Chapter 26: Haku
Mei Terumī giving Uehara a packet of biscuits as charity had already left Uehara feeling depressed and unable to say much; but having those biscuits snatched from his hand made Uehara's mood even worse.
Uehara Naraka walked towards the vagrant child who had snatched the biscuits. Perhaps because he was extremely hungry, he chewed them only a couple of times before hastily swallowing.
"Hey..."
Uehara Naraka frowned, wanting to say something but not knowing how to start. After all, he didn't lack biscuits; he was, by any measure, a tycoon with a net worth of one hundred million exploding tags.
"I've finished eating."
The vagrant child hurriedly stuffed all the biscuit crumbs into his mouth, curled himself into a ball, and cautiously looked up at Uehara, "Sorry, I've been hungry for three days already. The biscuits are gone now. If you want to hit me or kill me, do as you please!"
"You..."
Uehara Naraka saw the delicate beauty that couldn't be completely hidden beneath the dirty face. The phrase 'beauty in the making' subconsciously surfaced in Uehara's mind.
Is the standard of looks in the ninja world really this high?
Even a roadside vagrant child looks this cute?
Seeing the vagrant child lower his head again, Uehara Naraka decided in his heart to forgive him. He stood beside him and asked in a low voice, "Hey, what's your name? Are you still hungry now?"
"My name is Haku."
The vagrant child cowered, shook his head, and hugged his knees tightly. Perhaps this little fellow was really afraid of being hit?
"..."
Uehara Naraka looked up at the sky.
What kind of luck was this today!
He had searched painstakingly in the Land of Water for three days without finding any trace of Haku, only to coincidentally meet Mei Terumī who gave him a packet of biscuits as charity, which then drew out the starving Haku.
Actually, Haku had been hiding here all along, but feared being discovered by ninjas. Only after seeing Mei Terumī and her two attendants leave did he dare to show himself.
Uehara Naraka looked at the vagrant child squatting before him, still wanting to confirm, "Hmm, do you have the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai? The kind that can turn into ice or something..."
"..."
Haku's body trembled. He scrambled up, staggered a few steps, and quickly darted into an alley in the town.
Because he knew that in this country, people possessing bloodline limits were considered evil. Uehara Naraka might be someone who advocated for purging bloodlines.
"Hey, don't run!"
Uehara Naraka, already certain of Haku's identity, quickly gave chase, grabbed Haku's collar, and asked with a frown in a low voice, "Do you only think about running away?"
Haku lowered his head, hesitated for a moment, and said softly, "Then... if I can find some food tomorrow, can I give it back to you? It might take until the day after tomorrow or the day after that to find food. I only manage to find food around every three days..."
"I don't want food!"
Uehara Naraka's expression turned a bit unpleasant.
Haku glanced at him cautiously and said in a small voice, "But I secretly saw you looking for food near the garbage dump for a day too..."
"I wasn't looking for food in the garbage dump."
There was a hint of helplessness in Uehara Naraka's expression. Looking at the dirty Haku before him, he said gravely, "I came looking for you. I need your Ice Release ninjutsu... that ability you have to condense ice and snow."
Haku looked up curiously, furrowing his brow, and asked softly, "But I don't know... what can I do?"
"Let me think."
Uehara Naraka rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and proposed his suggestion, "Hmm, in the summer, you can help me make iced juice."
"Eh?"
A light flashed in Haku's eyes. He grabbed the corner of Uehara's sleeve and asked softly, "Then will we look for food together in the garbage dump from now on?"
Uehara Naraka: "..."
Damn it, is he never going to let go of the garbage dump food thing?
Suppressing the helplessness in his heart, Uehara Naraka patted Haku's shoulder, sighed, and said, "We're not going to look for food in the garbage dump... No, we don't need to look for food in the garbage dump. Just follow me from now on, I guarantee you'll eat and drink well!"
"Mm."
Haku nodded seriously, then tugged at Uehara's clothes again and asked in a small voice, "Then... where are we going to find food now?"
Uehara Naraka rubbed his cheeks, putting on a gentle expression, "Anyway... just follow me, less nonsense!"
"Ah?"
Haku subconsciously covered his lips.
Although they were both the same age, Uehara Naraka still felt the communication between him and Haku was a bit off. Perhaps because he had accepted the charity biscuits from Mei Terumī earlier, Haku kept thinking Uehara was the same type of person as himself.
When Haku saw Uehara Naraka sitting on a seaside rock, holding a newly homemade fishing rod, leisurely fishing, a trace of surprise flashed in Haku's eyes. He praised, "You even know how to fish? Amazing!"
"...Basic skill, no need for praise."
Uehara Naraka's expression was wooden, feeling slightly strange inside. Bringing the current Haku to meet Zabuza Momochi felt a bit weird.
The fishing line suddenly trembled violently!
Seeing the unmoving Uehara, Haku gently pushed Uehara's shoulder, urging repeatedly, "Uehara, a fish is hooked!"
"Slow down, wait a little longer."
Uehara Naraka smiled and shook his head. Just as he was about to share the pitiful bit of fishing knowledge he learned from Konan, he saw a cold glint flash before his eyes!
Clang!
A shuriken suddenly shot through the fishing line, its momentum undiminished, deeply embedding itself in the nearby rock!
The appearance of the shuriken threw Haku into disarray. He nervously wanted to retreat, but out of worry for his companion, tightly gripped Uehara's sleeve and whispered, "Uehara, it's a Kirigakure ninja! Let's go quickly!"
"No need, he's looking for me."
Uehara Naraka patted Haku's arm, signaling him to calm down. Then, looking regretfully at the broken fishing line, he said softly, "Zabuza, letting the fish I was about to catch get away... there's a price to pay for that!"
"Hmph!"
Behind a rock, someone snorted sullenly and tossed a scroll towards Uehara Naraka's position!
Uehara Naraka caught it, opened it, and glanced over it. Drawn on it was a map of the Land of Water, with a hastily drawn red line indicating a route of travel. A red circle was drawn at the end of the route, likely the final destination.
Zabuza Momochi emerged from behind a rock, looked at Uehara Naraka, and said coldly, "This is the intelligence you wanted... Tomorrow morning, the person you're looking for will lead a batch of Hunter-nin troops and depart for the northern outpost of the Land of Water."
Uehara Naraka nodded and raised his question, "Is this their travel route? Can it be confirmed?"
Zabuza Momochi explained dismissively, "This is our Land of Water territory. The Hunter-nin corps will definitely choose the fastest route."
This was basic common sense in the ninja world.
If a ninja from a country had to pick the safest route even within their own nation, wouldn't that hidden village be too useless?
After seeing Uehara Naraka put away the scroll, Zabuza Momochi looked at Haku beside him and coldly reprimanded Uehara, "Kid, our agreed meeting place and secret transaction... you brought this little girl here? Aren't you worried she'll leak the secret?"
(End of Chapter)
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