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On a rocky shore by the sea.
Akihara Kagura leisurely sat fishing with a rod in hand, while Karin stood behind him with a group of ninjas, guarding over Momochi Zabuza and Haku who could not resist.
"Just kill us!"
Momochi Zabuza coldly snorted with determination: "Akihara Kagura, do you think a ninja from the Mist Village is afraid of death? I won't tell you any information!"
"Wouldn't that be letting you off too easily?"
Akihara Kagura turned and gave Momochi Zabuza a reproachful look, then spoke gently, "After all, we are old acquaintances. How can I not make use of you properly, to do justice to our acquaintance? After all, you did make me use two moves before I could defeat you..."
"You bastard!"
Momochi Zabuza immediately felt humiliated!
"Please do not insult Lord Zabuza..."
Haku looked at Akihara Kagura pleadingly, his voice gentle: "If you want to know something, I can tell you, as long as you let Lord Zabuza go!"
"Don't speak!"
Momochi Zabuza knew well that Haku would really spill the beans, and sternly rebuked: "Haku, do not show weakness to the enemy, if you speak, I would rather die here!"
"But..."
Haku looked at Momochi Zabuza with a pleading look, "Lord Zabuza, those people only see us as pawns..."
"I am the one using them as pawns!"
Momochi Zabuza cared deeply about his own face!
Although Momochi Zabuza was well aware that what Haku said was the truth—that the nobles of the Land of Water indeed treated him as a pawn—he still believed that he was using them, that he was the one in control of the game!
"Does it make any difference?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Momochi Zabuza in surprise, curiously asking: "Your relationship with them isn't great anyway, why can't you just tell me?"
"That's because..."
Momochi Zabuza coldly stared at Akihara Kagura, his eyes full of stubbornness and annoyance, coldly saying, "I would rather die here than let you, this guy, get any information!"
"I understand."
Akihara Kagura nodded, waved his hand, and said: "Take Momochi Zabuza down first, let me have a good talk with his companion..."
The Root ninja immediately took Momochi Zabuza away.
Momochi Zabuza glared fiercely at Haku, his face sinister: "Haku, don't tell them anything, do you hear? If you tell them any information, even if we go to the underworld, I will never forgive you!"
Haku could only bow his head in silence.
However, after Momochi Zabuza was taken away, Akihara Kagura didn't ask anything and continued to fish quietly, seemingly understanding Haku's dilemma.
"I know you want to say something."
"I also know you're afraid of angering Zabuza."
"Don't worry, I won't ask anything now."
Akihara Kagura even took the initiative to comfort Haku, which made Haku feel a bit of fondness for Akihara Kagura, even politely thanking him.
"Thank you."
"Join me in fishing for a while."
Akihara Kagura casually spoke as he flicked his fishing rod: "If I catch a fish today, I'll let you and Zabuza go today, given that your strength isn't much of a threat to me, I'm just toying with you..."
Haku's eyes flashed with surprise.
"..."
Karin and the other root ninjas said nothing, seemingly accustomed to the actions of Akihara Kagura, aware of how capricious their superior could be.
Haku immediately looked at Akihara Kagura's fishing rod, silently praying in his heart for Kagura to catch a fish soon!
Perhaps it was the effect of Haku's prayers.
Or more likely, it was due to Akihara Kagura's superior skills.
Half an hour later, Akihara Kagura suddenly pulled up his fishing rod, and a large, plump fish was flung onto the shore, bringing a flash of joy to Haku's eyes!
"Do you keep your word?"
"Of course, go call Momochi Zabuza over."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, signaling to bring Momochi Zabuza over, and without waiting for Zabuza to react, he immediately ordered his subordinates to untie them.
"Release them."
"Lord Zabuza, we can leave now!"
Haku looked at Momochi Zabuza with a face full of surprise.
However, Momochi Zabuza made no move, his expression growing darker: "Haku, did you tell him the list?"
"I didn't..."
Haku struggled to speak in his defense.
"Yes, he didn't."
Akihara Kagura stepped in to help clarify.
"Then why did he release us?"
Momochi Zabuza stared intently into Haku's eyes, anger welling up in his heart: "What have you all been talking about during this time?"
"I said nothing!"
Haku quickly shook his head, frantically explaining: "We really didn't talk about anything. This lord said he'd let us go if he caught a fish..."
"Yes, exactly like that."
Akihara Kagura nodded, adding another clarifying remark: "Everyone present can testify that I said I'd release you if I caught a fish. This young fellow didn't say anything, nor did he reveal any names involved in smuggling."
Akihara Kagura spoke the truth.
Even the root ninjas present could testify.
Even if Haku felt something odd, he had to admit that what Akihara Kagura said was true; this man was indeed magnanimous.
"Damn!"
As soon as Momochi Zabuza's ropes were untied, he threw a punch at Haku's face without hesitation, watching as Haku fell to the ground, coldly saying, "I told you not to tell this guy anything, but you disobeyed my order, and now you're useless!"
"But..."
Haku struggled to stand up, trying to say something.
Akihara Kagura interrupted Haku, frowning at Momochi Zabuza, seemingly puzzled why Zabuza would suspect Haku of lying.
"Zabuza, I made a promise with this young fellow called Haku, and my reason for letting you go was catching a fish."
"Damn!"
Momochi Zabuza clenched his teeth, casting a resentful look at Akihara Kagura, then at Haku: "Do you think I'm an idiot? Can't you hear such an obvious lie?"
Haku's eyes showed sadness and hurt.
Yet before Haku could say anything more, Akihara Kagura casually added, "Zabuza, everything Haku did was for you. I'm a man who keeps his promises; I caught a fish, so I was in a good mood and let you go."
"Do you think I'm that stupid?"
Momochi Zabuza glared hatefully at Akihara Kagura and Haku, paying no heed to Haku and turning to leave the place.
No matter how you look at it...
Akihara Kagura must have gotten the list from Haku!
Especially given Akihara Kagura's composed demeanor, even pretending that catching a fish was enough to release him, how could the Konoha ninjas be so foolish to think he was just a fool!
And...
For him to survive…
As long as Akihara Kagura threatens Haku a little, this fool will definitely hand over the list to save him.
As Momochi Zabuza thought about this, he felt a twinge of regret in his heart, for Haku had provided the list to save him as well; perhaps he should not have lost his temper over it...
"Wait..."
Akihara Kagura stopped Momochi Zabuza.
A group of Root ninjas directly blocked Momochi Zabuza's path!
"You already got the list!"
Momochi Zabuza angrily looked at Haku, then turned to Akihara Kagura: "What more do you want to do? If you want to kill me, do it quickly!"
"Your Kubikiribōchō."
Akihara Kagura gestured at the Kubikiribōchō to Momochi Zabuza, casually mentioning a condition: "However, if you want to take your sword, go help me eliminate the people on the list, so I don't have to make a long trip..."
Momochi Zabuza was infuriated.
This bastard still wanted to use him at this time!
However, since Haku, the fool, had given the list to Akihara Kagura, the nobles of the Land of Water would definitely not let him off. Either kill them or be killed by them!
For Momochi Zabuza, was there even a choice to make?
Momochi Zabuza looked at his sword and said solemnly: "I will bring their heads and come to retrieve my Kubikiribōchō."
"This trade is very worthwhile."
Akihara Kagura nodded, agreed to Momochi Zabuza's request, and added: "You should return before the construction of the bridge connecting the Land of Water and the Land of Fire is completed, otherwise I can't guarantee our deal will hold..."
"And..."
"One head short..."
"You needn't bother coming back."
"Don't worry."
Momochi Zabuza was very confident in his killing skills.
After saying this, Momochi Zabuza coldly glanced at Haku lying on the ground, then turned and left on his own, seemingly truly abandoning this tool.
"Lord Zabuza..."
Haku immediately got up trying to follow him.
Boom!
Suddenly, a vine shot out from the ground, dragging the Kubikiribōchō into the air, landing in front of Haku and blocking his way.
As Akihara Kagura swung his fishing rod again, he softly said: "Before that guy comes back, you take care of his sword! When he comes back with the heads, I will return both you and the sword to him..."
"Why?"
Haku's body slumped down, sitting in front of the Kubikiribōchō, staring at his reflection on the blade: "Why doesn't Lord Zabuza trust me... Why did he abandon me... I really didn't say anything..."
"I can help you."
Akihara Kagura didn't even turn to look, as if everything was under control: "When Zabuza comes back carrying the heads, he will surely want to take you away... At that time, you must do one thing for me, you don't want Zabuza to throw you away again, do you?"
"What is it!"
Haku looked at Akihara Kagura.
Haku seemed to see a chance to return to Momochi Zabuza's side!
"Don't let him get involved in the affairs of the Mist Village."
Akihara Kagura caught a big fish as he reeled in his fishing rod: "The ninja world is turbulent, he is just a fish that likes to bite the Hakut..."
"Lord Zabuza is the most formidable person!"
Haku still wanted to defend Momochi Zabuza's honor!
Akihara Kagura took off the fish and put away his fishing rod: "But I didn't even Hakut properly, and he bit the hook on his own. Even the fish in the sea wait to see the Hakut before biting, Zabuza bites just smelling a hint of fishiness..."
Momochi Zabuza might be smart enough.
However, he eventually fell for Akihara Kagura's simple strategy of division and even actively attempted to assassinate the smugglers among the Land of Water nobility, allowing Akihara Kagura a bit more leisure.
"..."
Haku was somewhat bewildered.
"I feel like I'm becoming gentler..."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Karin and waved her hand, "Karin, come help me collect the fish."
Karin signaled two Root ninjas to assist with the fish and proactively asked, "Lord Kagura, are we done for today?"
"We'll visit the injured."
Kagura nodded, indicating that was enough for today, "Hatake Kakashi's victory wasn't very spectacular, he must be injured, right?"
"Yes."
Karin hesitated and then nodded.
Is Kagura really going to visit the injured, or is he going to mock Mr. Kakashi?
Meanwhile, at Tazuna's home.
Hatake Kakashi was lying in bed, recuperating.
The three young members of Team 7 sat by the bed, with Haruno Sakura looking worriedly at their Jonin instructor, while Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke were also tense.
Suddenly, Kakashi sat up and brought up the topic of the Mist Village's pursuer ninja who killed Momochi Zabuza, saying, "Something doesn't seem right. The guy who killed Zabuza seemed to use something like medical needles, a thousand of them. Such a method of killing is too gentle, and it seems the points of impact were meant to simulate death..."
"What's wrong, Teacher Kakashi?"
The young members of Team 7 tilted their heads in confusion.
"Kakashi, I've come to see you."
A voice came from outside.
Akihara Kagura entered with Karin and Haku, along with a group of Root ninjas, and the Kubikiribōchō on Haku's shoulder immediately caught everyone's attention!
"Eh! Isn't that the blade of that guy called Zabuza?"
Naruto exclaimed, pointing at the executioner's blade on Haku's back, "Could it be that Zabuza is really dead?"
"Lord Zabuza is still alive!"
Haku immediately retorted.
"You are..."
Kakashi recognized Haku and frowned, "You're with Momochi Zabuza, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Haku lowered his head, feeling somewhat desolate.
Although Kagura promised that Zabuza would still need him, Haku could not believe it, fearing that Zabuza had truly abandoned him.
"Don't ask too much."
Kagura waved his hand, signaling the Root ninjas to bring over two big fish to show to the bedridden Kakashi, "Come and see, I caught two big fish today, each weighing over 100 kilograms!"
"…"
Kakashi's eyes twitched.
This guy is still the same as before!
Kagura looked satisfied at the surprised and shocked expressions of the young kids, and took the initiative to say, "Don't worry about Zabuza's affair, I've resolved this crisis for you..."
"You're meddling again..."
Kakashi glanced at Kagura.
Kakashi had intended to use this as a test for Team 7, but Kagura had easily resolved it, and although he didn't know how, he definitely had resolved it.
How was he supposed to test the three youngsters of Team 7 now?
Could there possibly be a more suitable enemy in the Land of Waves?