Seeing the barely perceptible sadness flash through Haku's eyes, Fū seemed to realize something and did not know what to say next.
"Come on, take a look inside."
Haku noticed Fū's awkwardness and smiled as he pulled her into the shop.
The temperature inside was not very high. In fact, it was even colder than outside.
This was mainly because of the ice sculptures displayed in the transparent cabinets.
One ice dragon sculpture was so lifelike that every scale on its body was exquisitely detailed.
Of all the sculptures, however, the one that most intrigued Fū depicted two people.
One was a burly man holding Kubikiribōchō in one hand, resting it over his shoulder.
Beside him stood a long-haired figure wearing a mask.
The figure looked almost exactly like Haku.
"Is this big sis-"
"Just call me Haku."
"Oh, is this you, Haku?"
Looking at the ice sculpture he had always kept in the center, Haku's lips curved slightly, and he nodded.
"Yes, that's what I used to look like."
"Then who's the person beside you?"
"He's my... most important person."
Haku paused, as though considering how exactly he should introduce Zabuza.
"Then where is he?"
Fū blurted out instinctively, then abruptly clapped a hand over her mouth.
Fū: Damn it, stupid mouth! Why did you have to speak so fast?!
She looked at Haku apologetically. How could someone mess up this badly, offending him twice in just two minutes?
"Lord Zabuza? He should be over in Kirigakure right now."
A certain current Kirigakure Anbu Captain, who was still carrying out a mission during the Winter Festival, sneezed.
"Achoo! What's going on? I shouldn't be that frail, should I?"
His figure paused as he darted through the trees. He doubted himself for a moment, then shook his head.
"Captain, is