Episode 19 - Demon in the Snow

Jumping right in, Zabuza's questioning why Gato showed up with an army. Gato says it's more cost-effective to hire Rogue Ninja that real shinobi, and if you off your Rogue Ninja, then you don't have to pay them at all. This sparks a truce between Kakashi and Zabuza. Gato gets in a bit of payback on Haku's corpse for breaking the crimeboss' arm earlier, and disappointed to find Haku already corpsefied. Naruto's pissed off, and demands to know why Zabuza isn't, but since Haku is dead the Mist Demon doesn't see the point. Haku was just a tool, like Zabuza says all real shinobi are, and he has no regrets with how things have shaken down. Naruto shakes off Kakashi's attempt to calm him down, still wanting Zabuza's head on a platter. The poor kid just can't wrap around the devotion Zabuza inspired in Haku, and how Zabuza can't care at all now that he's dead. It prompts Zabuza to shed a few tears. Dang. Zabuza drops his mask, admitting that the ideal emotionless shinobi state may not exist, and calls for Naruto's kunai. The rogue ninja catches it in his teeth and dashes at the goon squad, and already I'm not liking their chances. Zabuza goes on a murder spree with the freaking blade in his mouth, and breaks through to go to Gato. Awesome visual effect of Zabuza running at Gato, who gets the knife in his chest. Zabuza gets about a half a dozen in his back. Zabuza's going to take Gato to hell with him, slicing him up and knocking him off the bridge. The GatoCo corporate structure now has a large opening.

The ronin are freaked out as Zabuza makes an attempt to reach Haku, but can't manage more than a few steps before finally succumbing to his wounds. Naruto tries to look away, but Kakashi makes him look, and understand what's just happened. Sasuke slowly comes to, and finds a weeping ninja maiden on his chest. "Sakura... you're heavy." HAH! She then tearfully hugs Sasuke, probably driving a few needles deeper in, but we can forgive our girl in this instance. She's really happy Sasuke's still alive, and so is Naruto, and finally gets that nothing Haku did was lethal. One of the dimmer thugs rallies the troops to take away the money-stealing ninja, and for a minute I think we might get a solid fight with the mooks. It's broken up by Inari's crossbow bolt, as he and the townsfolk arrive on the scene. Naruto helps with Shadow Clone Jutsu, and so does his mentor (Kakashi Version!). The goons have what you might say lost their nerve, and beat feet before the triumphant townsfolk.

Zabuza, nearly dead, asks Kakashi a favor, wanting to see Haku's face one last time. Kakashi carries him to Haku's body as a snow starts to fall for both the rogue ninjas. "At the very least, I can be by your side at the end." I think this might be the most touching villain death I've seen short of Darth Vader's. His hand on Haku's cheek, the Mist Demon finally passes. Outside the village, Sakura asks if things really should be like Zabuza and Haku said. Ninja are tools, Kakashi says, but Naruto doesn't by it. Sasuke asks Kakashi what he thinks, but he's sort of evasive. Naruto boldy says he's going to seek his own Way of the Ninja, without that emotionless tool crap. The townsfolk are wishing Squad Seven a fond farewell, and everybody's going to miss everbody else. Both Naruto and Inari struggle to be the first not to cry (even though it's okay this time), with Naruto punking out first in a delightful moment. Much building of bridges, of all kinds, and Tazuna's decided on a name for their new bridge - The Naruto Great Bridge. Heh!

As they leave, Naruto talks about all the things he's going to do (eat ramen and brag), Sakura asks Sasuke out (DENIED!), and Naruto offers to go in his place (DENIED! Also punching!). Closing out, Tazuna says that calling it the Naruto Bridge is just getting in on the ground floor - that name's going to be big one day.

Next Episode: Naruto still wants exciting missions. You'd think he'd learn. Also, the dead-eyed ninja kid!