(A/N): Sorry for the extremely long wait everyone, this took me a couple of days, I'll try to update more frequently. I'm so sorry 😣

I can't tell whether this is good or not. Unless he retains some consciousness he'll end up killing Sasuke and I too. (Y/N) gripped Sasuke's shoulders anxiously, keeping her eyes on Naruto's transformed figure.

Such strong blood lust! He's a completely different person from before! He's coming! Haku shook slightly, for once getting the feeling that he may have commited a mistake. Senbon needles shot out of his hands just as Naruto pounced at the mirrors.

However, a burst of the dark orange chakra repelled the needles easily, breaking some and sending them flying. Naruto didn't slow down despite the attack and skidded to a stop just as Haku ran to another mirror.

(Y/N) bit her lips sharply at the sight, holding Sasuke slightly tighter. Her bleeding was slowing down and she could feel the muscles in her arms healing, itching to grab her chain again. Half of Sasuke's dead weight sat on her lap, still too cold and unmoving. This is not good. I'm slowly starting to heal but Sasuke can't heal the way Naruto and I can. He's alive right now, but he'll have a very hard time if I don't do something about the bleeding. Trying to clear her mind a little bit, admiteddly a little bit dizzy from all the bleeding she pursed her lips.
I wish I had learned some healing jutsu beforehand. They seriously should teach first aid at the academy.

(Y/N) sighed and glanced wearily at Haku and Naruto battling it out. If he's distracted with Naru I might be able to patch up Sasuke a little bit. With quick and small movements she took out the bandages from her pouch, mentally thanking herself for packing them. I don't like this, but the way things are if I intervene I wil only get in the way. The sooner I patch up Sasuke, the less I'll worry.

Haku was, indeed, too distracted with Naruto to pay attention to the Ryudo. The loud boy had just deflected his attacks with tangible chakra and he was flabbergasted. What? His chakra repelled my attack! Then.. Haku's reflections multiplied, covering the whole dome and shot needles out of every single one. The senbon needles hit their mark.

Naruto growled and another burst of the sinister chakra pushed them out of his body and sent them clattering to the ground, at the same time raging against the mirrors.
To Haku and a busy (Y/N)'s surprise the next second Naruto jumped and straight up punched an ice mirror, shattering it.

(Y/N)'s hands momentarily froze in the middle of wrapping a bandage around Sasuke's torso and her jaw dropped as the shards of ice fell. Not even I was able to break it with my chain! He just punched it with his bare hands!

Haku saw a chance and fell out of one of the shards, intending to stab Naruto as he fell from above, but the blonde dodged easily, twirling away from him.

To say Haku was surprised was an understatement. How? He made an attempt to run back into a mirror but Naruto grabbed his wrist harshly and there was another burst of chakra.

  ~~~><Outside the dome><~~~

Kakashi shivered in his stance. Could Naruto's seal have broken?! He gasped and reached out with his senses. No, this feeling.. the seal is almost off and the chakra of the Nine Tailed Fox is escaping from it but, fortunately the seal is not completely broken. He furrowed his brows and determined his course of action, taking out a scroll from his vest pocket. He spread it out in a single movement and swiped his bleeding finger across the paper. I still have some time.
"Do you hear me Zabuza? We're both busy people." He swung the paper around as if it was a piece of cloth, twirling it in the air with quick movements. " I know it's against your style, but I think it's about time we stopped playing around."
He threw the scroll up into the air, rolling it close once again and caught it single handedly, ready to use it.
"Why don't we settle this once and for all with the next move?"

Zabuza's voice echoed throughout the mist in response, "How amusing. What can you possibly don in this situation? Show me, Kakashi."

~~~><Inside the dome><~~~

(Y/N) frowned, as she cut off excess bandages, trying to stay concentrated on at least stopping Sasuke's bleeding. His temperature was increasing slightly, as his body started recovering from the bloodloss. She was holding on to him with shaky hands, hoping she was doing a decent job at least and not tying them too tight. She kept glancing warily at Naruto and Haku, ready to move Sasuke and her out of the way if needed and her ears alert to the battle on the other side of the mirrors. From what I can pick up, Kashi-sensei is doing well enough and Tazuna and Sakura haven't been harmed.
She let out a weary sigh, cautiously flexing her arms and fingers. Her muscles were getting repaired slowly, she could feel it. In a few more minutes she'd be able to swing her chain again. Though she knew that right now, the best thing she could do was watch over Sasuke. I dont know a lot about sealing jutsu, but there's no telling what will happen if I try to help. I don't know how conscious Naruto is.

The dark orange chakra thrashed crazily as Naruto gripped Haku's wrist fiercely, the sinister force thrashing uncontrollably like a tornado, slashing against the mirrors and shattering them in quick succession, but not harming a hair on (Y/N) and Sasuke's heads.

It's no good! I can't hold down his aura! Haku straightened his back with effort, trying to push back against the dark chakra and free his wrist, but he found himself unable to move even as he tried to concentate on keeping the dome up. Unable to dodge, he could only groan in pain when a harsh and loaded punch from the savage boy hit him straight on his mask, sending him flying straight through a mirror and unto his back feet away.
He almost curled into himself from the pain but stood up shakily.

As he did, the dome shattered and shards rained down on the three genin. (Y/N) could only gape in awe at her crush and her childhood friend. He did it! So this is what the chakra of a tailed beast can do... She smiled slightly, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Everything would be fine. The seal wasn't broken.

Zabuza I can't defeat this boy. Zabuza I'm....

Naruto didn't give Haku a moment of reprieve and pounced on him, ready to punch the life out of him, yelling at the top of his lungs. However, as Haku's shattered mask fell from his face Naruto froze mid-punch, his fist just a few inches away from his face.

Because Naruto knew that face. It was the face of the feminine looking boy he had met in the forest that morning, the nice pretty, kind boy who had asked him who his precious people were. He grunted in effort and confusion, and the shock of the moment dispelled the dark chakra in a moment, red eyes swirling back to blue, claws and fangs receding. "You.. are the boy from.. "

Haku's face wasn't the kind face Naruto had met; it was cold and hollow, unfazed by the fist so close to him, even though blood was seeping out from his lips. "Why? Even though I killed your dear friend, you can't kill me?" Haku said this with a cold look, but his voice was disbelieving and slightly soft. This kid who had been moments away from beating him to a pulp was now unable to hit him.

Of course haku had been too distracted with the threat of Naruto to actually take a look at the "corpse". (Y/N) snorted, slightly high with relief as she finished bandaging Sasuke, who now resembled a mummy. In her defense, she wasn't even good at making her bed.

Naruto frowned deeply and gritted his teeth in anguish, risking a peek behind him, expecting to see a body and a crying (Y/N). He almost cried in relief when he saw (Y/N) holding a bandaged Sasuke, and although her face was still slightly flushed, she wasn't crying. She winked at him discreetly and smiled. Naruto couldn't help but laugh in relief and it made Haku glanced over to them too.

Haku then sighed, almost in disappointment. Of course, I completely forgot about the Ryudo girl. It looks like none are dead.

(Y/N) grinned, a proud glint in her eye as she kept holding Sasuke and waved at them. "Unfortunately for you we're both quite alright." She exclaimed, happy to prove Haku wrong. She might not be the best at first aid but she could at least put on a bandage. I'm glad. Looks like everything will be okay. I'm almost back to normal condition and Sasuke's pulse has quickened a little. Naruto was able to regain consciousness easily by feeling empathy towards another and recognizing the Haku boy. That's good.

Naruto's eyes dampened slightly but the tension slipped from his shoulders. I'm so glad they're both okay! The bastard isn't dead! He stil felt shaken, the burden of such strong emotions sitting heavily on his heart still, but he relaxed slightly. Still, he turned back to Haku with a frown. He couldn't understnad why someone so kind would act so ruthlessly.

Haku scoffed. "Don't kid yourself. She may have bandaged his wounds but she has no real medical knowledge. That boy can still die unless he receives medical attention. Are you still unable to kill me?"

Naruto gritted his teeth and swung at him, making Haku stumble and fall to his knees spitting out blood. "Dammit!" Naruto exclaimed with pursed lips, frowning at him. He just couldn't understand why someone so nice would act like this; what possible reason could excuse it.

Haku spat out the blood, unfazed and looked up at Naruto. "What happened to the strength from a moment ago? You can't defeat me with this kind of strength. Aren't they both important to you, that boy and girl?"

(Y/N)'s lips turned down slightly, and she furrowed her brows at him. From our interactions so far, I suppose that he was somehow saved by that crazy sword guy and feels indebted to him. No, more than that. He actually cares about him. She sighed, closing her eyes. Maybe he's not that bad. I'm still mad that he tried to kill Duckbutt though.

Naruto panted with irregular breaths, shaken by Haku's actions he couldn't understand. Until he remembered what he had said before. Wanting to protect somebody precious to you... He glanced back at (Y/N) and Sasuke. I suppose that makes sense.

Haku stood up, swaying a bit. "Many people misunderstand. They pity and don't finish the enemy they ought to finish. They let them survive. To me, that isn't compassion or anything." Haku started speaking, just standing there without even trying to attack or getting in a stance. "Do you know? How it feels to not be needed by anyone? To live day by day without a dream. The pain of it all."

(Y/N) bit her lips at that, slightly growling at him. If anything, I'd say we're more similar than I thought. I thought he was just an obsessed hired assassin or something. But.. I think he does genuinely care about this Zabuza guy. She decided to lay down Sasuke on the ground, gently moving his torso from her lap-which was frankly numb from his weight-to the ground. She stretched her legs slightly, wiggling her toes. Damn, my legs are tingling from all that time with him on top of my lap dangit, it feels weird. She quickly got up, and stood slightly behind Naruto, holding his shoulder.

Naruto startled slightly, flinching but immeaditely calming down when he realized whose hand it was. He turned his gaze back to Haku, frowning. "What do you mean?" He growled out.

Haku rolled his eyes at them, almost softly. He was envious of those three; their young naivety. "Zabuza has no use for a weak shinobi." Haku chuckled quietly, a soft sound in his throat that (Y/N) almost didn't hear. "You took away my reason for existence."

Naruto and (Y/N) shut their eyes at the sight of Haku's soft smile, foreheads creased. "Why? Why do you have to serve a guy like that! He gets money from thugs to do bad things!" Naruto shouted, eyebrows deeply furrowed in frustration. "Is that No-Brow the only person special to you?!"

(Y/N) glared at Haku. She was starting to see what was going on and she didn't like it. It was one thing to have been saved by someone in some way and feel indebted to them. But to claim that they're your reason for existence and that it can be taken away was just ridiculous. If one was to follow that way of thought then... She might as well be dead already.

Haku sighed at the children. "A long time ago, I had other people special to me. They were... my parents."

(Y/N) had to resist the urge to huff settling for gripping Naruto's shoulder tightly. Here we go. He's going to tell us his tragic story and somehow excuse himself with it. She glared at him, heart heavy in her chest with memories.

"I was born in the Land of Water, in a small village heavy with snow." Haku started, brown eyes looking somewhere far away. "My parents worked on a small farm. We were very poor, but my parents seemed to be satisfied with it. I was so happy then... They were loving parents. But, when I was old enough to understand things, something happened."

(Y/N)'s breath hitched, starting to connect the dots. Her grip on Naruto's shoulder tightened for a moment before she instinctively slipped her hand into Naruto's, looking for comfort. His family must have..

"Something? What happened?" Naruto asked, wide eyed as he listened.

"My blood.." Haku swiped the blood from his face, looking at it with a somber look.

"Go on, tell us what happened!"

Haku raised his head, hollow brown eyes staring at something only he could see. "My father.. killed my mother. And then tried to kill me."

Naruto gasped, clenching (Y/N)'s hand automatically. (Y/N) squeezed him back, sticking to him like glue. Her heart had sped up while Haku told his story and she was now biting her lips with her protruding fangs, holding back her words. In the back of her mind, the memories from five years ago stirred awake, of a cold night that had turned bright blue and scorched her skin. She swallowed, nervous and anxious. Why now? Subjects like this always make me remember what I've tried to forget...

"After the experience of the ceaselesss civil war, people with Kekkei Genkai were hated and feared in the Land of Water."

"Kekkei Genkai?" Naruto asked, slightly confused. The word sounded familiar, of course, it had been explained to him just a few days ago, but he couldn't remember exactly what it meant.

"It's special powers or jutsu passed on through certain clans, from parent to child, or from grandparent to grandchild. Because of their special powers, those clans were exploited in all sorts of battles. As a result, all Kekkei Genkai were feared as harbingers of disaster and death." Haku continued speaking, his hollow gaze a veil which his sorrow hid behind. "After the war was over, they decided to hide their special powers. If anyone knew of their secret, only death could be expected."

(Y/N) frowned, feeling sympathetic for the masked boy. His face was pale, and his hair was a luscious black, soft brown eyes with long lashes just in the right place. If his eyes were darker, he could perfectly pass as an Uchiha, with that level of emotion suppression and internal struggles. If his skin was only slightly darker and his hair not so tamed, he could have passed as Ryudo just as easily. Ryudo had no particular taletelling characteristics, aside from the usual fangs and their untamed manes. Whatever anger she had felt towards him cooled down, even though now she only felt frustration with his way of thinking.

Haku glanced at her and Sasuke, gaze still hollow. "I'm sure the boy and you went through much suffering as well. The greater your power, the more you are feared."

Naruto stared at Sasuke, eyes darting between him and (Y/N), wide eyed. He was distantly aware of what they had gone through, of course he was; memories of five years ago came back to him, as he remembered with a stark clarity how (Y/N) had looked in the hospital bed, covered in white bandages, refusing to go to sleep without him there. He didn't think it had anything to do with their powers though.
(Y/N) squeezed his hand, biting her lips and growling lowly to keep from yelling at Haku. He's not exactly wrong. But it wasn't because of our Kekkei Genkai. Our suffering is slightly different, but we know what it means to lose family.

"My mother had the Kekkei Genkai. She kept it a secret from my father, hoping that for a while... No, she probably thought that they could have a simple life forever...." Haku's gaze turned down slightly, lost in the memories. "However, Father discovered our secret." Haku paused. "When I came to.. I had killed my father. And at that moment, what I thought to myself was that... No, what I had to think. And then knew that it was the most painful thing."

"The most painful thing?"

"That my existence didn't matter to anyone else in the world." Haku's voice cracked slightly, torn with emotion.

Naruto and (Y/N) flinched, Naruto's eyes wide as plates in realization. Just like us.

"You told me that.. You'll be the best ninja in the village and make everyone respect you and your friend. If someone comes along and accepts you for who you are, no one could be more important to you than that person." Haku pointed out.

(Y/N) nodded slightly; that she could relate to. Having a precious person by her side had saved her. Without Naru... I... Don't know what I'd become.

"Even though he knew I was from a clan with Kekkei Genkai, Zabuza took me in. My power that everyone hated.. he wanted it, needed it." Haku's voice turned softer, grateful. He quieted for a second and his eyes turned glassy. "I was so happy."

Haku looked down, disappointment weighing him down. "I'm sorry, Zabuza. I wasn't good enough to be the tool you were looking for." He said, stepping towards Naruto and (Y/N), who took a step back. "I want you two.. to kill me."

(Y/N) growled out at him, letting go of Naruto's hand in favor of pointing furiously at Haku, unable to contain herself anymore. "Are you an idiot?! Nobody can take away your reason for existence; you define that yourself every single day just by living! You decide what to do with your life! And we do not turn away from the pain and the bad memories, we do not give ourselves away as objects to escape from it!" She yelled at him, whacking Haku on the head harshly, dropping him to his knees. She scolded him at the top of her lungs, out of patience, as Naruto glared at Haku, turning his gaze away angrily.

"Stop looking at yourself as an object dammit, you are a person too! It has nothing to do with having power or not! If you can't see what you're worth you're an idiot, and so is Zabuza! Your worth as a person is not defined by your capability as a tool! If your love for that guy is the reason for your existence, that it cannot ever be taken away from you by anyone other than yourself! Dang it, why would you put yourself in harm's way for someone like Zabuza if he doesn't truly value you!"

Haku only gaped at her wide eyed, and mouth ajar. This child was scolding him as if she was his mother or something, a child who just before he had been trying to kill. Who are these children? He closed his eyes, feeling his head throbbing. "Why do you hesitate?"

(Y/N) kept her ears trained on Kakashi and Zabuza's fight, keeping her furious slitted eyes on Haku. Kashi-sensei is getting serious, I can hear the lightning crackling from here. If we can keep Haku distracted, he may be saved from his own, clearly, stupid self-sacrificing tendencies.
Naruto took a breath and yelled too, frustrated with the boy. "You're being ridiculous, believe it! You're a weapon, a tool?! How can you call him a precious person? Are you really okay with that?!"

"Is that wrong? What is wrong with that?" Haku slumped, looking at their feet and with his neck down, as if accepting execution. (Y/N) might have yelled at him, of course, but years of trauma and attachment like that didn't just disappear in a moment. "Zabuza counts on me, even if I'm worthless. He made me feel needed." Tears fell from his eyes, glass clear. "But now, I've lost my usefulness that affirmed my existence. Zabuza no longer needs me. That's why, I am now appealing to you."

(Y/N) growled at him, intensely frustrated. I don't get this guy! Why can't he see that he's a person! His own person! At this rate, he's sure to die. And... She pursed her lips, her own (E/C) eyes glassy, emotions bubbling from his story and the connection she now felt to him. He doesn't deserve to die! The shinobi world just dealt him a terrible hand!  How can he think that one single loss takes away his worth! As if he's a broken object!

"Please, make it quick."

(Y/N) gritted her teeth, slitted eyes trained on him and slightly tempted to whack him again. What will it take to convince this sweet fool that he doesn't have to die?!