Lin Fan glanced at Naruto, who stood beside him looking dejected, and couldn't help the slight upward curve of his lips.
It really wasn't Naruto's fault. When Lin Fan had first seen Haku as a child in his previous life, he'd also mistaken him for a girl.
Anyway, aside from Sakura and Hinata, Lin Fan supported Naruto being with anyone.
Besides, in the Naruto World, the opposite sex was just an accident. Same-sex love was true love.
Could you really call yourself strong if you didn't have a good buddy to do a Bond mission with?
"I'm only here to gather herbs, Naruto-kun. It seems your friend has a serious misunderstanding about me."
Haku spoke with a smile still on his face.
"Is that so? You have the exact same scent as the Mist Hunter-nin who took Zabuza away that day. I doubt that's just a coincidence."
"Besides, those herbs you gathered must be for treating Zabuza's wounds, right?"
At Lin Fan's words, the expressions on Naruto and Haku's faces changed at once.
"He's the Mist Hunter-nin who pierced Zabuza with just a few Senbon last time?"
Naruto murmured, his mood growing even more dejected.
Haku clearly hadn't expected Lin Fan to know that Zabuza was still alive.
A couple of days ago, he had deliberately used gathering herbs as an excuse to approach Naruto in women's clothing. He'd wanted to use the opportunity to find out where Lin Fan was, so he could take revenge.
But he hadn't expected Lin Fan to show up on his own today.
Seeing that Lin Fan had completely seen through him, Haku no longer needed to keep up his disguise.
He promptly took off the pale pink kimono and tossed it aside, then changed into the dark green robe in his herb basket.
The kind, warm smile on his face was quickly replaced by a murderous chill.
"Though we haven't known each other long, and have no grudge between us, I can only follow Mr. Zabuza's orders and kill you both!"
Haku's voice was cold, his expression calm as still water.
And yet it was incredibly soft and pleasant, as if he were pouring out the endless sorrow in his heart.
Without even realizing it, Lin Fan felt his heart stir.
Damn!!!
No wonder Haku had made both Zabuza and Naruto fall for him.
That harmless-looking face was almost enough to turn Lin Fan gay on the spot.
Whoosh, whoosh!
The next second, four Senbon shot from Haku's hand with a sharp whistle, aimed straight at Lin Fan and Naruto's hearts.
Clang, clang!
Lin Fan didn't dare be careless. He used Taijutsu Body Flicker to dodge Haku's lethal attack.
Then he stepped in front of Naruto and knocked aside the two Senbon hurtling toward them with his Kunai.
Haku immediately fled the scene.
"Naruto, I'm going after Haku. Go to Kakashi-sensei at once and protect Grandpa Tazuna!"
After warning Naruto, Lin Fan hurried after Haku.
At the Great Naruto Bridge.
Lin Fan chased Haku there and, seeing that he had stopped, immediately scanned their surroundings warily.
He had watched Haku flee just moments earlier, but as soon as he reached the bridge, Haku turned around and charged at him with a Kunai.
Clang, clang!
The clash of metal rang out alongside a spray of sparks.
"I already have two advantages. I've spread water all around you, and I've restrained one of your hands."
"After my next attack, I win."
Haku spoke confidently, already forming Hand Seals with one hand.
"Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
He stomped down with one foot, and ripples of water rose around Lin Fan.
The water in the ripples quickly transformed into dozens of sharp ice needles, which shot straight toward him.
Bang!
Haku watched as a cloud of white smoke appeared around the Lin Fan who had been struck by the ice needles.
Lin Fan's body instantly turned into a rock studded with ice needles.
"Substitution Technique?"
Haku's pupils contracted.
He hadn't expected Lin Fan to have enough time to use the Substitution Technique while the two of them were locked in such a stalemate.
The next second, a handsome face with blood-red Three-Tomoe eyes appeared right behind him.
"I can use that move too."
After Lin Fan whispered into Haku's ear, the many ice needles around him shot toward Haku.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Just as the ice needles were about to strike Haku, a roaring water dragon surged up a short distance from Lin Fan and rushed toward Haku with a powerful gust of wind.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The ice needles bounced backward when they hit the water dragon's barrier, embedding themselves deep in the bridge.
Zabuza suddenly appeared in a flash, caught Haku in his arms, and carried him out of Lin Fan's attack range.
[ Ding, a guided mission has been issued: Get Zabuza to tell Haku how he feels of his own accord, and voluntarily give up the mission to hunt down Tazuna. Rewards: Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Technique Lv1, Silent Killing Technique Lv1 ]
Lin Fan couldn't help but pause when he heard the guided mission.
This mission didn't sound easy.
"Zabuza!"
Lin Fan suddenly called out, his voice low.
"Kid, you really are impressive. You even copied and used Haku's secret technique!"
After gently setting Haku down, Zabuza gave Lin Fan a sinister smile.
"You're not bad either. You fooled both me and Kakashi-sensei. I'll give your acting full marks, too."
Lin Fan teased him with a smile.
He showed no sign of panic, despite being outnumbered.
"Kid, the humiliation I suffered that day can only be washed away with your blood!"
"Once you're dead, taking that old man Tazuna's head will be a piece of cake."
Zabuza snorted, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
The next second, the tip of the Kubikiribōchō he swung through the air was already coming straight for Lin Fan's throat.
Lin Fan raised his Kunai across his chest and immediately met the attack.
Clang!
Another sharp metallic crash rang through the air.
After his first strike missed, Zabuza didn't try to overpower Lin Fan.
Instead, he leaped down to the ground and waited for the next chance to attack.
Whoosh!
Before Lin Fan had even landed, dozens of ice needles formed by Haku's Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death shot toward his heart and other vital spots.
As he came down, there wasn't enough time for him to use the Kunai in his hand to defend his heart and several other vital points.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms Rotation!"
At the critical moment, Lin Fan cried out, and the seal on the Amulet at his chest activated.
A flash of light burst forth, and a circular shield of sky-blue chakra instantly enveloped him.
Clang, clang!
The ice needles aimed at his blind spots struck the Rotation shield and were all forcefully deflected.
Lin Fan landed safely, then quickly ducked behind a stone stele on the bridge.
"Phew, that was a close one."
Lin Fan, hiding behind the stele, couldn't help but let out a long breath.
After all these years on the run together, Zabuza and Haku had long since developed an unspoken understanding.
Otherwise, they couldn't have survived the pursuit of so many shinobi from the Hidden Mist Village.
"I almost fell for it."
Luckily, his lovely wife Hinata had given him a life-saving Amulet before he left.
After she'd saved his life, he'd definitely have to repay her in person once they got back to the village!