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Episode 19; Zabuza Disperses Into The Snow: Gatou shows up with his men on the bridge and dismisses Zabuza of his ninja responsibilities. At that moment, Zabuza apologizes to Kakashi and tells him the battle ends here. He now has no reason to fight them. Gatou walks up to Haku’s lifeless body and kicks it. Naruto screams and tries to run up to him, but Kakashi stops him. Zabuza tells him that Haku is already dead. When Naruto protests in Haku’s defense, Zabuza says that he used Haku just as Gatou used him. He wanted his abilities, not him. Naruto cannot believe that and prepares to fight again. He defends Haku and Haku’s affection for Zabuza. He can’t understand how Zabuza could act so coldly when Haku loved him so much he sacrificed his own life for his. Haku can’t die as a tool. It’s just too painful. The intenseness of Naruto’s soliloquy brings Zabuza to tears. He knows just what Haku did for him and thanks them for being his final opponents. He then asks Naruto for his knife. With the knife in his teeth, he charges into Gatou’s group of men, whipping his head to and from until he is able to reach Gatou. With a couple of swings, Zabuza kills Gatou. Everyone looks on in horror that Zabuza could possibly be still standing with several swords sticking out of his body. After Gatou dies, Zabuza looks at Haku’s body and collapses in the middle of Gatou’s men. He tells Haku goodbye. Naruto starts to look away, but Kakashi tells him that Zabuza deserves his respect and to keep looking. At that moment, Sasuke regains consciousness. Sakura explains that Haku is dead and Sasuke realizes that Haku didn’t kill him on purpose. Everyone is relieved. Suddenly, Gatou’s men interrupt the intenseness to declare that they want revenge. They rush, but are greeted by Inari and all the townsmen, who have stepped up to defend their town. Naruto and Kakashi have just enough chakra to Shadow Replicate and soon Gatou’s men retreat. Zabuza’s last wish is to see Haku’s face. Kakashi carries his limp body over to where Haku’s body lies. He tells Haku that they’ve been together all this time, so he will die next to him. He uses his last bit of energy to touch Haku’s face and wish to go to the same place he has gone. As the ninjas bury Zabuza and Haku’s bodies, Naruto vows not to become an emotionless tool and to follow his own ‘way of the ninja’ - to live as though he will regret nothing. When the bridge is finally completed, the ninjas leave. Tazuna names the bridge in honor of Naruto - the Naruto Big Bridge - so that one day the bridge will be known throughout the world. Episode 20; Enter The New Chapter! It's The Chuunin Exam: Naruto wakes up, eats breakfast, and heads out to meet the others. Sasuke and Sakura are waiting on the bridge for their daily missions. When Naruto and Sasuke see each other, the tension between them mounts. Kakashi shows up late as usual with a handful of missions consisting mainly of errands and household chores. Naruto is very focused on beating Sasuke throughout each task and ends up messing up most of his chores. He not only de-weeds a woman’s garden, but removes her herbs as well. He almost gets pulled over a waterfall until Sasuke saves him. And his dog walks him instead of the other way around. Kakashi senses that today is an off day for teamwork and sends the three home. Sasuke takes one more shot at Naruto by telling him that if he doesn’t want to owe him anything, Naruto will need to become stronger than him. With that, Sasuke heads home by himself. Sakura runs after him and asks if he’d like to practice a technique or two with her. He tells her that she’s just like Naruto and should practice before she asks him. Her level is lower than Naruto’s. This pretty much crushes Sakura as she realizes that she’s done the worst of the three. Naruto tells her not to worry about it and that she could practice with him if she wants. A small box moves its way to Naruto and then explodes revealing Konohamaru and two other kids, Moegi and Udon. The three are the Konohamaru Corps and they want to play ninja with Naruto. Sakura comes up and punches Naruto in the face. She is totally pissed off and about to take out her anger on the kids too. As Sakura chases the kids, they run into two mysterious ninjas. An evil looking male ninja picks Konohamaru up and threatens him. As Kakashi submits his report forms, Iruka asks about Naruto. Kakashi explains that Naruto and Sasuke see each other as rivals, so at times, they are difficult, but their techniques are improving. Naruto attacks the ninja holding Konohamaru, but he uses a technique to knock Naruto back. He starts to hit the kid, but Sasuke interferes, preventing the attack and impressing everyone around Naruto. Another ninja named Gaara shows up and tells him that’s enough. Hokage-sama announces that the Chuunin selection exam will begin 7 days from now - on July 1. |
