Zabuza's Miserable Life

Watching the three chat and laugh, Zabuza rubbed his eyes.

Something was wrong. There was clearly nothing there.

How were they chatting so enthusiastically...

Could I be blind?

"Maybe I'm standing in the wrong place."

People were like that. When everyone else did something, it sparked a strange curiosity—if everyone was doing it and he was not, did that mean there was something wrong with him?

Zabuza walked behind the sofa, lowering himself as much as possible to keep himself at the same level as the others.

There was still nothing...

Was it because I wasn't sitting on the sofa?

Full of doubt, Zabuza circled around to the front and plopped down beside Naruto.

"That's not right. Why is there still nothing..."

Zabuza was baffled. They were all sitting on the same sofa and looking in the same direction. How could everyone see it except him?

"Hey, Naruto, can you see the images?"

Feeling a little embarrassed but afraid of disturbing Sen, who was watching, Zabuza picked the one who looked easiest to bully.

"Why should I tell you? Seriously, last time I asked to borrow your sword, you wouldn't lend it to me. Hmph!"

With Uchiha Sen beside him, Naruto did not give Zabuza an ounce of face.

"Kid, tell me whether you can see it or not. I'll teach you a pretty good ninjutsu later. How about it?"

The moment he heard there was something in it for him, Naruto's attitude immediately turned fawning. He clasped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth, his gaze becoming much more suggestive.

"Hehehe, really? Then it's a deal~"

-_-||

In some ways, you really were exactly like that Uchiha Sen guy. Or perhaps Naruto had surpassed his master...

"Yes, yes. Tell me already."

Zabuza waved his hand, signaling Naruto to hurry up.

"Uh..."

After thinking for a second, Naruto's eyes darted around as he said:

"Of course! Didn't you see it? The fight is so intense right now! Hoo, hoo, ha, hey!"

Watching Naruto's vivid description, along with Uchiha Sen getting excited beside him, Zabuza was a complete mess.

No, I don't believe it!

Clinging to his last shred of hope, Zabuza went to Haku's side and asked in a low voice:

"Haku, can you see that anime they're talking about too?"

Seeing Zabuza's expression, his tightly furrowed brows seemingly saying he would rather die than believe any of this was real, Haku thought for a moment before answering:

"Mhm, I saw it too. It's really thrilling and very good. And that ice-element static posing magic caster in it was incredibly skilled at casting spells. I learned a great deal from watching."

Zabuza, as long as you sincerely immerse yourself in the scenes Sen describes, you'll be able to become part of them. Sen really is a very interesting person...

Haku thought to himself.

Zabuza felt as though he had been struck by lightning. So he really was the only one who could not see it...

He returned to the courtyard in a daze and began questioning his life.

"Why can't I see it... Why am I the only one in this house who can't see it..."

Hokage Building

The Third Hokage had summoned the ANBU members and all the jonin for a meeting.

"Everyone, the Chunin Exams are proceeding as scheduled, but what I am about to say is extremely important."

"Although we still have not determined who intends to strike at the Hidden Leaf Village, various signs indicate that a force is moving in secret. Just last night, one of the village's Chunin, Gekko Hayate, vanished without explanation. There has been no trace of him even now, which means..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe between his lips. His eyes were deep and still, filled with an unshakable gloom. As a wisp of smoke slowly drifted upward, the entire Hokage's Office became terrifyingly silent.

After what had happened with Uchiha Sen last time, Hiruzen Sarutobi had become exceptionally cautious about every slightest disturbance during the Chunin Exams. Even the disappearance of a single Chunin had drawn his utmost attention.

"There is nowhere to begin investigating. Konoha currently contains many foreign ninja, and there are plenty of people capable of secretly killing Gekko Hayate. It would be like searching for a needle in the ocean."

Kakashi was the first to voice his opinion, but when he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, he felt that something was off.

Why does the Third Hokage... seem so much darker than before...

Perhaps noticing Kakashi's puzzled gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately pulled the brim of his Hokage hat lower.

"Yes. It would be best to add more personnel to the main arena for the Chunin Exams and be prepared that day. We should also try to persuade the village's civilians not to watch the matches in person. If someone truly has ulterior motives, I believe they will certainly choose a place with a large number of civilians to make their move." Kurenai Yuhi voiced her own opinion as well.

"Uh, the next two rounds of the exams are both extremely important. Who could it be..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not figure it out no matter how hard he thought. Was the ninja world, peaceful for so long, about to be thrown into turmoil again...?

"For the next two rounds of the exams, I ask everyone to proceed with caution. I will also deploy additional personnel, and I ask all of you to take part as well."

"Yes..."

The next day

The second round of the Chunin Exams began as scheduled.

Forest of Death

Sen kicked pebbles along as he complained:

"Seriously, why did that Double-Zero Seven guy send me to this godforsaken place? I had just reached the exciting part."

Haku smiled gently and tried to comfort him.

"Isn't it nice to come out for a walk today? Besides, didn't the Third Hokage say that as long as we didn't cause trouble, we could do whatever we wanted? So I brought some beef and a grill. They're all things Sen likes."

Zabuza's eyes widened. Anyone with eyes could tell this was the venue for the Chunin Exams. They were going to grill meat here??

Haku was really becoming more and more...

He had just been about to stop them, but it was already too late. Haku opened a scroll, neatly laid out all the utensils, took out the ingredients, and quietly waited to the side.

"Really, Haku? Wow, you're the best attendant a Blue Star warrior could ask for! I hereby dub you my most considerate little padded jacket!"

To Sen, who could not bear to disappoint either delicious food or anime, this was simply a huge surprise. He kept rubbing his hands together in anticipation of stuffing himself, all while praising Haku for being so thoughtful.

Her cheeks slightly red, Haku covered her mouth and chuckled twice before setting down the scroll.

"You flatter me, Sen. I'll go gather some firewood."

But Sen stopped Haku.

"No need. Let that Zabuza guy use Fire Release to cook it. Charcoal-grilled meat doesn't taste as good as what he cooks. Come on, let's set up the grill."

Zabuza's face darkened. Although he could use Fire Release, it was not his affinity, and under normal circumstances, he would absolutely never use it.

This went back to the last time they had grilled meat, when Zabuza had shown off a little...

Fine. I'm an attendant, I'm an attendant, I'm an attendant. Important things had to be said three times. After adjusting his mindset, Zabuza formed hand seals with both hands and looked at Sen with a smile.

"Then, Sen, how well done would you like it this time~?"