Zabuza's Confusion

"News from the Mist Shinobi indicates that Orochimaru defeated the Mist Shinobi Alliance on the battlefield. The Mist Shinobi is now under the command of Elder Genji, and the defeated army has been recalled and should return to the Kirigakure in a few days..."

Akihamaru looked at Kato Osamu, who showed almost no signs of injury, still feeling a bit of disbelief. Karatachi Yagura was really dead...

"However, according to my intelligence, Orochimaru's forces also suffered heavy losses, especially the Hyuga Clan..."

"Even the lost Byakugan hasn't been found..."

Inside Akihamaru's secluded safe house, Kato Osamu listened quietly as Akihamaru recounted the recent developments in Mist Shinobi, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

While the Sharingan is precious, it's not too difficult to obtain. However, compared to the Byakugan, which is on par with the Sharingan, it's probably only possessed by the Hyuga Clan in the entire Shinobi World, and this one is the only one left outside of them.

"The Hyuga Clan is definitely not simple..."

It is rare in the world for a family that has been passed down for thousands of years to protect its bloodline so well.

Whether it's the Caged Bird or the Hyuga Clan's attitude, while it aligns with the Shinobi World's desire to protect their own bloodstains, such a disregard for the cost seems to subtly reveal something strange.

After considering the projects he still needed to research, Kato Osamu stopped thinking and turned his gaze to Zabuza Momochi beside him.

Zabuza Momochi, his body wrapped in Zabuza Momochi, remained unconscious. The Kubikiribōchō stood silently beside him. Kato Osamu remained silent for a moment, then thought of Madara Uchiha, and a green light slowly emanated from his hand.

"We need to leave Mist Shinobi as soon as possible..."

"This person's strength is not bad..."

A soft green light slowly swept over Zabuza's body, and the stitched wounds began to heal visibly. In just a moment, they were completely healed.

A blue light flashed in his eyes, Zabuza slightly and slowly opened his eyes.

"Woke up..."

Seeing Zabuza and Kato Osamu staring at each other in silence, Akihamaru broke the silence. He looked at Zabuza, and as if he had thought of something, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Zabuza, you're truly audacious, actually going to assassinate the Mizukage alone..."

"Did you save me...? How nosy of you..."

With a soft hum, Zabuza turned his head away, quietly feeling the weakness in his body. He thought of the scene when he was surrounded that day, and a hint of gratitude appeared in his eyes, but his tone revealed nothing.

"Ha ha..."

With a smile, Akihamaru didn't speak again, but simply handed the medicine to Zabuza.

"You are not from the Mist Shinobi..."

He didn't go to take it, but merely glanced around at his surroundings, a cold glint appearing in Zabuza's eyes.

The environment, so airtight and subtly damp, made him realize that this was an underground fortress, definitely not the kind of dwelling a normal person from the Mist Shinobi would have. He'd seen quite a few like it during missions to assassinate enemy spies...

"Yes, we are not from the Mist Shinobi Sect. What are you going to do about it?"

Kato Osamu spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping lightly Zabuza Zabuza. Zabuza's hair stood on end, as if he were surrounded by an intense killing intent. His eyes sharpened, and he tried to sit up, but felt utterly powerless.

"People from Konoha?"

Kato Osamu made no Zabuza, an experienced ninja, could naturally discern the differences between him and the Sand Shinobi, Stone Shinobi, and Cloud Shinobi.

A flicker of hatred flashed in Zabuza's eyes. Since the war between Mist Shinobi and Konoha began, every member of Mist Shinobi harbored hostility towards Konoha. Moreover, Zabuza, as the current member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, clearly understood why he was able to take up the Kubikiribōchō.

"Why did you save me...?"

Zabuza silent for a moment, ceasing his struggle, but his eyes remained fixed on Kato Osamu. He could tell that Akihamaru was now completely subservient to the boy before him.

"I wasn't trying to save you, don't come to the wrong person..."

Kato Osamu chuckled softly, then ignored Zabuza Momochi and slowly disappeared into the safe house, heading towards the ground.

"Akihamaru, we need to leave Mist Shinobi as soon as possible..."

Kato Osamu's figure disappeared, leaving only his last words, which made Akihamaru's heart skip a beat. Thinking of the plan that Kato Osamu had told him before, his eyes couldn't help but become more serious.

"Back to Konoha... It's been a long time..."

Fog shrouds the mountain peaks, and the mountains shroud the fog; the sky merges with the water's end, and the water merges with the sky.

A sea breeze caressed my face, and sunlight shone through the clouds, casting a golden hue across the entire sky.

Kato Osamu strolled along the shore, reflecting on his entire journey through Mist Shinobi. A strange, inexplicable sense of relaxation washed over him, if it weren't for Madara Uchiha's sudden appearance...

"Now that I'm back in Konoha, I'm no longer an unknown nobody. There are some things that need to be settled..."

Just thinking of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze brought a shadow to his eyes.

"If we want to deal with Danzo, we can't avoid these two..."

The sound of footsteps behind him interrupted Kato Osamu's thoughts. Zabuza seemed to have regained some strength. Although his steps were slow, he stood straight, supporting himself with his Kubikiribōchō.

"Lord Kato, we may depart..."

Akihamaru slowly nodded to Kato Osamu. Kato Osamu could clearly feel that Zabuza's gaze towards him had changed somewhat. It was a kind of respect for the strong, as well as a complex look mixed with gratitude and relief.

It seems that Akihamaru had told Zabuza everything that happened in Mist Shinobi. Karatachi Yagura died at the hands of Kato Osamu, Zabuza didn't know what to say for a moment. He just stared at Kato Osamu without saying a word.

"Zabuza Momochi has become a rogue ninja for attempting to assassinate Mist Shinobi. Even with the Genji in power, the warrant for your arrest has not been lifted..."

"Don't you want to go back to Mist Shinobi now? I can see that even though you've become a rogue ninja, your heart still belongs to Mist Shinobi."

Zabuza seemed surprised that Kato Osamu would ask such a question; a hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes, but he didn't refute anything.

"Kato Osamu, the Blue Asura of Konoha, is indeed formidable; he actually managed to kill Karatachi Yagura..."

"I'm afraid even the rumored number one under the Yellow Flash underestimates you..."

He paused, Zabuza's eyes.

"That's right, I am a rogue ninja, but I have never cared about that identity. I will always be a member of Mist Shinobi."

"If you're going to kill me, then go ahead..."

"To die at your hands, the one who slew Karatachi Yagura, is a worthy death..."

Zabuza's voice remained neither humble nor arrogant, but rather carefree. He had long since disregarded life and death, and knowing that Mist Shinobi would surely be revitalized after the Genji took power, he had no regrets.

"Oh? You think that after Karatachi Yagura's death, Mist Shinobi will be able to shake off its previous gloom and flourish?"

Kato Osamu chuckled lightly, his doubts undisguised. He thought of Zetsu and Madara Uchiha appearing in Mist Shinobi, even though Zetsu hadn't told them much about Mist Shinobi or the details of their plan.

But with these two people in power, if the Hidden Mist Shinobi were to truly select the virtuous and capable, broaden the channels for expression, and produce a constant stream of geniuses, allowing ordinary people to live in peace and prosperity, wouldn't that be an insult to them?

"What do you mean? What do you know?!"

Upon hearing Kato Osamu's words, Zabuza's face immediately showed a hint of urgency, and his eyes revealed a deep sense of apprehension.

"You are not worthy to know yet!"

"I have no interest in killing a weak person like you. You can leave now..."

Kato Osamu said nothing more, glanced at Akihamaru, and with a light step, headed straight for the sea.

"You come back here! Tell me what you know!"

Zabuza's voice echoed along the coast, dissipating into the mist. He tried to follow Kato Osamu's footsteps, but suddenly stumbled two steps, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes.

(My prediction: Argentina will win!)