Chapter 20 – The Demon's Tears
The mist finally lifted. The sun spilled weak light across the bridge, illuminating the broken scene—Haku's still body, Naruto's trembling form, Zabuza's silent figure standing like a statue carved from grief.
And then came the sound.
Boots. Dozens of them. Heavy, careless, arrogant.
From the far end of the bridge, Gatō appeared, flanked by an army of hired cutthroats—thugs with rusted swords, axes, and cruel sneers. The short man strutted forward, cane tapping against the stone, his laughter sharp and grating.
"Well, well, what do we have here? The mighty Demon of the Mist… brought to his knees. And that brat Haku—hah!" His beady eyes landed on the body, and he sneered. "So the pretty little tool finally broke, did he?"
Naruto's head snapped up, fury blazing like fire in his veins. "Shut up!" he roared, his voice echoing across the bridge.
But Gatō only chuckled. "Why so angry, boy? That thing was nothing but a tool. Disposable. That's what you get for depending on trash like him. And you, Zabuza—" he smirked wickedly, "—you always pretended you didn't care. But look at you now. You've lost your precious weapon."
The words struck like poison.
Zabuza's shoulders shook—not with laughter, not with rage alone, but with something deeper, heavier. His teeth clenched. His grip on his blade tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Naruto, blinded by fury, charged forward a step, but Kakashi's hand shot out, halting him. "Wait." His voice was calm, low. His eye was fixed on Zabuza.
Because Kakashi saw it. The shift. The crack in the Demon's mask.
---
Zabuza finally spoke, his voice hoarse, stripped of its usual steel.
"Shut your mouth."
Gatō blinked, then barked a laugh. "Oh? Did the Demon of the Mist just order me around? Don't forget who paid you, Zabuza. You're no demon—you're my dog."
The thugs howled with laughter, banging their weapons against the bridge.
Naruto's fists trembled. "Zabuza… are you just gonna take that? Are you gonna let him spit on Haku's grave?!"
The words cut deeper than any blade.
Zabuza turned his head slightly, just enough to glance at Haku's still body. His chest tightened. For years he had told himself Haku was only a tool, only a weapon—but now, seeing him lying there cold, he felt something he hadn't allowed himself in decades.
Pain.
"Haku…" he whispered, so softly only Kakashi heard. His throat burned, eyes stinging. "You were more than a tool. You were… you were the only one who ever… stayed by my side."
Naruto froze, his eyes widening. He had never heard such rawness in Zabuza's voice.
For the first time, the Demon of the Mist wept. Silent tears streaked down his scarred cheeks, glistening in the sunlight.
---
The thugs jeered louder, oblivious.
"What's this? The Demon's crying? Hah! Pathetic!"
"Kill them all, Gatō! Let's finish this!"
Gatō sneered. "End them. I don't care how messy—just make sure they suffer."
The mob surged forward, weapons raised.
But then Zabuza moved.
He lifted his blade—not with cold precision, but with the fury of a man with nothing left to lose. His voice thundered across the bridge.
"Gatō… you used me. You spat on Haku's life. And now… you'll pay for every word!"
The thugs hesitated, unnerved by the sheer killing intent radiating from him.
Naruto stepped back, eyes wide. He could feel it—the true Demon of the Mist, not the mercenary who worked for coin, but the warrior who had nothing left but vengeance.
Zabuza charged.
---
The bridge erupted into chaos.
Thugs swung wildly, but Zabuza's massive blade cleaved through them like paper. Blood sprayed across the stone, screams echoing as he tore into the mob with reckless abandon. His body was already wounded, but he didn't care. Every step was fueled by rage, by grief, by the memory of Haku's smile.
Naruto could only watch, frozen. This wasn't just battle—it was a storm.
"Don't look away," Kakashi said quietly beside him. "This is his choice."
Zabuza fought like a man possessed. He cut down one, two, five at a time. Weapons pierced his flesh, blades sank into his arms and legs, but he never stopped. He wrenched them free, striking harder, faster, blood soaking him from head to toe.
The thugs faltered. The laughter died. They began to realize they weren't fighting a man—they were facing a monster of grief and fury.
And at the heart of it all, Gatō's smug grin finally faltered.
---
Zabuza staggered, his breath ragged, his body pierced with wounds. But his eyes—his eyes burned like fire. He shoved past the last of the thugs, blood dripping from his blade.
Gatō stumbled back. "S-stay away! You… you wouldn't dare—"
Zabuza's hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar. His face was inches from Gatō's, blood dripping onto the trembling man's clothes.
"Dare?" Zabuza growled, his voice broken, guttural. "For Haku… I'll drag you to hell with me."
With a roar, he drove his blade straight through Gatō's body, silencing his scream forever.
The bridge went silent.
The thugs, leaderless and terrified, dropped their weapons and fled.
---
Zabuza collapsed to his knees, his massive sword slipping from his grasp. His body was riddled with wounds, his breath shallow, his strength gone.
Naruto rushed forward, catching him as he fell. "Don't move! We'll get you help—"
Zabuza shook his head, blood trickling from his lips. His gaze drifted past Naruto, toward Haku's body.
"No… I'm done. My fight… it's over."
Naruto's chest tightened, tears burning his eyes again. "Why did you—why did you fight like that if you were just gonna give up now?!"
Zabuza managed a faint, broken smile. "Because… Haku deserved better. He deserved… to be more than just a tool. And now… maybe… I'll see him again."
His eyes softened, voice barely a whisper. "Thank you, Naruto… for reminding me what it means… to be human."
And with that, the Demon of the Mist closed his eyes for the last time.
---
The bridge was quiet once more.
Naruto clutched Zabuza's body, sobbing openly. "Why does it have to end like this…? Why do people who care always have to die?!"
Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder. His voice was low, somber. "Because that's the world we live in. But their deaths… they weren't meaningless. You saw it. You felt it. And one day… you'll carry it with you."
Sakura pressed her hands to her mouth, tears streaming silently. Even Sasuke, battered and pale, turned his gaze away, his heart heavy.
The villagers would later call it the "Bridge of Heroes." But for Naruto, it would forever be the place where he learned that bonds, no matter how fleeting, could change even the coldest of hearts.
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✨ End of Chapter 20 ✨