't get that trait from his parents as they both could be really stealthy.

'Then you haven't seen him do pranks yet.' Iruka tells the man.

The rest of the onlookers have mixed reactions. Tazuna and Sakura are enthusiastic. Sasuke sighs at Naruto's big talking. And the enemies laugh in their heads.

'Sasuke is such a mood here.' Shisui laughs. He can understand Sasuke's feelings completely.

'It's way better than all that emo spouting nonsense he did with Itachi.' Naruto laughs. The Sasuke from then was weird.

Zabuza throws some kunai in Naruto's direction and Haku throws some senbon. It's seems to be a tough situation for Naruto.

Here it comes! Naruto readies himself. But in the end, he doesn't have to. Instead of the weapons hitting him they cancel each other out.

'That's convenient.' Shikaku snorts.

'Plot armor?' Kakashi wonders. He's seen it in some of the books he's read.

'Haku. What are you doing?' The bandage man asks the boy.

'Zabuza sir. Please let me have this boy. I want to fight him in my own way.' Haku explains.

Zabuza sighs. 'So, you want me to keep my hands off him, eh, Haku. How charmingly naïve of you as usual.'

'I mean… I would want to fight Naruto. You know in the future when he gets all glowy.' Shisui points out. And he really would like to fight that Naruto. He did look really strong like that. Almost like an angel or something.

'That would be fun.' Itachi grins. He would love to fight that Naruto as well.

Meanwhile in the mirror dome Sasuke surveys his injuries. Look at me. It's like I'm being cut to ribbons by a thousand needles, but the cuts are all superficial he's killing me by inches saving the vital targets and the deathblow for later. He looks up at the mirrors. But I can't figure out what technique he's using. His clones all hide within the mirrors and then strike simultaneously. I don't even see him move. He strikes before I can spot his weapons' trajectory. It can't just be the clone jutsu. The ice mirrors are a part of this, somehow, but I can't figure out their significance. Whatever is going on, the mirrors must be the key. Looks like my only chance is to concentrate on the battle here and trust Naruto to set me free from the outside.

'Sasuke. You know Naruto isn't going to do that.' Sakura points out. She's known Naruto for a little while.

Then a sound appears from the side. 'Yo! Sasuke! I'm here to rescue you!' Naruto is inside as well.

'You see.'

'He's an idiot.' Sasuke snorts.

'I thought we already established that.' Neji adds some fuel to the fire, which results in an explosion.

'You meanies!' Naruto yells as he hides his face in his arms. So, what if he's not the smartest. He can't help it.

Sasuke is understandably angry. 'You doofus! NO stealth, no caution and you call yourself a ninja?' Sasuke yells. 'Now that you've gotten yourself trapped in here with me just do what you want. I don't really care.'

'Kakashi should have thought him better.' Jiraiya points out.

Kakashi glares at the man but then sighs. 'I don't think it would have been able to go through that thick skull of his.'

Haku takes this time to go back inside the mirrors. Sasuke keeps his eyes on the boy.

SO, that's it. His real body is over there! Sasuke readies himself for an attack.

But instead of being able to do anything he gets interrupted by Haku who's know inside another mirror. 'Over here.' Haku says.

'Is he a magician?' Naruto stares at the screen with wide eyes. He's never seen a magician before. Whenever there is one the people always say the tickets are sold out.

'With those skills. He could be.' Sasuke too is in awe. That looks really fun.

Neji sighs. He doesn't know why he keeps arguing with them. 'I don't think that's the case.'

Sasuke is shocked. Looks like destroying all the mirrors may be our only hope!

'Great plan.' Ino nods. And mentally cheers for Sasuke.

Meanwhile Naruto is just confused. 'What the hell is going on?'

Sasuke makes some signs and a fire ball erupts from his mouth. But instead of melting the ice mirrors it doesn't do a thing.

'That must be some cold ass ice.' Shisui stares. There's not even a single sign of melting. Then another hit on his head.

'What did I say about your language young man!' Mikoto scolds him once again.

'I'm sorry. Don't hurt me.' He rubs the place where she hit with his hands. That would sting for a little bit.

'It's not even making a dent!' Naruto shouts.

'That pitiful flame will barely touch my ice mirrors.' Haku says as he too readies himself for attack. And attack he does. He hits both the boys and they fall to the ground.

'I dunno. That looked decently strong to me.' Itachi points out. It's not the most powerful technique but it most certainly wasn't weak.

'It's not as strong as Madara's.' Sasuke points out.

'Don't take him as the standard. He's extraordinary.' And that's the truth. Nothing could possibly compare to Madara. That man is one of a kind.

'Which one of you is the real one?' Naruto shouts out.

'Your eyes will never see the truth. I can't be caught.' Haku explains.

'Oh, he mentioned eyes. Now we're going to get to see the sharingan in action aren't we.' Shikaku sighs. He never expected for their lives to be this predictable.

'From what we've seen that does look like the trend.' Kakashi nods along. It worries him a little. It's almost like…

'Looking at things like this makes it rather predictable.' Itachi agrees. It's something he'd never thought to think about.

'It's like we're following certain literary tropes.' Kakashi points out. He can name a few and it does nothing to make him feel better about the situation.

'It's almost like we're part of a work of… fiction.' At that last word the collective shuddered. That was one thing to point out. It's not like they could ever be fictional.

'That's a little creepy.' Ino shudders. She doesn't want to think like that.

Naruto puts his hands together and shouts. 'Shadow clone jutsu.'

'Wait!' Sasuke shouts out.

Naruto doesn't, and a ton of clones appear. If I clobber every one of him, then sooner or later I'll get to the real one. His clones attack each of the mirrors but Haku is simply too fast for him. He manages to take out each and every clone with ease and the real Naruto falls to the ground as well.

'That's pretty amazing.' Lee watches the screen. He hopes that one they he can be as fast as that. It would certainly help him a lot.

'Why didn't he just create so many clones that the mirrors spread under the pressure?' Tenten asks. Naruto certainly has the power to do so. They've seen it before.

'Then Sasuke and the real Naruto would get squished as well.' Chouji explains.

'I don't know. They might. Depends of how strongly the mirrors are held together.' Shikamaru clarifies. They both can see what he means.

'The technique I'm using is part of the art of teleportation, and the only tool I need to perform it is the mirrors that hold my image. I move so quickly, the pair of you might as well be standing still.' Haku explains.

Naruto is on the ground. 'It can't end like this. I've got a dream to fulfill.' Naruto says. And it seems to bring up a memory in Haku's head. It's from the very first fragment they watched.

'Wait! Are you telling me that's the boy girl person thingy?' Naruto yells. That guy was all the way from the very first scene they watched. That was a long time ago. He can barely remember it.

'That does help with the timeline.' Itachi notes it down immediately.

Haku is silent for a few seconds but then he starts speaking. 'I find it difficult to embrace the full shinobi philosophy. I can't help but prefer that the pair of you not force me to kill you. However, if you two are going to come at me. I shall kill my own heart with my clade just as the word shinobi was originally the words 'heart' and 'blade' and act like a full-fledged shinobi would.' Haku speaks. 'I have my own dreams as you have yours.'

'What's with the monologuing?' Inoichi asks. He's never seen anyone do that before. It's a little odd to do in those situations.

'Exposition.' Shikaku explains. If they are going with the whole fictional world thing it does make a certain amount of sense.

Then the screen focusses on Kakashi. He has his hand on his headband. He's about to reveal the sharingan. But Zabuza clearly doesn't want that to happen. He rushes to intercept Kakashi and hits him with a kunai through the hand.

'You can sneer all you want about my 'lack of finesse', Zabuza, it doesn't change the fact that you're afraid of the sharingan and of me.'

'Heh. A ninja's secret weapon should be employed judiciously, not displayed at random to every foe you face.' Zabuza explains.

'You should feel privileged. No one else has ever lived to see the sharingan a second time. And no one will ever see it thrice.' Kakashi counters.

'It's this a battle of insults?' Ino questions. She never once thought that a battle between two super powerful ninjas would be like that. It brings an entirely new light to the profession.

'Very professional Kakashi.' Iruka laughs.

'Sometimes it's fun to boast and roast.' Kakashi basks in the complement. He gets plenty of complement but that one makes him smile.

'Heh. By all means defeat me, if you can. You still won't have what it takes to kill Haku!' Zabuza laughs. 'Since he was a toddler I've beaten his fighting skills into him. Even in the face of unthinkable adversity, has always prevailed. He's lost all regard for his own life and become a killing machine. A true shinobi.'

Meanwhile Kakashi pulls up the headband and reveals his special eye. 'Is there anything duller than listening to someone else brag?' Kakashi stares him down. 'It's show time.'

'Perhaps you might hold off a moment, now that I've caught my breath. And to borrow your own idiom permit me one more boast. You turned a very pretty phrase at our last encounter.' Zabuza smirks through the bandages. 'Frankly I've been dying to steal it. Something to the effect of 'just so you know that same technique won't work on me twice.''

'Can they get to the action. This seems more like one of those boring meetings people like to drag me into.' Tsume complains. She doesn't like this. She likes strength and actual fights. That would do her good.

'I'm getting a similar feeling.' The Hokage agrees with her. He never liked those kinds of meetings.

Kakashi doesn't respond immediately. In fact, he still stares the man down.

Then we are transported back inside the mirror dome.

'Sasuke. We've gotta stop reacting and take back the initiative.' Naruto yells at his friend.

'That also goes for you Naruto.' Iruka tells the boy. Naruto scratches the back of his head in embarrassment.

'Shut up and get on your feet! I can't fight him and watch out for you, too.' Sasuke yells right back. 'We're both wounded but we have to suck it up and go on. We'll be fine as long as he doesn't kill one of us. There must be a limit to his chakra. His attacks have been getting weaker.'

'They have?' Sasuke wonders. 'I didn't notice.'

'It's difficult to see on a screen.' Itachi explains to his little brother. Truth to be told he didn't really notice it either. Watching from the outside is totally different from being in such a situation.

Haku appears from one of the mirrors again and Sasuke readies himself for the attack. He has a weapon in hand and he's about to run forward but he's stopped by the senbon Haku managed to wedge in his legs.

'Ouch.' A couple people in the group wince.

Then we are outside again. There is mist covering the area around Kakashi. This fog is too thick for the hiding in the mist technique. Even Zabuza won't be able to see anything through it.

'That means Kakashi can take out the doggies!' Itachi's eyes light up as soon as he realizes that. What can he say? He like animals. They are just so cute.

'What doggies?' Kiba asks. He would love to see them.

'My dear little puppies.' Kakashi smiles. If there's one thing that can always make him smile it's the mention of his little puppies.

'I wanna meet them!' Naruto yells. He never got to pet a dog before. Only Akamaru.

'Maybe later.'

The wind blows past and with his sharingan Kakashi manages to block an attack that he otherwise couldn't have seen. Then Zabuza appears behind him. Kakashi is pretty shocked so to speak.

'You repelled those nicely no less than I'd expect of Kakashi of the sharingan.' Zabuza says. 'However, the next time you see me it will still be the end.'

'If you keep talking like that it won't be too difficult to follow.' Shisui sneers at the guy. Is he stupid or something?

This is the point that Kakashi realizes something. His eyes are closed!

'I mean. That can work. I suppose.' Jiraiya yells. He's fought a blind ninja before. You should never underestimate them. He learned that the hard way.

'It does take a lot of practice.' Iruka nods. He tried to train himself in that before. But he gave up after he realized how difficult it is.

'You've overestimated the value of your sharingan.' Zabuza says before he starts laughing. 'With my own eyes closed, I eliminate the possibility of your hypnotizing me while we're in close proximity.'

'But then… While I can't use my own yes, neither can you.' Kakashi counters.

'Ah, but you forget. I am training in silent killing. My genius lies in the ability to hunt by sound alone.' Zabuza responds. It's obvious that he's taunting Kakashi.

'Ooh. Now it's getting fun.' Tsume almost starts bouncing in her seat. She has been waiting for this.

Blast it. I've been so worried about Naruto and Sasuke, I hadn't considered… how long it's been since I had to fight under conditions this adverse. Kakashi takes a deep breath. I've got to calm down and stay smart. Who will he target next? That's when Kakashi realizes who. Sakura and Tazuna.

'Go Kakashi!' the kids cheer. Kakashi smiles from the side of the classroom.

He rushes there as fast as possible and is able to intercept the attack just in time. However, it isn't that easy.

'Too late.' Zabuza says and next up we are back inside the dome again.

'Why do they always do this with these cliffhangers.' Lee complains. Number has been doing that for quite some time now and it doesn't stop being annoying. It totally ruins the mood.

'To keep the tension going?' Neji wonders. He knows nothing about this kind of thing so what can he say.

'I don't know.'

Sasuke stands up and analyzes the situation. If this keeps up, we'll all be in serious trouble. I've got to do something. My eyes are beginning to adjust to the environment.

Haku is analyzing the situation as well. I've been targeting the points that would result in mortal injuries, but he's evaded every attempt. And while he's dividing his own focus between fighting me and watching out for his friend he's gradually gaining speed. Beginning to catch up to my own moves. That kid, he can see something.

'He did inherit this one special gene that results in special eyes.' Shisui smiles as he points at his own eyes.

Fugaku sighs. It's true that the sharingan brings them an unfair advantage in that situation. 'In that situation the byakugan might actually be more useful.'

'I can't disagree with that.' Hiashi nods. The 360 vision as well as the techniques associated with it are ideal for that kind of technique.

Now Haku starts speaking to Sasuke again. 'But my next assault will take you down.' Haku moves quickly acting like he's going to attack Sasuke but aiming for Naruto instead. However, Sasuke isn't fooled. He could see everything that was happening.

He has the sharingan.

'Told you so.' Shisui smiles.

'Is this his first time using them?' Itachi wonders. Sasuke doesn't seem to be consciously using them.

'Unlikely. He has two tomoe in one of his eyes.' Fugaku explains. It's possible but somehow, he doubts that. It's more likely that he awakened them during the massacre.

Haku realizes he must do something know. Or else Sasuke would defeat him. He rushes at Naruto, who's a little away from Sasuke. He's going fast and Sasuke has to rush to his side.

I have to get there first. Is all that goes through Sasuke's mind.

'How romantic.' Ino swoons.

Sasuke stares her down. 'No.'

Then we are outside the dome again.

'Again!' Lee complains. There are a couple people there that get what he's saying.

Blood falls on the ground. Kakashi got hit by Zabuza's humongous sword.

'You were slow on your guard, Kakashi. Your desire to save those brats caused the blood to rise to your head, obscuring your thoughts and vision as surely as the fog I've created does.' Zabuza taunts again. 'Even with your impressive eye and the formidable powers you wield with it. Your ability to read my movement has been blunted.

'You sure about that? He did get there in time.' Jiraiya laughs. That Zabuza really likes boasting. It's pretty funny actually.

'Heh. I want to enjoy this Kakashi. Paying back what you did to me would give me the greatest pleasure.' Zabuza picks up his sword. 'Don't worry, Haku should be finishing off those brats of yours right about now. I'll be reuniting you with them shortly. When you meet them in the afterlife, beg them to forgive you for your weakness and folly.' After this Zabuza starts laughing. Kakashi is clearly a little angered by this.

'He's trying to piss him off.' Chouji realizes.

Shikamaru digs his hand in the bag of chips on Chouji's lap. 'You just noticed?'

'What!'

'It was obvious from the beginning.'

'Not everyone is as smart as you.'

This is also the point in which inner Sakura makes a comeback. 'Sasuke won't be easy for someone like that masked kid to defeat. Neither will Naruto!' Sakura screams out.

'You're right.' Kakashi agrees with her. 'I have faith in them and in their strengths, Naruto's unpredictability and Sasuke is one of the most worthy heirs to the most superior bloodline of Konoha.'

Zabuza takes a second to respond. 'You don't mean—'

'That's right. His full name is Uchiha Sasuke. He's a ninja genius who carries in his genes the bloodline of the Uchiha.' Kakashi seems almost smug.

'Heck yeah!' Naruto cheers.

'What did I say?' Ino smiles.

'He's the sole surviving member of that tragic clan, eh.' No wonder his development is so remarkable. Zabuza makes the mist a bit thicker. 'So, he may indeed be Haku's equal. No one has ever penetrated the secret of Haku's techniques until now. No one.'

'He's gone again!' Sakura yells.

'Sakura don't move an inch. I'll finish this as quickly as I can.' Kakashi leans down and darts off to the side. 'Did you hear that Zabuza? Do you truly believe after all of the hardships, I've survived in this world armed on with the sharingan? I too was once a member of ANBU. I'll show you what kind of ninja I once was. This isn't something I learned with the sharingan. Let me show you my own true art.'

'Let me guess. We'll go back to Naruto.' Tenten joins Lee in the complains against the cliffhangers.

The screen goes black again and we are back inside the dome.

'Wow.' Tenten fake faints. 'I never would have guessed.'

Naruto is waking up from something. He grumbles and takes a second to collect his bearings. What he sees in front of him is Haku on the ground and Sasuke standing in front of him.

'Sheesh. No matter how many times I warn you, Naruto, you still keep getting in my way.' Sasuke says. He stumbles a little over his words.

'Oh. He's hurt.' Mikoto looks at her son with worry. This doesn't look good for him. She doubts he'll be able to stand for much longer.

'Sasuke. You!' Naruto is cheerful until he realizes the view in front of him. Sasuke is coughing up blood and several senbon are in his body. It's a haunting sight.

'He's a porcupine!' Naruto laughs. It's only because he knows that Sasuke survives that he allows himself to be this cheerful. If that wasn't the case, he would have acted a bit more seriously.

'A pincushion.' Sakura agrees with him.

'Now get that lame expression off your stupid face. You screw up!' Sasuke says. His voice is a little softer than normal.

'Wh—why?' He was trying to cover me? Naruto remembers all kinds of scenes from the past. When Sasuke was rude and when he was kind.

'This is going to get sad.' Neji sighs. He doesn't like the sad scenes. They make him feel funny.

'At least we know he survives.' Hinata smiles. She doesn't know what to do if that wasn't the case. She would most certainly be a lot more nervous.

'That's one relief.'

'I used to hate you, you know.'

'Why, why did you? Why me?' Naruto asks. 'You should have just minded you own business.' Naruto is close to tears with the way he speaks.

'How should I know? My body just moved on its own. Fool!' Sasuke mutters out before he collapses on the ground. Naruto grabs Sasuke's body and just sits there for a second 'I swore I wouldn't die until I killed him. My older brother. I thought the oath would save me… but… but don't you dare die.'

Naruto is shocked. He looks at Sasuke's face as he's asleep from the exhaustion. Tears are building up in his eyes.

'Aw. Sasuke wants Naruto to kill Itachi.' Ino can almost see her dreams come true. Those two would make such a cool couple. Even if they don't agree with her.

'But he did end up doing it himself.' Sakura points out.

'He struck one blow at me and without any sign of shirking sacrificed himself for you!' Haku explains. 'He was a shinobi worthy of the utmost respect who in order to protect someone he cared about, threw himself headlong into what he knew full well was a trap.' Haku stands up slowly. He does seem a bit tired as well. 'Is this the first time a comrade of yours has died? Such is a ninja's path.' And then Haku returns to his mirrors.

Rage consumes Naruto and with a shrill voice he commands. 'Shut up.' I used to hate you, you know.

Then his voice turns dark. 'I'm never gonna forgive you for this.'

'Oh no.' This was the collective thought that went through everyone's head. That doesn't sound normal.

'It's the fox isn't it.' Itachi asks. He gets a nod from several of the people there. He remembers when the fox attacked the village. He knows what it felt like. He doesn't want to experience that ever again.

'That's not good.' Mikoto mutters.

'It's good that we get to see this. Then we know what to do when it happens for real.' Jiraiya points out. Because whether they like it or not, they are going to have to deal with it at some point.

'I suppose.'

Haku is shocked. What is this strange aura?

A red cloak is covering Naruto's body. His eyes are red with slits and he's standing on all fours. 'I'm gonna kill you!'

'That's scary.' Sakura can feel a shudder through her entire body. What must the future her there have felt?

'He's losing control.' Shikamaru says. He never imagined he would see Naruto like that. It just seems wrong somehow.

The area around Naruto is distorted. Energy is swirling around him. Dust flies into the air. It's scary.

Haku is surprised. What chakra is this?

'I bet he didn't expect this.' Naruto tries to cheer the group back up. He doesn't like it when everyone is sad. It gives him a headache.

'He most certainly did not.' Sasuke laughs. He tries to hide his thoughts behind the laughter.

Naruto stands up and the area moves with him. His chakra is forming the head of a fox above him. It's quite intimidating.

'Wow.' The kids stare at the screen with wide eyes. They most certainly haven't seen anything like it before.

Impossible. His chakra is physically manifesting itself. And an appalling chakra it is. Haku doesn't know what he's talking about.

'I remember that chakra. It was suffocating.' Tsume says. And she's not the only one.

'Made me want to vomit.' Kakashi admits.

The kids could only look at the adults being scared. 'So terrifying.'

The wounds on Naruto's body are healing and his fingernails turn into claws. His whisker marks deepened and the energy surrounding him bursts outwards.

Even Kakashi and Zabuza notice it.

'Is this Zabuza's doing?' Kakashi wonders out loud. No. This power, this energy is foul, it's evil and familiar but it can't be!

'What do you mean can't be?' Sasuke tilts his head to the side. Is there something wrong?

'Is the seal breaking?' Itachi asks.

'It better not.' Jiraiya answers. He is the one that inspected the seal in the first place. 'That would cause too many problems.'

Zabuza is having similar thoughts. This chakra I'm feeling something about it fills me with dread. No, it seems bigger than Kakashi, somehow but who?

Kakashi can feel the panic rising. Naruto! Unbelievable it can't be after all this time.

'Has the seal begun to unravel? Is the seal broken.' Kakashi looks around. I sense that we're safe for now. It hasn't broken through yet, not completely. But the seal has slipped a little, or cracked, and the power of the nine tailed fox is bleeding through.

'That's a little reassuring.' Shisui breathes out a sigh of relief. So, they don't have to worry about the seal breaking that easily. Sure, the fourth also put in that protection thing but you never know how secure it is.

'Not a lot.'

Then Kakashi starts moving. In one hand he takes out a scroll and in the other he takes some of his blood. He unseals the scroll and applies his blood in the most over the top fashion. After which he starts moving the scroll around like a rhythmic gymnast. 'Listen to me Zabuza. I'm a busy man. You're a busy man. We've both got a lot on our plates and it goes against the grain to even suggest this but what do you say we stop screwing around…' He tosses the scroll in the air. And then makes a seal. 'And wrap this up right now? One big move, winner take all?'

'Did you really have to do all that Kakashi?' Iruka laughs. He's never seen Kakashi dance before.

'It seems he has a flare for theatrics.' Jiraiya adds while smiling. He never would have guessed that Minato's little brat of a student would do something like that.

'If you hang out with Gai you've got to get some of the strange.' Kakashi uses as an excuse but it probably has nothing to do with it.

'An intriguing notion. What's left, Kakashi? Show me what you've got!' the mist thickens once more and Zabuza isn't visible anymore.

Inside the dome energy is still swirling around like a maniac. Naruto focusses on his target but he doesn't quite seem sound of mind.

'It's like he's gone full on feral.' Kiba nearly yells. He knows his clan is well known for going feral but it's a little strange to see Naruto do that.

'That's a little worrying.' Shino manages to stumble out of his mouth.

He's attacking! Haku readies himself for the attack. Then Naruto shoots himself at the boy. He's so bloodthirsty! He's completely changed from the boy of just minutes ago! Haku throws some senbon but Naruto is able to deflect them with just the chakra surrounding him.

'Holy moly.' Shisui yells. He was careful this time to not use any of the bad words. 'I don't want to get anywhere near that.'

'Me neither.' Iruka can't help but agree.

Then Haku puts himself in the attack but Naruto able to dodge out of the way.

I've got to make it to the next mirror! Haku tries his best but he's intercepted by Naruto who promptly punches him out of the way. He couldn't have! Haku is shocked. He didn't expect that amount of speed.

'It's a full-on power boost.' Lee yells out. It's kind of like how he got a power boost after unlocking one of the gates. The difference being that he was in control of it and Naruto is not.

'I suppose it's a little cool to watch. But I can't help but be scared what would happen if the control loosens even more.' Sakura says. They've gotten a glimpse of what could happen, and it does not mean anything good.

'I'm afraid that it won't be anything good.' Ino says to her friend.

Naruto lets out a scream and more of the chakra bursts from his body. It's so strong it even starts melting the mirror around him. Haku takes notice of this and tries to strengthen them again but he doesn't have the power. During this distraction Naruto grabs one of his arms and punches the boy in the face. The force behind it is so strong that Haku falls backwards, right through his mirrors. The mask he's wearing starts cracking.

'The power of the bijuu is truly something out of this world.' Tenten stares at the screen in awe. She never would have thought that just a little of their chakra can have such big effects.

'I can't disagree with that.' Neji says to her.

Haku lands on the ground and stands up. He's too weak to move at the moment. Master Zabuza. Naruto is still in his rage and doesn't seem to notice. He jumps at the boy ready for attack. I'm finished. But then the mask breaks and what's revealed beneath makes Naruto stop in his tracks.

It's the boy from the forest.

'It is that guy!' Naruto points at the screen. At first, he didn't want to believe that but now it's obvious.

'Wow. What a coincidence.' Sasuke has a smile on his face as he says that. Naruto turns to look at him with a glare on his face.

'Was that sarcasm?'

'Dunno. What do you think.'

'You're the kid I met this morning!' Naruto seems to be struggling to hold himself back.

'Why did you stop?' Haku asks. 'I murdered your comrade your beloved friend and you still spare me?'

'He snapped out of it.' Fugaku takes note of that. It's good to note. Just in case he might need the information in the future.

'Just because he saw someone familiar.' Tsume stares at the screen. She never would have thought.

'I think it might have been the shock.' Itachi points out.

Naruto looks back at Sasuke and then hit's Haku straight in the face. Haku flies back but he's quick to compose himself.

'All the power you had before where is it? You can't hope to kill me with the meager force you put into that blow.' Haku tells the boy.

'What's his plan?' Naruto asks. He doesn't get it. Why would the boy want him to attack him?

'Assisted suicide?' Iruka suggests.

'That's not cool.' Kakashi had seen it before and it doesn't tend to end well.

Naruto is still struggling to comprehend the situation.

'Often people have it wrong mistakenly believing that showing mercy to an enemy is kindness. They spare the foe whose life is in their hands. But don't you see? It's an empty existence. To go on living alone and unloved when death's already cost you your dream!'

'Say what?!' Naruto looks at Haku.

'I'm with Naruto here. How in the world does he draw that conclusion?' Sasuke points out.

Shikamaru hums. 'I think there might be more to the story.'

'Master Zabuza has no use for a weak shinobi. You've taken away my reason for living.'

Naruto doesn't agree. 'Why waste all that devotion on such a creep. That mercenary scumbag doesn't care who he works for or who gets hurt, just so someone pays him! Is that browless wonder really precious to you? Your beloved friend?'

'You can use his name Naruto.' Iruka scolds the boy.

'No way!' he likes using nicknames. So, what? It's not like he hurts anyone with it.

'Once I was precious, I belonged to my parents.' Haku starts telling his backstory. Naruto doesn't really get what that has to do with anything. 'I was born in a snowy little village in the land of mist. And I was happy. My parents were good, kind people.'

'He's from the land of water. I can see where this is going.' At this the adults faces turn grim. Of course. Everyone knew what happened there. It's something many of them wish would never happen to them.

'That's just sad.'

'But. Just as I was getting old enough to really notice the world around me something happened.'

Naruto listens carefully to the story. 'Like what? What happened?'

'My blood. My father killed my mother and tried to kill me.' Haku's face is blank.

'That must have been something.' Hiashi says. While he might not have been the greatest father himself he at least wouldn't do something like that.

'Why?' Naruto doesn't understand why someone would do that.

'Due to wars that plagued the land those with bloodlines became feared. Those who possessed these bloodlines were hunted only able to survive by hiding the existence of our skills and our bloodline away. My father learned that my mother came from such a clan and before I even realized what I was about to do my father had died by my hand.

'What a fantastic family. That's really how you do it.' Neji mutters. Not like his family is much better.

'Shut up. This is supposed to be sad.' Naruto tells the guy.

'And then it came to me. I knew what I was. And I was forced to accept it. That was the most painful thing.'

'The most painful thing?' Naruto starts to see where Haku is coming from. Not that he accepts it that easily.

'Accepting that I was alone in the world. Superfluous. Unwanted. Shunned.' Naruto know the feeling well. 'Didn't you tell me. That you wanted to become the number one ninja in your village and make everyone respect you? You had someone in your life who did more than that. who acknowledged your existence, even cared for you. Wouldn't that person become the most important treasured person in your life?'

The first person to appear in Naruto's mind is Iruka. Who had helped him so many times.

'Aw. Isn't that sweet.' Ino's inner fangirl is going wild. Naruto and Iruka had such a wonderful almost father son like relationship.

'Thank you, Naruto.' Iruka smiles at the child in question.

Naruto gets the most blinding smile on his face. 'No problem.'

'Master Zabuza adopted me, knowing I came from a bloodline. The very thing in me that made everyone else hate me. He didn't just overlook it. He cherished it. He wanted it.' Tears form in Haku's eyes. 'I was so happy.'

'Aw. This is really emotional.' Naruto can almost wipe away a tear.

'It's just that this isn't the place to do that sort of stuff.' Inoichi points out. Doing stuff like that on the battlefield can bring a serious disadvantage to your team.

'Where are you supposed to do that?' Naruto asks in response.

'Therapists office.'

Then Haku turns serious once again. The blank look is on his face. 'Naruto. Please. Take my life.'

'At least he asks.' Lee points out. Not that he agrees with that method.

'True. I've known people that don't. That always turns into such sadness.' Jiraiya can name a handful. It's a little too common in this world they live in.

Back with Kakashi and Zabuza.

Kakashi makes some more signs and puts his hands on the ground. 'Earth style: Fanged vengeance technique!'

'This posturing will get you nowhere, Kakashi. You can't even tell where I truly am. While I, on the other hand, know exactly where you are and exactly how to defeat you. You are completely enmeshed in my spell.' Zabuza has his eyes closed. He concentrates but then someone bursts from the ground and grabs his legs.

They are dogs.

'I said the doggies would appear!' Itachi's eyes are sparkling. It's a little odd. Only his family knows that he has a weak spot for animals, cats in particular but dogs are awesome as well.

'It seems you are correct.' Iruka takes note of them all. There are quite a couple of them.

'Aren't they adorable.' Kakashi smiles. He raised each and every single one of them and it did take a lot of effort. He cares about them all equally.

'They look like they want to shred that man to pieces.' Sasuke points out. He doesn't really care about them. Only if he gets to pet them.

'So cute.' Mikoto smiles at her children. They are just too cute.

They grab his legs and arms and hold him still.

'When your eyes and your ears have let you down. You can always follow you nose!' Kakashi says.

Zabuza is completely held down by dogs.

'Go Kakashi!' Lee and Kiba cheer for the man.

'It worked because you shut your eyes in the mist. This conjuration is specifically designed for tracking. It's why I went out of my way to bleed a bit during both of our earlier encounters. My little ninja pups couldn't miss it. The smell of my blood is all over you and your weapons, so thick. Every dog has his nose and they all know you stink! So, who's enmeshed in whose spell now?

'The fog is lifting. I can see your future; your future is death!' Kakashi ends his awesome speech.

'Talk about being a badass.' Shikamaru mutters. Why is that man so talented at that.

'He really doesn't disappoint now, does he?' Chouji smiles. He hopes they get to see much more of him.

'You say my future is death? I've had enough of your bluffs.'

'Who's bluffing now? There's no way out. Face it. You're going to die.' Then Kakashi turns serious. 'Zabuza you've had your fun.' He puts his hands once more and makes the familiar signs of the Raikiri.

Zabuza is shocked. He doesn't know what to think.

'He's going to do it.' Naruto is bouncing in his seat. This is getting way too exciting for him to handle. Maybe he'll have to go to the hospital after. Is that possible? Getting too excited. Maybe. He doesn't really care.

'Man. That was awesome.' Sasuke agrees with his rival.

'I have a feeling that's not the end of the fight yet.' Shikamaru points out. It just doesn't sound right.

'The man you're trying to kill, Mr. Tazuna, is the heart and spirit of this place. And the bridge you're trying to prevent him from completing is the land's hope. You're willing to sacrifice this place and everyone in it, just to advance your own ambitions. That's not what a true shinobi does.' Kakashi starts walking forwards.

'Spare me the civics lesson and philosophy. I'm fighting for my own ideals. And I'm not about to stop.'

'You can try. But guilt tripping doesn't tend to work on those kinds of people.' Jiraiya points out. He's tried. With Orochimaru. And look where that got him.

'Too bad.' Kakashi shrugs the man off.

'I'll say this just once more.' Kakashi powers up his attack. 'Give up.'

Back with Naruto and Haku the conversation continues.

'Please, Naruto, kill me now.' Haku says. 'What are you waiting for?'

Naruto gasps and tries to collect himself. He hasn't killed someone before. 'What is wrong with you? You're used to being the toughest. You don't like to lose. I get that! But wanting to die just because someone beat you is crazy!' Naruto responds. 'There's more to life than just fighting. There's more to you! Your boss must like you for more than just that, right? Doesn't he?'

'Go Naruto. I'm with you on this.' Ino tells the boy. His eyes start sparkling.

'Me too.' Sakura adds.

'That day I met you in the forest… I remember thinking that we were two of a kind. Surely you can understand. You'll have to bloody your hands. Forgive me for that.' Haku says to Naruto.

'Is that the only way? No other outcome?' Naruto's sweating. He really doesn't want to hurt Haku any more.

An expression of peace crosses Haku's features. 'Yes.'

'First kills are never easy.' Fugaku says. He can still remember his first.

'Most certainly not.' Tsume agrees.

'It's even worse when you care about that person.' Hiashi would know. No matter how hard a first kill is, it's nothing compared to killing someone you care about. Kakashi would agree with him.

Naruto frowns. And then some more. Then determination strikes.

'I hope you find your dream.' Haku says to Naruto.

Naruto turns to look at Sasuke. 'Sasuke had a dream too… If we'd met some other way, someplace else, you and I would probably have been friends.' Naruto takes out a knife and runs at Haku.

'How sweet.' Neji mutters. He didn't get any of the conversation. It's fate that decides whether you live or die. Who cares about the rest?

Then Haku's face morphs into shock. Naruto hasn't hit him yet. He intercepts Naruto's attack. Naruto is predictably shocked. 'I'm sorry Naruto.' He holds Naruto still. 'I can't die yet.'

'Talk about a change of mind.' Shisui points out. He has already taken a couple notes of the scene. Nothing all that important to the future.

'Let me guess. He sees Kakashi approaching Zabuza.' Jiraiya says.

Then he disappears and the next they see of him is right in front of Zabuza. He stopped Kakashi's attack with his own body. Blood splatters everywhere. Including Zabuza's and Kakashi's faces. It would probably be a pain to get out of their masks.

'Zabuza, s—sir.' Haku starts but then he doesn't continue talking.

'You said my future was death. Heh, heh. But you missed again, Kakashi.' Zabuza sneers at the man.

'He dares to talk like that!' Tenten is a little surprised. No matter what, that was just rude.

'That's a little rude.' Sakura agrees with her. And they are not the only ones. Most of the people in the room have similar feelings.

'That kid just gave his life.' Tsume barks in. How insensitive can someone get?

'Talk about unfeeling.'

Naruto runs to the scene and then takes in what happened.

Kakashi is a little shocked as well. He jumped between to save Zabuza.

Zabuza chuckles. 'That was brilliant Haku.'

Kakashi wants to take back his hand but finds himself unable. The boy… is already dead. Haku is smiling. A peaceful expression is on his face. None of the pain he should have been feeling is visible.

'That's kind of sweet if you think about it.' Sakura says. Even in death that boy is still smiling.

'I think it's gross.' Ino puts in. 'That kid is way younger than that man.'

'I don't think their relationship was like that.' Tenten tells the other girl. Not that Ino is willing to listen.

This is also the point that Zabuza goes for the attack once more.

He's going to come right through the kid to get to me. Kakashi thinks.

'That's awful!' Naruto yells at the screen.

'I really did find a treasure in that gutter. To think that he'd grant me this marvelous chance in the end!' Zabuza's voice is deeper. He might not act concerned but there is a certain amount of irrationality there that tells different.

Kakashi grabs Haku's body and jumps out of the way. After that he slowly lowers the body down and closes the boy's eyes.

'At least Kakashi does things properly.' Jiraiya feels the need to say. It's proper manners even if you don't always have the time for it on the battlefield.

'Such a gentleman.' Ino swoons.

Sasuke blinks a little and then looks at Kakashi. 'Then why doesn't he have a girlfriend yet?'

'Please. Don't. Mention. That.' Kakashi smiles at the boy in question and Sasuke is quick to look the other way.

Naruto is shaking with anger. That unforgivable scumbag!

'Naruto stay out of this.' Kakashi reminds the boy. 'This is my fight.'

'I agree with Kakashi. Interfering won't do any good.' The Hokage adds to the conversation.

Zabuza rushes off to Kakashi. 'Focus, Kakashi! Don't let yourself be distracted!' But Kakashi isn't defeated that easily and with much ease he's able to kick Zabuza in the stomach.

He tries again. And again. And some more. But he's not able to land a single hit. Eventually he falls to the ground. He pants. 'Why—why can't I keep up?' He makes off once more and Kakashi doesn't even have to look to deflect him.

'That's kind of a cool power play.' Chouji munches on his chips some more. There are several other that agree with him.

'I think Zabuza might be more affected with the boy's death than he lets on.' Itachi points out. A couple other nod along. They can see it as well.

'Now there's no way you can beat me.' Kakashi states.

'What?'

'It's over. You just don't know it yet.' Kakashi takes out a single knife and is about to kill the man.

'Heh-heh. I wonder how the fight's going!' A new voice joins the conversation. By the tone it's clear he doesn't give a shit about any of the participants.

'Who in the world is that?' Naruto yells out. It's silent for a bit.

Sasuke shrugs. 'I have no idea.' And nobody else has any idea as well.

Zabuza moves his arm just as Kakashi is about to hit him. The knife lands in Zabuza's arm. Both Kakashi and Zabuza fall to the ground.

'Now you can't use either arm. No jutsu, no Kata, no chakra.' Kakashi tells the man. Zabuza gives a grunt as response.

'I'm starting to feel sorry for the man.' Chouji mutters. He can see the emotion behind the attacks and it hurts his little soul.

'I can see that.' Shikamaru agrees with his friend.

'Well, he's certainly made a fine mess out of you!' That strange voice tells the people there.

Both Kakashi and Zabuza give the man a side eyed glare.

The man in question is small thick and wears sunglasses. He's clearly a business man.

'That man is an ugly ass pig.' Shisui is quick to point out. As usual, he gets a hit on the head. The area there starts swelling quite nicely.

'Language! But I don't disagree with you.' Mikoto glares at the screen. She's seen types like that and they rub her the wrong way.

'See. Some people require special words to describe.' Shisui laughs. Itachi gives him a soft shove from the side.

'Gato. What are you doing here? And why did you bring all of them?' Zabuza asks the man.

'There's been a slight change of plan, Zabuza. Or of our plans, anyway. This was what I had in mind all along. You're going to die, demon, here and now.' Gato says, he's a little too confident for someone so assholey.

'He won't know what hit him. Zabuza could still easily kill him.' Fugaku snorts. He's seen it before. It was a man with only a functioning left leg and he still was able to kill two relatively powerful ninja. It's quite a feat but nothing too unusual.

'Go Zabuza!' Naruto and Lee start cheering.

'What?'

'You must have guessed I never intended to pay you.' Gato says. 'Ninja are simply too expensive. These people here will take you down without even a sweat in the state you're in.'

Naruto watches with wide eyes. Who are they? That's some crowd!

'They are that man's fangirls.' Sasuke whispers in Naruto's ears. But it's not that quiet and quite a couple of people can hear him.

'I don't think so…' Iruka points out.

'It's a joke.' Sasuke glares at his teacher.

'Forgive me Kakashi. Our fight is over. I no longer have any reason to want to assassinate Tazuna which settles our differences.' Zabuza mutters out.

Kakashi nods. 'You're right.

'That reminds me,' Gato makes his way over to Haku, he kicks the body a couple times. 'I still have a score to settle. You crushed my arm until you almost broke the bones.' Then he kicks the body right in the head. 'Dead meat.'

'Rude!' Naruto yells. He likes the boy now. Nobody is allowed to hurt him. EVER.

'Kill him!' Tenten yells. She never likes rude people.

'Roast him!' Ino yells even louder. Kakashi is quite good at roasting people.

Naruto doesn't take it well. 'What are you doing you creep!' He's about to dash over there but Kakashi holds him back.

'Cool down. Think. There's a lot of them.'

'Hey! Why don't you do something. He worked for you! He was practically our slave!' Naruto shouts at Zabuza.

'Tell him Naruto!' Sakura cheers.

'Now Naruto is trying guilt tripping.' Shikamaru wants to sigh. It's a strange tactic but it doesn't seem to be that stupid of a tactic than it seems at first.

'It does seem a bit more effective than Kakashi's.' Chouji is quick to point out.

'Like what? Haku is dead.'

'But you should care! The fat scumbag is desecrating him. He was your comrade, your partner, he worked for you for years!'

'Gato's been using me. And I used Haku. Weren't you listening? It's a ninja's lot. All of us are either users or tools, or both. I didn't value Haku for himself but for the taint his blood carried and for what his talents could do for me. I apologize for nothing.' Zabuza mumbles out.

'You…' Naruto starts, 'do you really mean that?' Naruto struggles himself loose of Kakashi's hold and runs to the man.

'We aren't seeing his face. It might be working.' Sasuke says to Naruto who quickly nods along.

'Stop it, Naruto! Leave him alone our quarrel is over. Besides which.' Kakashi tries to reason with the boy.

'Shut up! He's still my enemy.' Naruto breathes a couple times.

'Who's that obnoxious brat? He's been making quite a nuisance of himself.' Gato says.

'You shut up.' Sakura is balling her fists. She wants to punch something but she's afraid it might destroy something so she's holding herself back.

'Yeah. Jump in a volcano.' Kiba yells at the screen.

Naruto points at Haku. 'He really cared about you! He was devoted to you. But you think that's just nothing. That he was nothing. You don't feel a thing. Are you really that heartless. Is that how you get when your powers are as strong as yours are?' Naruto takes one deep breath. 'He gave his life for you!' Tears stream down his face. 'He died without any of his dreams ever coming true. To die as his tool.' Snot starts falling down his face. 'That's too much. Too cruel.'

Zabuza takes a second. 'Kid…' tears fall to the ground. 'Not another word.' Zabuza is crying as well.

'He's crying!' Is the collective shout of the group.

'Wow. It actually worked.' Shikaku is a little surprised. He did not expect Naruto to be that effective. They could make good use of that in the future.

'Naruto you are talented. You could be a good therapist.' Inoichi tells the boy.

'Too bad I don't want to do that.' Naruto's face morphs into something a little like disgust.

'The world of ninja is traumatic enough that you might be doing it even if you aren't aware of it.' The man tells the boy.

'I can see that happening.'

Everyone watches as the ninja cries his heart out.

'What Haku did was not just for me. While we fought, he broke his heart over you and your friends. That's the truth. He was too kind. Too gentle.' Zabuza collects himself. 'I'm glad my last battle was against you, boy. You're right, you know.'

'Huh?'

'Aw.'

'Zabuza is a good person even if he tried not to be.' Itachi wonders how many others there are like Zabuza. He wonders if he ever killed one of them. It makes him feel something that feels like he's been punched in the gut but like on the inside. It's not a fun feeling.

'Say what we will, do what we will. In the end we shinobi are still just people after all, with feelings all too human. And I've lost everything.' Zabuza turns to look at the boy. 'Will you lend me your knife.'

'That's the truth. We can never kill our emotions.' Hiashi says. He's tried. Many times. It never works. It's probably because he tries that it doesn't work.

'Huh?' Naruto looks down and then throws the knife at him. 'Sure.'

Zabuza catches the knife with his mouth and as soon as he did a murderous aura surrounds him. He's getting serious. He runs to the group of bandits and they fall backwards.

'This is going to be awesome.' Naruto is bouncing on his seat. He can feel the energy coming from the screen and it's making him really excited.

'That's enough! What are you waiting for? Kill all of them!' Gato yells at his man as he tries to hide within the crowd.

The bandits get riled up and take out their weapons.

Zabuza isn't done yet. His aura starts forming around him, not unlike how Naruto's chakra did previously. It's enough to scare the bandits. Then Zabuza goes off into the crowd. He mows them down like he's a lawnmower and they are the grass. They spring into the air and Zabuza does take any effort in slaying them. He makes his way over to Gato and hits him in the chest. A couple of the leftover bandits manage to use their blades to cut in Zabuza's back, but it does barely anything.

'To think he still had that amount of power left in him.' The Hokage is pleasantly surprised. The mist could have used someone like that. Too bad that didn't happen.

'I could never imagine. That man is truly great.' Fugaku has seen shit before. It never gets old.

'Why won't you die!' Gato yells. 'If you're in such a hurry to be reunited with your little friend go alone!'

'I have no intention of going to the same place as Haku.' Zabuza mumbles with the knife in his mouth.

'What are you babbling about?'

'I'm taking you with me, to hell.' Zabuza looks really cool while he says that. Even if it must be difficult to talk with a knife in his mouth. 'Even an ogre in name only a washout from the hidden mist can become a real demon in how he meets his death.' He cuts Gato some more. 'Once we're in hill I can take my time, and show you over and over who is, or is not, a baby demon!'

'So cool!' Naruto's eyes are sparkling. And he's not the only one. Sasuke too is watching the screen with awe.

'That really is an awesome exit.'

Gato falls to the ground. Dead. Zabuza stands, barely and bloody. Naruto watches in awe. He never imagined there would be someone that strong.

Zabuza is happy with what he's able to achieve, even if there are some regrets. It's goodbye now, Haku. Thanks for everything and I'm sorry… Zabuza also falls to the ground.

'Is that it?' Hinata asks the people in the room.

'There are still remaining bandits.' Sasuke is quick to point out. How are they going to be dealing with them?

'That doesn't sound too good.'

This does mean that the bandits are free to do whatever they want. And since they aren't exactly intelligent they decide to attack the remaining ninja. Off they go!

'This isn't good.' Kakashi says.

'Kakashi-sensei. Isn't there some technique we can use to take them all down at once?' Naruto asks.

'There are multiple, but I think they wouldn't want to destroy the bridge they're protecting.' Jiraiya explains. There are plenty large-scale attacks but most of them destroy the environment as well. Which in this case isn't something they want.

'Probably.' Kakashi shrugs. He doesn't really care.

'I'm afraid, with the lighting blade, the illusions and conjurations for the moment, I've exhausted my chakra.'

Luckily, it's at this time that the townspeople decide to retaliate. They gathered up their forces and are able to draw back the bandits. Along with some shadow clones from Naruto and Kakashi. This does make the bandits decide to run away.

'Isn't that just the most useful jutsu.' Shisui snorts. In his opinion the shunshin is still better. But Naruto most certainly is creative with it. He recalls that harem technique well enough.

'I want to learn!' Sasuke holds up his hand.

'When you've got the skills necessary.' His mother scolds him.

Kakashi makes his way over to Zabuza because he's somehow still alive.

'Looks like it's all over, eh, Kakashi.' Zabuza manages to get out of his mouth. 'Kakashi do me a favor?'

'This is the end.' Jiraiya says.

'What is it?'

'I want to see his face.'

'What a sweet request.' Ino swoons. Sure, this relationship between them is a little strange but it's still sweet.

'Now that his secret is out he might as well lean into it.' Neji explains. It's what he would do as well.

'I would want the same thing.'

Kakashi nods and puts down his headband. He picks the man up and brings him over to Haku. It's starts snowing. In the middle of summer.

'If I could. If I were able. I would want to go to the same place on the other side as you.' Zabuza caresses Haku's face. One of the snow particles falls down near Haku's eyes, as if he's crying.

'Symbolic much.' Shikaku points out. He's never seen anything like it.

'Some people might have someone looking out for them from above.' Kakashi says. Too bad there is no such person looking out for him. Or else he wouldn't have lived through so many tragedies.

Naruto is also crying. 'He was born in a village where it snows a lot.'

'I see.' Kakashi isn't really focused on Naruto's nonsense. 'He was a pure spirit as true and clean as a newly fallen snow.' You can go with him, Zabuza, go to that place together.

Then the scene ends.

'That was certainly something.' Kakashi sighs. That Zabuza certainly gave him something to think about.

'At least we're all fine.' Sakura smiles. Sure, they didn't see much of her but at least she lived.

'Sasuke could probably use a hospital though.' Naruto snickers.

Sasuke doesn't really object. 'That's true.'

'There's not much we learned from that.' Shikaku points out.

'It was an alright show. It gave some depth to the world.' Hiashi adds.

Shisui did take a couple notes. Even if it wasn't a whole lot. 'Can't really argue with that.'

Notes:

Boy girl person is named Haku and works with Zabuza

If Naruto gets really angry foxy comes out

Therapy is a valuable technique in reforming villains

Sasuke is a living pincushion

'What's up next?' Naruto asks the screen.

'I want to see something really cool again!' Lee adds. The last scene was too cool to pass up.

'We just saw something.' Neji points out. What? He admits that was pretty cool. No need to get stuck up about it.

The screen lights up and on it they could read the words. 'Are you a Scorpio?'

'No, I'm not.' Sakura clearly states.

Sorry that I was a week late. Something unexpected happened and I also underestimated the length of this chapter. It ended up being twice as long as I though it would. Thank you all for being patient.

Also the poll is still open. If you want to vote go to the previous chapter for the rules. Currently Shisui's death is in the lead.

Special thanks to everyone that suggested this chapter.

Feel free to guess what's up next