That question instantly made the atmosphere strange.
Itachi: "...?"
The smile on Shisui's lips froze for a moment.
"...Are you serious? Don't tell me you came here just to confirm that."
Zabuza's grave expression shifted into bewilderment, and even his grip on his sword loosened unconsciously.
Haku's face flushed slightly.
Whether from anger or embarrassment, he pressed his lips into a thin line and said nothing.
Farther away, their client, old Tazuna, had been trembling in fear. Now he turned blankly toward Sakura beside him and asked in a hushed voice.
"Are all you Konoha ninja... this... this..."
He considered his choice of words.
"...unpredictable?"
Sakura wiped nonexistent sweat from her forehead and gave a couple of dry laughs.
"...Uh... well... actually... normal ninja aren't like this..."
Inside, she was frantically ranting.
Genya! Do you realize what's happening right now?! What are you doing?!
Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes even harder, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
Sasuke had still been caught up in his excitement over how cool his brother was. Now he froze too, looking at Genya with eyes full of...
Was this really the Genya he knew?
Shisui recovered first and chuckled, playing along with Genya's "game."
"Hmm... let me take a look."
He studied Haku seriously.
"Delicate features, an androgynous voice, a slender build... hmm, hard to tell. What do you think, Itachi?"
Itachi glanced expressionlessly at Haku and said flatly.
"It doesn't matter."
"What do you mean, it doesn't matter?"
Genya looked perfectly serious.
"This concerns the identity of a kekkei genkai wielder! It determines whether we call him 'Haku-kun' or 'Haku-chan.'"
Zabuza finally lost his patience and spoke with a dark expression.
"What... exactly do you want? If you're going to fight, then fight! Stop toying with us!"
Genya turned to look at