Chapter 32 Zombies

As soon as the Reagent was injected, the needles were disposed and Haku and Zabuza were bound to the table. Naruto watched patiently for something to happen, Brainiac watched the time as it passed. The corpses do not move or show any signs of movement.

"Fifteen Seconds", says Brainiac.

They continue to wait. Though nothing seems to happen.

"Are you sure the dosage was right Brainiac", asks Naruto.

"Positive, there was no way it could have been wrong. One Minute, forty five seconds besides if the dosage was wrong then we'd only have to worry about them eating our brains", says Brainiac.

"What", screamed Naruto.

Then they look as Zabuza's fingers begin to twitch. His eyes slowly open. Then he convulses like having a heart attack. Naruto and Brainiac hold him down as he attempts to make sure he does not cause further damage to himself against the bonds, though he cuts his wrists on the bonds. He screams as time goes on. After fighting with him for nearly five minutes Zabuza stops moving and just looks around. Several stitches had come undone and were leaking blood to the ground.

"Where the hell am I, what happened", asked Zabuza none to happy.

"Welcome back to the land of the living Zabuza", says Brainiac.

"Brainiac watch Haku", says Naruto.

"You're no fun", says Brainiac.

"Stop saying that", says Naruto.

Brainiac turns around to check up on Haku. Naruto looks at Zabuza for a while.

"You, you are that kid with the wierd summons. Where am I", asks Zabuza.

Naruto takes a deep breath.

"Zabuza I don't know how to tell you this, but..", said Naruto before being interupted.

"You died and we brought you back to life, congratulations you are a zombie", says Brainiac.

"Shut up, sorry about him. But you did die and I did bring you back", says Naruto.

Zabuza looked at Naruto with eyes wide.

"What, brought back to. I'm a zombie,", screams Zabuza.

Before Naruto could say anything he was interrupted.

"Naruto, we seem to have a small problem with Haku", says Brainiac.

Naruto quickly moved over to Brainiac. Looking down he saw that Haku's heard was beating uselessly. Though he did not move. His eyes were open and scanning the room.

"What's wrong with Haku", asks Zabuza.

Brainiac inspects Haku for a moment while Hakus eyes look at Naruto and widen. It became increasingly clear that Haku was incapable of movement in any way except for his eyes, which looked around the room frantically.

"The reagent has had an adverse effect on his bloodline. The reagent worked like Zabuza's did, but Haku is still a corpse. The problem is that his lower body temperature combined with being dead effectively makes him frozen, but alive. Well undead really but who's keeping track", says Braniac.

Naruto looks fearfully at Haku then turns to Brainiac.

"Can we do something. Anything", asks Naruto.

Brainiac nods.

"Well, we could use him as a decoration to liven up the place, Maybe as a coat rack", says Brainiac.

"This is not the time for jokes Brainiac, help Haku now", demanded Naruto sounding quite angry at Brainiac.

"Fine, just give me a moment. I mean Alien God science isn't an exact science. Or is it the other way around, after all I'd think that alien gods would know more about the universe than us mere mortals with our limited lives, and our weak minds, and our 'Oh no we see the alien gods that live beyond the veil of time and space that's made of tentacles and snot and now we go crazy'", says Brainiac mostly to himself.

Brainiac begins testing Haku further while his visible heart beats faster.

"What the hell is going on, and don't lie to me boy", asks Zabuza.

Naruto looks at Zabuza. He begins fixing his stitches as he explains.

"I have a lot to explain ans little time to explain it, so listen here. You both died at the bridge. I sent clones to collect your corpses to bring you both back to a state resembling life. Though only your Brain, nervous system, and Muscles work as they once did. though your feeling to pain has been muted. Your Cardiovascular and Digestive system are functional, though completely useless for your continued survival. Everything else is effectively dead. You cannot regenerate but for all intents and purposes you both are alive. We fixed you up as best we could but Haku is having complications due to his bloodline. My clone Brainiac is currently looking into helping Haku. We are in my secret lab underneath Konoha. Our mission is to stop Cthulhu a Great Old One who's power is so alien and horrible that no mere man can even so much as look at him without going insane. We are also in possession of a book filled with arcane Knowledge called the Necronomicon, which is a book that was written by the Outer Gods, strange creatures who's power is as great to Cthulhu as Cthulhu's is to ours. We are Trying to save the world from a most horrifying death", says Naruto.

Zabuza only looks confused at Naruto as he processes that information. He then looks at his body as Naruto fixes the stitches.

"There good as new", says Naruto.

Naruto turns to Haku who's eyes were fixed on Zabuza. Naruto's eyes go soft as he looks at the immobile Haku.

"I'm so sorry, I will do everything in my power to help you move again", says Naruto.

Brainiac completes his tests.

"Well, I can fix Haku, though i need time to research. Until then as long as we keep the room at temperatures of at least ninety-eight degrees then Haku should be able to move albeit with some difficulty, though room temperature is not good for him", says Brainiac.

"Increase the temperature in the room as hot as it goes", says Naruto.

"Sure whatever, by the way if someone spontaneously combust please let me know so I can watch", says Brainiac as he goes to a console and increases room temperature. After a few minutes Haku moves around sluggishly. He looks at Naruto.

"What happened on the bridge", asks Haku.

Naruto looks around the room fearfully reluctant to speak, but after a moment he does.

"Something attacked me and forced me into. Well we call it my Eldritch form. I'm not human, not anymore anyway. Whatever attacked me forced me to use my powers against you while it dragged you out of your mirrors. Did you see it, what did it look like", asked Naruto.

Haku looks at the porthole on his chest and stares as his heart beats before him.

"Whatever it was I could not see it, though I could feel it once it dragged me out of the mirrors", said Haku.

"Maybe only I could see it with my eyes. I'm sorry Haku, I never ment for any of that to happen. Whatever it is it has been messing with my life since I was three", said Naruto.

At that Zabuza raised an eyebrow.

"Why can I see my heart", asks Haku.

"Brainiacs idea, he though it would look cool", says Naruto.

"Oh", says Haku not looking away from the porthole.

"Kid tell me everything", says Zabuza.

Naruto sits as he explains everything in his life. Fom the discovery of the Necronomicon, how he had the summoning contract far longer than they though, about cthulhu, about the fox, even his parentage the conversation took over an hour. Then he simply looked at them.

"Well, quite a story. So I take it you want my help against the giant squid headed monster", asks Zabuza.

"You could say that, though truly I did have some other ideas. I did a little research on you Zabuza. I heard about your attempted Coup against the Mizukage. I had an idea, a proposition I'd like you to hear", said Naruto.

"Fine, I'm listening", says Zabuza.

"I will help you overthrow Kirigakure, give you access to some of my technology we are developing by improving the tech we get from our missions. So far we have a unique mask built from improving and weaponising the mask the demon brothers mask and are working on improving their gauntlet. Once you take over you make a treaty with Konoha. When Cthulhu comes I want as many alliances as possible, also I want you to personally give me some of the unique equipment of Kiriakure to alter and improve in my labs. I also request you not let the Hokage or anyone else know of this place, this is secret for now and I don't want my technology to be used against our fellow man, this will be an exception a calculated risk", says Naruto.

Zabuza looks at Naruto for a while.

"Deal", says Zabuza.

Naruto smiles as he walks next to Zabuza.

"Good", says Naruto as he undoes Zabuza's binds.

Once freed Zabuza rubs his wrists. He then turns to Haku.

"Will he be alright", asks Zabuza fearful.

That was when Brainiac walked in.

"He'll be fine he won't be able to move normally. I have found a procedure detailed in the Necronomicon that should help, the process my have side effects, it is evasive and Haku will not be able to sleep through it, because you know. Dead and all that jazz. Either way it should not take long, though I ask you leave the room", says Brainiac.

Naruto nods.

"What do you need", asks Naruto.

Brainiac smiles.

"Standard medical equipment, samples of the reagent, the Necronomicon, access to Orochimaru's documents, and a team of clones", says Brainiac as he adjusts his goggles.

Naruto nods.

"You got it, now how long will it take", asks Naruto.

Brainiac smiles.

"Only a few hours", says Brainiac.

Naruto shows Zabuza around the labs while Brainiac works on Haku. Occasional screams do not help with Zabuza's mood. Nor do the occasional sounds of maniacal laughter.

"Whats with that guy", asks Zabuza.

"I don't know, either way he may be a little off, but he is still a clone of me", says Naruto.

Zabuza looks down at Naruto for a moment.

"That says all kinds of things about you I dodn't want or need to know", says Zabuza.

"Brainiac is a result of being a clone used to research equipment for way too long. And apparently my clones do not have my insanity immunity, and well you see the results. I just hope I don't become insane whenever he dispels. Luckily he is working on that himself", says Naruto.

Then the door opens. Brainiac walks out of the room covered in red snow and blood.

"So how did it go", asks Naruto.

Brainiac smiles.

"It was a complete success, there have been some alterations to Haku's appearance but he will be able to handle room temperature and below without becoming a popsicle", says Brainiac.

Zabuza stands up.

"Take me to him", he demanded.

Brainiac walks back into the room motioning for them to follow. When they walk in they see Haku. His skin was covered in frost making him appear very pale, though as he moved the ice cracked and healed eyes were glowing an unearthly blue color, his heart was still visible through the porthole though it glowed red as if on fire. Haku's fingers were the most interesting. They were long claws that looked like icicles that clacked together when Haku moved his hand.

"Wow", says Naruto.

"I feel a bit different, but not much", says Haku with his breath visible as he spoke.

He looked at his ice clawed hands and clacked them together.

"Thats to be expected, after all you are dead, and because the procedure should have killed you, but being already dead made it easy to throw away the humane parts of the procedure and saved time. After all you can't be inhumane to a corpse", said Brainiac.

Haku stared wide eyed at Brainiac.

"Anyway you should know that your body will naturally absorb heat around you so you will not freeze. Your core temperature is actually very hot. Hotter than a normal human, but because there is no heat around you as it is being absorbed quickly it will be forever cold outside your body. Your bloodline remains. Heat will also have no effect on you as you absorb it much to quick. In cold weather your body uses stored head to keep you moving, so even though you are effectively an ice person, the cold is more dangerous to you than the heat. Though it will never kill you, just make you a statue. Though I do not recommend staying in cold environments longer than necessary, unless the prospect of being a still living statue appeals to you. Your stored head can only last so long", says Brainiac.

"That's all a bit weird", says Haku.

Brainiac smiles.

"Of course it's weird, I'm a mad scientist. We use science in ways no scientist would ever think of, we take science behind the shed and beat the crap out of it until it does what we say. We live out side the box my dear. And the Necronomicon was created outside that box, it is every Mad Scientist dream come true", says Brainiac.

"The Necronomicon is weird", says Haku.

"Yes, yes it is. Beautiful and strange. If I could marry a book it would be that one. Unfortunately there are 'laws' against that kind of thing. Bah, they will never understand our love", says Brainiac as he pets the Necronomicon.

"Behave Brainiac, or you are not going to get to use the book for a while", said Naruto.

"What. How could you say such things in front of my love", says Brainiac while hugging the book.

"Fine forget it, just get back to work", says Naruto.

Brainiac nods.

"Come my love, we have delicious, beautiful, magical science to do", says Brainiac as he leaves.

"Please don't let him near me again", says Haku.

"I can't promise that, but I will do my best", says Naruto.

Zabuza coughs.

"So I get that I'm dead and all. When do I have to start worrying about falling apart", asks Zabuza.

"You don't, the Divine flower not only helps in memory reconstruction, but prevents decomposition as well. The only problem is you will not heal any wound ever. But a few stitches should patch you up, just don't lose anything to big", says Naruto.

"Good, I think. Ok now down to business. Where is my sword", asks Zabuza.

Naruto smiles as he leads Zabuza over to the armory. Zabuza inspects his blade before putting it on his back.

"Good, so Naruto right", asks Zabuza.

Naruto nods.

"Alright, Naruto. When can I get back in business", asks Zabuza.

"Soon, we are outside of Konoha right under a forest, and An emergency escape hatch does exist, but the eject function is not yet installed so you will have to climb out. memorize the landscape, we will use it as a way to communicate back and forth until we get a more reliable communication system up. I will use disguised clone caravans to send you some equipment I approve you using and we will agree on a drop off point on a later date. Also remember to keep yourselves hidden, you both are technically dead", says Naruto.

"Not bad, alright show us the exit", Asks Zabuza.

Naruto leads them to a large room with a closed door. When the door is open Zabuza sees that it goes straight up.

"The shaft is over a hundred feet high, it leads to a hollowed out tree. Be sure to cover up the hatch when you get out", says Naruto.

Zabuza nods.

"Well, see ya kid, and Thanks", says Zabuza.

He looks to Haku.

"Ready", asks Zabuza.

Haku looks back at Naruto for a moment before giving him a smile.

"Thank you Naruto for everything you done, and while I will still have to get used to my new appearance, I will always think of you as a friend and someone precious to me", says Haku.

Naruto nods.

Haku follows behind Zabuza as they climb the shaft. Naruto closes the door and walks back to the labs.

"So you bring them to life, make one into a creature of ice, and then let them go. After all that hard work to create popsicle, bah. Why are you the leader again", asks Brainiac.

"We have allies now, ones we can trust, and ones who I trust as well", says Naruto.

"Yes trust a ninja that betrayed his own village, smart move boss", says Brainiac.

"I know what I'm doing Brainiac", says Naruto.

Brainiac simply waves him off.

"Fine, fine, ninja zombies roaming the country side. Already our world is a little stranger because of you. Wait why am I complaining, there are zombies in the world. Oh happy day", says Brainiac.

Naruto shakes his head.

"Anyway I'm out, Just make sure you update Xel when he gets back", says Naruto.

"Yeah, yeah, tell the fish man spying in the sewers that zombies are real and I made a super zombie", says Brainiac.

Naruto only shakes his head as he leaves.