Chapter 7: Dramaturgy
Summary: Trouble brews at the bridge.
Tazuna's House, Noon
Naruto lied on the couch in the living room, bored out of his mind as he watched TV with Tsunami.
I swear, if this is another one of Sensei's shenanigans, I'm gonna rape him. I don't know how, but I'll make it happen! Stupid Sensei.
Just then, he heard a knock on the door.
Tsunami walked over to answer.
She looked through the peephole and became visibly nervous.
Before she could say anything to Naruto, however, the door came crashing down.
Two men grabbed Tsunami's arms, the one in charge demanding, "Come with us if you don't want our boss to kill your bitch child, bitch!".
Tsunami looked back at the living room to ask Naruto for help, but he had vanished.
Oh, no!
All of a sudden, however, the subordinate man let go of the woman and collapsed.
The leader pushed tsunami away and turned around, seeing that Naruto was standing in front of the porch stairs.
The man asked, "What the Hell did you just do to him?!".
Naruto taunted, "It's called a million years of death - - the ultimate nutshot!".
The man growled, rolling up his sleeves.
"Looks like I'll be killin' two kiddies today...".
Just then, Naruto's voice was heard from the left side.
"Think again, Lard-ass!".
As the man looked to the left, a shadow clone of Naruto leapt in from the right, kicking him square in the back of his neck.
As the man fell to his knees, grasping his neck, the real Naruto kicked him straight under the lungs, blowing the wind out of him.
This was followed by Naruto's clone thrusting his knee forward to break the man's nose.
After the assault, the man was incapacitated, though conscious.
Two more Naruto clones entered the fray to hold the man down, while two others held the unconscious subordinate down.
Naruto commanded, "Tsunami, go inside, get a weapon. I'll find Inari and bring him back!".
As Tsunami obeyed, the leader taunted, "Only if you can find the little bastard first, and I won't be telling you!".
Naruto sternly ordered, "Tell me, or your friend bites the dust.".
The leader laughed. "A wee kid like you, killin' someone?! That's a riot!".
Naruto frowned.
Without hesitation, he threw a kunai straight at the subordinate, slicing a portion of his throat.
Naruto demanded, "Tell me now, or I'll pull the knife and make sure his sleep is permanent.".
The leader stammered, "Shit, shit, fine! He's at the docks east of town! Just don't kill us, man!".
Naruto stepped forward and spoke in a low tone - - as low as his young voice could reasonably go. "Don't make me kill you.".
Just then, Tsunami returned to the door with a shotgun.
Naruto told her, "My clones are gonna tie 'em up. If they make any funny moves, just remember that these bastards are puttin' your kid's life at stake.".
As Naruto rushed through the forest, he contemplated his actions.
Was I really gonna casually commit homicide? What the Hell came over me?
He attempted to slow his breathing as his thoughts overtook him.
What was it that Sakura said, again? "People are willing to do anything"...
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Meanwhile, at the Bridge
Without Naruto's clones, the work was going slower than normal.
On that point, Tazuna asked Kakashi, "I kno' you didn't want the blondie here, but we could really have used some o' his clones, you know. Turn the next day's worth of work into a few hours.".
Kakashi told him, "Using shadow clones splits up the user's chakra, and it can cause further drain if the clones are a great distance from the user.".
He then joked, "Besides, Naruto's absence today just means you don't have to pay him for the day's work.".
Tazuna tensed up. "Oh... 'Pay'? I just assumed it was free, covered by the mission fee, you know?".
Kakashi retorted, "Which you're already shorting us on...".
Tazuna waved his hands and walked around.
Deflecting, he remarked, "It's, ah, mighty fine weather we're having, isn't it?".
Kakashi looked beyond the side of the bridge, and his eyes went wide.
That familiar mist!...
He ordered, "Sakura, Sasuke, guard Tazuna! Everyone else, retreat!".
Sakura immediately took position behind Tazuna (who stood behind Kakashi), with her back towards him, holding a kunai.
As the workers fled, Sasuke attempted to approach Tazuna as well, but found himself blocked by the masked Haku.
As Sasuke ran towards Haku, the older boy stood still and performed a slew of handsigns.
Before Sasuke could even comprehend what was happening, he found himself surrounded by a dome of ice mirrors, each spaced a few feet apart from each other.
Kakashi stood his ground.
If that's the bait, what in the Hell is Zabuza's main plot?
As if to answer his question, Zabuza suddenly jumped out from under the bridge to stand on top of it.
Zabuza demanded, "Hand over the old man, and I'll let you live.".
Kakashi revealed his sharingan eye and defiantly responded, "Over my dead body.".
Zabuza gruffly replied, "It's always the same with you 'patriots'... So be it!".
Sakura trembled.
This guy nearly killed Sensei last time... And the other one almost got Sasuke!
In the dome, Haku's moving image appeared on all the mirrors.
He taunted, "Look at you shaking, kid. Scared?".
Sasuke chortled, and smirked.
"No.", he replied. "It's not fear, it's excitement!".
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At the Docks
Inari kicked and screamed at the man who had grabbed him.
Growing tired of this, the man dragged him to the edge of the dock, and shouted, "If you don't shut up, I'll have to stick your head in the water 'til you drown!".
Just then, a kunai landed between the man's feet.
In an instant, Naruto arrived, grabbed the man's sack, squeezed it, and twisted.
The man forcefully dropped Inari, as Naruto kicked him square in the balls, sending him into the river.
Naruto propped up Inari.
Inari said, "Thanks, Naruto...".
The older boy responded, "I guess your dad was right after all, huh? Do good things, and good people will follow.".
Inari blushed. "I don't know, man... I haven't really done anything exceptional...".
Naruto sighed. "Then you can be the good person that follows; there's nothing explicitly wrong with that.".
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The Bridge
For the past few anxiety-filled minutes, Kakashi and Zabuza had been in a standoff, each man holding his weapon, ready to unsheathe and fight.
Meanwhile, Haku was trying his hand at torturing Sasuke inside the mirrored dome.
Relentlessly, Haku continued his onslaught as he moved form mirror to mirror. The younger boy was forced to dodge hordes of needles thrown his way, with each throw forcing his heart to skip a beat.
Is it just me, or is he throwing faster every time?
Regardless, Sasuke remained diligent, and managed to close in on the edge of the dome.
Just a little further, and I'm out of here!
However, just as the tip of his finger reached the air outside the dome, Haku appeared.
He grabbed Sasuke's arm, twisted it, and tossed him into the air.
Shaking off the shock, Sasuke quickly compacted his body and rolled, as a few needles went through his clothes and grazed his skin.
He landed back in the middle of the dome.
Damn it! I was so close...
Then, without any indication whatsoever, a kunai was thrown into the dome.
Naruto appeared just as suddenly, and proclaimed, "I'm saving your ass this time, Sasuke!".
Kakashi's eyes widened.
That idiot!
Naruto outstretched his hand and ordered, "Sasuke, grab my hand, I'll get us out of here!".
The Uchiha refused. "Hell no, you even got a plan?! He'll just grab us if we try to leave!".
Haku shot arrows at Naruto, who dodged by jumping backwards.
Naruto urged, "Just trust me! Did you forget about my secret technique?!".
Sasuke gasped.
Shit, I totally forgot!
He shouted, "Alright, then, let's do it!".
The boys ran towards each other.
Haku, attempting to stop the union, threw a slew of needles.
Naruto made a split-second decision.
Rather than grab Sasuke's hand, deeming it to be too far away, Naruto used the Flying Thunder to reach the kunai beside Sasuke, and save him from the approaching needles.
Sasuke watched in horror as Naruto stood before him, standing completely still.
The longest of the needles had pierced Naruto's heart all the way through.
Sasuke's own heart couldn't handle the sight.
He slowly stumbled to the far end of the dome and fell to the ground, having gone unconscious from shock.
Haku exited the mirror he was in, and collapsed the dome.
Kakashi looked past Zabuza at the scene.
Naruto... I've failed you.
He hid his panic and dismay. Both Sakura and Zabuza had their backs to the boys, and Tazuna's view was blocked by Kakashi's large frame.
Zabuza smirked.
"Something wrong, Kakashi? It's gone quiet.".
Kakashi saw a faint orange glow emitting from Naruto.
Kakashi replied to Zabuza, "It's just the calm before the storm...".
Haku approached Naruto.
He grasped the needle that pierced his heart and stated, "I'm sorry, Naruto, but I'd do anything for Zabuza.".
Before Haku could pull the needle out, however, Naruto's hand grabbed his.
Haku looked in surprise at Naruto, who responded in a voice whose tones seemed to layer upon itself, "That's just the way humans work, isn't it?".
Naruto himself slowly pulled the blood-soaked needle out of his chest, as Haku watched in shock.
The older boy stumbled backwards in fear, as Naruto's presence grew more and more frightening.
His pupils became slits. The irises of his eyes turned red. The scars on his cheeks became thicker in form, and took on a jagged shape. His body, too small to contain the energy, began to curl under the pressure. Chakra exploded around him, creating a frightful red aura that illuminated him, even through the mist.
Everyone froze.
Sakura found herself unable to move her feet.
Kakashi's pupils shrunk.
Zabuza's body went stiff.
Tazuna, unable to handle the sight, went momentarily blind.
The closest individual, Haku, felt physical pain.
What-- is this how I die?!
Abject fear possessed the boy, as Naruto's hand balled into a shaking fist - - with each shake feeling like a thousand pricks on Haku's body.
From the subjugation to this terror alone, Haku's legs felt weak. He couldn't feel anything below his knees, and collapsed into a kneeling position.
He could've sworn that the flesh beneath his skin was melting, as his eyes became bleary, and he was unable to even see clearly.
Each step closer that Naruto took felt like an earthquake for Haku, and he began to fear that the bridge may even collapse under the monstrous impact.
Standing just a few feet away from Haku, Naruto's fist rose.
In what felt like slow motion, Naruto tossed his fist down towards the masked boy, and suddenly stopped upon making contact with the mask.
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???
Naruto found himself kneeling in a white space again, naked.
Though the ground was solid, stepping in it felt like walking on a river.
Naruto raised his hand, and clear liquid poured down like sand.
He rose to his feet, and shouted, "Alright, what do you want from me this time, ya stupid fox?!".
A woman's sultry voice responded, "Oh dear, it's been a while since someone's called me a fox...".
Naruto turned around immediately.
Before him stood a tall, dark-red-haired woman. Her private areas, unlike his, were enshrouded by small white clouds.
Her body was curved, much like the conventional ideal of the hourglass figure. She had a beauty mark just under the left part of her lips.
Even with the lack of makeup, Naruto was taken aback by just how beautiful she was.
The woman remarked, "Oh my, is it really appropriate to flash someone like that?", as she pointed at his crotch.
Naruto crossed his arms and scoffed as he gestured towards her. "Well, pardon me for not knowing that that was an option, Miss...?".
As clouds encircled Naruto's private regions, the woman looked perplexed.
She told him, "My name is Fuuka...".
Naruto asked her, "Alright, Fuuka, why are you lookin' at me like that?".
Fuuka smirked. "Oh, no reason. You don't need to know yet.".
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Not like you can hurt me, as long as you're in my body.".
Anger sparked within Fuuka.
Her eyes narrowed and she grit her teeth.
She suggested, "Don't be so sure that it's your body!".
Naruto's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?".
Fuuka answered, "I intended to hold this secret over your head for a while, but you've really ticked me off. The truth is, what you understand as your body isn't just spiritually shared between you and the nine-tailed fox demon, it's a physical collaboration between both you and I.".
Naruto's voice quivered. "W--What? That... Doesn't make any sense... ".
Fuuka laughed. "You really don't remember, do you? Jiraiya the Sage, the Specter Thieves, how I tricked you? None of this rings a bell? I didn't think it'd really work...".
Naruto demanded, "Just tell me already!".
What is she on about?...
The redhead continued to laugh. "Oh, man, I thought it'd be fun to let it sink in slowly, but nothing could beat this! Alright, then, here it is! I know you don't remember, but there was a time, when you were a teensy bit smaller, that you were under the guardianship of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.".
Naruto's anxiety heightened.
How could she know that I don't remember anything before I was, what, eight years old? Was I really hangin' out with this 'Jiraiya'?
The woman taunted, "Don't even try to remember; it's pointless, just listen to me and I'll explain.".
"...".
"First of all, you need to understand - - again - - that I'm not a normal human being; I'm sort of a specter who can take physical human form, and live among humans.".
"Well, why are you here?".
"I'll get to that... I was truly born a much longer time ago, in a body much unlike this one in aesthetics. But I'd made a habit of using the specter part of my being to put my brain in a weaker woman's body and vice versa, usually because I just preferred how she looked. You were actually the first male whose body I took, mostly because I thought the whole 'being into girls' thing would be easier that way for once - - and your dopey face when it happened was just hilarious.".
"Swapping minds?... How?".
"Well, it's not so easy to explain. I'm sure you've heard of the physical law that no two objects can take up the same space of mass at the same time?".
"Sure...".
"Well, that's bound by humans' third-dimensional comprehension. A specter such as myself is able to access the fourth dimension: time. Using this limited access, I just switch the places of our brains.".
Naruto felt weak. "But I'm in my own body... How does any of that factor into my physical body being 'shared' with you?...".
"Well, when we switched our minds, I hadn't known that you were holding a literal demon inside of you! My brain couldn't handle it, so I panicked and used another one of my spectral powers: basically merging our bodies.".
"But I was in your body, and you were in mine...".
"I don't know the semantics, but in the merging process, the two-- rather, three, of us basically just took your shape, with my attributes.".
Naruto began to feel dizzy.
He asked, "W-what attributes?...".
"My skin, for one. Your skin was thicker, by virtue of being a male, and it was whiter, albeit tanned. Our skin is, well, like mine. It's not much of a tan, but the tan is intrinsic. You've also got my organs in your proportions -- my heart, my brain and eyes, my guts, from head to toe, literally. Every part of you has a little bit of me in it.".
Naruto began to tear up. "Wh--what? That's not true...".
Fuuka chortled. "Oh, it's very true. I know you can tell just by having a quick glance at me.".
Naruto asked, "B--but what about my ph--physical qualities?... My eyes aren't the same blur as yours, my hair's blonde and not red, I've got a weiner...".
"Well, it was a merging, not a complete possession.".
"And what about my memories?".
"Gone.".
"Gone?".
"Gone for good. I wiped them and sent you into a coma right before the merging finished, so you couldn't explain to that perv Jiraiya anything that had just happened.".
Naruto gasped.
He questioned, "You mean... You took away all my memories, my experiences, everything I was, just to cover for your own ass?!".
Naruto began to panic. "But if you hadn't had to merge with me, how could you stop me from telling Jiraiya what you'd done?".
Fuuka sighed. "Hello, specter? While swapping minds, I can read them. I'd know anything you knew, and I would have wiped all your memories anyways if it weren't for the fox.".
Naruto collapsed, feeling overwhelmed.
He then began to gag and throw up, though it was just bile coming out, and it disappeared upon contact with the ground.
Fuuka winced. "Ew, that acid's definitely all you. How do you even throw up in your own mindscape?...".
After a few minutes, Naruto rose. He wiped his tears and mouth and asked, "How'd you even get to me?".
"The two of you were on the hunt for the Specter Thieves, a group of, well, thieves, led by me, unbeknownst to you. And really, it was just Jiraiya who was doing the hunting. He left you with moi - - I'd batted my eyelashes and convinced him that I was just another innocent lady, a feat that was much too easy. I didn't even plan on taking your body at first either, you just had the sort of charm and innocence that I wanted to see get completely crushed.".
Naruto suddenly smirked. "And look where that's gotten ya. Trapped in this place with a little kid and a murderous demon. Humiliating, isn't it?".
"...".
"Your own total bitchness is to blame...".
"You're not exactly clean, either. Have you forgotten how much of you is me?".
"Hey, it sucks, but I can live with it. I might have your heart, and mind, and gut stuck in me, but my soul's steerin' them. And it won't mean a thing anymore when I get you and that stupid fox outta me. I'll get my body back.".
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The Bridge
Naruto's own body froze, with a shocked look, as he began to feel more human.
His eyes reverted to circular pupils with blue irises. His scars turned back into simple, thin lines. The red mist dissipated, and Naruto's body became looser.
He exhaled deeply as he looked down, his hair hanging in front of him.
Naruto asked in his normal voice, albeit sullen, "It's you, isn't it, Haku?... The boy I met in the field?".
The mask shattered.
One half of it, along with a few battered pieces, fell down, while the other half stayed on, touching Naruto's ring finger and pinky finger.
Zabuza, Kakashi, Tazuna, and Sakura collapsed.
The younger men were able to stay on one knee, whereas Tazuna fell flat, and Sakura dropped to both her knees and palms, her breathing labored. It was she who was most mentally affected.
What... What? Oh God, I'm going to be sick! I couldn't even move my body, my mind just froze! Oh, God...
Tears slid down all their faces, as if the diminished pressure of the chakra had pushed against their ducts.
Though they all felt relieved, there was a single stronger emotion that they were currently feeling: the greatest aversion to ever experiencing that sort of event again.
Haku whispered, "I told you when I was picking yarrow... For someone I care about deeply.".
Naruto slowly turned his head upwards. Though his hair was mopped onto his face, his blue eyes shone through to meet Haku.
Naruto questioned, "You care about him so much, that you'd kill a bunch of kids just so he can make a quick buck?".
Haku solemnly smiled.
He answered, "I did it... So that I could stay with him...!".
Naruto was taken aback.
What's he talkin' about?
Naruto pressed further, "What do you mean?...".
Haku told him, "The deal that Zabuza made with Gato... He'd get paid if Tazuna died. But if we failed to kill Tazuna, I would work under Gato permanently.".
Naruto began to heave.
He growled, "So, this guy you care so much about, he was willing to hand you over like that?! Like a piece of meat?!".
Haku laughed. "Even so, I love him, and only him. He's the only person who's ever shown me affection...".
Naruto egged him on to monologue. "Keep talkin'.".
Haku replied, "When I was born, I was pale and weak... My father abandoned me, so he could find another woman to bear a stronger son for him. My mother never did much for me, never even taught me to play, or laugh, or even feel. Then, my own mother tried to take my life. That's when Zabuza saved me. He stopped her. He even took me in. He made me strong. He taught me to read. He's the reason I'm alive, the reason that I know the most precious thing in the world: love. That's why... I exist for Zabuza, and for him alone and always.".
Naruto shuddered, and began to breathe faster.
He pulled his fist back from Haku, and the mask remained on his face.
Naruto grabbed Haku by the shoulders and admonished him.
"You idiot! Don't you know that life's more than that?! How can you say that you exist solely for someone else's benefit?! That's bullshit! What about your life, your enjoyment, your desires?! Doesn't that mean anything to you?!".
Haku smiled.
"All that matters is Zabuza. If he were to die, I'd perish.".
Naruto couldn't believe it.
He stepped back, and looked over Haku again.
This guy, he just fills me with rage! Why, why, why?!
He ran forward and punched Haku in the face again, knocking him down and breaking the mask.
Yet, the mask remained on his face.
Kakashi then stated, "Looks like your little servant's done, Zabuza. It's time for the men to fight.".
Zabuza choked up and said, "Yeah...".
As Zabuza grabbed his sword, Kakashi cut his thumb and slapped the ground.
In a puff of smoke, a pack of hunting dogs appeared, and instinctively attacked Zabuza, holding him in place on his knees.
Kakashi performed hand signs, and then held his hand in place at his side, summoning a ball of lightning. As the ball grew, he held his forearm with his other hand, containing the chakra imbalance.
He stated, "This is called raikiri. But for you, it's the end.".
Witnessing this, Haku began to get up as Kakashi began to bring his hand forward.
Naruto immediately knew what was about to happen.
Without sparing a thought, Naruto disappeared.
Just as Kakashi was a few feet away from penetrating Zabuza, Haku appeared in front of him.
Yet, before Haku could be struck by the technique, Naruto appeared in front of him as well, and vanished once again, along with Haku, Zabuza, and the ninja dogs.
The group reappeared where Naruto had thrown the kunai, where the dome of mirrors once stood as Zabuza and Haku faced exhaustion.
The lightning in Kakashi's hand vanished, as his heart jumped.
That boy, and Naruto--! What were they thinking?!
As Kakashi walked towards Naruto, the blonde summoned two shadow clones to hold Haku down.
Naruto scampered towards Kakashi and met him halfway.
The boy frantically explained, "I'm sorry, I know it was stupid to jump in like that-- but I couldn't just let the guy die! Especially not for a rat bastard like Zabuza!".
Kakashi stared at Naruto, emotionless.
Naruto asked, "You understand, right...".
Kakashi simply said, "There's a proverb that was coined by an ancient people; saving an innocent life is akin to saving all mankind.".
Naruto responded, "Well, I don't really know how innocent Haku is, but, uh, I get it...".
Kakashi chortled.
He ruffled Naruto's hair, walking past him.
He approached Zabuza and Haku, and addressed the older man.
Kakashi spoke, "Now that you're incapacitated, and unable to jeopardize my mission... I think it's time I got some answers.".
Naruto scurried over to Kakashi and pleaded, "Wait, Sensei, please let me ask 'im some stuff first...".
Kakashi closed his eyes. "Go right ahead...".
Naruto promptly thanked him and turned to Zabuza.
The boy inquired, "Zabuza, why'd you murder your teammates?".
Haku gasped.
The older mercenary scoffed. "Of course you'd jump to 'murder'. That's just what the elites in charge of the villages tell each other. You want the truth? I was ordered to kill them, every last one, but I refused! I tried to tell my peers that it was wrong, that senseless murder isn't justifiable by the politicians and military who lord over us! But just like you and everyone else in every God-damned village on this forsaken planet, the word of the state was the law of the land. They tried to hang me for defying them, so of course I killed them! I had no choice...".
Naruto soaked in his words.
He then said, "That's messed up...".
Zabuza replied, "You don't know the half of it...".
Naruto further inquired, "Why were you willing to hand Haku over to Gato? Aren't you the one that saved Haku and raised 'im? What's up with treatin' him like some sort of chattel slave?".
Zabuza answered, "It ain't like that. I just put Haku in the deal to get the job; twisted bastard Gato thinks he should get a return on his investments, even if he's on the losing end.".
Naruto joked, "From what I've heard of him, he sounds like an entitled, overgrown child...".
That earned a chuckle from Zabuza, who was joined by Haku and Naruto.
He affirmed, "That's just about right...".
Kakashi watched in admiration.
Is Naruto... Breaking his shell? These guys were ready to kill us thirty seconds ago, and now they're conversing like old chums. Hah, Minato-sensei was the same way...
Naruto's laughing waned.
He continued, "By the way, you've done a good job with Haku. I mean, I could do without the murderous tendencies, but he's a good guy besides that; he shared medicine with me a few days back...".
Zabuza added, "On that note, I didn't really raise this kid the way he says. I just stopped his mother from killing him, and he just started following me everywhere. Couldn't get rid of him, so I decided to add another tool to my arsenal.".
Naruto's eyebrow rose. "A tool?".
Zabuza replied, "Yeah, a tool. Nothing more, nothing less.".
Haku interjected, "I'm quite comfortable being a tool, I'll be anything for Zabuza...".
Zabuza looked away and told Haku, "God damn it, kid... Quit talking like that.".
Haku responded, "I'm sorry, Zabuza... It's just how I feel. If you won't let me accept you as a father, at least accept me as what I am - - a tool, like you said.".
Zabuza grimaced. "Just shut-- shut up...".
Kakashi came into the conversation.
He stated, "You know, Haku, every father lives for the day that his son begins to defy him.".
Zabuza stayed silent.
Haku verbalized his confusion. "That's ridiculous - - why would I defy Zabuza? He saved me from a loveless mother! He made me what I am today!".
Zabuza admitted in a low, ashamed tone, "No... He's right, Haku.".
How could I let myself get so attached to him?!
Haku gasped again.
His heart sank, as his mind was wracked with conflict.
He robotically placed a hand on his face to calm down, only to find that it was the part of his face from whence the mask had fallen.
He patted his face, until he felt the cold, hard mask.
For so long, it had been an object of comfort for him; when the heat of the world overcame him, he could retreat to the unfeeling mask, never judging, never burning.
But now, Haku decided that he didn't like it anymore.
He gently removed the broken mask pieces, shuddering as the final piece was placed on the ground.
Kakashi ordered, "Naruto, bring Sasuke, Tazuna, and Sakura here.".
As Naruto obliged, Kakashi continued the conversation.
Kakashi informed, "You don't have to continue on this path, Zabuza...".
Zabuza scoffed. "I'm still a rogue ninja, remember? My ass is cooked.".
Kakashi offered, "I'll take you back to the Leaf; I have a lot of sway with the hokage, I can get him to pardon you, and provide education for Haku.".
Zabuza huffed. "Sure, your lord will pardon me, for the price of allegiance to his ideals. And I'm guessing that school for Haku is gonna be run by the government there, so they can brainwash him? Don't make me laugh.".
Kakashi replied, "Actually, there's a way around that...".
Zabuza's ears perked. "I'm listening...".
Kakashi continued, "Under the sovereign citizenship via service policy, if you help Leaf shinobi complete a mission, provided that your rogue rank is equivalent to the mission rank, your pardon will include a non-liability clause, for you to be exempt from paying taxes. Send Haku to a fancy private school.".
Zabuza sighed.
A slave of the Leaf? I probably deserve it; God knows I've strayed far from the right path. And... an education for Haku? One free of Leaf indoctrination? That's all that matters.
Kakashi asked, "So what about it, Zabuza? Get back on this side of the law?".
Zabuza looked Haku in the eye, and looked back at Kakashi.
"Alright...".
In the meantime, Naruto had approached Sakura, having already united Sasuke with Kakashi.
Naruto kneeled next to Sakura, who was still shaking from the sensation of the red chakra release.
He asked, "Sakura, you alright?".
Sakura breathed hoarsely, and spotted him in the corner of her eye.
She immediately leapt at him, trapping him in an embrace with her eyes closed.
She rambled, "Oh thank God you're okay, Naruto! I was so scared! Is everyone else alright?!".
Naruto hesitated to answer.
The sudden rush of warmth emanating from Sakura made his heart skip a beat.
He softly replied, "Yeah-- yeah, we're fine... Just a little tired, is all. C'mon, let's go back to Sensei...".
Naruto summoned shadow clones to act as crutches for Tazuna, who was still overwhelmed by the chakra, while he himself guided Sakura there, hand-in-hand.
By the time the entire group had rendezvoused, Kakashi had sent away his ninja dogs, and Zabuza and Haku were free from their restraints.
Reading the room, Naruto dispelled all of his shadow clones.
Kakashi stated, "Unfortunately, our job's only half-done...".
As if waiting for his cue, the shrill voice of Gato announced, "Well, well, well, looks like I was right to not put all my eggs in this basket...".