Zabuza Momochi and Haku

Land of Waves, Tazuna's home.

Under everyone's watch, Haku reached out and removed the senbon from Zabuza Momochi's body. Massaging his neck, he woke his only superior. "I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama. I wasn't able to save you."

"Hmph, I expected as much!"

The Demon of the Hidden Mist coldly pushed Haku away. Looking at Kakashi Hatake and Maruboshi Kosuke, his gaze gradually shifted from perfunctory to solemn. "An old man even stronger than a Hidden Mist Anbu jonin, and Konoha's Sharingan Kakashi..."

"Oh? You even know about me?"

Kakashi Hatake tugged at his mask and said calmly, "Then it seems everything is negotiable. Zabuza, tell us what you know about Gato..."

"Kakashi!"

The Demon of the Hidden Mist cut him off, saying in a deep voice, "When have you ever seen a ninja sell out his employer?"

"Many times. Very many."

The White-Haired Jonin spread his hands and gave Zabuza an innocent look. "There are many wandering ninja throughout the shinobi world. Some have betrayed their employers or even killed the targets of their commissions. Hiring them is cheap—and dangerous."

Zabuza Momochi immediately flew into a rage. "You!"

Wasn't this white-haired ninja implying, both openly and indirectly, that he was the kind of wandering ninja who could betray his client at any time?

"Quiet down..."

The elderly genin extended his scabbard and rested it against Zabuza Momochi's body, smiling as he spoke. "I'm getting on in years. I can't handle being startled or too much noise."

As a ninja who could easily defeat Zabuza, any action Kosuke took was a threat to him.

Suppressing his anger, Zabuza Momochi sat back down. "I can terminate Gato's commission, but I absolutely cannot betray my employer and damage my reputation..."

"I heard Sensei Kakashi mention that you became a Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure because you tried to assassinate some Mizukage."

Sasuke Uchiha leaned against the doorway and spoke softly. "As a Rogue Ninja, do you still need to care about your reputation as a ninja?"

"Sasuke!"

Naruto Uzumaki stopped his companion, glanced at the Demon of the Hidden Mist and his partner, and rubbed his forehead. "Maybe they have some other purpose..."

That buried memory surged forth...

The two ninja, Zabuza Momochi and Haku, flashed through his mind like fleeting shadows, scene after scene passing by without lingering.

A broken bridge, mirrors of ice, blood all over the ground, an injured Sasuke—little by little, they drifted out of his mind as more memories poured in.

A letter bearing Kirigakure's emblem...

A passage recounting Zabuza Momochi's deeds...

Naruto Uzumaki forced himself to endure the pain in his head and spoke before the memories vanished. "Hey, your goal was always to change that village of yours, where people kill one another, wasn't it?"

If that letter was accurate, then that should have been the case.

Even though many outsiders viewed him as a brutal, cold-blooded ninja, other Kirigakure ninja—including the Sixth Mizukage Chojuro—had personally written: Elder Zabuza was a hero beyond compare.

Among Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, some chose to defect, some chose to accept the status quo, and some chose to wait for their chance. Only the Demon of the Hidden Mist had set foot on another path alone.

To change the Bloody Mist Village's graduation policy, Zabuza slaughtered every graduate of his own class, forcing Kirigakure's higher-ups to abolish that bloody examination.

To end the Bloody Mist Village's ways, Zabuza chose the most direct method: assassinating the Fourth Mizukage and triggering a coup.

All of it required financial support.

Because he needed a great deal of money. Clearly, a single Gato could not possibly possess enough wealth to support the overthrow of a major nation's shinobi village.

Zabuza Momochi didn't dare damage his reputation as a ninja. At the very least, in front of these Konoha ninja, he had to preserve what little dignity he had left.

"..."

Upon hearing Naruto's words, Zabuza Momochi stiffened. He looked up in alarm at the blond ninja by the door, then quickly lowered his head again. "Hmph. What's there to miss about a place like that?"

"Looks like I guessed wrong!"

Naruto Uzumaki could only shake his head helplessly, allowing that memory to slowly fade like a dream. "Indeed. A ninja like you can do nothing but raise your butcher's blade and slaughter your own comrades..."

"Brat, you're dead!"

Zabuza Momochi glared viciously at Naruto Uzumaki, his face twisted into that of a beast ready to devour someone. "Once I completely seize power over Hidden Mist, I'll slaughter every last one of you Konoha bastards!"

Everyone: "..."

What kind of delusion was that?

How many times had Konoha endured invasions from Hidden Mist? In the end, hadn't they always casually sent out a detached force to drive them back into the sea?

Besides, hadn't Zabuza just given himself away?

This man rumored to have killed without blinking actually wanted to use his own strength to change Kirigakure's current state?

"Enough, we're discussing serious matters!"

Kakashi Hatake raised a hand to stop the brewing commotion and turned back to Zabuza Momochi. "If you're unwilling to reveal information about Gato, then perhaps there's no need for us to spare your life..."

"Zabuza-sama!"

Haku stood beside him, hesitating as if he wanted to speak.

The Demon of the Hidden Mist shook his head and said in a muffled voice, "If I sell out Gato and violate a ninja's rules, no one will ever trust me again. What difference is there between living and dying..."

"It seems we won't get an answer from him."

Kakashi Hatake looked at the others beside him and spoke in a low voice. "For now, Elder Kosuke and Sakura will watch over Zabuza. Naruto, Sasuke, and I will take Haku to investigate Gato's shipping company. They can serve as hostages for each other..."

"Hmm, can this kid be trusted?"

Maruboshi Kosuke scratched his forehead and looked at Haku. "At the beginning, he nearly fooled even me!"

"Please believe me!"

The delicate-looking boy bit his lip and hurriedly said, "I'll take you there. Even if it costs me my life, I'll bring you back safely, as long as you promise not to harm Zabuza-sama!"

Zabuza Momochi was stunned. Pointing at the companion beside him, he trembled with rage. "Haku, how dare you..."

"I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama."

The delicate-looking boy clasped his hand tightly and said softly, "As long as you can survive, there is still hope for everything in the future. After we leave, no matter how you wish to punish me, I will accept it!"

Haku's heartfelt confession did not earn tears of gratitude from Zabuza Momochi.

The Demon of the Hidden Mist rolled over and lay on the bed. No one knew what he was thinking—perhaps Naruto Uzumaki's words, perhaps his own future.

When the delicate-looking boy left with Kakashi Hatake and the others, Zabuza Momochi suddenly spoke. "Be careful. That guy always has a lot of men around him."

"Yes, Zabuza-sama."

The delicate-looking boy narrowed his eyes and answered with a smile.

Monday. Please vote with recommendation tickets. I looked up people who had praised Zabuza: Kisame Hoshigaki, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Chojuro. There were Rogue Ninja and Mizukage among them, all fairly prominent figures.

First update.

Zabuza Momochi: I'm going to kill that foul-mouthed Naruto Uzumaki!

Haku: Calm down, Zabuza-sama! We've already missed the best opportunity!

Zabuza Momochi: Once I've recovered, I'll chop him to death...

Haku: I heard he's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Like me, he was called a monster as a child...

Zabuza Momochi: He's no good. Be good, we'll ignore him from now on. Don't go looking for him. You're much kinder than he is.