Chương 69: Chapter 069

"When I met you there in the forest, you didn't seem to recognize me," Haku said. Naruto replied, "I knew who you were the entire time. Plus I smelled you and it was the same scent I recognized when you rescued Zabuza after his first fight with Kakashi-niisan. I can also smell the same herbs you were collecting for Zabuza from off your body."

The girl fought back a blush that tried to creep on her face after Naruto revealed that he knew how she smelled like. Regaining her composure Haku melted into the mirror behind her as she said, "No matter. I'm going to finish you three here."

The mirror images came back, and before Sai or Naruto knew anything, dozens of needles came flying at them.

"Kage Bushin No Jutsu," Naruto called out and twenty clones appeared and surrounded the three boys before the arrows made contact. Several of the clones puffed out of existences, leaving the other clones and Naruto, Sai and Sasuke remaining. The clones popping away into clouds of smoke made it difficult to see, both for the boys, but also for Haku.

"Why can't you see that it is useless," Haku asked.

"We just don't know when to quit," Naruto retorted, "And besides I can't die here. I have a dream to become Hokage and protect my precious people who too seek to live out their dreams as well."

"I see, so you fight for your dreams as well for the dreams of others. Well, I fight for mine too. My dream of being important to my precious person; for that I'll destroy my heart and kill you three here," Haku said and held up a senbon needle.

"Destroy your heart," Naruto asked.

"That's right, to be able to kill for the first time, one must destroy one's heart. To take another's life is the way of the shinobi," Haku said as she noticed Naruto's stabled demeanor.

"I have killed and taken the lives of four men during this mission. These being the two once proclaimed demon brothers who tried to kill my friends, Zabuza and I, and two low class samurais who were going to kidnap Tsunami-san and kill her son," Naruto said and looked up at Haku, "I risk my life and do what I have to do to protect my family, friends and those who can not protect themselves and are in need of my help. I can't do that with a destroyed heart!"

Naruto started focusing Yondaime's chakra into his legs and the rest of his body a few moments before he held out his right hand as one of his clones went over to him and started shape manipulating a blue ball of chakra into Naruto's hand. Sai watched as Naruto formed an attack that was one of Yondaime's prized creations. It wasn't long until Naruto's clone was done. Holding the fully developed spiral wind ball in his hand, Naruto used Yondaime's chakra to push himself up at insane speed to the ice mirrors and yelled, "Rasengan!"

The sheer force and speed of the attack compounded with Godaime-like strength shattered all of the mirrors and blasted a massive hole through the dome itself. Haku, who was totally unprepared for the mighty force of the attack, was sent flying backwards from where she was just before one of Naruto's clones speed dashed and jumped to grab her before she suffered any serious injuries from the attack. Naruto went over to Haku who was being held by one his clones. From the looks of it, she didn't suffer any life-threatening injuries, just a couple of cuts and bruises. The clone placed Haku back on her feet but he held her from moving any further as she faced Naruto.

Rasengan, Sai thought as he quietly looked at Naruto in astonishment, That was a jutsu created by Yondaime himself! When and how did he learn that A-rank attack jutsu? Just who is this Naruto?

"You held back against me," Haku noted, "Why didn't you kill me?"

"Why didn't you kill Sai and Sasuke? Because I know for a fact that you don't have what it takes to destroy your heart. So why fight for a bastard like Zabuza," asked Naruto.

"Don't talk about my precious person like that," she shot back with a mixed expression of anger and sadness.

"What's so significant about him that makes you let him dominate your life! You can do so much more with your life! How can you allow yourself to be controlled by that man?"

"Because my life had no meaning," Haku answered with a low voice.

"What do you mean," Naruto asked.

"He gave me a purpose to exist," she cried out, tears forming in her eyes, "He gave my life a purpose!"

"This purpose being," Naruto inquired.

"I am a tool, to be used by Zabuza-sama in any way he sees fit. It's what I live for!"

"That's it," Naruto replied with indignation, "To be his instrument? Listen to yourself Haku! You're a human being with emotions and dreams! Why do you allow Zabuza decide your life for you?"

"I had no one," Haku cried and sobbed, "I have a bloodlinelimit. Back where I come from, we with special powers were hated. My mother, who also carried the same bloodline I have, lived with my father hoping that he would never learn what she had. But one day he did learn that my mother and I possessed what was cursed in that land. So he murdered my mother and tried to murder me as well. When I woke, father was dead, killed by me. I was all alone, no one wanted me. I became a homeless orphan, alone on the streets! No cared whether I lived or died. To them I was just street trash to be tossed to the side. Zabuza-sama found me and took me in when everyone else shunned and left me to die! He gave me clothes, food, shelter and taught me all he knew!"

There was a moment of silence between Naruto and Haku. The blonde allowed the girl's words to sink into his mind as she continued in a sad tone, "Zabuza-sama wanted me for my power, and he wanted me to be a weapon, a tool for him. I was finally wanted in the world. But Zabuza-sama has no use for a weak tool. I no longer have a purpose anymore. Now that you have beaten me, please (tears falling down her face)…finish me. Just end my life."