"Haku!"
Zabuza's face changed drastically.
With a loud cry, he rushed forward to catch Haku.
The boy's mask had shattered, revealing a face as pure and white as snow.
Indeed, it was him.
Noah finally confirmed one thing: this "Haku" was a high-level crossdresser.
After actively using the power of the Holy Light, Noah had clearly perceived all of Haku's information, including his gender.
To be honest, Noah wasn't upset that his "fantasies were shattered," but he was a little frustrated.
Why was a boy so beautiful?
How were the other girls in this world supposed to compete?
Knowing the truth didn't make Noah merciful.
If you were a girl, I might go easy.
A guy? Sorry, I specifically hit guys-especially ones this pretty!
Noah walked slowly out from the center of the ice crystals, calmly observing the two before him.
Kakashi quickly arrived at his side.
Defeating a ninja that Zabuza claimed was "stronger than him" so quickly was within Kakashi's expectations-but the efficiency was absurd.
Looking closely, Kakashi noticed Noah didn't even have a scratch. That was ridiculous.
"Are you okay?" Kakashi asked quietly.
"I'm fine, it's just..." Noah pretended to hesitate, then said, "What's the deal with these two? Weren't they supposed to be tools? It doesn't look that way at all right now."
"Who can truly explain emotions?" Kakashi sighed.
"Emotions are complicated. Even the most iron-hearted person has a soft spot. I doubt Zabuza himself realized how important that youth was to him."
"I see," Noah nodded.
Kakashi was probably the ultimate authority on this subject, having experienced similar situations.
The bond between Obito and Kakashi was, in a way, quite like that of Zabuza and Haku.
Only in the moment of loss do people realize how vital the other person truly is.
Thinking this, Noah whispered a few words to Kakashi.
Kakashi blinked, eyes crinkling into his trademark crescent-moon smile.
"I'm alright, Master Zabuza. I'm sorry... that boy was too strong. I was no match for him," Haku said weakly, blood trickling from his lips.
"Haku!" Zabuza shouted again.
His grip on the Executioner's Blade tightened.
He glared at Noah and Kakashi with fury.
"I will never forgive you... I will never forgive you!"
With an angry roar, Zabuza raised his massive sword and lunged at Noah.
Noah was ready.
Just as the blade was about to strike, he vanished instantly.
Zabuza reacted quickly, blocking a kick from Noah, followed by another swing of his blade.
But this time, after swinging, Zabuza couldn't strike again.
He had hit one of Noah's clones. Simultaneously, a technique appeared beneath his feet.
Underworld Swamp.
The technique immediately robbed him of mobility.
Even worse, an earthen spear erupted from the ground, piercing his chest with blinding speed.
Zabuza's eyes widened.
The speed of these techniques was unimaginable.
His body went limp.
Already injured, this blow completely stripped him of fighting capacity.
"Master Zabuza!" Haku couldn't bear it.
Even if he had to crawl, he would reach Zabuza's side.
"Noah, what are you fighting for?" Noah ignored Haku's cries and strolled over to Zabuza, casually releasing the technique.
By now, Sasuke and Naruto had returned.
The common thugs and low-level ninjas were no match for them.
Though slightly disheveled-Sasuke even had some blood-they weren't seriously injured.
They had cooperated well.
Most notably, Sasuke's eyes were now a deep crimson.
Clearly, he had awakened his Copy Wheel Eyes during the battle.
However, they were confused.
What were Noah and Kakashi doing? Seeing the tragic scene, they stood quietly beside Kakashi.
"You bastard!" Zabuza growled, ignoring Noah's question.
The moment the technique was released, he threw a punch at Noah.
Thud!
Noah wasn't someone you could just hit.
Before the punch landed, he was at Zabuza's side.
The punch missed. Noah followed up with a kick to Zabuza's gut.
The kick nearly buried itself in his stomach.
In an instant, Zabuza's internal organs felt twisted.
He was sent flying, rolling across the ground until landing next to Haku.
"Now, can you listen properly? Zabuza, what does being a ninja mean to you? What does Haku mean to you? Is he really just a tool?"
Noah acted as if he had only completed a trivial task, brushing his hands as he walked toward Zabuza.
Zabuza knelt, clutching his stomach, eyes bloodshot.
The Executioner's Blade lay discarded.
"You bastard... what are you talking about?" Zabuza gritted his teeth.
Sasuke and Naruto swallowed hard.
The situation looked terrifying. Noah's questions left them dazed.
Fortunately, Kakashi explained enough for them to calm down and start thinking.
What is a ninja? What is the "Way of the Ninja"? Is a ninja just a tool?
Questions perhaps premature for them-but time to think had come.
"Someone once told me a ninja endures pain that normal people cannot. A ninja's destiny is accompanied by tragedy and suffering." Noah stopped just before reaching Zabuza.
"I've heard your story. I can see both of those things in you. But beyond that, I see a faint light in your heart-the true conviction and power of a ninja."
A ninja endures pain others cannot? A ninja's destiny is tragedy?
The true conviction and power of a ninja?
Naruto and Sasuke were lost.
Kakashi sighed. He knew exactly what Noah meant.
Who told Noah this? Kakashi assumed it must have been Shisui Uchiha-the one hiding in the village, disillusioned with the world.
Kakashi sighed again.
He couldn't influence the village leaders, but Shisui had raised a fine disciple.
"Damn brat... it's not your place to lecture me!" Zabuza wheezed, enduring the pain.
He no longer had the energy to question why a kid was so terrifyingly powerful.
He only knew he had bit off more than he could chew.
"Master... Master Zabuza." Haku's voice was weak.
Forcing himself upright despite the pain, he looked at Zabuza with a serene smile.
"I will find a way to protect you, Master Zabuza."
Noah pulled a kunai from his pouch.
Clink!
The crisp sound rang out as Haku and Zabuza looked down.
"A kunai? What's the meaning of this?" Zabuza asked.
Noah's lips curved into a strange smile.
"Now, I'm giving you a choice, Zabuza. Only one of you can survive today. Ask your heart what you should truly do, then pick up this kunai and make your choice."
"Noah!" Naruto couldn't hold back.
He shouted and tried to rush forward, but Kakashi held him back.
Naruto pointed at Noah frantically.
"What are you doing, Kakashi-sensei?! If we don't hurry, Zabuza and the other one will... Noah is going too far!"
Kakashi glanced at the agitated Naruto, then frowning Sasuke, then back at Noah.
"Naruto, Sasuke, be quiet. Watch closely. A moment like this doesn't come often."
"But... but..." Naruto still protested, but eventually fell silent, though his gaze toward Noah turned wary.
Zabuza hesitated at the kunai.
Haku, however, smiled.
Grabbing Zabuza's hand, he said, "Master Zabuza, I'm happy to be of use at the very end. Quick, kill me and leave. As your tool, if it weren't for you, I would have frozen to death ten years ago."
Placing the kunai in Zabuza's hand, Haku slowly aimed the point at his own throat, wearing a sincere smile.
Zabuza trembled slightly.
Looking at Haku, something inside him shattered.
"Live a long life, Master Zabuza." Haku's lips curved into a slight smile.
His small hands forced Zabuza's hand toward his own throat.
Naruto could no longer watch.
If Kakashi hadn't held him, he would have charged in.
Yet Zabuza's hand remained steady as a rock.