"Zabuza-san!" Haku's voice rang out like the sharp crack of ice, his eyes wide with urgency. He stepped forward, putting a hand on Zabuza's arm, stopping the blade just inches from Kimimaro's neck.

Zabuza's eyes flashed with irritation, and for a moment, his grip tightened around the hilt of his blade as he turned to face Haku. There was a wildness in his gaze, a flash of anger at being interrupted. But Haku's hand on his arm was steady, and he met Zabuza's glare with unwavering eyes—calm, pleading, and resolute.

Zabuza's expression softened ever so slightly, surprise flickering across his face. He had never seen Haku so worked up before, never seen that fire in his eyes. It piqued his interest—the boy had always been so calm, obedient, like still water. For him to break that composure, to plead so openly... there had to be a reason.

As Zarato watched the exchange, his eyes darted between Haku and Zabuza, trying to piece together the situation. He's... fending for Kimimaro? It didn't quite add up—why would this boy, who was just moments ago ready to kill a Kaguya, now be defending one?

"He's like me," Haku said quietly, his voice softer now but heavy with meaning. "The last of his clan."

"He's strong," Haku continued, his voice quieter now, but every word carried weight. "Like me, he can be a tool for you. A weapon. If you spare him." He knew that Zabuza wouldn't be swayed by compassion alone, that the man saw value in power and utility. If Kimimaro's life was to be spared, it would be as a means to an end—a tool with the potential to become a weapon worth wielding.

Zabuza's grip on the blade tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like he would ignore Haku's plea. But then he looked at Haku, and something shifted in his expression—a recognition, an understanding. He lowered the blade slowly, his face hardening back into its cold, emotionless state.

Zabuza's eyes narrowed, clearly seeing through Haku's words—he knew the boy's soft heart too well. But Haku was right; the Kaguya kid had potential, and potential meant power. And power could be bent, controlled, made useful. If the boy became a problem, Zabuza could always finish what he started. The blade lowered, the tip dipping toward the ground as he made his decision. "Fine," he muttered. "He lives. For now."

Just as Zabuza lowered his blade, seeming to reconsider sparing them, a group of Mist ninja emerged from the fog, their eyes locked on Kimimaro. There were too many—more than the trio could handle—and Zabuza knew it. He quickly stepped between Kimimaro and the approaching shinobi.

"Got another one here," one of the Mist ninja sneered, spotting Kimimaro. Zabuza's eyes narrowed, but his voice remained cold and controlled. "I'll handle this one," he said, raising his blade slightly for emphasis. "Go. Search for any other Kaguya that may have escaped."

The Mist ninja seemed hesitant, their eyes flickering to Kimimaro and then back to Zabuza. But Zabuza's reputation was enough to send them on their way. They nodded, turning back to continue their search. Zabuza looked like he was going to leave Kimimaro and Zarato behind, leaving their fates uncertain.

But then, one of the Mist ninja turned, a suspicion crossing his face as he glanced back. His gaze settled on Haku. "...And who will handle the Ice Release user?"

A death sentence in the Hidden Mist, which hunted down Kekkei Genkai users without mercy. The air grew thick with tension, and every eye turned to Haku, who froze under the weight of their stares.

Haku's heart pounded against his chest, and for just a moment, a flicker of fear passed through his eyes. He could feel the weight of every gaze upon him, feel the noose tightening around his neck as the Mist ninja stared.

In a flash, a kunai was flung toward Haku, aimed directly at his head. But before it could reach its mark, Zarato threw himself in the way, instinctively raising his arms. The kunai struck him deep in the shoulder, blood pouring from the wound. The impact forced a cry from his lips, but the kunai stopped short of Haku, sparing him.

Zarato's mind raced even as his body moved on instinct. "First Kimimaro, then the Ice User—then it'll be my turn. Won't take them long to figure out what I really am. I need the boy to live if I want to survive." he thought. He barely registered the pain as the kunai sank into his shoulder; the only thing that mattered was keeping Haku breathing—and keeping another target between him and those Mist ninja.

Zabuza's eyes blazed with rage as he moved. With a single sweeping motion, he pushed the nearest Mist ninja aside, knocking them off balance. "Idiots!" he hissed, weaving hand seals rapidly. In seconds, the mist around them thickened, swirling until it was nearly impossible to see. The ninja around them staggered, their senses overwhelmed by the sudden wall of fog.

"Haku," Zabuza said sharply, voice cutting through the haze. "We're running. Now."

"But what about—" Haku started, glancing toward Kimimaro and Zarato, the former still frozen in shock, the latter gasping through the pain of the kunai lodged in his shoulder.

"Follow us!" Haku shouted back to them, urgency in his voice. There was no time for questions, no time for hesitation.

Zarato grabbed Kimimaro by the arm, pulling him with a strength born of desperation. The boy felt like a ghost in his grasp—cold, hollow, a shell of the fighter he had been moments ago. "Come on," Zarato urged, his voice cutting through the thick silence. Kimimaro's eyes flickered, life returning to them for just a moment, and he nodded, pushing the weight of despair aside. Together, they followed Zabuza and Haku into the mist.

Together, they bolted through the thick mist, Zabuza leading the way with Haku at his side. Their figures disappeared into the swirling fog, leaving the confused shouts of the pursuing Mist ninja far behind them.

The shouts of the pursuing Mist ninja faded behind them, first turning into distant murmurs, then swallowed entirely by the mist.

And so, they ran—Kimimaro, the last of the Kaguya; Zarato, the unknown boy with a power he barely understood; Haku, a hunted Ice Release User, last of the Yuki Clan; and Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist. Together, they fled through the blood-soaked streets of the Hidden Mist Village.