Haku's Death

The instant Haku heard the sound of thunder, his entire body suddenly tensed.

The clones restraining him clearly felt the muscles beneath their hands harden like iron in an instant, followed by violent struggling.

"Lord Zabuza..."

Haku's voice changed abruptly. His previous composure and acceptance of fate vanished completely, replaced by frantic unease and urgency.

He twisted desperately, trying to break free from the clones' restraints, but several clones held his joints tightly, making every attempt at exertion futile.

"Let me go!"

Haku's voice turned shrill, carrying a despair that was on the verge of collapse. "Naruto, let me go. Lord Zabuza is in danger..."

Naruto glanced back at Haku and said flatly, "You're this worried because you think Zabuza will die at Kakashi-sensei's hands?"

"I don't know, but I can't let him die!"

For the first time, tears welled in Haku's eyes. All calm vanished from his delicate face, revealing the truest emotion beneath. "Everyone has something they want to protect... What I want to protect is Lord Zabuza!"

He raised his head to look at Naruto, his voice nearly a scream. "Naruto, let me go! Please!"

Naruto froze.

He knew Haku would block the Lightning Blade, and he naturally knew that Haku would die because of it.

According to the original plot, Haku's sacrifice would awaken the last shred of humanity deep within Zabuza's heart. Then Zabuza would rise up and kill Gato, before finally dying in the snow while holding Haku's corpse.

It was a tragedy, but it was also the emotional climax at the heart of the Land of Waves arc.

Should he change it?

Naruto weighed it for less than a second.

With that thought, Naruto slowly said, "Are you sure? Even if it means dying?"

Haku raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was incomparably firm. "I can do anything for Lord Zabuza!"

Naruto looked at the resolute eyes on Haku's unbelievably delicate face and fell silent for a moment.

He understood better than anyone what it felt like to risk one's life for someone.

In his previous life, that very impulse had gotten him killed.

But Haku's situation had nothing to do with those scum who oppressed the people. Haku was protecting the person who had truly pulled him out of hell.

Besides, he had only just transmigrated and had not even fully figured out his own situation. How could he have the mind to worry about others?

Thinking that, Naruto raised his hand and made a gesture.

The clones restraining Haku released him at the same time, then dissolved into puffs of white smoke that scattered through the air.

Haku sprang up from the ground. Even as he rose, he had already adjusted into a forward-charging stance.

Without any hesitation, he poured every last bit of Chakra into his legs and charged with all his strength toward the thick mist flickering with lightning.

As he passed Naruto's side, Haku tilted his head slightly and softly said one sentence.

"Thank you, Naruto."

His voice was very soft, so soft that the wind stirred up by his running drowned it out, yet Naruto heard it clearly.

There was gratitude in that voice, farewell, and the relief and happiness of finally being able to be useful to the person most important to him.

Naruto stood where he was, watching Haku's slender figure plunge into the thick mist like an arrow loosed from a bow. He ran farther and farther away, becoming blurrier and blurrier until the fog swallowed him completely.

You won't regret it, will you?

Naruto silently asked in his heart, then turned and walked toward Sasuke.

He did not need to interfere with what happened next.

Deep within the thick mist, lightning raged.

The Lightning Blade in Kakashi's hand had condensed to its peak, blue-white currents leaping madly across his palm.

The high-voltage light tore through the surrounding mist, leaving twisting streaks of light behind him and sharply illuminating the contours of Kakashi's perpetually lazy face.

Ahead, Zabuza was trapped by Earth Release and the Summoning Technique. The earth beneath his feet locked his legs tightly in place, and no matter how he struggled, he could not move an inch.

"It's over, Zabuza."

Kakashi spoke coldly, then pushed off the ground. His entire body became a streak of blue-white lightning as he stabbed straight toward Zabuza's chest.

At that very instant, a slender figure rushed into the thick mist from the side, charging directly toward the glow of the Lightning Blade like a moth flying into a flame.

The instant that figure appeared between Zabuza and Kakashi, he spread his arms wide and stood firmly in front of Zabuza like a shield.

Haku!

Kakashi's Sharingan contracted to its limit.

He wanted to stop, but the Lightning Blade was a high-speed thrusting technique. The faster it moved, the greater its destructive power. With less than a foot between them, there was no time at all.

"Damn it, it's too late..."

Before Kakashi could even finish the thought, the Lightning Blade had already pierced Haku's body.

Splat...

The sound of a palm piercing flesh rang out.

It was not loud, but it cut through the shriek of thunder, through the cover of the thick mist, and reached the ears of everyone present.

Kakashi's hand entered through the center of Haku's chest and emerged from his back.

Blood sprayed outward from the edges of the wound in a radial burst. Under the Lightning Blade's electric glow, it instantly evaporated into a crimson mist, then condensed into countless tiny droplets the next second and scattered in every direction with the impact.

Some of the blood droplets splashed onto Kakashi's face, while others landed on Zabuza's. Warm and sticky, they slowly slid down his cheeks.

Haku did not let out a single scream.

Blood poured from his mouth and dripped from his delicate chin.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but his throat had already been clogged by the blood surging up. Only a faint bubbling sound emerged.

Kakashi's mind went blank.

"This scene feels so familiar..."

"Rin..."

The thick mist began to disperse rapidly.

Zabuza's restraints were also released at that moment, or rather, Kakashi no longer had the strength to maintain the Chakra for Earth Release.

The instant his legs regained freedom, Zabuza spoke no unnecessary words and did not pause for even a moment to grieve Haku's sacrifice. He directly swung the Kubikiribōchō and viciously slashed down at Kakashi.

The massive blade sliced through the air with a piercing howl, carrying terrifying force capable of cleaving through rock.

The blade's glint carved a silver-white arc through the air, likewise reflecting Haku's figure lying in a pool of blood.

Kakashi came to his senses at the last possible moment.

Holding Haku's body, he twisted sharply aside. The edge of the Kubikiribōchō skimmed past his shoulder, cutting off a corner of his forehead protector as metal fragments scattered through the air.

Kakashi held Haku's corpse and retreated several steps in succession, opening up distance.

He raised his head, and the look in his eyes as he stared at Zabuza changed completely.

"You would even cut down the corpse of your most important companion along with me, Zabuza."

Kakashi spoke, his voice icy. "You're even less human than I thought."

Zabuza said nothing.

No expression could be seen on his bandage-wrapped face. Only when his exposed eyes saw Haku's deathly pale face did something seem to shatter in their depths.