Different Stances

"What's up with Jimo? He was training harder than anyone before..." Naruto said, watching Jimo laze around and play every day.

Even Sasuke and Sakura looked equally puzzled.

"If I'm not mistaken... that kid Jimo... he's really something..." Kakashi muttered cryptically to himself.

He could sense the energy inside Jimo rising at a rapid pace far more clearly than Naruto and the others.

"Actually, Jimo has already reached a state of extreme saturation. In other words, he's hit the maximum pressure his current stage can withstand," Kakashi explained. "So now, he needs to release that pressure to find a balance in his body's energy."

"So... deep..." Naruto scratched his head.

Sakura and Sasuke didn't get what Kakashi was saying either.

"Didn't Jimo say it when he was teaching Inari? Play hard, study hard, have fun, eat well, rest well! If you only focus on hard training, it's like pulling up seedlings to help them grow. So Jimo found the balance point in training."

Under Kakashi's explanation, the group also began to slow down and try to rest.

During this time, Kakashi successfully learned the Chakra Jade that Jimo had created.

This technique only required releasing chakra, was very convenient, and dealt impressive damage. Kakashi planned to report it to the Third Hokage and popularize it.

Deep in the forest, Zabuza and Haku cautiously watched the figure before them.

"Hello there!"

Jimo stood inside the hut carrying a bag of apples. Haku shielded Zabuza behind her, sensing that the aura emanating from Jimo had grown even stronger. She even had a terrifying thought—this kid's chakra reserves had already surpassed Zabuza's.

"No need to be so wary... here, have an apple!"

Jimo tossed two apples to Zabuza and Haku, then took one himself and bit into it.

"What are you doing here?!" Zabuza glared at him with bloodshot eyes, his hand never leaving the Kubikiribōchō.

Haku also held her senbon needles, not daring to relax for a moment. The pressure this guy gave her had already triggered her body's instincts.

"Don't get so worked up; it's bad for your health. And besides, Kakashi-sensei recovered his mobility long ago. You'd better not make any rash moves now."

With one sentence, Jimo made them both abandon any thought of resistance. This brat in front of them was already strong enough—if Kakashi showed up too, things would really go south.

"I'm here to negotiate a deal. If it works out, you and Haku won't have to hide anymore."

Jimo's words sparked Haku's interest.

"If I can help you take over Gato's company, with his capital, you'd have enough to live well here, right?"

"An interesting proposal..." Zabuza's lips curled slightly as he slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on Jimo. He reached behind him with his right hand, pulled out a few shuriken, and hurled them at Jimo with force.

But these seemingly fierce attacks were like child's play to Jimo. With a flicker of movement, he effortlessly caught the shuriken in his hands.

"A patient should act like one!" Jimo snorted. Before the words faded, he moved like a ghost, instantly appearing beside Zabuza.

Then, with a swing of his arm, he struck a knife-hand blow at Zabuza's neck at lightning speed. With a dull thud, Zabuza didn't even have time to react before his vision went black and he collapsed to the ground.

After dealing with Zabuza, Jimo slowly turned his gaze to Haku, who stood nearby.

Haku watched everything quietly, a mix of surprise and fear in her eyes.

Jimo stepped up to Haku, raised his right hand, and gently reached for her face. When his fingers touched the mask on her face, he paused briefly, then lightly lifted it off. The mysterious mask clattered to the ground.

Beneath the mask was a familiar face. Seeing it, Jimo couldn't help but smile softly. "It really is you, big sister."

The conversation stretched from morning to afternoon. During that time, Zabuza woke up but didn't attack Jimo again.

While Haku went out to buy supplies, Zabuza limped to the window and watched her leave.

"Kid, I don't know how you convinced her... but you should know that a rogue ninja is a rogue ninja. They can't live in the sunlight..." Zabuza's eyes showed a rare hint of melancholy.

"I'm destined to wander, but Kirigakure doesn't know Haku's real information... I hope that after the deal, you'll protect her well. She's a good girl..."

Zabuza looked at Jimo with the expression of a man who'd raised a cabbage for decades only to see a wild boar take it.

"Got it. So, do you want to get a new face here and live like a rich man, or keep running? If you don't want to stay here, I know a good place!" Jimo said, crossing his legs. "Once Gato's dead, someone has to take over his businesses. Those villagers probably don't have the guts or the drive."

In the end, Zabuza accepted Jimo's proposal—to "die" at Kakashi's hands in battle, then get a new face and take control of Wave Country's water transport.

Of course, a third of the profits went to Jimo, a third to local development, and the last third was his to manage.

"After being a killer for so long, suddenly playing the good guy feels weird... You really don't mind that I used to be an assassin?" Zabuza said coldly. "The blood on my hands—I can't even count it myself."

"This world isn't black or white. It's just a delicate shade of gray," Jimo said with a smile. "What you did was out of loyalty to your village. You ate your lord's bread, so you did your lord's work. There's no right or wrong. It's like wolves eating sheep—people call wolves cruel, but aren't those who starve wolves to death just as cruel?"

Hearing Jimo's words, Zabuza fell into deep thought.

"What I want to do is let the people under this sky live by their own will."

"You'll face a lot of resistance... Do you think the daimyo will let ideas like that spread?"

"If you're willing to risk it all, you can drag the emperor off his throne! If they don't agree, the daimyo's seat can just swap for someone else to sit on."

"Hahahaha, interesting, you're an interesting kid. I'd love to see Kakashi's face when he hears that," Zabuza laughed loudly.

"Don't forget—make the act convincing. If Kakashi-sensei's Chidori actually misses, it'll really kill someone."

"Annoying brat..."