Having disposed of the two bodies, Kakashi returned and directed a scrutinizing gaze at the guilty-looking Tazuna.
The chill in his dead-fish eyes seemed to drop the ambient temperature by several degrees.
“Mr.
Tazuna, I think we need a thorough, honest conversation,” Kakashi said, his voice level yet carrying unquestionable authority.
“Originally, this was a B-rank mission to escort you back to the Land of Waves.
A standard escort task is C-rank, but you paid B-rank compensation.
B-rank missions involve risks like ordinary bandits or thieves, but what we encountered were elite Genin—and they were just the advance scouts.
There will be even stronger enemies ahead, making this at least an A-rank mission.
As their team leader, since you maliciously concealed the mission’s background and risks, I can declare the mission terminated at any moment and return to Konoha with my students on the spot.” Tazuna’s hands trembled violently, spilling half a bottle of murky sake directly onto his dirt-stained pants.
He fell silent for a long time, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty.
Finally, deflating like a popped balloon, he sat heavily on a jagged rock and took off his dark-rimmed glasses, fogged over with moisture.
“I’m sorry…
I really did lie to you.
If I hadn’t claimed it was B-rank, I couldn’t possibly have scraped together enough funds to hire anyone for an A-rank mission.” Tazuna’s voice turned hoarse and sorrowful as he recounted how a mob boss named Gato had seized control of the Land of Waves.
Under Gato’s rule, the people lived in abject poverty, clinging to the hope of building a bridge to connect with the outside world and gain a chance at survival.
“That man uses money to hire thugs and ronin, controlling all maritime routes in the Land of Waves.
We’re an island nation; without sea routes, it’s like having a chokehold on our necks.
I poured in my life savings and gathered the hard-earned money scraped together by the whole village to build that bridge—all to break the monopoly.
It’s the final hope for tens of thousands of lives in the Land of Waves…” As Tazuna spoke, a dismal portrait of despair unfolded before the three children.
To construct the bridge, Tazuna’s family had been threatened and villagers murdered; every step he had taken on this journey was drenched in blood.
“If I die on the road, construction on the bridge will grind to a halt completely, and everyone in the Land of Waves…
will sink into Gato’s shadow forever.
I concealed the truth because I truly couldn’t afford B-rank, let alone A-rank fees.
I only have my own life to gamble with!
Once the bridge is built, I’ll do whatever you ask of me!” The old man looked up at Naruto, his eyes filled with a humility that verged on pleading.
Kakashi’s expression grew more serious than ever as he looked at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, his tone heavy as iron: “Listen closely.
If we go on, we won’t be facing hired small-fry like these, but renowned bounty hunters, rogue ninja, and ninja from other nations.
Based on difficulty rating, this is genuinely an A-rank mission now.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura—as your team leader, it’s my duty to tell you that backing out now is nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, it’s the most rational choice.
This far exceeds the responsibilities of Genin, or even Chunin, and I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to protect everyone.” A deathly silence fell over the forest.
Sasuke let out a cold snort, glancing sideways at Naruto.
A wild flame of ambition burned in his pitch-black eyes.
“If I can’t even overcome an obstacle and fear of this level, how can I talk about restoring my clan?
How can I get revenge on *that* man?
Kakashi-sensei, if you plan to run, suit yourself.
I’ll keep going on my own.” “I’m going too!” Naruto bolted up from the ground, his wounds already scabbed over.
The confusion in his eyes was replaced by resolute determination.
“I won’t stand by and watch the old man’s dream get crushed!
I don’t want to see the people of the Land of Waves suffer!
If I can’t save the Land of Waves, how can I ever be worthy of becoming Hokage?
That’s my Nindo—I’ll never back down!” Sakura looked at her two teammates, took a deep breath, and nodded firmly.
Kakashi’s heart trembled.
*Obito, I see your shadow in my sensei’s son…
Maybe this is the chance you and Sensei gave me for redemption.
I’ll treasure it!* “Since it’s a unanimous vote, let’s keep moving.
But from now on, everyone stays on high alert.
Don’t stray too far from the team.” “Thank you so much!
On behalf of the people of the Land of Waves, thank you!” Tazuna bowed deeply to Naruto and the others.
Looking at these kids whose eyes now showed a ninja’s resolve for the first time, Kakashi couldn’t help but think of Uchiha Hoshi back in Konoha’s Medical Corps, probably casually sipping tea at this very moment.
If that black-hearted kid were here, he’d likely be wringing an extra IOU out of Tazuna while smilingly plotting how to strip Gato’s vault bare.
The group resumed their trek.
Crossing the dense border forests, the air gradually turned salty and damp as they reached the coast of the Land of Fire, facing the Land of Waves across the water.
Tazuna stood on the shore and waved toward the opposite bank; soon, a small boat rowed over to pick them up.
A fisherman dressed in heavily patched clothes steadied the small boat and said respectfully, “Mr.
Tazuna, you’re back!
That’s wonderful!
Can the bridge be built now?
We’re saved!” Tazuna nodded.
“Yes, I brought Kakashi Hatake from Konoha to help.
We’re saved—take us across quickly!” “Alright, everyone please board.
I hope you don’t mind how simple the boat is.” “No problem, mister!
Thanks for coming to pick us up!” Naruto stepped on without ceremony and almost tipped over.
Kakashi felt a sudden pang of despair.
*What did Naruto even learn at the Academy?
He can’t even maintain his balance?
His Chakra control is atrocious…* The party crossed smoothly by boat into the Land of Waves.
As soon as they stepped ashore, they felt something was wrong.
A thick fog rapidly rose around them, saturated with a suffocating killing intent.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura felt as though invisible hands were clutching their throats and pressing down on their chests, making it hard to breathe.
Kakashi abruptly halted, staring into the dense fog ahead.
His body instantly tensed—an instinct forged through countless brushes with death.
“So they’ve come…
This unsettling killing intent.
Look out, get down!” Kakashi swiftly pushed Naruto and Sakura to the ground, while Sasuke quickly tackled Tazuna down.
A massive, rapidly spinning iron blade sliced horizontally through the air with a whistling screech.
The group barely dodged the strike.
A figure sauntered out from the fog.
“So it’s Konoha’s top technician, the Copy Ninja Kakashi.
Since when did you become a babysitter?
Those two failing and dying at your hands is hardly unfair.
As long as you abandon the mission, I’ll let you and your squad leave alive.”