Naruto a Silent Change.

The bridge was painted red. The fresh scent of iron mingled with the mist—a silent testament to the battle that had just unfolded. And at the centre of it all, Haku lay still, his delicate features untouched by the cruel hand of death.

He smiled.

Not the desperate, sorrowful smile of a dying warrior, but one of peace—of fulfilment. Even as life ebbed away from his fragile frame, his final thoughts were not of regret but of gratitude. He had done it. He had been of use to Zabuza, his only treasure. If his existence meant anything, it was in this moment—standing between his master and death.

Naruto's breath hitched. He couldn't look away.

The warmth of the world had drained from his body, leaving behind an unfamiliar chill. His usually vibrant blue eyes, filled with mischief and determination, now held nothing but silent horror. His fists trembled at his sides, his fingers digging into his palms so hard that his nails threatened to draw blood.

A Shinobi's death... was supposed to be like this?

He had always dreamt of being a hero, of protecting those dear to him, of standing tall as the strongest Hokage. But now, staring at Haku's peaceful expression—so gentle, so accepting—he felt something crack inside him.

Why… why was he smiling?

Why did it look like he had never been happier?

The realisation clawed at his soul. Haku had found purpose in dying. And yet…

"I don't want this."

A hand clenched his heart, squeezing it tight.

Farther away, Sakura's panicked breaths filled the silence. She had rushed to Sasuke's side the moment she saw him collapse, her trembling fingers brushing against his pale cheek.

"No… no, no, no—Sasuke-kun, wake up!" she pleaded, her voice breaking.

She carefully lifted his head onto her lap, pushing back his raven hair with unsteady hands. His pulse was faint, but it was there. Relief flooded her, but her heart refused to calm. Was this what battles truly were? Blood, fear, death?

Kakashi remained still, his gaze unreadable as he observed Zabuza. He knew this fight had already ended the moment Haku fell, but there was something else—something more—unfolding before him. His student, the bright-eyed boy who had once declared his dream so loudly, stood there, motionless, as if the world had abandoned him.

Zabuza let out a sharp breath, his grip tightening around his weapon. "Haku… you idiot," he muttered, voice hoarse.

The battle should have continued, but the mist no longer held its weight. The boy who had been his shield, his sword, had given everything for him.

And Naruto… Naruto was changing.

As the blood seeped deeper into the bridge, so too did the weight of reality sink into the boy's soul. The world had never seemed so silent.

Naruto had seen death before. He had fought, he had bled, but this—this was different.

For the first time, he felt the cruel hands of the shinobi world gripping his heart, whispering its harsh truths into his ears.

For the first time, Naruto Uzumaki realized that to reach his dream, he had to step through a path stained with blood.

And for the first time, he wasn't sure if he was ready.

A wicked laugh echoed through the mist as Gato and his bandits emerged from the shadows. The man, small and vile, stepped forward with confidence, sneering at the fallen Haku and the injured Zabuza.

"Hmph, what a pathetic sight. A shinobi who gave his life for a failure like you," Gato mocked, his grin widening as he sauntered toward Haku's lifeless body. Without hesitation, he raised his foot and cruelly kicked Haku's delicate face, twisting it to the side.

Naruto's breath hitched.

In that instant, something inside him snapped.

The boy who once wore a carefree smile felt an unfamiliar darkness boil within him, consuming his very soul. His vision blurred, but not from tears—no, it was something far more terrifying.

A strange warmth spread from his palms, crawling up his arms.

On both of his hands, strange skin-coloured markings, spiralling like ancient patterns, began to surface and glow faintly.

Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.

"W-What is that?"

Before anyone could react, Naruto's chakra surged—wild, uncontrollable, and far beyond anything he had ever shown before. The air trembled around him as the mist began to swirl, drawn by the sheer force of his presence.

In a flash, Naruto moved.

Faster than any human eye could catch, he vanished from his spot and reappeared right in front of Gato. The vile man barely had time to blink before Naruto's fist collided with his stomach.

BANG!

Gato's body was sent soaring through the air like a rag doll, crashing through the wooden planks of the bridge and landing far off into the water with a sickening splash.

The bandits stood frozen, terror gripping their souls.

Zabuza's eyes, filled with disbelief, trembled as he looked at the boy, who once seemed nothing more than a loud-mouthed brat.

"What... what kind of chakra control is this?"

Naruto didn't say a word. His hands, still glowing with the strange Karma-like markings, clenched tightly as the world around him seemed to slow. His eyes, usually filled with warmth and innocence, now reflected something colder—something more terrifying.

"Don't... touch Haku." Naruto's voice came out low and dark, carrying a pressure that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

The bandits panicked and began to retreat, fearing overcoming their greed.

Kakashi, stunned by what he just witnessed, could only mutter, "Naruto... what is happening?"

Gato's body disappeared into the mist, leaving only ripples in the water. The bandits stood frozen in terror, unsure of what had just happened.

Naruto slowly lowered his fist, his body trembling with unfamiliar power. The strange markings that had appeared on both his hands faded into his skin, blending perfectly, as if nothing had ever happened.

No one... noticed.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, observing the scene with caution. From his perspective, Naruto had simply moved faster than he'd ever shown before. But... that could be chalked up to adrenaline, right?

Zabuza's grip on his massive blade tightened as he stared at the boy who had just sent Gato flying like a rag doll. Even he, an elite shinobi from the Mist, couldn't react to that speed.

The remaining bandits, terrified, began retreating in fear.

"We... we're out of here! That kid's a monster!"

The crowd of thugs scattered, disappearing into the fog.

Naruto stood there silently, his eyes still locked on Haku's peaceful face. The rage that burnt within him moments ago was slowly fading, replaced by an indescribable emptiness.

Even after defeating Gato, why did it feel so... hollow?

"Why... why do people like Haku have to die...?" Naruto muttered under his breath, his voice trembling.

Zabuza, who had fallen to his knees, heard Naruto's words. For a moment, the Demon of the Mist clenched his teeth, but... something cracked within him.

He looked at Haku's lifeless body.

The boy who gave everything for him. The boy who saw him as his only world.

A bitter smile crept onto Zabuza's face as he let out a painful chuckle.

"...Haku... even in death... you're still changing people."

Tears welled up in Zabuza's eyes as he rose to his feet, gripping his blade.

"Kakashi... lend me your kunai," Zabuza requested with a hoarse voice.

Kakashi, though cautious, tossed the kunai toward Zabuza, who caught it effortlessly.

"What are you planning, Zabuza?"

"Ending this... my way."

With slow steps, Zabuza began walking through the mist toward Gato's remaining bodyguards. The bandits trembled in fear as the Demon of the Mist approached, drenched in blood and grief.

"Run... if you value your lives," Zabuza growled.

In a final act of vengeance for Haku, Zabuza cut through the remaining bandits like a reaper in the mist, his movements fuelled by sorrow and rage.

Naruto watched silently.

For the first time, he didn't see Zabuza as a villain.

He saw... a man who had lost something precious.

The bridge was stained with blood, yet the mist felt strangely serene.

Zabuza stood in the midst of fallen bandits, his blade heavy with their lives. The rage that once consumed him had faded, replaced by a hollow emptiness that gnawed at his soul.

He turned back to Haku's lifeless body, his eyes filled with sorrow. Slowly, he walked toward the boy who had given everything for him. Kneeling beside Haku, Zabuza reached out and gently brushed the strands of hair from his pale face.

"You... really were too kind for this world, Haku," Zabuza whispered.

Naruto clenched his fists as he watched. His heart ached.

"Zabuza... are you just going to leave him here?" Naruto's voice trembled.

Zabuza remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"A shinobi's life is filled with darkness and blood... I dragged Haku into that world. This was the price he paid for following me."

The mist around them began to disperse as Zabuza rose to his feet.

"I've lost the only light I had... there's nothing left for me here," Zabuza said, turning his back to the group.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, prepared for any sudden moves, but Zabuza... was no longer the same man who had once sought their lives.

"Before I leave... Kakashi," Zabuza spoke without looking back. "Gato... he's been hiding something beneath this land. A mine filled with chakra metal. I planned to keep it for myself... but now, I no longer care."

Kakashi's eyes widened. Chakra metal... a rare material that could absorb and enhance chakra flow. It was something that could change the fate of a village.

"Do with it as you please," Zabuza muttered as he slowly walked away, disappearing into the fading mist.

Naruto's eyes followed Zabuza's fading figure, his heart heavy.

"Zabuza... do you really have to leave like that...?" he whispered.

In the end, Zabuza left the land of waves, not as a monster...

But as a broken man who had lost the only person who truly loved him.

As Zabuza's figure faded into the mist, Naruto's body began to tremble. The strange power that surged through him moments ago had vanished, leaving behind an unbearable emptiness.

His legs weakened.

"Naruto!" Sakura called out in alarm as Naruto's eyes rolled back and he collapsed onto the cold bridge.

Kakashi rushed to him, but after checking his pulse, he sighed in relief. "He's fine... just exhausted."

In the darkness of his mind, Naruto found himself standing in an unfamiliar place—a vast, endless sky dyed in twilight hues.

"Where... am I?"

A voice, calm and ancient, echoed around him.

"So... you're the one who inherited my mark."

Naruto turned around, only to find a figure standing behind him. The man was cloaked in black with strange markings running along his arms, resembling the patterns that had appeared on Naruto's hands earlier.

His eyes... were deep, yet filled with quiet sorrow.

"Who... are you?" Naruto asked cautiously.

The man smiled faintly.

"I am... someone who once fought for everything I believed in, just like you. But in the end... I failed to protect the one I cherished the most."

Naruto's heart tightened as he remembered Haku's peaceful smile, the way he gave his life for Zabuza.

"Why... did you give me this power?"

The mysterious man stepped closer, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Because... this world will not allow you to reach your dream with mere willpower alone. You seek to protect those precious to you, don't you?"

Naruto's eyes widened.

"I do... I want to protect everyone... I want to stop people like Haku from dying."

The man's expression softened.

"Then... bear this Karma. It will become your strength... and your curse."

Before Naruto could ask more, the world around him began to blur.

"Wait! Who are you really?"

The man's voice echoed as the world faded.

"...One day, you'll understand... brother."

Naruto's eyes slowly fluttered open, greeted by the worried faces of his teammates.

"Naruto! You idiot, you scared us!" Sakura scolded, though her eyes were red from crying.

"Oi, dobe... stop collapsing like that," a groggy Sasuke muttered from the side.

Naruto blinked, feeling an odd warmth in his chest. The strange conversation felt like a dream, but...

His hands clenched into fists.

'I'll protect them... no matter what.'