@Nehz
Whatever the reason for Shukaku, it doesn't change the fact that it is an outlier that should never be accepted, especially when it results in a circular line of scaling that just makes Naruto infinite in power. It is no different from Zabuza being a match and equal to Kakashi, then still being a match and equal for a much stronger, fairly faster Kakashi that doesn't get tired nearly as fast despite being an Edo and, therefore, weaker. It makes no sense and shoudn't be accounted for to make ratings unless there's sufficiently good contextual information to explain the discrepancy (like Kabuto somehow empowering their edos), which there isn't in this case. The exact opposite, everything points out he shouldn't be that strong.
The ending things quick isn't my main point, but that Haku not holding back any of his power makes more sense in the context of the scene. Be it getting to Zabuza quickly, keeping Sasuke occupied without killing him, putting him and Naruto out of commission quickly, all of them make more sense if Haku was using all of his power but was simply doing his best to kill neither of them. Not only is it consistent with Zabuza saying he was pained fighting them, it makes way more sense when the statement Sasuke denies from the start is how he was able to avoid hits to his vital areas, which doesn't correlate in anyway with Haku hitting slower or softer, but with him never trying to kill Sasuke
And indeed, it doesn't mean it was all he did... but that doesn't matter when the implication points in that direction, and nothing indicates Haku punched softer or moved slower, or that there is literally any scenario in which he gains anything out of it. Leaving aside that no one at no point says Haku was or is holding back, your reply is basically saying that nothing indicates he wasn't holding his strength so it is entirely possible, while my point is that the statements and context very much lean for my interpretation much more.
@LordTracer
No, it just means that Haku is more skilled, in what way would that even come close to implicating he's jonin level and way above Sasuke in strength and speed? Does Naruto at the end of the manga suddenly scale way above Sasuke for getting a draw and not trying to kill him while Sasuke was trying to kill him? Does Sasaki from Fate scale way above Saber in power for dominating her in close combat because his skill is much better? No, they obviously don't. Haku was simply way more skilled and had a much better jutsu, the Demonic Ice Mirrors. Nothing indicates he was holding back beyond not trying to kill Sasuke.
