In a forest clearing deep in the wilderness.
A cold wind swept past, and Zabuza suddenly opened his eyes.
With a sharp inhale, he sat upright, clutching his chest as he gasped for breath.
"I'm… still alive?"
"No… that terrifying chakra clearly tore my body apart!"
"Ah, Lord Zabuza, you're awake!"
Haku's clear voice interrupted his thoughts.
Holding a freshly grilled fish, he ran over cheerfully.
"Haku!"
"You're alive too!"
Seeing Haku safe before him, something deep inside Zabuza stirred.
A crack formed within the frozen shell around his heart.
Then it shattered completely.
Ignoring the grilled fish, Zabuza pulled Haku into a tight embrace.
"That's good… It's good that you're alive…"
To hell with rules about emotionless shinobi.
To hell with calling Haku a mere tool.
After facing death, Zabuza no longer wished to numb himself.
Feeling moisture on his shoulder, Haku froze in shock.
Zabuza—the man whose heart was colder than his blade—was crying.
The emotion was raw and genuine.
For a moment, Haku seriously suspected the explosion had damaged Zabuza's brain.
Panicking, he turned and shouted,
"Lord Lock!"
"You didn't heal Lord Zabuza's head injury! Please come check him again!"
"Lock!?"
Zabuza instantly snapped back to reality.
He reflexively tried to shove Haku away like before, but when his hands touched him, he only gently pushed him aside.
"My head is fine. I was just overwhelmed after surviving."
His expression darkened as he looked toward the approaching figure.
Then his eyes widened.
He grabbed for the Kubikiribocho behind him.
"It's you!"
"That yellow-haired… Jinchūriki!"
Seeing Zabuza react so violently, Haku hurried forward.
"Lord Zabuza, Lord Lock spared us and healed our injuries!"
Lock approached calmly, smiling faintly.
"Haku is correct. I spared you. And I healed you."
"What do you want?" Zabuza asked, frowning as he pulled Haku behind him.
"You want us to work for you?"
Lock shook his head.
"Not for me."
"But as me."
"From now on, I am your master."
"Bastard!"
Zabuza swung the Kubikiribocho instantly.
But halfway through the strike—
Pain exploded through his entire body.
Haku's face also turned pale as he groaned.
Crimson chakra flickered across their bodies like burning flames.
"W-What did you do to us!?"
Zabuza struggled to speak through the agony.
"Nothing complicated," Lock replied casually.
"Just a small method to control your life and death."
The crimson flames suddenly withdrew.
The pain vanished instantly.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed.
He quickly accepted reality.
"I lost this round. I'll treat it as working for a new boss."
"But don't expect me to call you 'master.' Not happening."
Lock's mouth twitched slightly in disgust.
"If anyone were to call me that, only Haku qualifies. Hearing it from you would be revolting."
"Hmph."
Zabuza didn't care about the insult.
As long as he wasn't treated like a slave, it was acceptable.
After the threat came the reward.
Lock continued calmly,
"It's inconvenient for me to appear openly, so you will act in my place."
"You'll work for me for three years. After that, you're free."
"But if you deceive me or slack off…"
"…you'll never regain that freedom."
Lock did not doubt that in three years, their value to him would naturally diminish.
Hearing freedom was possible, Zabuza's expression relaxed slightly.
"As long as you keep your word, we'll do the job properly."
"Good."
Lock nodded.
"The seal controlling your lives is alsoa power I granted you."
"In battle, you may activate it yourselves. It will greatly enhance vitality and regeneration."
As someone who fully controlled the Nine-Tails' chakra, Lock could distribute portions of it.
The total amount was limited—roughly equal to several dozen Kakashi-level reserves.
Once exhausted, he would need to replenish it himself.
Embedded within that chakra was also the formula of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Through it, Lock could reach them instantly—or send shadow clones to restore their reserves.
"That's Tailed Beast chakra, isn't it?"
Zabuza stared deeply at him.
"Compared to Yagura… you're closer to a perfect Jinchūriki."
Haku closed his eyes, sensing the power, then activated it.
A crimson cloak flared around his body.
"What incredible strength!"
His aura surged instantly.
"If the Hidden Mist hunters appear again, I could defeat them alone!"
Zabuza didn't test the power.
Instead, he asked directly,
"What's next? What's the plan?"
Lock nodded approvingly at his practicality.
"Take over Gato's shipping company."
"Use its wealth to build an organization for me."
"I'll later provide a development plan. You will expand it into a financial group spanning the entire shinobi world."
Money ruled the ninja world.
With money, nations hired shinobi.
Even the Five Great Nations relied on the Hidden Villages as paid military forces.
Without funding, villages couldn't sustain weapons, explosive tags, or even soldier pills.
The relationship between nations and villages was cooperation, not loyalty.
If dissatisfied, a nation simply hired another force.
The Hidden Sand Village was proof of that reality.
Rebellion made no sense either.
A rebel village would immediately face hired enemies—and shinobi knew war, not governance.
In the end—
Moneydecidesd power.
Unless one provoked universal hostility like the Land of Whirlpools…
—or encountered a monster capable of destroying nations alone…
Money solved almost everything.
"I understand," Zabuza said with a nod.
His own thoughts had once been similar—seize Gato's assets and build strength.
The difference was clear.
Zabuza had planned to create a mercenary organization.
Lock intended to build something far larger.
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