Disclaimer:
Dialogue
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 23: We Keep Going
"You can't do that! We made a deal!" Tazuna shouted at Kakashi.
"You purposely hid information from us and put my team in danger in the process. I have full right to end this mission right here and now. And be thankful that is all I would do…others would not be so kind in my place," Kakashi told the old man in a cold voice.
Tazuna did not dare to complain anymore.
"But, Teacher…if we abandon the mission now, what would happen to him?" Sakura looked at Tazuna with worry. She may not particularly like the old builder, but to leave him to die just feels wrong.
"I don't want to abandon my first proper mission because things got a bit more dangerous," Sasuke decided. At this rate, he was never going to catch up to his brother. Especially if he started giving up on hard missions.
"So you two want to continue? What about you, Naruto?" Kakashi asked him.
"I agree with continuing the mission," Naruto simply said to his teacher. But he was really hoping this mission got more interesting. It had been a while since he had a proper fight.
His cultivation was still at the Body Forging Stage where he was beginning to use chakra to reinforce his body. It was going to take a month or two at least before he could break through to the Qi Refining stage. Only then would he be able to start using all that energy in more interesting ways.
"Mmm…" Kakashi stared at Naruto for a few seconds. He wanted to make sure the boy was in good condition to continue after his 'first kill'.
'He is either really good at hiding it or…he is not affected at all.'
Kakashi turned to the old builder. "Very well…since my students have agreed to it…we will continue this mission. But I do have one condition…"
"O-of course, anything! But if you want more money, I'm afraid that…"
"It is not money. What I want is the truth. Who is after your life?" Kakashi asked.
"A very dangerous man…" Tazuna started. "You may have heard of him. His name is Gato and he is one of the wealthiest shipping magnates."
"The Gato Company? Of course, I have heard of him. He is one of the richest men in the entire continent," Kakashi said.
"A shipping company?" Naruto asked.
Tazuna nodded. "On the surface at least…but secretly, he also sells drugs, weapons, or anything that can bring him money. He uses mercenary ninjas as bodyguards and hires assassins to kill whoever gets in his way. A year ago, he came to our country of Wave. It took him no time to take control of the country's shipping industry by buying all the competition and becoming the sole provider. He now has a monopoly on all business traffic. Everything that goes in and out of the country is through his company."
"I see…your bridge would give the people a better alternative, making his business disappear into smoke," Naruto concluded.
"That's why he is trying to kill you? So he can make more money? What a despicable man!" Sakura exclaimed.
"So those two ninjas were hired by this Gato," Sasuke said.
Tazuna nodded. "There are probably several more. All hired by that man to eliminate me. If you quit the mission…I won't last long."
Kakashi looked at his students. They had no complaints after hearing everything that Tazuna had to say.
"We will continue the mission as contracted. My team and I will protect you until you finish that bridge."
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"I still can't see anything," Sakura repeated.
"Is this mist normal?" Naruto asked.
"I'm afraid so. This is one of the reasons navigating these waters is so dangerous," Tazuna answered.
"We should see the bridge soon," said the man driving the boat.
Just moments later, a gigantic bridge came into view.
"Whoa! That is massive!" Sakura shouted.
"Be quiet! We are trying to hide, that's why we are rowing instead of using the engine," the driver scolded her.
"If Gato's goons find us here, we will be in a lot of trouble," Tazuna added.
They remained quiet as they approached the coast. The boat went underneath another part of the bridge and arrived at a small port.
"This is for me…I wish you good luck," the driver of the boat told Tazuna.
"You did more than enough." The old man knew the risk that anyone who helped him was taking. "Thank you so much."
The group looked around the small port town. It appeared to be in a terrible state. Most of the houses were in dire need of repairs, with their wooden walls filled with holes or missing tiles.
When asked what happened here, the old man's only answer was, "Gato."
They quietly left behind the small port town and ventured further into the woods. Their target was to bring Tazuna back to his house, and it was still some distance away.
They were all on high alert now. This was basically enemy territory and also the most likely place to be ambushed since it was the only way to reach the old builder's house.
'If we are attacked again…it will surely not be a chuunin like those two from before…but a jonin,' Kakashi thought as they moved. He spotted some movement in a nearby bush and then saw something white.
With a smooth movement of his wrist, Kakashi sent a kunai toward the target.
They were all startled by his actions.
Naruto looked around but could not see anything suspicious or detect any presence.
'Damn these dull senses…Kakashi must have seen something that I missed.'
They all approached the place where Kakashi had shot his kunai and found a dead white rabbit.
"Teacher! You just killed a poor rabbit!" Sakura said in horror.
"A white snow rabbit?" Sasuke noticed the issue. This rabbit was only white during the winter, but now it was summer. Its fur should have changed to brown…unless someone kept it in a dark cage.
"Get ready…we are about to be attacked," Kakashi warned.
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