Konoha: Comparison of Naruto

Chapter 29: Haku: I'm not a girl

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[Kakashi was bedridden for a week.]

[During this time, he taught Team 7 how to use Chakra to cling to surfaces, starting with climbing trees.]

[However, during the training, Naruto encountered Haku, who was dressed like a girl.]

["You look like a ninja. Why do you want to practice?"]

["I want to become stronger."]

["But you already seem very strong."]

["No, no. I want to become stronger."]

["Why is that?"]

[Haku voiced his curiosity.]

[Naruto replied firmly, "I want to become the strongest ninja and make everyone acknowledge my strength."]

["And right now, I have to prove my progress to a certain someone."]

["Huh?" Haku tilted his head, intrigued. "Is it for someone else, or is it for yourself?"]

[Haku's question left Naruto momentarily confused. He didn't fully understand what Haku meant.]

[Meanwhile, Haku began reminiscing about his own past—being homeless, scavenging for food, and fighting stray dogs just to survive.]

[Fortunately, Zabuza had found him and taken him in.]

["Do you have someone important to you?"]

["People become truly powerful when they have someone they want to protect."]

[Haku's words made Naruto recall the moment he had fought Mizuki to protect Iruka. At that instant, it felt like a revelation for Naruto.]

[A few days later, Zabuza attacked again.]

[This time, his masked subordinate from the previous battle—Haku—joined the fight.]

[Naruto and Sasuke faced Haku together in a two-on-one battle.]

[Meanwhile, Kakashi squared off against Zabuza.]

[The clash between the two sides ignited instantly.]

[However, Naruto and Sasuke were no match for Haku. Under the assault of the Demonic Ice Mirrors, a Kekkei Genkai technique, they couldn't even track Haku's movements.]

[In desperation, Sasuke's Sharingan evolved further, enabling him to follow Haku's speed.]

[But even then, to protect Naruto, Sasuke ended up riddled with senbon needles and collapsed, seemingly lifeless.]

[Believing Sasuke was dead, Naruto's emotions exploded, and he unleashed Nine Tails' Chakra. The battle instantly turned one-sided, with Naruto overpowering Haku.]

[In the end, to protect Zabuza, Haku sacrificed himself and died at Kakashi's hands.]

["Does becoming a powerful ninja like you mean becoming cold-blooded?"]

["He clearly cared for you so much. Are you really that indifferent?"]

["Ah!"]

["That person was willing to be a tool for your dream. He didn't even have his own dream."]

["For you, he gave his life. Without a dream, he died as a tool. This... this…"]

["This is too painful."]

[Naruto was deeply affected by Haku's death and Zabuza's apparent disregard.]

[At the end of the road, however, Zabuza shed tears of sorrow. "Kid, ninjas are human too. How could we not have feelings?"]

["It's truly great to have fought alongside you at the end."]

[Zabuza, now filled with remorse, turned into a demon one last time, slaughtering Gato, the man who had hired him.]

[In the end, Team 7 buried Zabuza and Haku side by side.]

---

[As a bridge builder, Tazuna saw a glimmer of hope for the future in Naruto.]

[The bridge he built, which would save the Land of Waves, was named the "Uzumaki Naruto Bridge"—a symbol of hope.]

---

"I'm always first in my exams at the ninja academy.

On page 25 of the Ninja Handbook, it says: When a ninja is on a mission, no matter what happens, they must never show their emotions."

The scene of Haruno Sakura wailing and hugging Sasuke shocked even Tazuna.

To him, being a ninja seemed truly painful.

The battle between Squad 7 and Zabuza silenced many ninjas, though others chose to dismiss it entirely.

Sakura cried, Naruto cried.

But the most unexpected moment was when the "Demon" Zabuza himself broke down in tears.

No one could have predicted that, under the influence of Naruto, a ninja with blood-stained hands—a man who once killed all his classmates to graduate—would end up sobbing bitterly because of Naruto's words.

Yet, looking at the entire process, Naruto's performance was nothing short of outstanding.

He rescued Kakashi, inspired villagers who had lost all courage to stand up again, defeated Haku, and even managed to emotionally move Zabuza in the end.

For someone who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, this series of achievements was far beyond the abilities of an ordinary person.

Even for a Jōnin, such a feat would have been hard to achieve as seamlessly as Naruto had done.

---

Senju Hashirama: "Kid Naruto, I really like him."

Senju Tobirama: "Brother, I have to admit, he does resemble you—not just in his naivety, but he also handles things much better than you ever did."

Ōnoki: "Second Hokage, don't you think Naruto's actions are too emotional for someone like you, who is known for their iron-fisted leadership?"

Senju Tobirama: "I'm just stating the facts. I don't deny that Naruto's actions stem from personal emotions and are indeed simple at their core. But the results speak for themselves. He moved even the coldest of hearts, took down the root of the problem—Gato—and brought peace and stability to the Land of Waves."

Terumi Mei: "As the Second Hokage said, I don't fully understand Naruto's approach, but the results are undeniably remarkable."

Fourth Raikage: "The Fourth Hokage's son is no ordinary person. I'm filled with curiosity and anticipation for what his future holds."

Zabuza Momochi: "That kid's words… they seemed to have some kind of magic. I still don't know why I couldn't control my emotions back then."

Suigetsu Hozuki: "Maybe it's because you knew deep down you were going to die, and all those suppressed emotions finally erupted, letting you express yourself freely?"

Zabuza Momochi: "Shut up, kid!"

Uzumaki Naruto: "Why does everyone seem to think there's something wrong with what I did? Besides, I believe what that big sister said was true—when people have something important to protect, they become incredibly strong, strong enough to fear nothing."

Haku: "Naruto-kun, I told you last time—I'm not a girl."

For a moment, no one refuted Naruto's perspective.

The entire battle had demonstrated his point perfectly.

To protect Naruto, Sasuke showed no fear of death.

To protect Haku, Zabuza threw caution to the wind, despite the cost.

Every action displayed their unwavering courage.

Additionally, Haku's words during his conversation with Naruto seemed to have left a lasting impact on him, shaping his resolve and understanding of what it meant to fight for others.

---

As the discussion settled, the large screen in the sky changed again.

The white-framed screen faded to pitch black, signaling the return of Naruto from another world.