Zabuza's Choice

Days passed.

Yasui knew that today was going to be the day that Gato attacks the bridge with his henchmen. It's also the day that he will get to see Zabuza's answer.

Naruto has completed his tree walking training, and he is knocked out cold in bed. Sasuke had also completed his tree-walking training, but he seemed less exhausted as compared to Naruto.

Including him and Sasuke, Kakashi also came to the bridge on this day along with Tazuna. Over the past few days, they would change the orientation of who stays at the house and who comes to the bridge.

"What's going on!? What happened here!?" Tazuna yelled out in horror after seeing that all of his workers were knocked out on the bridge.

"Everyone be careful!" Kakashi became vigilant as the mist began to roll in. This is obviously Zabuza's mist technique. He was right about Zabuza still being alive.

Sasuke also became vigilant, jumping in front of Tazuna to keep him safe.

Yasui also wasn't sure if Zabuza is going to turn a new leaf, so he proceeded to get ready for action.

"I've kept you waiting, Kakashi." Zabuza's voice came from within the mist.

Zabuza suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke, but Sasuke had improved, and he was able to knock out the water clone as soon as it appeared.

"I see that you've also improved, kid." Zabuza slowly entered everyone's view with Haku next to him. Haku still wore a mask to keep his face hidden.

"Are you here to battle, Mr. Zabuza?" Yasui stepped forward and asked.

Watching Yasui, Kakashi looked a little confused. If Zabuza isn't here for a battle, then why is he here? Is it for a picnic? Should they hold hands while dancing around and singing to the tunes of the waves?

"Kuwahahaha. You've got balls, kid." Zabuza laughed. He looked around the mist and took in a deep breath of air.

"From the two choices that you presented to me. I've chosen the second one. I will stay here in the Land of the Waves after we get rid of Gato." Zabuza had thought long and hard after Yasui left that day. Even if he beats Kakashi and his team, what is he to do afterward? Would he go back to his old ways and work for Gato while gathering even more funds? That's not a life that he wanted to lead.

"Then why did you knock out the workers?" Sasuke came forward and asked.

"It's because Gato's men are watching. This mist technique is activated so that they won't know what's happening here." Haku came forth and explained.

"Yasui, care to explain?" Kakashi looked at Yasui. Zabuza had said that Yasui gave him two choices to choose from. This meant that Yasui had met up with Zabuza.

"Yes, Kakashi sensei. After our first battle with Zabuza, I marked Zabuza's body with a tracking seal out of cautionary reasons. However, after you said that Zabuza might still be alive, I tracked Zabuza down and had a little chat with him. Just like that, Zabuza turned a new leaf." Yasui summarized the whole thing for Kakashi. He hoped that Zabuza doesn't talk about him being able to see the future because that is a lie. If Kakashi or Sasuke heard it, they will definitely question him later.

It's too much of a drag to come up with lies to trick his sensei and Sasuke.

Zabuza noticed that Yasui didn't mention anything about his unusual ability, and he confirmed under Yasui's parameters: "That's correct. The boy had convinced me to go against Gato and help the people of this land. I hope you understand, Kakashi."

"Is it that easy to make an enemy a friend?" Kakashi felt his worldview turned upside down. He wondered what kind of f*cking drug Yasui is on.

Sasuke looked at Yasui and he was astonished. To think that Yasui turned an S-class ninja into an ally so quickly.

"I still can't trust you." Even if his student and Zabuza said that they have patched things up, Kakashi still couldn't trust the enemy so easily.

Zabuza thought about it and turned to Yasui. Yasui had betted his life on the line to change him, so he will also bet his life to gain Kakashi's trust.

"Let's do it like this then, Kakashi." Zabuza threw his Executioner's blade next to Kakashi, and he then raised his hands up before turning around.

"I will let you be the judge of me. I am not asking for your trust right away, but I hope that you will assist me in getting rid of Gato's men who will arrive shortly. After his forces die here, I will continue to stay in the Land of the Waves and keep the people safe." Zabuza arrived in front of Kakashi with his back exposed.

"Zabuza…" Haku felt terrible that Zabuza's life could be taken away at any moment.

"... Yasui, are you certain that Zabuza can be trusted?" Kakashi asked for Yasui's opinion. This student of his had too many weird ideas, but his ideas are really effective. Hence, he decided to trust his student's judgment.

"I trust Zabuza, Kakashi sensei." Yasui noded.

Kakashi thought for a moment and weighed the pros and cons before nodding in agreement, "Very well then, let's cooperate."

Kakashi and Zabuza spent this time while they were hidden in the mist to come up with some strategies. It's also now that Haku revealed his Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.

Yasui also interjected and suggested that they make a play. They will create clones of themselves and put them in vulnerable positions. Gato and his men would come to surround them, and they will take this chance to use their ninja arts to annihilate Gato's people.

"Naruto Uzumaki is here to save the day!" Naruto suddenly jumped into view and made a dramatic entrance.

"... Naruto, we're not even fighting. Even if we are, your dramatic entrance wouldn't have caught the enemy off guard!" Kakashi smacked Naruto's head and sighed.

"Dumb." Sasuke also felt that Naruto's entrance isn't like a ninja's at all.

"It's Zabuza! And that masked person too! But it's weird. Why aren't we fighting them? I thought for sure that there would be a battle here after the attack on Inari's mom." Naruto scratched his head in confusion.

"My daughter and Inari were attacked?!" Tazuna exclaimed. Gato's men would really go that low as to use his family members as a hostage?

"Yup, but don't worry, old man Tazuna! I have already beat them up before coming here!" Naruto made a victory sign.

"It's nice to meet you again, Naruto." Haku lifted off his mask and greeted Naruto with a smile. He had a very pleasant chat when they met in the woods while Naruto was training.

"Ahh! It's you! You're that beautiful sister that I met in the forest!" Naruto clamored as he ran to Haku to make sure that his eyes weren't deceiving him.

"Naruto, Haku is a boy." Zabuza corrected Naruto.

Haku blushed at Naruto's misunderstanding.

"What!? Eh!?!?" Naruto couldn't believe it. Haku is so pretty…