Chapter Eight: Bai's Gender...

“Heh, easy for you to say—after all, it wasn’t your village that got hurt!” Zabuza sneered. To put it bluntly, Konoha wasn’t the one that suffered, nor was it the one manipulated...

“Don’t forget,” Kakashi interjected, cutting off Zabuza, “we had Danzo too. The Fourth Hokage died caught up in a conspiracy as well.”

“Uh...” Zabuza fell silent. That was true—Konoha had once stood alone against all four great nations. And now? White Fang and the Fourth had died tragic deaths, the Three Legendary Sannin had gone rogue, and among their Kage-level fighters, only the aging Third and Danzo remained...

Compared to Kirigakure, it didn’t look much better. And Sunagakure’s fate was even bleaker.

“So what are you planning for the future? Are you going to take on a disciple and form an organization like Akatsuki?” Zabuza asked. Since he wanted to take Haku as a student and had openly told a missing-nin like himself, there had to be a reason.

“Of course not,” Haoyun shook his head. “Simply using force to threaten the world is foolish. The real way forward is to open up ninjutsu learning completely, strengthen education in science and technology, enlighten the people, and overthrow the rule of the daimyos.”

His words brimmed with revolutionary fervor. He didn’t know much about running a country with science in his previous life, but as for the political games in this world... well!

“I have plenty of books here—why don’t you take a look first?” As he spoke, Haoyun produced collections of quotations and philosophies from various great thinkers, as well as histories detailing the development of slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and society, handing them all to Zabuza.

“Read these first. While much in them doesn’t match our world, the core ideas all lead to the same truth. From them, we might truly find the essence of peace!”

Cradling the books, Zabuza gave Haoyun a long, searching look.

“Alright! Once I’ve read them, if I agree with your ideals, I’ll come find you again!”

With that, Zabuza signaled to Haku to help carry the books, leaped up into the trees, and prepared to leave.

“Wait! I have one more question!” Haoyun called out just as the pair jumped into the trees.

“What is it?” Zabuza stood on a branch, frowning. He needed more time to read and think—if the other wanted him to answer now, he’d refuse. Anyone without patience wasn’t worthy of saving the world.

“Oh, it’s nothing important. Just a question that’s been on my mind for a while.” Haoyun smiled, ignoring Zabuza and turning to Haku. “Haku, can you tell me—are you a boy or a girl?”

“Huh?” All at once—Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi, even Zabuza himself—gaped at Haoyun in disbelief. What kind of devilish question was that? And besides, wasn’t Haku’s gender clear enough... Wait—come to think of it...

Everyone’s gaze drifted to Haku’s strikingly delicate face. Even Zabuza regarded him with a hint of curiosity.

Haku’s cheeks flushed a deep red, and his movements became enchanting, full of elusive allure. With a mix of shyness and mischief, he stamped his foot, vanished in a swirl, and left behind only a voice that could have belonged to either gender.

“I’ll tell you next time we meet!”

Zabuza nodded to the others, then hurried after Haku, his question echoing in the air.

“Haku, are you a boy or a girl? I don’t even know myself...”

After the pair had left, Kakashi regarded Haoyun with a strange—no, a distinctly strange—look.

Haoyun turned away and whistled. What? I just want to know my future disciple’s gender—is that a crime?

After hesitating a moment, Kakashi shook his head, pushed the tangled thoughts aside, and grew serious as he voiced his real question.

“You’re... not from this world, are you? Like Kaguya Otsutsuki—you came from somewhere else, didn’t you?”

He couldn’t really be blamed for thinking that. The books Haoyun had produced were simply too advanced.

Haoyun only smiled, without answering. He wasn’t here to save the world—he just wanted to prevent tragedy. The world could only be saved by itself.

All he’d given was a collection of information.

Once the Land of Waves was settled, he still planned a trip to Akatsuki... Of course, as for schemers like Madara Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, and Black Zetsu—they’d be better off dead!

“Let’s go—we can’t waste any more time. On with the mission! I want to get to the Land of Waves soon, and then head to the Land of Rain to meet Akatsuki’s boss!”

Urged by Haoyun, the six of them pressed on toward the Land of Waves.

...

After arriving in the Land of Waves, Haoyun left his three disciples in Kakashi’s care to learn the basics of chakra control and hurried off to the Land of Rain, seeking out the tragic figures Nagato and Konan.

Things went smoothly. Aside from Nagato and Konan, none of the other Akatsuki members were present in the Land of Rain.

After subduing Konan with a display of lightning, he met Nagato. What happened next hardly needs repeating—Haoyun once again worked his persuasive magic, played them his recordings, and revealed the true puppet masters behind the ninja world. He left a set of great thinkers’ books for them to study, sternly warned them not to let White Zetsu find out, and then returned alone to the Land of Waves.

Those worth saving, those who could be saved, had now begun their ideological awakening. Haoyun was content to let time work its magic.

A month passed after the bridge in the Land of Waves was completed. By then, everyone but Haoyun himself had undergone tremendous changes.

First was Kakashi. After learning the truth about Obito, he voluntarily removed his Sharingan, becoming a true one-eyed shinobi. Free from the strain of the Sharingan, he recovered his full Jonin strength and chakra reserves.

Next was Sasuke. Having fully absorbed the genetic serum, his body transformed into that of a Sage, his chakra automatically becoming Sage Chakra. His eyes bypassed the Mangekyo and Eternal Mangekyo stages altogether, evolving straight into Rinnegan—he could now use Almighty Push and Planetary Devastation. His strength soared to Kage level!

The only surprise for Haoyun was that Sasuke’s original Mangekyo abilities vanished—perhaps a normal result of a perfect Sage body.

Then there was Naruto. Haoyun entered Naruto’s seal, used his foreknowledge as leverage, and gained Kurama’s trust. He then released the seal, allowing Naruto to fully access Kurama’s power. Naruto mastered Nine-Tails Mode ahead of time, unlocked the Rasengan skill tree, and developed the Rasengan, Giant Rasengan, Tailed Beast Rasengan, and Rasenshuriken. His strength, too, rose to Kage level!

Sakura, thanks to her extraordinary chakra control, fused her chakra with Armament Haki. With Brainstorm’s calculations and guidance, she developed monstrous strength techniques like the Superhuman Punch and Heavenly Foot, becoming a true powerhouse. Brainstorm even helped her analyze Kakashi’s sealing techniques, resulting in her mastering the Strength of a Hundred Seal and Yin Seal as well as reinforcing her body with Armament Haki. Sakura reached her complete form and advanced to Kage level!

The only regret was that, while Kakashi knew the Eight Gates, opening them required the body to gradually adapt. Although Sakura now had the physical strength to open the Death Gate, to avoid hampering her growth, she couldn’t open any gates for now and had to watch others use powerful techniques instead.

In short, with Haoyun and Brainstorm’s help, all three of his Team Seven disciples had advanced to Kage level. Once fully grown, any one of them could reach Super Kage or even Sage of Six Paths tier!

The future was now clear as day.