Naruto: You Call This Guy the Savior?!

After he completed the exchange, his attribute panel changed immediately:

Ninjutsu: 4

Taijutsu: 3

Genjutsu: 1→3

Intelligence: 8

Strength: 4

Speed: 2

Stamina: 4

Seals: 5

Chakra Nature:

Fire: 6→7 Water: 1 Earth: 2 Wind: 3 Lightning: 2 Yin: 1→2 Yang: 1

Three stats had improved all at once; one could only say that the Uchiha Bloodline truly lived up to its reputation.

Of course, this was primarily due to the bonuses brought about by activating the Sharingan; once deactivated, he would revert to his original state.

Although it was only a One-Tomoe Sharingan, it was currently enough to see through the genjutsu cast by Haku.

Haku constantly shifted his position within the Ice Mirrors, only to discover with astonishment that Keiichi's gaze was locked tightly onto him, as if he had seen through all his tricks.

Suddenly, he began to feel a hint of regret; he should have just killed him outright earlier, or else there wouldn't have been so many variables!

Naruto gradually lost his way in the thick fog, but fortunately, he was clever enough to come up with a solution immediately.

Multi-Shadow Clone Technique!

Since Momochi Zabuza's lair was nearby anyway, he didn't believe he wouldn't find it if he searched with a wide net!

Sure enough, it didn't take long for one of Naruto's clones to locate the lair, and Naruto, overjoyed, rushed over immediately.

He didn't care about potential traps and charged headlong into the building. In truth, Haku hadn't had enough time to set any, so Naruto encountered no obstacles and quickly entered the first room.

But when he opened the door, he immediately covered his mouth, nearly vomiting on the spot!

Corpses, nothing but corpses!

Judging by their clothing, these were clearly villagers from the nearby area. He had heard rumors of villagers going missing recently, but he never expected to find them all here!

Damn you, Momochi Zabuza, what on earth are you doing! Why would you lay a hand on ordinary people!

Naruto was furious, but when he saw the full extent of the room, his rage became uncontrollable!

If Momochi Zabuza had killed these people to recover his health, he might have been able to understand it, but when he saw the blood flowing from all the corpses being absorbed by a damaged long blade, he understood everything in an instant.

To restore this weapon, he had actually taken so many lives!

No, Momochi Zabuza was critically wounded and dying; it was impossible for him to have captured so many villagers himself. It must have been that guy named Haku!

Unforgivable!

Absolutely unforgivable!

Naruto suddenly felt an urge to turn back and fight Haku to the death, to demand why he held human life in such low regard.

But just then, he remembered Keiichi's instructions: everyone's lives were entrusted to him. If he failed his mission, everyone would die!

It wouldn't be too late to finish off Momochi Zabuza first!

He continued up the stairs until he reached the fifth room. Smelling the scent of medicinal herbs through the door crack, he pushed it open impatiently and, sure enough, saw Momochi Zabuza lying on the bed.

"I didn't expect it to be you. To think that I, Momochi Zabuza, would end up dying at the hands of a brat—how amusing." Momochi Zabuza looked up, his tone carrying a faint trace of self-mockery.

"Sorry, but to save everyone, I have to do this." Naruto raised his kunai with both hands, saying with some reluctance.

Momochi Zabuza closed his eyes and said nothing more, as if waiting for death.

However, as second after second ticked by, Naruto's raised arms never descended.

"What are you waiting for?"

"I..." Naruto felt lost; he didn't know why his hands wouldn't obey him.

In his mind, a voice kept echoing: Does this person really have to die? Won't I regret killing him?

"Hey, brat, don't tell me you've never killed anyone before?" Seeing Naruto's bewildered expression, Momochi Zabuza found it somewhat laughable.

"So... so what if I haven't..."

"I have. I've killed many people since I was a child, including my most trusted friend. I am a heinous villain; you don't need to carry any psychological burden for killing me."

Naruto gritted his teeth, but he still couldn't bring himself to strike.

"People from the Leaf Village have been at peace for too long; they've long forgotten what a ninja should be. If even a loser like you can be a ninja, the Leaf Village is truly in decline. I advise you to change professions early. You don't even dare to kill someone; you simply aren't cut out for this."

"Nonsense! I am the one who will become Hokage! I will be a ninja for the rest of my life!"

"Then come and kill me! Kill me, Momochi Zabuza, and you'll become famous! You'll earn everyone's respect! They will come one after another to challenge you, killing you with full respect so they can earn a title. Isn't that how the rules of the ninja world work? Hahahaha!" Momochi Zabuza laughed maniacally, his eyes wide open.

Naruto's grip on the kunai was slick with sweat. He closed his eyes, recalling the scenes he had witnessed downstairs to steel his resolve.

To stop this guy from killing more people, I must kill him!

Yet, another voice whispered: When will the cycle of vengeance end? You kill me, I kill you—isn't that how the strife of the ninja world began? Communication. The ninja world needs communication.

What was truly right? Naruto was utterly lost.

"A piece of trash like you dares to try and kill me? Then go to hell."

Zabuza surged up from the bed, a wave of intense killing intent radiating from his body. Even though his limbs were incapacitated, that sheer aura alone forced Naruto to stumble back several steps, his face turning deathly pale.

This was Zabuza. How could he have forgotten just how terrifying this man was?

In the next instant, Zabuza lunged forward, mouth agape to reveal bared, jagged teeth.

Even without hands or feet, I still have my teeth. My body is the ultimate weapon!

It was a hair's breadth away; had Naruto not instinctively stepped back, his throat would have been torn out!

Is this what it means to be a ninja? To kill you with every ounce of strength, even at the brink of death?

Knowing the opponent was severely wounded and that the advantage was his, Naruto was still so suppressed by the killing intent that he couldn't bring himself to strike.

Heh, if you don't have the guts to kill, I can do it for you.

A voice appeared inexplicably in Naruto's mind—a tone he had never heard before.

I don't need your help!

If Zabuza doesn't die, your companion will be the one to die instead.

Naruto fell silent. He could not betray the expectations his companions had for him...

After so long, someone had finally looked at him as an equal; he couldn't go back to the way things were...

Then I'll leave it to you, Naruto thought, feeling a wave of exhaustion.

He was tired—so tired—and didn't want to think about these things anymore.

In the next moment, a dense, almost tangible chakra surged from within him, coalescing in mid-air into the image of a Nine-Tails fox.

The malevolent aura erupted, effortlessly blowing away the killing intent Zabuza had unleashed. This time, it was Zabuza's turn to break into a cold sweat.

How did this guy suddenly change into a completely different person?

You...

Who exactly are you?

"Kill you... I'm going to kill you!" Naruto raised his head, his blood-red slit pupils locked onto Zabuza. He was a completely different person.

His fingers extended into crimson claws, formed entirely from chakra so dense it was visible to the naked eye. Even the experienced Zabuza couldn't identify what kind of ninjutsu this was.

He could only rely on the combat instincts honed over years to sense the immense danger.

But with his current body, how could he possibly dodge?

So, in the end, I'm still going to die...

With fingers held like a blade, Naruto thrust forward. Just as he was about to pierce Zabuza's abdomen, a figure suddenly blocked his path, taking the fatal blow in his stead.

It was Haku.

Who else could it be but Haku?

Sensing the eruption of killing intent, Haku had abandoned the battlefield and rushed back with everything he had, arriving just in the nick of time.

As the mask slid away to reveal Haku's true face, Naruto froze in place. The Nine-Tails Chakra faded rapidly, as if the scene just moments ago had been nothing more than a hallucination.

Only the sight of Haku, body run through and the light fading from his eyes, told Naruto that everything he had just witnessed was real.

He...

He had killed someone.

Chapter 22: Taking Advantage of a Crisis

"Hahaha, as expected of my tool, so obedient!"

"Aside from not having enough brains, you're practically perfect!"

"Idiot, a complete and utter idiot."

"In my current state, I have no combat power; if I die, I die."

"What was the point of blocking that strike for me? Once you're dead, I'll die anyway. This is the stupidest choice you could have made!"

"I've taught you for so long—do you have any idea how much of my investment you've just thrown away?"

"You fool, I really raised you for nothing!"

"And you're still smiling? Smiling so hideously... I've told you so many times not to smile like that."

"I'm not going to collect your corpse! Go be a lonely ghost!"

At first, Zabuza was still shouting loudly, even forgetting the agonizing pain in his legs as he kicked lightly at Haku's arm, as if trying to wake him up.

But as Haku's breath gradually faded, Zabuza's tone grew increasingly low. He stared at Haku's face, his gaze becoming dull and vacant.

It felt as if he had turned into a nagging parent, rambling on and on; he wondered when he had become so long-winded, yet he found himself unable to stop.

Haku's eyes reflected the man's face, and he knew he was dying.

Zabuza-sama, thank you for using me as your tool; in this world, you were the only ninja willing to accept someone with my Kekkei Genkai...

Blood choked his throat, rendering Haku unable to speak, so he could only force a smile—a smile Zabuza had taught him hundreds of times before he finally mastered it.

He had once said—

This smile can make others lower their guard against you.

Yet, for some reason, in these final moments, he found his facial muscles unresponsive, and his smile was no longer quite right.

It felt just like the first time he met Zabuza, when he had smiled exactly like this after being told he was needed; he had almost forgotten what that felt like.

Zabuza, over all these years, have I been a competent tool?

I'm sorry... I've disappointed you again...

But without you, how am I supposed to go on living...

His thoughts cut off, and Haku drew his final breath.

Did I kill someone?

Naruto was completely stunned.

"Ugh..."

Immediately after, his stomach churned violently, and he uncontrollably vomited a mouthful of bile, his face turning deathly pale.

From the day he had vowed to become a ninja, hadn't he already prepared himself to kill? Why, now that it had happened, did he feel so caught off guard?

Even though this was a first for every ninja, he had never expected it to feel this agonizing.