A moment. That's all it was. A simple moment. A moment where Haku faltered. A fleeting second where Haku had treacherously thought what if she ran? Ran to Zabuza and took him away. She did not want to kill the blonde in front of her, far from it. She could tell he felt the same too. She did not want to bloody her hands with someone so kind.

But a second later she was back to normal, well as normal as she could be. She knew what she had to do, even if she didn't want to. She knew she had no choice in the matter. Though that second she took had already decided the fate of this battle. After all in a battle between Ninja a second was like an eternity.

Within the second Naruto had gotten close, far to close! She was to far from her mirrors! "SHI-!" Before she could finish her curse Naruto, using chakra to enhance his speed, gripped her arm tight to stop her from escaping. "I'm sorry" she could've sworn she heard left Naruto's lips. But before she could process the words the pain came.

Haku feebly tossed her other arm in front of her body but it wasn't enough. The force from the punch Naruto delivered fractured her arm and ribs, sending her rocketing back and through the ice mirrors she previously conjured.

Outside the now collapsing mirror dome Haku rolled and rolled before coming to a stop in a heap. With her now freed good hand she ripped the hunter ninja mask off her face, coughing up a wad of blood. She didn't stay down for long, forcing her body up even as she winced in pain. Forced to take shallow breathes, she stood, trying to ready herself.

It was to little, to late as Naruto was upon her again. "Stay down!" He roared as Haku stubbornly stood her ground. She tried to send a right hook to Naruto, who leaned out of the way. Naruto feinted a jab to her face, Haku sloppily dodging to the left. The sloppy movement destabilized her already shot balance. It gave the perfect opening for Naruto to give a kick to Haku's lead leg. She yelped, crumpling to the ground in agony that was compounded with the pain in her body. Before she could try and stand she heard something.

The sound of a thousand birds chirping took her attention. Her head whipped to the noise and she faintly noted Naruto did too, a panicked look in his eyes. Though any regard for the blonde's look was disregarded at the sight before her.

Haku couldn't believe her eyes. Zabuza, her master, was impaled by the silver haired ninja's lightning.

All at once Haku felt everything crumble. Her will, reason to live, reason to keep waking up in the morning or train her very best into the night. It all fell apart right in front of her. Tears fell before a stream ran down her face. She couldn't even scream in anguish as the shock was too much.

She didn't even care that her body was practically giving out on her. She forced herself to stand, stumbling her way to her master. She had to reach him, no matter how much agony she was in! She had to be by his side, no matter what she had to do! Why? Because that's what a good tool did! It stayed by it's masters side! Even till death! Even beyond death it would be buried with its master!

Those thoughts fueled her as she kept stumbling and limping forward. She kept going until Naruto stood before her, a wall of orange standing before her. His cerulean blue eyes held a mixture of sadness and regret. A potent mixture Haku did not want to see.

As such she looked away, not wishing to see his pity. "M...move! I...have...t-to...reach...him!" She grunted out, taking pained and shallow breaths.

Naruto didn't move, instead he stepped forward. "I'm sorry Haku, but its over." He said as the tears doubled. She reached for him, trying to move the blonde. "P-please!" She hoarsely begged as she couldn't stop the pained sobs from escaping her. "Za-ZABUZA!" She screamed before her hands fell to her side, the sobs painfully jolting her body.

Naruto looked at the sobbing woman, his chest tightening and a lump forming in his throat. Haku wasn't a bad woman, she was a kind hearted individual following a cruel man. Even then Zabuza may have been a cruel man, he may have been manipulating and turning Haku into a weapon for his own benefit, but none of that meant Haku deserved...this.

To see the person she saw as a second father brutalized as she did, especially with how her own biological father was killed unbeknownst to Naruto, was downright traumatic. Naruto couldn't stop himself as he gently scooped the grieving woman into his arms. So out of energy and chakra, she did nothing to stop him. It was at the moment he realized the true extent of her pain. The fact this now broken, shattered, and just small woman was the same fierce fighter as before was gut wrenching.

He gently picked her up turning towards his sensei, noting with wide eyes Zabuza was alive! Naruto damn near couldn't believe his eyes! It seemed his sensei, in a last moment decision, deliberately missed the missing ninja's chest, aiming for said ninja's shoulder. With that kind of Injury Zabuza would never wield his sword again. Said weapon clattered to the ground uselessly.

Kakashi panted, the death grip he had on his arm sure to cause a myriad of bruises. It was with that pain he was able to focus on the moment. He glared into Zabuza's pained eyes as he spoke. "Count yourself Lucky, Zabuza. Count yourself lucky your opponent was me. I may be a Killer, some may call me a monster. But i won't subject your apprentice to the fate of loosing a loved one. Who knows what she lost to be where she is..." He spoke with a cold edge to his voice at first before it trailed off into a form of pity. He then dropped his hand, the beam of lightning dissipating leaving a hole in Zabuza's shoulder. Zabuza could only grunt in pain as the beasts holding him down suddenly dispersed into smoke.

As Zabuza slumped down Kakashi whipped out a small piece of sealing papper with the Kanji for chakra written clearly on the side he was shown. The paper was slapped onto Zabuza's chest before he could react, and just as quickly he felt every ounce of chakra he had left that wasn't being used to keep him alive be sealed away. He slumped to his knees, utterly defeated.

Naruto all but ran to Kakashi, rousing Haku from her stupor. When she saw her master still alive she scrambled out of Naruto's arms, ignoring her body practically screeching at her to stay still. She was beside him within seconds, noting with growing horror the way his shoulder had been pierced. Zabuza had looked over at her with a look he had never gave her before. A look of...worry? "Haku...I am sorry." He quietly spoke.

Kakashi looked at the two with mixed emotions before Naruto grabbed his hand tightly. Kakashi glanced down at the blonde, who looked at him with eyes full of hope, of compassion. Something Kakashi wishes he had in abundance like Naruto. "Sensei, I know we just got done fighting them, but we have to help them. We can't just leave them to die!"

Naruto pleaded as seconds later Sakura and the man they were to guard (His name Tazuna) ran over breathless. "Sensei! Bandits! Hundreds of them! I managed to slow quite a few with some mud walls but not all!" She panted out as before Kakashi could act Naruto dashed past. A furious glint in his eyes caught Sakura's own before he was gone. "N-Naruto?!" Sakura called out before hearing the blonde's signature move.

"TAJŪ KAGE BUSHIN NO JUTSU" Naruto roared out in utter madness as hundreds of Naruto clones poofed into existence. All the clones rushed forward, catching the ragtag army of bandits supremely off guard.

While that massacre happened Sakura looked at the state of Zabuza and paled. Her hand immediately flew to her mouth, disgust mixing with worry and morbid fascination. Kakashi sighed at the sight of his genin. "Patch him up with your medical supplies, Sakura." He ordered as Sakura looked at her sensei questioningly. In response Kakashi's hand found its way atop her head, affectionately rubbing her hair. "S-sensei!" She griped while swatting at his hand. A second later though she nodded and got to work.

The wound wasn't pretty, far from it. Luckily being from a straight beam of lightning the wound was cauterized on impact so she mainly cleaned the area around the wound before wrapping it tightly in a bandage.

The second she was done she went to Haku. She froze momentarily at the sight. She was in a WORSE state than Zabuza which was an achievement. She felt a headache incoming so she shook her head to rid herself of any thoughts regarding strangling a certain blonde. "That damn Naruto..." she sighed. Just as she was about to focus on the girl Haku grimaced, a strangled groan coming from her as she fell against Zabuza. The mans eyes widened as with his decent arm he caught her gently.

More strangled groans came from her lips before Zabuza gently laid her on the ground. Her breathing was growing increasingly shallow, to the worry of both Zabuza and Sakura. as Sakura looked over Haku she found her worries confirmed. "S-sensei...this is bad. Like really bad." She muttered as Kakashi kneeled beside his student.

"We have no choice. We'll do what we can then. Remember what we went over, Sakura. I know you can do this." He told the young girl calmly, placing a hand on her back. Sakura hesitated for a second before nodding. Green chakra began to coalesce around her palms as she concentrated.

Kakashi winced slightly as he just realized his chakra reserves were WAY lower than he thought. Before he could remark a small group of people made their way towards them. The first two was Naruto and Sasuke, the later holding the third who was none other than Gato. Gato was the man that caused this whole fiasco. Behind them was Tsunami and her son Inari.

Naruto, noting what was happening, rushed forward. He slid to a stop beside Kakashi. "I got it, Sensei! I know your reserves are getting low! Don't worry I got plenty!" Naruto babbled out as Kakashi nodded. "Place your hand on Sakura's back and relax. She'll pull what she needs." Kakashi said before addressing Sakura. "Me and Naruto are going to switch, alright?"

At that Sakura nodded, keeping the flow of healing chakra constant even when the hands on her back changed.

As the two healed Haku, Sasuke dropped Gato on the floor in front of Zabuza. "Captured this pig when I got here. Some thugs tried to grab Tsunami but they were nothing major. Did learn something though. These thugs were promised free use of Tsunami should they deal with us. Seems fatso wanted us out of the picture, same with them..." he pointed towards Haku and Zabuza "If the group of Thugs is anything to go off."

The second Sasuke finished his explanation Zabuza stood, bloodlust flowing out of him. "You double crossing bastard." Zabuza ground out as Gato squealed in terror.

Kakashi simply glared at the loan shark, contemplating letting Zabuza kill the man. The decision was taken out of their hands by someone who had yet to speak. "Wait. Instead of killing him here, let's put his resources to good use." Tazuna spoke with a evil glint in his eyes.

He explained that if they captured Gato they could prosecute Gato in the hidden leaf, getting his empire absorbed and cleaned of the unsavory aspects. Then this clean empire could be given to the wave as a way to solidify the wave as a konoha outpost. "Of course we'd have to get a vote for this, but that should be no problem." Tazuna said as Gato went to protest. His attempt was stopped with a kunai pointed at his neck. "Shut it, it's this or death" Sasuke growled. Spending time with Tazuna's family truly did make him attached. As such seeing the man responsible for their pain made him eager to put an end to it. At that Gato nodded frantically. "I-I'll accept!" He cried out, sealing his fate.

Nobody noted though when orange chakra began to intermingle within Sakura's Mystic Palm jutsu though. Even sakura, so focused on healing didn't realize that specks of orange floated within. Nobody but Naruto that is. The second he saw the orange Naruto internally panicked. This wasn't good! His chakra was lower than he thought! Sakura was pulling on the..! Before he finished his thought he spoke hastily. "Nee, Sakura~chan? How much longer? I'm...uh...getting low on chakra!"

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you talking about? You have plenty! You have a whole ocean I haven't even touched. It's weird though that you have almost like two separate chakra bodies..." She mumbled before shaking her head gently. "Nevermind, just hold on. You don't want her dying do you?" At that Naruto begrudgingly shut up, attempting yet failing to stop the flow of orange chakra.

It was a long few minutes, filled with Kakashi grilling Gato about all the fine details. At the end though Sakura groaned, falling back into Naruto, who caught her. "Woah, Sakura-chan? You alright?" He asked as Sakura nodded a little weakly. "Yeah, just your chakra is exhausting. Much harder to pull than sensei's."

Before Naruto could retort, Haku hissed. Her eyes opened slowly, her vision bleary. She saw three figures beside her, two closer than one. Her vision cleared slowly, revealing one to be her battered master and the other to be the one who bested her. Haku surmised the pink haired girl to be Naruto's teammate.

Naruto was the first to speak. "I'm sorry Haku...I shouldn't have attacked you like that. Any harder and you would've..." he trailed off. Before Haku could respond Zabuza gave Naruto a confused glance. "You seriously blame yourself kid? We were enemies. Enemies fight to kill. If anything the fact you showed us mercy and saved us means you're far to kind for this ruthless world" Zabuza spat, getting a heated glare from Sakura.

Haku though just gave a light laugh before wincing. "I do not blame you, Naruto. You did what you thought was right, as did I. I lost, that is all." She said as Zabuza gave a short nod before a conflicted look appeared on his face.

Kakashi was the one to pick up on this fact. Before he spoke Zabuza looked at Kakashi with a critical eye. "I have a request, Kakashi Hatake." He stated ominously as the genin plus Haku looked at the two.

"Take me prisoner, willingly. I'll reveal all the hidden information i have. In exchange I want an audience with the Hokage and for Haku to be given the chance at as normal a life she could be given"