A Terrible Birthday Gift

Beside the bookstore, Zabuza lowered his eyes, watching Shiro cautiously raise his head and look at him nervously with his big, watery eyes. The surging anger in his heart subsided a little.

But when he looked down again and his gaze fell on the book in his hand with a cover featuring a swimsuit-clad loli and an extremely daring illustration, his vision went black once more.

The anger that had been barely suppressed suddenly surged up again with even greater force!

The killing intent emanating from him was almost tangible, causing the stray cats fighting over the fish bones on the street corner to bristle and scatter in all directions at Mambo's cry.

Sensing the overwhelming killing intent Zabuza from Zabuza, Haku suddenly lowered his head, his fair little feet nervously rubbing back and forth on the ground.

Just as Zabuza a deep breath, preparing to unleash his pent-up anger on Haku, a gentle greeting drifted over from not far away.

"Oh! Zabuza, Haku, what a coincidence! I never expected to run into you here."

He smiled and waved to them, then walked over to them with Mei Terumi.

"Sora-sama! And Mei Terumi- neechan!!"

Bai Na's eyes lit up, and she waved her little hand vigorously in the direction of Koko and Mei Terumi, then quickly ran behind Koko.

He hid half his body behind Kou's long robe, only peeking out half his head, carefully observing Zabuza's increasingly dark face.

Zabuza frowned as he looked at Haku behind him, and gave Haku a low shout:

"Bai, come here!!"

Shiro's small hand, clutching the hem of her clothes, trembled slightly. She bit her lower lip, struggled for a long time, and then, as if finally making up her mind, she took a shaky step, preparing to return to Zabuza's side.

However, just before he was about to step out from beside Kousuke, Mei Terumi gently placed her hand on his thin, white shoulder.

She smiled at Zabuza and gently comforted him:

"Don't be so harsh on the child, Zabuza. Can't you talk things out properly?"

Zabuza turned his fierce eyes to Mei Terumi and replied without any politeness:

"This is none of your business, it's none of your concern."

"You--!!"

Seeing the Yakumi between the two escalating, Kou quickly stepped forward, raised his hands, and made a gesture of pressing down on both of them simultaneously.

"We're still on the street; it wouldn't be good to start a fight here."

As he spoke, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at the Kirigakure who were curiously looking in their direction.

Upon hearing Kou speak, Zabuza a heavy snort and said nothing more.

Seeing Zabuza's obviously Zabuza angry expression, Mei Terumi couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Although Zabuza only listens to Sora and Zabuza gives a friendly look to anyone except Sora and Haku, he's not the type to explode the moment he opens his mouth.

There must be some special reason why he was so angry at the white-haired man.

Looking at Zabuza's hand, Zabuza behind his back and clutching the pitiful notebook in his hand so tightly it was practically sparking, he immediately guessed the truth with a high degree of accuracy.

This trouble might befall me again...

He forced a gentle smile, silently praying that his guess was wrong, and tentatively asked Zabuza:

"What on earth happened? It's rare to see you so angry with the white-haired guy."

Zabuza's face, Zabuza wrapped in bandages, darkened even further.

"Bai, you tell me yourself!!"

Zabuza Zabuza's words, Kou and Mei Terumi both turned their gazes to Shiro, who was still clutching Kou's clothes and almost curled up in a ball behind them.

Feeling the gazes of everyone, Bai slowly raised her still slightly chubby, fair face, gently tugged at Kou's sleeve, and said in a soft, sweet voice:

Yes, it was my fault.

Since Zabuza, I thought I should prepare a birthday present for Zabuza.

I didn't expect to Zabuza Lord Zabuza. I'm so sorry...

Upon hearing this, Mei Terumi felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction and prepared to Zabuza a good scolding.

However, just before she was about to speak, she suddenly saw the cover of the book that Zabuza was holding, which was almost Zabuza in his hand.

Mei Terumi seemed to understand something, and subconsciously glanced at the bookstore across the street that prominently displayed the sign "Kumogakure Doujinshi Association Mist Village Branch".

An ominous premonition instantly extinguished the nascent flame of justice in her heart.

Mei Terumi swallowed back the words that were already on the tip of her tongue, and Zabuza asked Zabuza in a slightly embarrassed tone:

"Hey, Zabuza, the birthday present I gave you for free, it wouldn't be...?"

"Snort!!"

Zabuza snorted coldly. He then held up the hand clutching the notebook in front of Mei Terumi's eyes, adding through gritted teeth:

"Don't get me wrong! I'm not angry because I gave you this gift for free!"

What angers me is that Bai stubbornly refuses to say it—who exactly gave him this ridiculous idea?!

He looked at Bai and said with certainty:

"I believe Bai; there's absolutely no way he would think of buying such vulgar things!"

He used Transformation Technique to look like an adult and went to the store to buy this kind of vulgar magazine... He must have been instigated by some bastard!

If I ever find out who that guy is, I'll tear him to pieces!

Sensing the murderous intent that Zabuza, Haku quickly covered his mouth and quietly lowered his head.

Looking at the little guy behind him, he sighed helplessly in his heart.

"It's because of your appearance that Bai is so afraid to say anything, isn't it?"

Just as Koko was about to try and calm Zabuza down, a casual, flippant voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Huh?! Sora-sama, Mei Terumi! Are you two on vacation today and going on a date? That's rare!!"

"Thump!!"

A dull thud followed, then someone screamed in pain:

"Ouch! Kimimaro, what are you doing? Why are you hitting me for no reason!"

"Suigetsu, you are not allowed to be rude to the two lords."

"Tch, I was just stating the facts."

Hearing the familiar sound behind them, Kou and Mei Terumi turned around at the same time.

Kimimaro calmly lowered the hand blade, still bearing the lingering echo of its strike, back to his side.

Suigetsu, standing next to him, was rubbing the back of her head, glaring at her companion who had resorted to violence at the slightest provocation.

Kimimaro completely ignored Suigetsu's accusing gaze and solemnly bowed towards Kokoro and Mei Terumi:

"Sora-sama, Mei Terumi- sama."

Seeing Kimimaro's overly serious expression, Mei Terumi smiled helplessly:

"You're always like this, child. I've told you so many times, we don't need to be so polite between us."

Kimimaro straightened up and shook his head seriously:

"This is something I insisted on doing."

Mei Terumi looked at the meticulous young man and could only sigh helplessly, clearly having long been accustomed to his stubbornness.

Looking at their ninja vests that they hadn't had time to change out of, Kou asked in a gentle voice:

"Did you just get back from a mission?"

Kimimaro nodded solemnly:

"We have just completed the list of Kirigakure Ninja who are willing to go to various countries to set up Odd Jobs Agency)."

"Teacher Jūzō Biwa is currently delivering that list to your office; let us return now."

"Huh? It's finished so quickly?!"

Kou raised an eyebrow in surprise. Just as he was about to say some words of praise and encouragement as usual, he suddenly noticed that Suigetsu seemed to be looking at Bai beside her.

"Hey, Bai! How's it going? Have you given out the gifts yet?"

I told you so! Zabuza- Teacher will be so happy to receive that gift!

Suigetsu put her hands behind her head, looked at Bai Na's face which was frantically blinking at her, and tilted her head in confusion:

"Hmm? Bai, why are you blinking so much? Are your eyes bothering you? If there's something wrong with your health, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible."

Just as Suigetsu was still scratching her head in confusion, Zabuza, slowly spoke in a calm tone that sent chills down one's spine:

"Was this gift your idea for Bai?"

"Yes!!"

Suigetsu nodded calmly and said with a smile:

"This notebook is super popular right now, it's practically the most popular fashion item in Mist Village!"

Almost everyone around me has one now, and when Bai asked me about gifts the other day, it was the first one that came to mind!

"So, you're happy to receive the gift, Zabuza- Teacher?"

"Hmm? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Hey! Why did you draw your Kubikiribōchō?!"

And you, your eyes are terrifying! What happened?!

Kimimaro glanced at Suigetsu, who had finally come to his senses, and silently distanced himself from him.

"... So you were the culprit all along!!"

Zabuza's hand, gripping the Kubikiribōchō, instantly bulged with veins, and the chilling killing intent that had been suppressed for half a day poured forth unrestrainedly towards Suigetsu!

"How dare you defile a pure and innocent heart—unforgivable!!"

Zabuza's muscular body Zabuza out from his spot in an instant, the Kubikiribōchō in his hand leaving a dazzling silver arc in the afternoon sunlight.

Suigetsu let out a scream, turned and ran wildly towards the street corner, shouting in protest as she ran:

"What's going on?! Wasn't that gift good? Lots of people liked it!!"

Zabuza chased after him with his sword and roared angrily:

"Shut up! Dead men don't need to speak! Just obediently become rust on my blade!!"

"What on earth happened?!"

Suigetsu's screams echoed through the streets for a long time.

Looking at Suigetsu, who was being Zabuza and hacked into pieces by Zabuza and was still writhing desperately, Mei Terumi silently raised her hands and covered Haku's eyes.

Gazing at the tragedy unfolding before him, a tragedy caused by the very doujinshi craze he had initiated, and then at the Notebook Association, its doors still wide open and business thriving, he remained silent for a long while.

For the sake of the children's physical and mental health, it's really necessary to set up an anti-addiction mechanism for Mist Village...

If this continues, not only will Mist Village Kumogakure be destroyed, but so will his Mist Village!

Damn you, Doujin Rai... you're utterly wicked!!