Naruto: Reborn in His Younger Self

Staring at the figure in front of him, Zabuza's eyes widened in disbelief.

"This is… that brat, Naruto!!!"

Haku was also stunned, eyes fixed on the young man before her. Yes, the appearance was unmistakably his. However, as she focused on his gaze, she faltered. "Naruto… your eyes!"

Zabuza frowned as realization dawned. "Those purple ripples… the spiral pattern of destiny—those are the Rinnegan!"

The Explosion Release user nearby trembled. "No way! Isn't that eye the stuff of legends?! The Eye of the Sage of Six Paths!"

Pakura, standing next to him, nodded solemnly. "It's real… death lets you see the world's truth. I see it clearly now."

Naruto gave a half-hearted smile. "To be honest, I was surprised too when this all happened."

Zabuza narrowed his eyes. "Kid… I knew you'd grow up to be a fine shinobi, but I never imagined you'd rise to this level!"

Naruto shrugged. "Even I didn't plan for things to turn out this way."

Behind him, Orochimaru silently observed, his amusement barely hidden behind a faint smirk.

Minato stepped forward, standing beside Naruto. Kakashi, watching closely, suddenly realized something.

"Don't tell me… Naruto, was it you who used the Impure World Reincarnation to bring back Lord Fourth?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei. Oh, and long time no see."

Sakura and Lee quickly stepped forward.

"Are you okay, Naruto?" Sakura asked, concern in her voice.

Naruto nodded gently. "I'm fine, Sakura."

Lee clenched his fist. "Naruto."

Naruto gave him a cheerful smile. "Lee, it's been a while."

Sai raised his hand with a neutral expression. "Naruto-kun. Long time no see."

Naruto laughed. "Sai!"

Guy let out a warm chuckle. "This feels like a nostalgic reunion."

Naruto smiled at his former teacher. "Guy-sensei, you haven't changed at all—still brimming with the power of youth."

Guy burst out laughing at the compliment.

Meanwhile, deep within the underground Akatsuki hideout, Kabuto smirked. It was the kind of smile you can't suppress—twisted in delight and feverish obsession.

He murmured to himself, "So it's true… Orochimaru-sama really has returned…"

With a sudden pulse of chakra, Kabuto hijacked Zabuza's body, forcing his consciousness to the front.

If they were all going to indulge in nostalgic chatter, then so would he.

"Orochimaru-sama…"

The voice echoed ominously from Zabuza's body, causing everyone to turn in surprise.

Orochimaru tilted his head and smirked. "Ah… that voice. Kabuto?"

Zabuza stepped forward, now controlled by Kabuto, and stopped in front of Orochimaru. "Yes, Orochimaru-sama. You've been back for a while. Why didn't you come looking for me?"

Orochimaru smiled slyly. "I made a pact with Naruto. For now, I'm working with him."

Kabuto, still speaking through Zabuza, narrowed his eyes. "But… you once asked me to prepare Sasuke for your vessel. Now you're helping Naruto? It can't be to take over his body. That's not it, is it?"

Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Kabuto, after following me for so long, surely you understand—what I seek is truth, above all else."

"Truth…?"

"Yes," Orochimaru continued, his tone deadly calm. "Naruto may be the key to unlocking truths this world has hidden for centuries. For that, I'm willing to lend him my power."

Kabuto growled in frustration. "You've changed, Orochimaru-sama. The pursuit of truth should be our own journey! It must be seized by force—not followed like some foolish wind!"

He clenched Zabuza's fists. "I've surpassed you now. I've cast away my humanity, transformed into a true dragon! I am no longer a snake crawling in the shadows—I'm ascended! Hahaha!"

Kabuto's laughter echoed chillingly.

Orochimaru, unbothered, simply watched. "Kabuto… I once loved chasing the wind, too. But now, I find joy in simply waiting for it to blow."

"You are who you are. You don't need anyone else's power or form to define you. Understand that."

Kabuto's face turned cold.

"You… you've grown soft, Orochimaru-sama. You're no longer the master I respected. You've become… something else."

He backed away, his tone now venomous. "Enough sentiment. Let's get to business."

Kabuto's consciousness withdrew from Zabuza's body.

Immediately, Zabuza, Haku, Pakura, and the Explosion Release ninja convulsed violently as sinister chakra surged through them.

Zabuza gritted his teeth. "Kakashi… Naruto… brats… please stop us here!"

Dark chakra surged from him like a ghostly flame.

Guy stepped forward, assuming a battle stance. "This chakra… it's unnatural. That's Yuki clan Ice Release!"

Kakashi nodded grimly. "Yes. Zabuza the Demon—once feared as a silent assassin of the Hidden Mist."

Haku trembled, tears already in her eyes. "Naruto, Kakashi-sensei, Sakura… please defeat us. Again. My only purpose in life was to be Zabuza-sama's tool. I died to protect him… but now, I can't even do that. Not as I am now."

Naruto stepped forward, voice calm. "No, Haku. You did protect him. You fulfilled your dream."

She looked at him, shocked. Kakashi nodded. "Yes. You blocked my Chidori with your own body."

"Then… why did Zabuza-sama still die?" Haku whispered.

Naruto's voice lowered. "Zabuza died because of Gato's men. But make no mistake—Zabuza never saw you as a tool."

Zabuza scoffed, trying to keep his pride intact. "Shut it, brat!"

Naruto smirked. "Come on, Zabuza. You never say what you mean when you're alive, but when you're dying, you suddenly grow a conscience."

Zabuza glared at him, trembling. Haku's eyes darted between them.

Naruto spoke again, firmer now: "At the end… Zabuza admitted he was wrong. He realized that even shinobi are human. That feelings… matter. He realized that he cared for you, Haku."

Zabuza looked away, fists clenched.

Naruto continued, his voice unwavering. "After you fell, Zabuza fought like a madman. Even without his arms, he tore through all of Gato's men. He even killed Gato himself—with a kunai in his mouth!"

"And when it was all over… he begged Kakashi-sensei to carry him to your side."

Haku stared at Kakashi, trembling. Kakashi nodded.

She turned to Sakura, who smiled and nodded as well.

Haku turned back to Zabuza, her eyes filled with emotion. "Zabuza-sama…"

Naruto added softly, "His final words… were that if possible, he wished to be with you again after death."

Haku gasped, stunned. "Zabuza-sama… is that… true?"

Zabuza didn't respond. He kept his back turned, trying to hide his trembling.

Naruto raised his voice again. "Come on, Zabuza! You already died once! Why are you still afraid? A shinobi only sees their true self at the moment of death—you already saw it! So stop running."

Zabuza turned slowly, his face solemn. "You died too fast… I never got to say it. Haku, you've always been by my side. I was too afraid to admit it… but I never saw you as a tool. You were the most important person in my life. I… wanted to protect you too."

Tears spilled from Haku's eyes, but she smiled.

"Zabuza-sama…"

And in that moment, despite the cursed chakra that consumed them, despite the reality of their resurrection, the two shinobi who were once trapped in silence… finally spoke the words they never could in life.

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