Phantom of the Underworld - Chapter 16 (Patreon)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Highschool DxD or any other anime I use in this story. They belong to their respective owners.

Arc II- The White Empress

Chapter 16- Frozen Hearts

"Bah! Why don't one of you go get me a new bottle…" Gato churtled, placing his now-empty bottle of beer onto his already-filled desk. As the overweight man leaned even more heavily into his desk.

The other occupants within the room, minus the two of Gato's henchmen, glared at the man. And normally, a glare from one of the scariest shinobi born from the hidden mist village would have done something, but it seemed the shipping magnate was far too drunk to notice anything. As such, the much older and shorter man just waited patiently, trying to get his lips on another bottle of beer, as patient as an primed bomb.

"What the hell! Where's my beer?" He yelled again, startling his two henchmen and guards within the room. And as they clamored around the room, trying to listen to their large-pocketed employees, the man stopped them.

"No!" Gato drawled, pointing towards the two men. Although, in his drunken haze, he only ended up pointing to the left of the two. "I want him to do it…" he said. The two men looked startled at who he was referring to.

Zabuza's glare only increased tenfold. But the drunken bag of money was either too stupid or too drunk to notice. As he only looked at the demon expectantly.

"What?! "You don't honestly expect me to do that," Zabuza growled angrily, not that Gato could detect the emotion.

"And why not?" The man burped out. "What else do I pay you for?" Kaiza is still alive, all because you haven't killed him yet."

Zabuza clutched his fist, "I will kill him."

But Gato only waved him off, saying, "Yeah, yeah. Go get me a beer."

Zabuza huffed.

XXX

He would kill him.

He would.

Zabuza didn't care how much money the man had or how useful he had been thus far. He was a dead man.

He didn't know why he still worked for him.

So what if he needed the money? He was the demon of the mist, the killer of killers. He could get a job elsewhere. There were always people looking to hire an experienced rouge-nin like himself.

He wasn't anyone's servant!

"Kukuku…" a voice sounded throughout the room he had decided to brood in, which instantly set the shinobi on edge. Especially considering he didn't sense anyone enter.

But he was even more perplexed when he saw just where the voice had emanated from—a white snake.

But what was even more surprising was what happened next. As the snake opened its maw, it was wider than any snake could possibly manage.

"Who would have guessed the great wielder of kubikiribōchō was such a wonderful servant?" the voice mocked, as Zabuza's eyes widened even further. Instantly brandishing his own sword even further.

"You're…" Zabuza realized.

"Orochimaru, of the Densetsu no sannin," the pale-skinned man finished, having just crawled out of the white snake's mouth. "Or rather, a clone the original created while he finishes his business," he corrected.

But after realizing that, Zabuza wasn't put at ease by this news, as he only continued to prepare for a fight.

"Don't worry, Zabuza-Chan, let's chat…"

XXX

Elsewhere.

(With Naruto)

The clock was ticking.

He knew that.

From his brief talk with Haku he realized that it was only a matter of time before his and his clients' locations were found out.

Luckily, when he went to gather herbs, he chose to do so in a clearing decently far away. Meaning Haku hadn't narrowed down her search to close to where they were.

He only hoped that they hadn't been able to narrow down their search in the time since then.

It had been a few days, and in that time, he had resolved what he planned to do.

Gato had almost full control over what went out of this island, and quite frankly, it was becoming more evident that his even appearing on the island without being spotted was a feat in itself. He guessed Gato's security, like a prison, was mainly focused on keeping people within, not keeping them out.

But he planned for that.

He, unlike most people, didn't need to cross the border to escape.

He was a devil, and devils had the innate ability of teleportation.

The only problem was that his clients didn't have that ability.

Luckily, he also happened to be an Uzumaki. One who hadn't spent that last few years of his life stagnating in the art of seals.

Seals were what formed teleportation circles, and seals could always be modified.

It would only be a matter of time before he would be able to do so.

That was what he had been fervently trying to accomplish.

And thankfully, he was almost finished.

Demons and devils, while being different, were still distantly related in one way or another.

And modifying a devil summoning array to teleport another being wasn't out of the question. After all, the array teleported not just a devil itself but also their clothes and any objects they were carrying as well.

But there in lies another problem…

Once activated, the summoning circle would require and gather a vast amount of magic within it. So much so that he didn't doubt Zabuza and Haku would be able to sense it and find their location.

What's more, this seal didn't have the capability of teleporting more than one person at a time. A seal of that magnitude required much more time yo produce. Which would require a cooldown to transport another person to the desired area.

Time that, no doubt, Haku and Zabuza would use to attack him, and the remaining members of Kaiza's family.

All in all, it's not a good situation.

"You're still working on that?" A voice asked, as Naruto was huddled on the ground, diligently trying to modify his summoning array.

And as the disguised blonde looked up, still in his Uchiha-like disguise, he was met face-to-face with his client.

"Hello, Kaiza-San," he greeted absentmindedly,

But the older man only shook his head. He still couldn't believe that someone so young, one who appeared to be about thirteen or so, would be the shinobi he hired from the leaf.

Don't get him wrong; he believed in the kid's abilities. He had to; after all, he was sure what he witnessed in the clearing with Zabuza was a feat in itself.

But he was still a kid, still young, barely older than Inari, and had much to learn.

And he would often wonder what the kid, this 'Menma,' as he called himself, had been through.

"Is something on your mind, Kaiza-San?" Naruto inquired, moving away from the summoning array as he idly inspected his work.

The room he was given was small—a shed outside the main house. So it was evident that the man was staring at him.

Kaiza seemed to realize this as well. "Hmm, oh, it's nothing," he told the boy, deciding not to voice his thoughts.

As the two fell into silence.

Inari was sleeping, something he was eternally grateful for. As Tsunami had been tending to her recovering father.

"Actually, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," a voice spoke up, and surprisingly, it wasn't Kaiza who did so.

The man raised an eyebrow, not expecting the boy to speak to him. "Sure, what is it you wanted to ask me?" he inquired, as Naruto stopped in his inspections, eying the man.

"You're rebellion…" Naruto started, recalling Kaiza's words to him as he chose his own carefully. "Why did you start it?"

Kaiza blinked, not fully understanding the question, as the answer was evident. "Well, isn't it obvious? I wanted a change to happen," he answered honestly.

Naruto nodded, but it still wasn't clear to him. "But why?" He questioned again.

"Why what?" Kaiza asked in confusion.

"Why would you do something so foolish?" Naruto finished elaborating. "Why would you want to achieve something when you knew it would fail?" he accused. "And why would you want to put your family through that?" He questioned.

Kaiza had to have known that his rebellion would fail. He was just one man in a very poor country. Gato had the resources, the money to stop him.

The man had to have known that, so why did he take the chance? Why didn't he try to just escape with his family when he had the chance?

Kaiza thought about it, putting a finger to his chin. "Well… I had hope."

"Hope?" Naruto repeated, dumbfounded.

"Yes, I had hope," Kaiza stated firmly. "I believed that wave could be better; it would be better."

"So you just… gave up?" Naruto questioned.

But at this, Kaiza shook his head. "No, I still believe wave can be better, and I don't blame the citizens for losing hope," he answered.

"Then why run? Why ask for me to come if that hope is still there?" The Uzumaki prodded. What was the point of doing a rebellion at all?

And at that, Kaiza gave a dry chuckle. "Well, you said it; I couldn't risk my family any longer," he said honestly, looking out the door and towards the nearby house where his new family was located. "They're the whole reason I started this; people like them, and it's my duty to protect them," he explained.

Naruto thought about his words.

"I see…" he said, although he fully didn't understand.

This man didn't have any stake in this country; he wasn't a native, nor did he have any ties to it. So why did he want this place to be better? That the people could be better?

What had he said before?… Hope?

Hope that he could change things? That's what motivated him?

He had seen the village when he ventured out. The villagers lived in fear; they stole from one another and fought one another for the smallest of scraps.

But Kaiza saw this and hoped things could be better?

Foolish, his entire endeavor had been foolish. He had failed, and he had accomplished nothing.

But then again... Haku's words rang in his head.

'When someone has something precious that they want to protect, it is only then that they become genuinely strong.'

But he shook her words off; she was a fool too. He knew that, so why had her words affected him so much?

He had nobody, was nobody, and yet he was strong, wasn't he?

"You are a fool and an idealist," Naruto told the man bluntly, trying to shake away the masked girl's words.

But Kaiza only laughed, saying, "Maybe, but perhaps if there were more fools like me, the world wouldn't be so bad?" He admitted it as Naruto turned away.

Their conversation seemed to be over.

But Kaiza could see the gears in the boy's head turning. He only hoped his words impacted the boy somewhat, and maybe he would be able to do what he could not.

The world was a broken place filled with broken people. He could see that this boy knew that; that he was a result of that.

But maybe, just maybe... he could incite a change in this world? He hoped, but maybe that was just wishful thinking,

Nevertheless, their silence was broken once again, this time by another occupant entering the room. As Naruto proceeded to bite his finger and run the blood over a strange piece of paper.

Poof.

"Hey, bro, I got the stuff from master you wanted," a young voice said as Kaiza blinked.

What stood before him was, strangely enough, a toad. The amphibian having appeared right out of the strange scribbles along the boy's parchment.

A talking toad, but a toad nonetheless. It was surreal, but he guessed that in a world of the supernatural, anything was possible.

Naruto walked up to him, taking the scrolls from his informant that he had already requested.

Particularly, any information the mysterious man had on the shipping magnate, Gato, and the Demon of the Mist, Zabuza.

"Thank you, gamakichi; you can go now," Naruto told him, intent on looking for true information.

But the toad stayed, expecting something.

Sighing, Naruto reached into his pocket and unsealed something. "Fine, here," he relented, handing the toad the snacks he had silently requested. It was always better to just give in on this, lest the toad go on strike from delivering for him… again.

The toad took the food into his mouth, savoring the delectable taste. "Mmmm, thanks," Gamakichi said as he disappeared in a plume of smoke once again.

Naruto looked over the document he had wanted.

He intended to still complete this mission; after all, if he couldn't defeat Zabuza Momoichi, how could he hope to defeat 'that' man?

And soon he had a plan...

XXX

Uzumaki Hideout.

"Get over here, you little rat!" Vali yelled as she chased after the fleeing Kurama.

The fox, who was using his smaller size as a way to quickly maneuver around the building. Carefully avoiding the young boy as he laughed all the while.

"What's the matter? Was it something I said?" He questioned, dodging a few of the objects from the silver-haired girl.

"Just die!" She screamed, chasing after the fox and throwing a nearby object in an attempt to slow him down, to no avail.

"Hahahaha—!" Kurama laughed before he realized something, as he promptly stopped in front of the wall before him. As he then realized he was trapped with no escape.

Valiana smirked, stalking towards her prey like a lion would it's gazelle.

That's when Kurama gulped, feeling a slight tangent of fear in his stomach, as the descendant of the Maou Lucifer himself moved towards him.

Her cold blue and silver orbs staring into his soul, sending a shiver along the fox's back.

"Is this a bad time to say I'm sorry?" Kurama inquired nervously as he tried to shuffle to the side.

"Yes!" Valiana roared darkly, shooting a small amount of dark energy out of the tip of her finger to block the foxes' path.

The fox gulped again.

Maybe he shouldn't have insinuated that Naruto would find another beautiful girl in his latest mission, one that would cause him to completely forget about her?

Nah, that was still pretty funny.

Slightly less so as the taller girl's shadow overtook him.

But as he was about to speak, to worm his way out, or to at least by time for him to get opportunity to escape. He—

Poof.

Kurama disappeared in a plume of smoke, vanishing from the hideout entirely.

Valiana blinked, not registering what sort of trick the fox had used.

Before, she thought back on the situation.

Kurama's words came back to her as her brow twitched once again.

Her Naruto would leave her for some wench! She knew that, and she trusted him.

Her Naruto?

Yes, she resolved, he was hers...Hers!

And no one else's!

He was the one who protected her, the one who showed her so many things about the world. He was her family, and she was his.

But even still, a bit of doubt seeped into her mind.

What if the fox was right?

No, he would never do that.

She just wished Naruto would come home sooner.

XXX

Some time later.

(Location: Nami no Kuni's Bridge of Hope)

A figure walked slowly across the concrete road. His frame was cloaked in navy blue, and his face was hidden under a fox-like mask. As his dark, spiked hair billowed out in the wind.

He could smell the harsh, sea-like breeze in the air. A smell he could see the irony in, given they were just on the outskirts of hell.

And, judging by the industrial beauty he could see in the bridge he was standing on, perhaps Tazuna's ramblings about him being a master bridge builder weren't all for show. It was almost like this bridge had been plucked straight out of the human world, which was impressive. Especially given the fact that he knew Nami didn't have any industrial equipment.

It almost felt strange to see the abnormal nature of the water. The wildness of the waves, something he knew no normal person could traverse.

And yet he did, walking upon this bridge as he felt no worries about its deterioration, even as the waters crashed around him.

It reminded him of the feeling Kaiza described. The reason this bridge was built in the first place...

Hope.

Something he had dashed away long ago.

However, the breathtaking view of the industrial bridge, coupled with the ocean's vast waters that it rested upon, was soured.

As he went further, the sight of where the bridge led approached him.

Seeing the view of the grand building, one he knew was furnished and fortified to the highest degree money could buy. Money that was stolen from the people of Wave.

It was bitter.

Contrasting the feeling of hope traversing troubled waters. It was the image of an insurmountable fort that they could not penetrate.

This must have been what the villagers of Wave felt.

The immense hopelessness that they could not pass. All that time and effort seemed wasted. That was the very reason the bridge was built was gone.

They were no longer free.

Prisoners without a way to escape.

That's why he felt no remorse for what he was about to do.

Raising his hand upward, he pointed it straight toward the insurmountable force that no villager could penetrate. A magic circle soon appeared. And not just one, but multiple, as they surrounded his back. Building up the magic within his system, it burned with a fiery passion.

'Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique'

And soon, out of the dark magic circles with the three tomoed design.

Emerged a fire like no other, a roaring intensity that encompassed anything it touched.

As a massive fireball shot towards Gato's mansion.

XXX

(With Gato's office)

Boom!

Gato's mansion shook with a tremor, much to everyone's surprise. As an explosion rocked the building to its core.

"Eh? What's that?" Zabuza asked in confusion.

His employer also seemed confused and distraught. The impact shook the short man so much that he fell over.

"Gah! I don't care what it is; just check it out!" Gato yelled as one of his men rushed inside.

"Sir, a fire has started spreading in the middle halls of the building—" the thug shouted in dismay.

But Gato wasn't having any of it. "Then go fix it! All of you!" He interrupted, not allowing these fools to let the fire spread even further… Honestly, what did he pay them for?

However, it seemed that Haku was less surprised by this turn of events, as all she did was gaze out the large window.

Seeing the cloaked figure that had fought her sensei and father figure standing upon Nami's bridge, his cloak billowing out in the wind.

So, this 'Menma' had arrived.

XXX

(With Naruto)

It didn't take long for another figure to appear in front of him.

As before his very eyes, seeing the girl's porcelain mask with its wave-like pattern across her face. Yet, even though her identity was hidden, cloaked in the real battle kimono he had seen her wear before, he still recognized this person.

"Hello, Haku," Naruto voiced as he pulled out a kunai from his pouch. Instantly channeling his wind magic into the object to increase its sharpness. "Where's Zabuza?" He inquired, expecting the shark-like man to be here as well.

Haku formed her own weapons, senbons made out of ice, between her fingers. "Gato sent Zabuza-sama to deal with the fire you've started; it seems none of them were expecting anyone to make such an attempt, Menma-San."

Underneath his mask, Naruto smiled slightly. "Unexpected is the perfect way to describe me," he mused.

Haku seemed to find amusement in his statement. "Perhaps, although it does leave me to wonder what exactly you are planning," she voiced.

Naruto shrugged. "I don't know; I think you'll have to beat it out of me," he told her.

"Perhaps I will," Haku retorted, getting ready for a battle. "But I would still like to inquire just where Kaiza is."

Naruto did the same: "Yeah, I'm not going to do that." He told her, just as she had expected.

"Very well… then for Zabuza-sama's sake, I shall defeat you," Haku stated. As a torrent of wind, ice, and mist expelled from the ice user's body like a massive maelstrom.

She would fight for her precious person.

It didn't matter what Naruto thought.

XXX

(Naruto)

Naruto dodged the flurry of ice senbon that was sent his way. Leaping to the side just in time to avoid the needles piercing his skin. As he saw that the ground the weapons struck instantly froze over.

Realizing this, Naruto decided to become much more wary of the simple-looking weapons the girl used.

Not wasting any time, he threw his wind-coated kunai towards the girl, knowing she would either try to dodge or block his attack.

Using this opportunity, he quickly closed the distance between them, allowing another kunai to strike and end this battle quickly.

However, it seemed Haku was ready for this, as she blocked his slash with her own weapon. This time, a set of needles made purely of metal.

And no matter how many times he tried to reposition for another slash, the girl seemed to skillfully block it with her own.

They were in a stalemate, unable to get a clean cut on one another as they danced around like in their own little world. Naruto was unable to do anything as he was trying to preserve his magical supply for his inevitable upcoming fight with Zabuza.

However, it seems that Haku had other ideas, as in her other hand, the one not holding the senbon she used to block him off, she performed an elaborate set of one-handed hand signs.

Naruto's eyes widened at this, not expecting the girl to pull off such a move. Not knowing such a thing was possible.

As such, a wide array of seemingly floating needles made of pure ice and water surrounded them both.

'Secret Technique: A Thousand Needles of Death' Haku thought, was the name of the technique.

Almost instantly, the tens of needles started to encroach upon them both, fast.

Naruto focused on his inner energy, his magic, building up just enough with his legs to provide an adequate boost of speed to get him out of this situation.

The needles got closer and closer to their position, until finally they struck the ground. A large plume of ice and debris formed at its impact point.

Both fighters used their immense speed to dodge the flurry of attacks just in time.

However, Naruto used the smoke as a distraction. Providing a constant barrage of shuriken towards his masked opponent, the girl leapt back to dodge each projectile launched at her. The stars paving a steady pattern out of the points she had just escaped.

"As I said before, you are still a fool," Naruto stated, as instantly Haku's eyes widened.

Quickly turning around to face where the voice had just come from. She successfully managed to block the incoming blade aimed at her by parrying Naruto's hand out of the way.

But as she tried to counterattack, ducking low to aim at his lower half. Naruto dealt a heavy kick towards her head, nearly cracking the mask upon her face, as she was sent recoiling back from the direction from which she had come. Flying a few feet, she landed harshly on the ground.

"It seems that I'm faster than you," Naruto stated, seeing the girl sprawled out on the floor, trying desperately to recover, as he closed the distance between them.

Their fight was short, but it was over.

"Hehehe!" A new voice echoed throughout the fog, stepping forward to reveal themselves to the two.

As Haku's own eyes widened, "Z-Zabuza-sama?!" She questioned, not expecting to see her sensei so soon.

"It seems this mission is starting to become interesting," he chuckled. Before the bandaged man turned his attention towards his fallen apprentice. "Haku, you've failed. At this rate, you'll be defeated by your intended victim."

As the ice wielder held her head low, she realized the state she was in front of her father figure and precious person.

As the member of Kiri's Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū turned his cold gaze toward the masked ninja.

Seeing his now-red, spinning eyes in the mask's eyeholes.

"Hello… Naruto Uzumaki."

XXX

(With Kaiza)

"Demon, you seem nervous," the fox noticed as the much older man looked at the young fox.

"You don't seem to be," Kaiza noticed as they waited for the signal to start up the teleporter.

And he was right. As the orange feline just lazed about on the ground without a care in the world.

The fox shrugged nonchalantly. "There isn't any need to be," he told him.

Kiaza looked shocked. "Why not?!" He asked, slightly more forcefully than he would like to admit. He was left staring at his palms, unable to do anything. "Your friend, a child, is fighting the demon of the mist. All the while, I'm stuck in here," he trailed off.

It was then that the fox's disposition changed. As his laziness was all lost. His crimson eyes steeled into a harsh glare. "Hey, don't go worrying about Naruto. He's strong—stronger than any of your puny ninjas from some backwater village. Trust me, that 'kid' has been through far worse," Kurama told him firmly.

And at the fox's words, Kaiza seemed to just stare at him, his lazy persona returning.

"And besides, you have your mate and kit to worry about…" Kurama told him, now itching his ear with one of his hind legs.

And at that, Kaiza gained a small smile, now staring off in the distance. Right where Tazuna, Inari, and his beautiful wife Tsunami were standing.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right."

XXX

Naruto was willing to admit he had gotten a little in over his head. He was willing to admit his mistakes, even if it was only to himself.

Taking in one of the greatest shinobi of the hidden mist village wasn't his greatest idea. Especially when he also had to face the man's apprentice as well.

Granted, he didn't have much of a choice.

Well, he did, but he wasn't going to tell Vali-Chan that… if he returned, that is.

But he couldn't stop now; he had a mission to do, and he wasn't backing down now.

It didn't matter if he had to fight the so-called 'demon of the mist,' he would get stronger. And this was a good way to improve himself—the only way he knew how.

Through combat, he knew he would improve steadily, and in battle.

Just training himself would produce the desired effect. He couldn't train himself for hundreds of years like the other devils.

He didn't have that kind of time. 'That' man was still after him; of that he had no doubt.

Every minute he wasted not getting stronger was only further pushing him away from his goal.

Battles fought through blood and sweat could provide the experience he needed to cut his training time down by months, maybe even years at a time. Further, honing his skills and sharpening them to the point where he had no doubt he would avenge his family.

Although, don't get him wrong, he wasn't a battle maniac. And training himself did have its purpose, furthering his arsenal of magical abilities and mage craft. As well as growing his experience.

He would attain his goal, because that's what his life had been built up to be ever since his family had died.

That's why Haku was wrong.

And if she wasn't, well, what had all his efforts been worth?

All of his life, memories, and experiences lead up to this…

Quickly dodging to the side of Zabuza's giant blade. He was only barely able to get out of the way of the barrage of ice that was shot his way.

Quickly forming a small magic circle within his palms. Sending a small fireball towards Zabuza, which gave him enough time to decrease the distance between the two. Not allowing Haku to fire off any more projectiles, lest she accidentally hit her precious master.

Getting close to the rouge ninja, he tried to thrust a kunai straight into the man's chest.

However, his attack was easily blocked, as the man firmly grasped onto his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.

"I'll admit, you're not bad, for a brat," the man stated, much to his shock at their situation. "But it'll take a lot more for you to take on someone like me," Zabuza stated.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, feeling the man tighten his grip across his wrist ever so slightly. If this continued, before long, he knew that the bone would surely break.

But that didn't stop him from trying to converse with the man.

"You know, Zabuza, you're actually quite impressive," Naruto stated, a hint of respect in his voice.

Which causes Zabuza's eyebrows, or lack thereof, to furrow at his shorter opponent. "You've made quite the impression on the underworld's outer rim. From the moment you became a shinobi at age seven, you slaughtered your entire graduating class. From then on, you went to join the mist's seven deadly swordsmen. Gaining the mist's legendary 'decapitating blade.' Rising through the ranks, it surprised the outer rim when they found out you tried to assassinate your own Kage. And you've been a rogue ninja ever since, evading capture from your former village, and taking any job you could. Which is how you ended up in Gato's employ." Naruto finished, stating everything he had found within the toad's information about the man.

Zabuza was surprised at the boy's knowledge, but he continued. "How many of the mist's hunter nin have you killed working for the 14 clients you've had over the years, Ten? Twenty?… no, it was twenty-seven, in total. Once again, most impressive," he finished, only furthering the man's shock.

Before, the man laughed, and it wasn't just a normal laugh, a chuckle, but one of those laughs that filled his entire core. "Hahaha! I'll admit, you've done your homework. But what's your game, shouting all that nonsense?" He inquired, intrigued by the young shinobi's ramblings.

This only caused Naruto to look straight into the man's open eyes, or where they should be. "Nothing; I just thought it was surprising that the scary 'demon of the mist' wouldn't even look a small child in the eyes," for Zabuza Momochi was sorely keeping his eyes closed. Lest he be subjected to his eyes' ocular powers once again.

But that only caused the man to laugh. "Ha! All that talk was for nothing but a petty little insult. If that's all you have, I'm sorely disappointed." He chortled. "I've also been doing some research as well. And seeing those eyes reminded me of the old legend. I'm sure you've heard of it… Naruto Uzumaki,"

And with his words, Naruto was left stupefied at how this man knew his identity. As his eyes widened behind his mask.

Zabuza seemed to notice this, and that only seemed to further his amusement.

"What? Surprised at how I know who you are, Indra?" He laughed. "Even if the outer rim is isolated, we still heard of the Uzumaki clan's downfall. They say the entire clan was killed, but I've always been suspicious about it, having fought a few of them myself. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was one left. And he is the heir to hell too!" Zabuza said.

The tale of Indra Otsutsuki was a common one, especially on the outskirts of the underworld. The tale of the vicious wanderer, the original occupant, and the true ruler of hell.

He was known by many names.

And his tale of his power reincarnating went hand in hand with his legend, even if his true origin was lost to history.

"But imagine my disappointment when he's this weak! I mean, you would think that being the last Uzumaki and all, you would have grown a backbone or something. I guess your family was just that disappointing," the man stated, as Naruto's head was held low, the shadows hiding his eyes.

As a familiar emotion began to build up within his sternum. The embers building up and boiling over in a firey inferno.

"Well, Zabuza-San, it seems I'll have to thank you," Naruto started, causing a confused expression to be seen on Zabuza's face.

But there was something different about the boy. His voice didn't hold any of the calmness and emotionlessness it had before. As it was sparked by nothing but bitterness.

Of anger.

... and of rage.

Nobody got to talk about his family like that!

He didn't care who it was. He didn't care what this man, no, demon, had done. Naruto knew he was going to kill him!

Zabuza reminded him too much of 'that' man.

The blonde lifted his head back up, and his sharingan eyes blazed with fiery hatred.

"… you made doing this a lot easier," Naruto said darkly, forming a Rasengan within his other hand. It's unholy aura lighting the area.

Haku was too slow to attack, not expecting any sudden movements, especially when his master held his hand in a vice-like grip.

Naruto aimed the condensed orb of magic straight for the man's gut, until…

Crack.

Cleanly, Zabuza snapped the boy's wrist.

Yet, Naruto was not perturbed, as his spiraling sphere continued to make its way towards the rogue ninja's chest. Zabuza was not expecting the boy to have the level of pain tolerance to continue his onslaught. And given that his other hand was holding onto his large sword, he was just slow enough to not be able to retaliate.

As such, he didn't expect the boy to slam his technique straight into his stomach.

"Rasengan" Naruto said with anger lacing his eyes, as his technique exploded, sending the adult man flying.

"Zabuza-sama!" Haku shrieked, immediately rushing towards her master's side. Even as the man collapsed on the ground.

But, even with the damage Naruto's technique managed to do, it seemed it wasn't enough. As the shark-like man rose to his feet, a large hole had dug itself within his chest, but he was otherwise fine.

"Haku, get off of me," Zabuza stated, pushing away the girl, as his student continued to fret over his injuries.

He then turned his attention to the blonde Uzumaki. Seeing his right hand's wrist broken as the arm lay helplessly at his side.

"I'll admit, I wasn't expecting you to pull off such a ballsy move; maybe you weren't as weak as I first thought," Zabuza stated, keeping his eyes firmly on the boy's feet.

"Oh, believe me, Zabuza, that wasn't all I had planned," Naruto stated, and before they could react, the Uzumaki summoned a magic circle.

But this magic circle wasn't an ordinary magic circle, as its size was greatly reduced compared to the ones he had made previously. Forming right next to his ear, he only spoke two words.

"It's time," Naruto stated, signaling Kurama to start up his summoning circle.

And it was only then that Zabuza and Haku sensed it.

A wellspring of magic building up off into the distance. Both recognized this feeling, and not even being full-sensor types themselves, they could feel it within their bones.

Zabuza's surprise actually caused him to open his eyes, as he looked toward the direction of the magical anomaly.

"So that's your plan—teleporting the family away," The mist ninja realized. It seemed Uzumaki had more up his sleeve. "But it won't work, Haku; get them," he ordered, knowing he was strong enough to take on the injured boy on his own.

"You underestimate me," Naruto stated once again, and before Haku could leave, he activated another circle, channeling his magic into another set of seals that were arranged all around their feet.

As the lines of script flared to life instantly, a barrier was produced around them, likely not allowing anyone to go through. Likewise, it didn't allow anyone to come out either.

He had placed these seals when he had explored the bridge earlier. Having written the sealing matrix up the night before.

XXX

(With Kurama)

"Alright, that's the signal; it's time to head out!"

As the room was engulfed in a foul light.

XXX

"Zabuza-sama what do we do?" Haku asked, realizing this 'Menma' or Naruto had thought things through much more than she had foreseen.

But even with Zabuza's vast experience, he hadn't thought the boy's plan would be this heavily thought out. Nevertheless, he wasn't the Demon of the most for nothing.

The large man pointed his blade at the injured boy, realizing the threat he posed. "Haku, it's simple; all we have to do is kill the boy and the barrier will disappear, isn't that right?"

But Naruto only quirked his head, knowing that was not the case with this particular barrier. "An interesting theory, but I'm not sure it's well-founded."

Normally, barriers created by devils were a simple spell that any high-class devil could create. The stronger the devil, the stronger the barrier.

And Zabuza was indeed correct on that front. But given that this barrier was built entirely from Fuinjutsu, not conventional magic, the rules were slightly different.

And even if he died, the barriers wouldn't shut down until they had used up all the magic he had stored within them. Which would give Kaiza and his family just enough time to escape through the teleporter he had set up. In other words;

He had won.

And all he had to do was deal with Zabuza and haku himself. Which honestly might be harder than he thought. But, of course, he had a plan for that as well.

"Maybe, but you're on your last legs, with only a single arm to use for combat. It's clear who will win this fight," Zabuza stated. And to demonstrate this, he then threw a flurry of kunai towards the blonde. Haku doing the same with an array of ice needles.

On reflex, Naruto jumped back, using a kunai with his one good hand to deflect all the projectiles he could. But it seemed he wasn't fast enough, as even with his enhanced eyesight, he had still taken a few needles to his already wounded arm.

Pulling them out, he gazed at the man again. "But if it will be so easy, why aren't you even bothering to look upon me?" Naruto stated, and he was indeed correct, as Zabuza still held his eyes closed.

But the man wasn't dissuaded by his observation: "Killing you may be easy, but I'm not going to risk one of your pesky little eye tricks once again."

"Why, are you scared of the Uzumaki clan's power?" Naruto questioned.

Which only seemed to further Zabuza's amusement. This kid had guts; he would give him that.

"No, and to prove it, I'll even show you the signature technique of the mist, although I doubt you'll be able to see it," the demon stated, as he started performing his familiar seal.

Instantly, mist started to form around them, much to Naruto's confusion. Naruto easily retaliated by forming a quick magic circle, and with the inner chant of 'Wind style: Gale palm.' And a blast of wind blew away the majority of the surrounding mist. Having already done this for the man's technique before.

But as soon as the fog went away, it returned in full force.

And with another test to see if this would repeat itself, Naruto realized what the demon had planned. He guessed it was Haku who was constantly applying the technique. No other explanation could solve it.

He also guessed that the man was having the girl diffuse his barrier as the seconds went by,

Furthermore, he realized just why Zabuza had done so.

"You finally understand it. Your visual prowess is worth nothing if you can't see anything. And you can't cast any illusions either," a voice spoke throughout the haze. Although Naruto couldn't quite place exactly where it had come from.

On reflex, he blocked another array of kunai that was sent at him. But he began to realize just how increasingly difficult to see it was becoming. And Zabuza's constant statements didn't help.

"How does it feel, knowing that all that training you put into was useless? That your bloodline is useless?" The voice mocked. "That your bloodline will end here? And your family line will disappear? Huh, Naruto?"

"Shut up!" Naruto yelled, his anger finally reaching its boiling point. Nobody got to talk about his family like that!

"And what if I don't? What will you do then?" Zabuza voiced out.

"I'm going to settle this, with one move," Naruto said confidently as he took out another object within his pouch.

"Interesting. What can you possibly do in this situation? Go ahead, show me," Zabuza said arrogantly, not believing there was anything left the boy could do.

As the Uzumaki only unraveled the object, a scroll, and the final set of seals he had prepared for this very moment. As he spread, a minute amount of blood to activate the array.

Harshly slamming the scroll onto the ground, as he channeled magic within it, he thought, 'Sealing Art: chained pursuit technique!' As a vast amount of kanji spread from the scroll. A technique he specifically created to counter than mist's signature technique.

"I know exactly where you are and what you're about to do. Yet you have no idea where I am now." Zabuza explained the situation as Naruto remained firmly on the ground. "You are completely in my hands now—" he said, before he heard something.

Instantly, the bridge's ground beneath him broke as tens of chains made of pure kanji sprouted around him, causing Zabuza's eyes to widen.

What's more, another set of chains reached up towards the man. Piercing the man's right shoulder, the man was held immobile to stop it.

That was for his wrist!

As a burst of wind blasted around them with a minor spell, giving Naruto just enough visibility to charge at the man, a rasengan at the ready.

But as he tried to move away, Zabuza was sorely surprised, given the fact that he realized just how much his mobility was being restricted.

Haku was just as shocked, seeing her master unable to move himself.

Naruto fully turned his attention toward the dark-haired girl, and the girl was left shocked at just how much anger seeped into his gaze.

"I-i… Zabuza-sama?" Haku questioned, not fully believing her master was in this situation.

"Don't move, or your master will get it!" Naruto snapped as he further pointed his spiraling sphere toward the demon.

This caused Haku to freeze up even more as she fully realized the gravity of this new, unexpected situation.

"Don't listen to him, Haku; kill the boy, complete the mission, and make it hurt!" Zabuza ordered, wanting revenge for his shoulder. Yet, Haku still didn't know what to do.

As Naruto's words laid heavy on her shoulders. "Don't you see, Haku, this is what caring about people get you. This is why you are a fool!" He voiced, telling the girl as much as he did himself, as Haku recoiled from the verbal blow.

Naruto's rasengan inching further towards the man's heart. Its light blue glow casting a shadow over the man's gray skin.

And as Haku tried to stop him, forming even more senbon between her fingers, his words stopped her.

"Don't do it!" Naruto glared, warning the girl even more. "You aren't strong enough to save him," he told her.

"You're right," Haku started, surprising the two, as the girl held her head low. Thinking over the situation all she could.

What could she do to save her master? He was so much stronger than her, so much smarter, and so much more ruthless. That's what separated the two of them.

Before she came to a realization.

She was nothing without him.

Her precious one.

"… I only wish I could have been stronger."

And it was only then that she held her head high, resolved. She then rushed towards Naruto as fast as she could.

Naruto pulled his arm back, and thrusted towards her master, and—

Squelch.

To say Naruto was surprised at what happened was an understatement.

Right in front of him, before his very eyes, Haku took her master's place.

A Rasengan drilling straight into her chest.

But even still, she was resolved to her fate, as Naruto's own eyes widened.

The ball of condensed and spinning magic grinding heavily into the girl's chest. Blood splattered into the air, spilling directly onto him, yet he didn't care.

All that was on his mind was one question:

"…W-Why, Haku?" He quivered, his anger having receded for the moment.

But the dark-haired girl only grimly smiled, as blood started to spill from her lips, marking her pale skin with redness.

"Isn't… it obvious? I… I wanted to protect my precious… person," she said plainly, even as it grew increasingly harder to speak.

That's when Naruto's eyes truly widened.

As life started to leave the girl's eyes.

Reminding him of someone he tried not to remember.

"H…help me." "I don't want to die."

The life behind that girl's eyes receded too.

… it reminded him of his mother.

Seeing her lifeless corpse lying on the ground.

As 'that' man laughed over him.

"Hahahaha!" Zabuza laughed a laugh, similarly to what 'that' man had done before him.

"Well done, Haku," he said in almost a whisper. As the large man began using his other arm to swing his large broadsword closer to himself. Unleashing a large, pent-up scream as he did so. "Ahhhhh!"

Zabuza's blade inching ever closer towards his face.

Naruto's eyes widened, but for some reason, his body just refused to move, or perhaps he was just too slow to do so.

Haku was a foolish girl with foolish ideals.

She was the one who died, and he was the one who won. Or he should have.

Yet, why did the girl's actions affect him so much?

She had given up her life for the one she loved.

Where did that sound familiar?

Suddenly, a voice sounded out throughout his mind. Something he had long since tried to forget:

'Naruto… A-Always remember, no matter what you do. I will always love you, more than anything, that will never change.'

Those were the words of his mother, of Uzuamki Kushina, right before she went off to her death.

Why was he thinking of that moment now?

He never understood his mother's words, nor her actions.

They could have lived; they could have survived... Yet, why did she choose to die? Why did he have to see her lifeless body on the ground?

She could be here right now if she had just chosen to live!

Why didn't she?

'When someone has something they want to protect, it is only then they become genuinely strong.'

Those were Haku's words; why did he think of them?

What did his mother want to protect?

Zabuza's sword seemed to move in slow motion, as it was right about to pierce his skin.

Did he have something he wanted to protect?

Was he strong?

He'd like to think he was, but as Zabuza's blade was about to cut into his neck, he wasn't so sure.

'I'll let you go, but promise me you'll come back.' 'Promise'

Unconsciously, Naruto's eyes began to morph and change, shaping into its evolved six-pointed star with a pentagram-like design in the middle.

Kubikiribōchō struck…

'Kamui!'

But no blood was shed, and it was as if the blade passed cleanly through his skin. As if he were never there to begin with, or he were a...

ghost.

Naruto seemed to snap out of his stupor, jumping back, as he gripped Haku's lifeless form tight to his body.

Zabuza seemed just as surprised as he was, but he was quickly trying to come up with an explanation as to what happened.

"What was that? Some kind of illusion?" He tried to reason, but he knew that was not the case. He hadn't even looked into the boy's eyes at all.

But Naruto didn't give him an answer.

"What was that!" He snapped. "You could have hit Haku with that wild attack," Naruto said angrily, his rage having returned, still clutching onto the girl's increasingly cold body.

"That's shinobi, Kid; we're heartless. Though, I'll admit, Haku was a good tool, worthwhile in the end," Zabuza stated emotionless at the fact his apprentice had just died.

"A tool?! That's all she was to you! She gave her life just so you could live," Naruto accused with a sharingan-filled glare.

But Zabuza seemed unperturbed: "yeah… she was."

Naruto placed the girl's body on the ground, his mask shadowing his eyes. "Then if her life was so worthless… I guess I have to pay you back."

"You can try," Zabuza stated, their battle beginning to return in full force.

Both already heavily injured. Naruto had a broken wrist, while Zabuza had several holes in his right shoulder, rendering both unmoving. But that didn't matter, as the two still had a score to settle.

As both charged forward, Naruto held a kunai in comparison to the most ninja's massive blade.

Yet, he still pushed onward.

It was like he saw at a whole new level. His senses were different, and his feelings were different. Yet he didn't care.

All he saw was red.

Dodging to the side just in time, he felt a harsh blow towards the man's stomach. Expelling any air left in the man's lungs, likely having collapsed a rib or two.

Yet the demon continued onward, getting back up as he continued to try and strike the younger boy down once more.

But no matter how many times the man tried, he could not even touch him. Naruto could see it all—every movement, every muscle, everything—almost as if he could see the very future itself.

Eventually, Zabuza was left a bloodied, heaving mess, that needed to use his large blade to support himself. As his anger boiled over.

Yet, Naruto stood still, as if he hadn't been hit at all, even though his entire right arm was basically unusable.

It was unsettling; he was supposed to be the stronger one! The one to win, yet why was he losing?!

Charging forward in his rage, Naruto just dealt a harsh punch to the man's angered face. Disoriented, the boy dealt another, much harsher, spin kick to the same area. Knocking Zabuza back, as he continued to just stand there, as if nothing had ever happened.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

"Ha! He did quite a job on you, didn't he, Zabuza? You look like yesterday's sashimi." A voice laughed, one familiar to the shark-like man.

As they all turned their attention to witness the small, yet wealthy, mob boss Gato. Flanked by what looked like a small army of thugs in his wake.

"I just say I'm... disappointed," the man told him, sarcasm evident in his voice.

"Gato, I don't understand; what is all this? Why are you here? And who are these thugs you brought with you?" Zabuza demanded, on guard, as blood dripped down both of his forearms.

That only caused Gato to smirk, saying, "Well, you see, there's been a slight change in plans..." He then tapped his cane along the bridge's pavement. "According to the new plan, you die right here on this bridge, Zabuza."

His response only caused the ninja to glare even harder, his look of hatred returning full force. "What!"

"That's right, you're too expensive. So I've decided to take you off the payroll," Gato spoke. "Of course, even these thugs I've brought with me cost something. So if you could manage to slaughter a few of them before they take you down, I'd appreciate it. Think you can manage that, 'demon ninja of the mist'," he mocked.

The shipping magnate chuckled under Zabuza's glare. "Look at you; you look as demonic as a wet kitten." As the thugs he hired laughed as well.

Idley, that's when Zabuza began to notice the calm expression Naruto had. It was almost as if he'd known this was going to happen.

"Bastard! You planned this, didn't you!" Zabuza accused.

"I had a feeling things would play out this way," Naruto answered truthfully.

In the toad's files he had read, Gato apparently had ties to water country. At first, that didn't make sense, given that he wasn't known to hire rogue shinobi from the mist.

All was made clear when he read the outcome of the shinobi under his payroll: all of them perished. All of them; sure, one or two during their first mission would be coincidental, but not unlikely. But all of them were far too much to ignore.

So, all he had to do was select their battle to be just far enough away from Gato so that eventually the man would strike.

Rendering Zabuza as a non-enemy, or dead.

Either way, he had planned to take the demon of the mist down, one way or another.

What he hadn't accounted for was the man's taking so long. The barrier was designed to keep people in while letting anyone enter as they pleased.

But he guessed that Gato was far too cowardly to rush in immediately.

But now Zabuza was rendered useless and had no employer to fall back on for support. The biggest threat to Kaiza's faintly was gone, and if he tried to attack him, it wouldn't be long before Gato's thugs killed him as well.

He had won.

Zabuza seemed to realize this too, as instead of charging at him with an angry rage, he did something even more surprising.

He laughed.

One not filled with humor or mirth but a bitterness laced with amusement.

Realization dawned upon him. "Hahaha! I suppose you've won this round, Uzumaki," he chortled.

It was then that the shipping magnate turned his attention to the limp body laying near him.

Haku.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Gato said with a smirk, walking up to the girl's corpse. Pulling his leg back, he dealt a harsh kick to her skull, not that she could feel it. "Always wanted to do that. The bitch was far too close to Zabuza for my taste."

That's when his smirk grew far more eerie, a glint flashing across his shades. "Hey boys, the first one to get me Zabuza's head gets her body!" He announced, causing many of them to cheer. "Now hurry up before she loses her warmth!" Gato shouted, firing up the crowd of plunderers and rapists.

That's when Zabuza's rage hit its boiling point, as a few of the more enthusiastic thugs charged forward.

It didn't take long for a pair of kunai to hit their skulls.

As the demon turned his attention back to Naruto, and he could tell that he too was angry, even just a little. As Naruto's last remaining hand was clenched so hard at his side, blood dripped from his palm.

Even though they were enemies, even if he killed her, Naruto still held respect for her. And nobody deserved to have such a fate, even when they were dead.

As clarity dawned on the demon.

Haku's body, whom he considered a daughter, perhaps wasn't lost. He just needed to ask a favor from the hidden blonde—a last request.

"Hey kid," Zabuza spoke up, his rage having been traded for a forced tranquility. "You're one of those devil royals, aren't you?" He remembered Orochimaru's words, telling him of the boy.

Causing Naruto's eyebrows to raise slightly, and with a slight nod, he answered.

"Good, that means you have some of those Evil Pieces things."

Naruto didn't know what he was getting at, but he did answer, "I do." He narrowed his eyes.

A satisfied smirk laid itself across Zabuza's face.

"Good, so if I get you Haku's body, you could revive her as a devil, couldn't you?" the demon voiced.

Naruto realized what he meant, as he nodded once again. "I could… but why should I honor such a request?" He asked.

Haku was powerful, and would prove to be a valuable ally in the future, even without his reservations about the girl. He wouldn't mind reincarnating her.

But he wanted to know the man's reasoning for such a request.

"Call it a final request," Zabuza told him, stunning the blonde. "What? So surprised to find out I'm not heartless? Well, the truth is that even we shinobi have emotions, and even when we try to suppress them, we fail… at least, I've failed," the man told him honestly, knowing these would likely be his final moments.

He could not retrieve Haku's body unless he attacked Gato, and he assumed Naruto's evil pieces worked along a set time limit for the dead. Time they currently don't have with the shipping magnate attacking them.

He needed to take the man out.

But not before he gave a few final words of wisdom to the man.

"Naruto, there are going to be people who want your power. Utilize it and train with it as best you can to show them why you deserve to be Indra's incarnation. Because if you don't, you will die," Zabuza told him, referring to people like Orochimaru.

People like that masked man.

"I see…" Naruto nodded, "Thank you for the information.

"Just protect Haku for me," was all Zabuza requested. "Give me your kunai" He asked, biting through the bandages that covered his mouth.

And as Naruto tossed him the blade, the man effortlessly caught it within his teeth, a testament to his skill. As he walked forward, his back showing to Naruto's front.

It was then that Zabuza smirked. Even without his hands, he was a deadly weapon.

As the demon charged at the crowd of thugs, right at Gato.

'Live well… Naruto.' He thought.

XXX

He felt numb.

It was strange.

The rage he had was gone, and the anger he felt… gone.

Everything he once felt was gone.

It was as if a hole burned into his chest, and as the flames dissipated, he was left with nothing.

He didn't know why.

In the wake of Zabuza's death, killing Gato as he did so.

It was easy to deal with the remaining thugs, as he then retrieved Haku's cold body.

Kaiza's family was safe; they teleported away to another village nearby, Konoha. And even then, Gato was gone, so there was no longer anybody hunting them.

The man's remaining thugs having been slaughtered by his hands.

He had won.

He had proven that his way of thinking won out.

Haku's ideology was left exactly as it was—dead, sacrificed in a false pursuit to save her master.

Yet, why did he feel so empty?

He didn't feel like a winner.

Why did it feel like he had been the one to lose?

No, it couldn't be, could it?

Was he… wrong?

Wrong in the way he thought things.

And if he was wrong, if he never actually gained true strength. How would he be able to get revenge on the one who had massacred his family?

How would he protect Rias, Vali and anyone else?

He didn't know… but he intended to find out.

As he turned his attention to Haku's now revived body, his new [Knight].

XXX

Minutes later.

"If it's any consolation, I'm sorry things turned out this way," he told the crying girl as she clutched onto the sealed remains of her fallen master.

After dealing with the remaining goons that Gato had brought with him, he used one of his evil pieces to revive Haku, just as Zabuza had requested.

At first, the girl had definitely been disoriented; she had just died, after all. But it seemed that she was stronger than she had seemed, as she quickly recovered enough to be able to move.

Of course, she had also been confused, but when she was informed of the situation, And he showed her Zabuza's remains, which he had later sealed up. He gave her the remains of Zabuza he had sealed within a scroll. And that's when she started to breakdown.

At his words, the girl gave him a harsh side eye, before she once again returned to her crying sessions, huddled on the floor of the remains of the bridge. She clutched the sealed scroll to her chest.

Even Naruto, felt sadness for the girl, as he knew, it was his fault for this ordeal.

He hadn't intended for things to turn out this way.

But in the end, his plan had worked; Kaiza's family was safe, Gato was dead, and there was no longer a threat of missing nin attacking them.

All in all, this was a success.

But even still, his heart reached out for the girl.

He, too, had lost people, remembering his parents, and he too had people he wanted to protect.

She had failed, just as he had, remembering the young Tanuki girl he failed to save.

Reaching into his kunai pouch, he found it newly empty, except for a single kunai within.

It was almost poetic, almost an act of fate.

As he held the knife in his hand, he stared out at the girl, and realized what he had to do.

He threw the blade towards the girl, it landing at her side, as she idley noticed it at her side, even through her tear-filled red eyes.

"Well then, get on with it; I might as well give you a chance," Naruto told her, as he turned his back towards the girl, slowly walking away as he did so.

Haku's black eyes stared at the knife that had embedded itself in the ground. For what seemed like hours, she just stared at it, before she hesitatingly, with shaking hands, took the blade in her hands.

Naruto turned around, as he saw the dark-haired girl look towards him. His blade aimed to strike at him, as she held it in both of her hands. Naruto saw that she stood on wobbling legs, and her eyes were bloodshot.

Naruto opened his arms, expecting the challenge. "Go on now, try it," he goaded, accepting what was about to come.

He had revived her, as he agreed. He wasn't responsible for what happened next.

Haku stared out at this boy. No!… This monster.

It was his fault that all of this had gone wrong, this was just a simple mission. Zabuza and she had done many like this, and this one would be no different.

That was until he showed up.

Him! It was him that ruined everything, and he was the reason Zabuza-sama was dead!

He… he…

It would be so easy, he was giving her a shot. He was clearly weakened from his earlier battles. And even now, she felt stronger, faster, more powerful—not that she understood it all.

She could kill him, here, and now.

But why were her hands shaking so much?… It would be her first kill.

The first time she had ever taken a life.

It surely would be fitting to be the one responsible for Zabuza's death.

All she had to do was stab him in the back and he would drop. He would—

"I won't," Haku said resolutely, dropping the blade onto the floor, much to Naruto's surprise.

"I won't… I won't try to kill you," she restated, trying to come to terms with her decision.

Trying to kill Naruto wouldn't bring Zabuza back, she'd only be wasting this second chance at life.

In some way, it was also her fault that Zabuza-sama had died.

She had made her decision.

But even still, why was her hand still shaking.

Naruto looked at the ice-wielding girl in disbelief, then down at the blade, and then back at the girl. Reaching down to grab the dropped blade.

"No…" he told her resolutely, handing her the blade into her shaking hands once again.

Haku blinked. "No?" She questioned.

"No," Naruto said, shaking his head. "I'm responsible for Zabuza's death, you should at least try to kill me," he told her.

But Haku only shook her head, pushing the blade back into Naruto's hands. "No, I've made my decision."

"I know, but you should think on it again," Naruto retorted, pushing it back into her palm.

"There is no need to think on it, I'm set on this," Haku told him back, giving it back once again.

"No, you aren't," Naruto said, once again pushing it back, and thus their game began…

"Yes, I am."

"No, you aren't."

"Yes, I am."

"No you aren't."

"Yes, I am!" Haku told him resolutely; her mind made up, she decided to just grab the knife, and throw it over the bridge.

That seemed to send Naruto over the edge as well. "Why are you so set on this?" He yelled out.

"Why are you!" Haku yelled back, equally passionate about this debate.

And that's when Naruto did a double-take, stepping back, as he recoiled, his eyes widening at the girl.

This girl was the same as him.

She, too, lost her parental figure, seeing their dead, lifeless bodies right before her very eyes.

And she, too, had the chance to get back at the one who was responsible. So why shouldn't she take it?

But she didn't… and he didn't understand.

Shouldn't she too feel the burning desire he felt? The vast hatred he felt? So why didn't she take the chance to kill him?

Could he be… wrong?

But if he was wrong, then what other purpose did he have?

'When someone has someone precious that they want to protect, that is when they truly become strong.'

For some reason, Haku's words reverberated throughout his mind.

He didn't understand it.

Nevertheless, he recognized what he was doing, as he turned his head, seemingly letting this go.

"I must apologize, it seems I've taken this too far," he told her robotically, not looking the girl in the eyes.

Haku looked confused at the younger boy.

But behind all that facade, for a small sliver of a second, she had seen it. A look of pain, one she understood.

She felt a kinship with this boy, just like in the forest.

"You must be confused, and unable to understand certain things, about how you are alive," Naruto reasoned. "Let me explain…"

XXX

"Naruto?! You're back!" A young girl shouted, as the boy in question was promptly glomped before he could register just what the silver blur was.

As Naruto blinked, looking down in amusement. "Vali?" He questioned, well someone was excited to see him come home.

As he gazed down at her in mirth, gently patting her head. "It's good to be back," he smiled.

The girl smiled back, even as tears threatened to leak from her eyes. The girl using his dirtied cloak as a towel to wipe herself off and hide herself from the world.

Her small arms still wrapped around him, and her head still rested upon his chest.

It was strange, foreign to him. But at the same time it almost reminded him of his mother. And the fact that she seemed to be waiting for him.

It was… refreshing.

If he had to put it that way, after constantly coming home to an empty house, it gave a whole new meaning to coming home.

And so, hesitantly, he raised his arms to wrap around her smaller frame, a light blush coming across the girl's cheeks. His broken wrist already having been healed due to his Phenex heritage.

They were in their own little world.

And even Haku, who was standing off to the side, could see that. As she looked at the two in confusion, before a small smile came across her face.

It was then that Vali noticed the older girl, a fire lighting in her eyes as she hugged him even tighter.

Who was she?

Just who was this tramp that her Naruto had brought home?

Didn't she know he was hers!

"Naruto? Who is this girl?" Valiana spoke in a draconic tone, her eyes glowing as her sacred gear subconsciously seeped into her.

As Naruto blinked, not understanding the danger he was in, "Oh? That's Haku Yuki, my newest [Evil Piece, my [Knight]."

"What!"

XXX

Unknown location.

"Lord Orochimaru, it seems Zabuza has failed in his mission to kill the Uzumaki." A young, silver-haired, bespectacled man kneels before his master.

As the pale-skinned man laughed, "kukuku, it is to be expected. Naruto-Kun has slain the demon of the mist, just as planned," he smirked.

As the Snake Sanin's smirk grew far more sinister, the glint within the man's yellow-slit eyes grew ever more eerie.

"Soon the Indra's power will belong to me, and then nobody will be able to stop me!"

End Chapter.