On a rocky shore.
Akihara Kagura held a fishing rod in his hand, leisurely sitting there fishing, while Karin stood behind him with the Root Ninjas, holding Momochi Zabuza and Haku captive, preventing any resistance.
"Just kill us already!"
Momochi Zabuza snorted coldly with dignity, "Akihara Kagura, do you think a ninja from the Blood Mist Village is afraid to die? I won't give you any information!"
"Wouldn't that be too easy for you?"
Akihara Kagura turned back and shot a reproachful glance at Momochi Zabuza, speaking gently, "We are old acquaintances, after all. How can I not take full advantage of you? How would that do justice to our encounters? Besides, you did make me waste two moves to defeat you..."
"You bastard!"
Momochi Zabuza immediately felt humiliated!
"Please do not insult Lord Zabuza..."
Haku gazed at Akihara Kagura in front of him, his voice gently pleading, "I can tell you what you want to know, as long as you let Lord Zabuza go!"
"Don't say it!"
Momochi Zabuza, knowing very well that Haku might leak information, reprimanded sternly, "Haku, do not show weakness to the enemy. If you speak, I would rather die here!"
"But..."
Haku looked at Momochi Zabuza, his eyes mixed with a hint of pleading, "Lord Zabuza, those people only treat us like pawns..."
"I treat them as pawns!"
Momochi Zabuza was very concerned about his dignity!
Even though Momochi Zabuza knew that what Haku said was the truth, that the nobility from the Land of Water indeed treated him as a pawn, he also believed that he was the one using them, that he was the one holding the rule of the chessboard!
"What's the difference?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Momochi Zabuza in surprise, curiously asking, "Your relationship with them is not that great, why can't you just say it?"
"That's because..."
Momochi Zabuza looked coldly at Akihara Kagura, his eyes full of stubbornness and anger, speaking coldly, "I would rather die here than let you get any information!"
"I understand."
Akihara Kagura nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Take Momochi Zabuza down first, let me have a good talk with his companion..."
"..."
The Root Ninja immediately took Momochi Zabuza away.
Momochi Zabuza shot a fierce look at Haku, his face full of malice, "Haku, don't tell them anything, do you hear me? If you give them any information, even in the Netherworld, I will never forgive you!"
"..."
Haku could only lower his head in silence.
However, after Momochi Zabuza was escorted away, Akihara Kagura did not ask anything, continuing to fish quietly as if he could sense Haku's inner conflict.
"I know you want to talk."
"And I know you're afraid of Zabuza getting mad."
"Don't worry, I won't ask anything for now."
Akihara Kagura even took the initiative to comfort Haku a bit, which stirred a touch of goodwill in Haku's heart toward Akihara Kagura, and he even politely said thank you.
"Thank you."
"Keep me company while I fish for a while."
Akihara Kagura flicked his fishing rod, speaking casually, "If I catch a fish today, I'll let you and Zabuza go. After all, your strength isn't much of a threat to me. I'm just playing around with you..."
"..."
A look of amazement flashed in Haku's eyes.
"..."
Karin and the other Root Ninjas said nothing, as if accustomed to Akihara Kagura's behavior, knowing how capricious their supervisor could be.
Haku immediately focused on Akihara Kagura's fishing rod, silently praying for his success in catching a fish!
Perhaps Haku's prayers worked.
Or perhaps it was Akihara Kagura's exceptional skills.
A half-hour later, Akihara Kagura suddenly pulled up his fishing rod, and a plump, big fish landed on the shore, bringing a hint of joy to Haku's eyes!
"Are you... a man of your word?"
"Of course, go and get Momochi Zabuza."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, indicating for them to bring Momochi Zabuza over, and without waiting for Zabuza to react, he directly ordered his subordinates to free them from their restraints.
"Release them."
"Lord Zabuza, we can leave now!"
Haku, full of delight, looked toward Momochi Zabuza.
Momochi Zabuza, however, made no movement, his expression growing darker, "Haku, did you tell him the list?"
"I did not..."
Haku struggled to defend himself.
"Indeed, he did not."
Akihara Kagura helped to explain voluntarily.
"Then why is he letting us go?"
Momochi Zabuza glared intently into Haku's eyes, anger rising in his heart, "What did you talk about during this time?"
"I really said nothing!"
Haku quickly shook his head, anxiously explaining, "We really didn't talk about anything, it was this gentleman who said he would release us if he caught a fish..."
"Ah yes, that's right."
Akihara Kagura nodded, proactively explaining again, "Everyone present can bear witness, I promised to release you once I caught a fish, this little guy said nothing and did not give us any names involved in smuggling either."
What Akihara Kagura said was all true.
Even the Root Ninjas present could testify.
Although Haku's heart found it somewhat odd, he had to admit that Akihara Kagura was speaking the truth, and that this person was indeed gracious.
"Bastard!"