"Hm? Guests?"
Haku didn't understand what Kazuyama Gekkō meant, but soon he did.
Three men had appeared outside their shelter, their faces twisted with hostility.
"Mist ninja?"
"Hmph, as expected of heretics. This is the work of a Kekkei Genkai."
Their eyes radiated killing intent, yet Kazuyama Gekkō only smiled pleasantly.
Under Haku's terrified gaze, the three drew their weapons and surrounded the crystal house, clearly ready to strike.
"Haku, do you see?"
"These are Kirigakure ninja. To them, people like us who possess Kekkei Genkai are nothing but demons."
"Hmph. Ignorant people, an ignorant country, an ignorant village."
Kazuyama Gekkō spat his words with disdain. Hearing this, the fear on Haku's face twisted into anger.
Why? Why did possessing a gift as extraordinary as this mean being hunted down?
His mother had been killed for the very same reason.
In the past few days with Kazuyama Gekkō, he had come to understand—outside the Land of Water, there were also shinobi with Kekkei Genkai, and without exception, they were considered prodigies.
So why was he, in his own land, treated as an aberration?
"Hmph. A heretic is a heretic."
"Anyone with a Kekkei Genkai is a heretic."
"Since we've found you, we must kill you."
"Attack!"
With a roar, explosive tags were slapped against the crystal walls.
But in their eagerness, the Mist ninja failed to notice the sneer tugging at Kazuyama Gekkō's lips.
"Sensei!"
"Boom!"
Haku's anxious cry was drowned out by the explosion.
The detonation was powerful, filling the air with thick smoke that engulfed the entire shelter.
"Hmph, all heretics must die!"
"Don't stop—finish them off in one strike!"
The Mist captain gave another cold snort and began weaving hand seals.
The other two followed. Their jutsu launched in rapid succession after the blast.
"Water Release: Water Hail Technique!"
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap Technique!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Two Water Release techniques and one Lightning Release technique.
Through the smoke, Kazuyama Gekkō raised an eyebrow.
Not at the scale of the ninjutsu—that hardly impressed him.
What surprised him was that the Mist captain could use Water Dragon Bullet. What were the odds of running into three random ninja and finding one capable of that?
"Boom!"
"Crash!"
A water dragon, dozens of bullets, and crackling lightning roared toward the blast center.
The sounds of impact and electricity filled the air, once again blotting out the view of the shelter.
But only for the Mist ninja.
Inside, Haku stood frozen, staring wide-eyed as the explosions, water, and lightning were all held at bay by the crystal walls.
"This..."
"Hehehe, Haku, calm down. Jutsu of this level can't break through your teacher's Kekkei Genkai."
Kazuyama Gekkō chuckled lightly, then looked at Haku with a teaching smile.
"Haku, focus. This is the perfect time for a quiz."
"Tell me—what did those three throw first?"
Haku blinked until Kazuyama Gekkō tapped him, then quickly answered, "Explosive tags."
"Correct. And how are they used?"
"By infusing chakra into them to trigger the explosion."
"Good. You've clearly been paying attention these past days."
Kazuyama Gekkō nodded in satisfaction. Haku was still a blank slate—everything he knew now was what Kazuyama had taught him.
That was just the way he wanted it. A blank canvas was the easiest to shape.
"Sensei, is your crystal really this strong?"
"Even explosive tags couldn't break it?"
Watching the water still crashing uselessly outside, Haku couldn't help stepping forward to touch the crystal wall, his face filled with awe.
Then he asked the question Kazuyama Gekkō had been waiting for.
"Sensei, could my ice become like this too? You said ice is also very strong... If I become stronger, can I do the same?"
There it was—curiosity sparked.
And once curiosity took root, it was impossible to suppress.
"Hehehe, of course. When ice is hardened enough, it's no weaker than steel."
"But it will take years of training."
"Haku, are you ready for that?"
Haku nodded hard. In that moment, his innate curiosity and drive surged awake.
Exactly what Kazuyama Gekkō wanted. Only by awakening those traits could Haku step out of grief and into a new world—
A world completely under Kazuyama Gekkō's guidance.
"Good. Then watch closely as I show you your teacher's strength."
"Mere Mist ninja... hehehe."
The smoke, water, and lightning faded away.
The three Mist shinobi stared in disbelief—their attacks hadn't even scratched the crystal.
"How can this be?!"
"What kind of Kekkei Genkai is that?"
"Wait... that man..."
The captain's eyes widened as the dust cleared, revealing Kazuyama Gekkō standing calmly behind the crystal wall.
Recognition struck—and with it, terror beyond measure.
"Damn it! Retreat!"
"Run!"
He knew who stood before him.
This was a man who had already reached the very peak of the shinobi world.
"Oh? So you recognize me?"
"In that case, I can't let you leave."
"Crystal—shatter."
Kazuyama Gekkō smiled faintly and whispered a single word.
The crystal wall exploded, sending countless razor-sharp shards hurtling toward the three Mist ninja.
"Damn it!"
"Defend—then retreat!"
"Water Release... too late!"
Defend? They thought too little of him.
Each shard was sharper than steel. In the blink of an eye, the storm of crystal cut them down, leaving only blood mist in the air.
The three Mist shinobi collapsed.
"My god..."
"Sensei... you killed them?"
Haku stared at the fallen enemies who had just been attacking them, utterly shaken once more.