From small, Ling was involved in the ninja world, receiving direct training from his father in the development of close combat; demonstrating, as he grew up, an ability to learn faster than allowed in a few years even rival his father numerous times in the melee. From there, he began to be instructed in the art of ninja weapons, also showing some skill with most melee weapons, which made it more difficult for his father to guess what weapon ninja would choose the young student of the ninja academy when clan Higuchi ceremony will be held.
The ceremony meant the rise of young ninjas who were to be promoted to the rank Genin and with this promotion they were to choose a single ninja special weapon would use as a weapon, besides the Kunai, typical of any ninja in the world; as proof that the children had chosen correctly, should prove in a battle of ten minutes against the other children as a small tournament organized by the two leaders of the clan, the child who lost control of his weapon was eliminated, being unable to prove that he was worthy of carrying with him one of the special weapons of the clan, they differed from the others by having an engraving on the handle with the emblem of the clan in black and the handle was white; Genin last aspiring to remain with his weapon in hand at the time the battle ended was the only one who could keep his weapon, a tradition that served to see which parent was better mentor to train their son; also would be allowed to winning child, choose a new name that would be identified for life assuming a new identity.
Ling started off with a katana, weapon used by his admired father. He met another child in combat in the ceremony that also showed a great talent with saber and another who uses the chakra knifes, for the first time, felt his chances of sticking with his weapon ran real danger. Gradually, children were eliminated at the hands of Ling and the children who, even working alone, they could be capables to stay with his weapon held in the heat of battle. The time came when only two of them remained in place, only one of them would stay with his weapon according to tradition, had never been otherwise so far. Both charged the other and when the first shock of the leaflets of both weapons, the referee declared the end of ten minutes. One of the two clan leaders rose to applaud the effort of both and recognized one of them as his son, Ling was now more relaxed, not surprised that the son of the partner of his father was able to get to where he came. In an act of communion between the two leaders, trying to be as objective as they could, they concluded that both deserved the victory, so it was declared a tie and both were allowed to keep their weapons. Proud of himself for achievement, Ling decided to approach the child offering to shake his own hand in greeting and was reciprocated. He introduced himself as Ling and the boy was presented as Kanmeh, at that very moment they were ordered to choose the name that would lead from now on. Ling chose the name Zett and Kanmeh chose the name Nemuran.

Years later, after reaching the age of majority and be of rank Chūnin, Zett had mastery in the use of the katana that accompanied him since childhood and also had a very good command of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. His mother had been murdered one evening when he was returning from a mission, and his father saw it all, but he couldn't do anything, now he was depressed about it, he never was the same man again, being more reluctant to assume his duties as the sole clan leader after the death of the father of Nemuran thus neglecting his work, which bothered Zett because that was not the Touya that he knew and with who he raised as his son, was another kind of person; also Zett wanted his father managed to find the person responsible and make him pay. So from that day, he decided on his own take the lead of the clan, but his father flatly refused saying that he was still able to be the leader. Zett having knowledge of how foolish he was becoming his father, for the sake of the clan, but their selfish interests, decided to get to the objective conclusion that his mind was able to find and that his heart refused flatly, had to face in a death match with his father for the control of the clan.

The fight took place in Zett's twenty birthday, it was time to prove to his father that he was being a big coward for not seeking the person responsible for the death of Kisuna. A fierce battle took place leaving as final outcome the death of Touya Higuchi. It was a sad day for the clan, because one of the founding members had been killed by his own son, who everyone knew, was moving under the ambition and desire for revenge. Despite winning the battle, seeing his father bleed to death from stab his sword he hurts more than the impotence of not finding the person responsible for the death of his mother; something inside him snapped and twisted with rage by the last words of his father: "What revenge does not cloud your judgment, I know that you did what you did for selfish reasons, but you're still in time to correct your mistake and be the leader who the clan deserves, my son. Abandon this weak mentality and behave like a real Higuchi, now raise your head high with pride and give me a reason to not regret I left you live, I'll watch you from above...", raising the sword with the bloody handle of his father, he withdrew from the battlefield without speak a word to the people of his clan, plunged in grief and misery but also convinced that it was the only way he must have taken to do justice. Weak mentality? Leave it live? Those comments were the two who remained on Zett's mind those days. He decided don't attend to his father's funeral, he didn't deserve to be part of that event being the murder of his old leader.

Days of exhaustive and obsessive hunt with the unconditional support of his people, they aren't agree with how to proceed with their new leader but showing loyalty that characterized the clan, they helped Ling to find the person responsible for the murder of his mother, finally he could make the emptiness and pain in his heart disappear.

The promised day came, the confrontation with the murderer had arrived, he had gone solo and carried hanging from his back two katanas that were the symbol of his pride and misery, were the proof that he was carrying a heavier than him cross. Rapid pits that pierced the body of the perpetrator didn't make Zett feel good, he didn't understand why he still felt so empty... and a bunch of despair, anger and madness, attempted against the man again and again with their weapons regardless of the it were no longer alive. Tears of anguish, doubt and regret welled up in his tear ducts every time he was chopping with their swords and blood stained the murderer. "You're a fucking murderer!!! Why I don't feel well doing justice?!", shouted to the lifeless body in front of him; but it was when his mind returned the words of his father: "...Abandon this weak mentality and behave like a real Higuchi, raise your head high with pride and give me a reason to not regret leave you live..." those words resounded every day in his head and took away the breath, it hurts the pressure he felt in his chest, he was not weak, he could not; a curse was issued in the form of exclamation showing frustration. So, he left the scene knowing that his act pursues him forever along with the words of his father that he could not fully understand. But no one ever knew anything about what happened that night except the man who was watching him from above...