I have often wondered if Naruto fans were given a taste of Akatsuki long before any of the members made an appearance. Much before the mind-turning brilliant extravaganza of Shippuden could unfold, Zabuza and Haku pretty much operated in a similar fashion.
Both Zabuza and Haku were notorious killers in the Land of Waves and operated as a team. While Zabuza was feared as the Demon of Hidden Mist, Haku stayed a mysterious henchman of Zabuza – a complex character who was introduced and eliminated way early in the series.
Though it ended early, the duo left a lasting impression on the viewers, pretty much in a similar fashion as some of the iconic Akatsuki members.
(Spoilers ahead)
Zabuza and Haku – a lethal shinobi pair
A while before Team 7 would fight the last battle against Zabuza and Haku on the bridge which Tazuna was building, Haku managed to save Zabuza by throwing Senbon needles and hitting at precise locations to temporarily put him into a death-like state. All that, from a distance. That extreme precision is rooted in medical knowledge which made him nimble and lethal.
Haku’s loyalty towards Zabuza made them a killer pair. Kisame Hoshigaki paired with Itachi Uchiha and the pairing of Zabuza and Haku is almost a smaller representation of it.
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The Kekkei Genkai of Crystal Ice Mirrors
This one pertains to Haku alone. Kekkei Genkai elevates the level of a shinobi by multifold. Itachi Uchiha demonstrated the strongest use of mutation along with Deidara.
Haku’s clan had already shrunk during his childhood and the few who were left chose to hide their Kekkei Genkai in the fear of being persecued. Haku could have easily been the last of his clan who could use his Kekkei Genkai and attack with Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and traverse through them via teleportation.
It took Sasuke’s Sharingan to track Haku’s movements and counter-attack which makes him a formidable enemy. Zabuza and Haku were brought back by Edo Tensei in the Fourth Shinobi World War, yet again confirming the potential for them to be Akatsuki members.
The teal nail polish and single hand signs and name
One of the iconic aspects of Akatsuki is their painted nails. Take that patriarchy!
There are multiple theories on why they did so, and I like to think that Masashi Kishimoto was probably inspired by Babylonians who painted their nails as a ritual for preparing for war, or for the sheer display of disobedience in a stoic and conservative society.
While the reason for the painted nails could be any, Haku was the first character where the viewers saw painted nails. He was also just Haku, no surname, just like Deidara. This, and he could also weave signs using one hand!
Zabuza on the other hand went through quick changes in his look from his first attack on Tazuna to his last battle on the bridge. His nails weren’t painted at first but then he was wearing gloves on the bridge, so we wouldn’t know about the nail paint colour, if any.
Character dualities of the pair
Akatsuki were simple and complex at once, harboring dualities and untold stories about them. Itachi Uchiha is a fine example of that. Haku is probably the only androgenous character in the whole series, and going beyond the skin, he battled this duality of being soft and kind in his nature and a killer shinobi on demand.
Zabuza and Haku complemented each other, like Itachi and Kisame, Sasori and Deidara. Zabuza’s hard exterior was softened by Haku’s kindness, a trait which let him die as a human, not a demon.
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Zabuza and Haku impact Team 7
Team 7’s fight with Zabuza and Haku left a lasting impression on them as a whole.
The Zabuza and Haku arc was the first time when Naruto viewers tasted the grey side of characters and understood that shinobis are just pieces irrespective of the side they are fighting, no matter how powerful.
This was the first time when Sasuke reconnected with his Sharingan, Naruto released a massive amount of Kurama’s chakra, Sakura disobeyed the laws that reign a shinobi’s emotional realm, and Kakashi carried the body of his opponent, respecting his final wishes.
“You were always at my side… At the very least, I can be at your side in the end.” – Zabuza Momochi “When a person has something precious to protect, that’s when they can truly become strong.” – Haku
There was a tremendous amount of growth for everyone here, and Zabuza and Haku were indeed a pair which gave us hints on Akatsuki before the organisation could emerge.
