"As long as you're interested in making a deal."
"Name your price."
Jingxin was being very generous.
Zabuza went straight for the sky: "I want three hundred million, plus free intel every month!"
Jingxin nodded without hesitation. "Deal!"
Zabuza: "?"
In truth, Zabuza had been expecting one hundred million.
That was plenty—enough to live extravagantly for the rest of his life.
He didn't gamble, and he wasn't about to "start a business."
But seeing Jingxin agree so easily, Zabuza began to wonder if he'd asked for too little.
Just then, the tears that had been gathering in Haku's eyes finally spilled over, tracing a path down his seemingly delicate cheek.
"Zabuza, you traitor!"
A shrill voice came from one side of the bridge.
Gato arrived with a large number of men, glaring at Zabuza through clenched teeth. "I knew you couldn't be trusted!"
"And that useless little freak who can't even pass for a man or a woman! If you hadn't still been of some use to me, I would've thrown you into the sea to feed the fish ages ago!"
Zabuza's anger flared. He was about to have three hundred million, so why should he care about this pittance?
"What did you say?!" Killing intent surged from Zabuza, and his two rows of sharp, pointed teeth looked ready to snap Gato's neck at any moment.
Gato snorted and waved his hand.
His lackeys parted to make way, and a figure stepped out from the crowd.
What drew the eye was the pair of ninja swords in his hands, their blades bent downward at the tips, and the strange object strapped to his back.
"Oh?" Zabuza asked scornfully. "Raiga? You planning to take me on?"
Raiga Kurosuki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and the second wielder of the Thunder Swords: Kiba.
Raiga looked a little unhinged. He glared at Zabuza and sneered. "The genius who killed all his classmates? You're pretty rude to your senior. I'll have to give you a funeral!"
The sword wielders of Kirigakure knew one another very well.
Raiga did have a little more seniority than Zabuza, but only a little.
Raiga had heard of Zabuza's reputation. Under normal circumstances, with Zabuza uninjured, Raiga might have been a little wary of him. But Zabuza was clearly at the end of his rope now, and he still dared to act tough in front of his senior.
Zabuza shifted his gaze from Raiga to Jingxin. "Do you remember our deal?"
At that moment, Jingxin was thinking.
Why was Raiga here?
In the original story, Gato hadn't hired Raiga. And the two of them had nothing to do with each other.
Still, since Raiga was already here, there was nothing Jingxin could do about it.
Raiga's attention was drawn to Jingxin, and his brows furrowed at once.
Jingxin stepped forward twice and slowly raised his hand.
At the same time, a trembling little boy's voice came from behind Raiga. "Run."
The next second,
Raiga turned and ran without the slightest hesitation.
Gato and his men were stunned. "What are you doing?!"
Raiga's voice faded into the distance. "I'll help you get revenge another day!"
"Now then..." Zabuza took a step forward and advanced on Gato. "What was it you just said?"
Meanwhile,
Naruto's eyes went wide. "Whoa! The enemy turned into a friend in an instant!"
"Hey, guy in the mask, thanks!"
Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura Haruno: "..."
Before Zabuza could make a move, Jingxin spoke up. "Spare his life. That's our money."
Zabuza understood what he meant at once.
But he frowned. "You're planning to pay me with Gato's money?"
So that was why you agreed so quickly!
You're freeloading, plain and simple!
Jingxin was wearing a mask, so his expression was hidden. His tone didn't change either. "I know Mr. Zabuza has professional integrity and would never rob a client."
Zabuza: "..."
Forget it.
Jingxin had just scared Raiga off, which had saved his life.
There was no need to get upset over such a small thing.
More importantly, he needed to find Haku a good home.
Of course, the key factor was that Zabuza didn't think he could beat Jingxin.
He didn't know why Raiga had run, but he could tell that the person in front of him was no ordinary opponent.
In Iwagakure, Ōnoki was the only one who could fly.
After all these years, if a second person had appeared, he had to be connected to Ōnoki somehow.
If he wasn't Ōnoki's son or grandson, then at the very least he had to be his student.
Ōnoki was a cautious man. If he still dared to let this youngster roam the Ninja World, he must have absolute confidence in his strength.
Zabuza charged into the crowd, swinging the Kubikiribōchō.
Haku followed close behind.
Although Zabuza wasn't in good shape, he was an elite jōnin from Kirigakure—a ruthless fighter who had nearly driven Kakashi to the brink.
Against a bunch of samurai and wandering ninja, this was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
Before long, Gato's men had been wiped out. Some were dead; the rest fled.
Seeing this, Naruto excitedly started to run over and catch up with Haku, while also sincerely thanking Jingxin.
But Kakashi stopped him. "Our mission is to guard the bridge. Don't get involved."
Naruto looked disappointed.
Sasuke, meanwhile, stared intently at Jingxin's back, his fists clenched.
Why?
Why?!
That guy looked about their age, yet with a casual lift of his hand, he'd made a jōnin on the same level as their teacher flee in panic.
How had he trained?
Jingxin had no idea what Sasuke was thinking, and he didn't have time to pay attention.
He was here for Haku and the money. There would be plenty of chances to catch up with the people from Konoha at the Chunin Ninja Exams not long from now.
Jingxin walked over to Gato, who was bound up, then frowned.
Even through his mask, he could smell the stench.
That evildoer had pissed himself.
When Gato saw Jingxin approaching, he stammered, "You can't kill me! You want my money, so you can't kill me! Otherwise, you won't get a thing!"
That was one of the reasons Zabuza had never considered robbing Gato.
Jingxin didn't bother responding. He activated the Three-Tomoe Sharingan's genjutsu.
Gato's expression settled, and he murmured, "My money is hidden at a base near the northern harbor of the Land of Waves."
The next second,
Gato's head separated from his body and soared into the air.
"That was some impressive genjutsu." Zabuza sheathed the Kubikiribōchō and said to Jingxin, "Let's go. We don't want certain people getting there first."
Kakashi and Team 7, who had been eavesdropping nearby: "..."
The rest was simple.
Jingxin, Zabuza, and Haku went to get the money.
There was a total of 1.2 billion ryō. After giving Zabuza 300 million, Jingxin had 900 million left.
Rather than taking Zabuza away as promised, Jingxin used that 900 million to buy grain, seeds, and farming tools from various places, providing the people of the Land of Waves with several months' worth of food and farming supplies.
That was more than enough time for the people of the Land of Waves to get through until the crops ripened.
In the end, Jingxin not only had no money left, but had also paid nearly ten million ryō out of his own pocket—and had to borrow it from Zabuza.
(Setup for later; this will be paid off!)
Before you continue