226-230

*Chapter 226: Haku's Arrival*

Hearing a noise at the door, Hattori raised an eyebrow and quickly tucked away the Flying Thunder God scroll. With a warm smile, he walked over to open the door.

"Haku, I've been waiting for you for days!"

Standing at the entrance was none other than Haku, who had previously escorted Momochi Zabuza away.

Haku had changed into a floral-patterned kimono and was maskless, revealing a delicate, pretty face.

A black ribbon tied around his neck hid his Adam’s apple completely, making it hard to tell he was a boy.

Hattori couldn’t help but marvel at Haku’s long, flowing hair—a striking beauty indeed!

Noticing Hattori’s admiring gaze, Haku’s face turned a little red.

"Um... Hattori-sama, I’m actually male!"

"No problem!" Hattori waved his hand with a smile. "I don’t mind!"

Haku: "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

What did he mean by "I don’t mind"?

Hearing this, Haku seemed to realize something and took a step back, looking slightly panicked.

Seeing his reaction, Hattori realized his mistake and quickly waved his hand.

"No, no… I think you misunderstood. I know you’re a guy. I’m actually into beautiful, mature women…, you know? Understand?"

"Uh..."

Haku paused, then gave an awkward but polite smile.

"I understand. Sorry, Hattori-sama, I misunderstood. I apologize!"

"Good, as long as you understand—no need to apologize."

Hattori nodded as he patted Haku's shoulder.

"Let’s go. I’ll take you to meet my friends. We need to plan a departure date. I’ve been in the Land of Waves too long—it’s time to move on."

"Yes, Hattori-sama."

Haku lowered his head in acknowledgment, hesitated, and then said, "Um... Hattori-sama, I have one more request."

"You want the Executioner’s Blade, right?"

Before Haku could finish, Hattori tossed a scroll to him.

"I’d intended to give it to you earlier, but you left in such a hurry. Take it, and tell Zabuza that your choice saved his life."

"Uh..."

Catching the sealing scroll, Haku was stunned.

"Hattori-sama, do you trust me that much? Why?"

"Because you’re Haku!"

Hattori reached out and gently patted Haku’s youthful face.

"A sword that fears its wielder has no place in the wielder’s hand. Haku, I value you greatly!"

"╭(°A°`)╮"

Hearing Hattori's words and feeling his hand on his cheek, Haku’s eyes widened.

At that moment, memories of his first meeting with Zabuza flashed in his mind.

Quickly regaining his composure, he bowed to Hattori.

"Thank you, Hattori-sama. I know what I must do!"

With that, he used the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing in a flash to head toward the coast.

About ten minutes later, he arrived at the shore, where he found Momochi Zabuza waiting on a small boat.

"Back already?"

Seeing Haku return, Zabuza frowned. "Did you get my sword?"

"Yes!" Haku nodded, tossing him the item sealing scroll Hattori had given him.

Zabuza unsealed the scroll and gripped the hilt of the Executioner’s Blade.

"Haha, excellent!"

He laughed and nodded to Haku.

"Haku, I knew I could count on you. By the way, did you kill that guy?"

"No," Haku shook his head.

Seeing Haku shake his head, Zabuza frowned again.

"Soft-hearted as ever? Whatever. You wouldn’t have been able to beat him anyway. Now that I’ve got my sword, let’s go."

"..."

Hearing Zabuza’s words, Haku remained still, silent.

Seeing this, Zabuza’s frown deepened.

"Why are you just standing there? Don’t tell me you’re going back to that man as promised?"

"Yes."

Haku spoke up, his youthful voice carrying a hint of resolve.

"Since the moment Zabuza-sama found me, I decided to become his tool, willing to die for you if needed. Now, it’s time to fulfill that promise. So… please take care of yourself, Zabuza-sama!"

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Hearing Haku’s words, Zabuza’s face showed disbelief. "Are you betraying me?"

"..."

Haku remained silent, but another voice reached Zabuza’s ears.

"Zabuza, you should thank Haku. If not for him, you would have died days ago."

Turning around, Zabuza saw Hattori’s figure emerge from the mist.

His eyes narrowed, and his expression grew serious.

"Who are you, really? A man like you couldn’t possibly be an unknown."

"Well… my reputation is actually pretty well-known!"

Hearing Zabuza’s question, Hattori smiled slightly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Years ago, I did something you tried but failed at. But while I succeeded, the Mist Village dared not pursue me. You, on the other hand, became a rogue ninja and were hunted down by the Hidden Mist!"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Zabuza froze, then seemed to realize something. A look of shock crossed his face.

"You’re… Death Salamander who killed the Third Mizukage!"

"Uh… ‘Death Salamander’?"

Hattori scratched the back of his head in confusion.

"I thought they called me the ‘Flame Salamander’? Well, it’s just a title anyway. Doesn’t really matter.

As for that old man from Yuki clan, yes, I did kill him. What, are you planning to avenge him?"

"..."

Zabuza fell silent, eventually placing the Executioner’s Blade back on his back.

"If it’s you, then losing is no shame. Haku is yours."

With that, he started the engine and soon vanished into the sea without hesitation.

Watching him leave so decisively, Hattori was momentarily taken aback before realizing something.

"Zabuza’s feelings for Haku… must come from his death. Perhaps Naruto’s persuasion ignited them. Right now, he still sees Haku as a mere tool."

Thinking this, he grinned again, reaching out to pinch Haku’s lovely cheek.

"What an adorable young man. I’ve decided—you’ll warm my bed tonight!"

Haku: "Σ(°△°|||)︴"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 227: Hattori's Drill*

As a straightforward guy, Hattori would never have a boy warm his bed. He just found Haku too adorable and couldn’t resist teasing him a little.

But he hadn’t expected Haku to take him seriously.

On the way back, Haku kept a step behind Hattori, his head lowered as if worried that his handsome face might stir some unsavory thoughts in Hattori.

Hattori was a bit exasperated by this.

“I told you I was just joking. Can’t you take a little teasing? Fine, suit yourself!”

As he spoke, he suddenly paused as if something had come to mind.

Seeing him stop, Haku halted as well, even stepping back a bit.

Hattori: “…”

Am I just digging my own grave here?

Watching Haku’s wary expression, Hattori couldn’t help but clench his teeth.

“Hey… Haku, I have something important to discuss with you. I have two juniors you’ve met before, remember? One with blond hair, one with black. Do they ring a bell?”

“Yes!” Haku nodded. “Naruto and Sasuke!”

“Right, good memory—those two!”

Hearing Haku mention their names made Hattori laugh, and he continued:

“These two rookies lack experience and need some serious toughening up. We’re going to ambush them, but it has to feel real. Use your Demonic Ice Mirrors on them—make sure to go hard, especially on the black-haired one, as long as he’s still breathing. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand!”

Hearing Hattori’s instructions, Haku nodded immediately. “I’ll go change, Lord Hattori. No need to follow!”

With that, he disappeared with a body flicker technique, leaving Hattori standing there.

For a moment, Hattori was stunned, then began to curse loudly.

“Does that kid think I’d sneak a look at him changing? Like he’s got anything I don’t…!”

…

Half an hour later, a menacing-looking Zabuza, along with Haku—dressed in a green robe and wearing a mask from the Hidden Mist’s pursuit team—appeared in a small forest near Tazuna’s house.

They quickly came face-to-face with Naruto and the others training in the woods!

Upon seeing them, Kakashi’s expression immediately turned serious.

“Zabuza, so you’re alive. But this time, you won’t be so lucky!”

With that, he lifted his headband, revealing his red, three-tomoe Sharingan!

But in the next moment, a look of shock crossed his face, as if he’d seen a husky mixed in with a pack of wolves.

And why “again”?

While Kakashi was still in shock, “Zabuza” made his move.

“Kakashi, this time, you’re finished! Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!”

At his low command, a dense fog enveloped the area, and Haku launched his secret technique.

“Ice Style: Demonic Ice Mirrors!”

As soon as Haku finished, icy mirrors surrounded Naruto and Sasuke, trapping them and beginning an attack.

“Water Style: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!”

Like the original storyline, Haku immediately gained the upper hand, relentlessly overwhelming Naruto and Sasuke and soon turning them into pin cushions with needles.

Outside the ice mirrors, Hattori—who had dropped his transformation—was watching with keen interest, nodding as he observed.

“Yeah, Haku’s way stronger than those two. Even holding back, he’s crushing them.”

“…”

Kakashi, standing beside him, looked speechless. After a long moment, he muttered,

“You went out of your way to bring a kid with a Kekkei Genkai just for… this?”

“To build bonds, Kakashi!” Hattori clapped him on the shoulder, smiling at Kakashi’s confused look.

“This battle is essential for Naruto and Sasuke. True friendship and bonds are born on the battlefield between life and death. If not, we’ll create them. As your friend Might Guy would say, this is youth!”

Kakashi: “…”

Youth, my foot! And since when was I best friends with that beast?

Kakashi shot Hattori an exasperated glance before refocusing on the dense fog.

Unlike Hattori, Kakashi couldn’t sense things as keenly, so he had to rely on faint sounds and chakra fluctuations to gauge the battle.

Soon, he noticed Naruto and Sasuke’s chakra fluctuating and growing weaker.

“They’re injured? And losing the fight?”

Realizing this, he looked to Hattori. “They’ve lost. Let’s end this.”

“Not yet. It’s not over!”

“…”

Kakashi didn’t quite get what Hattori was waiting for, but he trusted Hattori wouldn’t harm Naruto and Sasuke, so he forced himself to wait.

After a few more minutes, his expression changed again.

“Sasuke… Sasuke’s chakra is nearly gone; he’s unconscious from severe injuries! Hattori, stop this!”

“Just a bit longer!” Hattori, noticing something exciting, looked thrilled. “It’s almost there!”

“…”

Kakashi felt a sense of dread seeing Hattori’s excitement, suspecting things were about to go wrong.

And sure enough, his instincts were correct.

Suddenly, a massive, fierce chakra surged from nearby, making Kakashi’s eyes widen.

“What’s with this terrifying chakra? Is it… Naruto? Has the seal broken?”

Realizing this, he could no longer stay put and prepared to rush forward.

But Hattori moved faster!

With a soft whoosh, Hattori disappeared, and the dense mist immediately cleared.

As it lifted, Kakashi saw the “ice fortress” nearby and a green figure bursting through the broken ice mirrors.

“That’s… the kid who took Zabuza last time? His name was… Haku?”

Kakashi quickly recognized Haku, but before he could process it, he saw Naruto charging out right behind him.

Naruto looked entirely different now, emanating an intense, violent aura.

The terrifying chakra Kakashi had sensed was radiating from him.

As soon as he appeared, he rushed toward Haku, fist raised, looking ready to deliver a fatal blow.

But just as his fist was about to connect, a pale hand caught his wrist.

“Alright, Naruto, that’s enough. The drill is over!”

“Huh… a drill?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Naruto’s fierce expression faded, his eyes—now red and fox-like—widening in surprise.

He looked disbelievingly at Hattori, who was holding his wrist.

“Big Brother Hattori, you’re saying this was… a drill? But Sasuke…”

“Sasuke’s fine, just passed out. Don’t worry!”

Hattori read Naruto’s thoughts and smiled, ruffling his hair.

“Come on, let’s go wake Sasuke. And make sure to thank him properly. No more saying you hate him, alright? Be honest with yourself, okay?”

“Uh…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 228: The Proper Way to Use Haku*

When Hattori said that Sasuke wasn't dead, Naruto's emotions gradually calmed down. The chakra belonging to the Nine-Tails began to retract, and his red fox-like eyes turned back to their original sky-blue color.

Seeing this, Hattori smiled and ruffled Naruto’s hair before looking over at Haku, who was just getting up from the ground.

“Haku, are you okay? Would you like me to use some medical ninjutsu to help you?”

“Thank you, Mr. Hattori, but I'm fine!”

He shook his head and removed the mask on his face, which had been shattered by Naruto’s punch, revealing a pale yet handsome face.

When Naruto saw his face, a look of surprise spread across his own.

“Wait... aren't you that sister from last time?”

“Idiot, Haku is a guy, call him ‘brother’!” Hattori laughed and tapped Naruto on the head before turning back to Haku. “Sasuke’s under your secret technique, right? Go release it.”

“Yes, Mr. Hattori!”

Haku responded and walked over to the weakened Sasuke, pulling out the senbon needles from his body.

“Ugh...”

As the needles were removed, Sasuke let out a low groan and gradually came to. But when he saw Haku standing in front of him, he flinched, instantly leaping back to put some distance between them, his Sharingan activating instinctively.

Just as he was about to attack, an excited voice reached his ears.

“So you really aren’t dead, you annoying guy. Hmph!”

“...”

Hearing that, Sasuke turned and saw Naruto giving him a begrudging scowl, with Hattori standing beside him. He froze, confused.

“You guys... what is...?”

Seeing Sasuke’s baffled expression, Hattori grinned and spread his hands.

“As you can see, this was an exercise planned by me and Kakashi to test your teamwork and actual combat skills. Overall... you didn’t pass!”

Sasuke: “Σ(°△°|||)︴”

An exercise? Failed?

I really thought I was about to die!

Seeing Sasuke’s stunned face, Haku bowed deeply to him.

“I apologize, Sasuke. I had to use enough force to make this believable, but I didn’t intend to hurt you. Please forgive me.”

“...”

Hearing Haku’s polite apology didn’t cheer Sasuke up; it only made his face darker. Because behind the polite tone was an implied message—

I was holding back, but you still couldn’t beat me!

Naruto, being his usual dense self, didn’t think that far and just grinned when he heard Haku’s apology.

“Heh, you’re pretty strong, Haku. If Sasuke hadn’t dragged us down, we might’ve fought to a draw, huh?”

Haku: “...”

Sasuke: “(╬￣皿￣)”

I’m the weak link? Can’t you be a little less shameless?

Seeing Naruto’s smug face and Sasuke’s rage-filled expression, Hattori couldn’t help but chuckle and stepped forward to conclude.

“Alright, enough arguing. None of you passed this exercise. Sasuke, you need to work on assessing the situation more accurately next time. Naruto, you’re just being reckless; no dinner for you tonight!”

Naruto: “Σ(°△°|||)︴”

Why is this happening?

…

Naruto did end up getting dinner, thanks to Haku sneaking him some food. That act erased any lingering resentment Naruto felt toward Haku.

After a night of rest, the group left the Land of Waves early the next morning, with grateful farewells from Tazuna and his family, heading back to Konoha.

Training continued for Naruto and Sasuke throughout the journey. The presence of Haku, someone their age but far stronger, only pushed them to train harder.

Their progress astonished even Kakashi, who now looked at Hattori with newfound respect.

“I didn’t expect that beyond being greedy and womanizing, you’re also talented at teaching. Truly impressive!”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, thanks.”

Hattori replied lazily, pulling out the Flying Thunder God scroll and starting to study it.

Seeing this, a hint of surprise crossed Kakashi’s face.

“Hm? No reading dictionaries today? What’s that scroll?”

“Flying Thunder God,” Hattori said, handing the scroll to him. “Wanna see it?”

“Uh…” Kakashi blinked, then gave a rueful smile and shook his head. “No need. That jutsu doesn’t suit me.”

The implication being that he had already seen it but hadn’t managed to learn it.

Hattori wasn’t surprised. Kakashi, being Minato Namikaze’s student, would have learned it if he could. Clearly, any jutsu recorded in the forbidden scroll was far from simple; without natural talent, most would never master it.

Perhaps this was why Hiruzen Sarutobi had been so generous in letting Hattori copy three jutsus—it was a gesture with little risk attached.

Regardless, Hattori remembered the favor.

“When the time comes, I’ll help out. But that’s a problem for later. Right now, this Haku guy...”

Glancing at Haku, who was now dressed to the nines and drawing glares from Sakura, Hattori’s lips twitched.

“With looks alone, he’s a dangerous figure who could make women jealous. If I don’t rein this in, and he ends up turning Naruto and Sasuke’s heads, that’ll be trouble. Time for a wardrobe change when we get back.”

Upon their return to Konoha, Hattori took Haku shopping for some men’s clothes.

Dressed in his new outfits, Haku transformed from a flamboyant cross-dresser to an exceptionally handsome young man. His appearance drew squeals from the girls as he walked down the street with Hattori, even earning him a bouquet.

Seeing this, Hattori’s eyes lit up, and he stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“This is a business opportunity…”

…

Two days later, a new ice cream shop called “Crystal Romance” opened on Konoha’s southern street.

The shop’s opening drew throngs of fans girls, and the business was so booming that neighboring shop owners couldn’t help but take notice.

Konoha had ice cream shops before, but none had seen such success.

What set this one apart was something they couldn’t replicate.

Haku’s ice release combined with his striking looks captured the hearts of Konoha’s girls, making Hattori, the silent owner, a fortune.

Even his tunes changed:

“I’m raking it in, making bank. Got three nannies now, one sweeps, one cooks, one’s a wet nurse…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 229: The Young Ninjas of the Sand Village*

After returning to Konoha, Hattori's life returned to normal.

Thanks to the large sum of money he made from Gato, his "small goal of 20 billion" was not only met ahead of time but exceeded. Now, with a net worth surpassing hundreds of billions, he had no interest in selling sealed scrolls and resurrection puppets.

He tossed store keys to Haku and returned to his carefree routine of "sleeping until he woke up naturally and counting money until his hands cramped."

This made Kakashi extremely envious, and he couldn’t help but sigh in front of Hattori.

"Life like you... I don't know when I'll ever experience it. People really do live differently, huh!"

In response, Hattori could only pat Kakashi on the shoulder to comfort him.

"Don’t worry, you’ll get to live like me after you retire. So just keep pushing through for now!"

"..."

There was no continuing this conversation!

After hearing Hattori’s words, Kakashi looked at him one more time, then silently turned and walked away.

However, after a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at Hattori.

"By the way, the Chunin Exams in Konoha are about to start. Besides the Konoha participants, there will be ninjas from Sunagakure, Kusagakure, Otogakure, and Takigakure, among others. Just be cautious."

"Hmm?"

Hattori raised an eyebrow at Kakashi’s comment.

"What exactly are you trying to say? That I should be careful not to get hurt by them or that I should make sure not to hurt them?"

"…"

Hearing this, Kakashi's mouth twitched twice. Without saying another word, he disappeared with a body flicker.

Seeing this, Hattori shrugged and continued reading the Flying Thunder God scroll he had pulled from his pocket.

"This thing is quite complex. It’ll probably take me three to five months to fully grasp it, so I’ll have to work on it patiently."

Muttering to himself, he took the scroll and walked towards the market to see if there was anything he wanted to buy so Haku could cook it for him.

Since it was nearly noon, he quickened his pace, bought some vegetables, mushrooms, and fresh fish, and started heading back.

On his way home, as he passed a crossroads, he suddenly heard a loud shout. Turning to look, he saw that it was Naruto and his sidekick Konohamaru.

The two had somehow managed to anger Sakura, who was currently pinning them down and pummeling them.

The other two members of the "Konoha Corps," Moegi and Udon, were standing off to the side, trembling with fear.

Hattori couldn’t be bothered with kids’ squabbles and was about to walk away.

But after just two steps, he heard Konohamaru's tearful protest.

"Ugh... That fat, ugly person, can she even be considered a woman?"

Hattori: "..."

Ha... This kid has a death wish!

Sure enough, as soon as Konohamaru's words fell, Sakura, who had been walking away, stopped abruptly.

She turned her head slowly, her face full of murderous intent, and charged back at Naruto and the others.

Konohamaru: "Σ(°△°|||)︴"

Naruto: "Σ(°△°|||)︴"

They were doomed!

Realizing what would happen if Sakura caught them, both Naruto and Konohamaru turned and bolted without hesitation.

In their frantic escape, Konohamaru soon crashed into someone head-on.

"Thud!"

"Ouch!"

The person Konohamaru collided with was a boy wearing a black jumpsuit with the Sunagakure forehead protector. He grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and lifted him.

"That hurts, kid!"

"Ugh..."

Seeing Konohamaru being caught, Sakura quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, it was all my fault for messing around. I'm really sorry!"

Naruto, on the other hand, was furious at seeing his sidekick grabbed.

"Hey, let him go already, you jerk!"

"Hmm?"

The Sand ninja boy sneered as he noticed Naruto’s headband.

"So, a genin from Konoha? Before any annoying adults show up, why don’t I play with you for a bit?"

"You jerk!"

Seeing that the boy still hadn't let Konohamaru go, Naruto charged at him in anger.

However, before he could reach the boy, something suddenly tripped him, causing him to fall face-first onto the ground.

The boy’s mocking voice reached his ears.

"What’s this? Konoha’s genin are pretty weak!"

Naruto: "(Д*)"

What just happened? Was it this guy who tripped me?

Although confused by the unexpected attack, Naruto put on a brave face.

He shouted at the Sand ninja boy holding Konohamaru.

"Hey, if you don’t let go, I’m not going to let you off, idiot!"

"You're really annoying!"

The boy’s expression turned menacing as he was provoked.

"I hate brats like you. Acting cocky even though you’re younger. Want me to crush him completely?"

"╭(°A°`)╮"

Seeing the fierce expression on the boy's face, Naruto and the others were stunned. Moegi and Udon even started crying.

Watching this, the Sand kunoichi accompanying the boy sighed with exasperation.

"I told you not to cause trouble. If anything happens, I’m not getting involved!"

But the black-clad boy ignored her, turning his attention back to Konohamaru.

"I’ll deal with this brat first, then I’ll handle that one!"

He raised his fist, ready to hit Konohamaru.

Before he could land the blow, a stone flew in and hit the back of his hand.

"Ouch..."

Crying out, he released Konohamaru involuntarily and looked in the direction the stone came from.

Perched on a tree branch was a blue-clad boy—none other than Sasuke.

Sasuke was tossing two small stones in his hand and said to the boy below, "What are you doing in someone else village? Get lost!"

Seeing Sasuke’s cool entrance, Sakura squealed with excitement.

"Sasuke-kun!!!"

Moegi and Udon’s eyes sparkled as well, while Konohamaru, teary-eyed, pointed at Naruto in accusation.

"Naruto-nii, you’re so lame!"

Naruto: "╭(°A°`)╮"

Did my sidekick just call me lame? It’s all Sasuke’s fault for stealing my spotlight!

While Naruto was cursing Sasuke in his head, the black-clad Sand ninja boy glared at Sasuke.

"Hey, get down here, kid. I can’t stand little punks like you who just talk!"

He removed the object strapped to his back, wrapped tightly in cloth, as if preparing to fight.

Before he could act, a cold voice interrupted.

"Kankuro, stop it, you embarrassment to our village."

At the sound of this voice, everyone turned to see a red-haired boy with a gourd on his back, suddenly appearing on the branch next to Sasuke.

"Gaara!"

Kankuro, the black-clad boy, immediately lost his bravado. His face strained into an awkward smile.

"W-why are you here?"

The red-haired boy was none other than Gaara.

Ignoring Kankuro’s obsequiousness, Gaara’s expression remained indifferent, his voice carrying irritation.

"You disgrace our village. Why do you think we came all the way to Konoha?"

"Ugh..."

Facing Gaara's questioning, Kankuro was sweating more and more, hurriedly explaining himself.

"Uh… listen… listen to me, Gaara, these guys were the ones who started causing trouble…"

"Shut up!"

Gaara clearly wasn’t interested in hearing his explanation, and the murderous intent in his eyes grew even stronger. "Or I’ll kill you!"

"I… I understand, I’m sorry… really sorry!" Kankuro was terrified and immediately apologized.

What he didn’t expect was that at that moment, Naruto, who he had easily taken down with his chakra threads earlier, was now excitedly waving at Gaara.

"Hey… Gaara, long time no see, hahaha!"

Kankuro: "(Д*)"

This guy… he actually knows Gaara?

And he dares to talk to him like that? Is he not afraid of dying?

Watching Naruto’s actions, Kankuro was in disbelief. But what happened next made him start questioning his life.

Gaara appeared in a sand flicker, landing on the street and nodding to Naruto and his friends.

"Sorry to trouble you all, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura."

Kankuro: "(Д*)"

Gaara knows them too? What is going on?

While Kankuro was still confused, Naruto threw his arm around Gaara's neck and, smiling, took out his frog wallet.

"Hehehe… Gaara, let me tell you, I’m officially a ninja now. This is the money I earned from missions.

I already talked to Big Bro Hattori; once you’re back, we’re going for some BBQ at Yakiniku Q, with your favorite beef tongue too. How’s that? Sound good?"

"…"

Hearing Naruto’s words, Gaara didn’t respond immediately, but a small smile crept onto his usually expressionless face.

Seeing this, Kankuro looked as if he’d seen a ghost, nudging the Sand kunoichi beside him with his elbow.

"Hey… hey, Temari, did Gaara just… smile?"

"Uh…"

Hearing Kankuro, the shocked Sand kunoichi Temari finally came to her senses, nodding in disbelief.

"I saw it too. I never thought he would smile… this is unreal. Who is that guy?"

"I don’t know who he is, but I know I’m doomed!"

At this point, Kankuro’s face was full of despair.

"He’s so close to Gaara, and I just treated him that way… Gaara definitely won’t let me off. Temari, you have to save me!"

"Ugh…"

Looking at Kankuro’s desperate face, Temari was speechless.

"Have some backbone, Kankuro. You’re his brother, after all; he won’t actually kill you!"

"Ugh… that’s easy for you to say!"

"…"

As Temari hesitated whether to bother with this cowardly guy, she suddenly felt someone hug her from behind.

Before she could react, her cheek was kissed twice with a "smack-smack."

Temari: "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

What just happened?

Stunned by the sudden attack, she quickly reached for her Three-Star Fan to fight back.

But to her surprise, her hand came up empty.

Looking carefully, she saw that the fan she always carried on her back was now in the hands of her "attacker."

Seeing this, her face grew serious.

"Who the heck… are you?"

Slap!

Before she could finish, she felt a heavy slap on her bottom, and her cheek was pinched.

The stranger’s voice sounded again.

"‘Who the heck’? Girl, you’re getting less cute with age. Call me ‘Dad’ properly, got it?"

Temari: "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

Dad? What’s going on?

Temari was confused, while Kankuro had already snapped out of it. He unwrapped the cloth around his puppet, Crow, obviously preparing to fight.

But before he could act, Gaara’s voice came to his ears again.

"Kankuro, put away your puppet. There’s no one in this world who could take him on. Isn’t that right, Hattori?"

"Hattori?"

Hearing that name, both Temari and Kankuro were shocked. Clearly, they’d both heard it before.

As it turned out, the one who "ambushed" Temari was none other than Hattori.

Hearing Gaara’s words, he started laughing.

"Oh, little panda’s learning! You even know how to flatter me now? Not bad!"

He let go of Temari, still looking shocked, and handed her back her fan.

"Hold onto it tight. This was your mother fan; don’t let anyone take it."

"Uh… y-yes…"

Temari responded blankly, quickly taking the fan back. Then, as if in disbelief, she asked, "You’re… really that Hatt… uh…"

Before she could finish saying "Hattori," he pinched her cheeks again.

"What do you call me? You want a spanking?"

Temari: "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

No! Definitely not!

Hearing Hattori’s threat, Temari quickly hid her fan behind her, covering her bottom.

Seeing this, Hattori couldn’t help but laugh, releasing her cheeks and shaking his head.

"Fine, fine. You were young when I left. It’s normal to forget, so I forgive you."

He then glanced at the dumbfounded Kankuro beside him, his smile fading into a stern look.

"Hmph, not only are you ugly, but your skills are lousy too. You just pick on kids. If it weren’t for your mom, I’d smack you!"

Kankuro: "Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"

So scary!

Knowing Hattori’s identity, Kankuro no longer dared to fight back.

And Hattori, no longer bothered with him, walked slowly to Gaara and gave his head a good rub.

As he did, he spoke in a voice reminiscent of Vito Corleone.

"Gaara… Gaara, what did I do to deserve such disrespect? You won’t even call me ‘Uncle,’ hmm?"

Gaara: "…"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 230: Hattori’s Strategy*

Hattori ruffled Gaara’s hair furiously in a way that left Kankuro and Temari stunned. However, recalling the village rumors that Hattori had taken Gaara away for over two years, they started to see the scene as… well, almost reasonable… but also, what on earth?

Gaara—the notorious killing machine—was letting someone mess with his hair like that? Had the world gone mad?

Just as Kankuro and Temari were in total disbelief, Hattori finally stopped tormenting Gaara’s head.

He pulled a comb out of his pocket and skillfully gave Gaara an outdated middle-part hairstyle, nodding in satisfaction.

“Alright, this looks better. Image is everything when you’re out and about. Grow out your hair, and you can be as stylish as your uncle!”

“No way!”

Gaara broke his silence, expressing his opinion. “I still think my original hairstyle suits me better!”

He shook his head twice, and his hair snapped back to its original style.

Hattori: “╭(°A°`)╮”

Holy… That’s some serious skill! Watching Gaara’s hair instantly return to its spiky style, Hattori gave up on his attempt to redesign Gaara’s hair and instead asked him, “Who’s your team leader Jonin this time? Is it Baki?”

“Yes!” Gaara nodded without any hesitation.

After getting confirmation, Hattori’s expression grew serious. “Take me to see him.”

“Alright!” Gaara agreed, then looked at Naruto. “We’ll have to eat barbecue later. See you then!”

“Uh… sure!”

Naruto quickly nodded, waving at him. “Alright, see you! I’ll be at Hattori’s house waiting for you!”

“Mm!”

Gaara nodded and led Hattori away, with Temari and Kankuro hurrying to follow.

After Hattori and his group walked off into the distance, Naruto looked thoughtful.

“Gaara’s forehead protector… it’s different from mine…”

“...”

Sakura, who had been quiet the whole time, couldn’t resist smacking him over the head.

“You idiot, isn’t it obvious? Gaara is from another ninja village. You didn’t notice?”

“But…”

Naruto looked dejected, rubbing his head as he explained, “But isn’t he our classmate? We were in ninja school together for two years!”

“Uh… well…”

Sakura was left speechless. At that moment, Sasuke spoke up.

“Maybe it’s just a village arrangement. Let’s not worry about the past. First, we need to figure out why they’re here.”

“Uh…”

Hearing Sasuke’s words, Naruto and Sakura looked puzzled, while Konohamaru jumped in to explain.

“Huh? You don’t know? So many outsiders are here because the Chunin Exams are about to start!”

“Chunin Exams?” Naruto was stunned.

…

As Konohamaru explained the Chunin Exams to Naruto, Hattori and Gaara arrived at the temporary residence that the Leaf Village had arranged for the Sand Ninjas.

As soon as he entered, Hattori spotted Baki, whose head was wrapped in a white cloth, with half of his face obscured. Hattori greeted him.

“Hey, Baki, long time no see. Do you remember me?”

“You’re… Flame Salamander—no, Lord Hattori!”

Seeing that Baki recognized him immediately, it was Hattori’s turn to be surprised.

“Whoa… it’s been over ten years, and you recognized me right away. Baki, you’re impressive. How’d you do it?”

“Uh… Lord Hattori, you’re too kind.”

Baki smiled sheepishly. “I actually recognized you because I saw Lady Chiyo photo before I came here. By the way, why did you suddenly come here?”

“Hah… You really don’t know why I’m here?”

Seeing Baki’s cautious look, Hattori gave him a sidelong glance and smirked.

“If I hadn’t come, wouldn’t the Sand Village army already be preparing to attack the Leaf Village? Were you planning to kill me, too?”

“Uh…” Baki glanced at Gaara.

Noticing this, Hattori scoffed.

“Hmph, don’t look at Gaara. He didn’t tell me anything. I just want to ask: do Lady Chiyo and Elder Ebizo know about this?”

“Uh… well…” Baki hesitated.

Seeing his hesitation, Hattori sensed something was off. Grabbing Baki by the collar, he shouted in anger.

“You scumbags! Did you do something to Lady Chiyo? Has Rasa lost his mind?”

“No, no… We haven’t done anything to Lady Chiyo!”

Baki was startled by Hattori’s anger and quickly explained.

“The Kazekage merely restricted her movements temporarily and hasn’t harmed her. Once things settle…”

“Settle? Nonsense!”

Hattori cut him off, spraying him with spit.

“I’ve already talked with Daimyo. Sand Village’s military funding and missions are secured—nothing has been withheld. Right now, Sand Village is in recovery mode.

Instead of focusing on development, Rasa is planning to wage war against the Leaf Village? What’s he thinking? Has he lost his mind?”

“Uh…”

Baki, covered in spit, wore a bitter expression and shook his head.

“I don’t know. At first, the Kazekage was fine, but after meeting with Orochimaru, he changed.

We’ve all tried to reason with him, but it’s no use. He even ordered Lady Chiyo to be confined. Now the whole village is on edge…”

“Hm? Orochimaru?”

Hearing this, Hattori seemed to realize something and quickly asked, “You said Rasa changed. Did he leave the village and return different?”

“Uh… yes, that seems to be the case. Do you know something, Lord Hattori?”

“Heh.”

Hattori chuckled, seeing Baki’s curiosity, and nodded.

“Indeed, I have a hunch. Gaara, take Temari and Kankuro outside. I need to talk to Baki alone.”

“Alright!” Gaara nodded and led Temari and Kankuro outside, closing the door behind them.

Once they were gone, Hattori turned back to Baki.

“Rasa, the fool, got involved with Orochimaru—it’s a death wish. I bet he’s already gotten himself killed!”

He raised an eyebrow at Baki.

“If you go back and search carefully, you might find Rasa’s corpse outside the village. If you wait any longer, it might be too late!”

“What?”

Baki was stunned, his face full of disbelief.

“You’re saying the Kazekage… is dead? How is that possible? I just saw him…”

“Are you sure it was Rasa?”

“Uh…”

Hattori’s question seemed to strike a nerve, causing Baki to lose his composure.

Noticing this, Hattori patted him on the shoulder.

“I can’t prove anything right now, but remember this: if the Sand Village attacks the Leaf Village, you’ll be Orochimaru’s accomplice in the Kazekage’s murder!”

Hattori’s words made Baki break into a cold sweat.

With trembling knees, Baki dropped to one knee in front of Hattori.

“Baki… is willing to follow Lord Hattori’s orders!”

“That’s more like it!”

Seeing Baki kneeling before him, Hattori smirked and patted his shoulder again.

“Listen carefully. Pretend to follow Orochimaru’s orders, but when he tells you to attack the Leaf Village, hold your position and let the Sound Ninjas go first.

When they’re defeated and retreat, you’ll hit them when they’re down. Do this, and you’ll be a hero of the Sand Village. Understood?”

“Understood!”

Baki nodded vigorously.

(End of chapter)