In the outside world.
In the illusionary realm, Sasuke successfully defeated Naruto and Haku.
He stopped his attack while panting and said proudly, "Hmph, your strength is not bad, but the current me is even stronger."
"Naruto!!" Before he could finish speaking, Sasuke heard Sakura scream.
He hurriedly rubbed his eyes, and his vision distorted. Kyōka Suigetsu's control disappeared.
Only then did he realize that the Haku who had been fighting with him had always been fake.
"How is this possible? Have my eyes been completely toyed with?" Sasuke rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he muttered to himself.
In his line of sight, a huge mirror ice crystal enveloped Naruto. The ice crystal was covered with steel needles formed from ice, and they stabbed toward Naruto.
"What kind of strange Ninjutsu is this" Sasuke was shocked and shouted, "Damn it, Naruto! Stop!"
"Katon, Gōkakyū no Jutsu."
Sasuke's Katon hit the ice crystal mirror, but he didn't even make a hole.
In the end, he could only watch in despair as the ice needles continued to approach Naruto.
...
"Haku, is this your full strength? It's very surprising." There was no panic on Naruto's face. Instead, he chuckled, his eyes filled with admiration.
Haku looked to be only two or three years older than Sasuke, but his strength was already extremely close to Jonin. Combined with his own rare Kekkei Genkai, his potential was definitely not lower than Sasuke's.
This kind of Haku was someone that he could invest in.
In the future, he would definitely possess strength that far surpassed his current strength.
"However, do you really think that this kind of Ninjutsu can trap me?"
With a light laugh, Naruto gently waved Kyōka Suigetsu, accompanied by the boiling Reiatsu.
In the next moment, all the ice needles that were stabbing toward Naruto seemed to be restrained by an invisible hand, and they stopped in the air, unable to move an inch closer.
"Chi." A bloody wound suddenly appeared on the chest of Haku, who was hiding in the magic mirror, and blood filled the air.
"Although it is not suitable for the season, it is good to be able to see the ice and snow."
Naruto put away Kyōka Suigetsu and slowly walked toward Haku who was lying on the ground.
The icicle in the air fell to the ground like a headless fly the moment Naruto approached, making a crisp sound.
In the entire mirror ice crystal, there was only the sound of Naruto's footsteps and the sound of the icicle shattering and falling.
Soon, Naruto walked toward Haku.
"Why is it like this?" Haku raised his head with difficulty, a look of confusion on his face.
"Because what you see is as full of falsehood as the reality you are in." Naruto put away his sword and whispered, "You have tried your best, Haku, from now on you should live for yourself.
The ice crystals mirror disappeared, revealing the shocked expressions of Sasuke and Sakura in the outside world.
The sunlight shone on the ice cones all over the ground, reflecting the light. It was beautiful and magnificent.
Feeling the warm sunlight that was different from the ice, Haku covered his chest and stood up. Blood flowed out from his fingers. It was so real and warm.
"Tss! Tss! Tss! Tss!" In the distance, there was the sound of a thousand birds chirping, and Kakashi's right hand gradually condensed a sharp electric current formed by Raiton.
On the other side, Zabuza was already injured.
The battle over there had also reached its end.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I still have a duty that I haven't completed." Under Naruto's surprised gaze, Haku actually endured the pain and quickly formed seals with his hands.
Just as the thousand birds were about to pierce through Zabuza's chest, Haku stood in front of Zabuza.
"Slash!" Kakashi's Chidori sank into Haku's chest, and a large amount of blood fell on Zabuza's face.
Zabuza was stunned at first, and then he laughed wildly. "Well done, Haku. Well done, you are a perfect prop!"
As he was dying, Haku seemed to hear Zabuza's laughter.
As a tool, he had completed his mission.
He had blocked the last blow for Mr. Zabuza.
However, where would his soul return to after he died?
Could he become an ordinary person and live an ordinary life?
His consciousness drifted further and further away. For some reason, he suddenly remembered a sentence that Naruto had once said.
"Haku, if you used your life to protect him and everything between you and him was cleared, would you still be willing to start a new life?"
A new life?
Haku's consciousness fell into chaos and he closed his eyes.
....
After Haku died, the originally grinning Zabuza had already burst into tears and knelt on the ground.
He and Haku had been supporting each other until now, how could he regard him as a prop?
It was only when Haku died that Zabuza suddenly realized that in his heart, Haku was already his most important partner.
Naruto quietly watched all of this, his eyes calm.
He sighed and walked toward Haku's corpse.
In his sight, he could see Haku's soul begin to emerge from the corpse.
He picked up Haku's corpse and walked into the distance.
Finally, he looked at Zabuza who was trying to stop him. He said coldly, "Haku has always hated killing. This time, let his soul rest in peace."
In the complicated eyes of Zabuza, Naruto gradually disappeared from his sight.
After Naruto left, Gatō led a group of thugs to come. He first sneered at Zabuza, then ordered his men to kill Zabuza, Kakashi, and others.
The townspeople who were originally as timid as mice, who secretly watched the battle, were even more shocked, and they kept retreating in despair.
"It's over. Gatō is here with his men. They are dead for sure."
"We are also running away."
"Run? We can't run anywhere. Give up. We are doomed to be unable to build this bridge." While the townspeople were in despair, a small figure stood out fully armed.
Because of fear, his legs were even trembling, but his little face was filled with determination.
"Everyone, we can not give up like this. Ninja heroes are all fighting hard for Nami no Kuni's fate." Inari's voice was tender and firm. As he spoke, he remembered his father.
There was also the firm figure he saw that night and the words he heard.
"I want to become a hero like Brother Sasuke. I won't be afraid because of his strength."
"Everyone, pick up your weapons. If our hearts don't become strong, if we don't have the courage, then Nami no Kuni will never have a future."
"Everyone, please stand up. For yourself, for the future of Nami no Kuni!"
"Please!"
Looking at Inari's sincere face, the townspeople were silent.
They were extremely ashamed.
Finally, an adult stood up, and then countless people stood up together. They held weapons. Although their hands were trembling, their eyes were full of courage.
"We can't hide anymore. For Nami no Kuni, we have to fight!"
.....
Under the leadership of Inari, the townspeople rushed over to stand against the Gatō Group.
Inari looked at Sasuke with a determined face and said, "Brother Sasuke, I want to be a hero. I want you to have the awareness and courage to become stronger."
He aimed the crossbow at Gatō and the others. "You are not allowed to take a single step closer to this place!"
"Tsk, smelly brat." Sasuke still had a smelly fart on his face. He snorted coldly, but the corners of his mouth held a smile.
With the help of the townspeople, Kakashi and the others blocked the invasion of Gatō's subordinates.
Zabuza, who was determined to die, picked up Kunai with his mouth and rushed into the formation under Gatō, exchanging his life for one.
When he was dying, a pure smile of Haku appeared in his mind.
"Goodbye, Haku. If there is another life, don't become my tool."