The Untold Uzumaki

Chapter Seventeen: The Demon in the Snow

"Gato. I don't understand, what is all this? Why are you here, and who are these thugs you brought with you?" Zabuza asked, glaring at him.

"Hm. Well you see, there's been a slight change in plan. According to the new plan, you die right here on this bridge, Zabuza."

"What?!"

"That's right. You're too expensive. So I've decided to take you off the payroll. Of course, even these thugs I brought with me cost somethin. So, if you could manage to slaughter a few of them before I take you down, I'd appreciate it. Think you can manage that, Demon ninja of the mist?" He laughed. "Look at you. You look as demonic as a wet kitten." The other samurai laughed.

"Oh well, Kakashi. It would seem our fight is at an end, since I am no longer Gato's employee, Tazuna's safe. We have no quarrel." I stepped up next to Kakashi, and next to Naruto.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Gato walked up to Haku's body, cane tapping, and smiled. He had a cast on his left arm that was very noticeable.

"That reminds me. You little punk, you grabbed me, and nearly broke my arm!" He said, pushing Haku's cheek with his foot. "I've been meaning to repay you for that." He grinned and then kicked Haku's lifeless body hard, making me gasp. "Huh. I only wish he was alive, to feel it." I growled, and pulled out a kunai, holding it in a threatening way.

"Don't you dare do that again, or that leg will be severed and going down your useless throat!" I gripped my kunai tighter. I may not have been fully awake during my rampage, but I knew what Haku had said. That and, even in death, you don't treat your enemies like that.

"Get away! Get away from him, you scum!!" Naruto ran over. Kakashi grabbed Naruto around his torso, holding him back.

"Hey, stop! Use your head!"

"Well what about you, Zabuza? You just gonna let him do that?!"

"Be quiet, you fool. Haku's dead, what does it matter?"

"What?! You mean you can just stand there, and watch him get treated like a dog? You and Haku were together for years, doesn't that mean anything?!" Naruto scolded.

"You don't understand the way of shinobi. I merely used him, just as Gato used me. Now, its over. His usefulness is at an end. The loss of a strength and skill, yes, that means something to me. But the boy..nothing." I growled.

"How heartless can you be?! He was your companion, if not your friend, or even something like a son!!" I shouted.

"If you mean that, then you're an even bigger rat than I thought!" Naruto shouted angrily. Kakashi put his hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Okay, that's enough. Calm down, Naruto, Tessa, he's not the enemy. Not right now." Naruto growled, and shoved Kakashi's hand off his shoulder.

"Shut up! Far as I'm concerned, he's enemy number one! Why you, you ungrateful..after everything he did for you..Haku lived for you!! You were the most important thing in the world to him! And he meant nothing to you?! Nothing at all?! Well he was sacrificing everything for you! You never felt anything at all for him?! And if I become stronger, does that mean..I'll become as cold hearted as you are?! He threw his life away, and for what? For you and your dream?! You never let him have a dream of his own...But he didn't care! And you just toss him aside, like he was nothing! A broken tool. Man, that's so wrong...so wrong!" I looked over at Naruto, and he was crying.

"You talk too much.."  Zabuza looked up a little, and I could barely see tears hitting the ground in front of him. "Your words cut deep..deeper than any blade..While he fought you, his heart was breaking in two. You see, Haku was always too soft and too kind. He felt pain, and sorrow, and now, curse you, I feel them too. And something else. I feel content that this is the way it ends." I heard ripping, and I think Zabuza ripped the bandages off his mouth.