#zabuhaku

[uchiha-itachi-amaterasu]

By Masashi Kishimoto

"I want to protect the person important to me. I want to work for that person. I want to fight for that person. I want to make that person's dream come true. That is my dream."

Yuki Haku - January 9 🎂

[ikuzedobe]

New official paired illustrations from the Chinese card game.

~Summer Journey~

Zabuza Momochi & Haku

[manhu]

Parallels between ZabuHaku and SasuNaru.

[cinnamonrollusagi]

Some of my favorite naruto ships/duos! (I’ll have heart can badges of them soon!)

Do not repost

[lukosei]

The least I can do is to be beside you at the end

[impotentsia]

combination.

[theshiki]

Eso explica muchas cosas

[dawnstruck]

A random disjointed observation about the backstory of the Land of Waves/Inari's family which is revealed in chapter 20:

We learn that Inari's father was considered a hero, both by Inari - for saving him from drowning - and by the town at large, because he stood up for what he believed and protected those who needed it. It is also notable that Kishimoto chose to highlight that Kaiza is not actually Inari's bio dad (who died before Inari could really remember him). So we are looking at a very important father-son relationship where the connection they share is more important than their blood relation.

This is further highlighted by the frontpage which shows Naruto and Iruka. While Iruka is not yet that heavily implied to be a father figure to Naruto at this point, we can see that this is a clear parallel. And Naruto of course has no memories of his own bio dad.

Now, Kaiza himself is a simple fisherman from abroad, so technically an outsider in the Land of Waves. He is a nobody with no wealth or social standing. All he has is a positive attitude and a knack for motivating people. Sound familiar?

Kaisa also instils in Inari the lesson that you need to protect those who are precious to you with all your power.

[This same theme is of course later mirrored by Haku and Zabuza, another pair with no blood relation that end up dying for each other. Interestingly, the relationship between Haku and Zabuza is much more diffuse, with many different facets, such as father/son, master/dog, soldier/weapon, brothers-in-arms, but also with overtones that are undeniably romantic.]

However, then of course Gato appears and has Kaiza publically executed for standing in the way of his evil machinations. Not just executed, though, but obviously tortured, mutilated and crucified.

The choice of crucifixion is an interesting one. There is obviously a very Christian/Western connotation to it. But if you look at Japan's history, there was a period where Christians and Christian missionaries in particular were violently prosecuted - with some of them being crucified as punishment.

So crucifixion in general but especially from a Japanese perspective is very much linked to dying for what you believe in. Japanese culture of course has several examples of choosing to die rather than surrendering or giving up your principles/loyalties (e.g. seppuku, kamikaze).

However, Kaisa has no control over the way in which he dies. He is not dying in a way that is glorious or heroic or honorable. And yet, he is smiling.

You know who else saved a boy he wasn't related to from (metaphorical) drowning and was willing to die for what he believed in and kept smiling even after he lost a limb?

[Oh, and Zabuza ALSO lost the use of his arms at the end of his life. Isn't that so interesting?]

Plus, Kaisa (i.e. German "Kaiser") means emperor, and then Naruto becomes hokage, so.