"If Tazuna were really smart, he should've asked the Leaf Village for a loan to build the bridge from the start. That way, even if he didn't put out a mission, the Leaf Village would've helped protect it anyway, and he wouldn't have had to spend a single coin." After Keiichi told Kakashi the whole story, he added one last comment.
As the team leader, Kakashi had to know that Keiichi had gone and shaken Tazuna down on his own. He'd deliberately waited a few days to see how things played out, just in case his plan backfired. As it turned out, the response had been pretty good.
"You... Never mind. What you did wasn't wrong, either." For a moment, Kakashi didn't know how to judge his actions.
As an elite Jonin, he'd completed more than a hundred A-rank missions and plenty of S-rank ones, so three million ryo was nothing to him.
That was why he'd completely overlooked the fact that since this was a C-rank mission whose difficulty had risen to A-rank, the reward ought to go up, too.
Besides, after arriving in the Land of Waves and seeing just how poor Tazuna's family was, he'd felt too awkward to bring it up.
He hadn't expected Keiichi to come up with the ingenious idea of counting the bridge as part of the mission reward. He was even more of a heartless profiteer than Gato.
After all, the bridge had cost only three million to build, but its selling price would have been far higher. Yet Keiichi had sold it to the Leaf Village at cost, and Tazuna had been completely taken in.
There was a hint of taking advantage of someone in trouble in what he'd done, but Keiichi's actions were perfectly understandable. This was the first time he'd ever taken on a mission this difficult, and he'd practically put his life on the line. If he ended up getting paid only the C-rank rate, that would've been a real loss.
Besides, Keiichi's actions had saved the Leaf Village money. What could Kakashi say?
"Don't take matters into your own hands like that next time. At the very least, tell me first."
"Yes, sir!"
But Keiichi silently apologized to him, because he was about to take matters into his own hands again—and there was no way he'd dare let Kakashi know.
By a stroke of luck, he'd actually found a lead to Zabuza's hideout. Everything was in place.
This time, he had Naruto to thank for the assist. The "big sister" Naruto had accidentally run into while training in the woods was none other than Haku, with his mask off.
Ugh, what big sister? More like big brother!
Keiichi had come back from a search just in time to see it happen. Then Haku's words—"I'm not a girl"—had instantly brought back the scene he remembered most vividly from watching Naruto back in the day...
Ugh, calling a girl a boy—that was all Kishimoto's fault!
Now all Keiichi had to do was send out a Shadow Clone to tail Haku from a distance. He'd naturally be led straight to Zabuza's hideout.
As it happened, Gato showed up with his men just then. The Shadow Clone took the opportunity to sneak inside the hideout and confirmed that Zabuza was seriously injured. Even as Gato taunted him, he could only lie in bed, unable to move.
It was a heaven-sent opportunity. The only person they needed to deal with now was Haku!
Keiichi didn't dare hesitate. Every minute he delayed gave Zabuza that much more time to recover, making the mission that much more dangerous.
Without telling Kakashi, Keiichi immediately gathered Naruto and the others and began convincing them to join his plan.
"Here's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do you want to seize it?" Keiichi said mysteriously.
"What opportunity?" Naruto's excitement flared at once.
"I found Zabuza's hideout and discovered that he's badly injured. This is our chance to finish him off while he's down!"
"Is that really a good idea?" Sakura looked a little hesitant.
Good job! We're going after the sick, the old, and the weak. Zabuza, you'd better lie there and wait to die! That clearly wasn't what Sakura was thinking.
"I'm in!" Naruto rolled up his sleeves, brimming with confidence.
Sasuke didn't say anything, but he already had a hand on his ninja tool pouch, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Chapter 18: Winning Over Zabuza
Night had fallen. It was the perfect time to kill under cover of darkness. The three of them set off quietly, in perfect unspoken agreement as they avoided Kakashi and headed toward the woods.
Keiichi knew that the three of them were still children at heart and hated being bossed around by adults, so none of them wanted Kakashi to find out.
They all wanted to prove themselves. If they could take care of Zabuza on their own, they'd surely make their teacher see them in a new light.
But if Kakashi found out in advance, there was no way he'd let them go after Zabuza on their own!
So they all silently agreed not to say a word.
Keiichi had even less reason to tell Kakashi. In Kakashi's eyes, it didn't matter whether Zabuza lived or died, but Naruto absolutely couldn't get hurt!
Keiichi didn't agree with that way of thinking. Of course, there was danger, but how easily could the Child of Prophecy die?
This wasn't Boruto!
Zabuza was still recovering from his serious injuries. He was like a piece of meat on a chopping board. The only person they needed to worry about was Haku.
Besides, in the original story, Naruto and Sasuke had undergone special training and gained the strength to stand up to Haku. And wasn't Keiichi there, too?
His injuries had healed, his chakra was plentiful, and he still had 75 Magic Modification Points to spend. He was completely confident he could fight Haku.
"Naruto-kun, if I told you what kind of ninjutsu the masked guy uses, would you be confident you could beat him?" Keiichi asked with a faint smile as they hurried along.
"Do you even have to ask? Of course I am!" Naruto replied, refusing to back down.
"Idiot. You fell for such an obvious provocation." Sasuke scoffed.
Keiichi turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-sensei said that guy's the strongest of his generation. Don't you want to fight him?"
At that, Sasuke's expression darkened, and he noticeably quickened his pace.
Heh, kids were kids after all. So what if he knew it was a provocation? He'd still taken the bait.
Kakashi wanted to use me as a catfish? Let's see him deal with my Technique of Swapping Beams for Pillars!
"Hey, hey, is that guy really dangerous?" Sakura asked nervously.
Keiichi ignored her, as though all he needed to do was rile up Naruto and Sasuke.
That only made Sakura feel slighted. In her mind, she'd already imagined stabbing a straw doll of Keiichi's over and over.
What an arrogant, obnoxious jerk!
"Keiichi, once I've beaten that masked guy, I want to fight you next time. Promise me you'll give it your all!" Sasuke said, his gaze resolute.
"I can promise you that, but not now. There'll be plenty of opportunities once we're back in the Leaf Village." Keiichi smiled.
"Good. Don't go back on your word."
"Of course not."
As they traded words, Naruto suddenly felt as though everyone had forgotten about him. Sasuke's goal had always been to beat him, hadn't it...?
Damn it, where were all these powerful kids his age coming from?!
Clearly, Naruto had no self-awareness as the class dead last.
"Naruto, our opponent specializes in Ice Style ninjutsu. It's a Kekkei Genkai, and it's very hard to deal with."
"Ice Style? Kekkei Genkai? What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto looked completely lost.
"A Kekkei Genkai?" Sasuke was taken aback, and his expression grew much more serious.
The Sharingan was a Kekkei Genkai, too. If this was on the same level as the Sharingan, how could it be easy to handle? No wonder Kakashi-sensei had been so cautious.
"It's a secret technique passed down through bloodlines. Just think of it as a level above the ninjutsu you know."
"Hahaha, no problem! I've got a forbidden jutsu. I'll blow him away with the Multi Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto said, full of confidence.
"Heh, you'll see for yourself when the time comes. I'll say just one thing: don't try to understand ninjutsu through common sense. Sasuke, if you think your Fire Style can counter Ice Style, you're completely wrong." Keiichi shifted the focus back to Sasuke.
Sasuke's expression soured. That was exactly what he'd been thinking.
"If this doesn't work and that doesn't work, then how are we supposed to deal with it?"
"Only a Kekkei Genkai can counter a Kekkei Genkai. That's all I have to say." As he spoke, Keiichi glanced at Sasuke.
Sasuke fell into thought.
Naruto was the only one scratching his head. He couldn't use a Kekkei Genkai either, so how was he supposed to fight?
Whatever. I don't care what kind of Kekkei Genkai it is. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I have my own fighting style!
There's strength in numbers. Just watch me beat him!
As they spoke, they could just make out a huge structure in the distance, resembling a silkworm cocoon. Threads connected it to the surrounding trees, and a spiral staircase below led inside.
"That's Zabuza's hideout!" Keiichi's eyes flashed as his connection to the Shadow Clone grew clearer and clearer.
But in the next instant, the connection between him and the Shadow Clone was forcibly severed, and his expression darkened.
The clone's memories flowed back to him. In its final moments, it had seen two slender needles pierce through its head.
They'd been found!
Had Haku deliberately left the Shadow Clone alone to lure them in?
Keiichi immediately stopped, hesitating over whether to enter a place that might be a trap.
"Honored guests have come to visit. Why do you stop at the entrance?" A cold voice came from inside the structure. Their four uninvited visitors had clearly been spotted.
"How should I know whether there's a trap inside?" Keiichi demanded without the slightest hesitation.
The other party didn't answer for quite some time, as though he'd been left speechless.
"Didn't you come here to take our lives?" The voice carried a hint of anger.
"Yeah, so come out already. Don't hide like a coward!"
You came to kill us, and you still think you're in the right!
"...Who are you calling a coward?" The other party could barely contain his anger.
"You, obviously. You freak who's neither man nor woman."
As soon as he finished speaking, a white figure drifted out of the structure, bringing a chill in the air as it suddenly rushed toward the four of them.
The four of them scattered in perfect unison, but the white figure kept its focus on Keiichi. Haku was clearly furious.
"How did you recognize me?"
"That's easy. I know a lot more than you do, Mist Village Rogue Ninja Haku!"
At those words, Haku stopped in his tracks. The white mist dispersed, revealing his true appearance.
Of course, he was still wearing his mask.
"You know my name?" Haku immediately regained his composure, sensing a strong threat.
Information was a ninja's lifeline!
"You bastard, so it really was you! You're working with Zabuza!" Naruto charged forward, looking as if he'd been fooled.
But Haku didn't even look at him. He drifted back with no apparent effort, easily dodging Naruto's punch, then shoved him to the side, sending him tumbling.
Naruto's attack hadn't been useless, though. The instant Haku dodged, Sasuke appeared silently behind him and slashed across his waist with a Fuma Shuriken, murder in his eyes.
But all he cut through was a wisp of white mist. Strangely, the mist didn't disperse. Instead, it kept expanding, growing thicker and thicker.
The temperature around them dropped rapidly, and the mist grew denser as it did. Haku's figure became harder and harder to make out.
Keiichi's expression darkened. Haku was obviously using the cold to make carbon dioxide solidify—in other words, creating dry ice and deliberately filling the area with dense fog.
Perhaps only someone with the Ice Style Kekkei Genkai could pull off an ability like this. Even Zabuza couldn't do it.
No wonder Zabuza called him the perfect tool. He could create a battlefield that favored his side at any moment. What Kirigakure Ninja wouldn't want someone like that?
This was going to be a tough fight!
Chapter 19: The Terrifying Haku
A thought crossed Keiichi's mind, and he came up with a plan. He charged straight toward the structure, as if he meant to finish off Zabuza.
It was a transparent ploy. Either Haku would watch Zabuza get killed without lifting a finger, or he'd be forced to show himself and stop Keiichi. He had only two choices.
Keiichi was certain Haku would choose the latter. Haku was the kind of person who would sacrifice himself to protect Zabuza.
Sure enough, before Keiichi had made it halfway, Steel Needles began flying out of the thick fog one after another. He didn't even look at them, only changing directions constantly to dodge.
That was the best way to respond. After years of training under Zabuza, Haku had mastered the use of Ice Style to create an advantage. Once he used dry ice to reduce visibility, anyone who tried to dodge by watching would never have enough time to react. They'd only end up as a target.
Everyone knew that after enough practice, it was easy for a ninja to hit the bull's-eye with a thrown weapon. But hitting a target that kept moving unpredictably was more than a hundred times harder.
That was why Keiichi's approach was the best way to avoid the Steel Needles as much as possible.
Even so, although he'd chosen the best option, Keiichi was still wounded by the time he reached the structure. Two Steel Needles had pierced deep into his chest, missing his heart by a hair.
There was nothing he could do. It all came down to luck.
But when he saw Haku emerge from the fog and block the entrance, Keiichi breathed a sigh of relief. Haku himself wasn't all that frightening; the real problem was how good he was at dodging.
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