Chapter Fourteen: Zabuza’s Tears, the Fall of Gato

Chapter Fourteen: Zabuza’s Tears, the Fall of Gato

Gazing at the distant crowd, Zabuza was puzzled.

“Hm? Gato, what are you doing here, and why have you brought so many men?” Zabuza asked.

“Heh! The plan’s changed a bit. Sorry, Zabuza, but I want you to die here,” replied Gato, a man barely over four feet tall, dressed in a suit and tapping his cane on the ground.

“What are you talking about?” Zabuza grew even more confused.

“Hiring real shinobi is too expensive, so I hired you rogue ninja instead. If you all kill each other, I won’t have to pay a cent, ha ha ha! And you call yourself the Demon of the Mist? What a joke. You’re just a fool. Besides, I’ve got a score to settle with that brat who broke my hand. Damn him! Huh? Dead already?” Gato strode over to Haku, who lay unconscious on the ground, and gave him a kick, but the force from the electric shock was too much—Haku didn’t wake.

“Bastard!” Sasuke and Naruto roared in anger.

“Kakashi! Since I no longer need to kill Tazuna, our fight ends here,” Zabuza declared.

“Zabuza, are you still unwilling to admit your feelings for Haku? When Gato kicked him, your body trembled. Why can’t you accept your emotions? Shinobi aren’t just tools—they’re people with feelings!” Raiden, in a flash, retrieved Haku’s unconscious form, startling Gato.

“...Hmph! You... Why... don’t say any more. Haku has been fighting and suffering for me—and for you too. I understand that better than anyone. He’s too kind... In the end, I’m glad I got to face you all. Raiden, you’re right—shinobi are still human. We truly can’t become emotionless tools. I’ve lost.” Zabuza let out a cold laugh, and then... tears began to drip, one by one, onto the ground. He wept as he spoke.

“All right! In that case, Gato, your life is mine to take,” Zabuza shouted, hefting his massive blade and charging at Gato.

“Stop him! Hurry up and stop him!” Gato, terrified, fled behind his men as Zabuza rushed forward.

“Are you kidding? You’re exhausted, gasping for breath, and you think you can take us all on?” sneered a swordsman at the front, only to have his head lopped off in a single blow.

With two sweeping strikes, Zabuza carved a great arc, clearing a three-meter circle around him—no one dared approach.

“Aaaah! A demon!” Gato screamed as Zabuza, fierce and unstoppable, bore down on him. In the next instant, Gato was split from head to toe.

“Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!” Zabuza flashed through a series of hand seals, and a moment later, a giant water dragon rose from the river beside the bridge.

Gato’s remaining men stared in horror at the beast.

“Die, all of you!” roared Zabuza. The water dragon lashed its tail, sweeping men into the river, where a bloody scene unfolded beneath the water.

One man barely surfaced before a shadow loomed above him. Looking up, he saw the water dragon’s maw open wide. Lacking teeth, the dragon simply crushed him in its jaws.

Minutes later, no one was left alive in the river—not even a complete corpse remained.

“Ding! Mission accomplished. You have received: 50,000 Soul Crystals, Skill Scroll: Hidden Mist Technique. Please check the Infinite Space for details.”

Step by step, Zabuza approached Haku’s unconscious body and dropped to his knees.

“Haku... Thank you for everything... I’m sorry. I never took care of you as I should have. I made you fight for me, suffer for me, made you believe you were nothing but my tool... I even taught you that shinobi have no feelings, that they’re just tools... I’m sorry. I’m just a useless man—a man too cowardly to show his emotions. Sob...” Zabuza’s tears fell onto Haku’s face.

“Lord Zabuza, thank you. You’re crying,” Haku’s voice drifted to Zabuza’s ears.

“Huh? You’re alive?” Zabuza wiped his eyes, overjoyed.

“Oh, Haku’s alive! That’s great!” chorused the others.

“Yes, Lord Zabuza, I can serve you again. To be your tool is my wish,” Haku said with a smile.

“Don’t say that, Haku—it’s my fault. I’m a useless man, I shouldn’t... Wait, Raiden! You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You wanted to watch me make a fool of myself, didn’t you?” Zabuza pulled Haku close, then, following his gaze, saw Raiden crouched nearby, smiling at them.

“Of course. That day, I overheard what Haku and Naruto said to each other,” Raiden replied, still beaming.

“You... you... Wahhhh!” Zabuza pointed at him, breaking into tears once more, overwhelmed with relief and joy.

“A perfect ending,” Kakashi said, taking out his beloved Icha Icha Paradise.

“Everyone’s happy,” said Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura together.

“To think we could become friends after being enemies—what a surprise!” Tazuna commented nearby.

“Well then, Zabuza, Haku—by the name of Raiden of the Leaf, I invite you both to join us as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village!”

“What?” the group exclaimed in shock.

“Well, am I wrong? Recruiting them is a huge win for us—an elite jonin and a special jonin. What a bargain!” Raiden declared gleefully.

“Really? If Raiden’s inviting me, then I must go,” Zabuza said, his eyes shining after his tears.

“I’ll go wherever Lord Zabuza goes,” Haku replied, clutching Zabuza’s sleeve.

“Great! I agree,” Naruto shouted.

“Idiot, genin don’t have the authority to decide that!” Sasuke scolded.

“Right. If a former rogue ninja wants to join as a jonin, two jonin must vouch for them, and they’ll be observed for a year. We genin have no say,” Sakura explained.

“Well then, why don’t you all stay at my house tonight and have dinner together?” Tazuna offered happily.

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Scene shifts to Tazuna’s house.

“Ha ha, what a day! Zabuza, let’s have another drink!” Tazuna laughed, topping up Zabuza’s cup.

“Cough, cough! I didn’t expect you to hold your liquor so well! Fine, bottoms up!” Zabuza, already tipsy, obliged.

“Lord Zabuza, you’ve had enough,” Haku said, handing him a glass of iced water.

Gulping it down, Zabuza sighed with relief. “Ah, thank you, Haku. The alcohol’s wearing off.”

“It’s my honor to serve you, Lord Zabuza,” Haku replied with a gentle smile.

“Well then, tomorrow we’ll head to the Leaf. For now, let’s rest,” Kakashi said. After wolfing down a pile of food, he leaned against the wall—his improved compatibility with the Sharingan had left him weak, but not unconscious.

“We’re done eating,” Sasuke and Naruto announced in unison.

“They’re still as close as ever!” Raiden laughed, watching their synchronized actions.

“Who’s close with him?” Sasuke and Naruto blurted, once again in perfect sync.

“Stop copying me!” they shouted together.

Everyone burst out laughing.

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Author’s Note: With this chapter, I’ve hit 100,000 words. Sigh! I’m applying for a contract—if I fail, I’ll move on! If I do, see you at 17hxK! Welcome!