𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 ★彡 ᵏ.ʰᵃᵗᵃᵏᵉ

➙ 𝘹𝘷𝘪. 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺

══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══

AS THE group guarding Tazuna stood in defence, a huge wave of unknown chakra burst through the battlefield. The chakra was unknown to Yuri and the others around her but she could sense it wasn't good news. The energy was massive, strong enough to knock someone off their feet if they weren't careful. 

Was it Zabuza? Was it Kakashi? Haku, even? 

There was no way to know under the thick mist covering her surroundings. "Kakashi? What was that?" She called out to the Leaf ninja that was obscured by haze. 

"It's Naruto!" He answered back. She didn't need to hear anything else to understand the situation. She knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and how fragile seals can get over time.

There was no doubt that Naruto's seal had loosened tenfold. But why now? What happened in that dome for him to break like that?

Before anyone could overthink the current situation, Kakashi's voice cut through the heavy air. "Zabuza. I don't mean to spoil your fun, I know how you like to stretch these things out." His deep voice mocked accompanied by the sound of whooshing papers. A scroll? What for? "But how about we put an end to this now? Come on... What do you say? We're both busy people."

"Hmm..." Zabuza contemplated the offer. "Tempting. I'm curious to see how you back up such brave words," He seethed. "Show me, Kakashi!"

"Ninja Art Summoning! Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Kakashi yelled, slamming a scroll into the ground. The cracks that he sent through the concrete were so hard that the vibrations could be felt from where Yuri stood several feet away. Although nothing appeared to happen - no other sounds or flashes could be heard through the heavy haze. 

Zabuza darkly chuckled. "I don't know why you bother. What use is your jutsu if you can't even find me? But I can find you. Blindly falling into my trap, you disappointed me, Kakashi. I think you're right, it is time we put an end to this."

Before he could continue his taunts, a rumble could be heard through the concrete. The ground broke and several barks and growls were heard. 

"That dreadful noise, what could it be?!" Tazuna asked in terror. 

Yuri tutted as she crossed her arms over her chest. "It's his summoning dogs. Stupid mutts." She uttered, reminiscing on the time Kakashi used them to locate her the last time they met. They are good locators so she couldn't be angry at them in this instance but she still remembers their sharp teeth digging into her and her comrades' skin. The only reason she wasn't torn to shreds that day was because they were too sloppy and didn't attack her hands, giving her the chance to escape using hand signs. 

Kakashi began his explanation of how his dogs work and how they followed the scent of his blood that remained on Zabuza's sword. "You fell right into my trap. You disappoint me, Zabuza." He finished, using Zabuza's words against him. 

The mist cleared the slightest bit allowing Yuri and the others around her to see Kakashi and Zabuza face to face, though Zabuza was bound by several dogs biting into his skin, leaving him anchored to his post.

"Stay put, please," Yuri ordered her team and Sakura. She jumped forward, landing beside Kakashi. "I see you still have these sloppy mutts, they've improved in the last six years." She was met with multiple growls from the dogs who clearly remember her emeny scent. She sent them a glare but directed her attention back to Zabuza. "Nothing ever worked out for you, did it, old friend? I thought the failed Mizukage assassination would have taught you better by now."

It was a few years ago but Yuri remembers it well. It was before the Seven Swordsmen had disbanded after several members' demise. Zabuza who had told her about his plans to kill the Mizukage due to their political disagreements. The Mizukage had begun a brutal reign, now etched in history as the Bloody Mist. Yuri could not argue and say she liked Kirigakure back then, but that is where her loyalty lay -- with her village. At the time, she thought Zabuza was joking about his coup, seeing as how he was a rather violent and dangerous man himself, so she merely laughed it off and carried on with her life.

But she could never forget the tears streaming down her face as she and many other ninjas chased after him, katana in hand as he fled Kirikagure after his failed assassination. One of her only friends had betrayed her and her village and now she had been tasked to kill him for his treason. 

Her memories were cut short as Kakashi continued for her. "To think you would stoop so low and become a hired thug for someone like Gato just for some money." He laughed mockingly. "Enough talk, let's finish this." He turned his head to the woman beside him. "Yuri, do you want to take this?"

Yuri looked from Kakashi to Zabuza. It was her mission to bring Zabuza back to the village, dead or alive, and it would be much easier if he were dead.

But...

But she couldn't bring herself to be the one to end his life. After she had lost nearly everything, he gave her a purpose, a group of close comrades and a close friend. Her loyalty did lie with her village but looking at Zabuza in this state, blood dripping down his arms and legs from where Kakashi's dogs bit into him -- no doubt ripping into his nerves, rendering his arms useless, she couldn't do it. 

Why?

She had spent so long searching for him and battling him on this bridge. But she couldn't simply swing her sword down on his neck and end his life quickly? 

Her pink and blonde hair swished in her air as she turned from the sorry sight. "You do it. Quickly."

Kakashi's brows rose in surprise. It was unlike Yuri to turn down to opportunity to finish her mission, let alone kill someone. Perhaps, she had changed much more than he had first realised. After all, she had been willing to work with him rather than attack him back in the forest. He nodded. "Alright, stand back. I'll be using my move, no more Sharingan." He wove several signs before a circle of blue lightning spun around his feet, sparks flying up toward his tensed hand. "Lightning Blade!"

His chakra is so strong that it's visible. It was an incredible sight. Even Yuri could admit that. Perhaps not immediately but if she had enough to drink, then maybe.

"I won't allow you to kill Tazuna. He's a brave man with a noble dream. This bridge he's building is the hope of this land and all its people. You're like a disease - by attacking one, you affect all. And you don't care. That is not the way of the shinobi."

Even when in a tough situation, Zabuza still fought to argue back. "You're right! I don't care about these pesky little dreams! I have a dream of my own."

"But to have a dream, you need to have a future and yours is all used up." Kakashi countered. Kakashi began sprinting at Zabuza, his lightning blade ready at his side to plunge into the rogue ninja's chest. 

Blood splattered far into the air, enough for one drop to land on Yuri's face as well as cover Kakashi and Zabuza's. 

The mist cleared revealing that Kakashi's blade had struck. But his hand did not go through Zabuza.

There, shielding Zabuza from Kakashi, stood an unmasked Haku with Kakashi's hand piercing through his heart and lightning spewing from both ends of the wound. 

There was silence as everyone took in the sight of the sacrifice. The lightning subsided as Haku gripped Kakashi's forearm to keep himself up. But there was no use. The boy was bound to die after taking such a powerful hit. This proved Haku's deep devotion and loyalty to his master, to the only man who cared to take him in and teach him ninjutsu. His life's purpose was to sacrifice himself to save Zabuza.

Everyone watched in shock as Haku stumbled on his feet and the life slowly faded from his body. But Zabuza only chuckled, catching everyone's attention.

"So, my future isn't all used up, is it, Kakashi?"