Watching Sasuke and Naruto goof around, Zabuza inexplicably recalled the friends he used to study with.
In fact, he also wanted to grow up with these friends and become active on the grand stage of the Ninja world.
Unfortunately, when he learned the graduation rules, all of that became impossible.
The only rule for graduating from the Hidden Mist Ninja Academy was to kill at least one classmate from the same batch.
Having no other choice, Zabuza, both to avoid being killed and to express his dissatisfaction with this rule, hardened his heart and killed all his classmates.
"Swish swish swish~"
Just as Zabuza was lamenting his life, several senbon smoothly pierced his neck, immediately sending him into a state of feigned death.
At that moment, Naruto and Sasuke immediately stopped their horseplay.
Naruto charged toward the direction the senbon came from, while Sasuke immediately shot a Great Fireball Technique in that direction.
It turned out that the reason they were goofing off so recklessly was to lull the hidden person into a false sense of security.
Ge Liang had said that Zabuza had an assistant.
During the previous battle, they hadn't spotted this assistant, so they gambled that the assistant was definitely hiding in the shadows, observing everything.
Of course, even if they lost the bet, it wouldn't matter; they would only be wasting a bit of effort.
But if they won the bet, they would gain the advantage of the first move.
Obviously, they won the bet.
"Please don't misunderstand. I am a member of the Hidden Mist Assassination Unit. I came here primarily to retrieve the body of the Rogue Ninja Zabuza."
Facing Sasuke's Great Fireball Technique and the charging Naruto, it was clear that dealing with them without using Ninjutsu was strenuous for this person.
Especially Naruto's Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill; if that person hadn't used the Substitution Jutsu in time to dodge, they would probably be lying on the ground just like Zabuza.
However, even though using the Substitution Jutsu eliminated most of the attack's force, he was still injured by the Dragon Skill.
At this moment, Kakashi and Sasuke rushed over, leaving Sakura to stay behind and look after Tazuna.
"Alright, we already know you're Zabuza's assistant."
"Your name is Haku, right?"
Seeing that Sasuke and Kakashi had arrived and believing they had victory secured, Naruto simply revealed Haku's identity.
"...How did you know?"
Haku was very surprised; he didn't know how he had been exposed.
"Heh heh, take a guess."
Naruto just smiled without answering.
Haku looked at the three people surrounding him. Instead of resisting immediately, he calmly said, "As long as you let Lord Zabuza go, I am willing to trade my life for his."
Haku had already decided that if these people were determined to kill Zabuza, he would fight them desperately.
"Believe it or not, we never intended to kill either of you."
"Eh?"
After hearing Kakashi's words, Haku glanced at the lying Zabuza, and instantly, he had something he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure if he should voice it.
You didn't intend to kill them?
You didn't intend to kill them, yet you crippled both of Zabuza's arms?
After he himself appeared, Naruto's attack was also completely merciless.
If he hadn't reacted quickly, he would probably be lying down now too.
And you call that not wanting to kill them?
"I promise you, as long as you and Zabuza return to Konoha with us, we naturally won't try to kill you."
"Go to Konoha? Will we still be alive if we go to Konoha?"
Zabuza is a Rogue Ninja. In Haku's eyes, Konoha definitely wants to use Zabuza to exchange for benefits from the Hidden Mist.
Handing Zabuza over to the Hidden Mist means certain death, doesn't it?
"Don't worry, I understand your concern, but it's hard to explain clearly right now. You'll understand once you come back to Konoha with us."
"I don't believe you."
Seeing Haku still looking wary, Kakashi had no choice but to say helplessly, "What can your disbelief change? Do you think you can rescue Zabuza from the four of us?"
What Kakashi said was the truth.
With him, an Elite Jonin, present, it would be utterly impossible to take away Zabuza, who was in a state of feigned death. Kakashi also had helpers.
"So, since this is a dead end regardless, why not choose to trust us? Things can't get any worse, right?"
Haku pondered for a moment, then removed his Mask and said with a serious expression, "Alright, I hope what you say is true."
He had no other choice. Unless he genuinely wanted a mutual destruction, the only path left was to trust Kakashi.
"Big Sister, you are so beautiful."
Hearing Naruto's words, Haku, who had accepted his fate, responded with a slight smile, "I'm sorry, I'm a boy."
"You're lying." ⊙▽⊙
...And just like that, Haku and Zabuza joined Team 7 and set off on the road toward the Land of Waves.
In fact, they were not far from the Land of Waves; they only needed to take a boat for another hour before setting foot on the Land of Waves' soil.
On the boat, Zabuza had already woken up.
After Haku explained the situation, Zabuza did not make any moves to resist.
After all, both of his arms were crippled; even if he wanted to resist, he didn't have the means, so he also chose to accept his fate.
Zabuza remained silent throughout the journey, but Haku and Naruto kept talking, and occasionally Sakura and Sasuke would join in.
Chatting not only helped pass the time but also deepened their understanding of each other.
In the minds of The Rookie Three, Zabuza and Haku already belonged to Ge Liang.
Since they belonged to Ge Liang, they were allies.
Zabuza was silent and difficult to approach, but Haku was quite talkative.
"So, you didn't kill us because of the Boss named Ge Liang?"
During the conversation, after determining Haku's general personality, Naruto directly stated Ge Liang's requirements for them.
"That's true, but Big Sister Haku, you're so kind that even without the old man's instructions, we wouldn't kill you... probably."
Haku didn't pay much attention to Naruto's words.
He was more concerned about Ge Liang himself.
He was certain that neither he nor Zabuza had ever heard that name, and he didn't understand why this person named Ge Liang wanted to protect them.
Could it truly be, as Naruto said, that he just needed two internet café attendants?
Haku wasn't bragging, but even though he didn't know what an Internet Café was, he was certainly competent enough to be an attendant.
As for Lord Zabuza... picturing Zabuza looking fierce and evil while working as an attendant, Haku immediately shivered.
The image was too beautiful; he dared not look.
"Big Sister Haku, are you feeling cold?"
"I don't feel cold, and Naruto, I am a boy."
"I don't believe it, unless you show us your little peep-pee, I won't believe you."
Haku:...What should I do? This person is so punchable, I really want to hit him!