On the bridge in the Land of Waves.
Just as the Nine-Tails emerged from Naruto's body, it was about to unleash its full power when Izumi Uchiha subdued it with her Adamantine Sealing Chains. It was completely immobilized.
Within seconds, the Nine-Tails' chakra rapidly weakened. With a roar filled with fury and regret, it was sealed back into Naruto.
"This…"
Not far away, Kakashi stared wide-eyed, his Sharingan fully activated, shocked at what he had just witnessed. He had taken out the sealing scroll earlier—but now it felt completely pointless.
This mysterious Uchiha girl had stopped Naruto from attacking Zabuza's ally. And more importantly, she'd calmed the Nine-Tails without harming him further.
She shouldn't be an enemy.
If that's the case, then…
With that thought, Kakashi made a decisive move. His hands swiftly formed seals and launched a surprise attack on Zabuza, who stood frozen nearby.
[Earth Release: Tracking Fang Jutsu!]
As soon as the technique was completed, several ninja hounds burst from beneath the earth, clamping onto various parts of Zabuza's body—his thighs, arms—and pinning him down.
"You underhanded bastard!"
Zabuza roared in anger. Never expecting Kakashi to act so dishonorably, he struggled fiercely to break free, but Kakashi had already unleashed his ultimate secret technique.
Zzzzt!
A dazzling arc of lightning erupted from his palm, releasing the screeching sound of Chidori! Like a bolt of lightning itself, Kakashi charged straight toward Zabuza.
[Lightning Cutter!]
I'm finished.
Zabuza's face turned pale. Though it was his first time seeing Kakashi's Lightning Cutter, he had heard of it—it was an S-rank Lightning Release jutsu invented by Kakashi, named for once cutting through real lightning in the sky.
Even if he had two lives, one direct hit would be enough to end him.
At that moment—
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Haku dashed forward and threw himself in front of Zabuza, arms spread wide, blocking the deadly blow.
His entire life revolved around Zabuza alone. Without him, there was no point to living.
Without hesitation, Haku placed himself directly in the path of Kakashi's Lightning Cutter.
No good.
Kakashi's expression changed instantly, but he couldn't stop mid-attack. At such close range, it looked like he would strike Haku instead.
In this critical moment, Izumi acted again.
Swoosh.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, she appeared instantly, raised her hand, and a massive chakra arm shot outward, snatching Haku away.
"Ahh!"
Zabuza let out a pained cry as his chest was struck head-on by the Lightning Cutter. Countless arcs of electricity engulfed him, surging through his body.
"Lord Zabuza!"
Haku cried out bitterly, watching helplessly as Zabuza's chest caved in and his life came to an end under Kakashi's Lightning Cutter.
Before dying, Zabuza turned his head with great effort toward Haku and barely managed to speak.
Haku removed his mask, tears streaming down his face, staring blankly at Zabuza.
"You're still good for nothing."
That was all Haku received before Zabuza tilted his head sideways and exhaled his final breath.
"I'm truly sorry, Master Zabuza… I've failed you…"
Haku murmured, drowning in deep self-blame.
"What in the world just went down? How did it go so wrong?"
"I told you to kill an old bridge builder, and you haven't even finished that simple task by now?"
At this moment, a grumbling voice came from not far away. Everyone saw a short man in a suit wearing sunglasses angrily stomping over, surrounded by a group of henchmen.
It was him — Gato.
Now things were getting troublesome.
Seeing the enemy's large numbers, Kakashi frowned slightly, quickly returning to Naruto and his teammates' side, urging them to hide behind him.
"So this is the notorious Demon Zabuza? What a joke! Such a useless guy!"
Gato spat on Zabuza's corpse lying on the ground, then arrogantly walked toward Haku. Without saying a word, he slapped Haku straight across the face.
Slap!
Haku didn't dodge. He took the slap head-on, and a clear red handprint immediately appeared on his pale face.
Still not satisfied, Gato kicked Haku hard in the gut, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Useless trash!"
He beat Haku like an animal, throwing punches and kicks without mercy. Then he snatched a knife from one of his men, ready to end the boy's life.
Throughout the entire process, Haku remained as motionless as a walking corpse, offering no resistance whatsoever.
Because his heart had long since stopped beating. He'd lost all hope.
Maybe death would finally bring him peace.
However, just as Gato's sharp blade pierced toward Haku, a pure white slender hand suddenly extended from the side and firmly gripped the blade.
Blood flowed from Izumi's palm, staining the tip of the knife red.
"You..."
Haku looked up in shock, staring at the unfamiliar girl before him. He couldn't understand why this person, who should have been a total stranger to him, kept saving him repeatedly, even getting injured in the process.
"Listen carefully, all of you."
Izumi raised her voice, declaring to Gato and his gang behind him. "This kid will be my junior apprentice from now on. Anyone who dares to harm him will end up exactly like this."
As soon as she finished speaking, she snatched the knife from Gato. Before he could react, she swung it right across his throat.
Puchi!
The sharp blade sliced through Gato's neck, and blood sprayed everywhere. With a terrified expression, he desperately tried to cover his wound while letting out gurgling sounds, collapsing to the ground dead instantly.
"Boss!"
When Gato's subordinates finally regained their senses upon seeing this scene, they all raised their weapons and rushed toward Izumi, attempting to overwhelm her with sheer numbers.
Izumi shook her head. If they were desperate to die, who was she to stop them?
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique]!
She opened her mouth and exhaled a massive fireball larger than ten meters across. Sweeping over the bridge, it not only dispersed all the surrounding mist but also eliminated more than a hundred of Gato's men, turning them into nothing more than charred corpses.
The sight left Team 7, standing just off to the side, completely stunned.
"Just who exactly are you, and why keep saving me?"
Haku looked up, confusedly staring at Izumi Uchiha.
"Do you want to know the answer? Then come with me."
Smiling gently, Izumi reached out one hand toward Haku encouragingly. "Haku, you're not someone else's tool. You're actually a kind-hearted genius. In this world, you can make many friends and discover true friendship."
"As long as you can open your heart."
Haku stared at Izumi.
He noticed her hand reaching out toward him. There was a deep cut covered in blood—the wound she'd gotten while protecting him.
That injury must have been extremely painful, but Izumi kept smiling throughout, expressing kindness.
At this moment, Haku was deeply moved.
"Thank you."
He whispered softly, taking her hand in his and rising to stand beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
With this, the task given by Zabuza was complete.
Izumi finally felt relieved inside. While maintaining her smile, she secretly controlled her chakra to heal the wound on her hand.
"Let's give Zabuza a proper burial. Even though he always treated you like a tool, you two were once companions, after all."
Before leaving, Izumi proactively suggested to Haku.
"Mm."
Haku obediently nodded and walked together with Izumi toward Zabuza's body.
After sealing Zabuza's body into a Storage Scroll, Izumi turned her gaze toward members of Team 7.
Under her gaze, Kakashi and others immediately became tense. Especially Kakashi—he couldn't stop staring at Izumi's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, as he was filled with wariness.
Suddenly, Izumi spoke, breaking the silence.
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