Other side of the sea…
Deep within the forest, hidden beneath thick canopies and veiled by mist, a cave breathed with silence.
A single flame flickered in the corner—its soft glow dancing across the rough stone walls, casting long shadows.
On the ground lay a figure, heavily bandaged and breathing shallowly. Zabuza Momochi, the Kiri no Kijin—brought low, but alive.
Beside him sat another figure, quietly tending to his wounds. Silent, focused, hands moving with precision and care.
"Zabuza-sama…" came the soft, almost reverent whisper.
The voice was full of worry… and something else—loyalty, deep and unshaken.
The fire crackled gently, as if to echo the unspoken promise hanging in the air:
You will rise again.
As if touched by the whisper of an angel, Zabuza's eyes fluttered open. The faint crackle of firelight danced on the damp cave walls, casting shadows that swayed like ghosts of the mist.
The first thing he saw was Haku—sitting beside him, vigilant, calm, like a quiet guardian watching over a fallen warrior.
"…Haku," Zabuza rasped, his voice barely louder than the wind outside.
"I'm here, Zabuza-sama," came the soft reply, laced with relief.
Zabuza shifted slightly, a wave of pain reminding him of the battle's toll. His muscles ached, wrapped tight in bandages, heavy with fatigue. "Where are we?" he asked slowly. "And where are they?"
There was a brief pause.
"I believe they've already reached Nami no Kuni," Haku answered, their voice careful, avoiding the sting of failure yet not hiding the truth.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed just slightly—not in anger, but in thought. "Hmph… figures."
He stared at the cave ceiling, watching the flickers of flame dance across the rock. "So… the curtain hasn't closed yet."
Haku nodded with resolve. "No. Not until you decide it's over."
Zabuza let out a breath, half a chuckle, half a groan. "Then we'll see it through. The mist may retreat… but it always returns."
And with that, silence wrapped around them once more—quiet, but never still.
Zabuza shifted, pushing against the ground as he tried to rise. His body trembled with the effort, the wounds of battle still fresh and raw.
"Let's head to Nami no Kuni," he said through gritted teeth. "You can treat me there."
But his legs betrayed him—unsteady and weak. Before he could collapse, Haku was already at his side, catching him with practiced grace.
Wordlessly, Haku wrapped an arm around Zabuza's back, supporting him. With slow, deliberate steps, the two disappeared into the mist-laced forest, heading toward the land where fate had yet to finish writing their story.
Meanwhile, in Nami no Kuni…
Back at Tazuna's residence, the air had settled into a calm hum after a hearty lunch.
With full bellies and weary bodies, everyone dispersed to rest.
Sasuke shared a room with Kakashi, who remained unconscious—still recovering from the chakra toll of the battle.
Naruto and Karin took another room, the energy between them soft and steady, a quiet comfort after the storm of the fight.
Outside, the mist from the sea clung gently to the windows, as if watching. Waiting.
They had rested well into the evening, the weight of the day's journey melting away in the quiet comfort of Tazuna's home. The sky outside was painted in soft hues of indigo and violet, a calm after the storm, both literal and emotional.
Tsume gently woke everyone when dinner was ready, her voice kind and warm. One by one, they gathered at the table again, sharing quiet conversation and laughter as the smell of hot rice and miso filled the air.
Afterward, with the stars beginning to pierce the night sky, Naruto and Karin stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against their faces.
They walked side by side, the gravel crunching beneath their sandals as they moved through the moonlit paths near the house.
"Karin," Naruto said, his voice low, thoughtful, cutting gently through the silence like a ripple in still water.
She turned slightly, her red hair catching the moonlight. "Yeah?"
He paused for a moment—just long enough for her to notice. Something was on his mind.
"You ever think about… after all this?" he asked, eyes still forward, voice calm but distant. "Like, what comes next?"
The night was silent for a moment longer, as if even the stars were waiting for her answer.
Karin glanced at him, the breeze toying with her crimson hair. "After all this?" she echoed with a teasing smile. "You mean after we get ambushed by rogue ninja and then end up playing bridge builders?"
Naruto let out a chuckle, but there was a depth in his eyes that didn't fade. "No… I mean after everything. The stuff I'm fighting inside too. You probably don't know yet—because I haven't told you. But I will. So… I'm asking, even after that, will you still be there?"
Karin looked up at the night sky, where stars shimmered like distant chakra flares. Her voice turned softer, thoughtful. "I haven't really thought that far ahead… I just know I want to be beside you. For now, that's enough for me."
A quiet pause settled between them.
Naruto glanced at her, then smirked as he rested his hands behind his head. "That's it? Just wanna stick around me, huh?" He stepped closer and lightly flicked her forehead. "Then your next mission is figuring out what you want for your future."
He dodged the punch that came flying his way, laughing.
Karin rubbed her forehead with an indignant glare. "You… What was that for?" She threw another punch, but he kept ducking, effortlessly playful.
In a swift motion, Naruto caught her hand and gently pushed her against a nearby tree. "Do you understand what I mean?" he asked, his voice steady and sincere.
Caught off-guard by both the gesture and the closeness, Karin's face flushed. "Y-Yeah," she stammered, eyes darting.
Naruto watched her flustered expression for a moment before grinning. "Do you even realize how cute you look right now?"
Naruto leaned in just a little, his usual grin softened with something gentler—something honest. Karin, cheeks burning, turned her face away just slightly, trying to hide the smile that threatened to break through her scowl.
"You idiot," she mumbled, her voice caught somewhere between flustered and fond. "You can't just say things like that out of nowhere."
Naruto tilted his head. "Why not? I meant it."
Karin met his eyes for a heartbeat, her usual bravado melting away in the moment. "Then don't blame me if I start expecting you to say it again."
Naruto grinned, clearly enjoying the upper hand. "Oh? So you want compliments now?"
"I will stab you," she warned playfully, though her fists were no longer swinging. "Right in your heart. With affection."
"Deadly," Naruto chuckled, backing off just a bit, giving her space but not stepping away entirely. "Guess I'll take that risk."
Karin crossed her arms, still flustered but smiling now. "Tch. You're lucky I like you."
Naruto's eyes gleamed, not with mischief, but something deeper. "I know. And I won't forget it."
While they were flirting with each other, a faint sound interrupted the moment.
Click.
Karin's eyes narrowed immediately. "Did you hear that?" she asked, her tone losing all the playfulness from earlier.
Her mind began to race—she might tease and flirt with Naruto openly, but that was with him. If a stranger had overheard even a second of that moment, the wall around her would go right back up. She wasn't someone who let outsiders see that side of her.
"Yeah," Naruto replied, glancing around. "Could've been a rabbit or something. We are near the forest." His voice was calm, trying to reassure her, but even he was scanning the area now.
"Go check," she said, voice low but commanding.
Naruto opened his mouth to object, but one look at her expression shut that down fast. "Okay, okay," he said, lifting his hands in surrender.
He stepped toward the direction of the sound, moving quietly but cautiously. Behind him, Karin clutched the back of his shirt, her grip tight.
Naruto glanced over his shoulder and caught her expression—wary, tense. He couldn't help but grin, whispering, "Scared I'll get snatched?"
She rolled her eyes, but didn't let go.
After pushing through a thicket of bushes, Naruto and Karin finally spotted the source of the sound—a lone figure crouched down, carefully picking herbs from the ground. From behind, the person looked like a teenage girl with delicate movements and a calm presence.
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. 'That's definitely Haku... which means Zabuza's not far either,' he thought, his instincts sharpening.
"See? Just someone gathering herbs," Naruto said casually, crouching down himself to examine a patch nearby, trying to keep things cool. "Probably for treating surface wounds."
At the sound of his voice, the person collecting herbs turned slowly to face them. The expression was unreadable, calm, as if running into shinobi in the woods was just another part of the day.
Karin locked eyes with the stranger and let out a soft sigh of relief, shoulders relaxing just a little. "Okay, false alarm," she muttered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. But even as she said it, her gaze lingered a second longer on the silent figure, not entirely letting her guard down.