章 31: end

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A burst of ice crystals shattered the cold air, layering the atmosphere with a biting chill.

"Boom!"

"Clink clink clink!"

"Crack!"

Haku's Ice Release technique intercepted the barrage of shuriken, blocking Menma's attempt to delay him. Though the shuriken failed to break through, Menma had accomplished his objective. Haku might not have been able to assist Zabuza in defeating Kakashi yet, but Menma knew he had to prevent any further interference. With Haku's Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, his strength could rival that of a Jōnin, making him an ideal opponent for Menma to test his skills.

As the two closed in on each other, Menma's eyes narrowed with determination.

"Get out of my way!" Haku's voice was tense, barely masking his anxiety behind the mask. He glanced toward Zabuza, who was struggling. Kakashi, with his ninja hounds, had cornered him, leaving the Demon of the Mist bloodied and battered. The scene was drastically different from their previous encounter.

Haku's urgency was clear.

"Heh, let's see what you've got, Mist ninja!" Menma smirked, twirling a kunai as the cold light reflected off its edge.

"Then prepare to die!" Haku snapped. Though he disliked killing, Zabuza's life mattered more to him than anything. If saving Zabuza meant taking a life, he would do it without hesitation.

"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Haku swiftly formed a series of hand seals, charging forward. The surrounding moisture crystallized, forming a barrage of razor-sharp ice needles.

"Whoosh!"

The needles flew at Menma with incredible speed, carried by a bitter chill.

"Too fast!"

Menma had known Haku's Ice Release was formidable, but facing it head-on was an entirely different matter. His pupils contracted as he dodged most of the needles, contorting his body to avoid the attack, while deflecting the rest with his kunai.

"Clink clink clink!"

The sound of metal striking ice echoed as Menma successfully parried the final wave of needles. But Haku was already closing the distance, senbon needles gripped between his fingers, poised to strike at Menma's vital points.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

A sudden voice rang out as Sasuke appeared from the side, his hands flying through hand seals. He inhaled deeply before releasing a flurry of small fireballs that spiraled toward Haku.

The heat forced Haku to pause, a slight shift in expression visible beneath his mask.

"Ice Release: Ice Wall!"

With a quick seal, Haku erected an ice wall to block the incoming flames.

"Boom!"

"Whoosh!"

"Crack!"

The fireballs collided with the wall, creating a burst of steam as the ice shattered. Forced to retreat, Haku barely had time to recover before Naruto rushed forward, closing the distance in an instant.

Naruto's fist slammed into Haku's side.

"Thud!"

Haku was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a harsh impact.

"Ugh!"

He grunted, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to stand. But before he could recover, Sasuke had already launched himself into the air, kunai in hand.

"!"

Desperately, Haku attempted to form another defense, but Sasuke was too fast. The sharp edge of his kunai slashed across Haku's chest, eliciting a painful gasp. Blood sprayed, splattering across Haku's mask.

Naruto hesitated for a moment, watching the scene unfold, unsure if they should continue. But Menma didn't waver. Without mercy, he dashed forward, plunging his kunai deep into Haku's chest.

"Squelch!"

Blood gushed as Menma's kunai struck true, burying itself into Haku's body alongside Sasuke's. The combined attacks gave Haku no room to recover. His vision blurred as he glanced toward Zabuza, still struggling against Kakashi.

'Master Zabuza...' Haku thought, his consciousness slipping away. Darkness enveloped him, and soon, Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto stood over his lifeless form.

---

Menma didn't feel any particular emotions toward Haku. To him, Haku was just another stepping stone, a tool to sharpen his own skills. He didn't hesitate when it came time to kill. This was the true mindset of a shinobi: if you were the enemy and intended to kill him, then he would kill you without a second thought. It was as simple as that.

This was the harsh reality of their world—the "everyday life" Menma had quickly adapted to.

Sasuke felt the same way.

As he stared down at Haku's lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, his expression remained unchanged. Compared to the horrors he had already witnessed in his life, this was nothing.

Only Naruto still showed signs of hesitation. Even though he knew that killing enemy shinobi was an expected part of their mission, it wasn't easy for him to accept. Growing up in the peaceful environment of Konoha hadn't prepared him for the brutal realities of the outside world.

Naruto's hesitation had shown at the last moment.

While Menma and Sasuke had swiftly dealt with Haku, Kakashi had finished Zabuza on the other side. Without Haku's support, Kakashi no longer held back. Unlike in the original timeline, he unleashed his full power against Zabuza.

Zabuza was no match for him.

The gap between their abilities as elite jōnin was evident.

"Zzzzt—!"

The air crackled as lightning erupted from Kakashi's hand.

"Boom!"

The terrifying sound of the Chidori echoed as Kakashi charged forward.

"Puchi!"

Kakashi's Chidori pierced through Zabuza's last defense, driving straight into his heart.

"Huh!?"

A sharp pain and numbing sensation spread through Zabuza's body. His muscles trembled violently as blood gushed from his mouth.

"Urgh!"

He could feel his life slipping away. His vision darkened as he stared into Kakashi's cold, emotionless eyes.

'So... this is how it ends...' Zabuza thought briefly, turning his gaze toward the clearing mist. He caught sight of Haku's body, lying motionless in the blood-stained snow. A flood of memories rushed through his mind.

'Haku...'

With that final thought, Zabuza's life ended. His body went limp in Kakashi's grip.

After confirming Zabuza's death, Kakashi sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Though he had maintained control throughout the battle, he knew how quickly things could have turned against him.

Kakashi had been stronger than Zabuza, but only by a slim margin.

Moreover, he had to remain mindful of Menma, Tazuna, and the others. There were many factors in play during the fight.

Thankfully, it had ended in their favor.

"Release."

Kakashi ordered his ninja hounds to stand down after confirming Zabuza was dead. He then retrieved a sealing scroll from his pouch.

He sealed Zabuza's body and his giant sword, the Kubikiribōchō, before walking over to where Menma and the others were standing.

As the mist fully dissipated and the battle concluded, Sakura and Tazuna cautiously approached from a distance.

"Kakashi-sensei! (Kakashi-san!)" Sakura called out, worry evident in her voice.

Kakashi's expression turned stern. "Didn't I tell you to stay with Tazuna-san?" he scolded them. "What would you have done if something had gone wrong?"

Even though they had won, the reprimand was necessary.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, attempting to lighten the mood. "Haha… Sorry, Kakashi-sensei. It was just in the heat of the moment! We'll be more careful next time!"

Sasuke, as usual, remained silent, his face unreadable.

Menma, however, quickly shifted the conversation. "That Mist Ninja had a kekkei genkai, the Ice Release. It might be worth studying, Kakashi-sensei."

They had learned in the Academy that the body of a ninja with a kekkei genkai was valuable. The information they held, especially those with unique bloodline abilities, could be extremely useful.

Kakashi had already sealed Zabuza's body, recognizing the importance of his knowledge of Kirigakure. After all, Zabuza had been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and had even attempted to assassinate the Mizukage.

Haku, on the other hand, was valuable because of his Ice Release, a rare ability of the Yuki clan, once a powerful ninja clan of Kirigakure.

"Ice Release, huh? You're right, Menma. It's worth studying," Kakashi agreed, pulling out another sealing scroll.

After performing a few hand seals, he crouched beside Haku's body.

"Seal."

With a flash, Haku's body disappeared into the scroll.

Naruto blinked in confusion. "Kekkei genkai? What's that?"

"Kekkei genkai are special abilities passed down through bloodlines," Sakura explained as she arrived, her earlier worry fading as she realized the battle was over. "They combine two types of chakra to create a new element, like Ice Release. Seriously, Naruto, didn't you learn anything at the Academy?"

Naruto chuckled awkwardly. "Haha, I guess I forgot..."

Tazuna, who had followed them, looked at Kakashi, Menma, and the others with a mix of awe and fear. He hadn't expected Gato to hire such powerful ninja to kill him. He felt lucky to have hired such capable protectors from Konoha, especially considering that the mission was originally ranked as a C-rank.

'This must be a sign. I have to finish the bridge... It's the hope of the Land of Waves!' Tazuna thought, his determination renewed.

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