Chapter 98
"Are you saying that you got caught on purpose just to rescue us and bring us to the village you built? You're trying to undermine the Hidden Mist, aren't you?"
Zabuza took a long moment to process everything. He had to admit, he was genuinely shocked when Zixu outright said he got himself imprisoned just to break them out.
Zabuza had always been a cold and serious man. As an assassin, concealing emotions was a basic skill, which was why he had mastered the Silent Killing Technique. But this? This was something else. Just a second ago, he was convinced that Zixu had been captured by accident. Given Konoha's recent decisive actions, it wasn't impossible for conflict to have erupted between the villages, leading to Zixu's capture.
"Yes, but I wouldn't call it poaching. That sounds terrible," Zixu said with a smirk. "I'm simply gathering disillusioned and misguided youth from different villages and bringing them to my village. We inherit a new Will of Fire and stand by the belief that all people should be treated as equals."
He waved his hand dramatically before continuing.
"And based on your abilities, you'd be perfect as instructors. Why waste your time with the lowly entertainment of constant bloodshed? In my village, you can escape the chaos of the outside world and find a noble cause in teaching. Isn't that great?"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes, studying Zixu carefully. It was the first time he had ever heard someone describe a gathering of rogue ninjas in such a righteous manner. And did he just call us lost youth? This entire thing sounded like a glorified den of criminals.
"What's the difference between this and the Akatsuki organization that's been making waves lately?" Zabuza asked, suppressing his irritation. Something about this so-called teaching group just didn't sit right with him.
"That's a great question," Zixu said with an amused grin. "Akatsuki are warmongers. They'll kill anyone as long as they're paid. They're mercenaries. We're different. We don't interfere with village politics—unless they come after us first. And our village isn't limited to just one profession. You can do whatever you want."
Zixu gave an exaggerated shrug.
"Besides, we're a teaching corps. We focus on education. Of course, accidents might happen during the teaching process, and naturally, we'll take care of anyone who poses a threat to our employers..."