A/N: Thank you so much to my dearest reviewers, know that this fanfic is all for you :)

Loss of Hope

Zabuza and Kakashi spun round, staring in the direction of the ice dome, the light and colours penetrating through the thick fog.

"Is that Zabuza?" Kakashi whispered. "No… that terrible chakra... No, more than one chakra... Four incredible chakras... Could it be?!"

"What are these chakra's? Kakashi? No... Far, far too powerful for him... where's it coming from?!" Zabuza said.

"Naruto! This puts everyone in danger now of all times the seal has broken" Kakashi cried in horror. "But wait... that other mixture of chakra... it's almost like KARI! But what... what on earth could have that power? She's a jinchuuriki no doubt, but it has three different chakra's… unless... she can't be! The legend of the tri-canine!" Kakashi cried. "So that's why she was brought here, that's why she learns so fast, that's why her intelligence is so high… With their power—I have to stop them!"

Mine and Naruto's chakra disappeared, hovering around us instead of swirling in the air above us. I could feel the chakra flowing through my veins, my body pumping with high levels of adrenaline. Growls came from both our throats, vicious like that of some terrible beast. Through our shadows we could see how we became so much wilder looking.

We ran at Haku simultaneously, rage and pain filling our hearts as we ran side by side. We would make him pay… Make him regret ever laying so much as a finger on our brave comrade… On our friend.

"The bloodlust in their eyes... these are no longer children" Haku cried in horror. He threw senbon at us but it was in vain, our chakra simply blasted them away. I felt as though myself and Naruto were one, but split in half. "Their chakra grows stronger every second, I must strike now!" Haku cried. Senbon pierced our bodies. Naruto's flew out of him but mine stayed put. I didn't want my injuries to go away. Physical pain meant nothing to me. It was the pain in my head, in my heart, that would never leave me. We both ran to opposite mirrors and smashed them to pieces with one punch. It was like a thin flimsy mirror to us now, instead of ice like a brick wall. The sharp fragments similar to glass embedded into my skin. Haku dived down at Naruto, seeing this I grabbed hold of his leg and punched him in the gut. His speed was nothing to me now, if anything he looked slow. "Impossible!" Haku cried. He tried to get to a mirror but I grabbed his arm pulling him to face me as I growled menacingly. "Those eyes!" he cried in terror.

"Could it be... the seal has been broken? No it's been loosened and an amount of the Kyuubi's chakra has slipped through, the seal still holds" Kakashi said. "Kari... what's happening to her?" He had only ever heard of legends, he had believed such creatures were myths, such power preposterous. Now he wished he'd studied harder on the different types of bijuu, whether they were classed as myths, legends or real… Kakashi shook off these thoughts, deciding the quicker he got rid of Zabuza, the quicker he could assist his squad. But he was worried… what had happened in ther…? And what's going on with Sasuke? With two demons on rampage the Uchiha's in real danger… Kakashi quickly pulled out a scroll. He cut his thumb and pulled it across the bit of scroll he had opened, leaving a streak of blood across the middle.

"Zabuza! I don't mean to spoil your fun; I know how you like to stretch these things out. But how about we put an end to this now?" Kakashi said as he waved the scroll around him, preparing for his jutsu. He caught the scroll and made a hand sign. "C'mon what do you say? We're both busy people."

"Hm interesting, I'm tempted to see how you'll back up such brave words SHOW ME KAKASHI!" Zabuza cried.

Haku was struggling against mine and Naruto's chakra. But with my firm grip on his arm he couldn't go anywhere. Mirrors smashed all around us from the force of our chakra.

"I can't—! Their energy is too strong!" Haku cried. Naruto clenched his hand into a fist and pulled it back. It glowed with a red chakra. He punched Haku in the face with unnatural strength, sending him flying through his ice mirror. The remaining ice mirrors glowed and fell to pieces, the shining shards raining down around me and Naruto. Haku slowly stood up. He managed to pull himself to his knees before finally reaching a standing position. Me and Naruto raced towards him, intending to destroy the cause of the pain we felt. Haku's mask had a huge vertical crack down the centre of it, slowly it split in half. One half fell off his face almost in slow motion, revealing the blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, his hazel eyes blank and confused. Then the other followed.

Naruto aimed another punch but I grabbed his wrist stopping him an inch from Haku's face. Naruto returned to normal, and from the sensations in my body I'm guessing I was too.

"So that guy in the woods… that was you?" Naruto asked confused. I could hear the hurt in his voice, the betrayal.

"Why do you not strike? Did you not just vow to avenge your comrade's death by killing me? Or was that vow just empty words?" Haku asked, his face relaxed with a deep depression.

I looked back at Sasuke. I could feel the tears sting my eyes. Crying wouldn't bring him back. Nothing would. Naruto punched Haku with his other arm, the other still tightly in my grasp. Haku coughed up blood. "No... That wont do, you're still holding back. If that the only strength you can put into it, you can never keep your vow. Perhaps he didn't mean as much to you as you pretend" Haku said. "To show mercy to those who oppose the one you serve, to allow his enemies to live when you could strike them down, this is not compassion; it is a betrayal of life's very purpose. For what reason do you exist then? You're of use to no one, your life has no meaning it is mere existence day after day of pain and struggle signifying nothing" Haku said.

"Speak for yourself!" Naruto cried.

"Are you really that blind little one? I of speaking for myself this day has shown I am no longer of any use to Zabuza" Haku said softly. My heart clenched painfully. He'd failed Zabuza; he's of no use to his master now. Zabuza or Oinin will kill Haku.

"Zabuza?! Why that guy anyway!? Devote your life to a rotten skunk who doesn't know the meaning of the word honour!" Naruto cried. "He's the only person who matters to you… man that's the sorriest thing I've ever heard!" Naruto sounded chocked as though tears were springing to his eyes again. Haku looked at me, I saw something warm in his empty eyes and immediately understood. He didn't have to say anything. What Naruto just said was wrong. He cared about me as well. That's why he took so long killing us, that's why I'm still alive.

"There were once other's who mattered to me. Long ago... my father, and my mother, I was born in the land of water, in a small village where the snow lies deep in winter. My parents were farmers and very poor, but we were content my parents were good to each other and kind to me. Yes, we were happy once, but then everything changed. Because of something that happened long before I was even born, everything changed…" Haku said, looking distant as though lost in thought.

"W-What do you mean!? What was it what happened?" Naruto cried.

"It wasn't my doing, it is in the blood" Haku said, as though trying to make up an excuse for something, trying to say it wasn't his fault.

"Blood?" Naruto said confused. "So what was it? You said something happened that changed everything!"

"It was... my father who changed, he killed my mother and he almost killed me" Haku said, he looked up, his eyes so empty they were almost frightening. "After years of suffering in the civil war, my people had come to fear and hate anyone who carried kekkei genkai in their blood" Haku said.

"Kekkai Genkai?" Naruto said.

"The advanced bloodline trait of a clans jutsu and abilities passed down from generation to generation, because of their unique abilities the clans were used as merciless adversaries. They fought many battles and were much feared. But when the wars were over they were despised and shunned by the people, they feared their presence would only bring more war and misfortune. So it was after these wars that the clans went into hiding. Denying the bloodline trait that flowed in their veins. Concealing the blood that ran through their veins. Knowing to be discovered meant certain death. If you had searched that boy's memories, I'm sure you would have found it there too" Haku said, nodding as Sasuke's motionless form. "The cruelty of people, hating things they do not understand... For years my mother was successful in hiding her bloodline trait, she met and fell in love with a simple farmer they married and after that my mother thought she'd lead a peaceful ordinary life until the end of her days, but my father had seen he knew our secret my mothers and mine... When at last I was myself again I was no longer myself, my father and mother were gone, but I knew some thing else had been taken from me, something even more important, and that is when I truly despaired…" Haku said.

"More important than your mother and father?! What?" Naruto cried.

"My purpose. In all the world there was no one who needed me I was... unnecessary" Haku said sadly. I noticed understanding appear on Naruto's face, showing he understood such feelings, he knew how it felt to be unwanted and unneeded. "Why is it you're so determined to be Hokage? You want all eyes in your village to look on you and recognise you as a great ninja. You see it is only through the eyes of others, that our little lives have any significance. If there is no one who sees you or that will even look at you, it's as if you don't exist. Then Zabuza came along and looked at me and his eyes were full of neither hate nor fear. He didn't shun me for my strangeness. Indeed my special powers were just what he wanted... he made me necessary again... I was happy... I have failed you Zabuza... I am like a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use" Haku said sadly. He walked towards us, stopping a few inches away from us. "Naruto, Kari-chan... Kill me."

"Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Kakashi cried slamming the scroll into the ground.

"I don't know why you bother what use is your jutsu if you can't even find me but I can find you blindly falling into my trap, you disappoint me Kakashi, I think you're right, it is time to put an end to this... huh?!" Zabuza said. The ground was rumbling from a violent earthquake. A dog burst out the grand and tried to bite Zabuza's foot another grabbed his other foot. Dogs burst out the ground with vicious growls and snarls charging for Zabuza.

"That dreadful noise what could it be!" Tazuna cried, hearing the growling in the distance. He was sure it was some dreadful beast of sorts.

"I don't know and I'm not sure that I want to find out!" Sakura said. Kita whined softly. The wolf had stayed silent staring intently into the fog where she could sense her mother. Her black nose twitching at he familiar scent. She had been tempted to run and help, but stayed put. Her mother had told her to stay with Tazuna and that's what she was going to do. Besides, her Okaasan doesn't want her to get hurt and would only worry if she ran into battle. After all, she is still small. She looked in a different direction, ears twitching, staring through the dense fog where the growling was coming from.

"I realised if I couldn't see you I'd have to smell you out, that was a summoning jutsu, I was calling forth my ninja hounds they can track a scent anywhere" Kakashi said. The ninja hounds were holding on to Zabuza with their teeth. Zabuza couldn't move, the dogs sharp jaws holding him firmly in place. "When you attacked me I let you get past my guard. I wanted you to 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, falling into my trap, you disappoint me Zabuza" Kakashi said. "Ah the mist is finally clearing and you know what I see? Your death"

"Talk! Talk! Talk! You mean to talk me to death!" Zabuza said annoyed.

"In a way, yes. My hounds are just playing with you, but one word from me and they'll tear you apart. Oh Zabuza, see where your ambitions got you? You were always pushing things too far" Kakashi said simply. There was the failed Mizukage assassination for example… You were forced to flee with the few followers you had, your country's tracker ninja hot on your heels. You became a rogue ninja, whose name was quickly known even in Konohagakure no Sato. Now your fool enough to try it again. But for it you needed money and stooped so low as to be a hired thug from a swine like Gato… All right Zabuza, enough talk, time to finish it. But not with Sharingan mutations of some other ninja's tricks no it's time I introduced you to..." Kakashi made a hand sign. "My own jutsu!" Kakashi made a number of hand signs, so fast they blurred together. Blue chakra appeared in a ring around his feet. From this chakra lightning formed into his hand. "RAIKIRI! I wont allow you to kill Tazuna! He's a brave man with a noble dream, the bridge he's building is the hope of his land and all it's people. You're like a disease, by attacking one you affect all. You don't care. That is NOT the way of the shinobi" Kakashi said.

"You're right I don't care! It's just useless little people with their petty little dreams! Why should they matter to me, I have a dream of my own!" Zabuza cried.

"But to have a dream you need a future, you don't. Your future's all used up Zabuza."

"Go on... strike; kill me, why do you hesitate?" Haku said softly. My eyes in shadow, hidden by my golden bangs. I slapped Haku round the face without hesitation, determined to knock sense into him.

"You BAKA! What do you think you're doing saying things like that!? Sasuke—Sasuke died because you fought so hard to protect your dream and you give up so easily!?" Haku flinched, guilt shining in his eyes.

"Gomen—"

"There are people out there who you could help, who would love and cherish you for your kindness and you can't see anything but Zabuza! He's not the only damn person in the world! I care about you and I'll be damned if you started a new life other people would too! You can look after yourself, you're not a child! You're not a slave!"

"That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard! 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 shouted in agreement.

"For that very reason. Does it seem that strange to you?" Haku asked.

"Well yeah, a little" Naruto admitted, his anger struggling to stay with him at the sight of Haku looking so hopeless.

"When he found me I was without a purpose or reason for living. Zabuza gave me both, but now my usefulness is over the only thing that gave my life meaning… it's gone. I'm a broken tool, a blunted weapon with no use to anyone. Go on do it for both of our sakes" Haku said softly. I could feel tears well up in my arms and unable to look at that sad lost expression any longer, I instead turned to face Naruto.

"No Naruto-kun... I can't let him die... He doesn't deserve it…" My voice cracked slightly as I felt a tear slide down my face. Naruto seemed taken aback, his eyes widening in alarm.

"Kari-chan… don't cry anymore" he begged, seeming lost at the sight of my tears. He wanted to comfort me, but he was so torn up inside he needed comfort himself.

"Kari please..." Haku pleaded softly, his hand grasping my shoulder. His touch was gentle and comforting, but it only made me feel worse. Why does it have to be him? What's he ever done to deserve this? "Kari-chan, if you care about me, if you care about Naruto, if you care about that Sasuke boy please... do it... quickly" he said. My shoulders shook as I struggled not to breakdown into a sobbing mess before them. Why? With the hand that was still on my shoulder, Haku gently moved me out of the way, giving Naruto a clear shot to attack.

I felt a strong burst of chakra, it was like… lightning? It was more concentrated than fire and had an electrical charge. A horrid sense of foreboding clutched my heart as I looked away.

"Go on finish it kill me!" Haku cried. Naruto took a step back, pure horror etched onto his pale face. "Why do you hesitate? I thought you wanted to be a mighty warrior?"

"That's not all there is to it! Do you believe it's only fighting and killing until only one man is left standing?! There's a lot more to being a shinobi than that and there are other ways of showing your strength than just by beating someone in battle!" Naruto cried.

"I've had a feeling since the moment us three met, we're a lot alike… I know you know what I mean" Haku said. "I'm only sorry that it is your hand that must be tainted with my unworthy blood" Haku said.

"You are not unworthy, you're the purest person I've ever met" I muttered.

"You're sure about this? And you're positive it's the only way" Naruto asked.

"Yes" Haku replied softly.

"The only weird thing is that if we met in another time and place we could have been friends..." Naruto said. He ran at Haku pulling out a kunai. Haku closed his eyes. Red tears streamed down my already bloodstained face as I shut my eyes tightly, resisting the urge to clamp my hands over my ears so I wouldn't hear his scream...

REVIEW!