Banquet

The bright afternoon sun always seemed a bit languid. Such beautiful weather was rare in Kirigakure, especially when it was shrouded in the shadows of war and political intrigue, making it all the more precious.

But just as sunlight cannot illuminate every corner of the earth, there will always be unknown places where darkness is hidden.

Or perhaps they simply possess their own unique kind of sunshine.

It's a little far from the center of the Mist Shinobi, yet not so isolated as to seem deserted; it has a slightly aloof feel, but isn't gloomy or dull.

Akihamaru's residence was such a place.

The courtyard, which was usually quiet, was now filled with loud noises, as if they were arguing.

"Akihamaru... you coward!"

"Snort..."

Since becoming Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi, who carries the Kubikiribōchō, has become even more ferocious in his reputation as Demon. In particular, the huge long sword that runs across his back seems to emanate a powerful aura from him, which is visible to the naked eye.

"Say what you will..."

However, Zabuza, looking at the man practicing his swordsmanship on his own, subtly revealed a hint of helplessness and indignation.

The bright sunlight shone on Akihamaru's strong muscles. His Akihamaru was bare, covered with old scars, which were gradually being soaked with sweat.

"Can't you see the current state of the village? The large families are banding together for their own benefit. The rise of the fourth generation has not only failed to change the Blood Mist's reputation, but has actually made it even worse!"

"Mist Shinobi should not, and cannot, participate in this war!"

"Zabuza... Lord..., I'm just a lowly Chunin. I don't have the leisure to consider others..."

Akihamaru Zabuza, leisurely finishing his swordsmanship practice, then lazily leaned against the wall, closing his eyes to rest.

Since his last fight with Zabuza, Akihamaru never expected to provoke such a 'trouble,' at least in his eyes it was definitely trouble.

Akihamaru no longer looked at Zabuza, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was worried about something else.

Seeing his appearance, a flash of anger crossed Zabuza's eyes. He remained silent for a long time before forcing himself to speak again.

"Why?"

He frowned deeply, holding the Kubikiribōchō at his side. He couldn't understand why they weren't angry!

Whether they were ordinary people, or Genin, Chunin, or even Jonin, even the man whose strength he acknowledged, they all seemed to accept their fate passively.

Why shouldn't they be angry!

"Fear death..."

Akihamaru chuckled softly, seemingly finding Zabuza's words rather childish.

"I haven't lived enough yet. I don't want to die before I even have a wife. I'd probably get beaten to death then..."

With a calm and collected demeanor, Akihamaru Zabuza Zabuza's words, got up, went into the room, and brought out the leftovers from breakfast.

"Living is simply living—eating, drinking, having fun, sleeping—why think so much..."

He took a bite of white rice, hesitated for Zabuza, and Zabuza.

"How about we get something bigger?"

Looking at the laughing Akihamaru, Zabuza's last trace of anger suddenly vanished in a daze.

He stared blankly at Akihamaru, as if he could see countless faces through his own.

They are all different, yet they are all the same.

Zabuza chuckled, Zabuza his head, said nothing more, shouldered his Kubikiribōchō, and slowly walked towards the gate.

Perhaps this was the path he was meant to walk alone; perhaps he had been asking for too much.

The bright sky, without a single extra cloud, shone with such intense warmth, yet Zabuza's heart remained as cold as ice.

Never before had he felt such a tremor; for the first time in over twenty years, he had come to this profound realization.

It turns out I couldn't save Mist Shinobi.

Zabuza's steps seemed somewhat lonely, and his tall figure, bathed in sunlight, evoked a sense of desolation and decline in Akihamaru.

Akihamaru's hand holding the chopsticks slowly paused. Whether it was influenced by Zabuza's words or the hot tears falling to the ground, looking at Zabuza's back, a complex expression appeared in his eyes, and his face became more solemn. He couldn't help but speak softly.

"Your behavior is dangerous, do you know that?"

His eerie gaze was fixed on Zabuza's Zabuza figure, as if trying to see through his every move and find that trace of fear within him.

However, as if he showed no fear whatsoever, Zabuza chuckled softly, his voice gradually growing louder.

Are you asking me?

"Don't you know how I got my name?"

"You are afraid of death, you are fearful, you are submissive, but I am not!"

"Stay here, and all I feel is an overwhelming anger and an unbearable grief."

"All my peers perished at my hands. I thought my actions were enough to be proud of, because I changed Kirigakure, even if only a little..."

"I never regretted anything before, but now, I do..."

"Because I only understand now..."

"This place... has never changed!"

Zabuza, and Akihamaru could feel him trembling slightly. Perhaps he was pouring out his heart, or perhaps he had something he needed to say Zabuza's last words echoed in the courtyard.

It seemed that only from this moment on did he truly come to know Momochi Zabuza, who had cruelly murdered his peers and was known as the 'Demon,' yet was Zabuza Momochi by everyone.

"Ridiculous... utterly ridiculous!"

Zabuza's figure disappeared into the courtyard, and the place returned to its usual tranquility. Akihamaru had never experienced any unusual emotions in all his years in Mist Shinobi, but now, he could no longer remain calm.

His gaze Zabuza fell somewhere else. Perhaps he was thinking of something, for his eyes held a complex mix of emotions and sharpness. It was a long time before he finally came to his senses, until the bowl and chopsticks in his hands fell to the ground.

"Perhaps... Kirigakure needs most are precisely these 'ridiculous' people..."

"Perhaps there's more..."

"Konoha..."

In the Terumi Family's villa, Kato Osamu calmly observed the girl before him. He had never imagined that the head of the enormous Terumi Family would be such a beautiful young woman.

"Is this Misaka- san's first time visiting Kirigakure? He doesn't seem very familiar with the situation Mist Shinobi..."

Mei Terumi's smile was very appropriate, and she exuded an air of elegance, with a hint of a superior's aura.

An ordinary person who sees such a woman would probably feel ashamed of themselves.

"By nature lazy and averse to worldly distractions, we have indeed had less contact in the past..."

Kato Osamu slowly sipped her tea.

The Terumi Family's reception room was extremely large and had an elegant atmosphere, but from the moment he entered, Kato Osamu could feel countless hidden gazes subtly spying on him.

She chuckled inwardly. The Terumi Family, though seemingly a powerful clan in the upper echelons of Mist Shinobi, actually possessed a certain narrow-mindedness, much like the young woman before her. She appeared elegant and aloof, but in reality, she seemed somewhat contrived and lacked magnanimity.

"Mr. Misaka is adept at making money, so it's natural that he's very busy and has no time to concern himself with mundane matters..."

Mei Terumi was accompanied by several elders, but Terumi Yu Osamu, the head of the Terumi Family whom Kato Osamu had inquired about, was not among them.

Several elders accompanied her, smoothing things over, and it seemed that they had already determined that the girl in front of them was the next successor of the Terumi Family, and were gradually handing over the family affairs to her.

"How can mere mortals compare to the Terumi Family, the pillars and backbone of Mist Shinobi..."

The result of this mutual flattery was that Kato Osamu and the elders became very close friends. Even though Kato Osamu didn't mention it when they parted, several elders of the Terumi Family still made a promise to meet again next time.

Mei Terumi didn't say much, but she didn't do anything rude. However, Kato Osamu remembered this girl because she was very strong. He could roughly tell that her strength was at least that of Jonin or even Elite Jonin. For her age, she was definitely a genius.

"The Terumi Family truly lives up to its reputation as a powerful clan, not far behind the major clans of Konoha, producing geniuses one after another..."

As Kato Osamu slowly walked out of Terumi House's house and bid farewell to the elders who had come to see him off, the smile on his face gradually returned.

He knew that this first meeting was not a chance for deep conversations with someone he didn't know well. The elders seemed easy to get along with, and their invitation to meet again was merely to create an opportunity for more in-depth discussions later.

"That's fine, it will make things much easier this way..."

Kato Osamu sat in the carriage, slightly lifting the curtain of the carriage. His eyes slowly swept across the scene, and Itachi Uchiha's figure appeared in the dango shop by the roadside in the distance. It subtly shook his head at Kato Osamu, and then made no further move.

"Don't die..."

A message was left in Itachi Uchiha's mind, and Kato Osamu remained silent. As the carriage swayed, it slowly made its way to the courtyard where they would settle down.