Chapter 15 is ultimately not a tool."Is this the end?"
His eyes were fixed on Kakashi. Even in his final moments, Zabuza chose to face death.
Though there was some regret, this time, he didn't want to run. Perhaps with his death, that brat could finally be free.
Suddenly, a thin figure appeared in front of Zabuza, a thick ice shield rising, attempting to block Kakashi's fatal blow.
"Crack."
The ice shield shattered the instant it grazed the Lightning Blade.
"Multiple Rashomon!"
Naruto quickly formed hand seals, and several more giant gates appeared before Kakashi. This was a defensive ninjutsu created by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, which not only reduced the power of an attack but also altered its direction through changes in angle.
"Snap."
"Snap."
"Snap."
Even the Triple Rashomon couldn't stop the lightning in Kakashi's palm. Kakashi had no time to think about who was attacking, nor what was blocking his path. His Lightning Blade was meant to pierce his opponent's heart with unstoppable force.
For a moment, the intense white light blinded everyone present.
A instant later, the light faded, and everyone was stunned by what they saw. The person pierced through the chest by Kakashi wasn't Zabuza, but Haku. Blood splattered everywhere. This boy had shielded Zabuza from a fatal blow with his own body.
Kakashi and Zabuza were both momentarily stunned. Zabuza hadn't expected this brat he'd always used to go to such lengths for him, while Kakashi was reminded of a past he didn't want to recall—a scar he never wanted to touch again.
"Zabuza…"
Haku truly had no time to care about anyone else's feelings. He gripped Kakashi's wrist tightly, and even after he fell silent, he held on relentlessly, trying to buy Zabuza a chance to turn the tide.
"Heh…heh…heh, looks like your plan has failed, Kakashi."
Zabuza closed his eyes with a complex expression, then opened them again, his eyes filled with killing intent. He raised his sword and slashed fiercely at Kakashi.
Kakashi couldn't bear to damage Haku's body and could only retreat with Haku's corpse in his arms.
Gently setting Haku's body down, he thought, "Wait, he's still breathing? Perhaps he can still be saved."
Kakashi quickly said, "Zabuza, this child can still be saved."
"I'll kill you!"
Zabuza couldn't believe such words. He had witnessed Haku being pierced through the body by the Lightning Blade. At this moment, Zabuza's limbs were severely injured, and even though he prided himself on his speed, he was now slower than a Chunin.
His past with Haku flashed through his mind—from the moment they met until now, that brat willingly serving as his tool, and ultimately dying because of him.
"Ah!!!"
It wasn't so much a fight as an outburst of emotion from Zabuza, an outburst of grief over Haku's death, an outburst at his tragic and miserable life. If he couldn't kill Kakashi, then he would end his life at Kakashi's hands, just like Haku.
Until both of Zabuza's shoulders were pierced by kunai, and the Executioner's Blade was out of his hand, Kakashi didn't rush to attack again. Instead, he turned his gaze to Haku, because Zabuza in this state posed no threat to him anymore.
Just then, an untimely voice rang out.
"Yo, the battle's fierce, huh? You've disappointed me, Zabuza."
Gato had appeared on the bridge unnoticed, followed by hundreds of combatants.
"Why are you here, Gato? And what's with your men?" Zabuza asked coldly.
Gato scoffed, "Sorry, Zabuza, you'll die here!"
"What?"
Zabuza couldn't believe his ears. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected Gato to dare speak to him like that.
Gato continued, "You know what Zabuza is like? The only reason I hired a fugitive ninja like you is because you're cheaper than a regular ninja. We're both tools for killing, but you're really cheap."
"I thought you had some skill. If you could have taken your opponent down with you, it would have saved me time and money. But you actually lost! Honestly, bragging about being a demon from Kirigakure is laughable."
"If you ask me, you're just a cute little brat."
Gato's words caused his subordinates behind him to burst into laughter.
"Sorry, Kakashi, our battle ends here. Since the mission to kill has been canceled, we have no reason to continue fighting," Zabuza suddenly said.
Kakashi didn't speak, but instead looked at Haku. He might have been saved before, but after all this commotion, his chances were slim, especially since they didn't have a medical ninja among them.
"Ah, yes, speaking of which, I still have a score to settle with this guy."
Gato walked step by step to Haku's side, raised his foot, and stomped hard on Haku's face, grinding it repeatedly.
Naruto was almost unable to suppress his rage, but he restrained himself from attacking or provoking Zabuza, because he knew that no matter what anyone said, Zabuza would definitely act. This hypocritical man had never treated Haku merely as a tool.
"Just like Gato used me, I used Haku. Ninjas are just tools anyway."
Zabuza muttered to himself, his body trembling slightly. He was speaking more to himself than to others.
"What I wanted was his ability, not him as a person, so I have no attachment..."
After a moment of silence, Zabuza's trembling intensified. Images of Haku flashed through his mind, and a few drops of water fell at his feet.
"Heh, it seems humans can't ultimately be emotionless tools. I've failed."
Using his mouth to remove the bandage from his face, Zabuza called to Naruto behind him, "Hey, brat, lend me a kunai!"
The kunai Naruto threw was caught in Zabuza's jaws, and he charged towards Gato like an arrow.
Seeing that Zabuza was really going to kill him, Gato immediately chickened out and hurriedly ran into the crowd.
"What?! That's enough! Go get him! Kill him!"
A group of thugs blocked Zabuza's path, shouting, "There are so many of us! Do you think you can win?"
Amidst splattering blood, the Hidden Mist Demon reaped lives filled with sin, neither dodging nor evading the attacks. He only had eyes for one person: Gato. Kill him!
Naruto finally couldn't hold back any longer. Ignoring Kakashi's pleas, he threw the remaining kunai, shielding Zabuza from a fatal wound.
Gato's men, already terrified, instinctively made way for him, and Zabuza pounced on him like a demon.
With nowhere to retreat, Gato was brutally murdered by Zabuza, his body torn to pieces before finally falling into the sea. Who could have imagined that this heinous villain, who had ravaged countless nations and their people, would meet his end in such a manner?