Naruto: Reborn as Zoro

The atmosphere between Zabuza and Haku is quite awkward. Both of them actually care about each other, but one always treats the other as a tool while the other one is always ready to be used as a tool.

Zoro's little game has revealed their true feelings for each other. They care and love each other like a family, like a father and son, or even like brothers. But they never realized it because love is something they never knew before.

"Alright, alright, stop your awkward act and be your usual selves. We still have something to talk about." Zoro feels strange seeing them act warmly, so he breaks the silence and throws Kubikiribocho beside Zabuza.

"What's your purpose for doing all of this?" Zabuza still doesn't know what Zoro wants.

"I just want you to help me infiltrate an organization. But to do that, you need to forget about taking over Kirigakure."

"Then what's that got to do with my true feelings for Haku?"

"..... The way you say it somehow sounds gay, but I know that's not what you mean, so whatever. Not like I care about your preference. Well, it's actually not about what the 2 of you think of each other, but about how you'll react when someone uses your partner to threaten you because that's what will happen when you do the task I'll give you."

"I never said I will join you."

"Yeah, but do you have any other choice but to join me now?" Zoro smirks, making Zabuza and Haku flinch.

He says it normally, but both of them can feel a very intimidating pressure coming from Zoro. They feel like they will die if they choose to refuse his offer.

"About the 4th Mizukage, are you sure he will die soon?"

"Yeah, I can guarantee it."

Zoro is very sure about it because Yagura's death is something he has been waiting for for years. He has been remembering Yagura's time of death from the story and has been counting for it all these years.

If it's not because he was asked by the Land of Iron to not kill the 4th Mizukage or a war will happen, then he would have attacked that midget a long time ago.

Even he was reprimanded a lot by the Land of Iron when he attacked Sunagakure because it could create another war, especially if Rasa was killed at that time.

Although the Land of Iron is a neutral country, they are still affected by the war. Every world war has caused significant damage to every country including the Land of Iron that pays Zoro for gathering information secretly.

The clearest damage is to every country's economy. Then there is also the safety of their people when traveling across the countries. They aren't even safe in their own country even if they are not participating in the war because there will always be strays who use the war as a chance to wreak havoc everywhere.

They haven't even fully recovered from the 3rd world war, so they can't afford to have another world war now. That's why they asked Zoro to hold back from destroying hidden villages because it won't benefit him anyway.

"I see. Then I will try to trust you about this. But what do you want me to do if you don't want me to return to Kiri? You say it yourself that I am already labeled as a traitor and it's impossible for me to return there."

"That's right, you can't return, but I can help you so Haku can return to Kiri."

"What?!"

"Me? But I thought you would give the task to the two of us." Haku seems reluctant to separate from Zabuza.

"No, it's just for Zabuza. You are too weak and inexperienced to do this. This is a dangerous task, but I'm sure you will want to accept it after hearing my explanation."

They are frowning suspiciously, but they are willing to listen, so they stay silent.

"The 4th Mizukage Yagura is being controlled by someone, his mind is being manipulated."

"!?" Zabuza and Haku are surprised, but they calm down quickly.

"Yeah, I know, you guys in Kiri have been very suspicious of it for a while now. But you are still thinking that it's just a possibility while it's actually true and I know who it is that manipulates Yagura's mind. In fact, the organization that I want you to infiltrate is led by that person. So you can get behind the reason why Kiri is in such a mess if you do what I ask. After all, they don't just control Kiro recently, but they've been doing it for a long time, even before Yagura became a Jinchuuriki."

Now Zabuza is really surprised because that means his village has been under this group's control since a really long time ago, even before he was born.

"Actually, someone from your village knew about this and already joined them."

"Who?"

"Kisame Hoshigaki, the wielder of Samehada."

"What?! Then the reason he defected was..."

"Because he found out about it. The man who manipulated Yagura approached Kisame because he wanted Kisame to join the organization he secretly led. I don't know what he promised Kisame, but even if he didn't promise anything, I wouldn't want to oppose someone who could control a village for years without being found if I were Kisame. So his only choice was to follow the man no matter what his real choice was. Though it's safe to think that he really defected out of his own will just to be safe."

"I see, so the organization that you want me to infiltrate must be Akatsuki."

"Yeah. If you do that, then I will make sure that Haku is accepted back to Kirigakure or maybe you don't want to?"

Zabuza is silent, unsure of what to choose. Now that he knows he cares for Haku, he doesn't want Haku to be a fugitive like him and die uselessly.

"If he returns to Kiri, then he will just get persecuted and his life will be more miserable than if we keep running away."

"Hmm, maybe you're right. Then how about I send him to my hometown for a while? I guarantee that he will be safe and no one will look down on him. But it will be temporary because I have some people I want to recruit. They are outcasts too and should be around the same age as him, so he won't be alone. At least, I can make sure that he won't be a criminal like you. So he can live freely without being tied to any force like me."

Zabuza looks at Haku who just stays silent and waits for his decision. Haku is used to think of himself as a tool that can be discarded anytime, so he is always ready to accept any order from Zabuza.

"Fine, let's do that. I don't know your purpose for doing all of this, but if you can guarantee that Haku will live well, then I will accept it. Also, I want to find out the truth about everything that happened to my village. Besides, I have nowhere else to go now. Continuing the rebellion plan is useless if the 4th Mizukage is going to die and we can't even return there. So I'll just become a full-fledged criminal instead."

"But you know the risk, right? Joining a criminal organization means you will be wanted by every country."

"Heh, it's just death. I always risk my life since I become a shinobi."

Zoro is actually quite surprised by Zabuza now. He can't believe this guy can change so quickly and be honest with it already. He thought Zabuza would still try to hide his real feelings, but it seems he has given up on lying anymore.

"You suddenly become so honest that it scares me a bit."

"I am always honest. But my decisions now are mainly because I really don't have any other choices with you here. Besides, if I'm going to die, then I don't want to regret anything when I die at least. So I am quite grateful to you for making me see my true feelings."

"Is that so? Hmm, well, it's good for me, so whatever. Now, let's talk about the infiltration plan in detail and about what to do with this kid. The infiltration plan won't be easy because we can't apply to join them. They are the ones recruiting members, so we can only try to get their attention and I have a plan for that."

Zoro finally succeeds in recruiting Zabuza to join his side and infiltrate Akatsuki for him. He never planned this before and only thought about it when he saw Zabuza 2 days ago. The plan was hasty, but he's glad it works well so far.

He hopes it will keep working well because then he'll have a spy in Akatsuki which will help him destroy them more easily. His war against Akatsuki is entering a new round now.

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Chapter 135. Recruiting Taka

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