Different Positions

"What's wrong with Jimo? He used to be more devoted to training than anyone..." Naruto said, watching Jimo spend his days leisurely wandering around and having fun.

Even Sasuke and Sakura looked completely baffled.

"If my guess is right... this kid Jimo... is truly extraordinary..." Kakashi murmured cryptically to himself.

He could sense far more clearly than Naruto and the others that the energy within Jimo's body was increasing rapidly.

"Jimo has actually reached a state of extreme saturation. In other words, he's reached the greatest pressure his body can withstand at this stage," Kakashi explained. "So now he needs to release that pressure and find a balance for the energy in his body."

"Okay... that's really deep..." Naruto said, scratching his head.

Sakura and Sasuke hadn't understood what Kakashi meant, either.

"Didn't Jimo say this while teaching Inari? Exercise well, study well, have fun, eat well, and rest well! Training hard without letup is no different from forcing a seedling to grow by pulling on it. Jimo has found the right balance in his training."

After Kakashi explained, the others also began to slow down and try to get some rest.

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

The technique only required releasing Chakra, so it was very convenient, and it dealt considerable damage. Kakashi planned to report it to the Third Hokage when he returned and have the technique made widely available.

In the dense forest, Zabuza and Haku warily watched the figure before them.

"Hello!"

Jimo stood inside the house with a bag of apples in his hand. Haku stood protectively in front of Zabuza. She sensed that the aura emanating from Jimo had grown even stronger, and a frightening possibility occurred to her. This kid had already surpassed Mr. Zabuza in Chakra reserves.

"Don't be so on edge... Here, have an apple!"

Jimo tossed an apple to Zabuza and Haku, then took one for himself and bit into it.

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

Haku held a Senbon in her hand, not daring to let her guard down for a moment. The pressure this guy put on her had already triggered her body's instincts.

"Don't get so worked up. It's bad for your health. Besides, Kakashi-sensei has already recovered the ability to move, so you'd better not do anything rash."

Jimo's words made the two of them give up resisting. This kid in front of them was already strong enough. If Kakashi joined in, things would truly be dire.

"I came to negotiate with you. At least, if this deal works out, you and Haku won't have to keep hiding."

Jimo's words stirred Haku's hopes.

"If I can help you take over Gato's company, his accumulated wealth will be enough for you to live well here, right?"

"An interesting proposal..." Zabuza's lips curled slightly as he slowly stood up, keeping his eyes fixed on Jimo. At the same time, he reached behind himself with his right hand, pulled out several Shuriken, and hurled them at Jimo with all his might.

But these fierce-looking attacks were child's play to Jimo. He flashed aside and caught the Shuriken with ease.

"A sick man should act like one!" Jimo snorted. Before the words had even left his mouth, he used Instant Transmission and appeared beside Zabuza like a ghost.

Then he swung his arm, delivering a knife-hand strike to Zabuza's neck with blinding speed. With a muffled thud, Zabuza blacked out before he could even react and collapsed to the ground.

After taking care of Zabuza, Jimo slowly turned and looked at Haku, who stood nearby.

Haku watched it all in silence, surprise and fear showing in her eyes.

Jimo walked up to Haku and raised his right hand, reaching gently toward her face. His fingers paused briefly as they touched the mask on her face, then he lifted it away. The mysterious mask fell to the ground.

Beneath the mask was a familiar face. Seeing it, Jimo smiled slightly and said softly, "I knew it was you, big sister."

Their conversation lasted from morning until afternoon. Zabuza woke up during that time, but he didn't try to attack Jimo again.

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

"Kid, I don't know how you managed to persuade her... but you should know that a missing-nin is a missing-nin. We can never live in the open under the sun..."

A rare trace of melancholy appeared in Zabuza's eyes.

"I'm destined to wander from place to place, but Kirigakure doesn't know Haku's true identity... I hope you'll protect her after the deal is done. She's a good girl..."

Zabuza looked at Jimo as if a wild boar had just trampled the cabbage he'd spent decades growing.

"Got it. So, do you want to take on a new face and become a rich man here, or keep wandering? If you don't want to stay here, I know somewhere you could go!" Jimo said, crossing his legs. "Once Gato dies, someone will have to take over these businesses. The locals probably don't have the ability or the nerve to do it."

In the end, Zabuza accepted Jimo's proposal and "died" at Kakashi's hands during a battle. He took on a new face and assumed control of Wave Country's water transport.

Of course, he would give one third of his earnings to Jimo, one third to local development, and keep the remaining third for himself to manage.

"I've been an assassin for so long that suddenly playing the good guy feels strange... You really don't mind that I used to be an assassin?" Zabuza said coldly. "I've shed more blood than I can count."

"There's no black and white in this world, only a refined shade of gray," Jimo said with a smile. "You did those things out of loyalty to your village. You take the ruler's pay and serve the ruler. There's no right or wrong about it. It's like a wolf eating a sheep. People say the wolf is cruel, but isn't the person who starves the wolf to death cruel, too?"

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

"What I want is for everyone under this sky to be able to live by their own will."

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

"If you're willing to risk your life, you can pull even an emperor from his throne! If they refuse, someone else can take the daimyō's place."

"Ha ha ha ha! Interesting. You're an interesting kid. I'd love to see Kakashi's face when he hears you say that," Zabuza laughed.

"Don't forget to make your acting convincing. If Kakashi-sensei really misses with Chidori, someone could die."

"What a nagging brat..."