The Cabin in the Woods

When they arrived at Tazuna's cabin, Kakashi Hatake decided that, since the Three Genin were far too weak, he would spend the little time they had left giving them some intensive training.

As for Mufeng Uchiha, after telling them how to train in the Six Powers technique Iron Body, he headed into the nearby forest to train.

Deep in the forest stood a small wooden cabin. It was the hideout of Zabuza Momochi and Yuki Haku.

At that moment, an uninvited guest arrived: Mufeng Uchiha, carrying a basket of fruit.

How had he found Zabuza and Haku's hideout? Had he used his Blood Manipulation version of Heavenly Weeping earlier just to leave Zabuza seriously injured and unconscious?

The blood still in Zabuza's body was a bright, unmistakable trail.

"Evil Uchiha, you deliberately spared our lives. What exactly do you want? If you plan to make me your slave, then kill me now. I, Zabuza Momochi, would rather die on my feet than live on my knees!"

Zabuza squeezed his eyes shut, looking ready to face death with courage. Haku used his slender body to shield Zabuza, like a mother hen protecting her chick.

"You've got so much backbone, so why not go back and save Kirigakure? Instead, you chose to kill everyone in your class and defect, like a coward. So what if you had your reasons? In everyone else's eyes, you're a failure—a coward who ran away."

Mufeng's sharp words cut deep into Zabuza. A coward? A weakling? I'm Zabuza Momochi, the Demon who killed every other graduate in my class.

"Kid, you'd better take that back. Otherwise, even if it costs me my life, I'll kill you."

Furious, Zabuza raised Kubikiribōchō and pressed it against Mufeng's neck. At that distance, he could cut off his head whenever he wanted.

"Do you really think you're a match for me when you can barely move half your body? I'm an Uchiha."

Only then did Zabuza realize that his Chakra had been disrupted. The scene before his eyes abruptly changed.

The cabin had long since been destroyed, and Mufeng was gripping Haku by the throat with one hand.

Zabuza charged forward in fury, dragging Kubikiribōchō before swinging it diagonally.

Squish—

The blade sliced through Mufeng's skin and sank into his neck. Blood stained Zabuza's vision. Everything around him seemed to twist, and the scene before his eyes changed once more.

"Haku! Weren't you Mufeng Uchiha? Why did you turn into Haku?"

In Zabuza's eyes, the person he had struck with Kubikiribōchō had suddenly become Haku.

The blade had sunk deep into Haku's neck. His eyes were vacant, blood gushing from his throat, as if he were asking Zabuza why he had killed him.

Trapped in the illusion, Zabuza stared blankly. In reality, Mufeng was gripping Haku by the throat with one hand, stopping him from attacking.

"He's safe for now. I've only trapped him in an illusion for a little while. He'll wake up soon. But if you can't give me an answer I find satisfactory, you'll both die here."

Mufeng's voice was soft, as though he were talking about something trivial. Yet Haku felt a chill deep in his bones.

"Cough, cough. Let Haku go. I agree. I'm willing to serve you."

By the time Zabuza finally emerged from the illusion, he had been tormented until he could barely think straight. Unable to endure any more mental anguish, he finally gave in.

"Lord Zabuza, are you all right?"

After breaking free of Mufeng's grasp, Haku returned to Zabuza's side and cupped his face, checking his condition.

"Let me do it. You're only going to make things worse for Haku."

Mufeng placed his palm on Zabuza's head and activated Lucario's Healing Pulse, easing some of the anguish that had ravaged Zabuza's mind.

"So, what do you think of my plan? We kill Gato and establish a new organization. That'd be better than staying a homeless missing-nin forever."

The only reason they still longed for Kirigakure was that they wanted somewhere to belong. But how could Zabuza return to Kirigakure as a missing-nin? Mufeng was offering him a place to belong; it was up to him to decide.

"Uchiha brat, does your plan to establish an organization have anything to do with Konoha? Starting an organization in secret—you must be after something big. I'm out of options now. I have no choice but to join your organization, do I?"

Zabuza dropped to one knee, and Haku knelt beside him. Watching them, Mufeng knew they had only submitted because he had overpowered them. He would have to find a way to win their genuine loyalty.

"Good. We'll call our organization 'Harbor.' It'll be a place where people like us can find shelter. That's our goal."

"A place to find shelter? You're a Konoha Ninja, yet you're talking like that. What, are you planning to defect?"

Zabuza teased him, and Mufeng sighed.

"Zabuza Momochi, don't pretend you don't know. Do you really think Itachi Uchiha alone could have carried out the Uchiha Clan Massacre?"

Zabuza's thoughts raced. The Uchiha were a great clan that had survived three Shinobi World Wars, going all the way back to the chaotic era.

A clan with such deep roots had supposedly been wiped out by one of its own? Who would believe that? Even slaughtering a whole clan in one night would take a lot of effort.

Before long, he'd imagined a whole sordid family drama. Konoha was such a mess. I'd better keep my mouth shut.

"All you need to do now is help me put on a show. After that, you can be stationed in the Land of Waves. The full plan is right here."

Using his Sharingan, Mufeng planted the entire plan to kill Gato in their minds through an illusion. He'd been away too long and needed to head back.

After arranging everything with the two of them, Mufeng breathed a sigh of relief on the way back.

Looks like I really do need an organization that's loyal to me. It'll make things easier.

He was going to avenge himself on Itachi Uchiha and Obito Uchiha. He could manage on his own, but to kill Danzo and ruin him, destroying him inside and out, Mufeng needed a powerful organization.

What's more, when the Otsutsuki invaded in the future, the Five Great Nations wouldn't be enough to fight a battle that would decide the planet's survival. He needed to unite the world and bring together every force he could.

A powerful organization was essential. It was all preparation for the future.

"You've already managed to master Chidori? Uchiha Sasuke, you've been working hard these past few days."

When Mufeng rejoined his companions, Sasuke had already mastered Chidori, and Naruto Uzumaki had finally learned to walk on water under the Nine-Tails' influence.

"That's still not enough. Mufeng, you can be their opponent. Only by being tested in real combat can they make what they've learned their own. And for this match, Mufeng, you can only use your newly learned Blood Style, all right?"

As soon as Mufeng returned, Kakashi grabbed his shoulder and made the suggestion. But the way he and Naruto were grinning, along with Sasuke's eager expression and Sakura's embarrassed look, made Mufeng suspicious.

This is a trap!

"What, are you scared? Fine, you can use Water Release Ninjutsu too."

"No! Blood Style is enough. This is a good chance to see how much stronger you've all become."

Mufeng grinned. It was the perfect chance to test whether Tobirama's techniques could be used with Blood Manipulation.