"The Decapitating Carving Knife is your tool too..."
Akihara Kagura continued baiting his hook and casting his line with indifference, nonchalantly saying, "Besides, didn't you already leave both tools behind in the Land of Waves? Now you can only choose one, it's best to think it through, there's only one Decapitating Carving Knife..."
"..."
Momochi Zabuza fell silent.
This was a difficult choice.
The Decapitating Carving Knife could enhance his strength...
If he chose Haku, it would mean the loss of the Decapitating Carving Knife, which would greatly diminish his power, making the pursuit of the Hidden Mist Village seem like a dream...
However...
This was also not a difficult choice.
Because Momochi Zabuza had known ever since killing those Land of Water nobles that taking back power from the Hidden Mist Village was as difficult as climbing to heaven. He might as well retreat with Haku!
Momochi Zabuza chose Haku, abandoning his ambition. He understood what kind of life he should choose.
Momochi Zabuza snorted coldly, without any hesitation, looking at Haku with his usual arrogant demeanor: "Give the Decapitating Carving Knife to this bastard!"
"Lord Zabuza!"
Tears of joy flowed from Haku's eyes.
Though Momochi Zabuza's attitude remained fearless of heaven and earth, he chose to abandon the Decapitating Carving Knife for him!
Haku no longer hesitated and tossed away the Decapitating Carving Knife he'd been carrying, rushing toward Momochi Zabuza!
"Stay quiet!"
Momochi Zabuza tousled Haku's hair, only glancing nostalgically at the Decapitating Carving Knife, and coldly said, "Hey, Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village are allies, help me return the Decapitating Carving Knife!"
"What dream are you having?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Momochi Zabuza as if he hadn't woken up yet: "The Decapitating Carving Knife is my loot, how to handle it is none of your concern!"
"You bastard..."
Momochi Zabuza was nearly jumping in anger.
Yet before he could say much, Haku quickly pulled at his arm, anxious to leave, fearing a conflict might arise with Akihara Kagura.
"Lord Kagura..."
Karin glanced at the departing figures of Momochi Zabuza and Haku, still hearing Momochi Zabuza's curses and Haku's reassurances.
"What's up?"
Akihara Kagura kept his eyes on the water, as if he hadn't done anything, as if Momochi Zabuza and Haku had never been here.
"Lord Kagura..."
Karin stood beside Akihara Kagura, cautiously muttering, "He seems like a good person!"
"I think so too."
Akihara Kagura nodded in agreement, then said, "Take this Decapitating Carving Knife over to Orochimaru and have him present it to the people of the Hidden Mist Village as a gift."
"..."
A group of Root Ninja felt Karin's myopia had worsened, sensing that Akihara Kagura was inconsistent in his self-awareness.
Land of Waves.
Inside Caddo's house.
Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo were still planning meticulously.
Shimura Danzo was thrilled to learn they had the active help of the two Hokage, confident that the plan to collapse Konoha would surely be foolproof.
With the completion of the Land of Waves bridge, Kakashi Hatake and Team 7 returned to Konoha, along with Akihara Kagura and a group of Root Ninja, coincidentally receiving orders from the Dark Department demanding Akihara Kagura's swift return to Konoha.
Because...
The latter half of the year Chunin Exams were about to begin.
As Konoha's Hokage Assistant and the village's combat power staple, Akihara Kagura needed to be present in the village, not outside on vacation.
After all...
The Hidden Sand Village was sending some troublesome participants for the Chunin Exams; it was best that Akihara Kagura returned to Konoha in time to oversee the exams.
Konoha Village.
Task Gathering Place.
Kakashi Hatake and Team 7 finally ended their mission and returned. Their journey was quite a hurdle-filled ordeal, if not for Akihara Kagura, returning might have been especially challenging.
However, when Team 7 completed their mission, the reward for their first C-rank mission wasn't handed to them.
Because...
The person on duty secretly pocketed it.
"I'll keep this money for now."
Akihara Kagura nonchalantly wrote Team 7's mission completion evaluation, collecting their mission reward: "You haven't forgotten our agreement, right? This mission's reward is all mine..."
"No... No..."
Naruto Uzumaki felt a slight reluctance.
After all, it was his first C-rank mission reward.
"Alright, alright."
Akihara Kagura casually set aside the stack of rewards, indifferently adding, "I know you're tired from completing the mission, but about your reward..."
"Eh!"
Naruto Uzumaki's face lit up with joy!
Yet, Akihara Kagura's next words caused Naruto's face to fall immediately: "I'll be sure to splurge this money, should be enough for BBQ..."
"..."
Naruto Uzumaki's brow furrowed in frustration.
"Alright, get some rest early!"
Akihara Kagura gestured for them to rest: "Don't forget to take on employment commissions tomorrow, don't forget you owe Anko a lot in tutoring fees!"
Naruto Uzumaki looked glumly at Akihara Kagura: "So assign us more advanced missions! That way, I can quickly repay Big Sister Anko!"
"Barely managing a C-rank mission..."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, disapproving of Naruto's idea: "You almost died in the Land of Waves, it's lucky I was there on a mission..."
"Speaking of..."
Kakashi Hatake looked at Akihara Kagura and asked, "Does Lord Third Hokage know about the Land of Waves? But with you around, Orochimaru shouldn't dare infiltrate Konoha, right?"
Akihara Kagura knitted his brows, continued: "It's hard to say, that guy's reckless..."
"But..."
"The Land of Waves matter has already been reported to Lord Third Hokage. He's very angry at Orochimaru's actions but temporarily has no time to focus on it, as there's more important matters in the village..."
[System Prompt]: [Head to deal with smugglers between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire, dismantle smuggler bases, task completed; reward: Shuriken Giant Body Jutsu!]
[Shuriken Giant Body Jutsu (Summon a shuriken, make it gigantic.)]
As Akihara Kagura went to submit a task, he mentioned the Land of Waves to Sarutobi Hiruzen, alerting him that Orochimaru might have plans regarding Konoha.
However...
Sarutobi Hiruzen was more concerned about the joint Chunin Exams.
Because these Chunin Exams affected Konoha's alliances with the Hidden Mist Village and Hidden Sand Village, as well as attitudes of several smaller nations towards Konoha.
After sending off Kakashi Hatake and Team 7, Akihara Kagura stayed on task duty at the Task Gathering Place, where he met an elderly Genin submitting a task.
"Maruboshi Kosuke, Genin."
Akihara Kagura certified his task completion, suddenly calling out to this Genin: "I've heard around the village your wilderness survival is remarkable, your cooking's good?"
"It's alright..."
The old man had a wok slung over his back, bashfully scratching his head: "Maybe it's just people dislike eating Soldier Pills, so my cooking seems good..."
"I have a commission."
Akihara Kagura turned to his assistant: "My assistant needs to join the Chunin Exams, but she lacks a team, needing an experienced Genin..."
"About that... I'm afraid it won't work."
Maruboshi Kosuke shook his head, whispering: "I don't wish to advance..."
"Don't worry, I won't promote you."
Akihara Kagura gestured, continuing: "It's just aiding Karin through the second round in the Forest of Death. You can withdraw during the third round, and I'll arrange another teammate who might also withdraw in the third test..."
"That..."
Maruboshi Kosuke hesitated, deciding to remind: "Lord Kagura, Chunin Exams aren't child's play. Wilderness survival is essential knowledge for ninja; if it's inadequate..."
"She won't be sent on dangerous missions in the future."
Akihara Kagura held Kosuke's gaze, further explaining: "I'm inviting you to the Chunin Exams because of its scale, hoping you'll oversee the young ones, preventing any incidents during the exams..."