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Naruto Episode #12 - Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns! In Zabuza's hut, Haku lets down his long hair and stares out through a window. In the forest, Haku is dressed like a young girl, picking herbs in the forest. A bird lands on his shoulder and he smiles. He glances at a boy passed out in the grass, it's Naruto. A few birds begin gathering on Naruto's body and he flinches. Haku notices the leaf insignia on Naruto's headband. He remembers how outraged he was when he threw the needles at Zabuza's neck. Haku gingerly appraoches the young Genin and stands over his body. He draws his hand close to Naruto's body and all of the birds flee. At Tazuna's house, Sakura wishes everyone a good morning and sits down at the table. Tsunami gives her some tea. Tazuna asks where Naruto is, and Sakura tells him that he's gone crazy, training all night. He could be dead if he used up all of his chakra. Tsunami hopes he's alright, but Kakashi assures her he's alright, he's goofy, but a full-fledged ninja. Sasuke disagrees and thinks that Naruto is a loser, probably laying dead somewhere in the forest. He gets up from the table and heads out. Sakura asks where he's going, as they just started eating, and he tells her that he's going for a walk. Sakura looks at Sasuke's empty plate with an odd face, he definitely ate fast. Inari hasn't touched his food at all. Back in the forest, Haku is slowly moving his hand towards Naruto's throat. Just as he has a good positioning to clench the boy's throat, he lets go and taps Naruto. He tells him that he'll catch a cold if he stays asleep like that. Naruto awakens and believes it's a girl in front of him, not even recognizing that it's Haku. He rudely asks where he is at first, but realizes his mistake and gets embarassed. He asks what the girl is doing, and Haku tells him that he's collecting. Naruto doesn't know why the girl's collecting herbs, but Haku tells him they're for medicinal purposes. Naruto asks the girl why she's up so early collecting the herbs, and Haku tells him that he likes the morning, and wasn't expecting to find anyone sleeping. Naruto laughs and tells her that he's training. Haku asks if the boy is a ninja or making a fashion statement, because he recognized the headband, even though he knows the answer to that. Naruto is glad that the girl recognized his headband, and he tells her that only super cool ninja get to wear one. Haku acts as if that is impressive, and Naruto continues to laugh. Haku asks if Naruto is training for something dangerous,but Naruto tells her that he's just enhancing his own skills. Haku tells Naruto that he seems strong now, so why does he keep up with the training. Naruto tells her that he must continue to get stronger, so he can become the greatest ninja in his village, earning people's respect, and proving something to a certain person. Haku asks if Naruto is training for that person, or for himself. Naruto looks puzzled and Haku begins giggling. Naruto demands to know what's so funny, and Haku asks if there is someone precious to him. Naruto asks what she means by precious, and Haku begins reminiscing. In this flashback, Haku's village is very snowy. The young boy is sitting all alone with a bruised face and tattered clothing. A man throws something in the dumpster and Haku immediately jumps at the chance to find some scraps. A dog approaches the dumpster also and begins growling at Haku. Haku attacks the dog and continues his search for food. Haku turns around to find the dog's two puppies growling at Haku also, in protection of their parent. Haku stares at the dogs, truly desiring someone to protect him like that. Later on, the boy is once again all alone, sitting and leaning against the railing of a bridge. Haku hears someone approach her, and she looks up to find a man wearing a vest, covering his mouth and chin with bandages. The man with quite an evil stare is a young Zabuza. Naruto wonders what the girl is thinking about. When Haku bounces back to reality, she tells him that when a person has someone they want to protect, they become genuinely strong. Naruto thinks about it for a moment and remembers how Kaiza protected Inari, how Kakashi protected them, how Iruka protected him, and how he returned the favor by protecting Iruka. Naruto tells her that he knows exactly what she's saying. Haku is glad, as he lifts up his basket of herbs. Haku tells Naruto that he should be very strong, and that they'll meet again some day. After taking a few steps, Haku reminds Naruto for next time, that he is indeed, a boy. Naruto can't believe it, as he's prettier than Sakura! Sasuke passes by Haku, and recognizes something familiar about him. He approaches a disgusted Naruto, who claims that was the weirdest experience of his life. Sasuke hits him in the head and calls him a loser for skipping breakfast. Naruto begins to laugh. Sakura and Kakashi are standing together in the forest, and Sakura calls out for Naruto. She believes Naruto could be anywhere, knowing him. Sasuke hadn't come back either. They look up above and see a kunai sail down into the ground. They look up to find Naruto at the top of the tree on a branch, smiling. Sakura compliments him on getting up their using his chakra. Kakashi looks pleased as well. Naruto stands up and begins to boast on the branch, but he slips and falls. Kakashi and Sakura look extremely worried until they find out that Naruto was just kidding when he uses his chakra to stick to the bottom of the branch. Sakura yells at him because she was worried. Kakashi still has a feeling it'll end badly, and he's right. The two of them watch with wide open eyes as Naruto's feet let go of the branch, and he begins to tumble down. Sasuke rushes up another tree and jumps to the tree Naruto had climbed. He uses his chakra control to stick to the same branch Naruto just fell from and grabs the idiotic Genin by his foot and calls him a loser. Sakura is ecstatic that Sasuke saved him and begins complimenting him left and right. Kakashi believes that if he's sain by the end of their training, it'll be a miracle. At Tazuna's house, Inari is in his usual crying position holding the picture of Kaiza. He isn't crying though, instead he says Naruto's name aloud with a hint of bravery. Meanwhile, in the forest hut, Zabuza grasps an apple in his hand and crushes it with brute force. Haku is glad to see that Zabuza is recovering. The Demon of the Hidden Mist assures the young boy that he'll be ready soon, and Haku agrees. It's nighttime and an exhausted Sasuke and Naruto are both at the climax of their respective trees. Sasuke tells Naruto that they should head back, and Naruto agrees. In Tazuna's house, dinner is being served and Sakura makes a comment about Naruto and Sasuke's tardiness, which is unusual for the latter. Right at that moment, Sasuke and Naruto enter through the door triumphantly, yet exhausted. Tazuna tells them that they look like something the cat just brought in. Naruto tells them that both of them have made it to the top of their trees. Kakashi is satisfied, and tells them that tomorrow they move on to being Tazuna's bodyguards. Naruto lifts his arm up in excitement, but knocks himself down along with Sasuke. Sasuke calls Naruto a loser again and everyone laughs, all except Inari of course. Everyone's plates are empty, and Tsunami begins cleaning up. Tazuna tells them that the bridge will be completed in just a few days, and he's grateful for their help. Tazuna reminds himself that he needs to ask Kakashi something. He asks why Kakashi stayed and protected him, even though he lied to get them there. Kakashi recites a quote from the First Hokage, basically telling them that it's both the courageous and correct thing to do. Inari stares at a fatigued Naruto resting on the table. He remembers Kaiza swimming through the rough current, his execution, and when he told him to protect things he cared about with both of his arms. Inai begins sobbing over his memories, and tells Naruto that his training is a waste of time. Gato has an entire army that will hunt him down and destroy him. Everyone watches Inari preach as he tells him that the strong always win, and the weak always lose. Naruto tells the ignorant boy that he can keep believing that, but that doesn't apply to him. Inari replies by saying that Naruto makes him sick. He doesn't know anything about their country, he's just butting in. Naruto is always laughing and playing around, Inari believes that he doesn't know what it feels like to suffer. Naruto asks Inari to listen to himself, whining and complaining like some little victim. He can whimper all he wants, he's just a coward. Sakura scolds Naruto for being so cruel to the young boy. Naruto just gets up from his seat, grunts, and leaves the room. Kakashi looks at young Inari, sobbing his eyes out. Inari is sitting out on his deck alone until Kakashi arrives and asks if he can talk to the young boy. Kakashi sits down next to him and tells him that Naruto can be a little harsh sometimes, but he doesn't hate him. He hesitates, and then tells Inari that Tazuna told them what happened to his father. Kakashi goes on to tell Inari that Naruto also grew up without a father, except he never knew either of his parents. He also grew up without a single friend in their village. Kakashi has Inari's attention now. The Leaf Jonin tells Inari that he's never seen Naruto cry, sulk, or give up. Naruto is always eager to jump in, and his dream is to be respected. He'd even put his life on the line for that dream. Kakashi guesses that Naruto got tired of crying, and decided to be strong. Inari reflects on Kakashi's words for a moment. Kakashi continues by saying Naruto is young, but he knows what it means to be strong, like Inari's father. What Naruto told Inari before may have been cruel, but he's probably said the same thing to himself a thousand times. Inari begins to understand what he needs to do. The next morning, Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna are setting off for the bridge. Kakashi tells Tsunami that he's entrusting her with Naruto, as he's probably still exhausted. Tsunami asks if Kakashi will be alright, and he assures her he'll be fine. Tazuna tells them that they should get going, and they head off. Tsunami looks on with worry. By radio, Gato asks if Zabuza is still caring for his little wounds, sarcastically. Gato begins complaining about how much he's giving Zabuza, but Zabuza doesn't seem to care, as he smashed the radio to pieces. Him and Haku are in a small boat underneath the bridge. He asks Haku if he's ready, and Haku, masked once again, is. Naruto wakes up with drool running down the side of his mouth. He pulls off the blankets quickly and yells. He rushes into the kitchen and asks Tsunami where the others went. She kindly tells him that Kakashi wanted him to rest, and he was given the day off. Naruto knew they'd ditch him, and he hurries to properly clothe himself. After tying his headband on, he says goodbye to Tsunami and rushes out the door. Inari looks depressed as he sits quietly in his room. Naruto leaps from tree to tree, angered that no one woke him up. As he's rushing, he sets his eyes on an odd sight, it's a dead boar, covered in blood. Tazuna can't believe it. To his dismay, all of his workers are lying on the bridge, keeling over in great pain. Kakashi begins to wonder...But back at Tazuna's house, Tsunami calls out for Inari, as she needs some help. Inari tells her that he'll be right there, as the two swordsman from Zabuza's forest hut approach the small house, hands on their blades. A thick mist begins to cover the bridge, making visibility low. Kakashi warns Sasuke and Sakura, and the two of them gather around Tazuna, readying their kunai. Kakashi knew Zabuza was still alive, he just couldn't wait for round two of their fight. Sakura asks Kakashi if it's Zabuza, but she knows the answer before asking because of the Hidden Mist Jutsu. Zabuza's eerie voice is heard, as he addresses Kakashi. He apologizes for keeping him waiting, and he sees he still has the brats with him. Zabuza sees that Sasuke is trembling, and several water clones appear around them. Sasuke tells the Demon of the Hidden Mist that he is trembling, trembling with excitement. Kakashi gives Sasuke permission to attack, and the Genin destroys all of the water clones easily with his kunai. Zabuza sarcastically compliments Sasuke on seeing that they were water clones, but he does see that Sasuke has improved. Haku steps forward, and Zabuza tells the boy that he may have a rival now. Haku agrees, as everyone prepares for battle. Next Episode! Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors Okay, so I slept late. Don't think I'm gonna miss the action 'cuz of that! Whoa, Inari, look at you! You're getting brave, partner. Well, you're dad was a big hero, so maybe it's your turn now! Wait a minute, what about Kakash-sensei and the others? If they're in danger--I've gotta get over there! Next time: Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors. To survive this one, I'll have to kick butt like never before! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
