Future Mizukage

Zabuza was tired, extremely tired, it has been decades, he would have all but forgotten this was an illusion world, if the world didn't repeat itself everyday.

Again and again, again and again, he lived the same day.

No matter what he tried, the results never changed, he was trapped in an endless nightmare.

" Let me out.. "

Zabuza finally said the words he swore ten years ago he would never say.

This was the code word Shin had given Zabuza at the end of first week.

It has been 20 years since then.

And like clockwork, as the words were uttered, Shin came before Zabuza.

" Your willpower is commendable, it took you 20 years to admit defeat. "

Shin gave a honest to god smile, Zabuza was a tough man, he was someone who as a child with no training, killed an entire class of graduating ninja, these genins were genins of the Mist village, not Konoha's flower Ninja's.

Zabuza was a tough man, so tough he didn't know fear and attempted to assassinate Mizukage by himself, even Mei had subordinates, Zabuza wasn't known to have anyone but the demon brothers, two ordinary Chunin.

" I won't sell Mist. "

Zabuza gave his only condition, but this was good enough, before Shin had come to him a decade ago, he had told Shin he would break out by himself and kill him, no matter how long it took.

' But Zabuza is human too, no matter how strong his willpower is, it also has limits. '

Shin nodded to him, as he snapped his fingers

" Zabuza sama.. "

Haku appeared before Zabuza, who's eyes took on a relived look for a slipt second and returned back to normal.

Haku and Zabuza had a bond, a bond like family.

Through many years of genjutsu, Shin had come to understand a lot about Haku, about how dire circumstances had forced Haku to hide herself, yup, Haku was a girl, Shin wondered if he was in AU for a while there, but later chalked it up to Ninja's being sneaky.

During this genjutsu trip, there was one more thing he knew for certain, that Haku thought of Zabuza as an elder figure, someone who helped her when she was dying and gave her life a purpose.

While Zabuza thought of Haku as a younger ninja who was too kind for her own good, she had grown on him almost like a little sister would, even if he disguised his emotions by calling her but a disposable tool.

Their relationship was twisted, but they lived in blood mist village, emotions were for the weak.

Still, Shin wasn't as crazy and didn't want this weird way of getting together to continue.

" You guys are ready to die for each other, why bother to hide it Zabuza? Haku with me, has been looking at you for years now, how many days you were worried about her, how Haku is fine or not, we both know. "

Zabuza glared at Shin and gritted his teeth.

This was shameful, but soon he let out a breath as he let go.

" Whatever, I don't care. "

Haku smiled the purest smile, Zabuza didn't lash out, she was so happy.

" Ho? Twenty years of solitude changed you a lot. "

Zabuza didn't speak, he had learnt to be unnaturally patient, decades alone makes you think, he has long come to terms about his care for Haku and now that he has accepted working for Shin, he didn't have much burden anymore.

Haku knew Zabuza like a book, seeing him feeling melancholy, she took the lead and walked upto him, as she sat down beside him.

" Look at you, what are you, father daughter? Older brother younger sister? Sensei student? "

Shin asked slightly intrigued.

Haku thought for a second as she and Zabuza both looked at each other.

Haku smiled and Zabuza turned the other way and grunted.

Seeing them become silent after a round of non verbal communication, Shin just raised his eyebrows.

" Alright then, keep your secrets. "

Shin shrugged, this mattered not, what matters is what he will do now.

" It has been a while for you, but before 20 years had passed here, you had assassinated the Mizukage. Why? "

Zabuza's eyes had a nostalgic look to it, remembering his past actions.

" Yagura was too bloody, it was just weakening Kiri, I wanted to dethrone him and get Kiri back on track. "

Shin nodded, as he asked.

" Do you want to become Mizukage? "

Zabuza laughed lightly.

" I did, but I work for you now. "

Shin smiled as he looked intrigued.

" Oh, why do you think working for me and your goals collide? "

Zabuza frowned.

" I said, I will not sell the Mist, if that is what you want, just kill me. "

This he said with resolution, Zabuza was a man of conviction, he had his boundaries, even if he has agreed to be a tool for Shin, his sharpest blade.

" Oh the blade in my hand refuses to obey? "

Zabuza mockingly laughed.

" Best blades have a temper of their own, it's the swordsman who learns to use them to their fullest extent. "

Shin laughed loudly, he was very impressed with Zabuza's mental fortitude.

" Yes, you a seven swordsman of the Mist is really qualified to say this, Kubikiribocho or Samehada, both have their unique tempers, so, my sword, I would ask you again. "

Sitting before Zabuza, Shin spoke seriously.

" Do you want to be Mizukage? I require you not to sell Mist, I need you to make it stronger. To bring it back to it's peak and then more. "

Zabuza looked appalled, he was ready to say goodbye to his dream, so what was this.

" Why would you do this? "

Shin smiled.

" You are the Mizukage and you work for me, isn't it obvious. "

Zabuza frowned.

" You want to rule the Mist? "

Shin nodded.

" Yes, I want to rule the Mist, too much potential has been squandered, it's an utter waste. "

Seeing Shin being completely serious, Zabuza laughed aloud, even before his twenty years of solitude in genjutsu, he laughed only as a baby.

So this was an incredible sight for Haku and Shin.

" Hahahaha! What a day, an Uchiha wants to rule as Mizukage, Konoha has really decayed. "

Looking at Shin, Zabuza understood what Shin was up to.

It looked like the Uchiha massacre wasn't clean, Konoha was also fighting a war, an internal war.

But what does it have to do with Zabuza.

" I agree, I don't care who actually leads, as long as the work is for the betterment of Mist, I would gladly follow your every command, so will Haku. "

Looking at Haku, Zabuza smiled, and Haku smiled back, defaulting to his claims.

" I will give you all the power, I will be your puppet kage. "

Zabuza agreed, this was good for the Mist as well.

He wasn't sure if he could beat Yagura, having a beast like this boy would increase their chances of winning tremendously.

As for betraying Shin? Zabuza wasn't dumb and he knew Shin wasn't either, if he could catch him in a genjutsu when he was fully prepared for a kill, he can always do it again.

keeping hidden traps on Zabuza, to make sure no betrayal happened wasn't hard for a ninja of Shinnosuke's calibre.

' And why take the risk if there is nothing to gain, a man such as him on the helm would only make Kiri stronger. '

Be it from a practical standpoint or personal ideology, Zabuza was ready to work for Shin.

" Excellent. Now we go back, I heard there is one more rebel team forming, let's get to Yagura before they do. "

Zabuza grinned as he got up and the surroundings changed to the forest again, his familiar blade was once again back in his hand.