The Origin of the Saint

A saint of the Hidden Mist Village?

Zabuza Momochi?

Menma's mouth twitched. Another heavily altered character.

But why a saint? Was there even room for saints to survive in this Shinobi World?

Faced with the questions from Menma and the others, Kakashi explained in a low voice, "Zabuza Momochi, a Jonin of the Hidden Mist Village, one of the second generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and the second wielder of Executioner's Blade. Known as the 'Saint,' he was famous throughout the Shinobi World for not killing.

"He once single-handedly changed the content of the Hidden Mist Ninja Academy's Graduation Exam. He excelled at Water Release ninjutsu and Capture Techniques, and his Silent Capture Technique was renowned throughout the Shinobi World for its exceptional mastery."

"Not killing? Is that really possible?" Sakura asked doubtfully.

"Yes. Though it was difficult, he did it." There was a trace of admiration in Kakashi's voice.

"Then if he didn't kill people, how did he explain that to the ninja village?" Sasuke asked.

"That brings us to the year Zabuza Momochi graduated from the Ninja Academy." Kakashi sighed and began recounting Zabuza's past.

"Before Zabuza graduated, the Land of Water's Ninja Academy Graduation Exam system was completely different from what it is now.

"In the past, Genin of the Land of Water who wanted to pass the Graduation Exam had to kill a classmate they had studied alongside for several years."

"What?! That's far too cruel!" Sakura was shocked. She had never imagined that such a bloody and brutal Graduation Exam existed.

"Yes. Zabuza Momochi was originally supposed to undergo that exam as well, but no one expected him to make a choice during the test that stunned everyone.

"It was precisely that choice that caused the Hidden Mist Village to change the Graduation Exam rules that had been in place since the Ninja Academy was founded," Kakashi continued.

"What choice? Did he kill every examinee graduating with him at the time?" Menma interjected.

"Of course not. What are you thinking, Menma?" Kakashi frowned, thoroughly surprised by Menma's thought process.

What else would I think? I was just saying what Zabuza Momochi chose in the anime.

"I've noticed that you really do have a bit too much bloodlust, Menma. Once we get back, go to someone from the Yamanaka Clan for psychological counseling," Kakashi said. "Don't take this lightly. I'll speak to your parents about it."

"Hehe, we got off topic, we got off topic. Teacher Kakashi, please keep talking about Zabuza. What did he do during the exam?" Menma chuckled, trying to muddle through.

The hell, can I go to the Yamanaka Clan for psychological counseling? What if they use some mind-reading technique and find out I'm not from this world? Wouldn't that cause a huge disaster?

Kakashi shot Menma a glare, temporarily setting aside Menma's "psychological issues," and continued recounting Zabuza Momochi's past.

"At the time, Zabuza Momochi single-handedly stopped everyone who tried to turn their blades on their companions, then joined forces with the others to defeat the Chunin instructors who had come to punish them.

"After the Jonin who arrived subdued him, he would rather be beaten to the brink of death than raise his blade against his companions.

"His actions moved every graduate present. They all put down their weapons and refused to fight back no matter how badly they were beaten.

"Later, the matter reached the Fourth Mizukage. The Fourth Mizukage joined forces with the students' parents to pressure the Hidden Mist Village's higher-ups, ultimately abolishing that cruel Graduation Exam system.

"Zabuza Momochi thus caught the Mizukage's attention and was accepted as a disciple by the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi."

When Kakashi finished, everyone looked upon Zabuza's choice with reverence.

In this Shinobi World, ninja killing people was practically an everyday occurrence. Zabuza's refusal to kill was undoubtedly one of the few rays of sunlight in this bloody, dark world.

"Alright, Kakashi, enough idle chatter. Let's discuss how to deal with the current situation." Zabuza interrupted Kakashi's introduction. "I don't want an unnecessary conflict with you Konoha ninja, so could you please stop here?"

"We Konoha ninja have no reason to abandon a commission midway after accepting it. So, Mr. Zabuza, perhaps you should return to the Land of Water instead. Besides, your client doesn't look like he can afford the mission payment," Kakashi retorted without yielding.

Zabuza Momochi shook his head. "You needn't concern yourself with that. Under the Mizukage's orders, we established diplomatic relations with the Land of Waves yesterday. The Land of Waves has officially become our ally.

"The Land of Water will bear all costs for the Land of Waves' bridge construction."

"What a joke! The leader of the Land of Waves, Kado, was with us yesterday. May I ask who exactly Mr. Zabuza established relations with?" Kakashi spotted the flaw in Zabuza's words.

Zabuza said, "Oh, you mean that dictator? He is no longer the leader of the Land of Waves.

"Yesterday, we held a public vote and removed him from office.

"Furthermore, yesterday we elected a new leader. It is none other than the elder Dazna standing beside me!"

The more Kado heard, the angrier he became. Those peasants had not only allied themselves with the Land of Water behind his back, but had even joined together to remove him from office!

What right did they have to remove him? Only a daimyo had that authority!

Yes, the Land of Waves had no daimyo, but did they think he had gone to the Land of Fire a few days ago for no reason? Did they really think he had gone to the Land of Fire to conduct business?

Wrong! Completely wrong! He had gone to the Land of Fire daimyo's residence and spent heavily to obtain a handwritten decree from the daimyo!

He was now the legitimate daimyo of the Land of Waves, officially recognized by the Land of Fire daimyo!

He immediately leaped out, holding the daimyo's handwritten decree as he roared at Dazna's group across from him, "I am the daimyo of this country, a daimyo recognized by the Land of Fire!

"You lowly commoners, not even worth as much as ants, what right do you have to remove me from office?"

Dazna sighed and shook his head. He took out an identical handwritten decree from his robes and said, "I have one of those too. I am also this country's daimyo, a daimyo recognized by the Land of Water."

Kado was both anxious and furious. He had never imagined that after being away for only a few days, everything would have slipped beyond his control.

He had thought that once he obtained the Land of Fire's letter of recognition, taking over the Land of Waves would be a sure thing.

Yet Dazna had appeared out of nowhere, and the key was that he carried a handwritten decree from the Land of Water.

Beside himself with rage, Kado shouted at Kakashi, "Konoha ninja sir, quickly, quickly! Help me kill Dazna! I'll increase your mission payment! Tenfold!!!"

Kakashi sighed and refused Kado. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Kado.

"There is an ironclad rule in the ninja world: ninja may not harm daimyos or their heirs.

"Now, both you and that bridge-building expert are heirs to the daimyo of the Land of Waves. We ninja cannot act against either of you.

"Moreover, the other side has a powerful expert whose skill is no less than mine protecting him. We cannot carry out an assassination while also ensuring your safety."

"Ahhh!!!" Kado roared in impotent fury.

Kakashi felt a tremendous headache coming on as he watched this.

"Let's negotiate," Zabuza proposed from across the way.

"Fine, let's negotiate." Kakashi accepted the proposal.

"We negotiate, and they negotiate as well! We discuss our matters, and they discuss theirs!" Zabuza pointed at Dazna and Kado.

"Fine. We'll talk tonight, at the docks." Kakashi made the decision for Kado.

At this point, the matter was no longer merely an internal affair of the Land of Waves. It was more a contest between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire.