A/N: Yep, I've started adding quotes. I don't know if I'll keep it up, I just like making up quotes (:

Thanks for the reviews! Much love to you! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings, much appreciated (Keep it up) :D

If you haven't taken it already, take the poll on story perspectives (whether you prefer first, second or third POV) so I know what you think!

Freedom

They say that when the pure soul is freed from the confines of a body, it flies free.

I hope my friend, that you've found your freedom.

Kakashi and Zabuza jumped apart. Zabuza fell to his knees panting two kunai protruding out of one of his arms. He charged at Kakashi and tried to swing his sword at him, but Kakashi effortlessly punched him in the jaw, then brutally spun round and back handed him across the face.

"I'll split you in half!" Zabuza shouted in sheer rage. While the missing-nin became more and more beaten, Kakashi remained unharmed and untouchable. Zabuza tried another swing at the infuriating Copy-nin, but Kakashi simply moved backwards dodging easily. He swung again and Kakashi disappeared only to reappear the next second behind him.

"Look at you you're falling apart, I knew you didn't have what it takes for the long haul" Kakashi mocked, Kari's death bringing out a rather nasty side to him.

"What did you say?!" Zabuza growled.

"You have no idea what real strength is", Kakashi spat. He shot a glance at Naruto who was cradling Kari's body, whispering sweet nothings to her, as though attempting to comfort her. Kakashi knew it was only a slight form of comfort to Naruto himself, the naïve boy hoping if he spoke to Kari, she would speak back. That girl knew more about true strength than anyone…

"Well, well, so this is how it turns out huh?" someone said, pulling Kakashi out of his sympathetic daze.

"Game over! You lose!" Kakashi cried plunging another two kunai in Zabuza's other arm and dodged as he swung the sword pitifully in retaliation. "Now both of your arms are useless. What now? You can't even make hand signs…" Zabuza's arms lay limp at his sides, blood slowly dripping from his shoulders to his fingertips.

"Did quite a job on you didn't he Zabuza? You look like yesterdays sashimi. I must say I'm... disappointed" Kakashi's eyes narrowed. No doubt the man speaking was the infamous Gato, a group of violent looking thugs behind him, all sporting weapons.

"Gato? I don't understand what is all this? Why're you here? And who are all of those thugs you brought with you?" Zabuza said his eyes narrowing in confusion as he glared at the incredibly short man that would barely make half of Zabuza's height, heck he was probably pushing a third.

"Well you see there's been a slight change in plan; according to the new plan, you die right here on this bridge Zabuza" Gato said smirking smugly.

"Nani?!"

"That's right. You're too expensive so I've decided to take you off the payroll. Of course, even these thugs I brought with me cost something, so if you managed to slaughter a few of them before they take you down I'd appreciate it. Think you manage that 'Demon of the mist'? Look at you, you look about as demonic as a wet kitten" Gato mocked, the thugs behind him hooting in appreciative laughter.

"Well, well Kakashi. It would seem our fight is at an end. Since I am no longer in Gato's employ Tazuna is safe. We have no quarrel" Zabuza said with a soft sigh.

"Yeah I suppose you're right" Kakashi agreed. The jonin's keen eyes noticed Gato walking towards Haku and Kari. He quickly grabbed Naruto dragging him away from his beloved best friend. Naruto cried out struggling against his sensei's hold, but Kakashi held firm. No more of his squad would die here.

"That reminds me you little punk, you grabbed me and nearly broke my arm! I've been meaning to repay you for that…" Gato said scowling, nudging Haku with his foot. Then without hesitation, with all the force in his stout body he kicked Haku in the face. "I only wish he was alive to feel it…" his eyes travelled over to Kari and a small smirk lit his face "Hm? Well, well, what have we here? Pretty girl, maybe she's worth something, someone might buy her even if she's dead, there are some very sick men in this world. People pay good money for a young female's virginity…" Gato smirked wider and put his stick on her.

"YOU GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER YOU BASTARD!" Naruto screamed, fighting tooth and nail against his sensei as he lunged at Gato, desperate to beat the shit out of him and make him feel every last drop of pain the young boy felt. "Zabuza are you gonna let him do that?!" Naruto screeched, rounding on the assassin, wanting someone to do something.

"Be quiet baka, Kari and Haku are dead, it doesn't matter." Zabuza muttered under his breath.

"Nanidesu ka?! You mean you can just stand there and watch him get treated like a dog?! You and Haku were together for years doesn't that mean anything!?" Naruto cried.

"You don't understand the way of the shinobi. I merely used him, as Gato used me. Now it's over, his usefulness is at an end. The loss of his strength and skill, hai; that means something to me, but the boy… nothing" Zabuza said in monotone.

"If you mean that you're an even bigger rat than I thought!" Naruto growled scathingly, glaring in disgust at Zabuza.

"Ok Naruto that's enough, calm down. He's not the enemy, not anymore" Kakashi said, trying to soothe the wound-up boy.

"URUSAI! AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED HE'S ENEMY NUMBER ONE!" Naruto hollered. Kakashi blinked; slightly taken back that Naruto would tell him to shut up. If he had dared to do that in Kari's conscious presence; that would have been sure to have earned a thwack to the head and given Naruto a healthy dose of concussion. "Why you... you ungrateful... after everything he did for you, HAKU LIVED FOR YOU! You were the most important thing in the world to him! And he meant nothing to you?! Nothing at all?! While he was sacrificing everything for you, you never felt anything for him?! And if I become stronger does that mean I'll become as cold hearted as you are!? He threw his life away and for what?! You and your dream! You never let him have a dream of his own, but he didn't care... and you just toss him aside like he was nothing... A broken tool, man that's so!" Naruto had begun to cry again half way through his rant. With a slight sniffle he continued in a weaker voice. "Kari-chan knew it was wrong, so she tried to protect him… but it was all for nothing..."

"You talk too much... your words cut deep, deeper than any blade..." Zabuza said, softly and Naruto was startled to see that he too was crying. "While he fought you... his heart was breaking in two... you see Haku was always too soft and too kind... He felt pain and sorrow and now curse him, I feel them too! And something else... I feel content that this is the way it ends..." Zabuza bit off his bandages; the white strips fell down around his neck and revealed his mouth, nose and jaw. "Well? Cat got your tongue? Are you so surprised to discover that I'm actually human? All shinobi are human, no matter how hard we try to escape that fact, we always fail. Well at least... I have failed" Zabuza said he turned to Naruto and barked a command. "BOY! Give me your kunai!" Naruto threw his kunai to Zabuza. Naruto just didn't care anymore, with Kari gone, nothing seemed to matter. Zabuza caught the kunai knife in his mouth and charged. Gato ran to hide behind his thugs.

"THAT'S ENOUGH OF THIS! TAKE HIM DOWN! NOW!" Gato cried, hiding at the back in a true example of cowardice.

"He must be out of his mind! One against all of us what's he thinking?" one of the thugs cried cockily, holding his weapon with a grin on his face. Zabuza shot past him silencing him with the kunai he held between his teeth. He fought through them and got a spear in his back. He pushed his way through and charged at Gato.

"He-he's the devil!" Gato cried. Zabuza stabbed the kunai into Gato's chest, ignoring the pain of more spears thrust into his back. "You crazy fool! If you're so eager to join your friend go ahead! But you're not taking me! Not this time!" Gato cried.

"I wont be joining Haku, where he and Kari have gone I cannot follow" Zabuza said quietly. He walked towards Gato, stumbling in his weakened state.

"Stay back! Stay back!" Gato screamed, stumbling away from Zabuza in fear.

"We wouldn't be welcome where Haku and Kari have gone… To Hell's where we're going Gato! I can't think of a more fitting destination for a Youkai-nin can you?! I'm told there are many demons down there of all shapes and sizes! Oh yes I should fit right in! You on the other hand Gato, I think you're in for a very long and painful eternity!" Zabuza cried insanely, a demonic grin plastered on his face as he revealed strangely sharp teeth. With a frightening ferocity he sliced Gato's throat and stabbed him in the heart, causing him to topple backwards into the sea, where his body would remain forevermore. Zabuza glared viciously at the remaining men and they quickly moved away from him. He spat out the bloodied kunai and started walking back to Haku and Kari. Sadly, his efforts were in vain and he fell to his knees, too weak to continue to his companion's current resting place. "Haku... So this is goodbye? At last... Not once did I ever thank you… Haku, forgive me for that…" Zabuza fell on to his front, exposing the weapons embedded in his back for all to see. With a soft sob, Naruto looked away, unable to bear the sight.

"Don't turn away..."Kakashi said softly. "When you live like a warrior, this is how it ends..."

Am I alive? Or am I... I saw an angel at least I think I did... She had long golden hair and large white wings; everything was really hazy so I couldn't make out that much. Does this mean I've died?

A soft sobbing sounded close by to him and he became aware of a heavy weight and a dull ache across all of his body. Forcing his heavy eyes open, he was met with a light pink. He groaned slightly and felt a grimace stretch across his face.

"Sakura... It's hard to breathe with you on top of me…"

"Sasuke-kun?!" Sakura screamed, causing the poor Uchiha's head to throb horribly. Why didn't I just pretend to stay dead? Second thought's, her wailing was just as loud… "Tazuna he's alive! He's alive!" Sakura cried in relief as she threw herself on to him again, pulling him into a painful embrace.

"Ow... Sakura that hurts" he mumbled, his pain tripling with her help. Stupid girl.

"Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun!" she sobbed, holding on to him for dear life. With extreme effort he sat up, shoving the irritating girl off him with the little strength he had left.

"No! No! What are you doing?! You shouldn't move!" she fussed, trying to gently push him back down. A sudden thought struck the Uchiha as he mentally called Sakura an idiot.

"How's Naruto?" Sasuke questioned. The idiot probably got injured somehow and Kari would surely be upset if he was. Seeing as he shared a room with her, he deserved to know if she was going to be in an extremely foul mood. It's not like he was actually worried about that idiot. "What happened to that guy in the mask?"

"Naruto's just fine, but the one in the mask... he's dead..." Sakura said reassuring me. But she seemed slightly depressed telling me of the boy's death.

"Dead?! But how? Did Naruto do it?" Sasuke cried. No way Naruto-baka would be able to kill him! He was just too strong! Sakura shook her head, causing the boy to become silent and wait for her explanation.

"No I... I came in late; I'm not sure what happened. He was protecting Zabuza… Oh! I had faith in you Sasuke-kun! I knew you'd pull through! You're too cool a guy to stay down long!" Sakura squealed, helping him to shakily stand. "Naruto! Look! It's Sasuke-kun! He's all right! He's all right!" Sakura cried, waving off to someone up ahead. Naruto looked round and a weak smile crossed his face. That's not like him… Sasuke's eyes narrowed noticing Kari wasn't standing beside Naruto like he'd expected her to be. Seeing as Kita's nowhere in sight she must have gone to check if her beloved wolf cub was all right.

"And Kari?" Sasuke asked. She'd been at her limit when he'd lost consciousness, crying her eyes out silently in a way that was painful to see. She was shaking horribly and the look in her eyes showed how much she truly cared for him. Though he didn't understand why, he was touched. The only person that had such softness in their eyes when looking at him was his mother and he'd seen that same care in Kari's bleeding eyes. He had to ask her about the crying blood thing. It was then he noticed Sakura's silence, her mint green eyes were down cast and her lip was trembling. Tears started coursing down her cheeks as a sob escaped her. Suddenly fearful for his team-mate, Sasuke grabbed her and made her look him in the eye. "Where's Kari Sakura?" he demanded.

"Sh-she's… She… She's… d-d-dead too" Sakura said, throwing herself on the Uchiha avenger for a third time. Sasuke stood rigid, onyx eyes wide.

"No..." he whispered as his stomach churned horribly. No, Kari couldn't die... She wouldn't die... She… Sakura's just mistaken… It wouldn't be the first time. Sasuke eye's scanned the area, thankful that the fog had now lifted, then his eyes reached Haku's body and his heart freezing mid-beat, Sasuke noticed a flash of golden hair behind the boys head, around them a sea of blood. Sasuke tried to speak but the words were lost in his throat. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe. He told Naruto to protect her! To keep her alive! His gaze travelled to Naruto, who still wore that weak smile. Looking closer Sasuke could see blood staining his clothes and tearstains on his whiskered face.

"Well, well the wonders never cease, amazing… if only Kari..." Kakashi trailed off finding himself unable to continue. He glanced in Kari's direction to see she hadn't moved. His eyes fell on the gaping hole in her small body and a surge of guilt rushed over him. He knew he couldn't have stopped. He knew she knew that too. But it didn't stop him feeling responsible for her premature end.

"Hey! Hey! Don't go getting too comfortable!"

"This party aint over yet! Who's gonna pay us now that Gato's gone?"

"No way we're gonna leave here empty handed, so we'll just have to hit that village and see what they've got for us!"

"Not good..." Kakashi said, looking round at the restless thugs. He was tired from his battle with Zabuza and doubted he'd be able to take all of them on, especially not knowing their rank or skill. He was drained physically and emotionally and wanted time to himself to reflect and figure out what best to do with Kari. The Sandaime would be far from happy and Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto would be sure to be affected badly. And there was still the fact Kita needed to be looked at, to see whether she was deemed safe. Looking at the small white bundle curled up at Kari's side Kakashi doubted the pup would hurt a fly, Kari's it's 'mother' after all.

"C'mon Kakashi-sensei you've got to know a jutsu that'll take care of this bunch of losers!" Naruto cried with a weak attempt at his usual enthusiasm. He'd decided that Kari just needed a trip to hospital; Konoha's medic-nins would look after her. As hopeless as it would sound to anyone else, Naruto held firm to that hope, the truth unable to sink in. Especially not this soon.

"Not right now I've used too much of my chakra…" Kakashi said tiredly.

"Get 'em boys!" A thug cried. They all charged, a stampede sure to trample over Kari's and Haku's bodies and then cause who knows how much damage to the village. Kakashi was just about to do something when, an arrow shot down in front of the thugs and stopped them in their tracks.

"There's one little thing you're forgetting about! Before you set one foot in our village, you'll have to go through all of us!" A villager cried.

"Inari!" Naruto cried looking round. Inari laughed, standing proudly at the front, bow and arrow in hand.

"Heroes usually show up at the last minute ya know!" Inari cried with a large grin, reciting the words Naruto had told him before he arrived at the bridge. Naruto had woken up and shot after his team, offended he had been left behind. Then he noticed a savage wild pig and slashed on the trees which lead back the way he came, which was Tazuna's house. He easily beat up the thugs that had taken Tsunami hostage and praised Inari for his bravery of standing up to them, demanding that they give his Mom back. In fact it was this distraction that allowed Naruto to win so easily.

"They've all come the whole village!" Tazuna cried joyfully, the old man'd eyes watering in pride.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto cried, a couple of clones appearing around them.

"I might have just enough chakra to help you out... Kage bunshin no jutsu: Kakashi style!" Kakashi cried, causing a couple hundred Kakashi's to appear. "Ok still want to fight?" they all cried.

"NO THANKS!" cried one of the thugs as they all ran away, they weren't stupid enough to not know a strong ninja when they saw one, this guy had been winning against Zabuza for Kami sake!

"VICTORY!!" Inari cheered, the villagers cheering along with him, some even threw their hats. While the village celebrated, Kakashi walked over to Zabuza.

"Sounds like it's over…" Zabuza croaked.

"Yeah" Kakashi replied, feeling rather sorry for the rogue-nin, knowing that he too felt the pain of a lost comrade. At least Kakashi still had Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura left. The Haku boy was all Zabuza had and he only just realised.

"Kakashi I have a favour to ask..." Zabuza said softly.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked, surprised by the sudden warmth in Zabuza's eyes.

"Take me to them... before I go I want to see him one last time..." Zabuza said. Kakashi pulled his headband over his scarred eye.

"Sure" Kakashi replied. He pulled the weapons out of Zabuza's back as gently as he could and carried him towards Haku and Kari. Light snow began to rain down from the heavens. Villagers gasped looking up in amazement.

"Impossible!"

"Snowing at this time of year?"

Kakashi placed Zabuza next to Haku, and straightened up. At least now he could say goodbye. He looked round and caught sight of Sasuke, Sakura was supporting him and he seemed anxious and upset, though it wasn't as obvious as on other people Kakashi was observant enough to be able to notice it. He sighed sadly; it was the beginning of the Sasuke's first friendship after the Uchiha massacre. The boy had yet to warm to Naruto, though they were beginning a love-hate relationship. It was clear he disliked Sakura and wasn't going to open up to the obsessive girl any time soon. But when Kari had walked in for breakfast this morning looking like the living dead, Kakashi could've sworn there was a ghost of a smile on his face. Kakashi nodded in response to Zabuza's thanks and returned to Naruto, placing a comforting hand on the young boys shoulder. He could see that Naruto was in denial, coming up with reasons of Kari not possibly being dead. Bud sadly soon enough, he would have to understand.

"You were always at my side… the least I can do is be beside you at the end..." Zabuza said softly, his hand cupping Haku's pale cheek. "I know it cannot be, but... I wish I could go to where you and the girl have gone... How I wish I could join you both there..." He reached over Haku's body, struggling against his damaged arms and took Kari's hand. "I'm sorry kid..." he said weakly. "I bet you and Haku met… I was wondering why he had that smile stuck to his face… I guess I should thank you for making his last days happy…" a shaky smile formed across the rogue-nin's lips, the feeling unnatural to him. "It was good to see that light in his eyes again…" with these last words the great demon of the mist closed his eyes and darkness took over him. A look of such peace had never been seen on his face and yet… his smile still remained.