Femboy Haku

"Do you think I'm weak?"

Cangwu said, at a loss for words.

"Impossible!"

Zabuza abruptly retreated.

This was too bizarre!

Was this guy... even human?

Once he'd put some distance between himself and Cangwu, Zabuza clenched his fists.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you."

"Besides, there are some things I need you to help with."

Cangwu walked toward Zabuza.

Zabuza, however, backed away without even realizing it.

If he'd still been entertaining any unrealistic notions before, now he genuinely wanted to stay far away and avoid provoking this monster.

He couldn't beat him or talk him down. He'd even tried a sneak attack, and the other man had simply ignored Kubikiribōchō's strike.

How was he supposed to deal with this?!

As Cangwu drew closer and closer, Zabuza panicked and stopped caring about anything else.

He quickly formed hand seals.

Then, several Water Clones appeared.

"Don't come any closer!"

"If you do, those three brats behind you are finished!"

A crazed look appeared in Zabuza's eyes.

As soon as Zabuza created the Water Clones, Cangwu turned into countless points of light.

In an instant.

A few strange sounds rang out.

Splash—

In the next moment, only one of the four Water Clones Zabuza had created remained.

"One's enough to go after them."

Cangwu watched the Water Clone dart toward the three kids and didn't bother taking it out.

With the mist in the way, the three kids wouldn't be able to spot Zabuza's Water Clone right away.

To be safe, Cangwu created a Shadow Clone. If the three kids couldn't handle it, the clone would step in.

"Damn it!"

Zabuza prided himself on having abandoned all feelings, devoting himself solely to fulfilling his ambitions.

Yet, though Cangwu had offered no proof, Zabuza could tell that none of what he'd said was a lie.

Then what had been the point of all his years of effort?

"Don't think you can make me submit to you!"

Even now, if Zabuza couldn't figure out why Cangwu had held back, he'd be a complete fool.

Boom—!!!

Just then,

a huge fireball appeared.

With Zabuza no longer sustaining it, the mist around them had already thinned considerably.

It had also been battered by two large-scale Water Release attacks.

Now, the fireball appeared, bringing a wave of heat with it, and the mist began to dissipate even faster.

"Now!"

"Naruto, attack with me!"

Sakura's voice came from within the rapidly thinning mist.

Then came the continuous explosions of Shadow Clones vanishing after being hit.

Rumble—!!!

Amid the sounds of the Shadow Clones disappearing, a sharper, louder explosion rang out.

Ripples spread across the water around them.

Clearly, an Explosive Tag had gone off.

Sasuke looked at Sakura's delighted expression and thought a little better of her.

Naruto cheered. "Awesome!"

"Hahaha! A mere bandage-wearing guy is no match for us! We can take him down without Teacher Cangwu lifting a finger!"

"Idiot." Sasuke glanced at Naruto, exasperated.

Naruto was just about to fire back.

Splash—

Suddenly, Zabuza, who'd been knocked down by their combo attack, turned into a puddle of water.

"Uh... what's going on?" Naruto asked, looking utterly bewildered.

"Water Clone," Sakura explained.

Then she looked up into the distance.

The mist had vanished.

In the morning sunlight, they could see farther and farther.

Before long, the three kids spotted Cangwu and Zabuza in the distance.

Zabuza had slumped down on his knees.

While they'd been dealing with Zabuza's Water Clone, Cangwu had finished the fight too.

One kick had landed a heavy blow to Zabuza's other kidney.

Now he was curled up on the ground, his whole body twitching uncontrollably.

"Damn... Cangwu!"

"Why..."

"Even things out a little." Cangwu wore a mischievous smile.

"I... I'll kill you!" Zabuza roared.

"Go ahead." Cangwu even spread his arms wide.

But at that moment, Zabuza couldn't even stand without breaking into a cold sweat from the pain.

Whoosh—!!!

Just then, a streak of white flashed past.

"Ah!"

Zabuza groaned in pain. A moment later, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out.

Several senbon were now embedded in the back of Zabuza's neck.

Whoosh—

The sound of something cutting through the air followed.

Cangwu looked up and saw a long-haired ninja wearing a mask, standing on a thick branch.

"I am—"

"You're going to say you're an Anbu ninja from Kirigakure, here to take the rogue ninja Zabuza into custody?"

Before the person above could finish, Cangwu cut him off.

Haku fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Stop pretending. You've been hiding behind that tree from the very beginning."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

As Cangwu finished speaking, several sharp sounds rang out.

White streaks flashed past.

Several senbon appeared beneath Cangwu.

Beneath Haku's mask, his face—cuter than any girl's—was filled with disbelief.

Just as I thought... This man can ignore every attack...

No matter what, I have to get Mr. Zabuza out of here!

Haku narrowed his eyes slightly. He'd already resolved himself to die.

"Why are you in such a hurry too?"

"I never said I was going to kill you."

At that, Haku froze.

His question slipped out before he could stop himself. "Why?"

"What would I gain by killing you?" Cangwu asked in return.

Haku shook his head, then said, "If you kill us, you can complete your mission... Your mission is to protect that bridge builder, right?"

"You saw the fight just now. Do you think I meant to kill him?"

Cangwu's words left Haku silent once more.

Whoosh—

Haku leaped down and landed beside Zabuza.

"Mr. Cangwu, do you need us to help you with something?"

Haku was very clever.

Of course, Zabuza had realized it too, but he refused to accept that outcome.

"You do know how to read the situation."

As he spoke, Cangwu raised a hand.

Haku's pupils contracted. He instinctively tried to dodge.

Yet no matter how far he retreated, Cangwu stayed right in front of him.

So fast!

Watching the hand draw closer and closer,

Haku abruptly flung out several senbon.

Whoosh—

This time, he saw it clearly.

The senbon had indeed struck Cangwu.

But Cangwu's body was just like a Phantom Clone's: it had no substance.

Clang—

All the senbon struck the tree trunk behind Cangwu.

The bizarre sight awakened the fear buried deep in Haku's heart.

He closed his eyes in despair.

After a long while, he opened them again.

Aside from his field of vision having widened, he felt no discomfort at all.

"This..." Haku murmured, his red lips pursed slightly.

Had his mask been removed?

"You really are cute—cuter than Sakura." Seeing the feminine makeup on Haku's face, Cangwu had initially thought he was a girl.

Then he pinched Haku's adorable cheek.

"Too bad you're a boy."

Elsewhere,

once they saw Zabuza fall, the three kids hurried over with Tazuna, keeping him protected.

At Cangwu's words, they all froze.

"So cute... He really is cuter than Sakura-chan..."

Bang—!!!

As soon as Naruto finished speaking, a heavy blow struck him.

Sakura clenched her teeth, her mood instantly souring.

What the heck... He's a boy... Damn it! How could I be less cute than a boy?!

Sasuke raised his hand, stopping the group.

"That's far enough. If we go any closer, we'll get in Teacher Cangwu's way."

Only then did Sakura stop, though she was clearly reluctant.

"Mr. Cangwu... We're willing to serve you!"