The moment Momochi Zabuza was freed from the ropes, he punched Haku in the face without hesitation. Watching Haku fall to the ground, he said coldly, "I told you not to tell this guy anything, yet you disobeyed my orders. Now you're just a useless tool!"
"But..."
Haku struggled to stand up, trying to say something.
Akihara Kagura interrupted Haku, frowning at Momochi Zabuza, seemingly not understanding why Zabuza was so suspicious of Haku lying.
"Zabuza, I made a deal with this little guy named Haku. The reason I decided to let you go was to catch a bigger fish."
"Bastard!"
Momochi Zabuza gritted his teeth, glancing at Akihara Kagura and then at Haku: "Are you taking me for a fool? Do you think I can't see through such an obvious lie?"
"..."
Haku's eyes showed a hint of sadness and grievance.
Yet before Haku could say anything, Akihara Kagura casually added, "Zabuza, everything Haku did was for you. I'm a man of my word. I caught a big fish, so I'm in a good mood and decided to release you."
"Do you think I'm that foolish?"
Momochi Zabuza glared hatefully at Akihara Kagura and at Haku, ignoring Haku completely as he turned to leave.
No matter how you look at it...
Akihara Kagura must have gotten the list from Haku!
Especially since Akihara Kagura looked so composed, pretending that releasing Zabuza was just because he caught a fish. How could Konoha Ninja be so foolish, thinking he was stupid too!
Moreover...
To keep him alive...
All Akihara Kagura had to do was slightly threaten Haku, and this fool would certainly hand over the list to save him.
Thinking about this, Momochi Zabuza felt a hint of regret because Haku gave the list to save him, maybe he shouldn't have been angry about it...
"Wait..."
Akihara Kagura called out to Momochi Zabuza.
A group of Root Ninja suddenly blocked Zabuza's path!
"Haven't you already gotten the list!"
Momochi Zabuza looked angrily at Haku and then at Akihara Kagura: "What more do you want? If you want to kill me, then just do it quickly!"
"Your Decapitating Carving Knife."
Akihara Kagura gestured at the Decapitating Carving Knife for Zabuza to see and casually proposed a condition: "But if you want to take back your Decapitating Carving Knife, you have to help me get rid of the people on the list, so I don't have to make a long trip..."
"..."
Momochi Zabuza was infuriated.
This bastard still wants to use him even now!
However, since that fool Haku gave the list to Akihara Kagura, those nobles from the Land of Water won't let him go. It's either kill them or be killed by them!
For Momochi Zabuza, was there really a choice?
Momochi Zabuza looked at his Decapitating Carving Knife and said solemnly: "I'll bring their heads and come back for my Decapitating Carving Knife."
"It's a good deal."
Akihara Kagura nodded in agreement to Zabuza's demand and added, "Before the bridge connecting the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire is completed, you better come back, or I can't promise our deal will be fulfilled..."
"Also..."
"If there's one head missing..."
"There's no need for you to come back."
"Don't worry."
Momochi Zabuza was very confident in his assassination skills.
After speaking, Momochi Zabuza coldly glanced at the lying Haku and turned away, seemingly abandoning this tool for real.
"Lord Zabuza..."
Haku quickly got up, trying to catch up.
Bam!
A vine suddenly shot up from the ground, dragging the Decapitating Carving Knife up into the air, and the large knife landed right in front of Haku, blocking his path.
Akihara Kagura swung his fishing rod again, speaking softly: "Until that guy comes back, you should keep his Decapitating Carving Knife for him! When he brings the heads, I'll return both you and the Decapitating Carving Knife to him..."
"Why?"
Haku's body collapsed immediately, sitting before the Decapitating Carving Knife, staring at his reflection on the blade: "Why doesn't Lord Zabuza trust me... why abandon me... I really didn't say anything..."
"I can help you."
Akihara Kagura didn't turn back to look, as if everything was under control: "When Zabuza comes back with the heads, he'll want to take you with him... At that time, you must do something for me, you wouldn't want to be abandoned by Zabuza again, would you?"
"What is it?"
Haku looked towards Akihara Kagura.
Haku seemed to see hope returning to Momochi Zabuza's side!
"Don't let him get involved in the Hidden Mist Village's affairs."
Akihara Kagura once again lifted his fishing rod, pulling up a big fish: "The waves in the Ninja World are huge, he's just a fish that likes to bite the hook..."
"Zabuza is the most formidable person!"
Haku still wanted to defend Momochi Zabuza's honor!
Akihara Kagura removed the fish, put away his fishing rod: "But I haven't even attached bait and he just hooked himself, sea fish at least know to bite when they see the bait, yet Zabuza bites at a mere whiff..."
Perhaps Momochi Zabuza was smart enough.
Yet he still fell for Akihara Kagura's simple estrangement tactic, even voluntarily assassinated those smuggling Land of Water nobles, allowing Akihara Kagura to relax a bit more.
"..."
Haku was a little at a loss.
"I feel myself getting softer..."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Karin, waved and said: "Karin, come help me collect the fish."
Karin gestured to two Root Ninja to help collect the fish, proactively asking: "Lord Kagura, is today over?"
"We are going to visit the wounded."
Akihara Kagura nodded, indicating they're done for today: "Kakashi Hatake won in a lackluster way, he must be injured, right?"
"Yes."
Karin hesitantly nodded.
Is Akihara Kagura really going to visit the wounded or mock Mr. Kakashi!
Meanwhile.
In Dazna's home.
Kakashi Hatake lay in bed nursing injuries.
The three little rascals of Team Seven sat at the bedside, Haruno Sakura watched their Instructor Jonin with concern, Naruto Uzumaki and Uchiha Sasuke were also a bit tense.
Kakashi Hatake suddenly sat up, mentioned the Hidden Mist tracking ninja killing Momochi Zabuza, and spoke: "Something feels off, the person who killed Momochi Zabuza seemed to be using tools similar to medical needles, this method of killing is rather gentle, and the hit point seemed like a fake death spot..."
"What's wrong, Mr. Kakashi?"
The little group of Team Seven tilted their heads in confusion.
"Kakashi, I'm here to see you."
A voice came from outside.
Akihara Kagura, accompanied by Karin and Haku, squeezed in along with a group of Root Ninja; the Decapitating Carving Knife on Haku's shoulder immediately drew everyone's attention!
"Eh! Isn't that the blade of that guy Zabuza?"
Naruto Uzumaki pointed in shock at the Decapitating Carving Knife on Haku's back: "Could that guy Zabuza actually be dead?"
"Lord Zabuza is still alive!"
Haku immediately retorted.
"You are..."
Kakashi Hatake recognized Haku's figure, frowned and said: "You were with Momochi Zabuza, right?"
"Yes."
Haku lowered his head somewhat sadly.
Although Akihara Kagura promised that Momochi Zabuza would definitely still need him, Haku couldn't quite believe it, worried that Momochi Zabuza truly abandoned him.
"Don't ask so many questions now."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, gesturing for the Root Ninja to bring over the two big fish for Kakashi Hatake on the sickbed to see: "Come take a look, I caught two big fish today, each one over a hundred pounds!"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake's eye twitched.
This guy is still the same as always!
Akihara Kagura looked contentedly at the shocked expressions of the little rascals, and spoke proactively: "You don't need to worry about Zabuza's matter, I've resolved the crisis for you..."
"You meddlesome guy..."
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Akihara Kagura.
Kakashi Hatake originally planned to use this matter as a test for Team Seven, but Akihara Kagura had settled it so easily, though he wasn't sure how it was solved, but the guy must have already settled it.
How is he supposed to test the three little rascals of Team Seven?
Are there better-suited enemies in the Land of Waves after all?