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The very next morning, Zabuza opened the door to see one of the twins. He stood and waited for him to speak.
Gozu~The mercs left a short while ago. Meizu is tailing them to confirm that they're gone from the area and maybe see if they report to their boss.
Zabuza~What direction are they traveling?
Gozu~West-southwest. They were following the main road when I came to report.
Zabuza grunted.
Zabuza~Return to Meizu. Report back after you confirm either or both outcomes.
Gozu nodded and jumped off. Zabuza shut the door and made his way back to the kitchen to finish making his coffee.
Ann~Are they doing their job?
Zabuza~Surprisingly.
Haku gave him a look. Zabuza raised a brow, but placated him.
Zabuza~Yeah. They're doing it properly enough where I don't need to follow through. Yet.
He blew at his drink and took a sip while eying Haku. The boy gave a small nod and went back to eating.
Ann~What would you do if they didn't do it right?
Zabuza~I'd make it right. Go eat, brat. I'm not going anywhere any time soon.
Ann~Promise?
Zabuza~Yes, Ann. I promise. Now eat.
She nodded and went back to breakfast.

Later that evening, after sending the kids to bed, he heard movement outside. He calmly went outside and soon saw the twins.
Zabuza~You’re noisy.
Gozu~Apologies.
Zabuza~You’re both here. What happened?
Meizu~The mercs stopped at the edge of the province. They met up with others of their group.
Gozu~They reported that this area was a bust for recruitment and moved on. They mentioned a name, Gato. We suspect that that's their boss. Sounds familiar too.
Zabuza~Look into it. Sounds like a petty crime organization or some business mogul. Maybe both. Keep observing the hamlet as well and let me know how the rumor is spreading.
Twins~Hai.
Zabuza went back in as they left. After shutting the door and looking up, he found Ann standing near the hallway.
Zabuza~I thought you were already asleep.
Ann~I got worried you left without saying something…I'm sorry…
She wiped her eyes and turned to go back to her shared room with Haku.
Zabuza~Hold on. What's actually wrong? Ann.
He caught up to her and stopped her.
Zabuza~Tell me. You've been off all day…
Ann~I don’t know…There's something I can't shake…It's cold…
Zabuza~You feel cold or that thing is cold?
Ann~The thing is cold. And it makes me feel sick…
Zabuza~Has that been something you felt all day? Why didn't you say something sooner?
Ann only shrugged and wiped her eyes again. Zabuza quietly let out a breath and picked her up. She wrapped her arms around him and pushed into his neck.
Zabuza~Can you tell me anything more about that something?
He felt her shake her head, then heard her scratch at her hands again. Zabuza pulled one hand away and held it at his chest.
Zabuza~Alright then. Sleep with me tonight. Hopefully it passes. If it doesn't, I hope it's just illness and not related to her kekkei genkai…
He brought her into his room and laid down with her. Ann curled into his side and shook.
Zabuza~Ann?
Ann~Too cold…
Zabuza hummed and pulled the blankets up more for her. He even started to rub her back when her shivering didn't stop. That seemed to have helped as Ann soon stopped and fell asleep with light snores.

Zabuza woke to find his side empty. Nothing felt out of place, so he got up to look for her. He started by checking her room. Haku was still asleep and her bed was empty, so he went to the bathroom next. The door was open and he found her sitting on the counter with a kunai nearby. His breath caught, but he spoke as evenly as he could to hide it.
Zabuza~Ann, what're you doing?
Ann~I…I dunno…I was going to cut my hair, but…I don't…
Zabuza~Did you already try?
Ann~No…I wasn't sure how to start. Or where….
He sighed and came to her. He kissed the side of her head, then hoped that she was too distracted to notice his moment of softness from relief.
Zabuza~I know we talked about that a while ago, and it fell through. Do you still want your hair short?
Ann~How short can I go?
Zabuza~I'd prefer it if you kept it longer than your shoulders, but if you really want it shorter…Alright.
Ann~I'm not sure…Can we see?
He hummed and gathered her hair. Then he brought it up in a way for her to see how'd she look
Zabuza~Remember that once we go shorter and you don't like it you'll have to wait for it to grow back to be long again. Better to start long and cut off more if needed
He grabbed the kunai.

After cutting her hair, Zabuza left her to bathe and closed the door on his way out. He came out to Haku just leaving his room.
Haku~Morning, Zabuza. Is everything okay?
Zabuza~Hey. Yeah. I guess. Be supportive of Ann. You'll understand when you see her.
Haku~Sh-should I be worried?
Zabuza~No. I just…You'll see. Don't bring attention to her resemblance to me.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Zabuza~Please don't.
He walked off to make breakfast before Haku could make a comment about him using “please.”
Haku~Ann can't possibly look that much like him…Could she?
The boy followed Zabuza to the kitchen to help. By the time they finished, Ann was out, and Haku instantly knew why Zabuza made the request.
Her hair was cut short, shorter than a bob, and it made her look like a cute child version of the man.
Haku~It looks nice, Ann. Do you like it?
Ann~Washing my hair was much faster. But my hand kept slipping past where my hair is.
Haku~That's understandable. You'll get used to it soon.
He patted her head on his way down the hall.
Ann~What's with Haku?
Zabuza~Probably just needs the bathroom. He got up when you started your shower.
Ann~That makes sense. Do you like it, Zabi?
Zabuza~I just need time to adjust to it. Last time your hair was this short you were an infant. Come sit.
He sat with her and she started eating. Zabuza was just sipping at his coffee until Haku joined before he started eating with them

Over the next several days, Zabuza got reports that the rumors were being brought up less and less. The afternoon he got the report that no one had brought up in the past 48 hours, was also when the kids were outside training together while he was sharpening his sword and Ann's future sword to his side. The twins lingered after the report.
Zabuza~What is it?
Meizu~The smaller one is…Her looks are unsettling…
Zabuza~If you want to stay you don't make connections about her to anyone or anything.
Gozu~Of course, boss.
Zabuza~Is something you guys need?
Meizu~Is it possible to train with you?
Zabuza~Hmph. With me or the kids?
Gozu sighed
Meizu~Both. Mostly the girl.
Zabuza whistled and the kids paused.
Haku~Is there something wrong, Zabuza?
Zabuza~Nothing. Brat, can you still spar?
Ann~Yeah. Am I fighting against you again?
Zabuza~Not me. Meizu, hold out for an hour against her, and don't get floored more than five times. Brat, I want you to practice suppressing your chakra again. Do what you need to to floor him at least five times before the hour. Dragon and vortex are off limits.
Meizu~You taught her those?!
Ann moved in and threw him to the ground.
Zabuza~That's one.
Meizu~Hey! I wasn't–
Ann~There's nothing you could possibly say to help your case. Get up already.
She giggled and stepped away as he stood.
Ann~Zabuza, can I practice with the sword?
Haku sighed
Haku~I'll get the med kit, Zabuza…
Zabuza~No, brat. You're suppressing chakra right now.
Gozu~If she's referring to either of the swords he has, she could probably kill us if she wanted to…
Ann~Okay, Zabuza…Next time?
Zabuza~We'll see if conditions are met first.
Meizu dashed at Ann and swung, but she substituted away and floored him again by kicking his feet out from under him.
Haku returned with the first aid kit. He sat near Zabuza.
Zabuza~That's two. How the ******** have you stayed alive for this long?
Haku quietly huffed. Zabuza rolled his shoulder to let Haku know he heard him.
Ann~Zabuza, are you sure they're competent?
Zabuza~Pretty sure. Meizu, she can take a hit. Fight like you mean it or stop wasting our time. I hope I never looked this pathetic when I trained with Ane.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes.
Gozu~If you don't mind me asking, exactly how hard did you train her?
Zabuza~It's been about a year and a half since I started her training. You figure out the strength output. Remember the jutsus I told her not to use too.
Gozu thought for a moment, trying to calculate exactly how strong she was. Finally, his eyes widened in shock.
Gozu~Brother, you can certainly stop holding back.
Meizu~Gladly.
He made a feint and disappeared.
Ann swung to the side, her arm going through Meizu as he turned into water to substitute away.
Meizu~How did you know I was there?
Ann~You’re noisy. Your movements have no reason to be that wide. You make so much noise.
Meizu~You know the Silent Killing Technique?
Ann~Don’t you?
She smiled and put up a hand sign to summon a thick mist.

The others heard a constant clanging of metal.
Gozu~Sh-she can't possibly know how to navigate through the mist…
Zabuza~I taught her the two skills separately. She figured out how to integrate it together herself. She must really want to scare that dumbass…Too much like her mother…
He tried not to shudder.
Haku~I suppose we'll start training in the mist soon?
Zabuza~Soon.
The clanging slowed, and there was a build up of chakra.
Haku~That isn't her, right?
Zabuza~No, her chakra has a different flavor you could say. It feels too similar to Ane's…Creepy…

Meizu~Where did that brat go?
The clones were taken out from kunai knives that came from the trees, and at the same time Ann pinned Meizu with his arm up his back. Then she dropped the mist.
Ann~I don’t like that you called me brat. Tap.
Meizu tried to throw her off, but Ann already pulled his arm further up.
Ann~I will break you first. Tap and never call me that again.
Gozu~You're going to let her?
Zabuza~He can break free at any time.
Gozu~Don’t be a ******** idiot, Meizu. Tap already.
The other twin growled, then Ann pulled his arm even further. Meizu finally tapped with his other arm, but Ann didn't let go yet.
Meizu~I won't say it again!
Ann stepped off of him and stood to reset. Meizu got up, rolling his shoulder a few times.

It only took a couple minutes before Meizu got taken down another two times. Ann had misdirected him with a water clone for one instance and the next she managed to catch him a water prison jutsu.
Gozu~You taught her that too?!
Zabuza~Yeah. I'm surprised she's standing with that size.
Zabuza got up from his spot and walked towards them
Meizu~What the s**t, Zabuza! You should have told me she could do this!
Zabuza~You shouldn't have underestimated her. Again. Tap already. Less than an hour and she got you five times. You're pathetic.
Meizu growled and tapped the prison. Ann released the prison and staggered while Meizu dropped to the ground, getting soaked by the prison in the process. Zabuza reached out to steady her.
Zabuza~You used too much chakra for that jutsu. Again. Go to Haku.
Ann nodded and went to Haku. She dropped to sit next to him then he started to look her over. Gozu came over and pulled his brother up.
Meizu~What kind of training do you guys do?
Zabuza~More than whatever the hell you guys do. Your performance was piss poor. If you're gonna stick with me, I'm going to drill you to the ground. I expect you to keep up with the brats.
Gozu~You’re still going to train us?
Zabuza~Let me rephrase then. If I'm going to keep you, you need to be useful enough to me to actually be supportive. Go home and get cleaned up. We'll train tomorrow morning. Dawn.
Zabuza left them to check on Ann. He picked her up one-handed and took her inside with Haku at his heels.
Gozu hit Meizu.
Gozu~You're a ******** idiot. All you proved is that a ******** child is more competent than us.
Meizu~Might be so, but I'm fairly certain that the brat is Ane's offspring.
Gozu~You're still being a ******** idiot. Zabuza already warned about trying to piece ANYTHING about her. You will get both of us killed by him.