Chapter 407: Reunion
In that instant, the entire hall was like someone had pressed the pause button. A deathly silence fell.
The air seemed to freeze. All conversation, footsteps, and soft rustling sounds of items being handled vanished instantly.
Countless gazes shot over from all directions, focusing on that eyeball slowly rotating in the test tube, its tomoe vivid red as blood.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh...
A sound of clothing carried by wind rang out. A group of ANBU-like figures appeared like ghosts from behind pillars, from shadows, from staircases, instantly forming an encirclement with Zabuza and his companion trapped in the center.
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop several degrees.
"Bastard, are you here to provoke us?" the leading ANBU member shouted harshly.
His hand was already pressing on the hilt of the short blade behind his back, killing intent blazing.
The surrounding ANBU members also simultaneously bent slightly forward, entering combat readiness.
Arato's focus was completely different from everyone else's. He treated these emerging enemies as nothing, just making a big fuss and yelling:
"Big uncle, isn't this your treasure? Why are you selling it now?"
Zabuza ignored Arato's words. With one hand holding the test tube containing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and the other gripping the long blade behind his back, he said with a serious expression:
"This Sharingan wasn't obtained by killing someone and taking their eye. I got it from trading with Uchiha Yasushi back then. The witness was... Haku!"
"Just call him out and ask, you'll know."
The onlooking crowd immediately broke into quiet murmurs. The originally tense atmosphere instantly eased.
"He got it from the Divine Lord?"
"No wonder then!"
"But even so, isn't it rather foolish of him to bring this treasure here so openly to sell it?"
"What else could he do? Does he dare keep it and use it himself? Although the Divine Temple guards haven't reached those remote regions yet, that's just a matter of time. If he hands it over now he can still exchange it for some benefits. If the Divine Temple guards run into him in the future, they won't reason with him."
Amid the crowd's whispered discussions, a person in charge stepped forward and barked:
"Since your Sharingan's source is legitimate, we can buy it back. The price will absolutely satisfy you. Lord Haku is extremely busy with important matters. There's no need to have him come personally."
"As for whether this is true or false, I'll naturally verify it afterward. If you dare deceive us, then don't blame me for being impolite!"
With that, this person stepped forward to take possession of that Sharingan.
Zabuza's brow furrowed as he pulled his hand back.
"Wait a moment. I don't want gold or silver. I came to find Haku this time to use this Sharingan to make a trade with him."
"You should still call him over. Otherwise I won't easily hand over the Sharingan!"
"What?" The person in charge grew furious. "Since such a treasure has appeared here, is handing it over still something you can decide?"
Zabuza pulled out the long blade from his back and held it horizontally across his chest. His attitude was very resolute. The atmosphere at the scene immediately grew tense again.
"What's happened here?"
The crowd parted left and right. A slender figure walked out from behind the crowd.
"Lord Haku!"
Everyone bowed respectfully.
Zabuza put away his long blade, his gaze complex as he looked at this once very familiar person before him.
The current Haku was no longer that small little bundle from years ago. His body had grown considerably taller. He already looked like a young man, and his face was full of confidence, no longer that timid appearance from back then.
Although his features had changed somewhat due to growing a few years older, one could still vaguely make out the outline of that delicate baby face from years past.
"Haku, long time no see."
"Oh, so it's Lord Zabuza! It's been too long since we last spoke. How rude of me, how rude."
Haku bowed slightly, polite yet distant.
Zabuza displayed the Sharingan again, saying straightforwardly:
"I plan to use this item to make a trade with you."
Haku's gaze focused. He nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. Then let's find another place to talk."
He waved his hand. Everyone immediately dispersed, going off to do whatever they needed to do.
Then Haku pointed with his hand, taking the lead to guide Zabuza and his companion toward the rear courtyard.
This was the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Whether it was architecture, plants, or technological products, everything was top-tier and rarely seen outside.
Arato was like a restless monkey. All along the way he looked around everywhere. Whenever he saw something rare, he'd chatter endlessly about it.
"Settle down a bit! Stop jumping up and down all the time!" Zabuza scolded angrily, his face full of embarrassment.
Haku looked back at Arato, who had become slightly more honest, and asked with a smile, "Is this your disciple?"
"No. Arato is a tool I picked up. I don't have disciples," Zabuza replied stiffly.
Hearing these familiar words, Haku's heart couldn't help but ripple with emotion, recalling the memories he and Zabuza once shared.
But before he could say anything, Arato rushed to his side and said in what everyone could hear as a "small voice" near his ear:
"Don't believe what big uncle says. He's completely tsundere."
"I'm big uncle's disciple. All my ninjutsu was learned from big uncle. Without big uncle, I would have frozen to death in the wilderness long ago."
"Hey! You brat! What are you saying!" Zabuza's forehead bulged with veins. He wanted nothing more than to cut down this loose-lipped dead kid with one slash.
"Pffft!" Haku couldn't help but laugh out loud. "You two really have a good relationship!"
"Right, right?" Arato clasped his hands behind his head, walking backward at Haku's side facing Zabuza who followed behind, grinning triumphantly. "Big uncle, look, this Haku-niisan could tell at a glance that we have a good relationship. What are you still hiding?"
"Don't get cocky!" Zabuza's face flushed red as he cursed. "Who would have such a stupid disciple as you! Just look at all the stupid things you've done these past years..."
Zabuza began to list out Arato's mistakes one by one, making even Arato feel embarrassed.
However, after saying a few things, Zabuza realized something was wrong and forcibly swallowed his words back.
"Hmph. But your ninjutsu talent really is good. Many people would be willing to take you as a disciple."
Rarely hearing praise from Zabuza made Arato immediately forget everything else. He grinned and scratched the back of his head with a foolish laugh.
Walking ahead, Haku couldn't help but let a smile appear at the corners of his lips.
The three arrived at a room. After entering and taking seats, puppets served tea. Only then did Haku speak up to ask:
"What does Lord Zabuza want to exchange this Sharingan for?"
Zabuza glanced at Arato beside him, his face cold as he said:
"This Three-Tomoe Sharingan has too high a chakra requirement and can't be turned off. It places a great burden on the body. I've long wanted to be rid of it."
"This Arato kid pesters me all day long, disturbing me endlessly. I might as well just throw him and the Sharingan together to you people at Konoha Village and be done with it."