(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
(E/N: First of all, many decided to add +18 elements at the right time and their numbers beat those against, and while I said I'm not comfortable writing about them young, many did point out that they can kill as early as five and six years old, which makes sense. So, I guess I'll write when it is opportune.
Secondly, it seems in a future chapter, the author has briefly said the mc and a certain female lead had snu snu, but didn't put in any details. My thinking, is to add a chapter describing that night.
It's still in the future for the public, but it is near in Patreon, like in the next few days, which is why I'm saying this to announce it. So I can gauge reactions about it.)
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"Wait!"
Seeing the satisfied expression on Tazuna's face, Colt, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up.
"Naruto, be more considerate in the future"
He first healed Naruto's bleeding palm, then looked down at Tazuna condescendingly.
"Old man, there's one thing you may be mistaken about. Concealing the true level of a mission is grounds for retribution from our Konoha Village."
Tazuna stammered, "Young man, what do you mean? Haven't I explained everything clearly?"
He thought his acting skills had fooled everyone, but he didn't expect this kid to be so perceptive.
Colt snorted coldly, "Typical C-rank missions are only handled by the most common Genin teams, with at most one Chunin. Yet on our first encounter, we faced two Chunin."
"Naruto, if another team had accepted this mission, they'd be dead by now!"
Colt had been very dissatisfied with Tazuna's moral manipulation when he watched this episode in his previous life.
If it wasn't for the protagonist's team, even Kurenai or Asuma wouldn't be able to guarantee a complete retreat when faced with Zabuza.
Now this old man wanted to deceive them with the same trick.
Colt would never agree!
Were the people of the Land of Waves poor? Yes, they were.
But it wasn't his fault.
If you want to post a mission, follow the proper procedures.
Even if the money was temporarily unavailable, the benefits after the bridge was built could be exchanged.
But Tazuna had been planning to freeload all along.
Naruto was silent, and after he thought about it some more, he knew that what Colt said was right.
But he was really unwilling to give up the mission like this.
Should the decision they just made end here just like that?
Sasuke also reacted and looked at Tazuna with disdain.
To think that he, the genius of the Uchiha clan, was fooled by a common old man?
It seemed he was still a bit naive…
"Ninja-sama, I was wrong, I beg you to save the Land of Waves. I'll agree to any conditions!"
Tazuna panicked when he saw that Naruto and the others showed signs of being persuaded by Colt. He hurriedly got down on his knees. He presented a pouch of money.
"This is all the money that the Land of Waves can gather. Please don't abandon us!"
Colt's mouth twitched. "It's not impossible for us to continue the mission."
"Now sign an S-class mission contract, and the fee will be paid in three-year installments."
"Mr. Tazuna, you don't want the Land of Waves to be controlled by this Gato you talked about... do you?"
When a person was in despair, they will grasp at even the flimsiest straw.
Even though Tazuna knew about the high cost of an S-rank mission, he agreed without hesitation.
Colt then smiled. He was in need of money after all…
With the mission able to continue, the group embarked on their journey to the Land of Waves.
Kakashi gave Colt a thumbs up.
Having performed many missions, he easily saw through Tazuna's ploy.
He had chosen to remain silent just to test Sasuke and the others.
This resolution was a relief to him and didn't affect the overall situation.
Colt also smiled without saying a word. In truth, he wouldn't have given up this mission.
Not for the civilians of the Land of Waves, of course, but for the first cash cow in the ninja world: Gato.
To forge his own ninja tool, he was nearly driven to insanity.
Now that such a large gold mine was placed before him, he naturally wouldn't abandon it easily.
Along the way, Naruto was unusually quiet, and Sasuke became more cautious.
Their initial carefree attitude had disappeared.
Kakashi and Colt remained in tandem, guarding everyone.
Chunins appearing in the first wave of attacks meant that the people behind the scenes were far more powerful than this.
So... the next opponents would be at least Jonin level?
Though they appeared relaxed, Kakashi had already heightened his awareness.
The Land of Waves was located between the Land of Water and Konoha, a very small island nation.
After two days of travel, they finally arrived at the border coast of the Land of Fire.
Early in the morning, Colt and the others set off from the dock on a small boat, heading towards the Land of Waves.
The sea fog was thick; without an experienced boatman familiar with these waters, they might have lost their way.
Currently, all contact and transactions between the Land of Waves and the outside world were monopolized by Gato. Any ships coming or going had to pass inspection by his men.
The boatman dared to ferry everyone to the Land of Waves through the thick fog.
He didn't even dare to start the boat's engine, slowly rowing with the oars instead.
It wasn't until they drew near, that a magnificent half-finished bridge appeared in everyone's sight.
"This is the hope of our Land of Waves. Once the bridge is built, we'll be free from Gato's control."
Tazuna's eyes were complex, full of hope and worry.
Through the fog, everyone quietly set foot on the land of Waves.
Sasuke slowed down and approached Colt's side with a conflicted expression.
It was rare to see such an expression on him.
"Colt, what was that Lightning Style jutsu you used against those two ninjas earlier?"
Sasuke had a gut feeling.
This Jutsu would suit him very well.
That's why, after a long period of mental preparation, he finally summoned up the courage to ask Colt.
He had always regarded Colt as a goal to surpass, but now he was asking him about a jutsu.
It made him feel very uncomfortable, it was a weird feeling.
"You mean Chidori-Nagashi? That's a derivative of Chidori. You must master Chidori before you can learn it."
Colt did not hide anything.
Giving Chidori to Sasuke was fine; Kakashi wasn't Senju Tobirama and didn't care much about copyright issues.
'So, that jutsu is called Chidori-Nagashi?'
Sasuke's eyes lit up, and he was about to say something when Naruto approached Colt with an angry face.
"I want to learn that lightning Jutsu too."
How could he possibly lose to Sasuke? If Sasuke was going to learn it, he had to learn it too.
Colt shook his head. "No, you don't have the Lightning chakra nature, but I'll teach you another jutsu that's definitely not inferior to Chidori."
Hearing that Naruto smiled.
"Thank you" Sasuke whispered.
Colt smiled and said nothing.
In fact, Sasuke's character wasn't so unpleasant now.
It wasn't until he met Itachi again and was surpassed by Naruto that he became quite extreme.
As for Naruto, with Colt's cover of having read the Book of Seals, the Rasengan could also be passed on to him openly.
Even if the Third Hokage knew about it, he would only praise Colt for cherishing his companions.
Kakashi was a little envious; he had long wanted to ask Colt about Chidori-Nagashi.
But because of his position as a teacher, it was really hard to ask.
Not everyone was like Jiraiya, using his apprentice's jutsu and his apprentice's daughter-in-law's sealing technique to conquer the world.
*Swish*
Suddenly, Naruto threw a kunai like a maniac, scaring a rabbit.
"You idiot, it's just a rabbit"
Sakura was so angry at Naruto.
Naruto's nervousness was about to reach its breaking point.
Kakashi, on the other hand, looked around cautiously.
This was no ordinary rabbit, but a snow rabbit used for the Substitution Jutsu.
At that moment, a harsh sound of air being split came from a blind spot.
A rather large sword flew out, rotating with the momentum to cut everyone in half.
"Everyone, get down!"
Kakashi shouted and ducked to dodge the sword.
Those who were warned also instinctively lay down and escaped the danger.
Only Colt, lost in thought, watched the rapidly approaching sharp blade.
What kind of strategy was this, throwing your weapon out before the fight even starts?
He thought of the previous owner of the executioner's blade, the one before Momochi Zabuza.
He was a madman who dared to slash at a Tailed Beast Bomb with a sword.
'So, does holding an executioner's blade lower your IQ?'
Holding his scabbard with his right hand, he slightly pushed up a section of the blade, and an invisible air flow wrapped around Kaminari.
Colt didn't intend to dodge at all.
If the attacker was going to be so reckless, he'd teach them a lesson they'd never forget.
Calming himself, he whispered in a low voice:
"The heart is the intent, and the breath is in harmony with the divine."
"Heaven-Splitting Sword Draw!"
(E/N: I tried to exclude as much Chinese as possible from this one lol)
One strike of the sword, and the world changes!
This sword technique was the ultimate Kenjutsu that Colt could achieve.
The unparalleled speed of drawing the sword, combined with the strong Wind chakra, could cut through anything.
A dazzling light emerged from the blade, beautiful and dangerous.
Under the horrified eyes of everyone, the menacing executioner's blade was directly split in two!