Chapter 39

Well, last week, another milestone. Last Friday was the first time this story topped a thousand views in a day which is pretty damn awesome, thank you all!

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Roy Luffy: I'm not sure whether you'll ever see this but I thought it a good idea to answer regardless. Tri's name comes from a character from a Sci-Fi world of my own design. It's short for Tri'll. I wanted a short name for him so I dropped the double L.

As for Rezano, yeah, I wanted a name that was similar in structure to Naruto, same number of syllables, etc. But it only took me five seconds to come up with Rezano. In hindsight, kinda wished I hadn't and instead given a properly thought out name but I'm kinda stuck with it now. Maybe I'll change it whenever I get around to remastering this story in however many years time.

Shouting and Chiding

-(*)-

"Tsunami-san, Tazuna-san, I've been meaning to ask. Why does everyone on this island seem so…" Sakura struggled to find the right word. "Destitute?" Kusuri supplied. "Yes, destitute."

Both adults gave one another a brief, nervous glance, they nodded to one another and Tazuna answered.

"To better understand why things are as they are today I need to explain how it began, so we need to go back about eighteen months to when Gatō first arrived. What you see today is a shadow of what this island used to be before he showed up.

"Over the years we've managed to retain our autonomy from the great powers in the region primarily by being self-sufficient. Everything we could make ourselves we did, and kept our imports to a minimum.

"But then Gatō arrived, he swooped in and before we knew it he'd bought up every single company that traded with the island. The first time we realised something was wrong was when enormous import tariffs were levied on everything, through them he began to strangle the island. Sure, we could grow our own food but we lack the industry to make tools so we eventually had no choice other than to pay.

"But then about two to three months in, our crop fields all started failing one after another, in days they went from thriving and healthy to completely dead. Something was wrong with the soil too because nothing would grow from that point on. So from then on we had to import food, again at astronomical prices. As you can imagine, people very quickly began running out of money.

"Some of the more optimistic of the islanders started borrowing from a mainland lender, foreseeing the troubles as only temporary, of course those poor souls had no idea that Gatō owned the lender too, nor were they aware of the obscene interest rates.

"When it came time to repay, they as you expect, couldn't. That when the public beatings started as Gatō unleashed his army of petty thugs on the island. If you couldn't pay you were beaten, then if you couldn't pay the second time they returned then…" He stopped a moment, his voice had been growing more emotional with each passing sentence.

"…Then, well. That's when the killings started and that was if you were a man. If you were a woman, well, you can probably guess…" Tazuna couldn't even finish the sentence. "There was no one to stop it," Tsunami said picking up where her father left off. "We have no government, no one we could turn to. Those who stood up to Gatō were the next to end up in the gallows."

"No one can stand up to Gatō so if you know what's good for you, you'd all leave and never come back!" a young voice emotionally shouted from the archway that led into the hallway. Everyone turned to face the new voice. The boy didn't know it but he was only about two feet from a hidden Tri. 'Kid's quiet on his feet,' The ANBU hadn't even heard him.

It was the same face Sakura had seen upstairs earlier. The boy waited for no answers as the moment he'd finished shouting at them he ran back upstairs, a door slamming shut.

"Your son by chance?" Kakashi asked Tsunami, she nodded. "Yes Inari-kun lost someone who meant the world to him because of Gatō." Kakashi followed her eyes, she was looking at a picture frame on the wall. The picture was of the three family members they'd now met. Another man was also present in the photograph.

"Your husband?" Kakashi again asked, this time she shook her head. "No, my husband died when Inari-kun was very young. Kaiza-kun was Inari-kun's stepfather for a lack of a better term. He was one of the first to stand up to Gatō. He was subsequently one of the first to the gallows too. Gatō made the whole town watch. Inari-kun's been a broken boy ever since."

Now Tsunami's voice was like her fathers, on the periphery of breaking. That the actions of a single man could so utterly devastate the lives of so many.

"We're going to do something about this, right?" Rezano asked the other Shinobi after a moments silence. It was highly frowned upon to deviate from the assigned mission parameters, the senior Shinobi all had this thought run through their minds. Although they technically had already deviated from the mission by continuing it after their encounter with Zabuza.

"Well?" the Genin followed up as the silence dragged on. Kakashi's mind was processing everything Tazuna and Tsunami had just told them. "Tazuna-san. Would it be correct to assume that it's this Gatō that wants you dead? If your bridge is completed, his stranglehold on the island's economy is broken."
"Yes," the man quietly replied. "Then I guess it does involve us," Kakashi concluded.

Rezano jumped up from the sofa and was about to exclaim in joy when Kakashi cut him off, "But that does not mean we're going to go out of our way to hunt him down. Our job is to protect Tazuna-san until he finishes his bridge. If Gatō doesn't show before the bridge is complete then we do nothing. If he does, however…" Kakashi didn't finish the sentence, he didn't really need to, everyone knew what he meant.

"But…"
"No Rezano!" his Sensei shut him down. The boy's head dropped as he sagged back down into the sofa.

Tri watched on, somewhat sympathetic for his younger sibling. Rezano was an idealist with a strong sense of right and wrong, it wasn't a surprise to see him so eager to take action. Despite that he wasn't worried about whether Rezano took action of his own accord or not, Tri knew Gatō wouldn't leave this island alive regardless.

He would have preferred it if Tazuna or Tsunami had gone into more detail on Gatō's whereabouts on the island. His research into the little rat told him he wouldn't be far from the misery he was inflicting. There was just too few people who'd willing speak ill of him for fear of being the next to have the noose wrapped around their neck.

"So what do we do with the rest of today?" Kusuri asked the room. "Well, I don't see any reason to waste half a day indoors so why not start the Genin's training," Sakura suggested, "Of course, what that training is, depends entirely on what Kakashi has already taught them."

…

Silence, absolute silence.

The three Genin took turns nervously glancing at one another while Kakashi suddenly found the wall furthest from Sakura to be of incredible interest. Spotting there may have been a small, tinsey winsy problem, Sakura mustered the most polite voice she could.

"Kakashi-san, what, and be specific now, what exactly have you taught them?" While her voice may have sounded very pleasant, it bore an underlying tone and message. 'Tell me now, or I'm going to hurt you.'

With Kakashi struggling to provide an answer, his Genin trio all sub-consciously decided to well and truly drop him in it. "Almost nothing, Sakura-san," Meshikamaru said with a stony face. Turning to face the young Kunoichi, Sakura again put on that sweet tone. "Could you please elaborate, Meshikamaru-san?"

"Team Exercises and basic Taijutsu, that's it. Technically we didn't really learn anything new," she bitterly answered. "I see, thank you. Kakashi-san, could you come with me please." Everyone knew it wasn't a request. Like a scolded child the veteran Jōnin followed the Chūnin outside. It wasn't long before they heard the shouting.

"How the actual fuck! How have you taught them so fucking little. They've been in your care for six damn months and you've nothing to show for it."

It continued for several minutes and every time Kakashi tried to speak Sakura would cut him off before continuing to berate him. Everyone else left in the house listened in awkward silence although Tri was struggling not to laugh. Kakashi's inherent laziness had finally gotten him in trouble.

He was no illusion as to the faults of his own Sensei, Genma was far from the hardest of workers. But if one of the three of them needed extra help with something, Tri and Taijutsu sprung to mind, then he would do so without fail.

Almost ten minutes after leaving Sakura and Kakashi re-entered the house. Sakura looked fairly satisfied with herself while Kakashi looked utterly frazzled. "Tazuna-san, are you planning on returning to the bridge at any point today?"
"Uh, no, Sakura-san," he nervously answered.
"Excellent. Then I'll be taking the Genin with me for the rest of the day," she stated, again it wasn't up for debate. "Kusuri," are you ok to keep an eye on Kakashi?" The young woman nodded and Sakura smiled, "Great, then up you get you three and follow me."

Ten minutes later she had them going through a warm-up sequence she herself used although it was toned down a fair amount. She'd found a clearing in the trees not far from the house.

She was leaned one arm against a tree as she watched the three of them. She sensed a tiny chakra presence a few feet behind her and it steadily drew closer. She knew the chakra signature was Tri's, it was his way of telling her he was there without startling her. He was stood right behind her for a few seconds before he spoke, his voice barely a whisper.

"I've slipped a note in your back pouch, read it when you have a chance." Then he was gone. Sakura didn't react in the slightest, she didn't want any of the Genin asking questions.

-(*)-

Elsewhere on Nami no Kuni

"Really? Mmm how exciting. Hatake Kakashi is on this little island."
"Yep, blasted Sharingan and all," he grumbled. "Oh dear Zabuza. What would people say if they heard you complaining like a child?" she asked flashing him a toothy grin.
"Oh shut it, if it wasn't for his damnable Genin being such nuisances I'd have killed him and the bridge builder, then we wouldn't be having this conversation and I wouldn't be stuck in this fucking bed," he griped which only made her laugh.

"Your complaining about it won't speed up your recovery Zabuza-sama," the youngest person in the room gently but firmly reminded him.

"And who is your little friend, Zabuza?"
"Ame, this is Haku. Haku this is Ringo Ameyuri, wielder of Kiba and one of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū." The swordswoman gave Haku a menacing grin which the younger woman just shrugged off and bowed. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance Ameyuri-san."
"Likewise little lady," she replied with a low chuckle.

'Although now that I think about it, I doubt the truth of that statement,' she thought as she closely watched Haku walk around the bed, a small bowl of warm water in her hands. Ameyuri knew the manner in which women walked and Haku didn't walk in that same manner. But she couldn't rule out a well-played double bluff, so kept quiet.

"How long until he's back on his feet?"
"I would estimate at five to six days, Ameyuri-san."
"Well that's far too long," she immediately complained. "I can barely sit still for five to six hours so I'm gonna go wander this tedious little island in the hope I find something interesting to occupy my time. Why the little man holds such an interest in controlling this lump of rock confuses me," she said before leaving.

"Now who's complaining," Zabuza quietly said. "She seems a character, Zabuza-sama," Haku quietly noted after a few moments. "That she is," he said with a sigh. "But a warning Haku. Don't mess with her, she'll happily cut you to ribbons at the drop of a hat. She gave him a stare which he matched, by that she could tell he was being serious. "I understand, Zabuza-sama."

…

"You have questions?" the bedridden Shinobi correctly assumed. "Yes, she admitted, a little flush of embarrassment colouring her cheeks. "Well fire away then. Not like I've got five days to kill or anything."
"You said you thought she was dead, why?"
"When Ameyuri was young, maybe a few years younger than you, she contracted a disease of some sorts, no one could figure it out and she was only given a few years to live. Not long before I found you, she was on her deathbed. How she's still alive I've no idea but it does at least confirm what I suspected."

"And what's that, Zabuza-sama?"
"That only one of the seven swords currently fights for Kiri, fights for Yagura," [1] he said his name with venom, "Such is the state of Kirigakure."

Haku knew bits and pieces about the seven swords but almost nothing about who currently wielded them. "Out of interest, who currently have the seven swords?
"Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) you know all about already," he began, his eyes quickly looked at the enormous blade leaned up against the wall.

"You've just met the holder of Kiba (Fang). Ironically she might be the longest current holder of one of the seven swords.

"A kid your age called Chōjūrō wields Hiramekarei (Twinsword), he still serves in Kiri.

"When we left Kiri no one was using Kabutowari (Helmet Splitter) or Shibuki (Splash). Both have been in storage since their previous users were killed by that Konoha Genin with the stupid moustache in the last world war."

"Nuibari (Sewing Needle) while not in storage is not in use either. It's not even held by someone from Kiri, it was stolen by someone from Kiri but they got killed by a Konoha Jōnin."
"Do you know who?" Haku asked, she'd put the bowl down and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah," he said picking up from the bedside table the Bingo book they'd managed to get a few weeks ago, it was the most recent Kiri edition. He skimmed through the pages, finding the one he wanted and handed to the booklet to Haku.

She looked down at the page, "Uzumaki Tri?" she said/ asked. "Yeah, I've been wondering whether to thank him or not for holding onto Nuibari because I imagine it annoys Yagura to no end that a foreign nin has one of the villages greatest relics."

"That makes six, what about the last one?"

He was silent a moment before answering, "Samehada (Sharkskin) is currently in the possession of Hoshigaki Kisame, he's in that book too, somewhere near the front. But you may know him by his nickname, Kirigakure no Kaijin." The slight stiffening of her shoulders suggested she had indeed heard of him as she flicked to Kisame's bingo book page.

"A bit of advice Haku, should for some reason you ever encounter Kisame, run, just run. Run and hope he doesn't have a vested interest in you being dead."

Dumbfounded surprise, that was the expression on her face, they'd talked of many dangerous Shinobi before but never had Zabuza given her such a warning. "He's that strong?"
"Yes, perhaps even stronger. He is the only Shinobi I will not cross, period. You could team all the other current sword holders together, me, Ameyuri, Chōjūrō and this Uzumaki and Kisame would beat all four of us."

-(*)-

In the months since they'd become a team they'd never been pushed like Sakura had just pushed them. In the span of just six hours she'd managed to run them into the ground. Even Rezano, used to training with his brother Naruto was struggling for breath. The boy's two teammates looked utterly drained.

"I must say, I thought your personal training would have compensated for your lack of training from Kakashi, but it would appear not. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it because you'll be doing the exact same tomorrow," she said cheerfully like it was the best thing in the world. Three groans were her reply.

Now that she had a moment she put a hand into the pouch just above her tailbone and pulled out a small slip of folded paper. Opening it, it read, "I need more information on Gatō, question Tazuna and Tsunami on whether he has hideouts or property on the island that he uses. Try to refrain from being blunt if possible, thanks. Raven.'

"What' cha got there?" Meshikamaru asked noticing the piece of paper in her hand. "A few quick notes I took on what else I want to get you all doing tomorrow," she lied. The young teen thought nothing of it and didn't say anything else as they one by one re-entered their accommodation for however long this mission might last.

Each of the Genin developed a greater respect for chairs as they deposited themselves in the nearest ones available which happened to be the wooden chairs surrounding the kitchen table. "And perfectly timed," Tsunami said happily to them as she began placing large bowls of steaming hot food on the table.

It was that moment that Rezano's stomach decided to loudly inform everyone within earshot of its extreme dissatisfaction. Much to his embarrassment, it was that moment that seemingly everybody chose then to appear in the kitchen.

"I see you're no different from the rest of your family," Sakura lightly joked at the embarrassed boy's expense. Thanks to the time she'd spent with Tri she was fully aware of the families absurd ability to consume copious amounts of food in one sitting. Rezano seemed to visibly shrink in the chair as he tried to make himself disappear.

Having seen how much Rezano could eat in the day he'd been here Tsunami asked, "Do Rezano-san's family all eat like it's their last meal?"
"Yes," was the quick reply from Sakura and Kakashi. "It's a trait of the Uzumaki clan, a stomach that has no end," Kakashi elaborated.

"Uzumaki? isn't that only half of Rezano-san's family name?" Tazuna asked as his daughter went to retrieve his grandson for dinner, he remembered the boy being introduced as 'Uzumaki Namikaze'. "Yes, Rezano is descended from the leaders of two clans, thus his extended name. His mother is the head of the Uzumaki clan, and his father of the Namikaze. In fact all three of my Genin are of major clans."

"Meshikamaru's father is the head of the Nara clan while Sasuke's mother is head of the Uchiha clan." The young Uchiha's face darkened.

"So they're clan heirs?" the elderly man asked as the members of his own family joined them at the table. "No," Kakashi said shaking his head. "Sasuke's second in line after his older brother." That got a low growl out of him which Kakashi heard but summarily ignored.

"While Rezano has two older brothers. The elder, Naruto is heir to the Namikaze clan and Tri is the heir to the Uzumaki clan. Despite their parents' marriage they didn't want to bind the two clans together for more than one generation hence the split inheritance. It leaves Rezano here as second in line to the Namikaze clan.

"And as for Meshikamaru, I don't actually know. Do you know?" he asked the girl in question. She shrugged her shoulders as she swallowed some rice, "I don't know either, I don't think Tou-san knows either, I think he's waiting to see if my brother stops being so damn lazy before naming the heir."

After that people split off to have conversations on various matters. Sakura leaned against a workstation was talking with Tazuna about the island in general, subtly pushing the conversation towards Tri's request.

Inari set his bowl back down on the table, he wasn't partaking in any of the idle conversations around the slightly cramped room. The pink-haired one was talking to his grandfather, the one with the mask chatted away with the other woman who'd arrived earlier and his mother. And two of the younger ones talked with each other, the boy with black hair didn't say anything to anyone.

His eyes narrowed as he began counting the Shinobi in the room. "Where's the other one?" he bluntly said aloud, his question specifically aimed at Sakura and Kakashi. The various conversations around the table abruptly ended as they all turned to face him.

"Inari-kun?" his mother said. "Those two, I want to know where their other friend is. I heard three voice talking earlier." The two singled out Shinobi just looked at one another in faked confusion, their poker faces going strong. Seeing he wasn't going to get an answer Inari got a little angry and jumped to his feet.

"I'm not stupid," he shouted in frustration. "Don't lie, I know there were three of you." Tsunami had a hand on his arm trying to get him to sit again but to no avail.

"Well, that's quite annoying," a garbled male voice said. Civilian and Shinobi alike jumped in surprise, Rezano and Sasuke even jumped up into defensive stances. Chairs were pushed out of the way or picked up as weapons.

"Oh put those down before you hurt yourselves," Sakura chastised, "Appears you've been rumbled, Raven."
"So it would seem, Sakura. By of all things a child, how embarrassing," he irritably replied as a hand seal cancelled the Genjutsu hiding him from view.

Meshikamaru recognising the garb of Konoha ANBU and seeing no reaction from Sakura or Kakashi lowered her chair to the floor. Meanwhile, Tazuna had shot to his feet and was about to open his mouth and demand answers when Sakura, who was at his side in impossibly quick fashion put a firm hand on his shoulder and forced him back into his chair.

"Sit down, Raven is no threat to you or anyone else here. Raven's a member of Konoha's ANBU and has a mission of his own on the island, he was also asked to keep an eye on us just in case, hence why he's here," she explained. "What mission?" Sasuke suspiciously asked. The masked figure turned their gaze on him, "That's not for you to know."

Just on the off chance something like this happened Tri had already removed his violet sash and placed a Genjutsu over his hair and arms to hide his identity. His mask also had the ability to subtly modulate his voice to sound different to everyone else.

"How long have you been here, ANBU Raven?" Meshikamaru gingerly asked, she wasn't quite sure how one communicated with an on-mission ANBU. "No longer than you have, Nara-san."
"And since you were hidden, I presume no one is supposed to know you're here?"
"You presume correctly, other than Sakura and Kakashi, my being here was supposed to remain a secret," as he spoke he glared at Inari who seemed to be trying to hide behind thin air. Thankfully the boy didn't seemed to have heard Sakura call him by name, or he was too scared to say it.

'The Nara's composure is impressive,' Tri noted. She acted in a manner better befitting her more experienced peers.

"S-so, you'd help the others in keeping my father safe?" Tsunami timidly asked, the constant shocks of the past few days had begun to take a toll on her. "Only if necessary, it's not my task to complete their mission for them but if they need my aid then I will provide it." That seemed to allay her worries a little.

"It had been my intention you never know of my presence Tsunami-san to spare you the worry of another unfamiliar face, well, mask. It's pretty apparent you've had a stressful time of late." The woman looked at him in astonishment, he'd read her like a book.

Sakura pulled something out of her backpack and handed it to Tsunami, "Here, chew on this for a few minutes. It has a mild sedative," she offered and explained. She didn't know why but she didn't question her as she gratefully took the small, gnarly piece of what looked like a plant root.

Placing it in her mouth she bit down. She was expecting a seriously bitter taste and while, yes, there was a slightly bitter undertone, the taste was overwhelmingly of orange.

She sat back and let the sedative do its work, she could physically feel the tension in her shoulders and her headache fade away as she relaxed into her chair. She'd not felt this chilled out for a long time. By the time she started paying attention to her surroundings again the room had visibly calmed. The newest arrival was amicably chatting away with her father.

"How'd you feel?" Sakura asked, she was still stood by her. Tsunami gave her what might have been the most genuine smile she'd given anyone in a long time. "Really good actually," she answered taking the chewed root out of her mouth. "Whatever this is, is really, really good," she commended.

"It's called orange root, you can get it from most herbalists, apothecaries and even some flower shops. It's fairly common and not very expensive," she said handing her a small pouch bag with more root inside.

"Put plenty of puncture holes in it and you brew it with tea or just chew it. Don't swallow it though, it'll give you massive stomach cramps if you do."

Tsunami loathed accepting it. Under any other circumstances she'd procure her own supply, but right now, that just wasn't possible. She thanked her profusely.

-(*)-

"Close the blind behind you," she sharply chided him. Knowing not to argue, Naruto closed the window she'd left open for him and quickly pulled the blind down as Kurotsuchi flipped the switch on a lamp behind the room's sofa.

The room was familiar to him now, it was the same room she was put in last time. Luckily for them both, her windows didn't overlook a main street so sneaking in and out was fairly easy.

The Iwa group's first day in Konoha had been a casual, relaxed affair. A brief, hour-long meeting with the Hokage in the morning was followed by an early lunch. The afternoon they could spend as they wished.

Kurotsuchi had spent several hours with the other female members of their entourage meandering around Konoha's shopping districts. Naruto conveniently, and unfortunately in his case, was their escort.

But spending nearly half a day together already, all be it with others, hadn't discouraged either from spending some time together privately. "Did you learn that seal from your brother like I asked?"
"I did… But I still can't really figure out why." When she'd asked him to learn it she'd neglected to tell him why.
"Because, you dummy," she retorted with a grin, "I'd rather the others not listen in on our conversations. Or learn that they happen to begin with."
"Oh," he conceded, it was a rather good reason.

"You want me to activate it now?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded. He withdrew a small rolled up scroll from his pouch and spread it out across the carpeted floor. A fairly complex array design was already inked onto the otherwise untouched paper.

Naruto placed a hand over the array and allowed his chakra to flow into it. It immediately activated with a light blue glow. The previously small design began expanding in size. It soon outgrew the scroll and started spreading across the floor. When it reached the walls it started climbing them and continued across the ceiling. With a minute the seal covered the entire room.

"Is it active?" she quietly asked him. He nodded, "Yeah, that's it. So long as there is chakra to power it, it'll remain active. I've put enough in to last an hour or so."
"You can put more in if needed?"
"Yes."
"And it's one way only, right? sound can enter my room but not leave it?"
"Again, yes."
"Excellent," she grinned.

"Now, sit," she ordered. He never got the chance to do so himself, she pushed him back into the sofa. "I'm capable of sitting down on my own Kuro-chan," he complained, giving her a non-serious scowl. "Well you were taking too long and stop with the stroppy child look. You're supposed to be a grown up," she retorted joining him on the sofa. "And you and I are long overdue a grown up conversation."

Naruto immediately tensed nervously as she leaned her elbow on the top of the sofa, her head resting on that arms hand so she could look straight at him, her legs tucked under her body.

It was hardly just Naruto with a sudden bout of nerves. Kurotsuchi had run dozens of simulations of this conversation in her head in the previous few days and now that it was here, her mind had blanked. All that time she'd spent meticulously wording questions and deciding on the order in which to ask them had been for nought.

Then again, her mentality coming into this had been; the fewer questions, the better.

Her memory abandoning her left her with a slight feeling of frustration bubbling away at the back of her mind. It was then that Tri's words of advice from months earlier echoed through her consciousness. 'Don't be afraid to force the issue.'

She'd put a great deal of thought into the meaning of those words. She figured out that he meant she should discard with subtly and be blunt, sometimes bluntness was the best course of action, this was such a situation. She trusted Naruto enough not to freeze up if she cut to the chase.

"Naruto-kun," she said getting his attention as he'd taken an interest in the far wall instead of her. He turned to face her and she took her chance. "I'm going to skip all the skirting around the issue and get straight to the point.

"Naruto-kun, do you have a crush on me?"

Jeez! That was about as subtle as a punch to the face,' he mentally groaned. With a deep breath he gathered his thoughts, he absolutely could not lie or evade the question, she'd immediately pick up on it and verbally slaughter him for it. Honestly was the only acceptable cause of action and so he answered honestly.

His head dipped a little, he couldn't hold her gaze as he spoke, one word. "Yes," he said quietly, almost as if in embarrassment.

In the years to come Naruto would never quite understand why he thought it was embarrassing in any way.

Because he now wasn't looking at her he never saw her previously passive facial expression change to a massive smile.

"Good," she happily stated.

End Chapter

[1] - Yes, while we know Chōjūrō likely sides with Mei during the Kiri Civil war, Zabuza doesn't.