"Was it a message from Yugao?"
After settling Sakura in, Cangwu stepped out of the room.
By then, Haku looked no different from a girl and was waiting respectfully.
Cangwu took the scroll Haku offered him.
He didn't hurry to open it.
Haku's lips parted slightly, and his voice had grown even softer and more feminine.
"Mr. Cangwu, we've finished investigating all of Gato's assets."
"Nicely done." Cangwu's lips curled slightly.
The two of them were pretty efficient.
He reached out and patted Haku on the head.
He even gave the "lotus bun" atop Haku's head a squeeze. It felt no worse than Tenten's two little buns.
"Thank you, Lord Cangwu," Haku said softly, pressing his lips together.
"How's Gato doing?" Cangwu chuckled, drew back his hand, and headed outside.
Haku hurried after him.
"Because we failed, Mr. Zabuza pretended to be seriously injured."
"Gato couldn't wait to test him. Once he confirmed that Mr. Zabuza was truly badly hurt, his attitude toward us changed subtly."
As Haku spoke, admiration showed in his eyes.
"It was just as Lord Cangwu predicted."
"That night, Gato sent several rogue ninja to kill Mr. Zabuza."
"And I followed Lord Cangwu's plan, stepping in to drive them off."
"Mr. Zabuza confronted Gato."
"Gato was so frightened by Mr. Zabuza that he stumbled backward again and again. In the end, he blustered that he'd give us another week."
Haku's lips curved slightly. When he spoke of Zabuza, his eyes lit up.
"That night, we turned one of the rogue ninja to our side and spread the news. Now, many rogue ninja know that Gato plans to move against Mr. Zabuza and me."
"The news that Gato was trying to double-cross us has made those who were already wavering even more wary of him."
"Get ready.