After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 204

Chapter 204: Kosei

Mei Terumi ultimately couldn't persuade Zabuza to leave with her. However, she didn't particularly mind, because this woman's attention had been completely captured by the little girl calling herself "Kosei."

After repeated denials from Zabuza and Haku, Mei had no choice but to believe this little girl wasn't their child—such a shame. If she could prove Haku was female, she wouldn't feel so... outmatched.

In the small courtyard, Kosei was pacified by Haku bringing out food, obediently sitting at the dining table. In front of Zabuza and Haku, only one portion of food was placed. Meanwhile, before Kosei, this girl who appeared barely five years old had food stacked nearly as high as she was tall.

Honestly, at first Zabuza and Haku hadn't dared let a little girl eat so much. But they couldn't resist the little girl's insistent demands. Moreover, to their embarrassment—they didn't have the strength to physically stop Kosei.

Yes. If they fought seriously, Zabuza and Haku combined weren't a match for the little brat Kosei. It sounded truly incredible.

This happened on the twentieth day after leaving the Land of Waves. Due to their injuries, they had to find places to rest, during which they had to hide their identities. After all, during these years as bounty ninja, Zabuza had also offended many people. His head was worth quite a bit.

Just as they were following a merchant caravan leaving the Land of Fire, they encountered bandits blocking the road. Though this caravan hired ninja guards, they were mostly mediocre low-tier ninja, while the bandits had several rogue ninja. These guys knew whom to provoke and whom not to—specifically operating on the Land of Fire's border. If Konoha ninja made moves, they'd decisively flee to other countries. Quite experienced.

After just a few clashes, the caravan's ninja were defeated. Seeing the bandits about to slaughter everyone in the caravan, Haku and Zabuza didn't intend to continue hiding. Even dragging injured bodies, they were confident in solving some of them—at least tearing open an escape route. As for the caravan people, they could only hope they'd seize this chance to flee.

Zabuza had already removed the bandages wrapping the Executioner's Blade when suddenly light flashed in midair. Then Kosei descended from the sky, landing between both groups.

This shocking entrance left everyone present unable to react. But Kosei herself seemingly didn't care. She fell from a position four to five meters high. Haku and Zabuza were about to rush to catch her when they saw the little girl lightly flip, steadily landing on bare feet.

This little girl wearing only short sleeves and shorts didn't first look at the surrounding people but vigorously patted a turtle ornament on her hand.

"Why isn't it working? Hello? Wake up."

Obviously, that turtle-shaped ornament couldn't answer any questions. The bandits exchanged glances, then showed twisted expressions. They couldn't understand why this little girl descended from the sky, but they didn't care.

These guys surrounded her with ill intentions. Some young people in the caravan wanting to intervene were stopped by older merchants. They had no time for others now—even self-preservation was difficult.

"Kid, looking at you closely, you're quite pretty."

"Yeah, looks like you'll sell for a good price."

"Hahaha!"

The bandits' unrestrained laughter finally transferred the little girl's attention. She raised her head toward the burliest leader, tilting her head, "Are you praising Kosei for being beautiful?"

"That's natural!" The little girl patted her chest, seemingly considering being praised as matter-of-fact.

"Hahaha—kid, come with me."

The burly man directly reached toward Kosei. This made Haku and Zabuza in the crowd unable to sit still. Since being spared by Naruto, Zabuza had reflected on his past life. He'd also promised to spend the remaining life with Haku, no longer involved in the ninja world's killing. At least, to live like a human.

But watching such a young child be kidnapped—he couldn't do that.

"Zabuza-san?"

"Attack!"

"Yes!"

They instantly rushed from the crowd, attracting the bandits' attention. Zabuza endured bodily pain swinging the Executioner's Blade, quickly cutting down several bandits. Haku wasn't inferior. Though unable to use powerful Ice Release, throwing ice needles was still possible.

The two cooperated seamlessly, quickly eliminating over a dozen bandits. But this also attracted those ninja among the bandits.

"That's—the 'Demon' Zabuza?" Apparently some recognized Zabuza.

"Ha, they're injured. Perfect! Men! Chop off the Demon Zabuza's head! He's worth good money!"

"First to behead him gets an extra ten percent of his bounty!"

After Zabuza and Haku briefly moved, their wounds showed signs of rupturing. Those ninja naturally noticed.

"Hey, are you bad people?"

Just then, Kosei suddenly asked the burly man who'd turned away.

"Haha, kid, get lost. After I deal with them, I'll handle you."

The burly man heard his leader's words, wanting to first handle Zabuza. Just a brat—catching her later is fine.

Thinking this, he casually swung a palm at Kosei's face, showing no mercy despite her being a child.

The tiny hand grasped the man's palm-fan-sized hand.

"You're a bad person!"

This was the last sentence this burly man heard before losing consciousness.

Meanwhile, Zabuza and Haku struggled against bandits attacking with ranged weapons while guarding against ninja hidden among them using sneak attacks. Then a thunderous boom sounded. Everyone turned their gaze.

The little girl who'd descended from the sky had withdrawn her tiny fist. Before her, the burly man who'd just tried slapping her was now half-buried in the earth.

"What—is this?"

Someone in the crowd asked. The battle ended faster than imagined. Zabuza and Haku practically watched that little thing casually knock those bandits flying. Every spot hit by those fists and feet had shattered bones and torn tendons.

Is this little brat some reincarnated monster?

Another figure surfaced in Zabuza's mind—the very culprit who destroyed the Executioner's Blade: Konoha genin Naruto Uzumaki. Similarly unreasonable terrifying strength... Could these two be related—like siblings?

The bandits began fleeing after half of them were casualties. Several leaders with ninjutsu tried sneak attacking. But the moment they acted, that demon-like little thing charged over first, and then they felt nothing.

"Hey, are you good people or bad people?"

Kosei came before Haku and Zabuza, asking seriously. If judging by appearance alone, Zabuza could be called "super villain." Being asked this, Zabuza momentarily didn't know what to say.

Say I'm a good person? Past events—I've killed many for money. Am I really a good person?

While this Demon fell into the ninja world's classic "self-conflict," Haku beside him timely responded, "We're good people!"

This brought Zabuza back to his senses. But before he could question, the little girl's fist brushed past his ear. Then the stone behind shattered from a powerful wind. Good thing Haku was here, or I would've lost the chance to continue my brooding.

"Good people?"

The little girl looked at them doubtfully. Just as Haku and Zabuza felt somewhat unnerved, her face suddenly showed a brilliant smile.

"If you're good people, say so earlier! Kosei almost accidentally killed you."

That moment, Zabuza truly felt death's breath.

What!??? She just believed it directly!?

Everyone, including Haku, was shocked, a complaint stuck in their throats.

Afterward, after resolving the bandits, everyone resumed their journey, bringing along Kosei, this mysterious, super-strong little girl of unknown identity.

"Hey kid, aren't you worried we're deceiving you?"

That evening at dinner, Zabuza ignored her enormous food consumption and Haku's constant warning looks, directly asking the little girl.

"Huh?" Kosei seemed to hear something incomprehensible. "Kosei is so cute; nobody could deceive Kosei, right?"

Her matter-of-fact tone made it seem like asking such foolish questions made Zabuza the one lacking common sense.

Fine. You're pretty, so you're right. Physical reasoning is reasoning too.

"Besides, nobody can deceive Kosei—"

The little girl muttered something others couldn't hear.

"What?" Haku looked at the little girl, puzzled.

"Nothing! Kosei isn't full yet! Another serving!"

Speaking, Kosei first arranged her plate and utensils in a ladylike manner, then very contrastingly slapped the table, shouting loudly.

"Yes—yes—"

Haku, transformed into an old mother, helplessly served the little girl more food.

"Speaking of which, kid, didn't you say you were looking for someone?"

Zabuza spoke up again.

"It's Kosei's dad!" The little girl said while stuffing food in her mouth.

"What's your dad's name?"

"Dad is called Dad."

Only at times like this does she act like a kid her age?

Zabuza covered his eyes, clearly exasperated. Without meaning to, he'd become the straight man. Right, it's normal for a four-year-old to not know her parents' names. They probably just used titles at home.

"Does your dad have any distinguishing features?"

"Features?" The little girl tilted her head. It wasn't that she didn't know Dad's features—she didn't understand what "features" meant.

"That is—what characteristics? Like, what does he look like? What do others call him?"

"Kosei doesn't know—Kosei hasn't seen Dad either."

This was exactly what Zabuza and Haku didn't want to hear.

"But everyone calls my dad the 'World-Saving Great Hero'!"

At the mention of this title, the little girl raised her chin high, clearly bursting with pride over the father she'd never met.