The Demon in the Snow

Summary written by me, Julie.

Picking up from last episode, Gato and a large group of thugs arrive on the bridge. "You die right here on this bridge, Zabuza." Gato says, "You're too expensive so I've decided to take you off the payroll." Zabuza looks at Kekashi and tells him that since he is off the payroll, he as no quarrel with them, and their fight is over.

Gato walks up to the body of Haku and kicks him in retaliation for injuring his arm a few days ago. Naruto is furious, but Kekashi holds him back. "What about you Zabuza?" Naruto says angrily, "are you going to let him do that?" When Zabuza says he simply used the boy in the way of the Shinobi, Naruto becomes enraged. "You were the most precious thing in the world to him." (When they started playing that gut wrenching music and showing Haku's deep dedication and love for Zabuza... well, get ready to lose it or at least get a big lump in your throat!)

"You talk too much," tears dripping from Zabuza's eyes. "Your words cut deep....deeper than any blade."

He rips off the wrapping that covers his face. "Boy give me your kunai," Zabuza says with determination. He charges at Gato and his thugs. Offing as many as he can until he can face Gato himself. Even with multiple weapons stabbed into his back, he destroys Gato echoing how they both will be going to hell. Barely grasping to life, Zabuza tries inching his way to Haku's body. He thanks the boy and collapses several feet away from him. Naruto cringes. "Don't look away," Kekashi says, "This is how a warrior dies."

A short distance away, Sakura is still sobbing over Sasuke when, to her surprise, he awakens. "Sakura, it's hard to breath with you on top of me," he says. Sakura is elated and relays the news to Naruto and Kekashi.

The celebration is short lived when Gato's thugs threaten them once again. They want to be paid or they'll go after the village. That's when Inari and the rest of the villagers show up. In addition, both Naruto and Kekashi use their shadow clone jutsu's to make the odds even more in their favor. The thugs can't run away fast enough. "VICTORY!" Yells Inari.

Kekashi walks up to the fallen Zabuza. "I have a favor to ask." Zabuza asks, "Take me to him. I want to see him one last time." Kekashi removes the weapons protruding from the former enemy's back and picks him up. As he is walking to Haku, it begins to snow. "Is that Haku weeping?" Zabuza wonders, "You were always at my side the least I can do is be beside you at the end." (Oh man….. lump in throat….lump in throat!)

Naruto looks on sadly. In his heart he believes that the "ninja way" does not have to end like this. He proclaims, "I’m going to follow my own ninja way. One that's straight and true, without any regrets. From now on, I'm following the way of Naruto." Kekashi just smiles.

Weeks later, the bridge is complete. Team Kekashi bid a teary goodbye and promise to visit soon. Tazuna says they will call it "The great Naruto bridge." Perhaps it may even be famous some day. The name Naruto known throughout the world. That would be something...wouldn't it?