29 Night visit to Zabuza's hideout

[[[ Later at night ]]]

<Naruto's Pov>

As I opened my eyes, a wooden roof greeted my sight. Moonlight fell from the gaps inside the wooden planks, giving me some visibility of what was around. Aside from some simple, worn-out furniture, there was little to see.

I spread my senses out while investigating to make sure Kakashi and the others were asleep. Seeing no one was awake, I slowly got up without much sound.

Opening the door, I activated my disguise ability as I vanished from sight. The whole area was beautiful, with moonlight falling on the river water.

'There will be a lot of blood spilled tomorrow.'

I thought as I recalled Gato and his men.

It would be all roses if they decided to retreat and leave for good. However, I knew more than anyone that it never goes as planned.

On another note, personally... I don't really have any problem whatsoever with letting Haku and Zabuza live. I know they are only forced due to circumstances.

Maybe I'm just manipulating them into doing my work. But one way or another, my intervention will save them.

'Haha, they are my first victims, I suppose.'

I chuckled as I made my way towards the resting place of Zabuza, jumping from tree to tree.

Dozens of minutes later, I finally arrived in the vicinity of their hiding place. To be sure, I put several barrier seals around them so as to not allow any mishaps.

I can't exactly let them make noise now, can I?

After setting up the seals, I approached their hideout, knocking on the wooden door like a true gentleman would.

*Knock*

*Knock*

Haku and Zabuza jolted awake, instinctively arming themselves. Their figures could only be partially seen due to the lone oil lamp, which had almost dried out.

I didn't intend to give them time to think as I kicked the door, smashing it into several pieces in the process.

'Oops,'

"Who are you?" Zabuza spoke first, breaking the awkward silence. "How did you get here?"

"Hmm..I think you know me?"

I answered with a playful voice as I took several steps forward, revealing myself.

<Pov End>

"Its you!!"

Both Zabuza and Haku spoke simultaneously. They had no idea how Naruto found them. Better yet, how did he get so close without letting them know?

The tension in the atmosphere was increasing by the minute. The pin-drop silence only served to enhance it more.

"Lets's talk." Naruto said while raising my hands in surrender. "I believe you would be more than interested to know the truth about your village."

Zabuza, who heard this, was startled. He wanted nothing more than to save his people from that tyrant. The value of information Naruto was offering was extremely important to him. However, he was not willing to listen to Naruto without any proof.

'I'll first capture him and make him vomit everything.'

Zabuza thought as he made a move, signaling Haku using hand signs. Getting close to Naruto, he swung his broadsword, intending to incapacitate Naruto. He had a grin seeing Naruto was still in the same position without care.

However, at the last moment, Naruto simply took a kunai and deflected the broadsword with only a bit of effort.

*Clang*

'Heh, trying to overpower me using physical stregth? ─ Didn't he learn a lesson from the fight before?'

Meanwhile, Zabuza's hand was numb from the clash.

Naruto motioned to punch him again.

"HAKU NOW!!!" Zabuza yelled, looking at Haku.

"ICE RELEASE"

Several mirrors appeared around Naruto, effectively blocking his path in all directions.

"So strange." Naruto mumbled, looking at the mirrors. 'How does that even work?'

While Naruto was wondering about the workings of the universe, Haku entered one of the mirrors. Yet she did not attack and waited for Zabuza's orders. She knew Naruto held valuable information for Zabuza.

"You are trapped. No use trying to escape." Zabuza broke Naruto out of his thoughts. "Tell me what you know, maybe I'll consider letting you go."

Naruto, who heard this, smirked, "What do you want to know?" He decided to play their game a bit. Revealed now or later, does it really matter?

"Everything you know."

"Hmm…" Naruto made a gesture like he was in deep thought, which made Zabuza irritated. "What if I say Yagura Karatachi is under a genjutsu?"

Hearing the revelation, Zabuza turned rigid. He could in no way believe this. This means that there was a hidden mastermind behind everything. The complications it gave rise to couldn't even be listed.

"How can you prove it?" Zabuza asked agitatedly.

"Simple" Naruto pointed at the image of Haku, who was the real one. "I can kill you anytime if need be. So there is no need for me to lie for a simple thing like saving myself."

That simple gesture made fear well up within Haku's heart. She couldn't fathom how Naruto could do such a thing. His calm demeanor didn't help either.

"Do you understand the situation you are in?" Zabuza yelled, pointing his sword at Naruto, his arms trembling from emotion. He needed to know if what Naruto said was true.

"I guess it's enough playing." Naruto projected nine tails chakra out of his body, instantly shattering Haku's kekkei genkai. She didn't have time to react as Naruto flickered before her, giving her a good kick.

Haku then crashed a few meters away from Zabuza. Although she had some injuries, they weren't serious, as Naruto controlled the power of his kick.

He really didn't want to beat them up. However, being a ninja, Naruto knew the explanation should come after the beating.

Meanwhile, Zabuza was shaking all over, trying to resist the Nine-Tails chakra. The sheer density of the chakra made him want to run away.

'He is the nine-tails jinchuriki, one with precise control.' He lamented that he didn't run away when he had the chance.

In the blink of an eye, Naruo appeared in front of him and punched him in the stomach, making him split out some blood as he fell to the ground. Zabuza groaned in pain, seeing some of his ribs being slightly cracked.

Walking towards the duo, Naruto squatted down to their level. "Willing to listen now?"

Zabuza nodded his head, not having much of choice.

***

"Is that true? How can that be?" Hearing the full story from Naruto Zabuza was distressed beyond belief. He didn't know what to do now.

"Indeed, it's true... So that leads me to my next question," Naruto looked at Zabuza and Haku sitting before him with serious faces. "Would you like to serve under me? ... However be warned, I will place a seal on you so that you can't divulge my secrets."

Zabuza looked at Naruto with uncertain eyes. "Fine, we accept your offer." After staring for a few minutes, he agreed.

With all the years of experience, Zabuza knew they would not be able to go out alive with the secrets. Because of that, he decided to agree. Seeing how powerful Naruto was at such a young age, he felt it would not be a wrong choice.

After getting confirmation, Naruto put a seal on their tongues as well as behind their necks. He even made them blend into the skin for improved secrecy.

"I'll contact you later. For now, abandon your bridge mission."

'Ah, right! I guess I'll heal them.' Naruto thought after recalling how he roughed them up 'a bit'.

Without saying anything, Naruto picked up a small wooden cup that had fallen to the ground. After cleaning it using his homemade techniques, he cut his arm, letting his blood drip into it.

"Here you go! ─ Drink it!"

Naruto said as he passed the cup into a flabbergasted Haku's hand. She looked hesitant but did it anyway as she gulped it down.

From the moment it entered her body, visible changes were occurring. All her bruises and cuts healed without leaving any behind. Her skin looked like that of a porcelain doll.

He then did the same, offering Zabuza some of his blood too.

'It would take someone a lot of work to kill me with this blood inside me.'

Naruto remarked to himself as he looked at the already closed wound in his hand. Only the leftover blood marks could be seen. But not a single cut or bruise.

With everything over and done, Naruto stepped outside with Zabua and Haku following him. He thoroughly cleaned the area so as not to leave any traces and carefully extracted all the seals he had placed.

Looking at the barrier seals around them, Zabuza's body shivered, thinking about what would have happened if they had rejected Naruto's proposal.

Haku was not much better in that regard. She dreaded the idea of Zabuza dying in front of her. She loved him. Although Haku never explicitly said it, she always did.

Naruto, who glanced at Haku's worried face, came up with some hypotheses. Surprisingly, they were not far from what she was thinking.

"Zabuza." Naruto looked at him. "Take care of Haku well ─ I don't think you would ever find another who loves you like that to the point of sacrificing herself."

He felt really tongue-tied by Naruto's words, as he always kept his emotions hidden, not wanting to divert his attention to anything else. Zabuza also knew Haku would do anything to protect him like Naruto said.

"─ Don't tell me that you don't care for her." Naruto asked, giving a push for Zabuza to voice out his feelings.

Haku, who heard this, had wide eyes on her face and looked at Zabuza with hopeful eyes. Her hands were trembling a little.

Zabuza knew there was no need to hide it anymore as they had decided to follow Naruto.

"I will," he said, looking at Haku.

Haku had tears in her eyes at finally being recognized and hearing that he cared about her. It was more precious than any treasure. Tears welled up in her eyes. Not wasting a second, she hugged Zabuza, who did the same.

'I guess they deserve it rather than a heartbreaking death.'

Naruto thought as he parted from them.

Only after a few minutes had passed since Naruto left did Haku let go of Zabuza. Haku's face was red like a beet.

It was so awkward for them now that both of them were alone.

*Cough*

"Let's go," Zabuza said, placing his broadsword on his back, wanting to escape from the awkward situation. He had difficulty expressing his emotions after all the killings he had done over the years. But he tried his best for Haku.

"Mmm.. Okay," Haku said, hurrying her steps after Zabuza like a dutiful child.

A smile like never before could be seen on Haku's face.

{A/N:- Be sure to click on the author's note and check it out}

{GIMME POWER STONES OKAY? GIMME SOME STOOOOOOOONES!!}