Maybe Lin Cheng's strength had intimidated Zabuza. Maybe his words had struck a chord with him.
Or perhaps both had played a part.
In any case, for the rest of the journey, Zabuza didn't come over again to cause trouble for Lin Cheng and Kimimaro.
Just before they disembarked, Zabuza, who hadn't shown his face since, called out to Lin Cheng, who was about to leave with Kimimaro.
"I still don't know your name!"
"Lin Cheng! Lin as in 'forest,' Cheng as in 'success!'"
"Lin Cheng, huh? I'll remember you! You'd better not die! I still want to get even with you for this someday!"
"Do you really have to use such an irritating way to say 'take care'?"
"Uh... I'm used to it!"
Watching the little boy turn around and raise an eyebrow, Zabuza couldn't help feeling awkward beneath his fierce expression.
But what he hadn't expected was that things were about to get even more awkward.
"Hey!"
"Hmm?"
"The little girl you're holding hands with isn't suited to being a ninja! She's too kind!"
Looking at Zabuza's furrowed brow, Lin Cheng smiled with innocent sincerity.
"She's so gentle! She'd make a good wife for you! Don't let her go. Trust me!"
Leaving Zabuza gaping, Lin Cheng turned around, waved, and walked off hand in hand with Kimimaro.
Zabuza turned to look at the little girl still holding his hand. She had a bewildered yet innocent expression on her face.
He had never considered the possibility before. As he struggled to keep his face fierce, it suddenly turned bright red.
"Zabuza! What's wrong?"
There was a hint of confusion in her soft voice.
"Ahem! It's nothing, Haku! Let's go!"
"Okay..."
He's right. Haku's kindness and gentleness are part of who she is. She really isn't suited to being a ninja!
I can't let her get hurt!
Gazing up at the clear sky, Zabuza made a decision he never would have imagined making before.
He would take Haku into seclusion and stop getting involved in the affairs of the ninja world!
"Big Brother Lin Cheng!"
"Hmm? What is it, Little Kimimaro?"
"That little girl looks a lot like you!"
"Does she? Maybe it's fate! I think you and I are a lot alike, too, Little Kimimaro!"
"Oh..."
"Little Kimimaro!"
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to go play in the Land of Snow?"
"I'll go wherever you want, Big Brother Lin Cheng!"
"Then let's get going!"
"Mm."
In the Land of Snow, Lin Cheng stood holding Kimimaro's hand, watching a battle in the distance!
The battle was spectacular!
Lin Cheng learned a whole bunch of new ninjutsu again!
He could even say that his knowledge of Ice Release had been filled in!
Although he had awakened his Ice Kekkei Genkai before, he had been using the doubled chakra it granted him and the ninjutsu the system had copied for him to fend off the endless pursuers.
On top of that, nobody had taught him Ice Release. Without any systematic instruction, Lin Cheng had possessed the Ice Kekkei Genkai but known no Ice Release techniques!
Now, after witnessing the battle in the distance and using the system's copying ability, Lin Cheng had become a true Ice Release ninja!
"Little Kimimaro! Shall we go help?"
Lin Cheng glanced at Kimimaro, who had been quietly watching the battle in the distance, and asked softly.
"Mm, I'll do whatever you say, Big Brother Lin Cheng!"
"Then... you take on the fat guy! I'll deal with that show-off!"
"Mm."
"Heh! Let me try out my new technique first! Ice Release: Ice Prison Technique!"
As Lin Cheng carefully formed the Hand Seals, still rather clumsily, countless connected blocks of ice appeared one after another.
Caught off guard, the Snow Ninja panicked and scrambled to dodge.
Several nameless ninja who were a little slower and less capable were taken down in a single blow by Lin Cheng's still-unpracticed Ice Prison Technique, frozen inside the blocks of ice.
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