Zabuza and Haku

That afternoon,

"Aren't you coming?" Kakashi asked Uchiha Yoru.

"Do I look like I have that much free time?"

You're the idlest person in the whole village, Kakashi thought.

"Then I'll take Naruto and the others on the mission!" Kakashi said.

As far as he could tell, Yoru just couldn't be bothered to leave the village.

"Goodbye, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura! Stay safe! If things get bad, shove Kakashi at the enemy and run!" Uchiha Yoru called after them.

"Don't worry, I will!" Naruto Uzumaki promised.

Just wait. When we get to the Land of Waves, I'll show you what's coming, Kakashi thought.

Kakashi already had a whole training plan ready. He was just waiting for the chance to torment—no, train them.

I wonder whether Haku's a boy or a girl. I should go take a look, Uchiha Yoru thought.

Not long after Kakashi and the others left, a carriage quietly sped past the village gate.

"Walking's exhausting. Isn't a carriage more comfortable?"

Elsewhere, in Root's hidden office.

"Lord Danzo, Yoru and all of Team 7 have left!"

"Send Kaede and Kin after them. Find an opportunity to kill Uchiha Yoru and Sasuke Uchiha. Understood?"

"Yes!"

The Root Ninja departed.

Both sons of the Uchiha Clan's leader will die tragically on a mission. Even Kakashi won't escape blame! Even if Uchiha Itachi puts up with it, will you still dare make him Hokage?!

Uchiha Clan, in the end, I, Shimura Danzō, have the upper hand!

Elsewhere, a fierce battle had already begun.

"Kakashi the Copy Ninja of Konoha! Why aren't you using your Sharingan?" asked a bare-chested man with bandages wrapped around his face.

"I can kill you without it!"

"Hidden Mist Technique!"

Thick white mist rose, swallowing everything. Visibility dropped to almost nothing.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A powerful gale swept in and blew the mist away, exposing Zabuza.

A huge water dragon rose from the lake and roared toward him.

Kakashi had copied so many Ninjutsu that even without the Sharingan, he could still use some of them. Now that he had more Chakra, he could throw out techniques without worrying about exhaustion.

He felt nothing but gratitude toward Uchiha Yoru, without the slightest resentment. After all, what use did an Uchiha have for his Sharingan?

Perhaps Yoru had only used that excuse to help him remove the Sharingan that had become a burden. That might have been his true intention!

[Uchiha Yoru: I just wanted your Mangekyō! You're overthinking it.]

"He did it!" Naruto Uzumaki cried.

"Mr. Tazuna, behind you!"

Kakashi reacted at once, raising a Kunai to block Zabuza's massive blade.

"Looks like I can't finish my mission without killing you!"

Zabuza stared at Kakashi.

He stepped back and swung. Despite its enormous size, the sword seemed light as a feather in his hands.

Kakashi barely blocked it. The impact left his arm trembling.

Zabuza then slipped out of sight, apparently planning to strike again from the shadows.

"You three protect Tazuna. I'll kill Zabuza!"

Kakashi spoke.

The other three closed ranks around Tazuna.

It's hard to make a move without the mist, Zabuza thought from his hiding place.

Zabuza dropped from above, using gravity to drive his blade straight down at Kakashi.

Kakashi dodged and kicked him away.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!"

Countless arcs of electricity burst across Kakashi's hand, dazzling even in daylight. He intended to finish Zabuza in one strike.

He charged at Zabuza before he could recover.

His hand punched through Zabuza's abdomen!

"Idiot. This is the Water Prison Technique!"

A prison of water rose around Kakashi. Another water clone split off to face Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

"Real Ninja have faced life and death. You three don't even count as Ninja!"

Zabuza's water clone kicked Naruto aside and looked at the three of them trembling under his killing intent.

After a fierce exchange, events unfolded much as they had in the original story: Naruto transformed into a Fūma Shuriken and was thrown at Zabuza, ultimately freeing Kakashi.

Though Kakashi no longer had the Sharingan to trap Zabuza in Genjutsu, his experience and Ninjutsu still gave him the edge. He wounded Zabuza with ease.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

The powerful torrent slammed Zabuza into a tree and knocked him unconscious.

Kakashi took out a Kunai and was about to sever his head.

A masked figure appeared before them, driving a Kunai into Zabuza's chest and Senbon toward his neck.

"I'm a Ninja from Kirigakure's hunter unit. I've been waiting for a chance to kill Zabuza. Thank you."

"But you aren't one, are you?"

Kakashi saw through him at once.

"A Kirigakure Ninja would bring back his head, not his body!"

"Ice Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"

"Earth Release: Earth (Dog-Head) Wall!"

An earthen wall rose and blocked the ice Senbon.

I can't let him take Zabuza away! Kakashi thought.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!"

Electric arcs flared around Kakashi's hand again. He intended to kill the defenseless Zabuza in one blow.

Haku reacted, kicking Zabuza into the river. But after that, he had no time to dodge.

He could only watch Kakashi's hand close in on his chest and silently pray that Lord Zabuza would survive.

"Why so worked up, Kakashi?" A hand caught Kakashi's Lightning Blade.

"Yoru? What are you doing here?"

"Isn't a Ninja's job just to complete the mission? Get that old man home. As for him, do me a favor and let me take him back to the village. What do you say?" Uchiha Yoru asked.

"Teacher Yoru, he's clearly an enemy! Why protect him?"

Uchiha Yoru rapped Naruto on the head.

"Get it now?"

Naruto rubbed his aching head and shook it.

Another rap!

"Get it now?"

"Ow, ow, ow! I get it, I get it! Isn't that enough?"

Uchiha Yoru patted Naruto's head and said with a grin, "Some dim kids might get smarter after a few beatings!"

"Haku, what do you think? Interested in coming with me?"

"If you can be Zabuza's tool, why can't you be mine?"

Uchiha Yoru held out a hand to Haku.

Despite his words, he had kept his killing intent trained on Haku the entire time. If Yuki Haku made a wrong move, the consequences were obvious.

"Get away from me! You people killed Lord Zabuza! I'm going to find him!" Yuki Haku shouted.

Beside them, Naruto Uzumaki whispered, "Why does Teacher Yoru seem like the villain here?"

"Zabuza?"

"Zabuza saved your life, and in a way, so did I. How about this? Come with me for now. When we meet Zabuza again, I'll let you go back to him," Uchiha Yoru said.

That's what I'm saying, anyway. Once you're in my pond, getting out won't be so easy.

I'll go along with him for now and decide what to do when Lord Zabuza comes, Yuki Haku thought.

"All right... Lord... Yoru," Haku said with difficulty.

It seemed to be his first time addressing someone else that way, and the words came out haltingly.

One handy tool acquired!