“So this is Daka Village?” Zabuza Momochi looked at the clean, orderly village before him, which seemed completely transformed, and a trace of surprise flashed across his face.
He had been in the Land of Waves for quite some time and knew perfectly well what an impoverished place it was.
“Everyone in this village looks so happy.” Haku’s attention fell upon the villagers walking along the streets.
Their faces were healthy and radiant, their steps full of energy.
Every one of them seemed filled with vitality and hope.
Haku had followed Zabuza since childhood, living a life of constant wandering and hardship.
Along the way, he had witnessed countless scenes of human suffering.
Never before had he encountered a peaceful haven where everyone could live and work in contentment.
“…” Even Zabuza fell silent.
As far as he could remember, even his homeland, the Land of Water—one of the Five Great Nations—had very few villages this prosperous.
“My, my~ It seems we have two more interesting guests today.” Akira emerged from the village entrance with a faint smile on his face.
He had already recognized the identities of these two visitors.
“Blond hair and crimson eyes…
You’re the one who killed Gatō?” Zabuza’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He had to admit that the moment he saw Akira, his instincts told him that this boy was no ordinary person.
What a handsome boy…
That was Haku’s first impression of him.
“That’s right~ Big brother and pretty miss, did you come here today to avenge him?” Akira’s lips curled into a smile.
“…” Zabuza’s expression darkened.
That playful, unconcerned attitude made it clear that the boy did not take him seriously at all!
“Wait.
I need to correct you.” Haku quietly stared at Akira and said with complete seriousness, “I’m a boy.” “Oh?” Akira narrowed his eyes slightly before giving Haku a meaningful wink.
His expression seemed to say: I’ll give you a look.
Interpret it yourself.
“…” Haku immediately fell silent.
“Hmph!
There’s no need to waste words on him, Haku.” Zabuza fixed Akira with a sharp gaze and declared coldly, “Brat, you ruined my plans.
You’ll have to pay the price for that!” “Is that so?
And then~?” Akira tilted his head upward slightly, his expression casual and teasing.
“Hand over all your wealth, and I might spare your life!” Zabuza stopped wasting time and stated his objective directly.
“You want my treasures?” Akira tapped a finger against his chin, pretending to consider the request.
“There are far too many of them.
I’m afraid they may be more than you can handle.” “Hmph!
There is nothing in this world that I cannot handle!” Zabuza removed the massive Kubikiribōchō from his back and slammed it heavily into the ground.
Impatience flashed across his face as he said in a deep voice, “Enough nonsense, brat!
Hand over your wealth willingly, or I’ll cut off your head and take it myself!” “Please don’t resist,” Haku advised from the side.
“Once Mr.
Zabuza draws his blade, you will die.” For some inexplicable reason, Haku instinctively did not want the boy before him to be killed.
“Oh?
Is the pretty miss worried about me?” Akira turned an interested gaze toward him.
“I…” Haku opened his mouth, intending to deny it.
“Thank you~” Akira gave him a dazzling, radiant smile.
“Ugh…” It struck Haku like a critical hit to the heart.
His cheeks reddened slightly, leaving him unable to speak.
Fair Youth— Kid Gilgamesh’s absolutely flawless appearance embodied the passive quality of an irresistibly lovable young beauty, producing an effect comparable to a charm spell regardless of the target’s gender.
“Hm?!” Zabuza unconsciously lowered the Kubikiribōchō in his hand, only to tighten his grip around it again immediately afterward.
“Is this…
genjutsu?!” For a brief instant, he had actually felt reluctant to cut down the boy.
Who was he?
Zabuza Momochi had been born in the Bloody Mist and slaughtered an entire graduating class while he was still a genin candidate, earning himself the title of the Demon of the Hidden Mist!
How could someone like him feel compassion toward a mere child?
Zabuza bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, using the pain to keep his mind clear.
“Haku, step back!
There’s something strange about this brat!” “Mr.
Zabuza…
please show him mercy.” For once, Haku voiced a plea.
“What did you say?” Zabuza’s eyes widened as though he had heard something utterly inconceivable.
The tool he had raised for nearly ten years had always obeyed every command without question.
Yet now, Haku actually dared offer his master an opinion!