I Want to Be Your Master

Haku's heart trembled violently when he heard those words. He launched an even fiercer attack, Senbon raining down on Naruto like a torrential storm.

Naruto blocked them using only basic taijutsu, every movement precise and perfectly timed. The Senbon swept past him, yet not one could harm him in the slightest.

Such an absolute gap in strength made Haku's attacks seem laughably ridiculous.

"You're angry," Naruto said as he effortlessly deflected the attacks. "Because I hit upon the truth you fear most deep down."

"I'm not!" Haku's voice trembled. "I am Zabuza-sama's tool! The meaning of my existence is to fight for him!"

"You're only fighting for his dream?"

Naruto stopped blocking altogether.

He stood quietly where he was, allowing countless Senbon to pass through every gap around his body, yet not a single one truly touched him.

This was not evasion.

It was prediction.

The optimal position calculated through a precise understanding of the enemy's attack patterns, mental state, and even the trajectory of their chakra flow.

In Haku's eyes, Naruto was like an ancient reef that would never change.

The raging storm Haku had stirred up was nothing more than waves futilely crashing against that reef. Other than splashing meaningless spray, they could change nothing.

That feeling of powerlessness suffocated Haku more than any fierce counterattack could have.

"What's wrong with fighting for his dream?!"

Haku raised his voice, its sharpness carrying a trace of wavering that even he had not noticed.

His attacks became faster and denser, as though he wanted to prove the correctness of his words through sheer force.

"What is his dream?"

Naruto asked in a tone as calm as if he were asking about the weather.

"Zabuza-sama's dream..."

Haku's words caught in his throat.

"It is to change that blood-soaked Kirigakure! To establish a New Order where children no longer have to slaughter one another just to survive!"

He nearly screamed the words, as if trying to convince Naruto—and even more so, himself.

"A very good goal."

Naruto nodded in approval.

"Then, in order to achieve that noble goal of 'establishing a New Order,' what is his current concrete plan of action?"

"A plan of action?"

Haku froze.

The term lay beyond his understanding.

"It means the series of steps and plans he is taking to achieve his ultimate goal of 'changing Kirigakure.'"

Naruto explained.

"He is working for that filthy merchant Gato, accumulating funds, then gathering men and horses to prepare for a coup."

Haku immediately answered. This was the path he had always believed in without question.

"Very good."

Naruto nodded again.

"The first step of the plan: accumulate funds. Method of execution: become the enforcer of a heartless capitalist and assassinate an old man who wants to bring hope to this country."

"Does this action logically conflict with his ultimate goal of 'establishing a New Order'?"

Naruto's question was like a cold scalpel, precisely cutting through the shell Haku had wrapped around himself with faith.

"This... this is a necessary sacrifice! A temporary measure taken for a greater goal!"

Haku's defense sounded pale and weak.

"A necessary sacrifice."

Naruto repeated the phrase.

"Then you, Haku. As his sharpest weapon, as this 'tool' of his, are you also part of that 'necessary sacrifice'?"

"I chose this willingly! I am willing to give everything for Zabuza-sama!"

Haku grew agitated.

"Willingness is a highly subjective term."

Naruto took a step forward.

Every reflection in the ice mirrors rippled ever so slightly because of that one step.

"Let us evaluate this in a more objective manner."

"You possess the Kekkei Genkai known as Ice Release. You have mastered the secret technique called Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, and possess exceptionally high mobility and precise attack capabilities."

"Your overall tactical value is extremely high."

Naruto stated his analysis without any emotion.

"And how does Momochi Zabuza, your master, use you, this 'high-value strategic weapon'?"

"He has you conduct prolonged covert reconnaissance, disguise yourself as a Kirigakure ninja, retrieve his 'corpse,' and now, trap a Genin who has little influence over the battle."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke beside him.

Sasuke's body instantly tensed. To him, those words were naked humiliation.

Yet he could not refute them.

Because from the beginning of the battle until now, he truly had not played any decisive role.

"Have these tasks made the most of your value?"

"Or could this be considered a... waste of resources?"

Naruto stared into Haku's eyes.

"Shut up!"

Haku roared, and all the ice mirrors shook violently.

"You don't understand! You don't understand the bond between Zabuza-sama and me at all!"

"I understand."

Naruto's voice was not loud, yet it clearly overwhelmed Haku's roar.

"I understand 'loyalty.'"

"Where I used to be, loyalty was a soldier's most valuable quality. It meant obedience, sacrifice, and placing the will of the collective above one's own life and death."

"But loyalty does not mean stupidity."

Naruto took another step forward. His hand was nearly touching one of the ice mirrors.

"A qualified soldier, when given an obviously wrong order that will doom the entire squad and even affect the whole battle, has the right—and the duty—to raise questions."

"That is not betrayal. That is responsibility."

"And you, Haku, have abandoned your responsibility to think."

"You have completely bound your own will to a misguided decision-maker. That is not loyalty. It is self-destruction."

"You are not fighting for his dream."

Naruto spoke each word slowly and clearly.

"You are accompanying him toward an ending doomed to failure."

"The ultimate value of your so-called loyalty is to die meaninglessly alongside him."

Those words struck Haku's heart like a bolt from the blue.

The sole belief he had taken pride in, the belief that had sustained his life, was torn to shreds in that instant by the blond boy's cruelest words.

"No... that's not true..."

His voice shook. Without him noticing, the Senbon attacks had completely stopped.

The cage formed by the ice mirrors began to grow unstable, and signs of melting even appeared along its edges.

Kakashi and Zabuza outside sensed the change as well.

"Haku! What are you doing?!"

Zabuza's roar came from within the thick mist, filled with agitation and unease.

He realized that Kakashi had him tightly entangled, leaving him no way to break free and check on the situation.

Kakashi was equally shocked.

What exactly had Naruto said in there?

He had actually shaken the will of such a powerful ninja through words alone?

How was one supposed to describe that? Talk no Jutsu?

Inside the ice mirrors.

Sasuke stared blankly at everything before him.

For the first time, he felt so directly just how terrifying the "pure will" Naruto spoke of truly was.

Every word Naruto spoke was like an artillery shell, striking the enemy's weakest point with flawless accuracy.

He was not fighting. He was carrying out a surgical "soul extraction."

"You are suffering."

Naruto looked at Haku, whose mind was on the verge of collapse, and stated it calmly.

"Because deep in your subconscious, you already know that I am right."

"You discovered the flaws in Zabuza's plan long ago. You also became uneasy long ago about relying on someone like Gato."

"But your 'loyalty' made you afraid to think, afraid to question."

"You fear that once this bubble is pierced, the meaning of your existence will collapse in an instant."

Naruto finally reached out and gently pressed his hand against the cold mirror.

A cold, imposing, unquestionable will surged from his palm and instantly entered the core of the entire Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.

This was not chakra.

This was the power of "judgment," belonging to an Imperium commissar from another world.

Haku's entire body shuddered violently. He felt as though an invisible giant hand had seized his soul and placed it before a supreme court, forcing him to examine everything about himself.

All lies and all self-deception had nowhere left to hide in that instant.

"Now answer me, Haku."

Naruto's voice seemed to come from every direction, carrying sacred yet ruthless authority.

"Are you loyal to Momochi Zabuza himself, or to his dream of 'establishing a New Order'?"

That question was like a key inserted directly into the central lock of the shackles binding Haku's thoughts.

Muffled, painful gasps came from beneath Haku's mask.

His worldview was collapsing and reforming.

Naruto waited quietly.

He knew that this weapon called "Haku" was about to complete its first "logical reconstruction."

And he would become this weapon's new master.