Chapter 15: I'm so envious you have such a good 'tool.'
"Mr. Zabuza, please choose me to die!"
After hearing Kakashi say that his own choice didn't count, Haku immediately turned back to look at Mr. Zabuza, hoping he would follow his suggestion.
Kakashi and the others also looked toward Zabuza, wanting to see how he would choose.
Naruto and Sakura both looked on with a degree of reluctance; having to choose which of two comrades should live was simply too cruel!
Sasuke's expression remained as usual, giving away nothing of what he was thinking at that moment.
"This kind of thing doesn't even require thought. The existence of a tool is for it to die for its master."
A flicker of struggle flashed deep within Zabuza's eyes, but it quickly returned to normal, and then he sneered as he spoke.
"Did you hear that, Mr. Zabuza chose for me to die."
Haku heard this answer, and his body involuntarily relaxed. He then turned back to look at Kakashi. Yet, for some reason, hearing this answer brought a slight pain to his heart. This choice was clearly the best one! All that mattered was for Mr. Zabuza to be safe!
"Since that's the case, I can leave now, right?"
Zabuza clutched his wound and asked with a grim expression.
"Of course."
Kakashi made a gesture, indicating Zabuza was free to do as he pleased.
"Hey, you big uncle with no eyebrows."
At this moment, Uzumaki Naruto could not hold back any longer, calling out to Zabuza with an angry face.
However, Zabuza continued walking forward without looking back.
"Are you serious about what you just said?" Uzumaki Naruto shouted angrily, "Isn't that guy your comrade? He didn't hesitate to die for you, and yet you just say he died as a tool... This, this is just too painful!"
"Stop talking. Being able to sacrifice myself for Mr. Zabuza is my mission, my greatest... happiness."
Haku, beneath his mask, revealed a relieved smile. He knew this day would come sooner or later, he just hadn't expected it to arrive so quickly! If he could, he still wanted to accompany Mr. Zabuza for a while longer...
"Zabuza is truly lucky to have such a good 'tool' as you. Even I am a little envious, but there's nothing to be done. As the enemy, please just die."
Hatake Kakashi spoke cruel words in an envious tone. As he spoke, he pulled out a Kunai from his ninja pouch.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto and Sakura both looked towards Kakashi with reluctance upon hearing this. Seeing that he seemed to have already made up his mind, they could only turn their heads away with difficulty, unwilling to watch the scene that was about to unfold.
Uchiha Sasuke, however, stared straight at Kakashi. For some reason, he felt an indescribable sense of incongruity in his heart.
"Wait a moment."
At this time, Zabuza suddenly returned, "Let Haku go, kill me instead."
"Hm?"
Hearing this suddenly, Uzumaki Naruto and Sakura were both momentarily stunned, then turned their heads toward the source of the voice with joy.
"Mr. Zabuza?!!"
Haku, however, was dumbfounded. He didn't know if he felt happy or sad, but he quickly reacted and urgently looked at Kakashi: "Mr. Zabuza already chose for me to die just now, so he cannot go back on his word. Therefore, please, Mr. Kakashi, kill me quickly."
"Oh dear, this is a bit troublesome now."
Kakashi feigned a troubled hesitation, "Since you chose to attack us, someone must pay the price."
"But you both want to die for the other... How about this: bring the employer who ordered you to kill us here, and then I can consider letting both of you go."
"Eh?"
When Kakashi said this, everyone present was stunned.
"However, once you do something like betraying your employer, it will be very difficult for you to survive in this line of work in the future. You two need to think this through."
"What does that matter? Didn't Uncle Tazuna just say it? That Gato is an utterly wicked villain."
Before Zabuza and the others could answer, Uzumaki Naruto eagerly found the excuse for them.