Freebie

"As long as you're interested in a deal, that's all that matters."

"Name your price."

Jingxin appeared very generous.

Zabuza went straight for the jugular: "I want three hundred million, plus intelligence on Haku every month!"

Jingxin nodded decisively: "Done!"

Zabuza: "?"

In truth, Zabuza's internal expectation had been one hundred million.

That was already a significant sum, enough for him to squander for a lifetime.

He didn't gamble, nor was he capable of "starting a business."

But seeing Jingxin agree so easily, Zabuza began to suspect he had asked for too little.

At this moment, in front of Zabuza, the teardrops that had been pooling in Haku's eyes finally fell, tracing a path down cheeks that seemed delicate enough to break at a touch.

"Zabuza, you traitor!"

A shrill voice came from the side of the bridge.

Gato arrived with a large group of subordinates, glaring at Zabuza through gritted teeth: "I knew a guy like you couldn't be trusted!"

"And that androgynous little piece of trash—if it weren't for the fact that you were still somewhat useful, I would have thrown you into the sea to feed the fish long ago!"

Hearing this, rage surged in Zabuza's heart. I'm about to have three hundred million; do I still care about your measly pay?

"What did you say?!" Zabuza's killing intent skyrocketed, his two rows of sharp, jagged teeth looking as if they would snap Gato's neck the very next second.

Gato snorted coldly and waved his hand.

His henchmen parted to clear a path, and a figure stepped out from the crowd.

What caught the eye was that this person held two ninja blades with hooked tips, and carried a strange object on his back.

"Yo?" Zabuza asked with disdain: "Raiga? Are you planning to make a move on this lord?"

Raiga Kurosuki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the second wielder of the Lightning Blade-Kiba.

Raiga looked somewhat neurotic, his eyes bulging as he mocked: "The genius who killed all his peers? Such poor manners when speaking to a senior—in that case, let me hold a funeral for you!"

Users of the Seven Ninja Swords of Kirigakure were very familiar with one another.

However, Raiga's seniority was indeed slightly higher than Zabuza's, though only by a hair.

Raiga had been fortunate enough to learn of Zabuza's reputation; if Zabuza hadn't been injured, Raiga might have been wary, but seeing Zabuza clearly at the end of his rope, he couldn't believe the man still dared to act arrogant in front of a senior.

Zabuza shifted his gaze from Raiga and landed it on Jingxin: "Do you still remember our deal?"

At this moment, Jingxin was deep in thought.

Why would Raiga appear here?

In the original story, Gato never hired Raiga, and these were two characters who should have had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

However, since he was already here, there was nothing Jingxin could do about it.

Raiga's attention was also drawn to Jingxin, and his brow furrowed immediately.

Jingxin stepped forward twice and slowly raised his hand.

At the same time, a little boy's trembling voice came from behind Raiga: "Run."

The next second.

Raiga turned and fled without a moment's hesitation.

Gato was left stunned, demanding: "What are you doing?!"

Raiga's voice drifted back from further and further away: "I'll help you get your revenge another day!"

"Now then..." Zabuza took a step forward, closing in on Gato step by step: "What was it you said just now?!"

On the other side.

Naruto widened his eyes: "Wow! The enemy turned into a friend in an instant!"

"Hey, masked guy, thanks a lot!"

Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno: "..."

Before Zabuza could strike, Jingxin spoke up: "Leave him alive; that's your money and mine."

Zabuza understood what that meant in an instant.

However, he frowned: "You intend to pay me using Gato's money?"

So that's why you agreed so readily just now!

Isn't this just a pure free ride?

Jingxin wore a mask, hiding his expression, and his tone remained unchanged: "I know Mr. Zabuza has professional ethics and would never rob his employer."

Zabuza: "..."

Forget it.

Jingxin had just scared off Raiga, effectively saving his life.

There was no need for him to be unhappy over such a trivial matter.

More importantly, he needed to find a good home for Haku.

Of course, the key factor was that Zabuza did not believe he could defeat Jingxin.

He did not know why Raiga had fled, but he could realize that the person before him was no simple character.

In Iwagakure, the only person capable of flight was Ōnoki.

After so many years, the appearance of a second person must certainly be related to Ōnoki.

If not his son or grandson, then at the very least, his disciple.

That cautious fellow Ōnoki would only dare let this little guy run wild across the ninja world if he had absolute confidence in his strength.

Zabuza charged into the crowd, swinging the Kubikiribōchō.

Haku followed closely behind.

Although he was not in top condition, he was still an elite jōnin of Kirigakure, a ruthless man who had nearly driven Kakashi into a desperate situation.

Facing a group of samurai and rogue ninjas, it was like using a cannon to swat mosquitoes.

Soon, Gato's men were wiped out; those who didn't die fled.

Seeing this, Naruto excitedly wanted to run over to catch up with Haku and, incidentally, express his sincere gratitude to Jingxin.

But he was stopped by Kakashi: "Our mission is only to guard the bridge; don't meddle."

Naruto looked a bit dejected.

Sasuke, however, stared fixedly at Jingxin's back, his fists clenched tight.

Why?

Why?!

That guy looked to be the same age as them, yet with a casual wave of his hand, he could make a jōnin of the same level as their teacher flee in terror.

How did he train?

Jingxin naturally did not know Sasuke's state of mind, nor did he have the time to pay attention to it.

This trip was only for Haku and the money; as for catching up with the people from Konoha, there would be plenty of opportunities during the Chūnin Exams not long from now.

Jingxin walked up to the bound Gato and frowned.

Even through his mask, he could smell a stench.

This evildoer had been scared into wetting himself.

Seeing Jingxin approach, Gato trembled and shouted: "You can't kill me! If you want my money, you can't kill me! Otherwise, you won't get anything!"

This was one of the reasons Zabuza had never considered looting Gato.

Jingxin did not waste words with him, activating a genjutsu with his three-tomoe Sharingan.

Gato's expression calmed, and he muttered: "My money is all hidden in a base near the northern port of the Land of Waves."

The next second.

Gato's head parted from his body, flying high into the air.

"An impressive genjutsu." Zabuza sheathed the Kubikiribōchō and said to Jingxin: "Let's go, don't let certain people get there first."

Kakashi and Team 7, who were eavesdropping not far away: "..."

The subsequent events were much simpler.

Jingxin, Zabuza, and Haku went to retrieve the money.

A total of 1.2 billion ryō; after giving Zabuza 300 million, 900 million remained.

Jingxin did not take Zabuza away immediately as promised; instead, he used the 900 million to purchase grain, seeds, and farming tools from various places, providing the people of the Land of Waves with several months of food supplies and agricultural resources.

During this period, it would be enough for the Land of Waves to hold out until the harvest.

In the end, not only did Jingxin not have any money left, but he had actually spent an extra 10 million of his own, which he had even borrowed from Zabuza.

(This is foreshadowing, to be resolved later!)