Avengers

If that punch had landed, I would have died!

Haku stared at the fist stopped before his eyes, feeling the wind kicked up by it, painful even as it scraped across his face. He silently swallowed, then turned to look at Zabuza lying there.

Zabuza's expression also shifted uncertainly as he looked at Li Chuan.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He had not expected Haku, with his strength, to lose to this little monk whose identity they still did not know. And from beginning to end, the little monk had seemed completely at ease.

If the little monk had not held back just now, Haku would already be dead—and Zabuza naturally would not have escaped death either.

What he did not know was that Li Chuan did not have much Chakra left in his body either. The only reason he had appeared so composed from start to finish was his advantage in intelligence, along with the targeted battle strategy he had prepared in advance.

If he had not known Haku's intelligence, it would have been hard to say who would have won between the two of them.

"Actually, I want to invite you to join my organization!"

Li Chuan sat cross-legged opposite Zabuza and smiled faintly.

Zabuza furrowed his brow.

"What organization?"

"The Avengers!"

Li Chuan coughed before explaining.

"It's simple. You can think of it as a mutually beneficial organization formed for the sake of revenge. There are no mandatory demands. Everyone just exchanges intelligence and helps one another."

The Naruto World was not a safe place. If he relied solely on himself, many things would be difficult to accomplish. He needed some capable helpers as well.

That was why he had specifically timed this trip to the Land of Waves. If he had merely wanted to do business in the Land of Waves, would it not have been easier to come after Gato died?

"Exchange intelligence? Help each other? I don't trust you, and I don't believe there's such a good deal in this world."

After hearing Li Chuan's explanation, Zabuza did not believe a word of it. He even looked rather disdainful.

In the ninja world, where everyone deceived and schemed against one another, even ninjas from the same village often plotted against each other. Expecting ninjas from other villages to share intelligence and help one another was simply too naive.

Li Chuan had long expected Zabuza's reaction, but he had made some preparations as well.

If he could not thoroughly persuade Zabuza to join his organization, then even if he forced Zabuza to agree through martial strength now, Zabuza would still go back on his word afterward. It would be useless.

"How about this? If you're willing to join, I can first tell you a piece of intelligence that should be very important to you. Then I can return your Kubikiribōchō to you."

"I'm in!"

Zabuza agreed almost without thinking.

He did not truly intend to join. But he could get back the Kubikiribōchō and receive a piece of intelligence for free, so why not?

At that moment, he suddenly felt that this little monk might be a bit too naive.

Li Chuan merely smiled. He took out a Sealing Scroll, retrieved the Kubikiribōchō, and handed it to Haku, who stood beside Zabuza. Then he continued.

"This intelligence concerns your Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura. The truth is, when he later reinstated the bloody mist tyranny, it was not his own will. He had been controlled by someone's genjutsu."

"What?!"

Upon hearing Li Chuan's intelligence, Zabuza's eyes widened sharply, and veins instantly bulged across his forehead.

"Is your intelligence accurate?"

"The Fourth Mizukage's genjutsu has already been dispelled. A ninja from your village named Ao saw through it with his Byakugan, and actual power in the Hidden Mist Village has now been handed over to Genji.

"However, since word of this family disgrace would greatly damage the Hidden Mist Village's prestige, only its higher-ups know about it. If you have time to sneak back into Kirigakure, you'll see that the Hidden Mist Village is no longer enforcing the bloody mist policy."

Li Chuan roughly recounted the intelligence from his memories.

His greatest advantages in this world were threefold.

First was his initial identity as Prince of the Land of Fire. Though he held no real power, his status was extremely high, granting him many privileges—and he was very wealthy.

Second was intelligence. He knew the information of nearly most ninjas, as well as secrets of the Great Ninja Villages that were unknown to others.

Third was the course of the plot. Although his appearance would inevitably bring major changes later on, he could still use the early stages to secure quite a few benefits for himself.

Now, he was using his advantages to draw Zabuza in as an ally.

"No wonder. No wonder he became like that."

Zabuza clenched his fists so hard that blood spurted once again from the joints Kakashi had initially pierced with kunai. Yet he did not care in the slightest.

Based on his memories, he could now basically determine that Li Chuan's intelligence was likely true.

Back when the Third enforced the bloody mist policy, he had killed all of his fellow trainees. To end that tyranny, he and Mangetsu Hozuki, Hozuki Mangetsu, and others had supported Yagura in becoming the Fourth Mizukage.

However, the good days did not last long. For some unknown reason, Yagura's personality suddenly changed drastically. He actually reinstated the bloody mist policy, and he was even more cruel than the Third had been.

His senior, Mangetsu Hozuki, had wanted to investigate in secret but was killed. Left with no choice, he and Hozuki Mangetsu gathered a group of companions to assassinate Yagura. The assassination failed, and only he had fortunately escaped the village.

Over the years, he had continuously taken missions to raise funds. He had also taken in Haku, who possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, all so that he could return for revenge, overthrow Yagura's rule, and establish a new Hidden Mist Village.

"Lord Zabuza, please take care of your body!"

When Haku saw Zabuza's wounds split open from his fury, he hurriedly took out bandages to dress them, only for Li Chuan to raise a hand and stop him.

"I know some Medical Ninjutsu. Leave it to me."

"Thank you so much!"

Watching Zabuza's wounds gradually heal under Li Chuan's Mystical Palm Technique, Haku's favorable impression of Li Chuan surged dramatically.

"Do you know who used genjutsu to control Yagura?"

Zabuza looked up at Li Chuan, his eyes brimming with hatred.

"That... my people are still investigating it. Don't worry. As a member of our Avengers, once there's news, I'll definitely tell you."

Li Chuan smiled and extended his right hand toward Zabuza.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Yuan Chuan, and I'm currently training at the Fire Temple."

He was no fool. He certainly would not tell Zabuza all the intelligence. Expecting Zabuza to repay him just because he had gained something was unrealistic.

"Zabuza Momochi. Your surname is Yuan?"

After Li Chuan treated him, Zabuza had basically recovered his ability to move. He extended his hand as well.

However, when he heard Li Chuan's surname, surprise appeared on his face, because Yuan was the surname of the Land of Fire's imperial family.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm also a Prince of the Land of Fire."

Li Chuan withdrew his hand and responded casually.

Upon hearing Li Chuan's identity, both Zabuza and Haku widened their eyes.

No wonder. No wonder he knew such confidential intelligence. So he had that identity as well.