The moment Haku heard the sound of lightning, his entire body tensed up. The shadow clones restraining him clearly felt the muscles beneath their hands turn hard, followed by violent struggling.
"Zabuza-sama..." Haku's voice changed abruptly.
His previous composure and resignation vanished completely, replaced by frantic unease and anxiety.
He twisted his body desperately, trying to break free from the clones' restraint, but several clones held his joints firmly, rendering every effort futile.
"Let me go! Zabuza-sama is in danger!"
Naruto looked back at Haku and said indifferently, "You're so anxious. Do you think Zabuza will die at the hands of Kakashi-sensei?"
"I don't know, but I cannot let him die!"
Tears welled up in Haku's eyes. All the composure on his face vanished, revealing the most genuine emotions beneath.
"Everyone has something they want to protect. What I protect is Zabuza-sama!"
He looked up at Naruto. "Naruto, hurry and let me go, I beg you!"
Naruto was stunned.
He knew Haku would go to block the Raikiri, and he certainly knew Haku would die because of it.
According to the original plot, Haku's sacrifice would awaken the last bit of humanity deep within Zabuza, then Zabuza would lash out to kill Gato, and finally die in the snow while holding Haku's corpse. This was a tragedy, but it was also the core emotional climax of the Land of Waves arc.
Should he change it?
Naruto weighed the decision in his heart for less than a second.
He asked, "Are you sure? Even if it means death?"
Haku looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his voice incomparably firm. "I can do anything for Zabuza-sama."
Naruto looked at the pair of resolute eyes on Haku's 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, it was because of this very impulse that he had gotten himself killed.
However, Haku's situation had nothing to do with the scum who oppressed the common people. What he was protecting was the person who had pulled him out of hell.
Plus, he had just transmigrated himself and hadn't even fully figured out his own situation. How could he have the energy to worry about others?
Thinking of this, Naruto raised his hand and made a gesture.
The several clones suppressing Haku released their grip simultaneously, then dissipated into puffs of white smoke in the air.
Haku leaped up from the ground, having already adjusted his posture for a forward dash as he stood up. He did not hesitate at all, pouring all his remaining Chakra into his legs and sprinting with all his might toward the thick fog flashing with lightning.
As he passed by Naruto's side, Haku turned his head slightly and whispered a sentence.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto stood where he was, watching Haku's figure pierce into the dense fog, becoming more and more blurred, until completely swallowed by the mist.
'You won't regret it, right?'
Naruto asked silently in his heart, then turned around and walked toward Sasuke's direction.
He didn't need to intervene in what happened next.
...
Deep in the thick fog, lightning raged. The high-voltage electricity tore through the surrounding fog, pulling out zigzagging trails of light behind Kakashi.
In front, Zabuza was trapped by Earth Release and a summoning jutsu. The mud beneath his feet locked his legs tight, and no matter how much strength he exerted, he couldn't move an inch.
"It's over, Zabuza." Kakashi said.
Then he pushed off with his feet, his entire body turning into a blue-white bolt of lightning, thrusting straight toward Zabuza's chest.
At that very instant, a slender figure rushed into the thick fog from the side, charging straight toward Raikiri.
The moment this figure appeared between Zabuza and Kakashi, he spread his arms, his whole body acting like a shield, blocking firmly in front of Zabuza.
Haku!
Kakashi's Sharingan contracted to the limit. He wanted to pull back, but Raikiri was a dashing thrusting technique. The faster the speed, the stronger the lethality. At this distance of less than a foot, it was simply too late.
Squelch!
The sound of a palm piercing flesh rang out.
Kakashi's palm entered through the center of Haku's chest and emerged from his back.
Some of the blood droplets splattered onto Kakashi's face, while others splattered onto Zabuza's face—warm and sticky, sliding slowly down their cheeks.
Blood gushed from Haku's mouth, dripping down his chin.
Kakashi's mind went blank. 'This scene... so familiar. Rin...'
The thick fog began to dissipate rapidly. Zabuza's restraints were also lifted at this moment, or rather, Kakashi no longer had the energy to maintain the Earth Chakra.
The moment his legs regained their freedom, without a moment of sorrow lingering over Haku's sacrifice, Zabuza immediately swung Kubikiribocho at Kakashi.
Kakashi came to his senses at the very last second. Clutching Haku's body, he dodged sideways. The edge of Kubikiribocho grazed his shoulder, slicing off a corner of his headband, with metal fragments scattering in the air.
Holding Haku's corpse, he retreated several steps, creating distance. He looked up, his gaze toward Zabuza having completely changed.
"Are you even going to cut through the corpse of your most important companion, Zabuza? You are even less human than I thought."
Zabuza did not speak. No expression could be seen on his face, which was wrapped in bandages. Only his eyes, exposed on the outside, seemed to have something shatter within them when he saw Haku's pale face.
But the cracks were quickly suppressed by him.
Kakashi no longer intended to show him any mercy. The three tomoe of the Sharingan began to rotate slowly. His fingers blurred, rapidly weaving hand signs.
A swamp surged up from beneath Zabuza's feet again, a fireball blocked his path of evasion from the side, and a Water Dragon descended from the sky, slamming him to the ground.
Zabuza attempted to counterattack, but having lost most of the mobility in one arm and being bombarded repeatedly, he could no longer keep up with Kakashi's rhythm.
Kubikiribocho was knocked away by the Water Dragon, embedding itself into the distant mud.
Immediately after, Kakashi appeared before him, and a Kunai slashed two arcs across both of his wrists. With two crisp snapping sounds, Zabuza's wrists broke. Zabuza's hands hung limply, and he completely lost the ability to perform hand signs.
Kakashi stood before Zabuza, looking down at him from above. "You have lost, Zabuza."