"Haku, what are you doing?"
Zabuza asked, his throat dry.
Haku, dressed in a white dress, with light makeup enhancing his already pale complexion, looked incredibly sweet and innocent.
The only thing slightly disrupting this image was the Executioner's Blade, a grim weapon, resting on his slender shoulder.
Zabuza was speechless. He had always known Haku possessed a gentle beauty, but now, dressed in women's clothing, the radiance Haku exuded left him flustered.
If he hadn't taken Haku in as a child and known for sure that he was a boy...
Damn it!
Why did such a perfectly gentle and kind preson have to be a boy?
"Um, I, I..." Haku lowered his head nervously, a blush creeping across his cheeks. He replied hesitantly, "It...It was Natsuki.
"He said...he said if I dressed like this from now on, he would give me the Executioner's Blade.
"So, so..."
"That bastard! That brat again!" Zabuza's eyes widened in anger. "Don't listen to a single word from that scoundrel! If you get the chance, just cut him down!"
He had been careless and gotten injured by Natsuki, who had even stole his sword. And now, Natsuki was making fun of the innocent Haku.
It was unforgivable!
Once he recovered, he would send that kid straight to hell.
"As a ninja, any means can be used to accomplish the mission.
"That's what you taught me," Haku lifted his head, his expression serious.
"..."
"Fine. As long as the mission is completed safely.
"In two days, after I recover, I'll take you with me to deal with them."
Knowing Haku's personality, Zabuza didn't say anything more.
He took the Executioner's Blade, his gaze sharpening once again. However, when his eyes fell upon Haku's delicate figure, another wave of emotion washed over him.
A gentle softness, something Zabuza had never shown before, crept into his eyes.
"Mr. Zabuza?" Haku tilted his head, asking with confusion.
"Cough, go take a bath. You smell like that brat. It stinks." Zabuza quickly waved Haku away, trying to hide his turbulent feelings.
"Do...Do I?
"Impossible! I haven't even touched him." Haku quickly lowered his head, sniffing himself.
"I said you do, so leave!" Finally, Zabuza's face flushed crimson, and he roared in exasperation.
"Oh, oh."
Haku hurried into the bathroom.
Mr. Zabuza can be quite childish sometimes, throwing little tantrums like that. It's rather endearing.
After hurriedly taking out some clean clothes from a storage scroll, Haku thought to himself.
The mission was easily completed, and he had witnessed a rare, flustered side of Zabuza.
He couldn't help but feel happy.
The next moment, the sound of splashing water accompanied by a cheerful hum echoed from the bathroom.
Zabuza, whose racing heart had just calmed down and the flush hadn't completely faded from his face, felt his blood boil again at the sound of the running water.
He had never noticed before how... how charming Haku was.
But, but he was a boy!
Zabuza felt a sense of disbelief.
Though known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist, his preferences were normal. Why was he acting like a beast in heat today?
He could only swing his Executioner's Blade, forcing himself to suppress these chaotic thoughts. His mind quieted once more.
"Mr. Zabuza, I forgot to bring my clothes. Could you please get them from my room?
"Thank you."
A slightly apologetic voice from the bathroom shattered the silence.
"Oh, oh!" Zabuza, at a loss for words, could only respond with a couple of stunned sounds before walking towards Haku's room.
Opening the door, he was greeted by a clean and tidy bedroom. A row of light-colored clothes hung neatly on the clothes rack. White, pale yellow...
"..." Zabuza was dumbfounded.
He recalled that, on days without missions, Haku did indeed prefer to wear light colors.
Damn it, who did he learn this from?
Weren't there any more masculine clothes?
Wait... there actually were.
The dark ANBU uniform from when he impersonated one.
Zabuza's face lit up. He reached out to grab the ANBU uniform. Suddenly, a light pink loungewear caught his eye.
"Haku would probably look good in this."
As if possessed, his hand changed direction and picked up the pink garment instead. Then, he quickly fled the room.
Arriving in front of the bathroom, he was about to knock when he looked at the light pink clothing in his hand.
"What... what's wrong with me?
"This is madness!"
Zabuza slammed his head with his fist. He was about to turn back and get the ugly ANBU uniform for Haku when the bathroom door creaked open slightly.
A small head poked out.
Droplets of water glistened on Haku's long hair. He looked as fresh and beautiful as a lotus flower emerging from the water.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Zabuza!" Haku's eyes curved into two crescents as he happily took the clothes and closed the door.
Outside, Zabuza, finally coming to his senses, mumbled, "You're... you're welcome..."
Then, like a walking corpse, he took a few steps. A voice as soft as a mosquito buzzed in his head: He's a boy. He's a boy. He's a boy!
"Damn it!"
Suddenly, Zabuza grabbed his head with both hands and slammed it against the wall.
Thud!!!
"Mr. Zabuza, what's wrong?" A cry of alarm came from the closed bathroom.
The next moment, the doorknob turned.
Zabuza quickly covered his injured forehead, grabbed the Executioner's Blade, and ran.
This injury, it seemed, wouldn't be healing anytime soon.
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