A biting chill filled the air inside Gato's decimated headquarters. Haku weaved his way between nearly two dozen bodies and wreckage strewn about in the wake of the battle. His jutsu left behind residue in the form of large, misshapen lumps of ice. If not for the ugly brawl that surrounded this moment, he mused, they might have passed for sculptures.
Encased within one of these icy marvels were three bodies: two teenage males and one teenage girl. Haku stopped in front of the imprisoned enemy ninja whom he'd trapped in his Ice Release, examining them with a blank expression. He could feel warmth reaching his eyes, but shook it off to remain focused on the mission. There was no time for emotional lapses; Zabuza needed his help. Gato would be safe upstairs, so long as he had followed instructions and stayed put in his hiding spot. Haku's job was simple—eliminate the Hidden Leaf foes. The fact they were children with dreams of their own made no difference. Haku was Zabuza's weapon, a tool meant only for the rogue ninja's use, even if it meant killing his own emotions.
"It's a shame we must cross paths this way," he said, taking a moment to look at the faces of each of the immobilized shinobi. "Please forgive me, but this is the fate of a ninja. To watch one's comrades die in front of them...and even to kill others, or their comrades, when the need arises." Haku sucked in a breath and readied a few senbon between his knuckles. "Goodbye."
Tearing across the frosty structure with a single swipe of his claw, Haku rended the mass of ice into three distinct pieces, destroying it along with the bodies of the children inside.
The kimono-clad assassin couldn't believe his eyes when the frozen corpses turned to smoke.
❖ ❖ ❖
Team 7's three Genin tumbled downhill and came to a stop in a patch of wet grass. Sakura was first to rise, followed by Naruto and Sasuke. They wiped what dirt and grime they could from their clothes and sighed. Sakura, in particular, seemed mortified by the condition her hair was in. She whined audibly, then took off an open-toed shoe and checked underneath one of her feet.
"Ugh," she complained, "mud!" The kunoichi dutifully scraped the mud away from the sole of her sandal as best she could with the edge of a kunai.
Sasuke reached down and picked up the Flying Thunder God-tagged arrow he'd used as a reference point. "Mud will be the least of our worries if that ice user finds us."
"Ouch," Naruto grumbled, rolling his shoulder. "I know the injuries aren't really there, but they sure feel like it! His ice spikes nearly got us, even with all the clones I made."
"I know," Sasuke said. "Thanks, Naruto. You bought us enough time to jump here."
"Now what?" Sakura asked as she slipped her shoe back on.
Naruto threw a fist in the air. "Now we go support Kakashi-sensei!"
"And what about Gato?" she added, glancing back in the direction of the crime lord's hideout.
The Uzumaki grinned. "It's taken care of, Sakura! No sweat. Believe it!"
❖ ❖ ❖
Gato burst from the inside of a wardrobe and breathed a comforting gulp of fresh air. He took a moment to look around, making sure the coast was clear before sauntering out of the room where Zabuza's brat left him. No one was on this floor besides him, so he could afford to take his time making an exit. He checked a couple of his hiding places, pleased to find both stashes of ryo left untouched.
In a hurry to stuff the money into his pockets, Gato froze when he heard footsteps approaching from below. He scrambled to find another spot to hide in, running as fast as his tiny frame would allow. The businessman collided with something firm, falling onto his side with an unceremonious thud. He stood up, coming face to face with a young blond boy in an orange jumpsuit.
"There you are!" said the kid. "Honestly, I thought you'd be taller."
He was one of the Leaf shinobi, Gato realized upon glancing at his headband. The panicked crime lord's sloppy attempt at an escape was foiled when an identical copy of his pursuer stepped out from around a corner and tripped him.
"Oh, no ya don't!" the boy's twin shouted. "You're comin' with me, old man."
"I'll deliver the message," said the original. His copy nodded, then reached for Gato.
The twin slipped his arms underneath Gato's shoulders and held him captive while the first boy made a hand sign, then disappeared.
❖ ❖ ❖
Naruto stood up straight, stiff with shock as a sudden rush of knowledge came over him. His comrades looked toward him in confusion.
"Naruto, what is it?" Sakura asked.
Holding up a finger, Naruto grinned and said, "Just wait for it…"
A second later, his clone dropped a dejected Gato onto the grass in front of him.
"Great job, me!" said the real Naruto.
"Thanks, me!" said the clone.
Sasuke and Sakura's synchronized sighs went unheeded by their prideful teammate.
Retrieving a coil of rope from his backpack, Sasuke said, "let's tie him up."
❖ ❖ ❖
Amidst a battlefield submerged in fog, Kakashi slammed his palms against the dirt, conjuring an earthen brick wall with four dog heads at its center. The wall rose from the ground in front of him just in time to defend against an enraged sword swing from Zabuza. When his attack met resistance, the rogue ninja cried out and applied pressure. In no time, his sword cleaved through the dense wall, blasting it apart and raining dirt like hail across the landscape. When he stopped to observe the aftermath, Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.
Reacting with inhuman speed, Zabuza sidestepped an attempted Lightning Blade, leaving Kakashi in a compromising position. Zabuza had positioned his weapon upside down so that The Leaf Jonin's arm was sticking straight through a hole near the sharp end of the blade. Making matters worse, The Mist Ninja had a firm grip on his wrist to prevent him from backing away.
"Got you!" Zabuza growled, swinging his sword toward the ground and pulling a disoriented Kakashi along with it in one enormous show of strength. He drove the tip of the blade into the earth, severing his captive's hand in the process. However, the maimed Kakashi lying at his feet melted away, leaving behind a puddle. "When did he...a Water Clone?"
"That's right," said a voice that echoed through the thick fog.
Zabuza tried to yank his blade free, but it was jammed too deep into the forest floor and fought against removal. Another strained tug revealed that something wasn't right. The sword was being held in place somehow. Abandoning it altogether, Zabuza backflipped and scoured his surroundings for any sign of danger. Seeing nothing, he tensed up and brought his hands together to perform a jutsu. Just then, a gloved hand gripped his ankle like a vice. Kakashi pulled him below ground before he could react. Nothing but his head remained above the surface, and he was unable to move. Due to the disruption in his chakra output, the mist began to clear up.
An unharmed Kakashi strode onto the scene, the Executioner's Blade in hand. "That was Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu," he announced in a mockingly cheerful tone. "Looks like I got you."
"Damn it," Zabuza said, struggling against his predicament to no avail.
"It's true that you were a tough opponent, but-"
A rolling wave of ice spikes erupted from below, creating a frozen barrier between the two men. Having dodged just in time, Kakashi turned to face the Ice Release user. The mask Naruto and Sasuke spoke of a couple of days ago was intact again. A noticeable crack in its center indicated it was recently mended.
"Haku," Zabuza yelled, "free me! Now!"
"Of course, Zabuza," said the ice user.
Kakashi dashed toward the new foe without a word. His Sharingan alerted him to a rise in the enemy's chakra output, enabling him to react in time when an ice mirror appeared. He threw a kunai, preventing their escape through the mirror, then wielded Zabuza's sword with a mighty, two-handed swing. Kakashi incorporated a current of lightning chakra prior to impact, shattering the mirror. His foe ducked under the attack and jabbed a senbon at his throat. The two locked eyes, and the masked ninja lost concentration, missing his strike and falling off balance. Kakashi kicked him across the grass and then readied himself for a finishing blow, hoping to render the child incapable of fighting rather than having to kill him. Although, he had a feeling the odds of that were slim at best.
If I hadn't used Genjutsu, I'd be dead now, Kakashi thought to himself, suppressing a shudder. This child was no pushover, that was for sure. Turns out Naruto and Sasuke weren't exaggerating at all.
The ice user formed hand signs at an impressive speed, almost too fast for Kakashi's Sharingan to track. The Jonin took a stance, anticipating some kind of diversion coming his way. Sure enough, a series of ice shards created using the moisture in the air came flying at him. He spun Zabuza's sword in a windmill motion, destroying the projectiles. Meanwhile, an unseen Shadow Clone lurked near his captured foe. Sure enough, the ice user sped past him, going straight for Zabuza, but was intercepted by the clone lying in wait. They remained at a standstill, one Kakashi on either side of the enemy. The ice user proceeded to cast yet another jutsu, and a dome of consecutive ice mirrors encircled the combatants.
Zabuza's exposed head watched from afar. "Don't hold back, boy!" he commanded.
"Understood."
"Stop right there!" shouted Naruto from somewhere above the battleground.
All heads turned to see him standing with his arms crossed on the branch of a tall tree. Sasuke was on the branch next to his, and at the highest branch of the tree, Sakura fastened a rope that dangled a fearful Gato in midair.
Haku moved to strike, but Sakura wagged a finger.
"Don't even think about it!" she warned. She reached down and opened one of the flaps of Gato's jacket, revealing it was lined with paper bombs.
"One wrong move and we set them off," Sasuke said with a stern glare.
"You brats wouldn't dare," Zabuza snarled.
Sakura made a hand sign. "Wanna bet?"
A long, uncomfortable standoff ended with Zabuza cursing to himself before saying, "Stand down, Haku."
"But Zabuza-"
"Stand. Down."
"...Very well."
The boy dismantled his ice mirror technique, then knelt and allowed Kakashi to tie his wrists together and remove his mask. The clone of Kakashi knocked Zabuza out, then unearthed and subdued him as well.
Later, Team 7 stood in front of a defeated Zabuza, Haku, and the rest of Gato's gang of hired thugs. The subdued enemies sat up and struggled against their bonds, still somewhat disoriented. Kakashi looked on in silent appreciation at the results of his team's ambush.
"Not bad, you guys," he said, much to the delight of Sakura and Naruto. Even Sasuke cracked a smile. "Now there's just one thing left to do." He walked over to Gato, lifting the pint-sized man and depositing him in front of Zabuza and Haku. Kakashi looked into Gato's eyes with his Sharingan exposed and gave explicit instructions. "Tell us once again what you were planning in relation to your plot against Tazuna, the bridge builder."
Gato seized for a moment, overwhelmed by the effect of the Sharingan's Genjutsu, then rattled off a series of admissions of his secret plans. When he reached the part of interest to Haku and Zabuza, they shared a glance. "...and when I was done with those two lowlifes, I was going to either have the rest of my men take them out, or report them to the Mizukage so I wouldn't have to hold up my end of our deal. They weren't worth the financial loss."
Kakashi covered his Sharingan eye again and looked to Zabuza and Haku. "Well? You heard it from the man himself."
All of the hired men in attendance broke out into an uproar, but they cowered when Zabuza roared at them to shut up. He exuded a chilling bloodlust befitting of the Demon of the Hidden Mist, begging the crowd to challenge him. Softening his expression at last, he returned to the topic at hand. "I have no personal quarrel with you Leaf ninja. Once Haku and I receive our cut as promised, we'll be on our way."
Kakashi patted Gato on the head, a smile crinkling the fabric of his mask. "Alright. Well in that case, we'll call a truce from here on out. Any objections?" He surveyed the thugs, who all remained silent or grumbled obscenities under their breaths. Gato's protests fell on deaf ears. "Great!"
The Jonin gestured toward his students, drawing them closer. "Untie everyone, but make sure their weapons are out of reach, just to be safe. Then we'll head back." He nodded toward Zabuza, mutual understanding passing between the two elite ninja. Kakashi's gaze then fell on Haku. "You seem like a kind and very talented boy. I'm sure you'll become a splendid shinobi someday. Who knows? Maybe next time we meet, it won't have to be as enemies."
Haku's uncertain gaze shifted from one man to the other. "P-perhaps so."
Kakashi's voice dropped to a somber tone. "Also, I know about what happened to your clan. It's easy to tell you've probably had a tough childhood, but I'm glad you were able to survive, and that you're still using your Ice Release instead of having to hide your abilities. I'm sure you'll find your place in the world."
Swallowing hard, Haku nodded and then smiled toward Zabuza, who looked at the ground in response. "I already have."
"Oh, here you go, you guys!" Naruto said with a broad smile. He walked over to Haku and Zabuza and dropped two pocket-sized bags at their feet. Gato whined as he watched this, but said nothing. The blond boy stared back at him with a snort of disapproval.
Zabuza's forehead creased as he examined the bags. "What are these, kid?"
"Just some money Gato had lying around. I caught him trying to run away with it earlier, so I took it when we tied him up. Does this cover what he was gonna pay you?" Naruto opened the bags and let the Mist duo peek inside. Their eyes widened and they looked up at him.
Haku nodded. "It's...far more than enough."
Veins bulged in Zabuza's face as his gaze snapped toward the businessman who he now knew was holding out on him. His body quaked with rage, but he quelled his temper before responding to the question. "Yeah," he seethed. "This'll do."
In a matter of minutes, everyone was freed from their bindings. The groups parted ways on amicable terms. Gato's men busied themselves with ransacking his hideout until they found sufficient payment in the form of either ryo or his valuables. Team 7 returned to Tazuna's house after exchanging a civil goodbye with Zabuza and Haku. Once there, everyone nursed their wounds, which were minor for the most part, and took a moment to rest.
"Wow, sensei!" Naruto said, falling onto his sleeping mat with his arms and legs splayed. "You really did a number on Zabuza and Haku before we made it back, didn't you?"
Kakashi slumped against a wall, staring out of the window. He was once again using the crutches Tazuna provided. "I'd say it's the other way around. I can barely stand now after having to use my Sharingan so much. I'll probably be out of commission for about a week, but at least the worst of the mission is behind us."
"A week?" Naruto sputtered. He rolled onto his side and glanced across the room to make sure he heard right.
"Yeah. I was lucky to even be able to fight again so soon. That first encounter was nothing compared to how much chakra I was forced to expend earlier today. If you kids hadn't shown up when you did, I don't know if I could've outlasted those two."
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura exchanged worried looks.
"What if Gato breaks his word?" Sasuke said, speaking for the collective.
"Yeah!" Sakura chimed in. "How do we know he won't send more ninja after Mr. Tazuna?"
"The first time I used Genjutsu on him, I embedded another command that will prevent him from breaking his promise. Besides, I think the little scare you three gave him by hanging him from that tree was already enough to guarantee his compliance." Kakashi chuckled, nearly falling over.
"Careful!" Tsunami said as she walked into the room. "Are you alright, Kakashi?"
"I'll manage, ma'am," the Jonin said with a polite smile. "Thanks. I'm going to get back in bed for a while, if you all don't mind." He took his time hobbling across the room and lowered himself onto his sleeping mat.
❖ ❖ ❖
Three days later, Sakura strolled through a rundown strip that served as the local market. She gaped in awe at the wretched conditions of the shopfronts, houses, and attire of the disheveled patrons walking the streets. Someone shouted, "Thief!" and a child scurried past with his spoils in hand. Several individuals held signs displaying a variety of messages with one core theme: a desire for work. Not everyone seemed beaten down or was dressed in rags, but enough of the population looked desolate that she couldn't help feeling a pang in her heart. Two children in tattered clothes slept side by side on the street, so still they almost blended in with their surroundings. Apart from Sakura, no one so much as glanced their way, driving home how common sights like these were. Her parents would never have let her leave the house without eating something, but it became clear in an instant that many of the people she and Tazuna passed were lucky to find scraps of food, if anything. Was this truly how citizens in this part of the world lived?
According to Tazuna, they were headed into town because he needed to pick up ingredients for dinner. One look at the weathered and decaying buildings on either side of them made Sakura wonder if any produce worth buying could be found in a place like this. Suppressing a shudder, she followed him into one of the storefronts. A warm welcome from the shopkeeper did little to soften the blow dealt by what she saw in front of her. Barren shelves lined the walls, and what little there was to choose from was far from what Sakura would have considered fresh food.
There's hardly anything here…
She stepped out of the way of a man entering the store and tapped Tazuna on the arm. "This is what you meant before, isn't it?" she whispered. "About why you need to finish the bridge."
The crestfallen expression on his face told her everything she needed to know. He nodded before returning to the task of finding what salvageable items he could from the meager pickings available.
Sakura refocused on surveilling the area. No matter how depressing the state of things here was, she wasn't here to sightsee. Her job was to keep Tazuna safe.
Once outside, they made their way toward the edge of town on their way back to Tazuna's house. A hand grasped at Sakura's kimono. She whirled on the stranger in a fury, unsure if they were an enemy of the bridge builder's, or just some pervert on the street targeting her. Either way, she was ready to give them a piece of her min-
She stopped in her tracks at the sight of a small child wearing dirt-speckled clothes. The fair-skinned girl looked up at her with kind, cerulean eyes. They shimmered in the afternoon sun, full of not malice, but instead, a spark of hope. The kid flitted her gaze toward the pocket where Sakura stashed some candy she bought at one of the stores, then held out both palms and smiled.
"May I please have some?" she asked with a happiness that outshone her appearance. Somehow, her purity and innocence remained unblemished by life's hardships. Sakura frowned, doing her best not to cry as she fished around for some of the candies.
"Oh...here," she said in a soft voice, depositing the treats into the girl's calloused hands with what she hoped was a welcoming smile. The girl's face lit up even brighter.
"Yaaay!" she cried. "Thank you!"
Sakura nodded in response. She couldn't help but tear up as she watched the child scamper off, clutching her prized gifts close to her chest. The pink-haired kunoichi took comfort in knowing she'd done some good today. However, this place was still in dire need of assistance. Tazuna had been right all along; the bridge needed to be built, or else there was no hope for this land. Sakura sucked in a breath and locked eyes with the bridge builder, whose hardened exterior and bleak outlook now made so much sense.
"Let's go home, Mr. Tazuna."
He gave her a grim nod and they set off again, their hearts heavy.
❖ ❖ ❖
Naruto yawned, lacing his fingers together above his head for a good stretch. Sasuke listened with an expressionless gaze, nodding every so often as Sakura relayed her experience the previous day. The three Genin stood off to the side atop the bridge where Tazuna and his fellow construction workers were laboring in relative silence, absorbed in their tasks.
"I'm telling you, it's really bad here," she said. "I didn't realize just how hard the people here had it until I saw for myself."
"Sounds pretty rough," Naruto admitted as he finished his stretch. "But y'know, once this bridge is done, everything should start to change. Right?"
Sasuke shrugged. "It won't fix everything overnight, but it's a start."
"We could buy everyone bowls of Ichiraku Ramen and teleport it here!" Naruto suggested, excitement coloring his expression. "Then they won't have to be hungry! That's something."
Sakura sighed. "Naruto, that's a sweet gesture, but you can't solve every problem in the world with ramen."
The blond's face contorted in bewilderment. "Says who?"
Tazuna grunted and fell to one knee, almost dropping his end of a beam he and another worker were carrying across the bridge. Naruto gasped, forming the hand sign for the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Several Narutos poofed into being and spread out, helping Tazuna and everyone else with their tasks.
The original Naruto smiled back at his comrades. "For now, we can at least do something here. Right?"
Sakura put a hand to her chest, her heart warmed by Naruto's optimism. "Yeah. Right."
She, Naruto, and Sasuke split up and resumed patrolling the area while Naruto's clones helped speed along the bridge building process. The abundance of work kept the men and the clones occupied, causing hours to fly by in what felt like an instant. An air of positivity and progress was in the air, in large part due to Naruto's loud outbursts and insistence on outdoing the other workers. Exhaustion gave way to a sense of duty and infectious competitive spirit. Sakura and Sasuke shook their heads and chuckled upon seeing that he had inspired others yet again with his ridiculous determination and childlike earnestness.
When the sun was still high in the sky, a group of armed individuals standing at the finished end of the bridge petrified everyone with fear. The newcomers brandished a variety of weapons. Team 7 whipped out their ninja tools, prepared for a battle to protect Tazuna.
"Everyone, stay behind us!" Naruto ordered, casting a glare in the direction of their foes.
Sakura and Sasuke instinctively fell into formation, surrounding Tazuna alongside a couple of Naruto clones.
The two frontmost members of the crowd at the end of the bridge raised their arms, their weapons holstered to appear non-threatening to the crew. Seeing this, Tazuna sighed. The tallest of the two spoke first.
"We aren't here to make trouble," Zabuza bellowed. "Not anymore, at least."
Haku eyed Zabuza for confirmation before taking his turn to speak. He no longer wore a mask. His soft, almost feminine features were on full display. The boy's disarmingly striking and kind brown eyes drew attention to him with little effort. "We've decided to help."
The crowd parted, making room for new faces to come forward. A small boy and his mother stepped into view, shocking Team 7 and the construction crew in equal measure.
"Inari? Ms. Tsunami?" Naruto said, almost dropping his kunai from surprise.
Tsunami only smiled, while Inari toted a crossbow, a grin on his face. "We're all working together now. If anyone tries to stop this bridge from being built, they'll have to go through all of us!"
Sasuke and Inari shared a knowing glance, and the Uchiha nodded in acceptance of the boy's newfound purpose. His words had reached the brat after all, it seemed. He breathed a sigh of relief, certain that Minato, Kushina, and Inoichi would be proud if they could be here to see this.
Naruto scanned the faces in the crowd, and was left stunned by who he saw. Not only were some of the villagers here, wielding common household items like rakes, shovels and pitchforks, but even Gato's former thugs were present. Everyone stood in a casual manner, supporting the claim that they were presenting a united front. Still...
"How do we know we can trust you?" Sakura countered, gripping her kunai tighter.
Zabuza hung his head. "You don't. If you don't trust us…" The Mist Ninja got down on his knees, followed by his subordinate. "Then feel free to kill us right now."
Taking a moment to think, Naruto looked over his shoulder and whispered, "Sasuke!"
The brothers nodded to one another, one's unspoken message delivered to the other in an instant. Sasuke gave both of the former enemies a once over with his Sharingan. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so at the very least, they hadn't set up some kind of trap. He relayed as much with a simple hand gesture. Still not convinced, the Genin trio stepped aside to discuss how to proceed while Naruto's clones remained on guard.
"What the hell?" Naruto rasped, hiding his lip flaps with a hand just in case. "What in the world is going on here?"
"I don't know, but if we trust them and we're wrong, then Tazuna could be in danger," Sakura said. "Sasuke?"
Sasuke bit his lip. "I...I don't know either. I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but this could still be a trick."
"Okay, so how about we put it to a vote?" Naruto suggested.
Sakura mulled the situation over, then crossed her arms. "I vote no."
Tazuna approached and interrupted. "Hey, kids. I think we-"
"Get back behind the clones," Sasuke said, holding an arm out to stop him. "We'll protect you."
"Yeah," Naruto added, "nothing's gonna happen to you, believe it!"
Despite their reassurance, Tazuna insisted on joining the conversation. Everyone weighed in and then turned around in unison, their minds made up. Naruto stood at the front of the group, pointing a finger. "Alright you guys, we've decided that-"
Someone new emerged from behind Haku and Zabuza, giving everyone else pause. Kakashi-sensei stood tall in his standard uniform, restored to perfect health!
"Sorry I'm late," he said with his hands in his pockets. "I heard we were going to be doing some construction work. Should I have shown up in my casual clothes?"
Zabuza and Kakashi nodded at one another, their differences behind them for the time being. Naruto's jaw fell open so wide, it could have touched the ground. Sasuke and Sakura shared an equally puzzled glance.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura said, head tilted in confusion. "You knew about this?"
"I only found out a few minutes ago. Zabuza and Haku came by the house and explained things."
"Explained things?!" Naruto shouted, still floored by current developments. "What things?"
Zabuza held up a hand, gesturing to the crowd behind him. A handful of armed men, who Naruto recognized as some of Gato's followers, lined up behind him and bowed. Haku joined the group. Realization dawned on the construction crew and Genin's faces.
"We've all," Haku explained, "decided to follow Zabuza."
❖ ❖ ❖
Hearing it two more times didn't help the unbelievable statement sink in any further. Naruto wondered if he needed his ears checked, because there was no way what Kakashi-sensei and Zabuza were saying was the real deal. It wasn't logical.
"Yeah," Kakashi agreed, "sounded crazy to me too, at first."
Zabuza sighed. "Shut up for a second, kid, and I'll break it down for you."
Grumbling to himself, Naruto complied.
❖ ❖ ❖
Zabuza and Haku lounged in two of Gato's most opulent chairs while he stood, gagged and tied up, against a thick wooden support beam. The Demon of the Hidden Mist casually flipped through a stack of ryo, reveling in the captive businessman's muffled whimpers. Beady eyes pored over the assassins' relaxed figures, his distressed stare practically begging them to stop the several men rummaging around his hideout. While cleaning out his valuables, no one made a move to touch the area around Zabuza and Haku. The mere coldness of their presence had asserted their claim to the space.
"So, what do you think, Haku?" Zabuza asked as he counted the ryo in his palm. "This enough to make up for our troubles?"
The boy looked Gato's pathetic form up and down. "I don't know, Zabuza. Whatever we decide, we should get moving within the next few days. Word's going to travel fast of what happened here today. Trackers will be onto us in no time."
When the crime lord's grunting became more insistent, Zabuza sighed and flicked his chin toward him. "Haku?"
"Of course." Haku flung a senbon at the gag tied around Gato's mouth, striking it in just the right spot for it to slacken and fall away.
"You bastards are dead, you know that?" he warned. "If some of these items go missing, the people I owe, people far above either of your pay grades, will come to collect! And you know what that means, right? When I tell them you're responsible, they'll hire ninja of your caliber or greater to chase you down. You'll have no choice but to run, and it's only a matter of time befo-"
Zabuza swung his Executioner's Blade out in front of him, leveling its edge under Gato's neck from across the room. "Haku and I have been running for years. Nothing about that will change. Your time in the sun is done, old man."
"P-please," Gato groveled, his attitude doing a complete 180 upon realizing threats wouldn't achieve anything. "You can't do this. Do you know what they'll do to me? To both of you after me?"
Sharing a glance with Haku, Zabuza shrugged. "Will that be before or after I put their heads on pikes next to yours?"
"What?" Gato squirmed, but his head had already left his body before he even had the opportunity to beg for his life. Silence befell the hideout as the other men in attendance looked on at the gruesome sight of a crimson fountain spraying from their betrayer's corpse.
Zabuza huffed, indifferent to the gory sight. "Come on, Haku." The two strode past the crime lord's body, all eyes in the room on them as they went. Haku gave one last look at Gato, then erased his doleful glance and composed himself.
Outside, they stood under the bright midday sun, evidence of their recent skirmish still lingering on the grass outside the hideout. They'd taken just enough ryo to account for the extra trouble of the bridge assignment, leaving the rest of the spoils to the hired hands still inside the building. Zabuza holstered his blade, then set out toward the edge of the forest with Haku dutifully marching beside him. However, a voice made him stop and turn around.
"Excuse me, sir!"
Both mercenaries looked at the man prostrated before them with curious gazes.
"Mr. Zabuza Momochi, please hear out our request." Sure enough, several more of the men from inside the hideout emerged, joining him on the grass. "We'd like to work for you. To travel alongside you."
Seconds later, when Zabuza was sure he'd heard right, all he could get out was, "Huh?"
"Sir, we have heard many stories about the Demon of the Hidden Mist. We know of your reputation, and your previous attempt on the Mizukage's life. Seeing you in action today has been inspiring, to say the least. We are an impoverished people, with few prospects for the future. That's what Gato took advantage of when he came to this land. We want to work alongside you and learn from you, like this boy has." Haku gasped when the men raised their heads to observe him. "Please take us with you."
Glaring down at the men, Zabuza scoffed. "First of all, stand up. Begging on your knees like that is pathetic." Waiting until they obeyed, he continued. "Tell me, what use do I have for a bunch of talentless guys like you?"
"Sir, we can learn! Under your guidance, we vow to become stronger and fight alongside you. Use us where needed, and we will fight in your name." The spokesman for the group gave a quick bow, sweat trickling down his face.
"Hmph. Still, you're not ninja. You can't use jutsu. What do you offer me?"
Haku leaned in, whispering, "I was nothing at first too, Zabuza."
The rogue ninja cut his eyes toward Haku, then pulled him aside to talk in private. "You're different. You had potential these men don't."
"Who's to say?" the boy questioned. "There's strength in numbers, isn't there? At the very least, we wouldn't need to run anymore if we had a larger fighting force to deter hunter ninja. We could not only survive, but build up our strength and fight back. You want to return to The Land of Water someday soon, don't you?"
Something clicked for Zabuza, and he nodded. "You know, you might be onto something, Haku. As much as I hate to say it, those kids and Kakashi Hatake got the better of us today. I thought they were just scared children playing at being ninja, but they outsmarted us by trying something unexpected — just like true shinobi. Not to mention, they did us a favor by exposing Gato's lies, despite being our enemies. Maybe we need to change how we do things if we want to get ahead, too."
Haku nodded. "I see. So, what will your answer be?" He looked over his shoulder, where the mercenaries waited with expectant gazes.
Zabuza sucked in a breath, spun around, and held up a hand. The men fell silent. "If you're going to travel with us, let me make one thing clear. You will do exactly as you're instructed. From today on, you'll train in the ways of ninja. I do not require things like encouragement or kind words. All I need from you is your loyalty and strength. Pledge me that, and I can promise you riches and success far beyond what Gato ever could."
Stars in the listeners' eyes assured Zabuza that he had their attention. "That said," he went on, "if any one of you slows us down or doesn't hold up your end, I will cast you aside. From this day on, you are ninja, and ninja are nothing more than tools. Will you be my tools?"
A moment of hesitation was followed by a loud, "Yes, sir!"
When the chorus of voices reached his ears, Zabuza grinned beneath the fabric of his mask. He may have wished to return home and dethrone the Mizukage, but at least for now, certain things in this region needed to change as well. He would still rule over the Land of Water one day, but there were smaller steps he and his followers ought to take first. Haku fell into step alongside Zabuza, and the ragtag group of mercenaries set off together with their new leader.
❖ ❖ ❖
When the story concluded, Naruto hung his arms at his sides, speechless.
Zabuza grimaced. "What the hell kind of response is that, blondie?"
Sasuke cast a shrewd glance at the reformed rogue ninja. "Naruto, Sakura. If our sensei trusts him, then I say we should, too."
Sakura's gaze snapped toward the Uchiha. "You really think so?"
"Yeah."
Naruto grunted. "Well, alright. I guess if everyone else is onboard. But no funny business!" He shook a fist at Zabuza, who waved him off and shepherded his group toward the unfinished section of the bridge.
Tazuna flinched as the former hitman stopped in front of him, holding out a hand in reconciliation. A tense handshake cemented their new relationship, and Tazuna instructed the extra hands to assist where help was most needed. Seeing no further need for his clones, Naruto dismissed them and stood near his client, devoting all of his energy to guarding the man. The Uzumaki watched in stunned silence as Zabuza's squad, Kakashi-sensei, and the villagers all worked together to transform this bridge from a pipe dream into reality. Inari and Tsunami slid into view, distracting him.
"I know." Tsunami almost laughed. "Like a fever dream, isn't it?"
Naruto stared at her, wide-eyed. "You're tellin' me!"
Sasuke waved as Inari smiled up at him. "Hey. What brought you out here with all of the adults?"
Inari adopted a determined stare. "I was the one to march out to the bridge first! I'm here to stand up for what matters, like you said."
Sasuke nodded. "Good job, Inari."
Naruto cut in. "Yeah, that's fine and all, but if you're just here to help with the bridge, why are you all armed?"
The boy looked toward Zabuza and Haku and raised his crossbow as if he were going to fire. "Just in case they were lying." His mother ruffled his hair, causing him to laugh.
Sakura sighed. "Well, if this is for real, maybe change really is coming to this land."
Tsunami smiled. "I hope so." She squeezed Inari's shoulders, prompting him to look up at her. "Wherever he is now, I know your dad is smiling down on us."
Tears welled up in his eyes and he nodded. "Yeah!"
❖ ❖ ❖
Help from Zabuza, Haku, and dozens of others sped up work on the bridge by almost two weeks. Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, the job was complete and the day finally came to bid Tazuna and his family farewell. Moments before setting out on their return trip, Team 7 stood by the bridge that was already starting to see a decent amount of foot traffic and took turns saying their goodbyes. Naruto and Inari shared a tearful hug. Sasuke encouraged the latter to keep following his new path, but didn't see the need for a huge display of emotion. Although visibly disappointed at first, Inari shook it off and settled for a handshake.
"Don't forget not to lose that kunai!" Naruto said to Tazuna, who nodded as he stared down at the Flying Thunder God-marked ninja tool he wore on a necklace.
"I'll keep it safe, Naruto," he promised.
When it seemed everyone had exchanged words and the time to leave was upon them, the unexpected happened. Zabuza and Haku appeared from out of nowhere, as if they were one with the fog that hung in the air.
"Hey, Leaf brats. Kakashi." Zabuza waved.
"Zabuza?" Kakashi gave him a teasing smile. "I had no idea you cared so much."
"I'm not here because of me," the former foe was quick to clarify, tensing up at Kakashi's assumption. "It's Haku who wanted to see you off."
The raven-haired boy bowed. "When we heard you were departing today, we-" A sidelong glare interrupted him mid-sentence. "-I thought we should see you off." He smiled warmly at the three Genin and their sensei. "I'm sorry things started out between us the way they did, and I'm glad we were able to become friends."
"Y-yeah," Naruto said with an uneasy grin. "Same." This whole shift in their dynamic still felt weird to him, even after so much time working alongside one another.
"Zabuza and I will soon be leaving this place, too. The new recruits are learning fast, and have already begun mastering basic jutsu."
"That's great news!" Kakashi said. "If this land has a stronger fighting force, you won't have to worry about someone like Gato trying to seize power again."
"Exactly," Tazuna said. "That's what convinced my daughter and I to let Inari join in on lessons."
The Genin and their sensei looked down at Inari in surprise.
"Yup!" he said. "I wanted to keep it a secret, hehe! Oh well. I'm still going to go into business with grandpa, but at least now I'll be able to fight if anyone tries to mess with us."
"Good for you, Inari," Sakura said, bending down so they were at eye level.
Inari flushed red at her praise. "Thanks, Sakura!"
"Naruto, Sasuke," Haku said, stealing the boys' attention. "It was a pleasure to fight against you. You are both strong. Follow your dreams and protect your precious comrades. I know you have what it takes."
Naruto beamed. "You bet I do! Believe it!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto. "Thanks, Haku." He nudged Kakashi. "Anyway, shouldn't we get going?"
The Jonin laughed off his student's brusqueness and waved. "Right, right. Well, best of luck, everyone. Come on, you guys."
They made their way across the bridge as a unit, pleased with the outcome of the mission.
"By the way," Tsunami called after them as they departed, "because of you inspiring my son to rally the villagers, we've decided to name this bridge after you, Sasuke!"
All of Sasuke's teammates' eyes honed in on him. He felt like melting into the floor under the pressure that came with being in the spotlight all of a sudden. Inari's shouted words echoed into the misty air, carried by a light breeze.
"It's called The Great Sasuke Bridge!"
Sasuke deflated.
Oh, brother.