The dense mist of the forest began to thin as Kakashi made his way through the woods, Zabuza's lifeless body still slung over his shoulder. His breath came out in heavy gasps, though his Sharingan kept a sharp awareness of every movement around him. Kakashi wasn't used to running for this long, especially after the battle with Zabuza and the constant tension of the mission, but he pushed forward, determined to reach a safer location.
Finally, Kakashi found a small clearing, the mist gradually dissipating around him. He dropped Zabuza's body gently onto the ground, careful not to cause any additional damage. His eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for signs of movement. Kakashi had no illusions—Haku was close, and he'd soon catch up.
As he knelt beside the fallen swordsman, Kakashi felt a twinge of regret. Zabuza was a dangerous man, a murderer, a villain—but he had his own code. His own reasons. Kakashi couldn't help but respect that. But now, with Zabuza's life hanging in the balance, Kakashi was faced with a decision. One that could potentially change the entire course of the mission.
Within seconds, the figure Kakashi had been waiting for appeared in the clearing.
Haku.
The mist-nin slid gracefully into view, his face hidden beneath his mask, his eyes hidden behind a dark veil of determination. But Kakashi knew. He could see the sorrow in Haku's eyes. The longing. The desperation.
"You're going to take him, aren't you?" Kakashi said calmly, his voice carrying just enough weight to cut through the tension. He stood, eyes never leaving Haku as he adjusted his stance, ready for anything. His fingers twitched, ready to form seals if needed.
Haku stopped several paces away, his body coiled like a spring, poised for action. "You don't understand," Haku said softly, but with a dangerous edge to his voice. "Zabuza-sama was everything to me. I will not let him die in vain."
Kakashi sighed inwardly, looking down at Zabuza's body, still cold on the ground. He didn't want to fight Haku. Not yet. Not when there was still a chance to resolve this without more bloodshed.
"I do understand," Kakashi said, his voice steady, his eyes narrowing as he met Haku's gaze. "But Zabuza's death is inevitable. What's important now is what happens next." Kakashi paused, his words hanging in the air for a long moment. "You've been following him for so long, haven't you? What will you do now that he's gone? Will you let yourself die for a cause that's already ended?"
Haku's eyes flickered, and Kakashi saw the briefest hint of hesitation. That was the opening he needed.
"I have an offer for you," Kakashi continued, his voice low, but firm. "Join me. Join my cause. I can offer you more than just a lingering death in the mist. I can offer you power. A chance to make a difference. A future. If you join me, I'll ensure Zabuza's life was not in vain. I'll let him live."
Haku's posture stiffened. The offer was tempting. It was everything he wanted. But there was something in Kakashi's eyes that made him pause. Kakashi wasn't making the offer out of kindness—he wasn't asking Haku to join out of some twisted sense of charity. No, there was something more. Something deeper.
"Why would you want me?" Haku asked, his voice laced with uncertainty, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his kunai. "What could you possibly gain from someone like me?"
Kakashi studied Haku, his eyes calculating. "Because we both know what happens when you follow someone to their grave. You lose yourself in the process. Join me, and you'll gain more than just revenge. You'll gain a purpose." Kakashi paused again, letting his words sink in. "Zabuza's death won't be the end. He'll be remembered, but you… you can still create something."
Haku remained silent for a long while. The air between them thickened with the weight of the decision. Kakashi didn't push him further. He could see the internal conflict swirling in Haku's eyes. He knew what it felt like to be on the edge, to feel lost after losing everything.
After what felt like an eternity, Haku slowly took a step forward, his kunai lowering to his side. His gaze softened, and for the briefest moment, Kakashi saw a flicker of doubt. A flicker of hope.
"You… you would truly let Zabuza-sama live?" Haku's voice was barely above a whisper, but Kakashi heard it clearly.
Kakashi nodded. "I will keep my word. Join me, and I will help you fulfill Zabuza's legacy."
Haku was silent for a moment, his body tense, his eyes locked on Zabuza's body. But then, with a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and Kakashi could feel the decision being made.
"I… I will join you," Haku finally said. His voice was no longer the determined, cold tone Kakashi had expected. It was filled with hesitation, with fear. But it was also filled with something else—an acceptance. A sense of something new starting, something better than a life spent in the shadows.
Kakashi smiled faintly, though it wasn't the warm kind of smile he would have given to his students. No, this was a different kind of smile. It was the smile of someone who knew what needed to be done.
"Good," Kakashi said simply. "But remember this: when you join me, you don't just follow orders. You think. You fight for your own future. For your own reasons." Kakashi's gaze hardened. "If you betray me, there will be no second chances. Understand?"
Haku nodded solemnly. "I understand."
Kakashi turned away from him, his mind already racing with the implications of this new alliance. He had no illusions. Haku wasn't a simple pawn. He had his own ambitions, his own desires. But that was the kind of person Kakashi could use. Someone who knew what it meant to follow their own path.
"Then let's go. We have work to do."
As Kakashi began to walk back toward his team, carrying Zabuza's body with him, he glanced over his shoulder. Haku was following—silent, distant, but he was with them. The mission had changed once again. And Kakashi was ready for whatever came next.