People Must Learn to Admit Their Own Insignificance
"Zabuza-sama, you finally showed up. I was unable to contact you before."
Upon seeing Zabuza, Haku's eyes lit up with relief. But when he noticed the man standing beside him, his expression became cautious. "Who is this, sir? Is he a friend of yours, Zabuza-sama?"
Zabuza glanced at Haku but quickly hardened his expression. Just as he was about to explain, he scoffed and barked,
"Why are you asking? Don't forget your place. You are merely a tool I picked up. Deliver the information and leave."
Haku's eyes dimmed slightly. "...Zabuza-sama..."
Reluctantly, he took a step back.
Zabuza, however, noticed the flicker of hurt in Haku's expression. He sighed internally.
He hadn't meant to be harsh. Though he had taken in Haku for his rare Ice Release ability, over the years, their bond had grown into something resembling that of master and disciple. Yet, now that he had returned to Kirigakure with the intent to challenge Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, the dangers ahead were too great. He didn't want Haku caught in the crossfire.
Beside them, Hōzuki Mangetsu chuckled, clearly seeing through Zabuza's thoughts. "Zabuza, don't push him away so deliberately. If he wanted to flee, he would have done so long ago. As a remnant of the Yuki Clan, his survival alone proves his worth. Since he's here, he deserves to know our plan."
Mangetsu turned to Haku, a smirk playing on his lips. "Kid, Zabuza and I are heading back to assassinate the Mizukage. Even knowing this, are you still willing to follow us?"
"Assassinate the Mizukage?" Haku was momentarily stunned. But after a moment of silence, he nodded with determination.
Zabuza clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tch. I told you to stay out of this. Now you have no choice but to follow us. Why won't you ever listen?"
Mangetsu shook his head. "Having one more person could increase our chances. Besides, do you think that if he stays behind, he'll have a better future? The village is already against him. With us, at least he has a purpose."
Zabuza sighed but didn't argue further. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "Enough of this. The real problem is the masked man. If we don't have a solid plan, even if we get close to the Mizukage, we'll end up dead as traitors."
Mangetsu's expression darkened. He subtly pointed toward the opposite street, where a figure was eating seafood porridge. "Zabuza, don't you see? If he is here, all our plans might be meaningless. Everything will move according to his will..."
Zabuza followed his gaze. Across the street sat a young man with blond hair, his blue eyes half-lidded as he casually ate his meal.
"...Menma," Zabuza muttered under his breath.
A heavy silence settled between them.
But after a moment, Zabuza scoffed, forcing out a confident tone. "When we get to the village, we'll find allies. No matter how strong he is, even he can't stand against the entirety of Kirigakure."
Mangetsu exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You don't understand, Zabuza. A village isn't a single entity. We don't need the entire Kirigakure to be against him. He only needs to control the right pieces from behind the scenes."
Zabuza's fists clenched at Mangetsu's words.
Mangetsu turned, motioning for Zabuza to follow as he approached the blonde man.
---
Naruto—no, Menma—slowly set his spoon down as the group approached. His gaze flickered between them, but his expression remained unreadable.
Seeing Haku among them, he raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing.
Mangetsu was the first to speak. Wearing his usual disarming grin, he greeted him with an almost playful tone. "Menma-sama, there's news from the village. Kisame killed Fuguki Suikazan—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—and attempted to assassinate the Land of Water's Daimyō before defecting. Seems like the masked man's influence is growing. Do we proceed with our plans for Kirigakure?"
Menma remained silent, his piercing blue eyes settling on Haku instead.
Mangetsu quickly added, "This is Zabuza's subordinate, Haku of the Yuki Clan. He's the one who delivered the information."
Still, Menma's face betrayed no emotion. "Assassinating the Mizukage is your mission. I'm merely an observer. Make your own decisions."
Mangetsu smiled, though his eyes glinted with calculation. "I know you don't care for ordinary Jōnin, but what if I become the Fifth Mizukage? Surely, even you would need the Mizukage's support?"
Menma gave him a long, appraising look. "You want to make a deal with me. But do you truly have the strength to take the title of Mizukage?"
Mangetsu let out a confident chuckle. "That's precisely why I need your help. If I succeed, I will immediately recognize the sovereignty of Uzushiogakure, reestablish trade with the Uzumaki, and form an official alliance."
He patted his chest, making his ambitions clear.
Zabuza frowned. This was different from their initial plan. Originally, their goal was to assassinate Yagura and liberate the village. But now Mangetsu wanted to use Menma's power to overthrow the Fourth Mizukage, only to put himself in the seat of power.
Even if they killed Yagura, the village would remain a chessboard. And they would still be mere pawns.
But even if Zabuza disagreed, what choice did they have? They weren't strong enough to face Yagura and the masked man alone. For now, they had to play along.
Mangetsu sighed lightly, catching Zabuza's expression.
He wasn't fond of relying on outsiders either. But compared to the masked man—who manipulated people's very memories—Menma was at least someone they could negotiate with.
At the very least, Menma had his own goals. He wasn't a mindless destroyer like the masked man.
After a long pause, Menma finally spoke. "We'll discuss terms later. First, show me how serious you are about becoming Mizukage. If you can't even get close to Yagura, then what's the point of this conversation?"
Mangetsu's smile widened. "I'll prove my sincerity, Menma-sama."
Menma gave him one last glance before vanishing into the streets.
As he disappeared, Zabuza let out a deep sigh. "Mangetsu, it seems we can never escape the fate of being pawns."
Mangetsu chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "Zabuza, people need to learn to admit their own insignificance. We were never pawns before... We were just dust crushed beneath the chessboard."
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