NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 34: Land of Waves
With Zabuza's defeat, the dense mist began to clear, revealing a figure wearing a mask, signaling their identity as part of the ANBU Corps. The figure, bearing the headband of the Hidden Mist Village, gave the impression they were indeed part of Mist's elite ANBU unit. "Wait, don't touch the body. Zabuza is a rogue ninja from our village. We will take him with us," she stated firmly.
Kakashi checked Zabuza's vitals, noting that he wasn't breathing and assumed he was dead, though something still felt off. The masked figure continued, "I've been tracking him for months. I finally received information that he was near the Land of Waves, so I came here. But I see you've already handled him."
After a moment of thought, Kakashi nodded. "Alright, you can take the body," he said calmly. "Thank you," she replied, retrieving both Zabuza's body and his blade. While we were focused on Zabuza, she had quietly taken the massive sword along with her.
I had noticed earlier that during the battle between Zabuza and Kakashi, she had thrown a needle, temporarily halting Zabuza's breathing. I also recognized her—Haku, a skilled ninja who specialized in Ice Release techniques. Regardless, Zabuza had been defeated, and even if he returned, we were confident we could face him again.
(A/N: I know Haku is Male in original *Naruto* but I change his gender to female)
"Let's head to the Land of Waves," I said, as the immediate threat had passed. We turned and began walking toward the shore, where a boat awaited to take us to our next destination.
As we continued our journey toward the Land of Waves, far behind us, a figure darted swiftly through the dense forest, carrying another on her shoulder. It was Haku, carrying the unconscious Zabuza. Once she had put a significant distance between us, Haku finally halted in a secluded area and carefully placed Zabuza down, performing a quick technique to restart his breathing.
"Do you have my blade?" Zabuza muttered weakly, his voice strained from the injuries he sustained during the fight.
"Yes, I retrieved it," Haku replied softly, her tone steady but concerned.
Zabuza gave a faint nod. "Take me to our hideout and prepare for my treatment," he commanded, before falling unconscious once again.
Without hesitation, Haku obeyed. She quickly lifted him once more and headed toward the secluded room where they had been hiding. Upon reaching the place, she gently laid him on the bed, ensuring he was comfortable. After securing Zabuza, she removed the mask that had concealed her identity.
As the mask slipped off, a strikingly beautiful face was revealed. Haku's skin was smooth and flawless, her delicate features radiating an ethereal beauty. Despite her loyalty to Zabuza and her life as a skilled shinobi, her appearance could easily rival some of the most beautiful women in the world. But behind that beauty lay fierce determination as she prepared to do everything in her power to help her master recover.
We have reached Land of waves through a boat. The Land of Waves is a small, impoverished island nation surrounded by vast bodies of water and characterized by its mist-covered shores and dense forests. Despite its modest size, the land is dotted with scattered villages, where people live simple, often hard lives, relying on fishing and trade for survival. The nation is known for its misty, serene landscape, which often gives way to fog-shrouded bridges and quiet waterways, making travel between the islands dependent on boats.
Tazuna led us to his home, a modest wooden house nestled in the quiet outskirts of the village. The house was small, but it appeared sturdy enough to accommodate four or five people comfortably. As we made our way there, the atmosphere around us felt eerily still. The once bustling village now seemed silent, with no sign of activity.
The surrounding landscape was peaceful yet somber, a reflection of the hardships the people of the Land of Waves had endured under Gato's oppressive control. Despite the tranquil setting, there was a lingering sense of tension in the air, as if the land itself had grown weary of the struggles its inhabitants faced. We walked in silence, absorbing the stillness, knowing the temporary calm might not last for long.
While we waited for Tazuna to complete the bridge he was building, we took refuge in his humble home, using it as our base until the construction was finished. Tazuna's grandson, a young boy who had lost his parents to Gato's ruthless regime, often watched us with wide eyes filled with admiration. It was clear he aspired to be a ninja himself, drawn to our skills and the stories of bravery we carried.
"If you want to become a ninja, come to Konoha, and I'll be there to teach you," I said, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Yes, thank you!" he exclaimed, beaming with excitement. It warmed my heart to see his enthusiasm; it was always nice to have someone look up to us.
With weeks ahead of us, we needed to refocus on our training, which had been interrupted since our departure from Konoha. We had much to cover, and the time spent here would be crucial for honing our skills and preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead.