On the mountaintop, the blade's tip was still pointed at the wheelchair.
Hayashi looked at the Kubikiribōchō barring his way and shook his head.
"That's not right."
He raised his head, meeting the eyes beyond the blade's tip, his voice as level as ever.
"I'm not asking you to betray anyone. Whether you betray him or not is between you and Gato. It has nothing to do with me."
"I'm just curious-" He paused. "He never cared about you or Haku at all, did he? Even so, you're still willing to risk your life for someone like that?"
Zabuza stared at him for two seconds.
Then he threw his head back and burst into wild laughter.
His shoulders shook so hard that the great blade pointed at the wheelchair bobbed along with them.
The laughter pulled at some injury that hadn't quite healed. He hissed in pain, only to laugh even louder.
"Haha... hahahaha!"
"That's a ninja's fate." He lowered his head, his laughter still lingering. "Just what are you thinking, Konoha's Dragon Princess?"
Hayashi didn't answer.
He simply watched Zabuza calmly, without saying a word.
The Kubikiribōchō dropped, its tip settling into a crack in the rock.
The world seemed to fall silent along with the great blade for a moment.
Then Hayashi fixed his eyes on Zabuza's and spoke, one word at a time:
"So-Haku is another piece you can sacrifice for the sake of your fate?"
The laughter vanished abruptly.
Zabuza's throat tightened.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"You know perfectly well."
Hayashi spoke mildly, tapping a finger against the wheelchair's armrest.
"If we fight again, you'll definitely die. You know that better than I do."
"So, in your world-" He looked at Zabuza. "Could Haku go on living alone?"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes.
"Are you