Not Exactly Shocking News

Land of Waves Forest.

Sasuke Uchiha glanced at the delicate-looking youth from time to time. "No matter how I think about it, I can't imagine that you're Zabuza's companion..."

Zabuza Momochi had a vicious-looking face, wore strange clothes, and carried an equally fearsome weapon.

Haku, on the other hand, was dressed in neat, fitted clothing. His features were delicate and gentle, and he looked as tender as water—more pure than most women.

The two of them were worlds apart...

"I'm not Lord Zabuza's companion."

A faint blush appeared on Haku's face as he lowered his eyes. "I'm merely a tool Lord Zabuza uses to handle trivial matters."

Naruto Uzumaki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that heartless guy really does seem like the type to treat his companions as tools..."

"I'm already satisfied with that."

The delicate youth bit his lip and smiled. "I was a monster. Only after Lord Zabuza took me in was I able to survive."

"It looks like there are quite a few monsters in this world!"

Naruto was stunned for a moment, then a bitter smile appeared on his face. He suddenly tried to comfort Haku. "But that guy probably treats his tools as real companions too!"

"Huh?"

"Alright, let's talk about Gato first!"

Kakashi Hatake interrupted their exchange and quietly asked for information about Gato. The delicate youth told him everything in meticulous detail.

Compared to Zabuza Momochi, Haku seemed entirely unconcerned with dignity. Everything he did was to ensure the safety of the Demon of the Hidden Mist.

After listening, the jonin instructor turned toward him in surprise. "You feel different from Zabuza. You really hate that guy named Gato, don't you?"

"Because Gato has been far too disrespectful toward Lord Zabuza."

Haku spread his hands and explained, "Actually, Lord Zabuza hates that kind of person too. But if we angered or killed Gato, we would most likely draw the attention of Kirigakure's real Hunter-nin Squad."

"Gato's relationship with Kirigakure is strange. Publicly, he's a wealthy merchant supported by Kirigakure and has access to many resources from the Land of Water. Privately, however, he also shelters Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure. We don't dare alert him."

Haku's intelligence was indeed far more detailed.

"Even if you never make a move against Gato, Kirigakure's Hunter-nin Squad will catch up with you sooner or later."

Kakashi Hatake thought of the Kubikiribōchō in Zabuza Momochi's hand and sighed. "And the reason the Hunter-nin Squad is after you is because Zabuza used to be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, right?"

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"

"They were a jonin strike team formed by selecting ninja capable of wielding the seven chakra blades forged by Kirigakure, each with unusual chakra properties..."

Kakashi Hatake rolled his eyes and continued, "They sound powerful, but not long after the first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was formed, they invaded Konoha and were defeated by the father of one of my friends."

Haku praised him, "That ninja must have been incredibly powerful..."

Kakashi Hatake pulled down his Forehead Protector slightly. "Mm, more or less. He was probably just a very strange Genin, but he paid for it with his life..."

It really hadn't been easy.

It was precisely because of that man's sacrifice that his son had been saved, his dignity as a taijutsu powerhouse had been restored, and no one in Konoha had dared look down on him again.

Most importantly, that ninja's sacrifice had awakened his son and allowed him to completely transform into a man who dared to take responsibility for his actions.

Haku was at a loss for words. "..."

It was one thing for an elderly Genin to appear and defeat Lord Zabuza, but there was an even more outrageous Genin who could face jonin on the level of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and fight seven against one?

Was Konoha's system broken?

The sky gradually darkened.

This peculiar team arrived near Gato's mansion. They stopped separately and concealed themselves as they watched two burly men standing guard outside the gates.

Haku tightly gripped two senbon needles and asked softly, "You're investigating Gato because you want to eliminate him directly and change the current state of the Land of Waves?"

"That's part of the reason..."

Kakashi Hatake scratched his head. "We also need to learn other things, like details about his shipping company and sea routes."

The first reason was merely incidental.

Of all Team Seven, only Kakashi Hatake truly understood the situation in the Land of Waves. Konoha would inevitably have to clear out Gato, who had occupied the country, so they could take care of it along the way this time.

The second objective was the important one.

They had to find a ship and a sea route—a safe route that would let them evade the enemy's possible pursuit when the time came.

"Is that so? Then let's sneak in first!" Haku turned around, and the senbon in his hand shot out, striking the two burly men in the necks!

The instant the two men collapsed, Kakashi Hatake and Haku moved, appearing beside them and carefully supporting their bodies.

Kakashi Hatake felt one of their necks, confirmed that he was still alive, and said softly, "You really are a softhearted kid..."

"..."

The delicate youth lowered his head awkwardly. Though he had always followed a cold-blooded and ruthless ninja like Zabuza Momochi, he had rarely killed anyone.

After they infiltrated Gato's courtyard, Haku silently took down every guard patrolling outside the corridors. It seemed that, perhaps because ninja were ultimately different, Gato had not arranged for any to handle such trivial duties.

"Shh..."

Haku pointed toward a lit-up window, indicating that it was Gato's bedroom, then lightly landed beside it.

The members of Team Seven followed him and listened in on the conversation inside. Gato was clearly even more diligent than they had imagined.

"President Gato, we'll need to wait a few more days for the next ship carrying goods from the Land of Water, because Kirigakure's inspections have been rather strict lately..."

"I've already found a merchant association in the Land of Fire to receive the goods, and you're telling me we have to wait several more days? Wait until the Land of Fire merchants give up on cooperating with us?"

"No one should be stupid enough to do that, right? We're currently the only merchant association capable of transporting specialties from the Land of Water through Kirigakure's blockade..."

"Hmph. Where's that Zabuza Momochi? Didn't he say he would assassinate that old bridge builder? Why is there still no news?"

"He should have already set out with his follower. Zabuza is one of Kirigakure's second-generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! How could he possibly fail?"

"Don't let your guard down. I heard that Konoha ninja have already appeared in the Land of Waves. That isn't good news. We need to find a way to control another country..."

"Following your instructions, we gathered many thugs and wandering ninja. We originally planned to send them to the Land of Hot Water to lie in ambush and prepare to attack Yugakure during this period, but something unexpected happened recently..."

"No accident can change the plan! The Land of Hot Water is right there. As long as we can control it, we'll gain dozens of times more wealth than we have now! By then, I'll be the richest man in the entire ninja world!"

"But according to intelligence from our informant there, the legendary Sannin Jiraiya has been staying in Yugakure recently. We don't know whether he has noticed our plan..."

Crack!

Naruto Uzumaki heard that name again. His heart jolted, and he stepped on a roof tile, shattering it and immediately alerting the people in the room!

Before anyone inside could make a sound, Kakashi Hatake knew they had noticed something and simply kicked open the window before flipping into the room!

After all, they had already obtained extremely useful intelligence!

Second update.

Zabuza Momochi: I heard Konoha's system isn't very reasonable!

Third Hokage: How so? Where did you hear that? Who told you? Don't believe rumors!

Zabuza Momochi: Why are you so nervous? I have evidence over here!

Third Hokage: Where did the evidence come from? Who gave it to you? Danzo handles all our systems!

Zabuza Momochi: ???

Third Hokage: You tell me first. How are you proving that our system is unreasonable?

Zabuza Momochi: Someone from Konoha kicked our village's first-generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into the Lucky Trio, so why is he still a Genin?!

Third Hokage: For that question... shouldn't you look for the reason in yourselves?

Zabuza Momochi: What the hell do you mean by that? Looking down on our Hidden Mist?

Third Hokage: You should know the score in your own heart... Konoha Genin Might Duy, Konoha chunin Obito Uchiha, Konoha jonin Shisui Uchiha—which one of them can you beat? Should I send a ninja academy student next time, or should I send the Hokage?

Zabuza Momochi: Just you wait!