𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙 𝗛𝗬𝗨̄𝗚𝗔

Ep 12 - Hidden Ambition

'I can't. He's energy is too strong.' Haku thought as Naruto had a powerful grip on his arm before delivering a powerful punch, sending him through one of the mirrors.

Haku slowly got up as his mirrors broke apart. Naruto rushed towards him yelling.

'Zabuza. I am no match for this boy' Haku thought as his mask begin to fall apart. 'Master. . . I she failed.'

With dull lifeless eyes Haku had accepted his fate as he made no move to dodge Naruto's attack that never came once the last piece of his mask fell from his face.

"So that guy in the woods, that was you?"

"Why do you not strike." Haku asked.

"Huh?"

"Did you not just vow to avenge your comrade's death by killing me?" Haku asked. "It was that vow just empty words?"

~~

'Did I pass out?' Aki asked as she slowly got up. The mirrors around then were completely gone.

"The fight...is it done?" Aki whispered to herself. She took a glanced at Sasuke a sighed as she felt a small pulse.

Sasuke would make it, he would be alright. This nightmare was finally over. She slowly removed the needles that were sticking out of hers, once she was done with hers, she removed the needles that weren't in Sasuke viral areas.

The rest would be removed once everything was settled down, she thought to herself as she stood up on her shaky leg and made her way towards Haku and Naruto but made no move to get closer then necessary.

"I have failed you, Zabuza. I am like a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use." Haku said as he walked towards Naruto.

"Naruto, kill me." Haku asked.

"Haku..." Aki whispered, even though this boy had not only tried to kill her and her teammates she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

'What a cruel man you are, Zabuza...'

~~

"Ninja Art - Summoning! Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Kakashi said as slammed the scroll on the ground.

The wording on the scroll slipped out as the ground cracked beneath his hand.

"I don't know why you bother. Of what use is your jutsu if you can't even find me?" Zabuza asked. "But I can you."

"Blindly falling into my trap. You disappoint me, Kakashi. I think you're right. It is time to put an end to this." Zabuza said, but opened his eyes once he heard rumbling under the ground.

The ground open revealing Kakashi tracking dogs as they throw themself at Zabuza and bitting into him as his screams filled the air.

"That dreadful noise! What could it be?" Tazuna asked.

"I don't know, and I'm not sure that I want to find out!" Sakura said.

"I realized that if couldn't see you, I'd have to smell you out. That was a summoning jutsu." Kakashi said. "I was calling forth my ninja hounds. They can track a scent anywhere."

"When you attacked me, I let you get past my guard, I wanted you to cut me. You see, it's the smell of my blood on your blade that led then to you. Surprised?" Kakashi said. "Looks like I wasn't the only one who was blind. Falling into my trap, you disappoint me, Zabuza."

"Ah. The mist is finally clearing and you know what I see? Your death."

"Talk, talk. Do you mean to talk me to death?"

"In a way, yes. Right now, my hounds are just playing with you. But one word from me and they'll tear you apart." Kakashi said. "Poor Zabuza, see where you ambitions got you? You were always pushing things too far."

"It was the failed Mizukage assassination and your attempted coup d'etat. You were forced to flee with the few followers you had, your country's tracker ninja hot on your heels. You became a rogue ninja who's name was quickly known even in the village hidden in the leaves." Kakashi revealed.

"Now, you're crazy enough to want to go back and try it again. But for that, you need money and to get it, you stooped so low as to be the hired thug of a swine like Gato." Kakashi said. "All right, Zabuza, brought talk. Time to finish it. But it won't be with Sharingan imitations if some other ninja's tricks. No, it's time I introduced you to my own jutsu."

The chakra surrounding Kakashi became visible with how strong it was as lighting filled his hand.

"Lighting Blaze!"

Chakra's so strong, it's visible!' Zabuza thought. 'He holds it in his hands!'

"I won't allow you to kill Tazuna. He's a brave man with a noble dream. The bridge he's building is the hope of this land and all it's people. You're like a disease by attacking one, you infect all and you don't care." Kakashi said.

"That is not the way of the Shinobi."

"You're right. I don't care! These useless little people and their petty little dreams. Why should they matter to me? I have a dream of my own." Zabuza said as the lighting became stronger in Kakashi hands.

"But to have a dream, you need to have a future."

"Huh?"

"You don't. Your future's all used up, Zabuza." Kakashi said.

~~

"Go on. Strike. Kill me." Haku said. "Why do you hesitate?"

"That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard! I mean, he treats you like a slave. You're a human being, not a weapon or a tool." Naruto yelled. "How can you care about someone like that?"

"Is that really how you feel, Haku." Aki asked as she slowly walked next to Naruto.

"Aki!"

"Yes. Does that seem so strange to you?"

"Well, yeah. A little."

"When he found me, I was without a purpose or reason for livening. Zabuza gave me both." Haku said. "But now, my usefulness is over. The only thing that gave me life meaning, it's gone. I am a broken tool, a blunted weapon of no use to anyone. Go on, Naruto, do it. For both of our sakes."

"Do it. . . quickly."