Chapter 070

(Meanwhile Outside The Dome)

Kakashi's kunai plunged into Zabuza's head, spraying forth…water.

Mizu Bunshin, Kakashi thought.

"You didn't really think I would be defeated that easily? Fool," Zabuza said and prepared to attack Kakashi again.

I have to end this now, Kakashi thought as he hid deeper in the mist before using his kunai to cut his thumb. After cutting his thumb, Kakashi did a series of hand seals and …

"Kuchiyose No Jutsu," Kakashi mumbled and several odd lines went out of the scroll and into the ground. Zabuza still was trying to sense what was happening when suddenly the bridge under him exploded and several dogs of varying sizes erupted from the ground and bit onto him. Zabuza couldn't move an inch.

"If sight and hearing doesn't work, use smell. My dogs went after the smell of my blood on your weapons. Now you won't be able to escape," Kakashi said as electricity started energizing in his left hand.

"Zabuza, you are pretty well-known. You tried to take over the Hidden Mist, but when you failed and escaped. You started working for scum like Gatō to get away from the hunter nins. The man you are trying to kill, Tazuna-san, is important to this whole country. Your ambition sacrifices too many lives of the innocent," Kakashi said, his tone cold and hard.

"I don't care. As long as I can accomplish my goal, I'm happy," Zabuza replied.

"You'll die here," Kakashi said coldly readying his attack to tear into the man.

(Back Inside The Dome)

A moment later…

"Even though I beat you, you still have much to live for," Naruto said. Haku sighed and looked down on the ground.

"Some people do, but I don't have a purpose anymore," Haku said silently.

"You can find another purpose," Naruto reasoned, "You don't have to die here."

"No one would want me," Haku said lowly, "A living weapon with a cursed bloodline that has now have been proven weak."

"Listen, Haku," Naruto spoke, "It's not too late for you! We don't have to fight each other. I remember in the woods. You were so nice then, even knowing I was an enemy. Just, come with me, Kakashi-niisan and the others back to Konoha. I'll see to it personally that you receive the right of forgiveness. You're very good with herbs so you can become a Konoha medic ninja, and make friends and live a real life with us! We can take care of you, help you build a life again. You can't throw your life away like this!"

Haku stared at him quietly.

"If Zabuza don't want you anymore, just because you aren't an invincible tool, then you are better off without him," Naruto said firmly.

"…," Haku was silent.

"Please Haku…It doesn't have to end like this," Naruto pleaded really seeking to help her.

"Naruto-kun, I—," Haku began, but then the mist lifted, and their attention turned to Kakashi and Zabuza, who was held in place by a lot of dogs of various sizes.

"What the…? Raikiri," Naruto said when he saw Kakashi's jutsu. They gasped when Kakashi started running towards Zabuza.

"Zabuza-sama," Haku yelled.

"RAIKIRI!"

"Zabuza-sama," Haku screamed as she managed to give the clone a hard backwards headbutt, causing the clone to let go of her before she punched 'him' hard enough to puff him out of existence. She began to do hand signs. Naruto pulled out his seal marked kunai and ran over to Haku in time to place his kunai into the back of the belt of her garb just before she disappeared. Haku looked forward and saw that Kakashi was charging at the Mist nin, Raikiri extended forward.

Haku panicked and raced as fast as she could over to Zabuza, standing in front of him ready to take the full brunt of the attack with her arms stretched out to the sides. Kakashi's eyes widened as he saw he girl appear in front of Zabuza. The Konoha Jounin was unable to stop. Before anyone knew what happened, an explosion occurred, blowing off a large portion of the bridge at its left side. Haku held her eyes shut tightly while expecting excruciating pain to plunge through her, but nothing happened.

Sakura and Tazuna looked on as the mist and smoke of the explosion gradually cleared and the bridge eventually stopped shaking. Sai, holding up Sasuke with the Uchiha's right arm over his shoulders, dragged the boy out of what little is of the now useless dome as he and the others looked on to see what happened. What everyone saw next shocked them completely. In front of them was Naruto, standing in front of Haku and Zabuza while tightly holding Kakashi's left wrist away from him and toward the left side of the bridge that was blown off when Naruto deflected and stopped the attack from fatally striking Haku. Kakashi's hand was still coursing with electricity before it gradually died out.