How Did You Figure It Out?

Senbon were tools used mostly for medical treatment and acupressure. Using them for an assassination made the choice seem deliberate, as though they were meant to achieve a specific effect.

Feigning death!

Those two words flashed through Kakashi's mind. He looked at the Hunter-nin, his expression completely changed.

"Looks like my useless student just taught me a lesson." Kakashi's voice turned languid again. "So, care to explain yourself, Mr. Hunter-nin?"

The masked ninja's heart sank. He hadn't expected his plan to be exposed so completely by a Konoha Genin who seemed like the least remarkable person there, using a method so simple yet so devastating.

Faced with the other boy's crystal-clear analysis, all his disguises seemed utterly useless.

Fight or flee?

Haku's mind raced. Together with Zabuza-sama, who was exhausted and nearly out of chakra, he would have to face Kakashi, whose Sharingan was in perfect condition and who had already seen through his disguise, as well as a black-haired boy of unfathomable intelligence. Their chances of winning were zero.

"Konoha's Genin are truly impressive."

Haku left them with a cryptic remark. The next moment, instead of fighting, he clutched Zabuza's body and unleashed a burst of chakra beneath his feet!

His figure blurred in an instant, shooting toward the depths of the forest at a speed far beyond that of an ordinary Body Flicker Technique!

"You're not getting away!"

Kakashi immediately started after them, but the fatigue from using his Sharingan so intensely surged over him like a tide. He stumbled, nearly falling.

"Damn it!" All he could do was watch as Haku carried Zabuza away, their figures vanishing into the mist.

The killing intent and oppressive atmosphere around them dissipated as the two disappeared.

The threat was over, for now.

"Sensei Kakashi! Are you okay?" Naruto was the first to rush over and catch Kakashi as he swayed.

"Yeah... I'm fine. Just used a little too much chakra." Kakashi waved a hand, then leaned against a tree and panted heavily. He looked at Ling Xuan with an expression more complicated than ever.

"Ling Xuan, how did you... figure it out?" he couldn't help asking. This couldn't be explained by simple observation.

Ling Xuan's answer was as calm as ever. "Logic. His actions fundamentally contradicted his identity and stated purpose. A Hunter-nin using medical tools to carry out an execution was the biggest clue of all."

He didn't mention that his eyes could see signs of life, attributing his conclusion to pure logical analysis instead.

But to Kakashi, that only made it more frightening. Even after a life-or-death battle, Ling Xuan had kept a cool head and pieced together the truth from the smallest details in an instant.

His intellect already surpassed that of any peer Kakashi had ever met, including Uchiha Itachi at that age.

"I see..." Kakashi gave a bitter smile. "It looks like our mission is far from over. That boy and Zabuza Momochi will definitely show up again."

Kakashi straightened and addressed the others. "Let's get to Mr. Tazuna's house first. I need to rest. After that, I'll put you through some special training. Next time, we'll be facing Demon Zabuza at full strength, along with his mysterious partner."

The team set off again, the mood heavier than before. Everyone knew that an even tougher and more dangerous battle awaited them in the near future.

At last, they reached Tazuna's house before nightfall. It was a modest wooden home, full of warmth and life compared to the desolate atmosphere throughout the village. Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, opened the door. She was a gentle yet resilient woman.

"Father! You're finally back!" Seeing Tazuna safe and sound, Tsunami burst into tears of joy.

That evening, Team 7 finally had a chance to rest over the simple but comforting dinner Tsunami had prepared. Tazuna's grandson, Inari, sat silently at the table, his gaze stubborn yet gloomy as he watched the visiting ninja with distrust and hostility.

"You're all going to die in the end anyway," he suddenly said to Naruto. "No one who goes up against Gato gets away with it. You ninja talk a big game, but in the end, you'll just die for nothing, like my dad!"

"What did you say?!" Naruto slammed his hand on the table, furious.

"Inari! Don't say things like that!" Tsunami hurried to stop him.

After the brief commotion, Inari ran back to his room in tears. Tazuna sighed and told them the story of Inari's father.

The man Inari had seen as a hero had stood up to Gato and was executed in public. The tragedy had left a lasting wound in Inari's heart, making him lose faith in the very existence of heroes.

Dinner ended in a gloomy mood. Kakashi went to rest early because he had used up too much chakra, while Ling Xuan returned alone to the room assigned to him.

He didn't rest. Though the battle was over, his analysis and planning were only just beginning.

Sitting cross-legged, Ling Xuan closed his eyes. Deep within his consciousness, the Eye of Truth was working faster than ever. Every moment of the battle with Zabuza, every movement Haku had made, was retrieved, replayed, deconstructed, and analyzed.

Zabuza Momochi's fighting style relied heavily on combining the Kubikiribōchō with the Hidden Mist Technique. His swordsmanship was broad and powerful, combining strength with skill, but that also meant his movements were large, leaving obvious openings.

The boy called Haku moved lightly and incredibly fast. He was skilled in human pressure points and used senbon as weapons. His chakra natures were Wind and Water. There was a very small chance that this combination could produce a special Kekkei Genkai—Iсe Release.

The bond between them went beyond that of ordinary companions, approaching blind devotion. Haku would protect Zabuza at absolutely any cost. This was their strongest connection, but also their most vulnerable weakness.

Countless fragments of information collided and rearranged themselves in Ling Xuan's mind, gradually forming an entirely new chessboard.

The pieces on the board included Kakashi, Zabuza, Haku, Team 7, and the mastermind behind it all, Gato.

And Ling Xuan would be the one to arrange them.

Killing Zabuza and Haku in the Land of Waves would be the simplest choice, but also the most wasteful. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and one bearer of a Kekkei Genkai possessed value—in information, techniques, and potential future strength—that far surpassed anything gained by killing them.

Ling Xuan wanted more than a simple victory. He wanted to control the entire situation, bring every piece into his calculations, and make them follow his script toward an entirely new ending.