Reaching an Understanding

"Stop. You've run out of chakra."

Kakashi looked at Haku. "If you keep forcing yourself to use jutsu, you'll die."

Haku knew that, but he had no choice.

"I think you'd better stop, too."

Naruto's voice rang out. He emerged from the thick mist, holding Zabuza, who dangled limply in his grasp. He moved a kunai back and forth against Zabuza's neck. "Unless you want Zabuza to suffer."

"Lord Zabuza... lost."

Seeing Zabuza unconscious but still alive in Naruto's hand, Haku suddenly collapsed.

Kakashi couldn't help letting out a long sigh of relief. His chakra was almost gone, too; he could manage at most two more C-rank jutsu. "Good work, Naruto."

Naruto was pleased by Kakashi's praise and chuckled. He pulled out two sealing scrolls, unrolled them to use as ropes, and tied Haku up as well.

"Why are you alone?"

Kakashi asked, "Where are Sasuke, Sakura, and Mr. Tazuna?"

"Zabuza just used a Water Release technique with a pretty wide range. I was worried Uncle Tazuna might get hurt, so I used the Flying Thunder God Technique to send him home first."

Naruto explained, "As it happened, he ran into the samurai Gato had sent. If we'd gotten back any later, Tsunami and Inari might've been captured or killed. I was worried Gato might send more people after them, so I had Sasuke and Sakura stay at Uncle Tazuna's house with them."

Kakashi nodded, then asked Naruto, "What do you plan to do with these two?"

"Huh?"

Naruto was taken aback. "Kakashi-sensei, I was hoping to get your opinion. Why are you asking me?"

"They're both people you defeated, so it's only natural that you decide what to do with them."

Kakashi spoke seriously. "I don't mind whether you kill them, let them go, or take them back to Konoha."

"I don't want to kill them, but I can't let them go, either."

Naruto thought it over. "Let's take them back to the village for now."

Kakashi nodded. "I'll explain things to the Third Hokage."

Just as they were about to leave with Zabuza and Haku, Gato came toward them from the other end of the bridge, accompanied by a group of samurai.

"You were so arrogant when you were boasting, but you lost so miserably."

Leaning on his cane and surrounded by a crowd, Gato slowly approached. "You've disappointed me, Zabuza."

Zabuza lay quietly without reacting.

This was Kakashi's first time meeting Gato. He had no particular thoughts about him and calmly asked, "You're Gato, I take it? What brings you here with so many people?"

"What do you think? We're here to deal with you, of course."

Gato smirked, completely at ease. The samurai behind him gave him plenty of confidence. "I've always hated ninja. They charge a fortune, and there's always the risk they'll betray you. They're nothing but trouble."

Gato gripped one end of his cane with both hands and slammed the other end against the ground. "But missing-nin are different. They're cheap, and they'll fight against ordinary ninja like you. I'd been planning to wait until you'd worn each other down, then overwhelm you with sheer numbers and finish you all off. That would've saved me a fortune."

"Unfortunately, Zabuza was completely useless. He couldn't even make you break a sweat, let alone wear you down."

Gato shook his head, looking regretful. "And they call him the Demon of the Hidden Mist? I'd say he should be called the Clown of the Hidden Mist."

"That's what he says."

Naruto spoke to Zabuza, who was lying on the ground. "You've got a pretty awful client."

"...It's not so bad. Since leaving the Hidden Mist, I've run into plenty of situations like this over the years."

Zabuza rolled over like a beached fish and struggled to sit up. "There's no need for us to keep fighting. Can you untie me?"

"Hmm... all right, but only you."

Naruto thought for a second, then removed the sealing scrolls wrapped around Zabuza. "I left a jutsu formula on you, though. Even if you run, we'll catch up to you right away."

"Don't worry. I won't run. It's the last bit of dignity I have as the loser."

Zabuza pulled out a kunai and unleashed a chilling killing intent at Gato and the samurai. "But you lot shouldn't think you'll make it out of here alive!"

With that, Zabuza became like a demon and began cutting through them one by one. Even without Kubikiribōchō, and despite having used up most of his chakra, Zabuza still had the combat ability of a jōnin. Killing ordinary people without chakra was no harder than waving his hand.

Naruto watched in silence as the people before him fell one after another. The smell of blood gradually mingled with the mist around them.

"Watch carefully. That's what ninja are really like."

Kakashi spoke somewhat coldly. "Ninja have always been people who take the lives of others. If you don't fully understand that, then changing the Ninja World is out of the question."

Naruto watched as Zabuza became stained with blood. His eyes showed no reluctance or numbness, only the calm of someone who understood it all. "I understand."

About half an hour later, only four people remained alive on the bridge.

Zabuza slowly walked over. The blood on him was beginning to dry, and he no longer seemed as intimidating as before.

"Hey, kid."

Zabuza stopped in front of Naruto. "What are you going to do with me and Haku?"

"I was going to take you back to Konoha and hand you over to Grandpa Third."

Naruto looked at the bodies on the bridge. "But now Gato's dead, and someone needs to manage the fortune he left behind."

Zabuza asked, "You want us to manage Gato's fortune for you?"

Naruto didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "I heard missing-nin usually slash their Forehead Protectors. Why didn't you?"

Zabuza fell silent. After a long while, he finally spoke. "I never betrayed the Hidden Mist. Some people in the Hidden Mist betrayed me. One day, I'll go back and turn it into the place I want it to be."

"So that's your ambition."

Kakashi asked, "You want to become Mizukage?"

Zabuza answered, "That's right."

"What a coincidence. I want to become Hokage, too!"

Naruto grinned. "Uncle Zabuza, let's make a deal. I'll let you and Haku go, and you'll manage Gato's inheritance properly. We'll use part of the money you earn to help you return to the Hidden Mist and become Mizukage, and the rest to help me become Hokage."

Zabuza agreed without hesitation. "Deal."

Kakashi watched the two reach an understanding in silence, feeling rather troubled. "How am I supposed to explain this to the Third when we get back...?"

Naruto and Zabuza talked a little longer. Then Naruto removed the sealing scrolls from Haku, and all four of them cleaned up the bridge together.

By the time they finished, it was noon.

Naruto sent Zabuza and Haku to take over Gato's inheritance, then returned with Kakashi to Tazuna's house for lunch.

When Tazuna learned that Gato and all the samurai under him were gone, he immediately shared the good news with his companions. After that, construction of the bridge sped up considerably.

Another six days passed in the blink of an eye, and the bridge in the Land of Waves was finally completed. Team 7's first C-rank mission was also coming to an end.