Chapter 105 - 5

Chapter 5: Haku's DeathThe moment Haku heard the sound of lightning, his entire body tensed up violently.The shadow clones restraining him clearly felt the muscles beneath their hands turn hard as iron in an instant, followed by violent struggling."Zabuza..."Haku's voice changed abruptly; his previous composure and resignation vanished completely, replaced by frantic unease and anxiety.He twisted his body desperately, trying to break free from the clones' restraint, but several clones held his joints firmly, rendering every effort futile."Let me go!"Haku's voice turned sharp, carrying a near-collapsing sense of despair: "Naruto, let me go, Zabuza is in danger..."Naruto looked back at Haku and said indifferently: "You're so anxious—do you think Zabuza will die at the hands of Kakashi-sensei?""I don't know, but I cannot let him die!"For the first time, tears welled up in Haku's eyes. All the composure on his delicate face vanished, revealing the most genuine emotions beneath: "Everyone has something they want to protect... What I protect is Zabuza!"He looked up at Naruto, his voice almost a scream: "Naruto, hurry and let me go, I beg you!"Naruto was stunned.He knew Haku would go to block the Lightning Blade, and he certainly knew Haku would die because of it.According to the original plot, Haku's sacrifice would awaken the last bit of humanity deep within Zabuza, then Zabuza would lash out to kill Gato, and finally die in the snow while holding Haku's corpse.This was a tragedy, but it was also the core emotional climax of the Land of Waves arc.Should he change it?Naruto weighed the decision in his heart for less than a second.Thinking of this, Naruto slowly opened his mouth: "Are you sure? Even if it means death?"Haku looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his voice incomparably firm: "I can do anything for Zabuza!"Naruto looked at the pair of resolute eyes on Haku's impossibly delicate face and fell silent for a moment.He understood better than anyone what it felt like to risk one's life for someone.In his previous life, it was because of this very impulse that he had gotten himself killed.However, Haku's situation had nothing to do with the scum who oppressed the common people; what Haku was protecting was the person who had truly pulled him out of hell.Plus, he had just transmigrated himself and hadn't even fully figured out his own situation—how could he have the energy to worry about others!Thinking of this, Naruto raised his hand and made a gesture.The several clones suppressing Haku released their grip simultaneously, then dissipated into puffs of white smoke in the air.Haku leaped up from the ground, having already adjusted his posture for a forward dash as he stood up.He did not hesitate at all, pouring all his remaining Chakra into his legs and sprinting with all his might toward the thick fog flashing with lightning.As he passed by Naruto's side, Haku turned his head slightly and whispered a sentence."Thank you, Naruto."The voice was very soft, so soft it was drowned out by the wind created by his running, yet Naruto heard it clearly.In the voice, there was gratitude, farewell, and a sense of relief and happiness that he could finally be of use to the person most important to him.Naruto stood where he was, watching Haku's slender figure pierce into the dense fog like an arrow released from a bowstring, running further and further away, becoming more and more blurred, until completely swallowed by the mist.You won't regret it, right?Naruto asked silently in his heart, then turned around and walked toward Sasuke's direction.He didn't need to intervene in what happened next.Deep in the thick fog, lightning raged.The Lightning Blade in Kakashi's hand had condensed to its limit, blue-white currents dancing frantically in his palm.The high-voltage electric light tore through the surrounding fog, pulling out zigzagging trails of light behind him, illuminating Kakashi's perpetually lazy face in sharp relief.In front, Zabuza was trapped by Earth Release and a summoning jutsu; the mud beneath his feet locked his legs tight, and no matter how much strength he exerted, he couldn't move an inch."It's over, Zabuza."Kakashi said coldly, then pushed off with his feet, his entire body turning into a blue-white bolt of lightning, thrusting straight toward Zabuza's chest.At that very instant, a slender figure rushed into the thick fog from the side, charging straight toward the light of the Lightning Blade like a moth to a flame.The moment this figure appeared between Zabuzaand Kakashi, he spread his arms, his whole body acting like a shield, blocking firmly in front of Zabuza.Haku!Kakashi's Sharingan contracted to the limit.He wanted to pull back, but the Lightning Blade was a dashing thrusting technique; the faster the speed, the stronger the lethality. At this distance of less than a foot, it was simply too late."Oh no, it's too late..."Before Kakashi's thought could even finish, the Lightning Blade had already pierced through Haku's body.Squelch...The sound of a palm piercing flesh rang out.The sound was not loud, but it pierced through the shriek of the thunder and the cover of the thick fog, reaching the ears of everyone present.Kakashi's palm entered through the center of Haku's chest and emerged from his back.Fresh blood sprayed out radially from the edges of the wound, instantly evaporated into a crimson mist in the electric light of the Lightning Blade, then condensed into countless tiny blood droplets in the next second, scattering in all directions with the force of the impact.Some of the blood droplets splattered onto Kakashi's face, while others splattered onto Zabuza's face—warm and sticky, sliding slowly down their cheeks.Haku did not let out any scream.Blood gushed from his mouth, dripping down his delicate chin.He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but his throat was already blocked by the surging blood, leaving only a faint bubbling sound.Kakashi's mind went blank."This scene... so familiar...""Rin..."The thick fog began to dissipate rapidly.Zabuza's restraints were also lifted at this moment, or rather, Kakashi no longer had the energy to maintain the Earth Release Chakra.The moment his legs regained their freedom, without any superfluous words, and without a moment of sorrow lingering over Haku's sacrifice, Zabuza immediately swung the Executioner's Blade and slashed fiercely at Kakashi.The massive blade brought with it a sharp whistling sound, carrying a terrifying force capable of slicing through rock.The blade's light traced a silver-white arc in the air, also reflecting the figure of Haku lying in a pool of blood.Kakashi came to his senses at the very last second.Clutching Haku's body, he dodged sideways violently. The edge of the Executioner's Blade grazed his shoulder, slicing off a corner of his headband, with metal fragments scattering in the air.Holding Haku's corpse, Kakashi retreated several steps, creating distance.He looked up, his gaze toward Zabuza having completely changed."Are you even going to cut through the corpse of your most important companion, Zabuza?"Kakashi spoke, his voice icy: "You are even less human than I thought."Zabuza did not speak.No expression could be seen on his face, which was wrapped in bandages; only his eyes, exposed on the outside, seemed to have something shatter within them when he saw Haku's pale face.