Seeing Through the Scheme

"Kakashi, goodbye."

Karot waved goodbye to Kakashi warmly. After hearing Tazuna's story, Kakashi still chose to continue the mission.

Kakashi waved his hand symbolically without turning his head; Kakashi didn't want to end up like Karot, and he was afraid of losing face.

"Karot, why didn't you tell Kakashi that Zabuza still alive?"

Until Kakashi and his companions disappeared from sight, Kakuzu couldn't help but ask Karot. Kakuzu, due to his training in Earth Grudge Fear, possessed a particular sensitivity to the passing of life. He hadn't sensed the passing of life in Zabuza, thus concluding that Zabuza was in league with the suddenly appearing Mist pursuit team.

"Why tell him? It's because Kakashi's vigilance has lowered. He didn't even notice the other's weakness despite observing him at such close range."

"After gaining immense power, Kakashi lost some of his sense of awe. Let's just consider this incident a lesson he learned."

"Don't you think it would be very interesting if those two met again later?"

Karot stood with his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction Kakashi had left.

Kakuzu shook his head; he couldn't say anything about Karot's arrangement. After all, it was unwise for an older brother to create an obstacle for his younger brother.

"Lord Zabuza, you're awake."

Haku, who had been taking Zabuza, was overjoyed to see that Zabuza up.

"Bai, you went too far."

Zabuza felt a sharp pain in his neck, causing him to gasp Zabuza.

"I had no choice! If I didn't put on a serious act, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fool them."

Haku was also filled with lingering fear. During the rescue of Zabuza, he was so nervous that his hands and feet were sweating, fearing that Karot and the others would notice something amiss. Fortunately, he succeeded.

"Once they realize what's happening, they'll know I'm not dead yet."

Zabuza said confidently, knowing that with their intelligence, they must have already found a flaw in Haku's actions and realized he was still alive. Zabuza didn't underestimate anyone; he knew Kakashi would definitely notice.

"Lord Zabuza, what should we do next?"

Haku looked completely bewildered, but he was content just to be by Zabuza's side.

"I'm going back to the Land of Waves. That bastard Gato's information almost got me killed. I'm going back to settle the score with him. I'll teach him a lesson for deceiving me."

Zabuza he thought of Gato, that short, stocky guy. The information he'd been given had actually caused him a major setback.

Zabuza misunderstood Gato. According to Gato's intelligence sources, he only knew that Tazuna had hired ninjas to protect him in Konoha, but he didn't know that a big fish like Kakashi would accept this mission. It was all a coincidence.

Zabuza certainly wouldn't take the blame himself; in fact, he Zabuza the attack. The more arrogant he was before, the more pathetic he became afterward. Zabuza needed to vent his anger, and Gato, being rich and weak, was the perfect punching bag. Zabuza didn't want to bother Kakashi; knowing something is futile is something only a fool would do, Zabuza considered himself a smart man—he wouldn't be foolish.

If Karot had known Zabuza had such thoughts, Karot would have immediately killed Zabuza. Karot allowed Haku to rescue Zabuza, hoping that Zabuza trouble for Kakashi. But Zabuza chickened out.

Kakashi and the others finally took Tazuna home and moved in as well. After dinner, Kakashi spent the whole day reviewing the day's battle.

"Kakashi-sensei, is there something you can't figure out?"

Sakura, with her keen observation, noticed Kakashi's distracted state. Wanting to help Kakashi, she asked him this question.

Upon hearing Sakura's words, Naruto, Sasuke, and Tazuna's family all looked at Kakashi.

"Zabuza should not be dead."

Kakashi shared his assessment.

"How is that possible?" x3

"Wasn't that ninja named Zabuza killed by their pursuit team?"

Tazuna's experience today was more dangerous than half of his life; the pressure from Zabuza immense. He felt like he had walked through the gates of hell today. He never wanted to see that man again.

"That's the strange thing. Assassination squads are only responsible for killing the target and then taking the evidence that proves the target's identity. Think about how that ninja did it?"

"That ninja took Zabuza's body away."

Sakura recalled and recounted what the ninja had done. Her expression changed.

"It seems you knew."

When Kakashi saw Sakura's expression change, he knew she had guessed it too.

What are you talking about?

Only Naruto is unaware of this.

Looking into the innocent, foolish eyes of his teacher's son, Kakashi felt a deep sense of frustration. How could someone as outstanding as his teacher have given birth to such a child? Was there some kind of genetic mutation?

"The pursuit team only needs to take Zabuza's head as proof to report back, and that ninja was clearly there to rescue Zabuza. They're in cahoots."

Kakashi explained the whole story to Naruto then finally understood.

"Damn it, that bastard Karot didn't tell me!"

Kakashi slammed his fist on the table and started cursing at Karot. He could only curse behind Korot's back; he wouldn't dare do that in front of Karot.

"Kakashi-sensei, your brother might have been deceived by Zabuza's accomplices too, right? We were fooled in the same way, weren't we?"

Sasuke then spoke highly of Karot, because Karot's performance had earned Sasuke's deep admiration. He didn't want anyone speaking ill of his idol behind his back, not even Kakashi, who was his brother.

"It might be possible with anyone else, but he's Karot. No one can pull any tricks on him."

After being away for so long, he dug himself a hole as soon as he came back. What a great older brother! The astute Kakashi understood what Karot was doing.

"Karot acted this way because he let his guard down."

Kakashi mentally reflected on his actions. He understood what he had failed at and resolved to ensure he wouldn't repeat the mistake.

"Having seen your performance today, your strength is still too weak. We'll start training first thing tomorrow morning to help you improve your strength in preparation for any potential battles."

Kakashi felt he needed to help his student improve his strength. Although he wasn't afraid of Zabuza himself, Zabuza's subordinate was quite powerful. If he trained his student to deal with Zabuza's subordinate, he could focus on fighting Zabuza without any distractions.

Yes. X3

Kakashi's morale was high, but what Kakashi didn't know was that Zabuza wouldn't bother him again. Although Zabuza wasn't afraid of death, he didn't want to seek it out either.