Chapter 196: Just Solving the Problem

Of course, if Shikamaru finally decided to make his move, he already understood that now it is unlikely that he will be able to peacefully resolve the issue with Haku, allowing his partner to die in this way. Shikamaru could not yet understand exactly who Zabuza was for him, especially with the boy's inclinations to dress up in women's clothes. In any case, it is highly doubtful that he will be glad that he was not allowed to sacrifice himself for his sake. But, there was no choice, there was no way to solve this situation in a peaceful way. The most that Shikamaru could do is try to erase Haku's memories or somehow influence the brain, sealing the unnecessary. In any case, it would have to intervene in one way or another. If not, Haku would just die again, yet he really wasn't that bad in speed.

Having already pierced Zabuza, Kakashi raised his eyebrows in surprise and turned sharply.

- Sh-shikamaru ?! What are you here ... Where did you come from?

"Well," Shikamaru slowly got up and walked towards Haku, the shadow separating the two also began to shrink. Kakashi continued to stare in bewilderment at this strange situation, as did the dying Zabuza, Sakura, and Tazuna. Even the almost unconscious Sasuke watched this scene in bewilderment, already falling to his knees and trying to make out at least something.

Kakashi wondered more why Haku didn't move when Shikamaru acted, why the shadow just held him, but didn't make him mimic the movements. The boy could not even twitch a muscle, he barely turned his head at the sound of steps and clenched his teeth in anger:

- Y-you!

“Hi,” Shikamaru waved his hand, stopping next to the boy. It was a whole head smaller than him, so Shikamaru leaned over slightly and grinned.

- You should sleep baby, the pain will pass. - as soon as two pairs of silver discs appeared in Shikamaru's eyes, Haku instantly lost consciousness and the shadow immediately released him.

Shikamaru sat down and slowly pulled the mask off his face.

- Maybe it was not worth pulling ... - mentally he just sighed, on the one hand he could have dealt with everything earlier and did not reach it. In part, he hoped to solve it somehow deliberately, but in the end he realized that Haku was willing to die for Zabuza, no matter what. He really underestimated the boy's determination. He hoped that he would hesitate, but for some reason he didn't try to stop Kakashi, he just wanted to die, as if doing his duty ...

"I'm a bad guy ..." - bringing the situation to this point for his own purposes, Shikamaru acted quite selfishly, completely ignoring the feelings of others, especially the feelings of Haku. He could save both and allow them to become his loyal people after, but, the cruelty is that Shikamaru only needed a boy, Zabuza was not on the list.

Any of Haku's wishes coincided with those of Zabuza, which was not at all what Shikamaru was interested in. On the one hand, everything is so, but on the other, he allowed Haku to survive, even despite his wishes. Zabuza had killed enough to come to that day and die in battle as a shinobi. It is not at all necessary that such a useful member of the Yuki clan die. Is it cruel? From a part it is, but here it was impossible to do otherwise.

Shikamaru sighed in disappointment.

`` You did not weakly powder his brains, '' casting a glance at Zabuza, the guy chuckled.

- You can die in peace, I will look after him ... - then he frowned sharply and looked away:

- We have guests.

Everyone immediately turned their heads and paid attention to the newcomers. Before Kakashi even had time to ask what Shikamaru had forgotten here, their case was again interfered.

- A-ta-ta! Wow ... Looks like these fools decided to die. What a disappointment, ”the small man in dark glasses snorted with contempt. Gato in person, with his cane and in a formal suit.

Shikamaru just chuckled, the arrival of these fools looked as stupid as ever. Coming to your own funeral with such confidence is a really funny sight.

Taking a scroll from his pocket, the guy folded a row of seals and placed it on Haku's head:

- Sit here, - slapping the boy on the chest, a cloud of smoke rose from him and he was instantly sealed.

The current Shikamaru had no difficulty in sealing people or living things, he could even put chakra in special storage tanks or pump it out of others using Jūgo's power and place it in fuin structures.

Finish here, the guy got up and cracked his neck, then turned to Kakashi.

- Let's chat later. He let go of the dead Zabuza and nodded gloomily.

- Looks like you've been here for a long time, don't you?

There was no answer as Gato laughed again.

- Everything is as good as possible, two idiots are dead and now you won't have to pay anyone. You guys have done me a service! It's a pity, - looking at Tazuna, Gato snorted: - This geek is not dead. Give it to me and I'll pay you well!

Kakashi frowned, while Shikamaru just laughed and turned.

- Sakura!

- A ... W-what? - but before she could meet Shikamaru's gaze, she immediately lost consciousness. Sasuke has already passed out. Since the children did not see, then ...

Shikamaru laughed ominously and walked towards Gato. Kakashi frowned, he began to clearly understand where this was going. In this situation with Tazuna there was only one way out ...

"Shikamaru, what are you up to?"

The guy stopped for a moment and turned slightly:

- I solve your problem.

- You ... - Hatake did not know how to answer. He was well aware that removing Gato was a reasonable option, but ...

Before he had time to think about it, Gato himself gave a voice:

- Hey, where are you going ?! To stand!

Unfortunately for him, Shikamaru actually stopped.

- I think you misunderstood something stupid ... From that moment, Haku is mine, which means you came here to challenge me ... - the guy's lips curled into an evil grin and at the same moment, his eyes narrowed:

- Rest in peace!

Gato and the crowd at first did not understand what Shikamaru meant, but as soon as he folded several seals, even the bridge trembled.

“What… what the hell ?!

- What the heck?!

But, before they had time to indulge in complete panic, a huge tree dragon's head burst out of the water. The jaw bared its teeth and snarled viciously. She lowered herself to the crowd of people in one movement. No one had time to react, as the mouth together with the bridge swallowed them all and instantly squeezed them into a bloody mess.

The dragon finished his work and returned to the water again, curled up into a ball and petrified. For him, killing a couple of insects was not difficult.

Kakashi opened his mouth in amazement unable to say a word, he was surprised not so much that Shikamaru killed everyone with such cold-bloodedness, but what he saw ... Legendary element for the whole world of shinobi and even more legendary for Konoha - Mokuton! Who would have thought that she would appear again, and even in such a bloody way ...