Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"You useless trash! A bunch of damn idiots! The only time you know how to be enthusiastic is when it's payday! How hard is it to find a few people?!"

Inside Gato's temporary headquarters, the short-statured businessman furiously hurled a vase at one of his subordinates after hearing the latest report.

The subordinate didn't even dare dodge.

The vase smashed into his leg before shattering on the floor.

Seeing his men too terrified to resist, Gato pointed angrily toward Zabuza, who was lounging on a nearby sofa with the Executioner's Blade resting on his back.

"Aren't you the one who said those two Konoha ninja were heavily injured after fighting you and couldn't have gotten far?! It's been days! Why haven't they been found yet?!"

Zabuza lazily leaned back.

"Why the hell are you whining to me?"

"If they haven't been found, isn't that your men's problem?"

"What's it got to do with me?"

"I even introduced some capable former Kirigakure shinobi to you, but you didn't want them."

"You insisted on using this pile of worthless garbage instead."

The room instantly grew tense.

Several of Gato's subordinates glared at Zabuza.

Yet none dared say a word.

Looking at them, Zabuza merely shrugged.

Then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right."

"Those two brat genin escaped."

"Judging by the timing, if your people failed to catch them, they're probably close to Konoha by now."

"What?!"

Gato's face twisted.

"And you're still sitting here on your ass—"

Before he could finish—

Zabuza turned his head.

His killing intent exploded outward.

The pressure was so overwhelming that Gato immediately shut his mouth and staggered backward.

However—

His gaze soon landed on Haku standing behind Zabuza.

A trace of confidence returned.

Pointing at the pair, Gato roared:

"What?"

"This is how you treat your benefactor?"

"If I hadn't saved you two, you'd have died out there!"

"Don't forget that seal inside him!"

"If I want to, that brat dies instantly!"

"You dare put on airs in front of me?!"

"..."

Haku, who wasn't wearing his mask, frowned slightly.

Disgust flashed across his handsome face.

But Gato wasn't entirely wrong.

They truly had been saved by Gato's shipping company.

Back then, after rescuing Zabuza from the Fourth Mizukage's forces, Haku had desperately fled Kirigakure with him.

He had searched for somewhere to hide and treat Zabuza's injuries.

But as long as they remained in the Land of Water, the Mist's pursuit forces would never stop hunting them.

Meanwhile, Zabuza's injuries were worsening.

Without treatment, death was only a matter of time.

Left with no alternatives, Haku had turned to underground channels and sought passage out of the Land of Water.

The organization he found happened to belong to Gato.

Not only had Gato smuggled them away—

He had also paid for Zabuza's treatment.

But Gato wasn't some charitable businessman.

His goal had always been obvious.

He wanted powerful tools.

People who would work for him.

Cornered and desperate, Haku accepted.

As a result, an explosive seal had been implanted inside his body.

Whenever Gato wished—

He could detonate it.

At any moment.

But for Zabuza's sake—

Haku had willingly accepted that risk.

In fact, Haku had once assumed that after recovering, Zabuza would simply abandon him.

After all—

Why would someone like Zabuza submit to a man like Gato?

Yet...

"Tch."

Zabuza withdrew his killing intent and slowly stood up.

Looking down at Gato from his towering height.

The sight only made Gato angrier.

Before he could continue shouting, however, Zabuza was already heading for the door.

"Considering how fast real experts move, Konoha's reinforcements will probably arrive within five days."

"But ninja villages have their own rules."

"If a mission fails, Konoha won't come seeking revenge or interfere with your business."

"So instead of barking at me, maybe spend those five days finding them."

"Where are you going?!"

Gato demanded.

Zabuza paused.

Slowly turning around, he fixed Gato with an icy stare.

"I'm going to help you search."

"If I find them first, I'll kill them."

"Problem solved."

"What's wrong with that?"

"B-Benefactor!"

"Yes, yes, your precious benefactor."

Gato hesitated before nodding.

"Then get moving!"

"And all of you too!"

"Keep searching!"

"Yes, sir!"

The subordinates answered immediately.

None of them dared breathe during Gato and Zabuza's argument.

After leaving the headquarters, Zabuza and Haku headed toward the Land of Waves.

Following quietly behind, Haku secretly glanced at him several times.

No matter how he looked at it—

Zabuza was suppressing a tremendous amount of anger.

"Zabuza-san."

Finally, Haku spoke.

"Hm?"

"I don't understand."

"Understand what?"

"Why don't we simply act?"

"Haven't you already decided to seize Gato's wealth and use it to build strength before eventually taking revenge on Kirigakure?"

"..."

Zabuza walked in silence for a moment.

Then replied flatly:

"There hasn't been a good opportunity."

A good opportunity?

Haku blinked.

From his perspective, there had already been countless chances.

Just in the meeting earlier—

He could think of a hundred ways to capture or kill Gato.

Provided he ignored his own survival.

Could it be...

Zabuza-san is actually concerned about me...?

No.

That's impossible.

I'm merely Zabuza-san's tool.

"But..."

Haku continued cautiously.

"Won't Gato already be suspicious?"

"According to your original plan, Konoha was supposed to deal with him for us."

"Hmph."

"I didn't expect those idiots to be so naïve."

"I practically handed them an opportunity."

"I deliberately exposed an opening and let that woman catch me in a genjutsu."

"And what happened?"

"They rescued the civilians and ran."

"They completely ruined my plan."

"Now that bastard Gato is suspicious of me."

Seeing Zabuza's irritated expression, Haku recalled the Konoha ninja who controlled insects.

Rather than naïve...

They simply understood the gap in strength.

If I'd known Zabuza-san was planning this, I wouldn't have frozen all those insects.

"Then what do we do next?"

Zabuza stopped walking.

Thinking carefully.

"We can't let Gato become too suspicious."

"Since those two brats escaped..."

"Konoha will definitely send stronger people."

His eyes narrowed.

"Their mission is to protect that old man."

"In other words—"

"As long as someone stays alive to guard him, that's enough."

Haku froze.

Then heard Zabuza continue coldly:

"To keep Gato satisfied..."

"We'll have to hand over either the woman..."

"Or one of those brats."

"Just one life should be enough."

Meanwhile—

Crackle!

Lightning dispersed.

Sasuke emerged from the streak of thunder.

His three-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly as he looked ahead.

The vast ocean stretched into the distance.

Far away—

A gigantic bridge could barely be seen.

The structure was so long that its opposite end disappeared beyond the horizon.

But that alone was enough.

The bridge was the perfect landmark.

"From here onward..."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"I know the way."

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