When Goku uttered the Turtle Hermit's classic philosophy, the stillness in Haku's eyes clearly rippled.
Not only that, but even Zabuza nearby, and Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke, who had just arrived close by, each had their own reactions to these words.
"Train well, study well, play well..."
"And live a happy, interesting, and spirited life?"
Kakashi repeated the phrase to himself, a look of admiration involuntarily appearing in his eyes.
"This Turtle Hermit seems to be a sage who has reached an extremely high level of spiritual attainment!"
Beside him, Naruto pinched his chin and nodded seriously.
"Hmm... isn't that just my life right now?"
He often did sit-ups before, and these past two days he'd been doing weighted training – wasn't that training well?
Studying went without saying; he had actively sought out Goku to learn about Ki training.
As for playing well, hmm... his previous graffiti on the Hokage Rock probably counted, right?
And as for eating and resting well, it seemed he managed those too.
So, based on the above, he himself was the 'sage' Kakashi-sensei was talking about!
"Hehehe~" Thinking this, he couldn't help but giggle foolishly.
Seeing his expression, Sasuke turned his head away, muttering, "Idiot!"
At the same time, he thought to himself:
'Happy and interesting?'
'Ever since that man did that, my life has no longer contained them!!'
Clatter.
Just then, Haku slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing a stunningly beautiful countenance that could shame the moon and flowers.
"A g-girl?!!"
After clearly seeing Haku's face, Naruto exclaimed loudly.
He never expected that the person who had thoroughly beaten him and Sasuke earlier was actually a girl about their age.
Sasuke, who looked over upon hearing the exclamation, was equally shocked.
'I... I lost to a girl again!'
He clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with dissatisfaction towards himself.
Losing to Sakura in tree climbing was one thing, but now he even lost in combat to a girl of similar age.
How could he, so weak, ever get his revenge on that man!
Just as he was almost unable to bear his own weakness, Haku's reply slightly calmed him.
"No, I am a boy." Haku looked at Naruto and gave a light smile.
Then, he turned back to Goku, his expression sincere,
"May I ask, who is this Turtle Hermit you mentioned, and where does he live?"
"If possible, I would like to ask him some questions in person."
Hearing this, Goku scratched his cheek, looking troubled.
"Ah, well..."
He quickly asked Shenron in his mind if it was possible to bring the Turtle Hermit here or send Haku there.
Receiving a negative answer, he smiled somewhat apologetically,
"You probably can't meet him."
Hearing the answer, Haku felt a bit dejected, assuming the Turtle Hermit had passed away. He didn't ask further, instead turning to look at Zabuza, who had remained silent,
"Zabuza-sama, do you like such a life?"
"Or rather, would you accept me living such a life with you?"
Zabuza looked at Haku, then at Goku and the surrounding Kakashi and others, curling his lip into a cold smile,
"Haku, you are too naive. Do you think they won't kill us?"
Before Haku could answer, Goku looked at him strangely, "You aren't truly evil people, why would I kill you?"
Kakashi, who had glanced at the numerous but non-fatal wounds covering Naruto and Sasuke, stepped forward and added,
"As long as you give up trying to kill Tazuna-san, we can let you go."
Hearing their words, Haku looked at Zabuza and smiled slightly, as if saying:
Zabuza-sama, what reason do you have to refuse now?
Just as Zabuza's face shifted between light and dark, an arrogant voice from not far away attracted everyone's attention.
"Tsk tsk, if it isn't the famous Demon of the Hidden Mist. How did you end up kneeling on the ground like this?"
"Look at him, everyone, doesn't he look just like a dog? Hahaha!"
A short, fat man wearing sunglasses and a suit strode over from the edge of the bridge, laughing loudly with the hundred or so subordinates surrounding him.
He was the mastermind who hired Zabuza and the others to assassinate Tazuna, one of the shinobi world's wealthiest individuals—
Gato!
By controlling the maritime traffic routes of island nations like the Land of Waves, he had amassed vast wealth.
The bridge Tazuna was building would connect the Land of Waves to the mainland, causing him to lose control over the Land of Waves and ruining his money-making scheme.
That's why he spent heavily to hire shinobi to assassinate Tazuna.
As long as Tazuna died, the bridge couldn't be built, and his money-making scheme could proceed as planned.
But the successive failures of Zabuza and the other shinobi made him lose faith in their abilities.
So, he secretly hired a large number of rogue samurai, planning to wipe everyone out once both sides were weakened from fighting.
This way, he could complete his plan and save the money spent on hiring Zabuza – killing two birds with one stone!
His underlings, hearing his mockery, all grinned ferociously and chimed in,
"Yeah, yeah!"
"What Demon? I could take him down with one hand!"
Faced with this overwhelming ridicule, Zabuza paid no attention, instead lowering his head in thought.
Gato, seeing that he wasn't responding, lost interest and turned his sinister smile towards Tazuna, who stood behind the group,
"Old man, look who these two are."
With that, he clapped his hands, and his underlings escorted two figures out from the crowd.
"Tsunami! Inari!"
Tazuna had been watching Gato's arrival with relative calm.
He simply thought that if even a powerful shinobi like Zabuza was defeated, the men Gato brought wouldn't pose much of a threat.
But he never expected Gato to be so despicable and shameless, secretly capturing his daughter and grandson.
"Old man, if you want them to live, you'd better end yourself quickly."
Gato said this while drawing a sword and placing it against Inari's neck.
To add bargaining chips for his side, he had sent people to capture Tazuna's daughter and grandson before coming here.
Although these chips might not be strictly necessary now, he couldn't resist seeing how Tazuna would choose, so he decided to use them anyway.
"You! You vile scoundrel!"
Tazuna was furious and tried to step forward, but Sakura held him back firmly.
"Tazuna-san, Kakashi-sensei and the others will definitely save Tsunami-neechan and Inari."
Seeing that Tazuna wasn't complying, Gato raised his sword, his expression vicious, "It seems you want your grandson to die!"
With that, he made a move as if to strike.
At this critical moment, Goku suddenly appeared in front of him, reached out, and grabbed the blade. Then, with a slight exertion of force,
Crack! Crackle!!
The hardened steel weapon, crafted from fine steel, shattered as easily as a piece of tofu under the grip of his bare hand.
"You really are a nasty piece of work."
Goku released his hand, letting numerous fragments fall to the ground.
"You... you... you!"
Gato was scared pale, stumbling backward repeatedly.
At that moment, Kakashi also appeared, rescuing Tsunami and Inari.
Seeing his bargaining chips gone, but remembering the hundred-plus rogue samurai behind him, Gato, in his shame and anger, shouted,
"Everyone, attack! Kill them all!!"
Hearing their boss's order, the underlings brandished their weapons and charged at Goku.
But the next instant.
"Ha——!!!"
Goku clenched his fists and let out a low roar, a powerful aura suddenly erupting from his body.
This aura seemed to solidify, carrying the force of a landslide and tidal wave as it slammed into the rogue samurai.
"Waaahhh!!"
The rogue samurai were sent flying, limbs flailing, before they could even touch Goku, landing on the ground unconscious.
In less than two seconds, Gato became a commander without an army, standing alone before Goku.
Thud!!
"I surrender! I surrender!!"
Gato's legs gave way, and he kowtowed as fast as pounding garlic.
"I... I have great wealth! All of it can be yours, Sir, if you spare me!"
"You say you have a lot of money?"
Goku pinched his chin.
"Yes, yes! I have lots and lots of money!!"