Naruto: The Legend of Red Haired Shanks

The Land of Waves. 

Though it was called a "nation," it was really just a small island with a town and a few villages. 

It wasn't a real country in the traditional sense— 

And that was exactly why Zabuza was able to set foot here. 

"No matter what kind of group you belong to, you need funding. Even as pirates, we need a source of income." 

"As pirates, a good ship is a must. According to the intel, the Land of Waves has some of the best shipbuilding techniques in the world. That's why we're headed there." 

Standing on a floating piece of ice, Zabuza explained to Haku beside him. 

Not long after Zabuza first set sail, his ship had sunk. 

By chance, that was how he met Haku— 

And from then on, Haku became the first mate of the Blade-less Pirates. 

Of course, at the moment, their crew only had two people. 

"I see, Captain. So we're going to take control of the Land of Waves and then build a ship?" 

Haku nodded. 

This was his first time being a pirate, so there was a lot he still needed to learn from his captain. 

"No, no, no. As free pirates, we don't control any country. But we can collect protection fees. If Gato doesn't pay us, then we just won't protect his fleet." 

Haku was completely new to all of this—he didn't understand how things worked at all. 

Zabuza didn't have much patience for kids. 

The only reason he bothered with Haku was because of his talent and potential. 

"But Gato's fleet already has guards, and he's hired ninjas. Normal people wouldn't dare attack his ships, right?" 

Haku looked at the intel scroll Zabuza had given him. 

Gato's forces seemed impressive— 

At least, to someone like Haku, who had grown up in a small village. 

But Zabuza didn't take Gato or his hired ninjas seriously at all. 

"Normal people wouldn't, sure. 

But we're *pirates*. 

If he doesn't pay the protection fee, we'll just rob his fleet." 

"Huh? So, Captain, if he pays, we protect him. And if he doesn't pay… we attack his fleet?" 

Haku finally understood. 

But something about it felt… off. 

They were supposed to be offering *protection*, yet it somehow sounded more like robbery. 

"Haku, you've still got a lot to learn." 

Zabuza sighed. 

"If only your mother were still alive… 

She was strong enough to be called 'Aokiji' by Shanks. 

Such a shame."

When he met Haku, he was surprised by Haku's abilities—it was indeed the Ice Release of the Yuki clan. 

But it was clear that Haku was not the Aokiji that Shanks had mentioned before. 

Haku inherited his abilities from his mother, and his mother was dead. 

So naturally, Zabuza assumed that Haku's mother was the Aokiji Shanks had talked about. 

After all, their ages matched perfectly. 

She was around the same age as Minato and Terumi Mei. 

"Captain Zabuza, do you know anything else about my mother?" 

Haku was curious about his mother's identity. His childhood wasn't happy, but after meeting Zabuza, he felt a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. 

It wasn't just because Zabuza didn't hate him—it was also because of the respect Zabuza had for his mother. 

"I didn't know your mother, so how would I know much about her?" 

"What I told you was just what Shanks told me." 

"But I can still tell you a little something." 

Zabuza wasn't sure why, but he suddenly felt like talking. 

Maybe it was because he hadn't spoken to anyone besides Shanks in a long time. 

Or maybe it was just the satisfaction of revealing something that only he knew. 

Hearing his captain's words, Haku's eyes lit up. 

"Kizaru, Aokiji, Akainu." 

"Those were the names Shanks gave to those three people." 

"The one I know the most about right now is the one called Kizaru." 

Zabuza gave a mysterious smile. 

Then he stopped talking, leaving Haku hanging in suspense. 

"Captain, keep going!" 

"Pay up. This kind of information doesn't come for free." 

Zabuza held out his hand without hesitation. 

"Captain, that's a ninja rule. We pirates don't have a rule about paying for information." 

"Fine, it's not really top-secret info anyway. You'll find out sooner or later." 

Zabuza didn't really care. 

There was no way a name as famous as the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, could be hidden. 

"Kizaru was actually the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato." 

"He made a name for himself in the Third Great Ninja War, known for moving as fast as light. On the battlefield, ninjas couldn't even see his figure—just a golden flash, followed by death." 

"Not long after the war ended, the man known as Kizaru, Namikaze Minato, became the Hokage of Konoha." 

"But soon after, he died in Konoha's internal conflict." 

Zabuza sighed. 

He wasn't stupid. 

He didn't understand it before, but after seeing Shanks' unbelievable abilities, he finally got it. 

That whole story about the Nine-Tails attack happening because of a sealing issue? 

With how ridiculous the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques were, something like that should never have happened.

A warrior recognized by Shanks wouldn't be weak enough to struggle against the Nine-Tails. 

Besides, even if Namikaze Minato alone couldn't hold it back, did everyone else in Konoha just drop dead? 

From Zabuza's perspective, Konoha was no different from Kirigakure—both were rotten. 

No, to be exact, all ninjas were rotten. 

"As for the third person among them, the one called Akainu… The burn on my chest was her doing. She may not be well-known yet, but I believe it won't be long before she becomes the Mizukage of Kirigakure." 

"And your mother, the last of the Yuki Clan, is ranked alongside them—Aokiji. What do you think your mother was like?" 

Zabuza smirked. 

Hearing this, Haku's face showed a trace of pride. 

So his mother was that strong. 

She was on the same level as the Fourth Hokage, a legend in the ninja world? 

"Keep working hard, kid. The day you become strong enough to inherit your mother's title… Even though you have her abilities, your kindness will be your greatest weakness. If you don't have the strength to protect it… It will get you killed." 

Zabuza stood up from the floating ice. 

In the distance, more than ten warships appeared on the horizon. 

Behind him, Haku activated his Kekkei Genkai. The seawater around them began to freeze, spreading nearly 200 meters outward. 

That was his limit. 

Zabuza walked to the edge of the ice. 

"Gato, it's time to pay up."