Mission End

Haku said dejectedly, "Kill me, Naruto. To Master Zabuza, I am already a useless tool."

Naruto looked at Haku's dead eyes and asked, "Is Zabuza really that important to you?"

Haku replied, "To me, Master Zabuza is everything in my life. Now that I have been defeated by you, I am a tool no longer needed by Master Zabuza."

Naruto replied excitedly, "That way of thinking is wrong. You are a human, not a tool. If Zabuza only treated you as a tool, then he wouldn't be worth you laying down your life for. I still remember what you told me; Zabuza is the person you want to protect, right?"

Just as Haku was about to answer Naruto, he suddenly seemed to sense something and said hurriedly, "It seems I can still do one last thing for Master Zabuza." With that, he vanished before Naruto using the Body Flicker Technique. Naruto sensed it too, and immediately pursued him using the Flying Thunder God.

It turned out that while Kakashi was fighting Zabuza, he had sensed the Nine-Tails chakra from Naruto. Although Kakashi knew from Naruto's files that he could control the Nine-Tails, he was still very nervous about such a situation.

Therefore, to finish Zabuza off as quickly as possible, Kakashi summoned the Ninja Eight Hounds, used their sense of smell to pin Zabuza down, and 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 block in front of him. Kakashi was startled by Haku's action, but he could no longer hold back his strike.

However, Naruto appeared immediately after and punched Kakashi's arm, successfully deflecting the Chidori. Although the strike was deflected, it still pierced through Haku and Zabuza's left arm.

Kakashi looked at Naruto in confusion and said, "Do you know what you are doing, Naruto? Don't you know they are the enemy?"

Naruto looked at Kakashi and said, "Kakashi-sensei, I hope you can spare Brother Haku. He is a good person; he was just being used by Zabuza. Besides, Zabuza isn't a bad person either."

At this, Zabuza laughed loudly, "Hahaha, I never expected Konoha to have such an idiot. It seems my life isn't meant to end here after all."

Haku struggled to help Zabuza up and said with concern, "Master Zabuza, are you alright?" No sooner had Haku helped him up than he fainted.

Zabuza looked at the unconscious Haku without a care, picked up his Kubikiribōchō, and prepared to fight Kakashi again. Naruto couldn't stand it anymore; he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear before Zabuza and struck him hard in the abdomen, sending him flying.

Naruto quickly checked Haku's injuries and found that he had merely fainted from chakra exhaustion and blood loss. With proper rest, he would be fine by today.

Naruto said angrily to Zabuza, "Even now you are still thinking about the mission? Don't you care about Haku's life or death at all?"

After struggling to stand, Zabuza sneered, "Heh, why should I care? He is just a tool I picked up. Besides, the primary duty of a ninja is to complete the mission. A mission not completed is a tool without value—a tool no one needs."

Naruto said in disbelief, "Is he really just a weapon in your heart?"

Zabuza sneered, "Don't say Haku is just a tool; even I am merely a tool meant to complete missions. In this ninja world, every ninja is just a weapon for completing missions."

Naruto could understand Zabuza's mentality, for in his past life he was also an assassin. He understood that whether as a ninja or an assassin, the essence was the same.

But it was precisely because he understood that he wanted to change the nature of this ninja world. People should not live only for missions; they should live for hope.

So, Naruto said to Zabuza with fury, "Your thinking is wrong. It is precisely because ninjas live for missions that so much sorrow and hatred are triggered. We are humans, not tools living only for missions. If you truly believe you are just a tool, then why do you feel sorrow for Haku?"

Zabuza said with a hint of panic, "How could I feel sorrow? This world has always been like this, people die every day. What is there for me to be sad about?"

Naruto said firmly, "You cannot lie to me. I feel that your emotions are filled with sorrow; you cannot escape my perception. I am a Jinchuriki, and furthermore, I am of the Uzumaki Clan. Whether your emotions are sorrowful or not cannot escape my senses. Even if your mouth refuses to admit it, can you lie to your heart?"

Zabuza looked into Naruto's firm eyes and was momentarily stunned. He recalled the scene of when he first met Haku and the time they had spent together.

Zabuza said desolately, "Perhaps I am the one who is actually needed." Naruto was very happy to see that Zabuza finally had the courage to face his true inner thoughts.

Just then, a very annoying voice rang out, "What ninjas, what Demon? You can't even handle a few brats, and you cost me so much money to hire!"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Gato arriving on the bridge with a gang of thugs. Zabuza frowned and said, "What is the meaning of this?"

Gato sneered arrogantly, "Heh, I mean you are truly useless. You can't even handle a few brats, and this brat even dared to hit me. Today, none of you are leaving."

Zabuza said coldly, "You are going back on our contract, then?"

Gato laughed, "I never intended to honor any damn contract. Hahaha. Get them, kill them all!" Seeing Gato's men approach, Naruto prepared to move.

At this moment, Inari arrived on the bridge with a large group of villagers holding clubs. Inari said, "Fellow villagers, for the sake of our hope, we must fight this bully Gato!"

Naruto looked at the group with gratification, thinking, They have finally gathered the courage to fight for their own tomorrow.

Naruto smiled at Inari and said, "Inari, I am very happy that you could gather the courage to resist. But leave the rest to me."

At this, Zabuza said, "Let me do it. Since he dared to break the rules, I will let him know the price of doing so."

Naruto said with concern, "But your injuries..."

Zabuza laughed, "Heh, although my injuries are a bit heavy, killing them is still quite simple."

Naruto replied, "Alright then, but spare Gato's life. I want all his assets; these assets belong to the people of the Land of Waves. And the breach-of-contract fee he owes you."

After Zabuza nodded, he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind a wandering samurai. With a swift motion of the Kubikiribōchō in his right hand, he took the man's head. Before Gato's men could react, Zabuza vanished again, reappearing behind several more samurai and claiming more lives.

Naruto watched the massacre before him and sighed, "In this world, human life is truly a worthless thing."

Kakashi also sighed, "Sigh, this is the sorrow of this world."

Sasuke said coldly, "That is why we must change this world. I believe we can bring peace to it."

Naruto smiled confidently, "That's right, we will succeed."

Kakashi felt a sense of gratification hearing the conversation between Naruto and Sasuke. He thought to himself, If this world were truly at peace, then tragedies like those of Obito and Rin would never happen again, right?

By the time everyone regained their focus, Zabuza had already slaughtered all of Gato's men.

At this moment, Gato was kneeling before Zabuza, begging, "Please don't kill me, please don't kill me. I'll give you money, I'll give you as much as you want, just don't kill me."

Zabuza glanced at Gato, then walked to Naruto's side and picked up Haku, saying, "The rest is up to you."

Naruto laughed, "Hehe, leave it to me. I will squeeze out every last cent he has."

Zabuza ignored Naruto, carried Haku off the bridge, and Kakashi followed behind.

After everyone else had left, Naruto looked at Gato and said to Sasuke beside him, "Sasuke, it's our turn." With that, the two of them arrived in front of Gato.

Gato looked at the ill-intentioned Naruto and stammered nervously, "Y-y-you... what are you doing?"

Naruto flashed an evil grin and said, "Hehehe, nothing much. We aren't going to do anything to you; we just want to have a little chat about life."

Gato looked at Naruto's smile, his heart filled with terror. Moments later, Gato's screams echoed across the bridge.

At Tazuna's house, Haku woke up from his coma to find Zabuza sitting by the bedside watching him. Haku asked in confusion, "Zabuza-san, where are we?"

Zabuza said with pleasant surprise, "Haku, you're finally awake. Do you feel any discomfort?"

Although Haku found Zabuza's sudden concern strange, he was still very happy inside. Haku replied, "I'm fine, Zabuza-san. By the way, how did the mission go?"

Just then, Naruto walked in and said, "Heh, Big Brother Haku, you're awake. As for your mission, since that bastard Gato breached the contract, you don't need to carry it out anymore. Plus, I made Gato cough up a huge breach-of-contract fee."

Upon hearing Naruto's words, Haku looked at Zabuza in confusion. Seeing Haku look at him, Zabuza nodded and said, "Mm, just as the brat said. Gato breached the contract, so we no longer need to execute this mission."

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

Naruto also replied happily, "That's right, Big Brother Haku. We can be friends. Furthermore, you won't have to wander anymore, because Zabuza has already agreed to join our Konoha. From now on, we will all be ninjas of Konoha."

Haku said in surprise, "Zabuza-san, is what Naruto said true? You've decided to join Konoha, but will Konoha even take us in?"

Recalling what Naruto had said to him two days ago after handing over Gato's breach-of-contract fee, Zabuza smiled at Haku and said, "Mm, we'll go to Konoha from now on and never have to wander again. As for whether Konoha will take us in, Naruto will handle that."

Having received Zabuza's confirmation, Haku said joyfully, "That's wonderful! This way, Zabuza-san can finally settle down."

Seeing Haku's pure smile, Zabuza felt a sense of peace in his heart. He thought firmly to himself, Haku, I will protect this pure, white heart of yours.

(Why does it feel like things are taking a turn for the gay? )