"Heh heh heh, those who kill will be killed in turn."
"Haku, remember this: if someone raises their blade against us, I can only send them off to meet their ancestors."
"Especially here in Kirigakure. Understand?"
"What's already happened, we can't change. But for the future—we fight with everything we've got."
Haku nodded. Though days had passed, the memory of that day remained vivid.
Just because he and his mother possessed a Kekkei Genkai, they were hunted down. Such a country, such beliefs—they were wrong.
He then glanced at Kazuyama Gekkō, his tone firm.
"Sensei, I understand now. A Kekkei Genkai is a power granted to me by the heavens."
"I won't blame myself for this ability anymore. I'll use it to grow stronger."
"One day, I'll prove to these ignorant people that having a Kekkei Genkai doesn't make you a demon."
Kazuyama Gekkō was very pleased. It meant the past few days of indoctrination hadn't been in vain. The blank page before him now had its first line—and he had been the one to write it.
"Good. Let's move on. We can't stay here any longer. The scent of blood will draw beasts."
"There's nothing left on this island anyway. We'll head to the next one."
Haku nodded, his gaze drifting toward the three fallen Mist ninja. Seeing his look, Kazuyama Gekkō spoke evenly:
"That's what it means to be a ninja. Once you leave the village and take on missions, nothing is truly under your control."
"Does it feel cruel?"
Haku shook his head. He didn't find it cruel.
Even after seeing the three men dead, he felt little. Instead, he asked Kazuyama Gekkō a question.
"Sensei... where do people go after they die?"
"Hm?"
Kazuyama Gekkō, who had been packing up, froze. His hands stilled mid-motion.
Where do people go after death?
The question left him dazed. In his previous life, he'd wondered the same thing. But since coming to this ninja world, he hadn't thought about it again.
His eyes caught on a falling snowflake, and an answer came to him.
"When people die, they become snowflakes. Or maybe stars."
"Either way, they turn into things we recognize, watching us from the side."
Haku heard this, bent down, and scooped a handful of snow. He murmured softly:
"Mother... will you be watching me?"
"Our gift isn't demonic. They were wrong, Mother."
"I've met a good sensei. I can feel it—following him, I'll see a whole new world..."
Kazuyama Gekkō: ...
What the hell? Do all kids these days have these weird little rituals?
Can't make sense of it at all.
"Haku, let's go."
"Yes, sensei."
Soon, the two of them left the island, heading toward the next one.
...
"Sensei, why isn't my ice strong enough yet?"
"Hehehe, you're still a kid. Give it time. Keep practicing."
"Oh..."
Snow kept falling in the Land of Water. Even after reaching another island, the weather hadn't changed.
Kazuyama Gekkō was starting to feel snow-blind.
But Haku's personality was improving by the day. Compared to his initial dead silence, he now acted like a normal boy.
"Haku, there's a town up ahead. Once we're inside, don't practice your Kekkei Genkai anymore."
"Understood?"
Haku nodded, and they entered the town.
This island was clearly wealthier than the last. The town itself was also larger.
"Hm? That aura?"
"Kazuyama, something's up~"
Just as they entered, Tagitsuhime suddenly spoke.
Something's up? Kazuyama Gekkō frowned in puzzlement.
"He's already seen you—right there in town."
"Who?"
Tagitsuhime guided him with chakra.
Kazuyama Gekkō followed her lead, and his eyes widened.
Well, well. In a foreign land, running into an old acquaintance.
"Haku, hold onto me."
"Huh? Sensei, what?"
"Hold onto me. I'll take you to meet someone."
"Alright."
Though confused, Haku grabbed onto his sensei's robe.
The next second, his view shifted. His vision rose higher, his perspective widened... and another figure appeared before him.
A man radiating a chilling presence.
"Hehehehe... Long time no see, Kazuyama-kun. Who would've thought we'd meet here?"
"What a pleasant surprise. And this is...?"
That eerie aura, that sinister voice—who else but Orochimaru?
Kazuyama Gekkō hadn't expected to run into him in the Land of Water.
"Haku, meet my teacher—your teacher's teacher, Orochimaru. Should you call him great-master? Or great-grandmaster?"
Haku's eyes widened. He couldn't believe this man was his sensei's teacher.
"Haku, is it?"
"Hm? So it's a boy?"
"Hehehe, Kazuyama-kun, your eye for talent is as sharp as ever."
Orochimaru studied the strikingly beautiful youth with interest. His sharp gaze immediately discerned that Haku was a boy, not a girl.
This surprised Kazuyama Gekkō for a moment, but then he chuckled to himself.
Of course—it was Orochimaru. If he couldn't even tell gender apart, he'd have no right to his reputation.
"Of course. Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. My eye never fails me."
"???"
Orochimaru's expression flickered with surprise as he glanced back at Haku.
"A Kekkei Genkai, is it?"
"Hehehe... who would've thought? Weren't all Kekkei Genkai users in the Land of Water slaughtered?"
"The Blood Mist Village... that's no joke."
Kazuyama Gekkō nodded, but instead of answering, he changed the subject.
"Sensei, you're not planning to keep us standing here on the rooftop in the cold, are you?"
"Looks like it's about to snow again."
Orochimaru gave a small, resigned smile.
"Come. Let's head down and eat something."
At the table, Kazuyama Gekkō learned Orochimaru had come to the Land of Water in search of experimental materials.
He hadn't expected to cross paths with him here.
Meanwhile, Kazuyama Gekkō brought up the Akatsuki.
"You're tracking that group?"
"I must say, our last battle is still fresh in my memory."
"The Rinnegan... hehehe. One of the Three Great Dōjutsu—and by far the most mysterious."
"If I could, I'd love to study it."
Kazuyama Gekkō: Of course. You want to study everything!