"You've pushed me into a corner, Kakashi… and yet you remain completely unscathed. It seems… you've become far stronger than I ever imagined."
Gasping for breath, Zabuza lifted his head with difficulty, eyes fixed on Kakashi walking toward him. His voice carried the bitterness of defeat.
"Why… why is there such a huge gap between us?"
"No, Zabuza. You didn't lose to me."
Standing beside the fallen man, Kakashi looked down coldly.
"You lost to my student, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Your student?"
Zabuza blinked in disbelief, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Haha! Kakashi, are you telling me a bedtime story? There's no way I could lose to that brat!"
"Do you really think I could beat you like this without a scratch? Zabuza, you still don't get it, do you?"
Kakashi stared down at him from above.
"Hah…"
The laughter came to a choking halt. Zabuza's face twisted in anger and denial.
"No way! I couldn't have lost to some kid! Impossible!"
"Regardless, your fate has already been sealed. Your path ends here… in death."
Kakashi raised a single hand. Lightning surged in his palm, crackling with the sound of a thousand birds chirping.
"What?! You've turned chakra into a physical form?!"
Zabuza's eyes widened in shock.
"Zabuza, I didn't make a name for myself solely because of the Sharingan's copying abilities. Let me show you my own original technique, Chidori!"
Kakashi thrust his hand forward, the electric energy screaming with intensity.
Splat!
Blood splattered as Zabuza's eyes dimmed, the last of his life slipping away.
"…Wait a minute. Where's Haku?"
Naruto's brows furrowed.
"Haku should've shown up by now, it's not like him to disappear at a time like this…"
"Well, Mr. Tazuna," Kakashi said after burying Zabuza, pulling his headband down to cover his Sharingan. His tone returned to its usual lazy drawl.
"With Zabuza gone, building your bridge should go a lot more smoothly."
"Ah… thank you so much. Please, come to my home. Let me treat you to some proper hospitality."
Tazuna adjusted the straw hat on his head, gesturing warmly.
"Alright. Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, let's go."
Kakashi waved to the three.
"Coming!"
Naruto was still puzzled over Haku's absence but chose not to dwell on it. He gave a quick nod and ran after Kakashi.
…
"Haha! This is my humble home. Make yourselves comfortable, no need to be shy."
Tazuna led the team inside, plopping down cross-legged with a casual smile.
"Kakashi-sensei, I need to head out for a bit."
That thought had been spinning in Naruto's mind for a while, refusing to fade.
Haku… he might still be out there, suffering alone on the streets…
"What could you possibly need to do now?"
Sakura pouted instinctively.
"Are you just looking for an excuse?"
"No, really. I've got something important."
Naruto forced a wry smile.
"Let it go, Sakura," Kakashi said with a resigned chuckle.
"Maybe he really does have something to take care of. Zabuza's been dealt with, our biggest threat is gone. Let him go."
"But Zabuza was taken down by you, not Naruto…"
Sakura mumbled with a pout.
"Actually, Sakura, it was Naruto who defeated Zabuza."
Kakashi wasn't one to steal credit that wasn't his.
"What?!"
Sakura jumped in surprise.
"Kakashi-sensei, you can't be serious. There's no way…"
"Sakura, think about it. Do you really believe I could beat Zabuza without a scratch? You saw how strong Naruto was during the training exercise, didn't you?"
Kakashi took a sip of tea from the wooden cup in front of him.
"But still…"
Sakura had started to acknowledge Naruto's strength, but it was hard for her to believe he had grown that powerful.
"Naruto… compared to you, what am I?"
Sasuke sat in silence, eyes bloodshot.
"I was the top of our class… and yet I'm nothing but a weakling in front of you."
"Kakashi-sensei, you didn't have to say all that."
Naruto smiled awkwardly. He had never liked the spotlight.
"Should I have taken the credit for myself instead?"
Kakashi lazily stared into his teacup.
"Uh… never mind. I'll be going now."
Naruto waved quickly and slipped out.
…
"So fast!"
Sakura was shocked. Sasuke clenched his fists in frustration.
"Naruto… one day, the whole world will know your name as a great ninja. Let this be the first stepping stone on that path."
As Naruto's figure disappeared from view, a sharp light flickered in Kakashi's normally sleepy eyes.
"Sensei… that boy is your son. He'll grow to be just as great as you once were."
…
"Kurama, boost my speed to the limit!"
Naruto called out inwardly.
He couldn't stand the thought of someone like Haku, so gentle and obedient, suffering all alone.
If Haku had still been with Zabuza, things might've been complicated.
But Naruto knew better than anyone, behind that fragile exterior was a stubborn will.
"But now…"
A golden aura slowly spread across his body, fur beginning to form.
"If she's not with Zabuza… then no matter what, I have to find her!"
BOOM!
Red chakra exploded outward, encasing him in power. The golden fur shimmered as wild, burning energy surged.
SWISH!
Four fox tails whipped through the wind. Naruto became a streak of red light, shooting across the landscape.
THUD!
Landing hard, he left a crater ten centimeters deep in the earth.
Thankfully, the area was remote. Anyone nearby would've been shocked by the force.
"This should be the place…"
He retracted Kurama' chakra and began searching carefully, the cold air biting at his skin.
A chilling wind passed by.
Then, in the distance, he saw her.
A small, frail figure curled up on the ground.
Naruto's eyes burned.
"Haku… you don't have to suffer anymore."
He stepped forward slowly, breath quickening.
Sensing his approach, Haku raised her head weakly.
And when her lifeless eyes met his, something sparked.
A brilliant light returned to her gaze.
His heart stirred.
⚔────────
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