Chapter 408: Tsundere Creatures' Words Can't Be Trusted
"There's no more Konoha Village. Now there's only the Uchiha Divine Nation." Haku first corrected him with a smile, then looked toward Arato.
"If I haven't misunderstood, Lord Zabuza's meaning is that he wants to use this Sharingan to exchange for a future for Arato?"
"Eh?" Only now did Arato understand. He suddenly stood up and shouted loudly, "Big uncle, what stupid things are you saying?"
"I'm doing perfectly fine right now. I don't want to come here!"
"I want to keep following you, continue traveling through the shinobi world, see the beautiful scenery everywhere, taste the different cuisines of each nation..."
"Shut up!" Zabuza said coldly. "I've had enough of you long ago! I've told you the shinobi code countless times, yet you always treat it like background noise. You're constantly being tricked by people, always making me clean up your messes..."
Watching the two of them argue, Haku felt in a trance as if seeing the scene from back when he himself was sold.
Haku was someone who valued emotions. He'd always remembered the debt of gratitude for Zabuza saving his life, raising him, and teaching him ninjutsu fundamentals.
Though these years he'd lived very well, occasionally he still couldn't help but dwell on being sold.
Now seeing Zabuza willing to give up that precious Sharingan for Arato's sake, he began to feel somewhat uncertain about exactly why Zabuza had sold him back then.
Was it really for the Sharingan, or was it to give him a stable, better future?
After spending so much time with the tsundere Uchiha men, Haku understood this type of creature very well. He knew that what they said with their mouths and what they actually did were completely twisted opposites. You had to watch what they did, not listen to what they said.
Seeing the two arguing endlessly, he spoke up to Arato:
"You shouldn't treat Konoha Divine City like some dragon's den or tiger's lair, as if once you enter, you have to sever all ties with outsiders."
"The relationship between you and Lord Zabuza only ends if you want it to end. Could anyone really force you otherwise?"
Arato blinked his eyes, then immediately broke into a foolish grin again.
Haku smiled at Zabuza:
"After so many years, Lord Zabuza is still so stubborn on the outside yet soft on the inside."
"Back when you sold me to Lord Yasushi, I was heartbroken for quite a long time."
"Eh?" Arato immediately perked up, looking completely gossip-hungry. "You were sold by big uncle?"
"That's right. I was Lord Zabuza's former 'tool'!"
After hearing this familiar term from Haku's mouth, Arato immediately felt closer to Haku.
He laughed heartily, moving to sit beside Haku, saying with animated gestures:
"Big uncle always calls me a 'tool' too, but I know very clearly in my heart that he treats me extremely well."
"Enough of that!" Zabuza looked embarrassed and angry, slapping the table forcefully. "A tool should act like a tool! Stop being so presumptuous!"
"I just hate how you have no self-awareness. That's why I want to throw you away!"
But this time Arato ignored him, just laughing and chatting with Haku about things from when he was young living with Zabuza.
Coincidentally, Haku had also followed Zabuza when he was young, so he had many stories to share as well.
The two chatted more and more happily, completely leaving Zabuza to the side.
Zabuza was both embarrassed and annoyed. He wanted to erupt, but he also knew that Arato building a good relationship with Haku was a good thing and couldn't be disturbed at this moment.
Having no choice, he could only cross his arms over his chest and sit there sulking.
After the two chatted for quite a while, Haku finally said with a smile:
"When children grow up, they always have to leave their parents. You can't keep clinging to Lord Zabuza's side forever. That would disappoint your guardian."
This time Arato no longer resisted, though he still felt somewhat awkward in his heart. He said haltingly:
"Haku-niisan, must joining Konoha Divine City require using big uncle's Sharingan as an exchange?"
"Don't listen to what big uncle says. He treasures that eye greatly. It's not something he can just casually give up!"
"I heard an old man on the street say that the Divine Temple guards can be joined by passing trials. I'll go take that exam. How about you keep the Sharingan for big uncle instead?"
Zabuza beside them immediately raised his eyebrows upon hearing this and interjected with a shout:
"What stupid talk!"
"What meaning is there in going in to be some ordinary guard member?"
"What I want is to find you a proper teacher to instruct you. Only that way can your talent be maximized to its fullest."
Then he said seriously to Haku:
"This kid may be a bit stupid, but his talent is genuinely good. He learns any ninjutsu once and masters it immediately upon use."
"That chakra volume is even more exaggerated. It's almost comparable to our Hidden Mist Village's former Tailless Tailed Beast, Hoshigaki Kisame."
"I'm just a rogue ninja myself. The ninjutsu I know are all common goods. They're fine for dealing with ordinary enemies, but against truly powerful enemies they feel somewhat inadequate."
"These past years I've encountered more and more enemies carrying scientific ninja tools. I feel ninja strength is universally rising rapidly. Relying only on past conventional methods will lead to elimination sooner or later."
"I hope to use this rare 'Three-Tomoe Sharingan' to make a trade with you, to have you find him a better teacher and cultivate him into someone talented."
After listening, Haku raised his eyes to look at Arato, his gaze sweeping over his hair.
"Not red. He shouldn't be an Uzumaki clan descendant. Could he have some rare bloodline limit?"
"He shouldn't. It's just that his chakra volume is large."
"I see!" Haku pondered. "Actually, Lord Shin's laboratory can already mass-clone Sharingan and Byakugan."
"All kinds of eyes are no longer precious in the Divine Nation now. The Sharingan's special nature lies more in its symbolic significance."
After hearing this, Zabuza's heart immediately sank, but he heard Haku continue:
"Since this Sharingan has already appeared, I definitely need to retrieve it for the Divine Clan. As for the matter of taking a master, I can introduce him to Lord Neji, Lord Rasa, and others, but the ultimate key still depends on Arato's own performance."
"Lord Zabuza should know that good teachers are often more selective about students. It's not something that can be achieved through trade alone."
After hearing this, Zabuza immediately breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest to guarantee:
"Rest assured, this kid's talent is absolutely superior. His character is so good he doesn't even seem like a ninja. As long as you give him a chance to demonstrate, I believe all teachers won't pass up this excellent seedling."
"If that's the case, then it's simple."
"Arato, you should go participate in the Divine Temple guard selection!"
"I'll inquire about the opinions of the various lords and ask those interested in taking disciples to go watch the competition."
"Right now all the factions in the Divine City are recruiting people on a large scale. As long as you perform well enough, you won't need to worry about finding a good teacher."
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