Zabuza and Haku

Karatachi Yagura is dead. He's been dead for a long time.

However, the Land of Water did not seem to change much because of the death of a Kage. Genji regained control of the Land of Water, but he did not make the Land of Water better as Zabuza had hoped.

So, what exactly should we do?

"Who exactly is the one who will lead the Mist Shinobi of mystery...?"

Perhaps it started with a certain purpose, and although that purpose remains unchanged, it seems to have become slightly different.

Zabuza, carrying his Kubikiribōchō and wrapped in bandages, found the ninjas of the Land of Grass far too weak. In his eyes, they were nothing more than a bunch of frivolous ninjas who had learned a few Ninjutsu techniques. Leading these guys on missions gave him the illusion of playing a ninja game.

"Lord Zabuza... we're almost at Kusagakure..."

"Kabuto sent word that Lord Kato has returned..."

Haku stood respectfully beside Zabuza. Perhaps from the day Zabuza rescued him from the Land of Water, Haku found the meaning of life—there was nothing wrong with living for others.

He frowned slightly, as if deep in thought: Zabuza's thoughts were his thoughts as well. Seeing Zabuza brows, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought as well.

"Hmph, so this guy has finally stepped out of his precious laboratory...?"

"That really was a big deal..."

Zabuza quickened his pace. With just a few subtle pieces of information, Zabuza could guess that the Nine-Tails Rebellion Konoha was definitely related to Kato Osamu. During his time in Kusagakure, he had gained some understanding of this man.

"Lord Kato is a wise man; perhaps he can answer Lord Zabuza's questions..."

"Oh? Shiro seems to know Kato Osamu quite well?"

"I don't know, but ever since I came to Kusagakure, I have been following Lord Zabuza's orders and gathering information about Lord Kato."

Although I don't quite understand what Lord Kato does all day, based on the available information and some contacts, Lord Kato doesn't seem to be the arrogant missing-nin that Konoha claims he is...

"The fact that they defected almost simultaneously with Orochimaru shows that there must be some problems within Konoha, and this defection must have been premeditated..."

"But strangely, Konoha doesn't seem to have taken any action against Lord Kato, as if nothing had ever happened..."

"You mean his defection might just be a ruse?"

"That's not the case. If, as Lord Zabuza speculates, the Nine-Tails Rebellion was orchestrated by Lord Kato, then Konoha would not abandon a Kage for this reason..."

"Therefore, there is no doubt that Lord Kato is missing-nin to Konoha, but there must be some high-ranking officials in Konoha who are on Lord Kato's side, which is why they were able to provide Kato with some 'favors' to a certain extent..."

"If I'm not mistaken, this person is the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, but that's what truly puzzles me..."

"Minato Namikaze died because of the Nine-Tails Rebellion... So what was he planning to do?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Zabuza have enough information to analyze anything further..."

Zabuza's thoughts drifted back to the day he first met Kato Osamu, when he spoke with absolute certainty that Mist Shinobi would not change simply because of a change in leadership, and everything seemed to be coming true.

He knew that Kato Osamu must know more secrets than he currently knew, secrets he desperately wanted to understand.

"Bai, try to build a good relationship with Dou. This kid might be able to provide us with some information about that lab..."

Zabuza's voice was low and deep. He knew that Kato Osamu valued Kabuto highly and would surely know more.

The voices gradually subsided, Zabuza slowly stood up. He looked around and saw a dozen or so Grass Shinobi beaming with joy at their 'harvest,' seemingly extremely satisfied with their current lives. He couldn't help but scoff.

From the very beginning, he understood that these Grass Shinobi were merely laborers under Kato Osamu's command, never considered as one of their own. The same applied to him and Haku. But even though he was in Kusagakure, he would never forget his identity as a Mist Shinobi.

"Yes, Lord Zabuza!"

The Land of Grass does not have a stable government. Even the Kusagakure, which is composed of a group of third-rate ninjas who Grass Shinobi, has no real control over the entire Land of Grass.

To the northwest lies the Land of Earth, to the southeast the Land of Fire, to the north it borders the Land of Waterfalls, and to the south it is almost entirely surrounded by the Land of Rain. The Land of Grass has only existed to this day because of the needs of larger nations...

This Fourth Shinobi World War also gave Zabuza to countless chaos, especially after the war. In the year or so that Grass Shinobi Ninja and other ninjas to ruthlessly eliminate the most prominent figures, and countless amounts of money poured into Kato Osamu's laboratory.

Although it may not seem to have created any real value, the large amount of money circulating still made the Kusagakure look brand new. Not only were some new buildings constructed, but with the significant increase in ninja income, some liveliness and prosperity also began to appear in the Kusagakure.

"But it's all an illusion..."

Kato Osamu, along with Nonō, Kabuto, Rin, and Xiangling, were taking a rare stroll down the main street of Kusagakure.

Although it is much smaller than Konoha, the entire Kusagakure plus the new areas built in the past year is barely one-tenth the size of Konoha, but it still has some human activity.

Or perhaps they were merchants soliciting business, looking at Nonō group with a slightly obsequious smile; or perhaps they were ninjas who had just returned from afar, travel-worn but still casting respectful glances at them. Generally speaking, the residents of Kusagakure were quite satisfied with the new changes of the past year.

Although Kato Osamu didn't personally take charge, some of his forward-thinking insights revitalized the Land of Grass.

Zabuza n't a very good executor, but Haku and Nonō had fairly clear minds and managed to carry out some of Kato Osamu's policies fairly well.

The overwhelming martial prowess of ninjas leaves ordinary people utterly defenseless. In a place as small as the Land of Grass, the presence of someone like Zabuza already represents the pinnacle of martial strength.

"Zabuza, along with the village's ninja, quelled many disturbances in various places. Hearing of the changes in Kusagakure, many people living far away moved Kusagakure..."

"The newly built housing is now fully occupied, and plans are already underway to build a third batch of housing..."

"Thanks to Kabuto, many people have been taught Medical Ninjutsu, and the Grass Shinobi Hospital will soon be established..."

"Although many people are dissatisfied with the high taxes, most actually hope that Kusagakure will become a better place..."

"King Osamu, the Land of Grass has changed so much in the past year..."

"All of this is thanks to Xu..."

Nonō seemed to have not seen Kato Osamu for a long time either. Although she was holding Karin, her eyes couldn't help but be fixed on Kato Osamu, her face still bearing a gentle smile, but now it seemed to contain a hint of genuine joy. She occasionally mentioned the current situation in the Land of Grass, Kato Osamu listened quietly without offering any opinions.

Perhaps the changes in the Land of Grass are one of the reasons Zabuza can stay here; maybe he dreams of such a scene happening in the Land of Water...