Chapter 90: Chapter : 91
By the time Kirito arrived, the battle had already reached its climax.
Sasuke had been put through his paces. He initially acted confident but was soon overpowered by Haku's Ice Release technique, Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, and was pierced by Haku's Senbon needles, turning him into a virtual hedgehog. It wasn't until Naruto arrived that they had a chance to regroup.
Meanwhile, Zabuza was gradually falling into Kakashi's trap. After his Executioner's Blade was stained with Kakashi's blood, he used the Hidden Mist Technique, shrouding the entire bridge in mist. Kakashi took this opportunity to summon his ninja hounds.
Seeing Kakashi calling out his dogs, Kirito was reminded of Batman from an American comic in his previous life—you could fight him, but never plan an appointment with him, because with enough prep time, he'd find a way to counter you. Zabuza seemed to be learning this lesson the hard way.
While Kakashi released his ninja hounds, Naruto's situation worsened. To protect Naruto, Sasuke was hit once again by Haku's Senbon.
"You… you big idiot," Sasuke forced a smile, despite his pain.
Naruto's body trembled, eyes widening. "Why… why did you save me?"
"How should I know?" Sasuke's vision began to blur as memories of him and Naruto flashed before him. "I hate you the most, but my body moved on its own… idiot."
With that, Sasuke could hold on no longer and collapsed, only to be caught by Naruto. As he lay in Naruto's arms, his thoughts drifted to his older brother, Uchiha Itachi. As his vision dimmed, he murmured, "I haven't beaten my brother yet… I can't die here…" He then fainted.
"Sasuke!" Naruto roared, unleashing the dark red chakra of the Nine-Tails out of pure rage as he charged at Haku.
Watching this unfold, Kirito thought, No wonder Kakashi later said during the Fourth Great Ninja War that it was Team 7's luck that their first enemies were Zabuza and Haku. Looking back, it's clear why Naruto fought so fiercely to protect Sasuke. The bond between them has taken root here. If this were between a man and a woman, Hinata and Sakura would likely not exist in the original storyline.
"It looks like it's almost over," Kirito murmured as he stood up.
The battle was indeed drawing to a close. Zabuza was now restrained by Kakashi's ninja hounds, and Kakashi had activated Raikiri, ready to end Zabuza's life. Haku, defeated by Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra, had decided to protect Zabuza and sacrifice herself to block Kakashi's attack.
Just as Haku used the Water Body Flicker Technique to shield Zabuza, Kirito intervened. He intercepted Haku and created a shadow clone to disguise itself as Haku, positioning it to take Kakashi's Raikiri.
"Why did you save me?" Haku asked, recognizing Kirito.
"It would be too tragic for you to die now," Kirito replied. "Don't think you've lost your purpose. Zabuza doesn't see you merely as a tool. Just watch what happens next."
As Kakashi's Raikiri struck Kirito's shadow clone disguised as Haku, the clone held its form longer than expected, confirming Kirito's thoughts. Kakashi has definitely gotten rusty. In Shippuden, this would've been a different story. All I had to do was use Kyōka Suigetsu to trick his senses and add a protective aura around the clone, he thought.
Kakashi gently laid down the clone, believing it to be Haku, then turned back to Zabuza and began to attack, swiftly breaking both of Zabuza's arms with his kunai.
At that moment, Kado arrived with a group of thugs, unaware he'd been robbed. As he insulted Zabuza and stomped on what he thought was Haku's lifeless body, Naruto's heartfelt words finally broke through to Zabuza, who shed tears and, with kunai clenched between his teeth, charged at Kado and his men.
"Is this the Talk no Jutsu you mentioned, Lord Kirito?" Pakura, who had arrived in time to witness the scene, appeared beside Kirito and Haku.
"Something like that," Kirito replied, then turned to Haku, who watched Zabuza with tear-filled eyes. "Now, do you still think you're just his tool?"
"No, sir," Haku whispered, voice trembling as he watched Zabuza fight. Tears flowed freely down his face. "I could never fight against him again."
Even Pakura seemed moved by the scene. "Lord Kirito, please, let me help Zabuza."
"No need." Kirito shook his head and snapped his fingers. The shadow clone disguised as Haku suddenly leaped up, picking up a sword and rushing into the crowd with ghost-like speed. In moments, every thug, save for Kado and Zabuza, lay dead.
"How… How is this possible? I thought that child was dead," Kakashi said, stunned by the sight of what he thought was Haku's resurrection and sudden burst of power.
Naruto and Zabuza both cried with relief to see Haku alive. Sakura, meanwhile, as ever, remained oblivious, unsure if Sasuke was dead or alive, clinging to him and weeping.
"It's simple," Kirito's voice cut through the fog. He and Pakura, in their Akatsuki robes, red clouds billowing, stepped forward with Haku. "He's not dead."
As they emerged from the mist, cherry blossom petals floated through the air, casting an illusion over the area. Everyone but Kakashi, Zabuza, and Kado fell unconscious.
"This… is an illusion," Kakashi murmured as he recognized the voice, his pupils widening in shock. Looking between Kirito, his companions, and Haku, who had slain Kado's men in moments, a dreadful realization formed in his mind.
With a "poof," the shadow clone transformed back into Kirito's form, dispersing in a cloud of smoke.
"Haku, you're alive!" Zabuza exclaimed, coughing up blood as he collapsed, his body exhausted from wounds and exertion.
"Lord Zabuza!" Haku cried, rushing to catch Zabuza as he fell.
(End of Chapter)
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