"If you don't stop being in denial, Zabuza, I swear I'm gonna start calling you Tsundere of the Mist."
Naruto wasn't in a hurry to explain himself to Kakashi. Instead, he turned his full attention to Zabuza, eyes sharp with amusement. He had already noticed it—the way Zabuza's face twisted in concern when Haku was sent flying into the water earlier. That wasn't the expression of someone who saw their apprentice as just a tool.
'Yeah, this guy's got it bad.'
"Seriously, the dude just tried to die for you. Doesn't that make you feel even a little emotional?" Naruto prodded.
Zabuza scoffed, looking away like he had just bitten into a lemon. "Tch. What do you know, brat?"
Even though he was grateful that Naruto had just saved Haku, there was no way he'd openly admit his feelings. That would be way too embarrassing. But despite his gruff exterior, his gaze softened slightly when it landed on Haku.
"Haku… you didn't have to do that," he muttered. "I don't deserve it."
Haku simply smiled, as gentle as ever. "I already told you, Zabuza-san. I won't let you die. Not before me."
'Geez, that's dark,' Naruto thought, suppressing a shudder. 'These two seriously need therapy.'
"Alright, alright, we get it. You guys have some deep, unspoken bond or whatever." Naruto clapped his hands together, cutting through the heavy atmosphere. "But maybe save the emotional reunion for later. We still have a problem, remember?"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes. "What the hell are you playing at, brat? Why did you save Haku?"
Naruto grinned. "Oh, let's just say I highly doubt that he is a girl, and I have soft spot for pretty girls. And I might have a proposition for you."
Zabuza raised an eyebrow. "A proposition?"
"Yep. A deal. You interested?"
Zabuza crossed his arms, intrigued despite himself. "Alright, I'll bite. Talk."
Naruto took a step closer. "I know you took this job because Gato hired you to kill Tazuna, right?"
Zabuza's expression darkened at the mention of Gato.
"You do realize the guy's just a sleazy, low-budget villain, right? He's not worth your time. The dude's been sucking the Land of Waves dry for years, and his end goal is basically 'oppress everyone and be rich.' Do you really wanna be some corporate thug for a glorified loan shark?"
Zabuza stayed silent, but Naruto could tell he was listening.
"The way I see it, you and Haku aren't exactly rolling in cash, and you're constantly on the run from the Hidden Mist. You need a stable place to live and work, yeah?" Naruto continued. "So, how about this: instead of working for scumbags like Gato, why don't you help us build up the Land of Waves into something better?"
Zabuza blinked. "The hell are you talking about?"
Naruto grinned. "A ninja village. Right here."
Everyone froze.
Even Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly.
"You… want to build a village?" Zabuza asked, trying to process Naruto's sheer audacity.
"Why not?" Naruto shrugged. "The Land of Waves has no daimyo, no official military—hell, they don't even have bandits good enough to rob a grandma. You guys are missing out on a prime opportunity. If we wipe out Gato and his goons, this place could actually thrive. And in return, you get paid, get a home, and get to boss around a bunch of newbie ninjas. Sounds better than running for your life every day, doesn't it?"
Zabuza stared at him like he had just suggested they invade the Moon.
"You do realize how much work that would take, right?"
Naruto waved him off. "Details, details. We'll work that out later. What matters is that the people here want this. Tazuna and his folks have been getting squeezed dry by Gato. They want protection. And they'd be more than willing to fund a ninja force that actually looks out for them."
Zabuza looked at Haku, whose face, for once, held a hint of something besides unwavering loyalty—there was hope.
Then he sighed. "Kid… you're either a genius or an idiot."
"Why not both?" Naruto grinned.
There was a long pause before Zabuza finally chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine. I'll hear Tazuna out. But if this turns into a mess, I'm blaming you."
Naruto clapped his hands. "Great! See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
With that, the battle was officially over.
Back on shore, when Tazuna heard about Naruto's grand plan to establish a ninja village, the old man nearly fell over from shock.
"You—YOU WANT TO DO WHAT?!"
Naruto nodded. "Yep! If we get rid of Gato, the Land of Waves can finally develop properly. A ninja village will provide protection, bring in money, and ensure no scumbag like him ever pulls this crap again."
Tazuna was so overwhelmed that he nearly bowed to Naruto on the spot. The idea of finally breaking free from Gato's grasp… it was almost too good to be true.
"If we can really get rid of that bloodsucking bastard, I'll do everything I can to raise the funds!" Tazuna declared. "Even if I have to build a hundred bridges!"
Meanwhile, Sasuke, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.
"Naruto… how the hell do you come up with this stuff?" he asked, his tone a mix of amazement and suspicion. "One minute you're an idiot, the next you're making war-changing strategies."
Naruto shrugged. "Eh, I just think a lot."
Sasuke frowned. "Since when?"
Naruto ignored him. No way was he explaining that he had meta-knowledge from another life.
With that, the group headed to Tazuna's house, where they would rest before making their next move. Surprisingly, Zabuza and Haku didn't leave.
Nobody questioned it.
And for the first time in a long time, the Land of Waves had a spark of hope.
(End of Chapter)