Chapter 12: End of the mission

The next morning, Sakura entered my room super early, but I sensed her coming and left through the window.

Sakura: "Seriously, why would she go train at this time! I'm going to give her a big lecture when I see her!"

Once she left, I entered my room. Not long after Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, and Sasuke went to guard Tazuna while he continued building the bridge, but Naruto got out of it because he used too much chakra when he was training and now had to recover. I decided not to go train but instead to sleep in, since I also needed to recover my chakra.

A few hours later, Naruto entered my room saying, "Hinoka! I'm going to the bridge!"

Hinoka: "Ok, see you later. How did you know I was still here?"

Naruto: "Because you of all people know that resting is also important, and you've been training a lot so I just guessed that you would rest today. You know!"

Not more than 2 hours later, I decided to go meet everyone on the bridge since I was still on a mission and had to help.

As I arrived, I saw Naruto and Sasuke stuck in some kind of jutsu, both bleeding and covered in senbons. Sasuke's Sharingan seemed to be activated when a bunch of senbons flew in Naruto's direction. I tried to jump in the way but was too slow, and then I saw Sasuke standing in front of Naruto protecting him.

Just as Sasuke fainted, I caught him. As Sasuke was saying something about Itachi, I said, "You're not going to die, you idiot! It didn't hit your vitals! But I am going to revenge the person who hurt you and Naruto!"

I turned to Naruto as I handed him Sasuke and said, "Hey Naruto, take care of him for me. I'll handle the rest from here."

I looked at the masked person before saying, "Haku, you remember when you asked me if I was strong? Well, you're about to find out how strong I am!"

Haku: "So you knew it was me."

Hinoka: "Yeah obviously." Saying that, a bunch of senbons flew towards me, but I dodged them as I analyzed my surroundings and figured out how his jutsu worked.

I removed a small metal bar from my pocket as I said, "Fire Style: Fire bow Jutsu." As a bow formed around the metal, I jumped into the air before saying, "Fire Style: Explosive Arrows." As I shot multiple arrows at the ice crystals, each crystal started bursting, and then Haku showed himself. At that moment, I shot two arrows at him; the first one hit his mask, breaking it, and the second one hit his hand. I appeared behind him with a kunai to his throat and said, "So, what do you think, Haku? Am I strong?"

Haku: "I would mostly say your aim, your precision and how smart you were, that was all you showed me. You didn't show me how strong you were."

Hinoka: "You're pretty smart, Haku, aren't you?"

Haku: "I just killed your friend; you should be angry. But here you are, talking to me like we're friends, sparing!"

Hinoka: "You didn't hit his vitals, so he should be okay. I just wanted to beat you up since you hurt my friends."

Haku looked surprised before he said, "Hinoka, please kill me."

Hinoka: "Ok, but before that, look in that direction." As I lowered my kunai, Haku turned to see Zabuza about to be stabbed by Kakashi and said, "Sorry, Hinoka." Before disappearing. In a flash Haku was in the middle of Kakashi-sensei's attack, and just as it was about to hit him, I pushed Zabuza and Haku to the side. The attack grazed Haku and hit me, but not enough to kill me. Haku looked at me surprised before saying, "Why did you save us?!"

Hinoka: "You asked me to kill you so I couldn't let you die at the hands of someone else." I said shooting him a smile.

Haku: "You saved me for such a stupid reason! And even got hurt while doing so!" 

I looked at my hand which was bleeding as I said, "Oh this it's nothing." I the lifted my unharmed hand to my hurt arm as I started healing it.

Both Kakashi-sensei and Haku looked at me shocked as I said, "See good as new! But you owe me for saving you!" 

Suddenly a man with a bunch of people behind him appears and says "I am sorry about this, Zabuza, but you are going down here. I hired rogue ninja's because you are cheaper than regular ninja's. Really, Zabuza, you are not worthy of being called the Demon of the Village Hidden in the Mist."

 I turned to Zabuza and said "Hey Zabuza do you want me to take care of this or..." 

Zabuza started removing the bandages on his mouth as he said "I'll take care of this. Throw me a kunai." 

I threw Zabuza a kunai which he caught in his mouth as he charged at the people I turned around and walked towards Sasuke and Naruto as I started treating him. 

Just then I heard Haku screaming "Zabuza!" I turned to see Haku running towards Zabuza who was on the floor just as I joined them Haku said "Please Hinoka save him please!" I looked at him as tears were running down his face, I thought to myself 'I haven't recovered all my chakra and I already used most of it to heal me, Naruto and Sasuke. Plus my medical ninjutsu isn't good yet so I may not be able to save him. But I have to at least try.'

I turned to Zabuza and started trying to heal him when he said "It's no use I'm going to die there's nothing you can do please take care of Haku, protect him." I looked at Zabuza in shock as I kept trying to heal him when Kakashi-sensei said "His gone Hinoka you can't save him."

I turned to Haku who was still crying and said "Haku remember when I said you owed me well, I want to become your new master."

Haku turned to me and looked shocked as I said "If you do I'll protect you no matter what!"

Haku: "Hinoka, sure, I accept!"

I started to feel dizzy as I thought 'I must have used too much chakra' before everything went black. 

I woke up a day later, but I was forced to stay in the old man's house until it was time to go. Eventually, the old man finished building the bridge, marking the end of our mission. As we prepared to leave, Naruto and Inari shed tears, while Tazuna expressed his gratitude. He suggested naming the bridge after me, but I declined the honor. Instead, I suggested naming it 'the Great Naruto Bridge,' recognizing Naruto's bravery and determination throughout our journey. To which Tazuna agreed.