Chapter 64 – The Great Fool
Death is like the wind, always by my side.
That was what Naruto's first Shadow Clone—going by the alias Yasuo—had said to Naoki and Misa of the Ripple Merchant Guild.
Under normal circumstances, Zabuza couldn't possibly have known.
Even if there had been contact, it would have been purely mercenary.
But with Zabuza's temperament, without overwhelming force, how could anyone calmly discuss ideals?
The most likely scenario, then, was that the third living Shadow Clone had recruited Zabuza and Haku into the Tianming Organization.
Talk about the temple getting flooded by the river god?
While Naruto was thinking, the clash between Sasuke and Haku startled the entire caravan.
Sakura arrived first.
She'd studied hard all day and, being the weakest, had slept heavily.
'Are you guys all right?'
Sakura swept her gaze over Kakashi and Naruto; they looked untouched, their clothes still pristine.
As if no fight had happened.
Yet Zabuza, a blade held to his throat, told her otherwise.
So were the enemies too weak, or was Narutosimply that strong?
She quickly turned to Sasuke, locked in fierce combat with Haku, worry in her eyes.
But knowing she couldn't help, she stayed where she was, not entering the fray.
'We're fine.'
Naruto raised a hand and tapped several of Zabuza's pressure points, sealing his Chakra.
'You know the Gentle Fist too?'
Zabuza couldn't help asking.
'A little.'
Naruto had learned it from Hinata.
Without the Byakugan, obvious points were still easy to find—and if you missed, you just poked again until you hit them.
'Mr. Higashino, I think you should raise the mission rank.'
An idle Kakashi looked toward the arriving Higashino Yoshi.
'If you refuse, we'll drop the mission right here.'
'We truly didn't expect to meet such powerful Ninja, but rest assured, I'll upgrade it to S-rank,'
Higashino said, drawing a deep breath.
Yashidai naturally had no lack of money,
yet fear shone in his eyes, impossible to hide.
'S-rank?'
Kakashi's expression shifted slightly; he felt no joy.
S-rank wasn't a mission for Genin.
Even Jonin could die on those.
And he didn't think Zabuza and Haku rated S by themselves.
The only explanation was the organization behind them.
'Looks like we need a proper talk,'
Kakashi said coldly.
'What organization could scare you this much?'
Higashino closed his eyes in silence.
His usual composure had vanished.
Zabuza laughed.
'Why, our Tianming, of course!'
'No one'd mistake you for mute if you kept quiet.'
Naruto rapped his head with a kunai.
Though he'd guessed already, hearing the name from Zabuza still felt surreal.
Did this guy have any idea who the founder of Tianming was?
And yet he'd come to assassinate him?
Zabuza gave an angry grunt and fell silent.
Tianming rules were strict: apart from the name, no member could leak intel, especially about full members.
The word Tianming made Higashino shudder.
'It's a ghost,' he said in despair, 'a specter haunting the Land of Fire—omnipresent, omniscient.'
'…'
Naruto was momentarily at a loss.
Something felt off.
Kakashi pondered.
He'd heard the name before—Asuma had told him a story.
Back when Asuma served in the Twelve Guardian Ninja, he'd clashed with Tianming.
The man hadn't been exceptionally strong, Asumasaid, but fearless and admirable.
Kakashi glanced at the terrified Higashino.
The full tale would take more than a few words.
After a moment he said,
'Naruto, lock Zabuza up. We'll decide later whether to continue the mission.'
He'd known Naruto was strong, but not this strong.
Taking Zabuza down in ten seconds meant he could floor Kakashi just as fast.
Damn—no sense of teaching authority at all.
Strength decided who spoke.
So Kakashi meant to consult with Naruto and the others.
Naruto, wanting a private chat with Zabuza, happily agreed.
'Um… shouldn't we help Sasuke?'
Sakura asked timidly, seeing them ignore him.
Naruto paused.
Hmm, should he rush over and mock?
He could see Sasuke was frantic.
The more impatient he got, the less he could overcome Haku.
Haku, equally anxious, would've raced to save Zabuza if not for Sasuke's assault.
One desperate to rescue, the other to kill.
'Teacher, he's all yours.'
Naruto forwent the chance to taunt, dragging Zabuza off to requisition a wagon from Higashino.
'I told you, don't waste effort. I've endured more torture than you've eaten salt.'
Zabuza leant against the wall, proud.
In a way the guy really deserved a beating.
Naruto smiled.
'Really immune to any torture? What if I stripped you naked and hung you outside the Mizukage's tower?'
'You—?!'
Zabuza's death-defying face twisted.
He could picture the scene: former comrades and enemies pointing and laughing.
Total social death.
'See? You're still scared.'
'Even so, you'll only get my corpse—never a word about our organization.'
Zabuza closed his eyes, ignoring him.
'…'
Naruto was speechless.
He really wanted to know what enchantment his Shadow Clone had used.
Yet Zabuza's loyalty was real.
'Open your eyes—got something nice to show you.'
Naruto raised a hand and formed a China dragon in the air.
Zabuza's eyes snapped open; he froze.
Only full Tianming members knew that symbol.
He'd seen it but once—from the leader of Tianming, the Great Fool.
Back then, in a single second, the man had completely subdued him.
Then came a night-long conversation.
Zabuza realized his so-called dream was worthless trash.
He was captivated by the future The Fooldescribed.
In Tianming he found a home, a second spring—though he'd also been pummeled several times along the way.
'So you're also…'
Zabuza caught himself.
'Now tell me—why try to assassinate the son of Yashidai?'
Naruto paused; he realized Higashino had never told them the client's name.
'Of course.'
Zabuza began.
Yashidai's son, Oki Takeshi, had been a tyrant since childhood.
One day while parading the streets he fancied a commoner woman.
He broke into her home, slaughtered thirteen of her family, raped her, then accused her of dallying with a servant and threw her in jail.
The only survivor was the woman's younger brother, who happened to be a peripheral member of the Ripple Merchant Guild.
He reported it; the Guild took it seriously.
Their guards failed several times.
To cut losses, Naoki and Misa filed the job with Tianming.
Zabuza, nearby, accepted.