Kakashi, seeing the situation, slowly withdrew the kunai he had pointed at Zabuza. He had completely understood—the Zabuza Momochi before him was no longer an enemy that needed to be dealt with first.
He had become a victim of Gato's schemes, a 'tool' that had lost its usefulness and was about to be eliminated by his employer.
"What 'Demon Man'? In my eyes, he's just a clown who plays with blades and guns!"
Gato and his group of mobsters behind him were completely unaware of their impending doom, still mocking the fallen Zabuza with extremely harsh words, their piercing laughter echoing on the bridge.
"Kakashi," Zabuza's voice carried an unprecedented calmness, "I'm sorry, our battle ends here. I no longer have a reason to kill that Old Man." He voluntarily spoke of a truce.
Gato, stepping forward triumphantly, quickly spotted Haku lying motionless not far away.
"Oh? Is this kid already dead?" Gato poked Haku's unresponsive body with the tip of his leather shoe, his tone flippant, "Hmph, to dare lay a hand on me... Hmph!"
He raised his bandaged hand, which bore the scars from Haku's earlier lesson. After speaking, he angrily kicked Haku's body again, as if to vent his frustration.
Watching Haku's 'remains' being treated so roughly, Zabuza's expression remained the same cool, emotionless facade, but the knuckles of his clenched fists had turned white, and all his muscles were tensed to their limit.
He was standing on the precipice of a complete emotional breakdown, the thread of his sanity threatening to snap at any moment.
Naruto knew that now all it would take was a final push to make him fully understand that he could not truly view Haku as an insignificant 'tool.'
He gently broke free from Satsuki's support, giving her a reassuring 'don't worry' look, then stepped forward and spoke in a calm voice.
"His remains are being treated like that... aren't you going to do something, Zabuza?"
"...Haku is dead." Zabuza's voice was trying to convince himself, "As a tool, he has completely lost his usefulness. How he is treated... it doesn't matter anymore."
"Then he is truly pitiful..." Naruto's tone carried a perfectly timed sigh, "You know, until the very last moment of his life, the one he thought of, the one he risked his life to protect... was only you."
These words accurately pierced the deepest, softest part of Zabuza's heart, a place he himself was unwilling to admit existed!
Zabuza's lower face, tightly wrapped in bandages, began to tremble uncontrollably, his teeth clenched tightly, making a grinding sound. The forcibly constructed icy shell was crumbling at a visible rate.
Kakashi, observing from the side, looked at Naruto's seemingly inflammatory actions with confusion, but out of trust in Naruto and the need to remain vigilant against Gato and his subordinates as the primary threat, he did not intervene, only observing the changing situation with increased caution.
"Do you truly feel nothing at all?" Naruto's voice slowly peeled away Zabuza's hard facade, "You know... he selflessly gave his life for you, thinking of you until the very last moment."
"He was a formidable opponent... He tried his best to kill me, only because it was part of your dream..."
"Shut up... kid." Zabuza's voice was squeezed out through gritted teeth.
"His dream... was your dream... How pitiful..." Naruto continued to hammer at his defenses with words as if he hadn't heard, "He liked you so much, admired you so much... yet in the end, he could only die like a disposable tool... What a cruel and pitiful life."
"I told you to stop!!"
Zabuza suddenly let out a near-broken roar, forcefully interrupting Naruto's words. His heart could no longer bear the immense pain and guilt.
Finally, hot tears broke through all restraints. The 'Demon Man,' who had never shown weakness in front of anyone, now wept uncontrollably, his tears mixing with the blood on his face and dripping onto the bridge.
"I know... I know! Haku... Haku was a complete good-for-nothing! An idiot!"
How could he not care? Haku's 'death' had already shattered his heart into a thousand pieces. He just hadn't realized that during their daily life together, he couldn't let go of this feeling, couldn't just see Haku as a mere tool anymore.
A 'true Ninja'? At this moment, Zabuza completely understood one thing—Ninja are also people, people of flesh and blood who feel pain and cry, and they cannot become emotionless killing machines.
"Hey, hey... you guys, aren't you ignoring me a bit too much?" Gato, who had been left aside, let out an impatient, sinister laugh, breaking the heavy atmosphere, "Forget it, wasting my time and money on you dying people isn't worth it. Attack! Kill them all!"
At his command, the group of thugs behind him, who had long been eager for action, immediately brandished various weapons with ill intent, shouting as they surrounded them.
He... must do something for Haku in the end... Zabuza's heart was certain. His tear-blurred vision was fixed on Gato, who had insulted Haku's 'remains.'
Good... It seems he has recognized his true feelings.
Naruto watched Zabuza's reaction, knowing the time was ripe. Next, it was time for another 'himself' to make an appearance.
Zabuza moved his only remaining usable arm, his eyes burning with a desperate will to fight, preparing to charge at Gato and his mobster army for one last battle—at that very moment!
"Boom!!!!—"
A violent hurricane suddenly erupted on the bridge without warning! The powerful wind pressure even made the small-framed Gato stumble, almost falling to the ground! Satsuki's face changed drastically, unsure what this sudden change was. She instinctively shielded the somewhat weakened Naruto behind her immediately.
Kakashi also immediately re-entered a state of high alert, his Sharingan rapidly scanning the surroundings. A hurricane of this magnitude... could not possibly be a natural phenomenon!
"Who is it?!" Gato shouted in shock and uncertainty, his subordinates also looking around in a panic.
Just then, clear footsteps came from the other end of the bridge. It sounded like two people's footsteps.
Under everyone's surprised and uncertain gazes, two figures walked slowly through the still-not-fully-calmed wind pressure.
The one leading wore an eerie fox mask and a black robe, while following behind him was a man in a black robe who exuded danger—Kakuzu.
Menma, wearing the fox mask, stopped, his gaze sweeping across the scene, finally settling on Gato. His voice, emanating through the mask, echoed clearly in everyone's ears.
"This boring farce can end now."
"I'm sorry, I can't let these two die here..."
His tone suddenly became incredibly chilling, "The one who truly deserves to die—is you, Gato."