The Coming of Haki

The next day, the Mist Village.

Kakashi and his two companions followed Zabuza, passing through layers of mist, and finally stepped into the village known as the "Village of the Bloody Mist".

Kakashi looked up at the scene before him, his gaze momentarily stunned.

The first thing that catches the eye is two tall buildings facing each other from a distance.

The tall, imposing building at the very center, with its Mizukage logo gleaming a deep blue in the sunlight.

Across from it, across the entire central square, stands another building, slightly shorter and with a more unpretentious architectural style, yet equally imposing.

The two buildings, one tall and one short, stand facing each other across the square, as if engaged in a silent standoff where neither is willing to back down even slightly.

The street was bustling with people. A woman selling vegetables was unloading a basket of white radishes, still wet with dew, from her cart. A little girl next to her was squatting on the ground, carefully picking up the few radishes that had rolled off the ground and putting them back into the basket one by one.

Further down the street corner, several boys Genin were gathered around a notice board, chattering and pointing at it. Their voices were indistinct from half a street away, but their laughter was clearly audible.

Kakashi stood before the gates of Mist Village, his eye, visible beneath his Forehead Protector, unconsciously widening slightly.

The Mist Village before him was nothing like what he had imagined the "Village of the Bloody Mist" should be like.

There was no oppressive, suffocating atmosphere of killing intent, no wary gazes shooting from the shadows; the place was so peaceful and serene, even faintly reminiscent of Konoha.

Although it was far less prosperous than Konoha, he could clearly feel the vibrant life and burgeoning energy of the village.

Given time, Mist Village might actually develop to a level no less than Konoha's, or even... surpass it.

Kakashi was startled by the thought that had popped into his head.

He lowered his eyelashes, gently suppressing the thought, and when he looked up again, his eyes held a deep respect.

Through the Mist Harbor, and now through everything he was witnessing firsthand on the streets of Mist Village, Kakashi was absolutely certain of one thing.

The Reformist Faction leader of Mist Village is a very capable person.

Just as Kakashi was lost in thought, a series of footsteps approaching from afar interrupted his thoughts.

Several boys who appeared to Genin Mist Village Kirigakure ran out from the street corner in a loose column, their breathing rhythmic, clearly engaged in morning exercise.

Almost at the same time, Kai stopped in his tracks.

He looked at the boys ahead, and two streams of tears welled up in his eyes:

"Wow, so many young people are actually dedicating their youthful energy to this!"

"Young men!!! Wait for me! Let me run a hundred laps around the village with you, and together we'll ignite our inextinguishable youthful spirit in the morning light!!"

The group of Kirigakure genin who were doing their morning training were Genin by Guy's Mist Village and stopped in their tracks.

The tall boy who was in the lead instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his knife.

When he saw the Konoha Forehead Protector on Kai's waist, his pupils suddenly contracted, and the sword was already half an inch out.

Seeing that things were going badly, Kakashi rushed to Guy's side and covered his mouth.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Kakashi gave the Genin an awkward smile:

"I'm so sorry, this guy is just excited because it's his first time in Mist Village, please don't mind him."

The few Mist Village Genin at him warily, their eyes fixed on the Konoha Forehead Protector on Kakashi's forehead.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, one of the boys shifted his gaze to the side and saw Zabuza and his group behind Kakashi.

The tense expressions on the boys' faces instantly relaxed.

The knife slid back into its sheath with a few dull, soft clicks.

They all bent down from their upright positions and bowed deeply to Zabuza and Kimimaro behind him.

There were no extra words, nor were any questions raised in my mind.

They understood everything at once just by looking at that bandaged face.

After Zabuza in acknowledgment, they straightened up again and jogged away toward the street corner.

They hadn't run far when Kakashi heard their hushed conversation carried by the morning breeze.

"They actually brought back Konoha ninjas. As expected of Lord Zabuza."

"Behind Lord Zabuza, are Kimimaro and the others?"

"We're about the same age, but we're still Genin, while they're already carrying out missions of this level with Lord Zabuza. They're really amazing."

"Yes, I also want to grow up quickly like them, so I can do more for Lord Kong and the others."

"What are you talking about? Hasn't the Air Force Commander told us this many times already?"

As long as we do our jobs well, we are all heroes of Mist Village.

"You're right, okay, I've decided, I'll add ten more laps!!"

"... Is it too late for me to take back what I said?"

Kakashi stood there, watching the group of boys run off into the distance.

He recalled their radiant faces from just moments ago, and couldn't help but drift into a slight reverie.

Kakashi couldn't help but recall that nightmarish night, the night Mist Anbu attacked him and Rin.

Those assassins who appeared silently in the fog, their eyes devoid of emotion, reflecting only their mission.

They are not human beings, but tools, machines, killing devices honed by a system called "Blood Mist".

The boys in front of him were completely different from the Mist Village ninjas he remembered.

"The Mist Village... it really has changed."

Kakashi watched the boys' departing figures and murmured to himself with deep emotion.

Zabuza stood beside him, looking at Kakashi's deeply moved gaze, and the corners of his mouth, hidden beneath bandages, slowly twitched upwards.

He said nothing, but the curve itself said a lot.

"Mr. Kakashi."

Just as Kakashi was immersed in his feelings, a weak voice came from behind him.

Kakashi snapped out of his daze and looked down at Kabuto beside him.

The boy with round-framed glasses looked up at Kai in his arms with a worried expression, and weakly reminded him:

"Mr. Kakashi, Guy-senpai... seems to be having trouble breathing."

Kakashi suddenly snapped out of his daze and looked down at Guy, whom he was holding tightly in his arms.

At this moment, Kai's face had turned an eggplant color due to lack of oxygen.

Kai! Are you alright?

Kakashi quickly released his grip and asked with concern in his voice.

Kai collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

After catching his breath, he shakily raised one hand, gave a thumbs-up in Kakashi's direction, then sprang to his feet and shouted:

"Youth!! Resurrected!!"

Kakashi looked at the energetic Guy in front of him, and the corner of his mouth twitched violently beneath his mask.

Zabuza glanced sympathetically at Kakashi beside him, then turned around and said in a deep voice to Haku, Kimimaro, and the utterly dejected Suigetsu, who had been waiting quietly behind him:

"Bai, your mission is over. Get some rest today."

Before he finished speaking, Suigetsu had already vanished from the spot.

Zabuza violently as he silently tripled Suigetsu's training volume for the next week.

Kimimaro, Zabuza turned and walked towards the Training Ground.

Bai Yiyi Zabuza to Zabuza with reluctance.

As she walked, Zabuza, repeating the gesture several times until her figure was completely swallowed by the mist...

Zabuza watched Haku walk away, a hint of doting affection flashing in his cold gaze that he himself didn't even realize.

Kabuto watched Haku walk away, then glanced at Zabuza in front of him. His eyes, hidden behind his round-framed glasses, curved slightly, as if he understood something.

His gaze involuntarily drifted towards Konoha, and the image that flashed through his mind was Nonō's gentle smiling face...

Zabuza his daze, and his expression, now serious, returned to his bandaged face.

He faced Kakashi and the other two, his voice low and solemn:

"Next, I will take you to Lord Kong's place."

The relevant cooperation matters will be discussed with you personally by the Air Force personnel.

Kakashi nodded solemnly.

His gaze passed over Zabuza's shoulder and landed on the tall building not far ahead, which was only slightly shorter than the Mizukage Building.

As he looked at that building, he couldn't help but turn his gaze to the Mizukage Building, which stood silently on another street across the street.

Kakashi seemed to understand something and sighed inwardly.

"It seems the conflicts among the higher-ups of Mist Village are deeper than I imagined..."

He couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Will the Mizukage faction interfere with their conversations with the Reformist Faction?

Will those opposition forces lurking in the shadows cause trouble at this crucial moment in their negotiations?

Will this collaboration with Mist Village... be successfully achieved?

"... I hope everything goes well."

Kakashi silently prayed in his heart, then followed Zabuza ahead towards the building gently enveloped in the morning mist.

And in the direction of the Mizukage Building that he had just been looking at.

A figure dressed in Black Cloak with Red Clouds and wearing an orange Spiral Mask slowly appeared near the window of the Mizukage's Office.

Obito stood by the window of the Mizukage's Office, coldly watching the silver-haired figure gradually disappear into the distance.

He only slowly withdrew his gaze after Kakashi entered the building Mizukage Aide.

Obito's eyes, hidden beneath his mask, drooped slightly before lifting again a moment later, landing on the glass window reflecting his orange Spiral Mask.

Kisame.

He slowly spoke to those behind him:

"In a little while, we'll go to the Mizukage Aide's office."

Behind Obito, Kisame stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall on the other side of the Mizukage's Office.

He looked at Obito ahead, a playful smile creeping onto his shark-like face:

"As you wish... Lord Mizukage."