Yuki Haku, Alive

Zabuza used the last of his strength to kill Gato, leaving Gato's men terrified. Zabuza had become the embodiment of a demon...

"Hmph, what the hell? Now that our employer's dead, why don't we loot everything valuable in this town? Hahaha..." Gato's men had realized their employer was finished. There was nothing they could do, but they couldn't have come all this way for nothing, so they might as well steal something...

"Ah..."

Just then, Inari rushed out with all the island's residents.

"If you take one more step onto the island, all the villagers will join forces and kill you!!!"

"Hmph, what a pain. Multiple Ice Clone Technique!!!" Issui said helplessly. He would use the Clone Technique to deal with these small fry...

"We'll help too. Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!!!" Naruto said as he ran over. Sasuke had also regained consciousness by then.

"Hmph, no helping it. Kakashi-style Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!!!" Kakashi stepped forward as well.

"Ah..." Gato's men fled in terror, nearly wetting themselves...

"Yeah, we won..." All the island's residents cheered happily...

"Looks like it's all over," Zabuza said quietly. It's as though everything has faded away. I'll be dead soon too, won't I?

"Yes. When you get down there, make sure you apologize to the villagers of Heaven Village. In your next life, try to be a ninja of flesh and blood. Then your path as a ninja won't be so lonely, Zabuza." Issui walked straight up to Zabuza as he spoke.

"Yeah. I always thought ninja existed as tools, but in the end, I let my feelings show. I was an idiot all along. I never knew why I existed, and only at the end did I understand that ninja should live with feelings too. Kid, do me a favor. I want to see her one last time," Zabuza said sadly. Haku, you don't hate me, do you?

"All right..." Issui pulled the weapons out of Zabuza one by one, then picked him up and carried him toward where Haku lay.

As Issui carried Zabuza toward Haku, heavy snow suddenly began to fall from the sky.

Zabuza stared at the falling snowflakes. Haku, is that you crying?

"Snow at a time like this is very rare!" Tazuna exclaimed.

Kakashi and the others were surprised too. After all, it was snowing in such mild weather.

Though the snow continued to fall, the sun shone brilliantly in the sky, its soft light spilling over everyone's faces.

"If I could, I'd really like to... go... to the same place as you..." Zabuza said, touching Haku's face.

"She was born in a snowy village." Naruto was moved to tears. Big sister, your wish finally came true. Zabuza has acknowledged you.

"Yes, a girl as pure white as snow..." Kakashi was somewhat moved as well.

"Cough, cough, cough. Am I dead?" Haku gradually regained consciousness.

What the heck was going on? Haku wasn't dead? Kakashi and the others were stunned, staring at the scene in surprise. This was too dramatic...

"Ahem, maybe Haku wasn't dead. She must have just lost consciousness earlier. I wasn't sure then, so I didn't let you cut her down along with me. I guess that saved her. If she gets emergency treatment now, she has a good chance of surviving. To handle emergencies in battle, I learned a little of the Medical Ninjutsu used by medical-nin. But Zabuza, you aren't going to make it. Your injuries are too severe, and I don't want to save you anyway. I came after you for revenge, after all." Issui smiled and scratched his head as he spoke.

"Ah, Lord Zabuza, what's wrong?" Haku was horrified to find that Zabuza was barely breathing. Even though he was alive, it was only a last flicker of life. Am I going to be abandoned again?

"Kid, I want to ask you a favor. Please save Haku. Haku... I'm almost gone now, but... I want to tell you... I'm sorry. I made you live through painful battles all this time, always existing as a tool... I'm a bastard... Can you forgive me?" A glow of joy appeared on Zabuza's face. Haku didn't die after all. Thank goodness. I'll bear this sin alone. Haku is someone who belongs in heaven. She can't go to hell with me...

"I've never blamed you, Lord Zabuza. Haven't I always existed as your tool? Please let me accompany you, even in death. I don't want to be abandoned again. I don't..." Tears streamed down Haku's face in anguish. Am I an ill-omened person? I've been abandoned again. Don't I even have the right to be a tool anymore?

"Haku... live... on..." Zabuza no longer had the strength to speak. He peacefully closed his eyes and passed away. Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, had left this world...

"Lord Zabuza..." Seeing Zabuza's eyes close, Haku felt a wrenching pain in her heart. In a daze, she pulled out a Senbon and quickly drove it toward her own heart...

Issui hurriedly snatched the Senbon away from her, then gave her a resounding slap. "You idiot! Zabuza didn't die. He entrusted his wish to live to you. He wants you to take him with you to witness the beauty of this world, to witness the day when ninja truly have feelings. Don't you understand? You idiot, you complete idiot!!!"

"Really? Is that what Lord Zabuza meant...?" As though she had suddenly found a lifesaving herb, Haku clutched Issui's clothes tightly.

"Yes. He'll see this ninja world again through your eyes. He died for you, so you have to carry his share with you and keep living, just like me. I carry the lives of my grandfather and all the villagers of Heaven Village with me as I live. That's why I'm so strong..." Issui shouted with all his might.

"Really?" Haku's eyes filled with light.

"Come on, change this ninja world with me. Let's fill the world of ninja with emotion and make everyone a being of flesh and blood. You'll carry Zabuza's share, and I'll carry the shares of my grandfather and all the villagers of Heaven Village. We have the same goal. We're the same kind of people. Then, as the sun rises, we'll witness the dawn of a new era in the ninja world. Anyone who has this dream won't be lonely. You're not living alone. Anyone who shares my dream is my companion. Haku, I hope to have someone like you as a companion too. Let's change the ninja world together..." Issui said passionately. This wasn't brainwashing, but the ninja path Issui truly wanted to follow. It would take the efforts of many people; he couldn't do it alone.

"Yes. May I join you? I want to work toward it with you. Lord Zabuza would want to see a fresh new ninja world like that too. Hello, I'm Yuki Haku." Haku held out her soft little hand to Issui, a smile returning to her face. Yes, I'll change this cold ninja world with Issui-kun. Lord Zabuza will be glad too, won't he?

"Hello, I'm Issui Kanna. Welcome aboard. Let's create a new world for ninja together. Come, let me introduce my lovely companions. Of course, they're your companions now too. Once you spend more time with them, you'll discover their good points..." Issui led Haku toward Kakashi and the others.

"I only just realized that Issui-kun is a huge smooth talker. He actually talked someone who wanted to die into living. But his dream really is great..." Sakura looked very surprised, making plenty of remarks about Issui's gift of the gab...

Kakashi nodded in full agreement. True, this guy's pretty good at picking up women. But are we going to bring this girl into the village? What a pain.

"Come on, Haku. This is Naruto. He's Konoha's most unpredictable ninja, as I'm sure you've experienced. This is Sasuke, the top rookie at the Ninja Academy this year, though he's always acting cool and he's really full of himself. This is Sakura. She probably doesn't have any good points, but her broad forehead is pretty cute. And this is Kakashi, known as Konoha's number one technician." Issui introduced every member of Team Kakashi to Haku.

"Hello, everyone..." Haku gave them a charming smile. Being with them wouldn't be bad either, would it?

Afterward, Tazuna expressed his gratitude to Issui and the others, and named the Land of Waves' great bridge the "Naruto Bridge." The Land of Waves story ended perfectly...

"Ah, we're finally back in Konoha. Come on, Haku. You need the old man's permission to settle down here. Let's go to the Hokage building together. Kakashi, come with us and put in a good word for Haku. And Naruto, if Grandpa Third doesn't agree, use your trump card." Issui looked at the Konoha Gate before him. He still wasn't sure whether Haku could stay in Konoha, and felt somewhat...

"All right," Kakashi said.

"It's fine, Sister Haku. You can stay here without worrying. With me, Naruto Uzumaki, on the job, there definitely won't be a problem!" Naruto shouted.

After arriving at the Hokage building, Issui and the others went straight into the Third Hokage's office. As Kakashi submitted the mission report, he also told the Third about Haku.

"An orphan of the Yuki, huh? This is difficult..." The Third frowned deeply. Although there were no Yuki left in Kirigakure, this could easily cause a diplomatic dispute. Still, diplomacy was merely a means for the great nations to wage war against one another. Kirigakure's strength had been greatly diminished by the successive destruction of its Kekkei Genkai clans, and it was currently focused on developing, with no strength to spare for other matters. If this girl lived in the village, the village's strength would increase, and Konoha would have the Yuki Kekkei Genkai in the future. With Kakashi's recommendation as well, this child should pose no problem.

"Grandpa Third, Haku definitely won't do anything to harm the village. When she fought Sasuke, even though they were enemies, she had no intention of killing him. She's a pure person, as white as snow. I swear it on my ninja way. I told her I'd have her witness the arrival of a ninja world truly filled with emotion alongside me." Issui clasped his hands tightly as he spoke.

"That's right, Grandpa Hokage. Sister Haku really is a good person. I, Naruto Uzumaki, can vouch for her!" Naruto said excitedly.

"Yes, Lord Third," Sakura added, giving her opinion too. Although Haku had hurt Sasuke, she had spared his life. It was clear she had no desire to hurt anyone and had only fought because she had to for Zabuza's sake.

"Ah, haha, it's not as if I disagree. But only the few of you know about Haku. Issui, I'll leave her in your care. Tell outsiders that she's also one of your subordinates. Don't let her show her ice attribute in front of others, or it could cause a diplomatic dispute. Of course, that rule isn't absolute. She doesn't have to follow it in battle. In time, everyone will come to accept her. Don't publicize the fact that she's joined Konoha. Understood?" The Third smiled kindly.

"Yeah, that's great!" Naruto was happy for Haku.

"I knew it would work out. Don't worry, Grandpa Third. Haku definitely won't cause you any trouble..." Issui made a victory sign at Haku.

"Hmph, she may not cause me trouble, but you're always causing me trouble. Still, you can't stay idle next. Don't take any missions before this year's Chunin graduation exam. Help maintain order during the exam instead. I might even have you proctor the final round. That would also serve as a deterrent to ninja from other countries. As Konoha's youngest Jonin, you can show foreign countries Konoha's enormous potential and strength," the Third said, narrowing his eyes.