Chapter 37: Is Shinobi a tool or someone who endures
"Brat, you don't need to say." Zabuza glared at Naruto.
"It doesn't matter. They will find out sooner or later." Naruto looked at Kakashi and continued.
"The reason why Bloodline Purge started was purely due to Sharingan Manipulation. The same person who controlled Kyubi thirteen years ago is controlling Sanbi."
"Impossible! Fourth Mizukage is a perfect Jinchuriki. They are impossible to be controlled by Sharingan." Kakashi immediately shook his head.
"Yagura wasn't controlled, at least not completely. It was Sanbi that was controlled. And by controlling Sanbi first, you can control Yagura. And since nobody thinks that they can be controlled by GEnjutsu, nobody tried to simply release him out of it."
"Right now, Yagura and Sanbi are in a loop of Genjutsu. Both are controlled by the same individuals. I know this because I am Jinchuriki as well. This is the reason why Zabuza agreed to help us."
Naruto explained.
"Since nobody believes that he can't be controlled, nobody needs to pull him out of Genjutsu. If you hadn't told me this, I never would've thought about this possibility." Zabuza spoke.
He was truly stunned when Naruto revealed this piece of information to him. It was only then he agreed with Naruto.
"But brat, aren't you just a Genin? How did you know so much?" Zabuza asked.
"Shadow Clones and Transformation Jutsu. They were created for infiltration and information gathering. For someone with Kyubi, creating hundreds of Shadow Clones is nothing."
Naruto replied.
"Damn!" Zabuza couldn't help but feel dumbfounded.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Haku appeared in front of them with a bloodied Sasuke.
"He wasn't going down that easily so I put him in this state. You should heal him."
She said while passing Sasuke to Hinata.
"Do you still want to continue, brat?" Zabuza spoke with a superior smirk on his face.
"Of course, our team hasn't fought yet. Shikamaru, it's your turn." Naruto chuckled and slapped Shikamaru's back.
"Do I need to?" Shikamaru couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed.
"Otherwise! Now, shut up and fight." Naruto almost kicked him toward Haku.
"Do you think you can continue?" Zabuza looked at her and asked.
"I can." Haku took out a soldier pill and ate it.
"This is going to be a drag." Shikamaru jumped far away from them and Haku followed.
[Fire Release- Fire Bullet Technique]
Shikamaru instantly released a massive stream of fire from his mouth. His speed caught Haku off guard but she still was fast enough to counter with her own water Jutsu.
[Water Release- Water Bullet Technique]
A large stream of water burst out of her mouth and struck his fire stream. It created a large mist in the middle but Haku suddenly jumped back.
In the middle of that mist, there was a large shadow moving towards Haku. It was extremely fast so even Haku wasn't able to move out of its range.
[Shadow Imitation Technique]
Haku was caught in his shadow causing her to stop.
"Man! I really don't want to fight but I have no other choice here. Give up! You can't win now." Shikamaru yawned and Haku copied his movement.
But, Shikamaru suddenly froze when a copy of Haku appeared behind Shikamaru and tried to kick him on the head.
Shikamaru easily blocked her attack and inadvertently released his grip on Haku for a split second. It was enough time needed for Haku to escape.
She released her Ice Release and created that same dome around Shikamaru. She entered one of the ice blocks and started shooting the Senbon towards him.
[Shadow Dome Technique]
Shikamaru's shadow gathered around him and turned into a large dome that blocked all of her Senbon.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
She began to shoot more and more senbon from all around but none of them were actually working.
Frustrated by her enemy's defense, she condensed a large ice block in front of Shadow Dome.
Just when she was about to use it to tear it apart, she noticed many paper bombs connected to her Ice Blocks through small shadow arms.
Boom!
Those paper bombs exploded before she could get out of her ice block and broke her entire dome in an instant.
Thud!
Haku fell on the top of the bridge and her mask was broken. She quickly tried to stand up but there was a large shadow controlling her movements.
[Shadow Imitation Technique]
"You were strong. If I hadn't followed Naruto's advice and created a Jutsu based on the Shadow Clutch Technique, I wouldn't be able to block your senbon."
"But, this ends here."
Shikamaru spoke while looking at Haku's face. He was genuinely stunned by her beauty.
Ino was beautiful. Hinata was also beautiful. Even Sakura was beautiful.
But, none of them could compare to Haku's beauty. She was probably the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life.
He walked toward the group with her.
"You defeated Haku?" Zabuza looked at the lazy kid with shock. But when he saw the shadow beneath his feet, he asked.
"Are you from Nara Clan?"
"I'm sorry, Zabuza-san. After losing this battle, I am unworthy to be your tool." Haku almost looked lifeless when she spoke.
"Hey bastard, what did you do to her?" When Naruto heard those words, he immediately got angry and shouted at Zabuza.
"It's none of your business, brat." Zabuza coldly snorted.
"Of course, it is my business. How could she be so lifeless all of a sudden?" Naruto gritted his teeth and asked.
"Naruto-san, you don't need to be angry at Zabuza-san. I chose to be his tool and a tool that fails to help her master has no use." Haku showed him a lifeless smile and spoke.
"Does this have anything to do with Bloodline Purge?" Shikamaru suddenly decided to interrupt Naruto and continue.
"Let me guess! You were all alone after the death of your parents and he adopted you, bringing you out of loneliness. From that moment on, you decided to become his tool and serve him."
"Despite being so kind, you are willing to kill for him. He must be an important person in your heart. So, you are willing to give up your life for him. Your case is strangely similar to someone I know."
"But, let me ask you something. This is something I learned about him. While he is willing to sacrifice his life for his friends, he also knows that his friends are also willing to sacrifice their lives for him."
Shikamaru looked straight into her eyes and asked.
"Have you ever asked whether Zabuza feels the same way? Have you ever considered whether he truly thinks of you as a tool or is just trying to be hard to change your mentality for this world?"
"I have another friend whose father is a complete ass. He is forcing her to do things that she didn't want to but he is also helpless. He knows how cruel this world is and is preparing her to face this world."
"Have you ever asked if Zabuza is doing the same for you?"
When he asked that question, the lifeless look on Haku's face disappeared as she looked at Zabuza with confusion in her eyes.
Although it wasn't his style, he decided to be honest with her.
"You are way too soft, Haku. Even your choice of weapon is senbon. Unfortunately, this world preys on soft people like you. That's why I wanted you to be my tool."
"I am preparing you to be a shinobi. A shinobi is a tool for a village, a tool for people, a tool for money."
"A tool that will never hesitate to finish a mission. A tool that will never be soft against his enemy. But, it doesn't change that you are still an important person in my life."
Suddenly, Naruto shouted while pointing his finger at Zabuza.
"You are wrong, Zabuza. Shinobi isn't a tool. Shinobi is someone who endures."
"Brat, you still haven't seen the world. Shinobi are just tools in the eyes of people. You are just a fool to believe otherwise." Zabuza hissed angrily.
Naruto looked back and retorted.
"You are unwilling to accept the truth, Zabuza. You started rebellion because you couldn't endure the rules of your village. You tried to assassinate the Kage because you didn't have the patience to stage a proper coup."
"You of all people should realize that shinobi aren't tools. They are the people who endure everything that the world throws at them. You killed your entire graduate class and whether you are guilty or not, you are still living with that fact."
"You just don't accept it."
Hearing his words, Zabuza's eyes turned red as he clenched his massive sword.
"I am not willing to listen to a brat that hasn't even made his name in a bingo book."
"Is that so? Then, I will make sure you listen to me after I beat your shit out." Naruto clenched his fist and Kurama's Chakra began to coat his body in a version 1 Chaka Cloak.
He took out a strangely shaped Kunai from his hand and dashed forward. Zabuza also moved forward and swung his blade toward Naruto.
Bang!