The Mission's End

Haku said sadly, "Kill me, Naruto. I've become a useless tool to Mr. Zabuza."

Naruto looked into Haku's lifeless eyes. "Is Mr. Zabuza really that important to you?"

Haku responded, "Mr. Zabuza is everything to me. Now that you've defeated me, I'm no longer a tool he needs."

Naruto replied passionately, "You're wrong. You're a person, not a tool. If Zabuza only sees you as a tool, then he doesn't deserve for you to risk your life for him. I still remember what you told me. Zabuza is the person you want to protect, right?"

Haku was about to answer Naruto when he suddenly seemed to sense something. He hurriedly said, "It seems I can still do one last thing for Mr. Zabuza." Then he vanished in a Body Flicker Technique. Naruto sensed it too and pursued him with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

It turned out that while Kakashi was fighting Zabuza, he had sensed Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra. Although Kakashi knew from Naruto's file that Naruto could control the Nine-Tails, he was still very worried.

So, to finish off Zabuza as quickly as possible, Kakashi summoned the Ninja Eight Hounds. Using their keen sense of smell, they caught Zabuza, and Kakashi prepared to finish him with Chidori.

Just as Kakashi's Chidori was about to pierce Zabuza's heart, Haku used the Body Flicker Technique to jump in front of him. Kakashi was startled by Haku's move, but he couldn't stop in time.

Naruto appeared right behind him and punched Kakashi's arm, knocking the Chidori off course just in time. Though Kakashi's Chidori was deflected, it still pierced Haku's and Zabuza's left arms.

Kakashi looked at Naruto in confusion. "Do you know what you're doing, Naruto? Don't you know they're our enemies?"

Naruto looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, I hope you'll spare Haku. He's a good person; Zabuza was just using him. Besides, Zabuza isn't a bad person either."

Zabuza laughed loudly. "Hahaha! I never thought Konoha would have such a fool. Looks like it's not my time to die!"

Haku struggled to help Zabuza up and asked with concern, "Mr. Zabuza, are you all right?" As soon as Haku had helped him up, he passed out.

Zabuza glanced at Haku, lying unconscious on the ground, and ignored him. He picked up his sword, ready to fight Kakashi again. Unable to bear it any longer, Naruto used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Zabuza and punched him hard in the stomach, sending him flying.

Naruto quickly checked Haku's injuries and found that he had only passed out from depleted chakra and blood loss. He'd be fine after resting for the day.

Naruto angrily said to Zabuza, "You're still thinking about the mission? Don't you care whether Haku lives or dies?"

Zabuza struggled to his feet and sneered. "Heh. What's there to care about? He's just a tool I picked up. Besides, a ninja's first priority is completing the mission. If you fail, you're a worthless tool, unwanted by anyone."

Naruto stared at him in disbelief. "So in your heart, he's nothing but a weapon?"

Zabuza sneered. "Don't say Haku is the only tool. I'm just a weapon used to complete missions, too. In this ninja world, every ninja is just a weapon for carrying out missions."

Naruto could understand Zabuza's thinking. In his previous life, he had been an assassin, and he understood that being a ninja and being an assassin were essentially the same.

But precisely because he understood, he wanted to change the nature of the ninja world. People shouldn't live only for their missions. They should live for hope.

So Naruto said furiously, "You're wrong. It's because ninjas live only for their missions that they cause so much sorrow and hatred. We're people, not tools that live only for missions. If you really think you're just a tool, then why do you feel sad for Haku?"

Zabuza looked flustered. "How could I possibly feel sad? That's just how this world is. People die every day. What do I have to be sad about?"

Naruto replied firmly, "You can't fool me. I can sense the sadness in your emotions. You can't escape my perception. I'm a Jinchuriki, and I'm also an Uzumaki. I can sense whether you're sad or not. Even if you won't admit it, can you fool your own heart?"

Zabuza stared into Naruto's resolute eyes and froze. He remembered the first time he'd met Haku and the times they'd spent together.

Zabuza said dejectedly, "Maybe I'm the one who needs him." Naruto was glad that Zabuza had finally found the courage to face his true feelings.

Just then, an especially irritating voice rang out. "What kind of ninja are you? What kind of Demon? You can't even deal with a few brats, and you made me spend so much money hiring you!"

Everyone turned toward the voice. Gato had arrived on the bridge with a group of men. Zabuza frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Gato sneered arrogantly. "Heh, I mean you're useless. You couldn't even deal with a few brats, and this brat even dared to hit me. None of you are leaving here alive today."

Zabuza said coldly, "Are you planning to break the terms of our contract?"

Gato laughed. "I never intended to honor any damn contract. Hahaha! Get them! Kill them!" As Gato's men charged forward, Naruto was about to attack.

Just then, Inari arrived on the bridge with a large group of people, all carrying clubs. Inari said, "Everyone, for the sake of our hope, we have to fight Gato, this tyrant!"

Naruto looked at them with relief. They finally found the courage to stand up for their future.

Naruto smiled at Inari. "Inari, I'm glad you found the courage to fight back. But leave what comes next to me."

Zabuza said, "Let me handle this. He dared to break the rules, so I'll show him the price of doing that."

Naruto asked worriedly, "But what about your injuries?"

Zabuza smiled. "Heh, I'm hurt pretty badly, but killing them will still be easy."

"All right, then," Naruto replied. "But spare Gato. I want all his assets. They belong to the people of the Land of Waves. And I want the penalty he owes you for breaking the contract."

Zabuza nodded, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind one of the wandering samurai. His Kubikiribōchō came down in a single stroke, taking the man's head. Before Gato's men could react, Zabuza vanished again and reappeared behind several samurai, taking more lives.

Naruto watched the slaughter and sighed. "Human life really is worthless in this world."

Kakashi sighed too. "Yeah. That's the tragedy of this world."

Sasuke said coldly, "That's why we have to change it. I believe we can bring peace to this world."

Naruto smiled confidently. "That's right. We'll succeed."

Kakashi listened to Naruto and Sasuke and looked pleased. If this world really did find peace, tragedies like what happened to Obito and Rin wouldn't happen again.

By the time everyone came to their senses, Zabuza had already killed all of Gato's men.

Gato was now kneeling before Zabuza, begging. "Please don't kill me! Please, don't kill me! I'll give you money. As much as you want. Just don't kill me!"

Zabuza glanced at Gato, then walked over to Naruto and picked Haku up. "I'll leave the rest to you."

Naruto grinned. "Hehe, leave it to me. I'll strip him of everything he owns."

Zabuza paid Naruto no further attention. He carried Haku off the bridge, and Kakashi followed them.

Once everyone had left, Naruto looked at Gato and said to Sasuke, "Sasuke, it's our turn." Then the two of them walked over to Gato.

Gato looked at Naruto's malicious expression and stammered nervously, "Y-you... What are you going to do?"

Naruto gave him an evil grin. "Hehehe, nothing much. We won't do anything to you. We just want to have a little chat about life."

Gato was filled with fear at the sight of Naruto's smile. After that, screams rang out from the bridge.

At Tazuna's house, Haku woke from his unconsciousness and saw Zabuza sitting beside the bed, watching him. Confused, Haku asked, "Mr. Zabuza, where are we?"

Zabuza said excitedly, "Haku, you're finally awake! Does anything hurt?"

Haku was puzzled by Zabuza's sudden concern, but he was happy all the same. "I'm fine, Mr. Zabuza. By the way, what happened to the mission?"

Naruto walked in just then. "Hehe, Haku, you're awake. As for your mission, that bastard Gato broke the contract, so you don't have to carry it out anymore. I also made him pay a huge penalty."

Haku looked at Zabuza in confusion. Seeing Haku turn to him, Zabuza nodded. "Yes, it's just like that brat said. Gato broke the contract, so we don't have to carry out the mission anymore."

Haku said happily, "So we don't have to be enemies with Naruto and the others anymore?"

Naruto answered happily too. "That's right, Haku. We can be friends now. And you don't have to wander anymore, either. Zabuza has agreed to join us in Konoha, so we'll all be Konoha ninjas from now on."

Haku was surprised. "Mr. Zabuza, is what Naruto said true? You've decided to join Konoha? But will Konoha take us in?"

Zabuza thought back to two days ago, when Naruto had handed him Gato's penalty money and spoken with him. He smiled at Haku. "Yes. We'll go to Konoha, and we won't have to wander anymore. As for whether Konoha will take us in, Naruto will handle it."

Reassured by Zabuza's confirmation, Haku said happily, "That's wonderful. Now Mr. Zabuza can finally settle down."

Seeing Haku's pure smile, Zabuza felt at peace as well. Haku, I'll protect your pure heart.

(Why does this feel like the start of a romance? )