YMMV / Naruto – Land of Waves Arc

• Franchise Original Sin: Sakura does very little in the arc, save one time when she tries to defend Tazuna from a would-be assassin (Kakashi steps in before she has to do anything) and another when she tries to help Sasuke against Haku (Naruto jumps in and Sakura doesn't try again). Otherwise, she just stands there on the sidelines while the boys do all the actual fighting. Sadly, this would be indicative of her role in much of the series.
• Magnificent Bastard:
  • Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, gained his title after killing over a hundred academy students, proceeding to climb through the ranks and become one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Exiled with his apprentice Haku after a failed coup against the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, Zabuza fell into the employment of the smug businessman Gato to raise money to perform a second coup. Tasked with stopping the construction of a bridge, Zabuza accosted Team 7, nearly taking out their leader, Kakashi Hatake, before being defeated. Rescued by Haku and his death faked, Zabuza engaged Kakashi again a week later while letting Haku take care of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, keeping his opponent on the ropes by countering his Sharingan. With Haku's sacrifice, his own brutal defeat, Gato's betrayal, and Naruto's speech, Zabuza, despite being half-dead, fought his way through his former employer's henchmen to kill him, allowing himself to die to be with Haku. Despite being an antagonist to him, Zabuza inspired much of Naruto's own philosophy.
  • Haku of the Yuki Clan was born into the Land of Water and an inheritor of the Ice Release. After killing his own father in self defense, the orphan child was adopted by the "Demon" of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi, who raised Haku as a tool. Becoming a master assassin and Hunter Ninja, Haku would defect with Zabuza, dedicating himself to the Demon's goals. Saving Zabuza's life from Kakashi by faking his death, Haku arrives to face Naruto's team, a brilliant and strategic fighter who only does not kill Sasuke due to targeting nonvital spots upon him. When defeated, Haku even fools Naruto to go to Zabuza’s side, timing it so Kakashi kills Haku while allowing Zabuza a final strike on Kakashi, his legacy being such that Naruto is even able to breach Zabuza's hardened heart by telling him the true depth of Haku's feelings.