The Land of Waves

Rumors about Lord Kintsuchi and Miss Kurotsuchi had spread throughout Iwagakure. Some said they were made for each other, others said the Tsuchikage was secretly trying to bring them together, and still others claimed they had already pledged themselves to one another.

Jingxin had heard the rumors, and so had Kurotsuchi, but neither of them paid them any mind. Kurotsuchi thought it didn't matter, while Jingxin didn't know how to react.

After browsing the ninja tool shop, Kurotsuchi bought a few Shuriken, while Jingxin picked out several practice scrolls for Sealing Jutsu.

The two were about to head home when a small red figure came running around the corner.

"Brother Jingxin! Sister Kurotsuchi!"

It was Karin.

Unlike in the original story, she wore her red hair in a ponytail, and some of the baby fat had left her face.

She held a small bottle in her hand. When she reached Jingxin, she panted and held it out to him.

"Brother Jingxin... this... is for you..."

Jingxin took the bottle. Inside was a pale green liquid that gave off a sweet, fresh scent.

Kurotsuchi pursed her lips. That little rascal was copying her again.

"What is it?" Jingxin asked.

"A recovery drink I made myself," Karin said softly, her little face blushing with shyness. "I asked a Medical Corps pharmacist for advice and added Rock Honey, herbal extracts, and just a little chakra recovery potion."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, but she kept looking at Jingxin, her eyes full of nervous anticipation.

Jingxin opened the bottle and took a sip.

It tasted a little different from the one Kurotsuchi had given him. It was less sweet, but the herbal fragrance was stronger. After he swallowed, he felt warmth spread from his stomach. It really did have a restorative effect.

"Not bad," he said sincerely.

Karin's eyes lit up at once, and a happy smile bloomed across her little face.

Kurotsuchi watched from the side, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes.

She shook her head, clearing away those stray thoughts, then reached out and ruffled Karin's hair. "Little Karin, that's thoughtful of you. But next time, remember to pay attention to the proportions when mixing medicine. Too much chakra recovery potion can cause side effects."

"Okay! I'll be careful!" Karin nodded vigorously, then looked at Jingxin. "Brother Jingxin, are you coming to the training ground tomorrow? I want to ask you about Sealing Jutsu..."

"I am." Jingxin nodded. "In the afternoon. I'll be guiding Deidara's training in the morning."

Kurotsuchi reminded Karin again, "You have to be careful about what you call people in public."

Karin liked calling Jingxin by his real name, while Kurotsuchi was more concerned about keeping his identity secret.

Karin nodded obediently. "Okay! I understand. From now on, I'll call Brother Jingxin Brother Kintsuchi."

Kurotsuchi: "..."

The three of them headed back together.

Karin walked on Jingxin's other side, glancing up at him from time to time, her eyes full of trust and admiration.

Kurotsuchi, meanwhile, linked her arm through Jingxin's, looking perfectly natural, as if it were her exclusive privilege.

The villagers passing by saw them and whispered among themselves.

"Look, Lord Kintsuchi is with those two young ladies again."

"They're a perfect match... They're so close."

"I heard the Tsuchikage has given his blessing..."

Kurotsuchi felt a little pleased when she heard the gossip. She glanced at Karin, only to find that Karin's attention wasn't on her at all.

After the three returned home, Jingxin went alone to see Ōnoki at the Tsuchikage Office.

"I'm going to the Land of Waves."

Ōnoki put down his pen and looked over at Jingxin. The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily. "Found something good again?"

Over the years, thanks to Jingxin's knowledge of the original story, whenever he asked Ōnoki for permission to leave the village, he would come back with something valuable.

"I'm taking a chance," Jingxin replied. "There's a Kekkei Genkai user, but he won't be easy to recruit."

Ōnoki nodded. "Good! Go ahead, but be careful. Your safety comes first. Everything else is secondary."

Jingxin bowed and left the office.

Great Naruto Bridge.

Waves beat against the bridge piers as the thick fog gradually cleared.

The battle in the middle of the bridge was reaching its final stage.

Kakashi gripped his Lightning Blade, his single Sharingan fixed on Zabuza as he readied himself to strike.

Haku, who had been fighting Naruto and Sasuke, spotted him and immediately broke away to rush toward Zabuza.

The Lightning Blade crackled with terrifying blue electricity. Kakashi shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, rapidly closing the distance.

But at that crucial moment, Kakashi suddenly sensed danger.

His charging steps veered sharply to the side, carrying him more than three meters off course.

At the same time, several Shuriken rained down from above, landing in front of Zabuza and Haku.

The sudden turn of events put both sides on alert.

"Good thing I got here in time."

A calm voice came from overhead.

Both sides looked up at the sky.

At some point, a boy dressed in simple black and wearing an Anbu mask had appeared, hovering high in the air. A gust of wind made the sand-resistant cloak over his shoulders snap and billow.

Sakura Haruno, Sasuke, and Naruto hurried to Kakashi's side.

Zabuza and Haku took the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and Team 7.

The Nine-Tails cloak faded from Naruto. Gasping for breath, he laughed at Jingxin. "Whoever you are, you saved Big Sister Haku, so you can't be a bad guy!"

Sasuke, now in his hedgehog-like form, was pulling Senbon out one by one. He frowned. "Naruto, we still don't know what he wants."

Sakura Haruno looked at Jingxin warily.

Kakashi watched Jingxin, analyzing the situation. "He can fly without anything to support him. He might be from Iwagakure, and he must have a special status."

"Still," Kakashi asked Jingxin, "you weren't hired by Gato, were you?"

The Land of Waves was an enormous distance from the Land of Earth. How could Gato have gone all the way there to hire a ninja?

"We're not enemies."

After replying to Kakashi, Jingxin slowly descended, landing closer to Zabuza.

Zabuza and Haku were watching him now.

Jingxin addressed Zabuza directly. "Fifty million ryō, and I'll take you somewhere safe, far from the Land of Water. You can make a fresh start there."

Zabuza furrowed his completely hairless brow. "What do you want?"

Jingxin raised a hand and pointed at the person beside Zabuza. "I want him."

Haku's delicate face changed at once. "I won't leave Lord Zabuza!"

"Be quiet, Haku!" Zabuza scolded him sternly.

But from where Haku stood, he couldn't see Zabuza's eyes—or the complicated emotions in them.

Zabuza didn't agree to Jingxin's offer right away. Instead, he asked, "Then who are you?"

Haku had no future with him, but Zabuza wasn't going to hand him over to some stranger, either.

Jingxin introduced himself. "I'm an Anbu from Iwagakure."

"Heh..." Zabuza felt reassured. "Only the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure has that strange ability to fly."

"But isn't fifty million a little stingy?"

"You do realize this is a Kekkei Genkai user!"

Hearing Zabuza and Jingxin discuss his price, Haku felt utterly pained and helpless.