"You all did well."
Yemu smiled and spoke gently, his gaze sweeping over the people before him with a hint of relief in his eyes.
"Every one of you."
Yemu walked over to Zabuza and gently patted his shoulder, signaling for him to stand rather than remain on his knees.
Zabuza slowly rose, his body trembling slightly, as though he could not bring himself to meet Yemu's eyes.
"How many of our brothers died?"
Yemu's voice suddenly grew low, and his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing his concern and solemnity.
Zabuza's face instantly paled. He lowered his head, unable to meet Yemu's gaze, his voice filled with guilt and self-reproach. "It was me. I failed you, Leader. I failed our brothers."
"I failed to protect them."
Zabuza's voice caught in his throat. "Of our hundred ninja brothers, only twenty-odd remain."
Yemu listened quietly to Zabuza, his brows tightly furrowed as grief welled up inside him.
Yet he did not blame Zabuza. Instead, he shook his head and sighed. "This wasn't your fault. I should have realized this awakening would take so long."
Yemu looked around, seemingly searching for something.
Suddenly, his eyes flickered as though he had remembered something important, and he hurriedly asked, "Right, where's Haku?"
Haku was someone Yemu valued greatly. He possessed the Ice Release kekkei genkai, an ability exceedingly rare throughout the Shinobi World.
If properly developed, Haku would undoubtedly become one of Yemu's greatest fighters.
"Haku... Haku is still unconscious."
Zabuza's voice was low, and a trace of embarrassment and guilt showed in his eyes.
Haku had always stayed quietly by his side.
To protect him, Haku had taken a slash from Obito Uchiha that nearly crippled him.
Zabuza sighed helplessly and continued explaining. "That bastard in the mask actually had space-time abilities. I never saw