When Shi Xiu heard that the other person was actually Haku, his face instantly took on an expression that said he'd known it all along.
At that moment, Shi Xiu fixed his bright eyes on Haku, who stood before him. Suddenly, he wanted to adopt him.
At the same time, Haku was looking Shi Xiu up and down with curiosity and scrutiny.
He parted his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but seemed hesitant. In the end, he didn't make a sound.
Just then, Obito stepped closer and asked, "Lord Shi Xiu, do you really intend to adopt this little girl?"
Shi Xiu had still been lost in his thoughts. Obito's sudden question caught him off guard. He froze for a moment, then couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.
However, when Haku heard that, his face flushed red. He hurriedly protested, "I... I'm not a girl! I'm a boy!"
Obito's eyes widened, and he stared at Haku in disbelief.
Although Haku's face bore a few bruises, these small blemishes did nothing to hide his snow-white, flawless skin, his slender willow-leaf eyebrows, his watery eyes, or his smooth, lustrous hair that fell to his shoulders.
No matter how you looked at him, he was clearly a pretty, adorable little girl!
For a moment, Obito's mind went completely blank, and he was utterly bewildered.
While Obito stood there looking dumbfounded, Shi Xiu still wore a smile. He gazed at Haku with interest and asked softly,
"So, Haku, would you be willing to leave here with me?"
Faced with Shi Xiu's question, Haku lowered his head and fell into a long silence.
After quite a while, Haku finally raised his head and firmly shook it, refusing.
Seeing Haku reject him, Shi Xiu raised an eyebrow, a trace of confusion crossing his face.
Shi Xiu gazed at Haku and asked softly, "Why are you refusing?"
Haku's clear eyes quietly met Shi Xiu's. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice gentle but firm.
"From the way you reacted just now, I can tell that you know a great deal about my situation. I don't know how you found out, but that's exactly why I can't leave with you."
Hearing Haku's calm, reasonable analysis, Shi Xiu froze for a moment, then couldn't help chuckling.
Shi Xiu looked at the exceptionally clever boy before him with interest and said teasingly, "Oh? Then why aren't you afraid I'll just take you by force?"
But Haku showed no sign of panic at Shi Xiu's threat. He continued to meet Shi Xiu's gaze calmly and answered without haste,
"You wouldn't do that. If you really planned to, you wouldn't have asked what I thought in the first place. Besides, even if you took me by force, it would be pointless in the end."
Shi Xiu was secretly impressed. He hadn't expected Haku to be so quick-witted despite his young age. The descriptions of Haku's childhood in Naruto had been far too brief and scarce.
But Shi Xiu didn't want to give up so easily. After all, Haku came from the Yuki Clan and possessed the rare Kekkei Genkai, Ice Release.
Just then, Shi Xiu's lips curved into a faint smile. He spoke softly, repeating the words Haku had said to Zabuza in the original story: "But your eyes are just like mine."
At those words, Haku froze slightly, then raised his head and looked into Shi Xiu's eyes.
To his surprise, deep in Shi Xiu's eyes, he saw the same loneliness and solitude—and even a hint of confusion.
Obito stood to the side, full of questions. He didn't understand why Lord Shi Xiu insisted on adopting this... little boy.
But he knew Lord Shi Xiu always had his own reasons for what he did, so he didn't say anything.
Haku gazed silently at Shi Xiu. After a long while, he finally asked, "Why do you insist on adopting me?"
Shi Xiu smiled and raised a hand, gently ruffling Haku's soft hair. Then he answered slowly, "Because, one day in the not-too-distant future, I'll face an incredibly powerful enemy. When that time comes, I'll urgently need some reliable allies."
Of course, his words were only half true. When facing a terrifying enemy like the Otsutsuki Clan, if he lacked the kind of power that could destroy heaven and earth, then no matter how many people he called on for help, it would be like moths flying into a flame—nothing but a futile sacrifice.
But Haku was innocent and didn't think too much about it. He nodded without hesitation and said with determination, "All right, sir! I'll work twice as hard and do my best to become the sharpest blade in your hand as soon as I can!"
Shi Xiu's lips curved into a warm smile. He gently reached out and drew Haku over to his side as he said,
"Haku, I still have some important things to take care of. Once everything is settled and we return to Konoha, I'll take you to have a hot bath and get you some new clothes."
Haku obediently nodded. He looked down at the dirt and grime covering him, then at the gray robe Shi Xiu wore.
Haku really hadn't expected Shi Xiu to draw him closer without the slightest hesitation.
(Sigh, what a shame Haku wasn't a girl! He was so adorable!)
At that moment, Haku could no longer contain his curiosity and asked softly, "Sir, what exactly are we going to do next?"
Shi Xiu looked ahead and smiled faintly. Wanting to tease Haku, he answered calmly, "We're about to undertake a difficult and dangerous mission: assassinating the Fourth Mizukage."
Then Shi Xiu turned to look at Haku with a smile and asked, "Well, Haku, are you afraid?"
Haku shook his head firmly without the slightest hesitation. Then he lifted his face and fixed his clear eyes on Shi Xiu, his voice resolute as he said,
"Sir, please don't worry. No matter what dangers we face, even if it costs me my life, I'll do everything I can to keep you safe!"
Hearing Haku's emphatic reply, Shi Xiu froze slightly, genuinely surprised. In the original story, Haku had said something similar to Zabuza. Now, he was saying those same words to Shi Xiu.
Shi Xiu reached out tenderly and patted Haku's silky hair. A smile spread across his face as he said softly, "Don't worry, Haku. I won't be in any danger."
Haku stood motionless, his head slightly bowed. His long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, veiling his beautiful eyes and making it hard to tell what was going through his mind.
Obito's gaze shifted back and forth between the two. He felt something strange, but then shook his head and thought that perhaps it was only his imagination.
Before long, using his sensory abilities, Obito successfully led Shi Xiu and Haku to Yagura, who was under the control of a genjutsu.
However, the instant Yagura's eyes fell on Shi Xiu, something unexpected happened.
Yagura's previously still body suddenly began to tremble violently. Then, without warning, an intense surge of chakra burst forth, and he transformed into a tailed beast in an instant!
At the same time, Obito suddenly sensed that some unknown force had forcibly broken the genjutsu he had placed on Yagura.
Obito's expression changed abruptly. Without hesitation, he drew the long sword from his waist and swiftly stepped in front of Shi Xiu, warning him in a low voice,
"Lord Shi Xiu, please be careful! It seems my genjutsu has been broken!"
At almost the same moment, Haku reacted quickly, flashing into position in front of Shi Xiu to shield him.
As the chakra inside him surged wildly, the air around them seemed to react. The temperature plummeted, and within just a few breaths, the room had grown several degrees colder.
Facing Yagura, who had completely transformed into a tailed beast and was radiating a fierce aura, Shi Xiu still wore a relaxed smile.
He even casually waved at him and greeted him with a laugh. "Isobu, Isobu, it's been a long time! Is this really how you welcome an 'old friend' like me?"
The tailed beast-transformed Yagura let out a low, indistinct growl.
Then a hoarse voice rang out. "Shi Xiu... how... could you... still be alive!"