Naruto's grip tightened.
His breath was ragged.
Wild.
Unstable—
But clearer.
Haku's eyes met his.
No fear.
No hatred.
Just… understanding.
Naruto's teeth clenched.
"…Don't… look at me like that…"
For a split second—
Everything slowed.
The rage.
The chakra.
The noise.
Then—
Naruto pulled his head back—
And slammed it forward.
CRACK
Haku's body went limp instantly.
Eyes rolling back—
Unconscious before they even hit the ground.
Silence.
Naruto stayed there for a moment.
Breathing heavily.
Forehead pressed against Haku's.
"…Tch…"
"…Why'd you have to make it weird…"
Behind him—
Steel clashed violently.
Kakashi and Zabuza's battle had reached its peak.
Water clones shattered.
Mist churned.
The bridge groaned under the strain.
Zabuza swung—
Massive blade cutting through the air—
Kakashi dodged narrowly—
Countering instantly—
Then—
Zabuza stepped forward—
FWOOM
His footing suddenly froze.
"…What—?"
A Gravity Seal – Prototype activated beneath him.
The sudden weight shift dragged his stance off-center—
Just enough.
Kakashi's eye sharpened.
"…Got you."
Lightning gathered in his hand—
Raikiri screaming—
Zabuza twisted at the last second—
The strike grazing instead of piercing cleanly—
Still tearing through his side.
"GHH—!"
Zabuza staggered back.
Bleeding.
Snarling.
Kakashi exhaled.
"…Looks like one of my students planned ahead."
Zabuza grinned despite the injury.
"…That brat…"
"…He's annoying."
Slow claps echoed across the bridge.
"…Well well."
Everyone turned.
A short man in a suit stepped forward.
Flanked by dozens of armed thugs.
Gato.
"…What a disappointing performance, Zabuza."
Zabuza's expression darkened.
"…You showed up."
Gato sneered.
"…Of course."
"…Why pay a demon when I can just clean things up myself?"
The thugs stepped forward.
Weapons drawn.
Sakura, still shaken, tightened her grip on a kunai.
"…There's too many…"
Naruto slowly stood.
Still breathing heavily.
But present.
Gato glanced at him.
"…And what's this? A couple of kids trying to eat at the adults table. It's time my men had some fun, that Pink haired girl looks awfully tempting doesn't she boys?"
Naruto eyes took on a piercing quality different from his uncontrolled rage earlier.
Zabuza chuckled lowly, hand pressed to his side.
"…Heh…"
"…Guess we're both getting replaced."
Gato waved his hand.
"…Kill them."
The thugs rushed forward.
Zabuza moved.
Despite his injuries.
Despite everything.
His blade swung—weapons shattered, limbs were removed and life was taken.
Men fell.
One after another.
No mercy.
No hesitation.
Blood splattered across the bridge.
Even Naruto deflated slightly.
"…Damn…"
Within moments—
The group was torn apart.
Gato stumbled back.
Terrified.
"…Y-you monster—"
Zabuza loomed over him.
"…Took you long enough to realize."
A single swing—
Silence.
Gato dropped.
The bridge was quiet again.
Zabuza stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Blood dripping from his wounds.
He glanced toward Haku's unconscious body.
"…Tch."
"…Useless."
Naruto's head snapped up.
"…What?"
Zabuza scoffed.
"…A tool that can't complete its job is worthless."
Something in Naruto's chest tightened.
"…Say that again."
Zabuza glanced at him.
"…You heard me."
Naruto stepped forward.
Fists clenched.
"…You're wrong."
Zabuza's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Kid—"
Naruto cut him off.
"…He was fighting for you."
"…Bleeding for you."
"…Ready to die for you."
His voice shook.
But not from fear.
"…And all you can say is 'useless'?"
Silence.
Naruto's grip tightened.
"…You think being strong means throwing people away?"
"…That's not strength."
Zabuza didn't respond.
Naruto stepped closer.
"…Strength is protecting what matters."
"…Even if it hurts."
"…Even if you're scared."
His voice lowered.
"…He was your precious person."
Zabuza's expression flickered.
Just slightly.
Naruto pointed at Haku.
"…And you're too much of a coward to admit it."
Silence fell over the bridge.
Even Kakashi watched quietly.
Zabuza's grip on his sword tightened.
Then—
Loosened.
"…Tch…"
He turned and approached the downed Haku, crouching.
"…Brat talks too much."
But his voice lacked its earlier edge. He picked up his "tool" and vanished in a swirl of mist.
Naruto exhaled slowly.
The Shinobi Codex chimed.
Charisma Check Passed
+3 Charisma
Charitable Aura Buff: Expired
New Achievement Unlocked:
"Words that Reach" +15% to convince enemies to change their current views!
Naruto scratched his head.
"…Huh."
Behind him—
Sakura finally breathed again.
And on the ground—
Sasuke lay still.
For now—
The battle was over.
Team 7's attention now shifted to their fallen teammate.
"…Sasuke…"
Sakura was already moving.
Dropping beside him.
Hands shaking—but controlled.
"…No… no no no…"
She pressed her fingers lightly against his neck.
Checking.
Searching.
"…He's—"
Her voice caught.
"…He's not breathing"
Naruto stepped closer.
"…Is he…?"
Before she could answer—
Sasuke's fingers twitched.
Sakura froze.
"…Wait—"
A breath.
Shallow.
Then—
Deeper.
His eyes snapped open.
Sharingan.
Still spinning.
Still active.
Sakura jolted back slightly.
"…Sasuke-kun?!"
He slowly pushed himself up.
Ignoring the senbon.
Ignoring the blood.
Ignoring everything.
"…Tch…"
"…That hurt…"
Naruto blinked.
"…YOU'RE ALIVE?!"
Sasuke stood.
Unsteady—
But standing.
Drip.
Blood hit the bridge.
He didn't even flinch.
"…Of course I am."
Sakura stared.
"…You were literally not breathing—"
Sasuke dusted himself off slightly.
Winced—just barely—
Then straightened.
"…I stopped my heart."
Silence.
Naruto tilted his head.
"…You WHAT?"
Sasuke glanced at him.
Calm.
Cool.
Completely ignoring the fact that he looked like he just crawled out of the afterlife.
"…It's called controlling your vitals."
"…Try it sometime."
Naruto squinted.
"…That sounds fake."
Sakura's eye twitched.
"…THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CASUALLY DO—"
Sasuke took a step forward.
Staggered—
Kakashi caught his student, somehow making himself look cool while doing so—
The pair continued walking to seemingly nowhere, utterly mogging the entire group
Absolute aura farming.
Naruto crossed his arms.
"…Yeah okay, show-offs."
But beneath it—
Relief.
Heavy.
Real.
The Shinobi Codex pulsed.
Bright this time.
Naruto blinked.
"…Oh—nice."
Hidden Quest Progression Updated
Objective: Help rival become strong enough to defeat a certain man
Sub-condition Complete: Survival of Critical Battle
Pending Reward Granted:
+5 Strength
+5 Agility
+5 Endurance
+5 Intelligence
+2 Charisma
+1 Luck
+80 System Points!
Unique Perk Unlocked:
Rival Growth Link - weak (Effect can grow stronger with increased relationship status)
Description: Minor stat gains when rival experiences breakthroughs
Naruto's eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait…"
"…That's actually kinda broken…"
He glanced at Sasuke—
Who was currently pulling senbon out of his own arm like it was mildly inconvenient.
"…Yeah… I'll take it."
Footsteps echoed from the far end of the bridge.
A lot of them.
Everyone turned.
Inari stood at the front.
Shaking.
Holding a small crossbow.
Behind him—
Villagers.
Dozens.
Armed with whatever they could find.
Tools.
Pot helmets.
Even the old Codger from the library was there screaming "Yeah baby!"
"…We're here" Inari declared
His voice trembled.
"…We're here to fight…"
He looked ahead—
Terrified.
Determined.
Then—
He saw it.
Bodies.
Everywhere.
Gato.
Gone.
Silence fell over the group.
One villager whispered.
"…It's… over…?"
Inari blinked.
"…We…"
"…We were too late…"
Naruto stepped forward.
Scratching his cheek.
"…Nah."
They all looked at him.
"…You showed up."
Inari's eyes widened slightly.
Naruto shrugged.
"…That's what matters."
"…Most people don't."
A pause.
"…Courage isn't about winning."
"…It's about showing up even when you think you can't."
Silence.
The villagers straightened slightly.
Something shifted.
Not fear anymore.
Pride.
Inari clenched his fists.
"…Yeah…"
Sakura smiled softly.
Sasuke scoffed quietly.
"…Tch…"
"…You're getting sappy."
Naruto grinned.
"…Shut up, fake-dead guy."
The mist fully cleared.
Sunlight broke through.
And for the first time—
The bridge didn't feel like a death sentence.
It felt like something new.
Something worth protecting.