AN:
Thanks for all the support for my story guys! I really appreciate all the feedback, and right now I'm at 14 Fav's, Follows, and Reviews! It's not as much as a lot of other stories out there but I don't care about popularity much, I just love writing this story! :) A special thank you to jjcoop, a very nice person who consistently reviews and critiques very well. I'm at over 3000 views now, and I hope you enjoy because the next Saga is coming in real hot after May ends, it should be a blast because I'm introducing a ton of new content with this story, but due to the sheer size of it after I post the episodes I skipped for this I'll be adding the next Saga as a new story. Thanks again, and I hope you love this new chapter.
The Way of Heroes
A2 E11/14 White Past: Hidden Ambition! Luffy Gets Knocked Around!
Sometimes people become so intertwined, that when one part of a duo is taken away, the part that remains becomes broken. A broken man is a horrible sight to behold, but the feelings of separation of darkness boiling within the broken - who is no longer a man at all, rather a body with a pulse - corpse are beyond what language was meant to describe. Souls fragmented by the divisions of life and death splinter through ideas like recognition, with the person who was left behind something else, something different. Something worse. Something that men fear in their nightmares, fight in the dark, and remember in tales of demons.
As a witness, what is a person to do? This corpse is moving and struggling and crying, how can a person recover on their own? Luffy thought it was his duty to save Naruto, but how can the blind lead the deaf? Luffy can barely comprehend what Naruto is feeling, but he knows he must make a difference; to make an attempt at a rescue. But the Rubber Pirate only has one way to make a difference, and it's not with his looks or intelligence, Luffy fights with all of his will for those that he cares about. Because Strawhat Luffy is a man whose soul is bound by a burning will to protect those he calls 'nakama'.
The Way of Heroes
Within a cage of mirrors and ice, a boy rages and toils over horrible strife. A friend is gone, and he will wither, but not before Naruto delivers. The blonde seemed to have gone feral, long crusty nails cutting into the steel bridge as he attempted to bum rush the nearest mirror, and shoulder checked the ice, smashing it to pieces. Haku, in shock, acted fast, His Chakra is getting stronger with every passing second! I have to defeat him quickly…
The masked crossdresser threw dozens of black needles at the Fox, who merely delivered a powerful spin kick to the air around him, and the needles lost all of their momentum and slammed into the ground directly beneath them. Haku took in a deep breath, attempting to maintain composure in a situation that he had never dreamed he would be put in, but also one that he knew he could survive and thrive in, as long as he kept a cool head.
But savage wild eyes leered at him like a fox on the prowl for meat, so Haku knew there was no way he could reason his way out of it. There was only one way to stop the threat of a wild animal, by putting it down. Like the rabid beast that he had become, the Nine Tails slashed at another mirror with his claws, and it shattered against his slash. But from within a piece of the reflective ice, Haku emerged, and pulled a kunai, ready to stab Naruto in the chest as he flew straight towards him. This would fail as well, as the Fox spun out of the way instinctively. But before Haku could retreat the Nine Tails latched onto the masked rogue's wrist harshly, and slammed the prodigy into the bridge, leaving a dent. Those eyes! Was all that Haku could think of, the only thing the elite could comprehend in that very moment, then all he saw was steel and pain.
The Way of Heroes
Could it be… Could the Seal has been broken? Kakashi fearfully pondered, only to shake off this theory opting for another, No it must have only been loosened. A portion of the Nine-Tailed Fox's power has seeped out into the physical plane and into Naruto's body. It's still Naruto, he is just really pissed. The gray haired shinobi watched as his student wreaked havoc on the powerful rogue, smashing him constantly off the ground and his own Kekkei Genkai. The Seal still holds, so maybe we still have a chance! Kakashi hoped, as he pulled a small scroll from a pocket of his flak jacket.
He tossed it into the air and caught it open in one hand dramatically, and focused his Chakra into the paper. He pricked his finger, and slid his blood all the way down the paper. Calling out his opponent, Kakashi jabbed, "Zabuza, I don't mean to spoil the show but, I'm going to end this now!" Waving around the bloody scroll with the fervor of a young schoolgirl practicing for flag twirling, Kakashi grinned beneath his mask when he felt the Demon's focus shift slightly to be directed at him.
Kakashi rolled the scroll up and made a hand sign, commenting, "Come on whaddya say? We're both busy people. I know you like to drag these things out but I'd rather get this over with." His powerful voice booming through the mist, Zabuza replied, "Tempting… I'm curious as to how you plan to back up such brash words. SHOW ME KAKASHI!"
The Way of Heroes
Within what remained of the now-not-so-Secret Jutsu, Naruto held Haku in a death vice-like grip. Heat poured off the two combatants, with the Chakra shattering all the mirrors around them, and even causing the steel beneath Naruto's feet to become red hot. Focusing his technique with a one handed hand sign, Haku realized, I can't… His energy is too strong!
Naruto clenched his fist, and as he did so an enormous amount of the red Chakra focused onto his fist, and his fangs grew longer and more ferocious looking. The blonde's hair even grew a bit longer, his growls more bestial. Ready to pound Haku's mask into the ground, Naruto fist became tighter, power more focused, the red on his arm and hand grew so concentrated that to Haku, it seemed as if the knuckles were as black as night. No… That couldn't be… Armament – But his very thought was cut off by a massive punch, which sent Haku flying through the last mirror, and sailing through the air.
The Way of Heroes
A dark glint in his eyes, Luffy set his prized straw hat on the ground. He cracked his knuckles, and his neck. Scratching the dozens of nicks that marked up the entirety of his body, Luffy cleared the sweat away but still ached and burned all over. Red in the face, the Rubberboy suddenly felt all the tiredness of his constant battles hit him all at once. He fell onto the ground, more exhausted than he'd ever felt before in his life. His throat felt like it was made of cotton, and his arms like they were lead, his head ached like a thousand mallets were banging inside like a drum. He was in more pain than he should've been in.
But he knew that that pain was nothing comparable to what Naruto was feeling. That pain was so great that Naruto must've unsealed the literal demon within him in a fit of uncontrollable rage. Luffy shook as he attempted to get up. He fell back down, landing roughly on his face. He could feel the heat from the crimson Chakra radiating onto him even from the far distance that he was from its source, his blonde friend. As his back was baked with the fire from the Nine-Tails, Luffy rolled away slightly, and pulled himself up with every bit of the strength he had left.
Moving more like an antique old man than a spry boy, Luffy got to his feet and began panting as he held his thighs. Taking inventory of his body, he saw that his brown shorts were now more like ribbons on his legs, and his sandals were smashed to pieces, while his vest had several holes burnt into it. He smiled as he turned to look at his straw-hat, which was still in the same shape that it had been when it was given to him all those years ago. Shanks... I'm going to make you proud. I'm going to risk my life on this guy, this ninja. Just like you did for me...
Luffy got up, stretching again. He started to walk to where he could almost feel the evil presence occupying his friend. Feral Naruto lunged toward Haku, who was on the ground, not moving. "Gum Gum - PISTOL!" Luffy screamed, landing a clean punch on the wild boy's jaw. Dazed for a moment, the enraged demon-boy charged Luffy on all fours, but managed to reach him with surprising speed. Jumping to avoid getting slashed by Naruto's vicious nails, the Rubberboy coasted through the air for a few moments, just before he saw the Fox Ninja leaping into the air after him.
Bringing a powerful punch down on Luffy's head, the pirate crashed into the ground with Naruto on top of him. Rolling out from under him, Luffy yelled, "Gum Gum Gatling!" Noticeably slower than most of his attacks, a couple dozen blows hit Naruto wildly. Backing away to get a better shot at his friend-turned-berserker, Luffy made for him with another technique, "Gum Gum Bazooka!" Slamming both his open palms into Naruto's skinny chest, the possessed boy flew into the air, stunned and not moving.
Before he lost his momentum, Naruto was awake again and thrashing violently. Bloodlust brimming in his scarlet eyes, his soul pure hate for the Rubberboy. He roared, and came crashing onto the ground and began bounding like a wolf onto Luffy, who started to fall, numb to the world now. On his back, Luffy watched as Naruto came at him, but he passed out before the pain could set in again.
The Way of Heroes
Having been instantly knocked out by the titanic blow, Haku's only saving grace was having instantly coated a good portion of his body in Armament Haki before receiving the punch. The limp mercenary rolled across the ground for a bit with the momentum, only stopping after he nearly reached a point where he could see his master's proud back. Zabuza didn't even turn around he had so much confidence in his protégé. The Demon's student was on the ground, out cold while a great monster had destroyed their trump card. Zabuza was now fighting a losing battle.
The air around Naruto cooled down, and Haku recovered quickly from the punch. His mask cracked even further, falling to bits onto the ground. Just then Haku found that Naruto was charging him with a hatred as strong as ever, even if it wasn't as hot as it had been. Zabuza, I am no match for this boy, Haku thought to himself, only to coat his torso and head with black inky armor. Master, I have failed you. Naruto jumped into the air, and the world seemed to go silent. Feral Naruto was about to pounce, when suddenly Haku's feminine and familiar features were revealed to the blonde.
When the boy landed, his punch did not. Cut short, Naruto's fist was a mere half inch from Haku's delicate looking nose, even though said nose was coated in black energy. Haku's Armament disappeared, leaving his normal body in its leave unprotected. Naruto breathed heavily, clearly exhausted from all the energy he'd just used on that rampage. Somehow the Crossdressing Killer was still alive, but something was off about the boy. Something seemed to be broken.
Noticing that Naruto's eyes had returned to their normal blue, Haku commented softly, "That punch would have killed me you know. That Armament was only as strong as my Will. My Will is broken now; I was not strong enough to protect Master Zabuza." Naruto looked at his angry, still clenched fist, his claws had retracted, and his fangs had gone back to their regular proportions. "So that guy in the woods… That was you?" Naruto asked completely calm now.
"Why do you not strike? Did you not vow to avenge your comrade by killing me?" Haku asked, but Naruto had no idea what she was talking about. The blonde stayed silent so Haku asked, "Or was that vow just empty words?" A certain loudmouthed pirate raced over to Naruto, getting into a fighting stance beside him, "Even if you can't, I can take this guy. My punch is as strong as a pistol!" The blonde shoved Luffy onto his butt shouting "Shut up! I'm going to handle this guy! He killed Sasuke!"
Naruto turned back to his friend's body, then he mustered up the strength, and drove a heavy blow to the rogue's supple looking cheek. Haku fell pleasingly, and he spat blood onto the ground as he got up. "No. That simply won't do. You're still holding back… If that is all the strength you can put into it you will never be able to keep your vow. Without vows, where is your integrity, what is to stop anyone from killing more of your friends?" Haku wondered, and as if to make a point, the rogue summoned a perfect clone of himself, and pointed to Luffy, who was crouching on his haunches.
"Perhaps that Uchiha didn't mean as much to you as you pretend. Maybe this Rubberboy doesn't either…" Haku added, and his Clone rushed Luffy, kicking him into the railing. Luffy was still a bit groggy from his fight with 'Glass Gun' Akame but he was slowly recovery his speed. Naruto growled, "Don't touch either of them! How dare you!" Haku stood back up, ignoring Naruto's cries. The Crossdressing Killer stated, "To show mercy to those that oppose and seek to harm those closest to you; the ones you call teammates. To allow their enemies to live when you could strike them down: this is not compassion. It is a betrayal of your life's very purpose. For what reason do you exist then, when you aren't strong enough to protect your friends and end the lives of those that mean to harm them, or those that have already done them harm. You're of use to no one. Your life has no meaning. It is mere existence, not truly living."
During Haku's speech, his clone was going toe to toe with the fatigued Luffy, who managed to bob and weave his way into avoiding the worst of Haku's blows, but he was still hit a few times by the speeding Clone. Luffy punched the Jutsu in the equivalent of the stomach, but found that he was so weak from the poison that he couldn't make the Jutsu undo. Haku went on, "Day after day, your pain and struggle signifying nothing." "Yeah well, speak for yourself," Naruto poorly defended.
"Are you really that blind Little One? I am speaking of myself. This day has shown that I am no longer of any use to Zabuza."
"Zabuza? Why that guy anyway? Why kill for him? Why waste your life for him?"
"You understand nothing of what I just said."
"To devote your life to rotten scum that doesn't know the meaning of the word honor, a guy who cares about nothing but money and blood. If he really is the one person that matters to you, then man that's the sorriest thing I've ever heard!"
"You shut your mouth about things you have no idea about! There were once others that mattered to me… Long ago. My father, and my mother; they both mattered to me."
The Way of Heroes
Haku
It was a cold and drearily dark wintry night, snow filled the yard and doorway and roof of a small cottage in the forest. I was born in the Land of Water, in a small village where the snow falls to form deep banks in the winter. I was of the Yuki Clan, a powerful family that held a great deal of power in my home country, but we also held a Kekkei Genkai like the Sharingan. My Secret Jutsu – Crystal Ice Mirrors.
Despite these connections, and high standing in the community, because my mother married a commoner, my parents were forced into a substandard life of poor farming. Life was hard, but we were content. My parents were good to each other and kind to me. Yes, we were happy once, but then everything changed.
A mysterious killer with a Kekkei Genkai was slaughtering Mist Ninja everywhere. No one knew what his abilities were, but mass hysteria spread to even my remote village. No one knew why this was happening, but they knew fear, and they knew to fear my Clan's power.
The Way of Heroes
"My fate was sealed long before I was even born," Haku said, and Naruto wondered, "So what do you mean by that?" "It's in my blood," Haku explained. Luffy sent a crashing punch down onto the Clone's head, making it vanish from physical form barring a pile of slush-snow. "Blood?" Naruto asked. Haku didn't respond, instead looked with sad, empty eyes at the ground. "So what was it? How could one guy have caused everything to change? What happened?" Naruto begged.
The Way of Heroes
Haku
It was my father. He had been told by the villagers that the people holding the Bloodline of a clan were planning to destroy the Land of Water. Our Land. He killed my mother, as she held my power as well. He almost killed me. Years of civil war had led to a fear and respect for the Kekkei Genkai, especially those that dealt with other races like Giants or even Fishmen.
Under the Third Mizukage the civil wars had ended, but the Blood Mist Village would be known as such for more than just the Graduation Exams. In fact those Exams were only implemented as an effort to peacefully drive out the need for Kekkei Genkai. Then the rumors spread of the man killing Mist Officials. Veterans from the Third Great Shinobi War.
Kekkei Genkai are Jutsu, techniques passed from generation to generation through the blood. Because of their unique abilities, Clans in the Village Hidden in the Mist were used as top ranking ninja during times of war, and feared during times of peace. Now a Kekkei Genkai user was attacking his own people, so what was there to believe? Now every clan was targeted, and eventually all but one clan, my clan, the Yuki were completely destroyed in purges.
I am the last of the Bloodline Limit Users of the Land of Water. But now I swear allegiance to no country, no Land to shun me when I am not needed. I pledged my life to Zabuza the Demon, so that I may one day become as strong as he is, and make his dream come true. That way I can show the world the hero that Zabuza truly is, even if he doesn't believe it himself.
During the peaceful times, when the Kekkei Genkai users were no longer needed they went into hiding. But this was different. Before they hid from fear and indifference, but now because of one rogue ninja, the psychotic leadership made prejudice into genocide, so now the Clans hid from terror and massacre. Ninja with Bloodlines would hide their power, concealing each of their unique abilities; as they knew discovery would mean certain death.
I'm sure if you searched that boy's memory, he would have found those same feelings: the fear of the cruelty of people as they terrorize what they don't understand. Few people know how that feels. To be alone. I was only saved from my own darkness by Zabuza, Demon of the Mist, my Master. I know that you have felt the same thing, with that monstrous fox inside of you.
The worst part of all was the Clan Purging. Even if you had no Bloodline Trait to speak of, if you were a member of a clan or close to a person with a Kekkei Genkai, you were sure to be as slaughtered as those that had a Jutsu themselves. My mother never possessed the Crystal Ice Mirrors of the Yuki Clan, but as soon as the hysteria reached a boiling point, she was killed like the rest. My only saving grace from the wrath of my father was the fact that he was murdered by the terrified hordes of the common people of our village, who killed him in fear that he too somehow became tainted by being exposed to the Yuki Clan for so long.
I had barely escaped my father when the villagers followed my trail into the forest, but I would lose them in the blizzard that followed my leave of them. So I went on, starving and begging for what little food I received. My tears would only serve to burn my skin more in the cold, so after a week of being an orphan, I cried for the last time.
When at last I was myself again, I was no longer myself. I was colder. My father and mother were gone, but I knew that something else had been taken from me that winter. Something that was much more important. That is when I truly despaired.
The Way of Heroes
"More important than your mother and father?" Naruto asked, with Haku explaining, "My purpose. Until that time I hadn't needed one, but now, a child of a conflict I had wanted no part in, there was no one who needed me. I had become unnecessary." Noticing his words finally hit home with Naruto, Haku stopped for effect, but not so much the effect on his audience, but the effect his words had on himself. It took a lot out of the crossdresser to become so serious with someone he hardly knew anything about, Hell, he and Naruto could barely be regarded as anything more than strangers.
But not now, not with all the understanding the two had between each other. He's… Just like me! Naruto realized, eyes wide as everything came together. Everything made sense. "Why is it you're so determined to become Hokage? Because you want all eyes to look at you and recognize you as a great ninja. You see it is only through the eyes of others that our little lives have any sort of significance. When there is no one who can look at you, no one to see you, it is as if you don't exist. Then Zabuza came along and looked at me. His eyes were not full of hate or fear. He did not shun me for my strangeness," Haku explained.
The rogue orphan continued, "In fact my special powers were just what he wanted. He made me necessary again. Zabuza asked me, 'Little one will you stay here and die, or come with me and be of some use? Will you submit to my will above all things?' Of course I said yes, so Zabuza said, 'Then your special abilities belong to me from this day forward.' And from that point on, I was Zabuza's. I had a purpose." Tears swelled in his chocolate eyes, and they flowed easily like a stream down a hill of his cheeks. Naruto stayed uncharacteristically silent, and Haku went on, "I was happy. Then a few years later, he dubbed us ready for his final, most important mission. But we failed that day, so we were cast out of the Land of Water as criminals for fighting for freedom against our leaders. He said, 'Someday we will return to this land, I will grasp it, and hold it in my hands. Many things must happen before that day comes. I will need you to do them Haku. But I warn you, friendship, comfort, encouragement, I have abandoned these things and now you will have to as well if we are to survive.' I told him to view me as a weapon, a tool to be used however he saw fit."
Bowing his head in shame, Haku whispered, "I have failed you Zabuza. I am like a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use." As he looked up, Haku walked toward Naruto slowly with a purposeful gait. Naruto tried to take a step back, but found himself mesmerized by grief for his enemy, and he couldn't do anything. He could hardly breath. "Naruto," Haku demanded quietly, "Kill me." Not understanding the other boy's request, the Fox Ninja fell to his knees with confliction.
The Way of Heroes
With the fog mostly lifted, Kakashi made a hand sign, still focusing his Chakra. Several more followed and Kakashi declared, "Ninja Art Summoning – Earth Style – Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Slamming the closed scroll into the bridge, words mystically flew from the corners of the paper, shooting out onto the ground with a sound like a thousand hummingbirds flapping their wings. The gray haired jonin's move stopped abruptly, but he stayed crouched on the ground.
"I don't know why you bother," Zabuza called, "Of what use is your Jutsu if you can't even find me?" Despite a lack of most of the mist, what remained of the Jutsu still concealed the Demon well enough for the rogue to avoid the Sharingan. "But I can find you," Zabuza added, and a tense feeling, like that of cold steel slicing through his heart, stirred within Kakashi. This dread was the same instincts that had kept humanity alive in the dark jungles for thousands of years, and kept many alive today.
On another side of the thick cloud, Zabuza's eyes remained closed while he focused his energy into a hand sign of his own, he commented, "You disappoint me Kakashi. I think you're right, it is time to put an end to this." Beneath the steel under the Demon's feet, the entire structure shook with agitation. Suddenly the floor cracked open, and a large brown dog with a blue Leaf headband latched onto Zabuza's long leg teeth first. Seven more followed, and then nearly Zabuza's entire being was covered by canine combatants.
Only hearing the barks and snaps of the fierce dogs, Tazuna couldn't figure out what was going on, "That dreadful noise! What could it be?" Sakura was growing more and more nervous, but she stood her ground in front of the Bridge Builder, who seemed more agitated than afraid on the surface. Teeth snapped together deep in another part of the mist, and the two had no idea what could be making those horrible sounds. Sakura murmured, "I don't know what it could be, but I'm not sure I want to find out."
Leaving his scroll on the ground, Kakashi watched as the mist around him dissipated. Kakashi explained his choice of tactics, "I realized that if I couldn't see you, I could have my Ninja Hounds smell you out. That was a Summoning Jutsu, I called forth the ninken of the Leaf, and as fierce as they are I'm surprised you're still alive Zabuza." He watched as the mercenary angrily struggled against one particularly fierce dog, a large black beast as big as a bear that latched onto his shoulder ferociously. "My dogs can track a scent anywhere," Kakashi prided himself.
Kakashi explained, "When you attacked me, I let you get past my defenses and cut me. You see it's the smell of my blood on your blade that led them to you. Surprised? Looks like I wasn't the only one who was blind." The Demon said nothing; rather he trembled with fury at his own failure, and Kakashi's guile. "You surely could have put up a better show than that," Kakashi continued, "Now that I can finally see again, do you know what I see? Your death."
"Tough talk, do you mean to talk me to death?" Zabuza growled, and Kakashi responded enigmatically, "In a way I suppose I am. Right now my hounds are just playing with you, but one word from me and they'll tear you apart. Poor Zabuza, see where those revolutionary ambitions got you? You were always pushing things to far, finding flaws in everyone but yourself. You thought you could make your Village a better place by destroying the only thing that kept your homeland safe from invasion. You failed in assassinating the Mizukage, in an attempted coup de tat. Retreating from battle with the few followers you had left, there were dozens of your country's finest tracker ninja hot on your heels. You became a rogue ninja, gaining even more renown than when you were one of the great Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. You became even known to the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
Kakashi continued his analysis of the Demon, "Now you're so crazy as to attempt another hit on your people's leader. But to do that you would need money, and for that you would stoop so low as to become a thug for swine like Gato." "Swine don't pay as well as Gato," Zabuza spat indignantly. But Kakashi was through, "Alright Mercenary, enough talk. Let's finish this. But this won't end with my Sharingan; imitations of some other ninja's tricks. No, it's time I introduced you to my own Jutsu!" He made a hand sign, and his Chakra spiked in his right hand, ready for his technique. Four more signs followed, and electricity flowed into his cupped right hand, static bouncing off the metal of the bridge at his feet. The white haired genius paused to admire his own beautiful work, which had a brilliant aqua hue more beautiful than the sea, but as powerful as an angry sky god.
With his left hand holding his right arm, Kakashi yelled, "Lightning Blade!" Zabuza's eyes became plates of liquid, reflecting the insane power of his opponent's technique, His Chakra is so strong right now it's visible! The Chakra squired and writhed within Kakashi's steady hand, as if attempting to break from its physical form. Kakashi calmly declared, "I won't allow you to kill Tazuna. He's a brave man with a noble dream. The bridge he's building is the hope of this land and its entire people. You're like a disease: by attacking one you infect all! Worse, you don't care what happens to other people. You care only for your own glory. That is not the path of a true shinobi! That is no way for a hero to act. You're no hero. You're not a freedom fighter or a revolutionary; you're just a Demon that needs to be exorcised."
"You're right! I don't care! These useless little people with their feeble dreams… They all think they have to toil and struggle, and for what? So pirates or bandits don't destroy them? So they can keep whatever pitiful freedom they still have? They please their Government to eke out a sad, melancholic existence while true dreamers are left in the dust or obscured from existence. I have a dream that will free all of these people, and I refuse to allow that dream to die with me! I am Zabuza D. Momochi, and I will not rest until my dream is complete!"
"But to have a dream, you have to have a future. You don't."
"Then I face what comes next with a smile."
"Your future's all used up Zabuza."
The Way of Heroes
"Go on Naruto, strike. Kill me." Haku begged, but Naruto just seethed with frustration. Behind them Luffy screamed, "DON'T DO IT NARUTO!" "Why do you hesitate? Why listen to a pirate?" Haku asked, and the blonde's fist shook, and he yelled, "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard!" He backpedaled quickly, putting a lot of distance between him and Haku. Soon Luffy caught up with him, and both boys stopped, staring at the rogue orphan.
"I mean, he treats you like a slave! You're a human being, not a weapon or a tool. How can you care about someone like that?" Naruto screeched, and beside him Luffy crossed his arms, eyes hidden by the shadow of his straw hat. The Rubberboy stayed quiet, waiting for what the crossdresser would say next. "For that very reason," Haku answered, "Does that seem so strange to you?" Luffy looked up, a serious, dark understanding on his face. "Well yeah..." Naruto said, turning to his dark haired friend. He had no idea what to do, he never felt this strange, bizarrely empathy based sadness. This dark hopelessness.
Strawhat Luffy shook his head and replied, "A guy's dream is his business. What he does is up to him. That guy is his friend, and it seems like even if we told him all the things that the sword guy did wrong, Haku would still stay with him. I don't see the point in arguing with him." Naruto shook his head, denying even his friend's explanation. Did this mean that Naruto misunderstood everything? Was this how the world worked?
"When he found me, I was without a purpose or reason for living," Haku said, "Zabuza gave me both, and now I am willing to give my life up for anything he wants. I will help him complete his dream anyway I can, like how your friend sacrificed himself so that you may complete your dream Naruto. I could be used by him in any way he saw fit." Naruto became teary with frustration, like he was yelling a message the entire world needed to hear. And at the time, all of humanity needed to. The only thing that stopped him was his inability to express his thoughts in the form of words. Right then and there all that Naruto could do was kneel on the ground, and feel the ideas flowing over him, running through his mind and destroying what he was. "But now, I can no longer be of any use to him. I have been defeated. My purpose… It's gone. I am a broken tool, a blunted weapon. No use to anyone," Haku explained.
Haku hollered, "Go on Naruto! Do it!"
The Way of Heroes
AN:
So that's that! I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and despite there being very little original material I think it's the best one in a while. I hope I did a Luffy vs Naruto fight justice. I hope to finish this Saga soon, and then I will go on a break until June.
Cya next week for the new chapter: Shinobi: Weapons For Leaders and Pirates: Destroyers of Order! Luffy and Naruto argue over what should be done about Haku, the broken bird without a purpose. Now they will find out who is stronger, a ninja, or a pirate!
Thanks for the feedback in advance and as always… remember to read, review, and get your game on!