Momochi Zabuza, once a renowned ninja who had dominated the battlefield, now looked utterly exhausted. He gave Haku beside him a deep look, a hint of resolve flashing through his eyes. Then he slowly raised his hands in surrender. "Have it your way..." His voice was low and hoarse, filled with helplessness and unwillingness.
After his battle with Naruto Uzumaki and Haku's two reckless acts of throwing himself in front of him, Momochi Zabuza's heart underwent a profound change. He began to reevaluate his relationship with Haku. The bond that had once been based solely on missions and mutual benefit now seemed so pale and powerless.
Just then, a hurried rush of footsteps shattered the silence. Gato, the wealthy man who had hired Momochi Zabuza, had been alarmed by Naruto's earth-shaking Jujutsu, Azure, and hurried to the scene with a group of subordinates.
He had assumed that nothing more than an ordinary gunpowder explosion had occurred here, but he never expected to witness such a scene: his most capable subordinate had actually chosen to surrender.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Zabuza." Gato's voice was cold and imposing. He widened his eyes and glared fixedly at Momochi Zabuza.
Gato's subordinates chimed in one after another, their eyes filled with contempt and mockery for Momochi Zabuza.
Momochi Zabuza turned toward Gato and asked in a low voice, "Gato, why are you here? And what's the meaning of bringing so many men with you?"
Gato tapped his cane and let out a cold laugh. "The battle plan has changed slightly. Sorry, Zabuza, but you'll have to die here."
Momochi Zabuza's eyes widened. He asked incredulously, "What did you say?"
Gato explained, "Hiring proper ninja would cost a fortune, which is why I hired a runaway ninja like you. And if you ninja kill one another, it saves me both time and money."
Then Gato spat and sneered, "Honestly, they called you the Demon of the Hidden Mist Village? What a joke. If you ask me, you're nothing more than a cute little brat."
The men behind Gato burst into laughter, as if they were watching an entertaining show.
"This is bad..." Kakashi muttered under his breath. His gaze swiftly swept over every person Gato had brought, trying to assess their strength and intentions.
Momochi Zabuza's expression darkened. He looked at Naruto Uzumaki and said, "Naruto Uzumaki, I'm sorry. I no longer have any reason to kill Tazuna."
Naruto nodded to show that he understood.
Gato slowly walked over to Haku. Looking at Haku, who lay dying in front of Momochi Zabuza, he revealed a vicious expression. "I still have a score to settle with him. He actually crushed my wrist before."
With that, he viciously kicked Haku in the face. Haku was already seriously wounded and unable to move, so he could only endure the kick.
Gato sneered. "Tch. Look at him, barely alive."
Naruto's expression darkened. He looked at Momochi Zabuza and asked, "Aren't you going to do something? He's your companion. Do you really regard him as nothing but a tool?"
"He's merely my tool," Momochi Zabuza replied indifferently.
Naruto continued, "But I can tell that he admires you deeply. He's even willing to give up his life for you."
Momochi Zabuza fell silent. He recalled how he had treated Haku as a tool in the past—as a pawn he could command at will, even sacrifice. But now, when he saw the helpless yet resolute look in Haku's eyes, he realized that he had been wrong. Horribly wrong.
Haku isn't a tool. He's my companion—the person I should cherish and protect. A firm resolve surged through Momochi Zabuza's heart. He no longer hesitated or felt lost. He knew what he should do, and he knew how to do it.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I've lost." Momochi Zabuza revealed a faint, relieved smile. Then his expression turned cold and resolute.
He abruptly turned around and seized the heavy sword beside him. Its blade glinted coldly in the sunlight. His movements were swift and decisive, every step striking the ground with a heavy thud.
"Gato!" Momochi Zabuza's low roar echoed through the air. He raised the greatsword high, his body like a black bolt of lightning as he charged at Gato.
At the sight of this, Gato's face instantly turned deathly pale. The arrogance and confidence in his eyes were replaced by fear.
"Quick! Stop him!" Gato shouted in panic. He retreated while ordering his subordinates forward to block Momochi Zabuza.
However, although those subordinates greatly outnumbered him, they seemed like lambs waiting for slaughter before Zabuza's fearsome momentum. One after another, they showed fear and dared not advance rashly.
Facing Momochi Zabuza, who looked like an evil demon, Gato was even more terrified out of his wits. He simply hid within the circle formed by his subordinates, hoping to use their numbers to withstand Zabuza's attack. However, this only enraged Zabuza even further.
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