The Ninja and The Rose

The Weapons Known as Shinobi

"Go on. Finish it. Kill me." Haku said.

Taken aback, Naruto and Ruby took a step backwards, shocked at his words.

Haku took a step forward. "Why do you hesitate? I thought you wanted to be a mighty warrior."

Naruto glared angrily at the ninja, knowing that he is just trying to rile him up.

"That's not what it's about!" Naruto exclaimed. "Do you really believe that's all there is to it, just fighting and killing until there's only one man left standing?

Haku merely looked at the two young ninja calmly as Naruto continued.

"There's a lot more to being a shinobi than that, and there are other ways of showing your strength than just by beating someone in battle."

Ruby nodded her head, agreeing with her fellow Genin. "Naruto's right!"

"I've had a feeling all along, from the first moment we met in the woods. We are a lot alike, Naruto."

Naruto's eyes slightly widened, both in shock and confusion.

"Huh?"

"I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm only sorry that it must be your hand that is tainted with my unworthy blood." Haku stated.

"Sure, about this?" Naruto asked. "And you're positive that it's the only way?"

"Yes." Haku replied.

Grunting, Naruto could not believe this guy is so willing to die.

"The weird thing is, if we met in another time and place, I think that maybe we could have been friends." Naruto stated.

Both him and Ruby shared a look before looking back at Haku.

"Ruby, I'll take care of this." Naruto said as he takes out a kunai and ran towards Haku.

Haku slightly smiled as the blonde ninja neared him. "Yes, that's right. Hold fast to your dreams." He thought.

"This is for Sasuke because he also had a dream." Naruto thought.

"Thank you, Naruto. Strike true." Haku closes his eyes, ready to accept his fate.

Tazuna looks around warily, but he was happy when he saw that the fog began to clear up.

"At last, I think this blasted fog is lifting." He stated.

"Look, they're standing still," Sakura stated, "like they're squaring off."

Tazuna peered through the fog or at least tried to. "Yeah? I can't see a thing."

"Which one of them's Kakashi sensei?" Sakura said her thoughts out loud.

Sakura then saw a silhouette began to move. "One's moving!"

As Kakashi neared Zabuza to deal the killing blow, Haku had opened his eyes, sensing that Zabuza was in danger.

He opened his eyes, stricken with shock and horror. "Zabuza..." He muttered softly.

Haku's eyes narrowed with determination as he quickly grabbed Naruto's wrist mere seconds before he could strike him.

"HUH?!"

"Naruto!" Ruby exclaimed as she quickly ran towards them.

"Sorry, Naruto, change of plan." Haku said, he turns his attention in the direction of Zabuza and Kakashi.

He holds his free hand and begins to do a one hand style Jutsu. "I'm not ready to die quite yet. I need to protect him." The mist ninja then disappeared.