As the days passed, Haku finally returned to their temporary residence in the Land of Waves, accompanying the injured Zabuza.
Upon learning that the assassination of the bridge-building expert Tazuna had failed, Gato immediately burst through the door, flanked by Allen and Karin. He sneered with dripping irony, "My, my! Even you came crawling back with your tail between your legs. It seems the Hidden Mist ninja of the Land of Water are truly useless! You can't even clean up your own subordinates' messes, what kind of 'Demon' are you supposed to be? Don't make me laugh!"
Having said that, the reckless man actually reached out, intending to tear away the bandages wrapped around Zabuza's face.
Before he could touch him, Haku, unable to endure it any longer, lunged forward and grabbed Gato's wrist. He warned in a grave tone, "Do not lay your filthy hands on Zabuza-san!"
Under the pressure of a shinobi's superhuman strength, Gato immediately let out a shrill scream like a slaughtered pig: "AAAAAAAGH!!!!! Let go! Let go now! You're going to break it!"
Watching this amusing scene, Allen asked with a smile, "Employer-san, do you need assistance?"
"Are you... are you blind?! Hurry up and teach this brat a lesson!" Gato roared in a fit of uncontrollable rage.
"Karin! Go help our employer. While you're at it, show certain people that this isn't a place where they can run wild," Allen commanded the girl beside him with an unruffled expression.
"Understood!"
Without a second word, Karin blurred forward. She threw a punch that whistled through the air, aimed directly at the target.
Because she was so fast, Haku had no time to dodge. He was forced to release Gato and cross his arms in front of his chest to block.
The next second...
BOOM!
Augmented by the dual power of Nen and Chakra, the punch released a terrifying, spiraling impact upon contact.
Haku was sent flying like a cannonball, slamming into the rear wall and leaving a massive crater. His lead arm was twisted into a grotesque shape, clearly snapped, and he coughed up a large spray of blood with a sickening gag.
Shock!
Fear!
Utter disbelief!
He could not believe that, given his own level of strength, he couldn't even withstand a single blow from this girl.
The same reaction was mirrored by the "Demon" Zabuza, who lay paralyzed on the bed.
"Allen-sama, should I kill him?" Karin turned back, asking in a tone of slight uncertainty.
"Slaughter him! Kill him right now! A dog that bares its teeth at its master has no right to exist!"
Before Allen could respond, Gato, clutching his swollen wrist, let out a venomous howl. As a wealthy merchant whose influence was far removed from the reach of the Great Nations, this was the first time he had encountered anyone who dared to strike their own employer. He was filled with a burning hatred for Haku.
Unfortunately for him, Karin ignored Gato entirely. She simply walked over, seized Haku by the throat, and hoisted him off the ground, waiting for Allen's final word.
"Let's not. After all, Zabuza-san here has already taken the money. If we kill them now, who will deal with Tazuna and his Konoha protectors? You see, unless absolutely necessary, I'd rather not clash with ninja from the Five Great Nations. It would be quite a hassle."
Saying this, Allen leaned down and stared into Haku's eyes. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from the corner of the boy's mouth. "I hope you remember this lesson. The shinobi world is a place where the strong devour the weak, and victory is the only truth. Stray dogs are better off keeping their tails tucked. That goes for you, and for the 'Demon' Zabuza behind you."
"Who... who are you exactly?" Haku questioned in a low voice, suppressing the humiliation burning in his chest.
"I am but a trivial, nameless nobody, hired by Gato-san to ensure his safety. Also, you'd best complete the mission on time; otherwise, Gato-san might have me step in to solve the problem. You should know, I absolutely loathe cleaning up after other people."
As the last word left his lips, Allen instantly used medical ninjutsu to perform a basic repair on Haku's broken bones and internal injuries. Then, he turned and left the room with Gato.
The moment the trio departed, Haku pushed himself up from the ground. He said with a grim expression, "Zabuza-san, we should leave this country immediately. Those two ninja beside Gato are far too powerful. I fear I am no match for them."
"Are you suggesting... that I abandon the mission and run?"
Zabuza, lying motionless on the bed, suddenly released a chilling, bloodthirsty aura. This mission had already cost him two valuable subordinates, and he had been defeated by that man, Kakashi. If he fled like a coward now, he would never be able to show his face in the shinobi world again.
"But those two with Gato..." Haku's voice betrayed his deep concern.
"Forget them for now! We must focus our attention on Kakashi! Next time, I will not lose to him again," Zabuza decided in a tone that brooked no argument.
Abandoning the mission was out of the question. Furthermore, he didn't believe for a second that he was inferior to Kakashi; his previous defeat was merely the result of underestimating his opponent. As for the two bodyguards Gato had suddenly acquired, he sensed something was off, especially Karin's attitude. She didn't possess even a shred of respect for her employer.
…
On the other side, after leaving Zabuza's quarters, Gato immediately frowned and asked Allen, "Why didn't you help me kill that brat just now?"
"Kill him? Why? Don't forget, you are a businessman. Shouldn't a businessman put profit above all else?" Allen countered with a smile.
"Profit? What profit could that brat possibly offer?" Gato looked confused.
"Never underestimate any ninja. To my knowledge, Haku possesses the Kekkei Genkai of Ice Release. Once he exerts his Secret Technique, the entire room will be engulfed in a bone-chilling frost. He will be an invaluable asset to Zabuza in the coming mission. If you want him dead, at least wait until the job is finished." Allen provided the explanation with a cryptic smirk.
"I see! Then I'll let those two live a little longer," Gato nodded, easily persuaded.
He had no choice. Despite his wealth and power, he was completely in the dark regarding the inner workings of the shinobi world; he could only take others at their word. Moreover, since a large number of his samurai and thugs had recently been crippled and discarded, his available manpower was limited. He had to rely on these two powerful bodyguards for the time being.
Fool.
Watching Gato being manipulated so easily by Allen, a flash of mockery crossed Karin's eyes. Without a doubt, she loathed this greedy, brutal merchant. She was eagerly anticipating the look on his face when the time was right to seize his fortune.
As for the notion that ninja must only obtain rewards through official missions? That was a rule Allen had zero intention of following. In essence, he wasn't a ninja at all, consequently, he operated with no holds barred.