The next few days were surprisingly uneventful.
During the day, Sakura and the others accompanied Tazuna to the Great Bridge, responsible for protecting his safety.
At night, they would take time to practice Ninjutsu.
The bridge was already half-built.
Tazuna was undoubtedly an excellent engineer; the unfinished bridge looked grand and imposing from a distance.
Sasuke and Naruto had also completed their tree-climbing practice ahead of schedule.
Thanks to Sakura, the super Straight A student, they had gained insights into controlling Chakra.
Sasuke, in particular, not only learned to climb trees but could also walk freely on water.
The black-haired boy didn’t say anything, but he was grateful to Sakura in his heart.
Today was the seventh day of bridge construction.
Sakura had nothing to do, so she accompanied Ms.
Tsunami to buy some food for the evening.
This was Sakura’s first time strolling through the Land of Waves.
The girl was surprised to see that this street, lined with buildings, was strangely desolate.
Beggar islanders could be seen everywhere on the streets, from an eighty-year-old woman to a three-year-old child, all in rags.
Only a few shops and supermarkets on both sides were open; most were closed.
The open stores mostly sold old-fashioned goods, as if no new stock had arrived for a long time.
Ms.
Tsunami noticed Sakura’s surprise.
This gentle and beautiful woman began to tell Sakura the root of the Land of Waves’ misery: Actually, the Land of Waves used to be very prosperous, as could be seen from these magnificent buildings.
But in recent years, due to Gato’s interference, the sea transportation hub was monopolized, making it difficult for the Land of Waves to trade goods with other countries.
Although the Land of Waves had no Ninja before, it relied on its geographical advantages.
The islanders lived by fishing year-round, and the island had fertile land for growing fresh fruits and vegetables.
With these, the islanders could trade with the surrounding great nations.
Though not wealthy, they were well-off and content.
Sakura nodded, suddenly reminded of a passage she had learned in her previous life about ‘The Peach Blossom Spring.’ The Land of Waves back then was undoubtedly a paradise.
But ever since Gato took over the sea transport, everything had changed.
Speaking of this, Ms.
Tsunami couldn’t help but lower her head sadly.
As a small civilian country without a Ninja village for protection, the Land of Waves couldn’t even find a single Ninja.
Faced with the tyranny of evil forces, they could only swallow their anger.
It was clear how important strength was in this war-torn world of Naruto.
Only with absolute power like that of the Five Great Nations could one survive in this treacherous world.
As Sakura lamented the hardships of the Land of Waves, she once again realized the importance of strength.
“Miss, can you give me something to eat?
My grandmother is dying.” Sakura’s thoughts were interrupted.
Before her was a little girl about three years old, wearing a thin gray shirt, her face covered in dust, her clear eyes begging Sakura.
Probably because Sakura was neatly dressed and rosy-cheeked, she looked like someone from a well-off family.
Sakura instinctively pulled a pack of compressed biscuits from her pocket and handed them to the girl.
The girl happily bowed repeatedly, then ran to an old woman nearby.
This action of Sakura’s made the surrounding beggars think the girl had food.
They suddenly gathered around Sakura, extending dirty hands to beg, their eyes turning fierce, as if saying: If you don’t give, we’ll take.
Sakura was a bit surprised.
Indeed, refugees who had been hungry for too long had no sense of propriety or shame.
In their eyes, only food mattered, because food could save their lives.
For food, they could even turn from beggars into robbers in an instant.
Sakura’s green eyes sharpened.
She took a Kunai from her waist, and the killing intent of a Ninja emanated from her young body.
This barely drove back the surrounding beggars.
Ms.
Tsunami breathed a long sigh of relief.
She hadn’t expected Sakura’s small body to unleash such a fierce pressure.
So, this is a Ninja?
…
On the eighth day, Sakura, as usual, patrolled the bridge construction site with Naruto and Sasuke.
The fog was thick today.
Sakura had a bad feeling.
Kakashi also sensed the danger.
He told Tazuna to go back early.
Wasn’t this heavy fog the perfect time for an enemy ambush?
But Tazuna wanted to use up the mixed cement as soon as possible, otherwise, he would have to remix it tomorrow.
There was no choice; Team 7 had to strengthen their patrol.
Fortunately, the cement was finally poured smoothly.
Tazuna organized the workers who had built it to have lunch, and he invited Team 7 to join.
“Wow!
Fragrant seaweed rice balls!
I’m digging in!” Naruto couldn’t help drooling at the rice balls before him.
Just as the boy was about to enjoy his meal, three Shuriken shot straight through the thick fog.
“Watch out!” Quick-witted Sasuke immediately used the Shadow Shuriken Jutsu, barely blocking the attack.
Naruto nervously swallowed his saliva.
Good thing he hadn’t started eating, or he might have choked.
“Hahaha—you’re still in the mood to eat?
Konoha Ninja sure are carefree.” A taunt came from the thick fog, the voice harsh and piercing.
Following the direction of the voice, three Ninja slowly emerged from the fog.
They showed no intention of sneaking or assassinating; clearly, they were very confident in their strength.
One Jonin and three brats weren’t worth them attacking from the shadows.
The speaking Ninja had a smoky-eye makeup, short dark brown hair, and held two short swords with crescent-shaped branches on the blades.
“It’s the lightning blades, Kiba!” Kakashi, well-traveled, immediately recognized the identity of the swords.
Raiga Kurosuki?
A survivor of the previous generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who disappeared after escaping from Might Duy’s Eight Gates.
I never thought he would show up in the Land of Waves today!
Standing next to him was a thin, small-built youth wearing a Kirigakure mask.
The other was a muscular man with a kubikiribocho slung over his shoulder, half his face wrapped in bandages.
“It’s Haku and Zabuza Momochi,” Sakura couldn’t help saying.
Gato was indeed capable, able to hire two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and an Ice Release Bloodline Limit user to work for him.
Indeed, no matter the world, money had enough allure…
The other three members of Team 7 looked at Sakura in surprise.
How did she know the Kirigakure Ninja?
But Kakashi couldn’t care about that now.
He immediately ordered Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to form a ‘well’ shape, protecting Tazuna and the other workers in the center.
Kakashi’s expression was grave.
If, as Sakura said, the other was Zabuza Momochi, then with him and Raiga Kurosuki joining forces, they would be facing two Elite Jonin at once.
What followed would undoubtedly be a tough battle, one that could be deadly.
Kakashi slowly lifted the forehead protector from his left eye, revealing a crimson three-tomoe Sharingan.
“The Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake.
So you did get the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan.” Zabuza spoke coldly.
His Ninja handbook detailed information about this Konoha Elite Jonin.
Sasuke was startled.
He was also curious why Kakashi, who wasn’t from the Uchiha Clan, possessed the Sharingan unique to his clan.
“Heh, in the face of the Sharingan, all your Ninjutsu will be laid bare.” Kakashi wasn’t an arrogant man.
He said this to intimidate the three opponents.
At least, it would keep their side’s morale from falling behind.