"So, boss... what exactly am I supposed to do?"
After accepting his new identity, Zabuza was still a bit uncomfortable.
He didn't even know what kind of job he was supposed to be doing.
But since he had accepted Yuto's help, he had no choice but to agree to Yuto's conditions.
Yuto chuckled and said, "Well, see these scientific ninja tools lined up here? This thing is called a phone. Why don't you give it a try?"
Hearing this, Zabuza looked at the black rectangular device on the table.
"Scientific ninja tools? A phone?"
These unfamiliar terms left Zabuza completely baffled.
But that didn't matter... because what he couldn't understand even more was why Mei, of all people, had become the Mizukage.
Although it wasn't officially confirmed yet, Elder Genji was already in his eighties or nineties and didn't have many years left, so Mei's position as Mizukage was practically set in stone.
The thought of it made Zabuza's heart ache.
He was about to reach out and touch the so-called 'phone' when he heard a loud commotion outside.
This wasn't one of Konoha's main streets. There weren't many residents nearby, and the shops were all struggling.
There wasn't much foot traffic, and Zabuza couldn't understand why Yuto had chosen such a dead-end location for his shop, but the voice was one he recognized all too well.
"Naruto... that's his name, right?"
Zabuza muttered, then saw a head of white hair leading three kids into the shop.
To an outsider, it might have looked like a child trafficking operation... especially with Zabuza standing across from them, looking like the buyer.
Even though he was now wearing loose clothing, Zabuza's intimidating aura was impossible to hide.
…
"Hey! Uncle Zabuza! Long time no see!"
As soon as he entered, Naruto shouted and waved at Zabuza.
His enthusiastic demeanor made it hard to believe that the last time they met, they had been mortal enemies.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was on high alert, "Naruto, get back here."
Kakashi scratched his head awkwardly, "Heh... heh, good morning, Manager. And... Zabuza..."
Then Kakashi turned his gaze to Haku, who was hiding in the back, wearing cat ears, "And how should I address you?"
Although Kakashi had learned Haku's name during their time in the Land of Waves, the situation back then hadn't been as amicable.
Out of politeness, Kakashi decided to ask again.
Haku, realizing he was still wearing the cat ear accessories but too afraid to take them off, shyly avoided Kakashi's gaze.
'If by any chance I make Boss and Zabuza-sama unhappy... will I be kicked out?'
With these thoughts in mind, Haku replied timidly, "Haku..."
Kakashi noticed Haku's discomfort and smiled, "Haku, huh? That's a nice nam..."
Before Kakashi could finish, Naruto suddenly shouted, "What? What did you just say your name was?"
At that moment, whether Naruto's brain had finally started working or had short-circuited again.
He pointed at Haku with a look of horror.
"You, you, you... you're that pretty sister who's even prettier than Sakura but isn't a girl!"
As soon as Naruto finished speaking, he was met with a swift smack to the head.
"Naruto! What the hell are you talking about?"
Naruto clutched his head and said, "Sakura-chan, I'm just telling the truth! Ask Sasuke if you don't believe me..."
Sakura looked at Sasuke with hopeful eyes, only to find him staring off into space, so she followed Sasuke's gaze.
A delicate face came into view, paired with beautiful long hair and cat ears. Sakura couldn't help but blush.
At that moment, Sasuke suddenly realized what Naruto had just said.
So he turned his face away and said arrogantly, "Hmph, so what if it's true?"
Sakura's anger flared, but before she could lash out, Kakashi quickly intervened.
"Alright, alright, let's not fight..."
"Kakashi-sensei, look at them..."
Kakashi sighed helplessly, "We're here today to thank the Manager. He's the one who helped heal you in the end."
Hearing this, Sasuke reacted the most strongly.
But then he looked confused. "How? He's clearly just an ordinary person..."
The 'he' naturally referred to Yuto.
After all, Yuto was the only unfamiliar face among the group in Sasuke's eyes.
When Yuto had made his appearance, Sasuke had already been knocked unconscious by Haku's senbon.
Hearing this, Zabuza's eyelids jumped, 'An ordinary person?'
'What kind of ordinary person could have such miraculous abilities? Someone who could bring me back from the brink of death to my peak… or even beyond, and heal all our injuries?'
'If Boss was indeed an ordinary person, he would probably be an ordinary person on the moon... But how could there be people there?'
Zabuza immediately spoke in a low, serious tone: "Brat, you'd better show some respect."
Due of the authority that Zabuza had previously established in Team 7's minds, his words instantly silenced the room.
Naruto, frightened, grabbed onto Kakashi's pants and said, "Kakashi-sensei, didn't you say Uncle Zabuza was a normal Ninja now?"
Kakashi sighed speechlessly, 'Yeah, which normal Ninja could tolerate you guys?'
Yuto quickly stepped in to end the little drama.
"Alright, alright, Kakashi. You didn't bring them here just to thank me, did you?"
Kakashi nodded and said, "Right, Manager. I was wondering if these three could also use the scientific ninja tools? It seems like the phone could be a big help in their growth as Ninjas..."
Yuto had been waiting for this. He smiled brightly and said, "Of course! Our products don't have a health protection system for minors, and you can use them 24/7."
"What?"
"Cough, never mind... so you need three more, right?"
Kakashi said, "Yeah, consider it a gift for them becoming Fenin."
"Got it! That'll be 300,000 ryo..."
As he spoke, Kakashi pulled out a pile of money from his pocket and Ninja Pouch.
"Exactly 300,000..."
Sasuke was puzzled. He looked at the scattered bills Kakashi had handed over and didn't understand why he hadn't just paid with thirty 10,000-ryo notes.
---
Yuto didn't bother counting. He just checked the amount on his system interface to confirm that Kakashi hadn't shortchanged him… It was exactly 300,000 ryo!
Meanwhile, Zabuza stared in shock at the black rectangular device.
This scientific ninja tool called a phone... cost 100,000 ryo each?
That expensive? Why not just rob someone?
…
Sasuke took the phone, completely uninterested in the little black device.
He wondered how good could something that costs 100,000 ryo be.
He felt it would be better off using this vacation time to train at home.