Chapter 23: Mission's EndThe One Who Remained
"You've been hiding over there. Planning to come out?"
Ryuzen ran his fingers through his silver hair, combing it back as he turned his gaze toward the forest on his right.
With Zabuza's death, the thick fog had dissipated completely. But the remaining members of Team 8 hadn't relaxed their vigilance—they remained on guard, senses extended.
All of them possessed remarkable perception. Their attention had been consumed by Ryuzen's battle moments ago, but now, following his words, they immediately detected another presence.
SHUN—
A figure appeared instantly.
A beautiful youth—so lovely he could easily be mistaken for a girl—stood before them, his face filled with apology. He bowed deeply toward Ryuzen.
"Please... allow me to take him. We'll abandon the mission. Just let me take Zabuza-sama's body."
Ryuzen finished tying his hair back into its ponytail. He studied the boy for a long moment, then nodded. "Fine. Take it."
"Thank you."
The youth approached without hesitation, showing no fear. His dark eyes held something Ryuzen recognized—a willingness to die. He didn't seem concerned about deception or ambush.
Ryuzen observed him quietly.
Does he hold back from attacking because he knows he can't win? Because his gentle nature prevents killing? Or simply because he can't bear to leave Zabuza-sama's body exposed to the elements?
It didn't matter.
His Kenbunshoku Haki detected no killing intent from the boy named Haku. That was enough.
As Haku passed him, Ryuzen's lips moved almost imperceptibly.
"Yes."
Haku paused for just a moment, acknowledging whatever had been spoken. Then he continued past, collected Zabuza's body and the broken halves of the Executioner's Blade, and vanished into the forest.
Ryuzen didn't stop him. Didn't ask him to stay. Didn't claim the sword.
After cutting it with his own blade, the Executioner's Blade held no further interest. Armament Haki had severed it like any ordinary weapon—the legendary blade of the Seven Swordsmen had proven no more durable than common steel against his technique.
Reforging it would only recreate its blood-absorbing property. A trivial matter.
And a small price for the deal he had just made.
News
When the five finally reached Tazuna's home, an astonishing piece of news greeted them.
Gato was dead.
The tyrant who had terrorized the Land of Waves, who controlled its wealth and its people through fear and violence—gone.
Tazuna couldn't believe it at first. But when his daughter and several bridge workers arrived to confirm the news, the reality sank in.
Without a word, Tazuna followed the workers out. Whether to attend to the aftermath of Gato's death or to resume work on the bridge, he didn't say.
But Kurenai's sharp eyes noticed something.
She turned to Ryuzen. "You did this."
Ryuzen's expression remained perfectly innocent. "Kurenai-sensei? I don't know what you're talking about. Since Gato is dead, our mission should be complete, correct?"
Kurenai studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly. "Yes. We'll leave tomorrow, after Tazuna-san returns."
"I'll rest until then."
Ryuzen moved toward the room Tazuna's daughter had prepared for him.
Hinata followed immediately.
Kurenai and Shino watched them go.
After their figures disappeared, Shino adjusted his sunglasses. "Kurenai-sensei. What Ryuzen did... it violates ninja regulations, doesn't it?"
Kurenai shook her head slowly. "If he won't tell us, we won't ask. It's fine for you and me to know—but if we reported it, the Hokage would have to discipline him. Besides..." She paused, a small smile forming. "Killing an evil man and saving an entire country counts as a good deed in my book."
Shino fell silent, processing her words without fully understanding.
Quiet Moments
In the small room, Ryuzen removed his kimono top, revealing his lean but powerfully muscled frame. He sat on a stool, allowing Hinata to dry his hair and back with a towel.
"Ryuzen-kun." Hinata worked the towel through his silver strands, occasionally massaging pressure points on his scalp with practiced skill. Her face remained flushed, but her movements were sure—clearly not the first time she'd done this. "Did you ask that person to kill Gato?"
Ryuzen didn't hide the truth from her. "I wasn't sure he would do it. But it seems Zabuza's place in his heart mattered more than anything else."
Honestly, even he felt some surprise at learning Gato was dead.
Haku—who hated killing—had chosen to kill. The aura of death surrounding him had been accurate. After eliminating Gato, he would bury Zabuza and then... follow him.
A faint sigh passed through Ryuzen's chest, but no guilt accompanied it.
This ninja world held countless pitiful souls. Nagato. Itachi. Even Naruto—none had experienced less suffering than Haku.
Ryuzen understood this clearly. Yet he had never extended a hand to any of them.
He wasn't a saint. He possessed no gentle heart.
And the tragic pair—Zabuza and Haku—had earned their fates. Zabuza had killed countless people, and Haku, bound by love, had never stopped him. How many had died because of them?
Dead was dead.
Ryuzen tilted his head back, resting against Hinata, and slowly closed his eyes.
Hinata embraced him, feeling the warmth radiating from his bare shoulders. Looking at his peaceful face, her flush deepened, her temperature rising. A wave of dizziness washed over her—
But then it passed.
Looking at Ryuzen's quiet expression, the dizziness simply dissolved. Her lavender-tinged Byakugan filled with tenderness.
Gently, she untied the towel. She cradled his head in her arms, pressing it against her softly swelling chest. With a satisfied expression, she leaned her cheek against his still-damp silver hair.
And closed her eyes.
Breathing slowly, quietly, matching her rhythm to his.
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