Chapter 66: The Meaning of a Ninja (Part 2)

"So it really was him!" Looking at Haku's memories on the screen, Minato, Obito, and Rin exchanged glances, all thinking of the mother and child they had brought back from the Hidden Mist Village. The crowd in the square, who had been busy discussing, gradually fell silent.

【"A brat like you isn't wanted by anyone; you'll only die on the street." The scene had unknowingly shifted to the first time Haku and Zabuza met.】

"Big brother, your eyes are just like mine." Young Haku seemed not to hear Zabuza's words and said with a faint smile!

"Brat, do you want to be wanted by everyone? Can you give your all for my sake?" Looking at Haku's eyes, Zabuza couldn't help but say!

Haku nodded.

"Then from today on, your abilities are mine!"

Haku stood up and walked toward Zabuza.】

"Perhaps Zabuza is a pitiful man too. Seeing Haku was like seeing himself."

"Maybe only two people who share the same misery can rely on each other to survive in this cruel ninja world."

At first, the viewers had no particular feelings for Haku, but seeing this, they could no longer hate him. They were both such pitiful people!

Haku and his mother were also watching the video in the square. When she saw Haku sacrifice his life to save Zabuza, she couldn't help but hug Haku and sobbed in a low voice.

Young Haku only felt that the person in the video looked like him. Just as he was watching intently, his mother beside him began to cry softly. For a moment, Haku had no heart to pay attention to the video; instead, he hugged his mother, comforting her just as she had comforted him when he was small...

【The video continued to play. Zabuza's hands had already been crippled by Kakashi, and at this moment, Gato appeared with many men! Seeing Haku's corpse lying right before him, he actually began to abuse the body!】

Kakashi and Zabuza hadn't reacted yet, but Naruto, standing nearby, couldn't take it anymore. "You bastard, what are you doing?" He started to rush over, but Kakashi, seeing this, hurriedly held him back.

"Calm down. Don't act rashly."

"Say something! He was your partner, wasn't he!" Watching Haku's corpse being abused while Zabuza showed no reaction, Naruto couldn't help but demand.

"Shut up, brat. Haku is no longer in this world," Zabuza said, looking at Gato.

"His remains are being desecrated, and you don't feel a thing! Have you forgotten that he was always by your side?"

"It's just like how Gato was using me. In the past, I was only using Haku as well!" Zabuza lowered his head and continued: "We ninjas are nothing but tools! I wanted the abilities that guy possessed, not the person himself! I have no attachments now!" Zabuza kept his head low, his expression obscured.

Hearing Zabuza's words, Naruto couldn't help but say: "Zabuza, are you saying this from the heart?"

At this moment, Kakashi patted Naruto on the shoulder and said: "Stop it, Naruto. There's no need to argue with this guy anymore. Besides—"

Naruto ignored Kakashi and fiercely shook him off, saying: "Don't nag me! This guy is still my enemy!"

Naruto pointed at Zabuza, panting as he said:

"That guy... that guy truly liked you from the bottom of his heart."

Images of Haku flashed through Naruto's mind as he continued:

"He liked you so much he gave his life for you, but you—do you really feel nothing? Is it true? I don't believe it. Did you really not care about him at all? Once you become as strong as you, do you really become that cold-blooded? That guy gave his life for you!"

In Naruto's mind, the events and words exchanged since meeting Haku flashed repeatedly, and tears couldn't help but fall.

"To not even have a dream of your own, to just die like a tool—that you can remain indifferent to this is just too cruel." By now, Naruto could barely speak; he looked at the ground with tear-filled eyes.

"Brat," Zabuza paused, looking up at the sky. His own eyes were also streaming with tears.

"Don't say any more. Do you think I don't know? Haku didn't just do it for me! He fought hard for your sakes too; I know that very well. He was just too kind-hearted. It's a good thing he was able to cross blades with you in the end."

Saying this, he bit down on the bandages wrapped around his face:

"Right, brat. It's just as you said—ninjas are human too. Perhaps it's impossible to become a heartless tool after all! I admit I've lost. Brat, lend me your kunai."

Naruto threw the kunai to Zabuza. The kunai traced an arc in the air. Zabuza's mind was filled with the image of Haku. He turned his head, caught the kunai in his teeth, and charged toward Gato alone.】

"Go, Zabuza! Take down Gato!" People in the square began to cheer for Zabuza. Those with a lower threshold for tears had already started to weep.

"Like a tool, huh! It really is just like that. For the sake of a mission, one can discard everything, even life itself. Ninjas have always existed this way!" Living in the ninja world, many ninjas were all too aware of its cruelty.

In the Hokage Building, the atmosphere was stifling. No one spoke; they sat in silence. After a long while, Onoki finally said:

"There are many situations in the ninja world that we must change!"

"First, we must resolve the misunderstanding people have about ninjas. In the eyes of civilians, ninjas are executioners and tools!" Minato took up Onoki's point and said:

"No, it's not just civilians. Even among ninjas, many doubt their own existence! We ninjas are not tools; we are people of flesh and blood. I think we need to find a way to change their misconceptions about us."

"I think we could do this: at the Ninja Academy, we could increase outdoor instruction, letting students have more contact with civilians and helping them with tasks they can manage. This could also serve as one of the criteria for future graduation to Genin."

As the Hokage's advisor, Nara Shikaku stood up and said: "Doing this would not only promote our own village but also allow those students to get early exposure to Genin-level missions."

The Five Kage nodded, all agreeing with Nara Shikaku's suggestion.

"It's a good thing he was able to cross blades with you in the end." At this moment, in Obito's mind, Zabuza's words flashed repeatedly. Yes, it was only after fighting Naruto that he understood the meaning of his own existence...

【The video had now reached the point where Naruto, Kakashi, and the villagers of the Land of Waves had successfully driven away Gato's men, and Zabuza, having suffered heavy injuries, had collapsed!】

"It seems it's over." Kakashi walked up to Zabuza. Hearing the footsteps, Zabuza said: "Kakashi, there's something I want to ask of you. I want to see that guy one last time."

Kakashi covered his Sharingan with his headband and said softly: "Alright."

He removed the equipment from Zabuza's back and picked him up. At this moment, snow began to fall from the sky. Zabuza looked at the snow and recalled the day they first met!

"Haku, are you crying?"

"Thank you, Kakashi." Kakashi placed Zabuza beside Haku. "You were always by my side; at the very least, I want to be by your side at the end."

He tried to raise his hand, but because his arm was so severely injured, moving it caused immense pain. Still, Zabuza endured it, raised his left hand, and gently stroked Haku's face. "If possible, I want to go to the same place as you, Haku."

At this moment, sunlight began to appear in the sky, shining down on Haku, as if guiding Haku up to heaven!

"This guy... he was born in a village where it snows a lot!" Uzumaki Naruto was already crying, speaking in broken sentences!

"So, he was a boy like the snow," Kakashi said sadly!

Time had unknowingly reached evening. Sakura knelt before Haku and Zabuza and said softly: "But Kakashi-sensei, is the meaning of a ninja's existence really the same as what they said?" She turned her head to look at Kakashi!

"The idea that a so-called ninja should not seek a reason for their existence and should treat themselves as a tool—that is very important. In that regard, we are the same," Kakashi said flatly.

"Does becoming a true ninja mean you have to become like this? I just feel... I don't like it," Uzumaki Naruto said!

"What about you? Do you feel the same way?" Sasuke looked at Kakashi and said!

Kakashi lowered his head: "I don't like it either! That's why those who become ninjas are always struggling with this concept, unknowingly. Just like Zabuza and that child."

The camera slowly zoomed in on Naruto. "Alright."

Naruto shouted loudly: "I've decided! I'm going to walk my own ninja way, choose a path I will never regret, and charge forward to the very end!"

Kakashi looked at Uzumaki Naruto and smiled with relief!】

"So that's how it was! No wonder Naruto was always able to walk forward bravely no matter what difficulties he encountered later! It turns out he had already made up his mind at that moment!" Those ninjas familiar with Naruto thought silently to themselves.

"Thank you, Haku, Zabuza. It was precisely because of fighting you that Naruto confirmed his own ninja way!" Minato thought silently.

"Was this the first enemy Naruto encountered after becoming a Genin, Kakashi?" Rin asked curiously.

"Yes," Kakashi said!

"That's wonderful. Naruto's first enemies were them!" Kushina said with gratitude.

"Indeed!" everyone present agreed.

【"Kakashi-sensei, I still want to do A-rank missions!" The four people in the video had already left the Land of Waves and were walking on the bridge named the Naruto Bridge. Uzumaki Naruto said excitedly to Kakashi!】

"No, no. Facing such strong opponents as Zabuza and Haku and everyone coming out safe and sound is already unbelievable!" Kakashi said: "You'll have to continue refining your ninjutsu and training until you're super strong before you can execute A-rank missions again."

Uzumaki Naruto stopped and sighed: "Ninjutsu is certainly important, but I still want to keep searching for many things worth protecting! Haku said, 'People only truly become strong when they want to protect someone they cherish.'"

"Is that so! Do you think so too?" Kakashi asked!

"Yeah! After seeing Haku and Zabuza, I think so too!" Naruto said: "Say, say, Kakashi-sensei! What do you think?"

"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.

"Well, even though they were enemies, I just feel... I actually really like them!" Naruto asked confusedly: "Is it strange for me to be like this?"

Kakashi didn't answer Naruto, but instead flashed his signature smile!】

"Is that so? Naruto-kun, me too! I really like them as well," Orochimaru said!

The video had ended here!

"It's rare that I agree with your opinion, Orochimaru," Jiraiya said. ===== CHAPTER 68 =====