Naruto: Tobirama Reborn, Invincible in the Ninja World

The four rogue ninja lay sprawled on the ground, limbs broken and wailing in agony. Blood pooled around them, signaling their lives would not last much longer.

The small girl cradled in Han's arms squirmed free, leaping to the ground with tears streaking her face. She grabbed the kunai from one of the dying men's hands and, crying out in rage, drove it into their bodies repeatedly.

"You monsters! You bastards! Give me back my parents! Give them back…!"

Han didn't intervene. Instead, he stood silently behind her, his expression a mix of sorrow and pity. These rogues were nothing, not even at the level of genin—mere garbage—yet...

"Sigh…" Han exhaled deeply, finally reaching out to grasp the girl's wrist.

"Enough. They're already dead. This won't bring your parents back."

"Why? Why didn't you come sooner?!" The girl's voice broke as she turned to glare at Han. Her red, tear-streaked eyes locked onto the Iwagakure headband on his forehead. "If you had come earlier, my parents wouldn't have died! You're an Iwagakure ninja—why didn't you protect us?"

"I…" Han's throat tightened. He had countless words to say, but all that escaped was a sigh. He pulled the girl into his arms and whispered softly, "I'm sorry. I was too late."

Hearing this, the girl's sobs grew uncontrollable as she buried her face in Han's chest, letting her grief pour out.

Time seemed to stand still in that moment.

When the girl had cried herself to sleep from exhaustion, Han gently laid her down and began tending to the village. He gathered the bodies of the fallen villagers, digging a large grave in the village center. After burying them, he raised a simple earthen gravestone with his Earth Release.

Carrying the sleeping girl, Han left the village, his heart heavy with regret.

"What's your name?"

"Zilu," the girl replied softly.

Over the next few days, Zilu grew more comfortable around Han. Though the pain of her parents' death lingered, she was no longer consumed by it.

"Do you have anywhere else to go?" Han asked.

Zilu shook her head. "I've lived in the village with my parents my whole life."

"Then come with me. I'll take you to Iwagakure. You might even be able to attend the ninja academy and become a ninja someday," Han said with a kind smile.

"A ninja?" Zilu's eyes widened. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded firmly. If the village had had a ninja, they might have been spared from the massacre. If she became a ninja, she could protect others.

"My name's Han, Zilu," he said warmly.

"Han ..., thank you. Thank you for saving me. And… I'm sorry for what I said earlier," Zilu said, lowering her head in shame.

Han chuckled. "Ah, it's nothing! You think I would hold a grudge over something like that?"

The two figures, one small and one large, walked side by side under the sun, their shadows blending together in harmony.

After deciding to take Zilu in, Han abandoned his aimless wandering. He planned to return to Iwagakure immediately and inform the Tsuchikage of his decision to take on a student.

The failure to save the villagers weighed heavily on Han's conscience, but in Zilu, he saw a spark of determination he couldn't ignore.

"Old man, if we don't hurry up, the target will be back in the village!" Hoshigaki Kisame shouted, his voice laced with impatience as he looked at Kakuzu.

Since their meeting, the two had already fought, with Kisame emerging victorious. Begrudgingly, Kakuzu agreed to work with him. But their journey through the Land of Earth had been delayed by Kakuzu's detour to a bounty station, where he took a contract and killed a rogue ninja for the reward.

"You don't understand the joy of counting money. I'll leave as soon as I finish this stack," Kakuzu said, nonchalantly counting bills while ignoring Kisame's glare.

"Fine. But make it quick." Kisame grumbled, leaving the underground bounty station.

When Kakuzu finally emerged, he found Kisame waiting outside, his expression murderous.

"Calm down, boy. It's not like the target's going anywhere," Kakuzu said, brushing off the tension.

...

"Zilu, the Tsuchikage is a stubborn old man. He might not agree to me taking you as a student. When that happens, just act sweet and beg him. He has a soft spot for that," Han said with a conspiratorial grin.

"Really?" Zilu tilted her head, then nodded enthusiastically.

"Han-sama is going to have the strongest student! You'll be able to flatten Akatsuchi one day!" Han exclaimed, dashing ahead like an excited child.

Zilu giggled and followed him. She had never seen a ninja act so carefree.

"Han! Stop running! Behind you!" The sudden warning rang in Han's mind, breaking the peaceful atmosphere.

A massive water shark surged toward him from behind.

Reacting instantly, Han's unique steam-powered device activated, propelling him forward at blinding speed. He narrowly avoided the attack as the water shark crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.

"Well, well, you dodged that?" Kisame emerged from the underbrush, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Who are you?" Han asked, his chakra flaring as he positioned himself between Kisame and Zilu. A quick glance sent Zilu sprinting away.

Kisame didn't bother chasing her. "She's not my target. You are."

Han's steam device hissed as it prepared for another burst of speed.

"Let's see how long you can keep up," Kisame said with a grin, unsheathing Samehada. Its grotesque, scaly form seemed to hunger for battle.

Their clash began, steam meeting water in a fierce battle of power and technique.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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