"Why isn't he here yet?" Naruto squatted, bored, counting ants on the ground.
"What a waste of time," Sasuke muttered, equally annoyed.
They had been waiting for half an hour, but there was still no sign of Tazuna.
"As shinobi, patience is one of the most important virtues," Kakashi said casually, though inwardly, he was already planning how to use his Sharingan on Tazuna.
Having been a shinobi since the age of five, he had no qualms about such actions—especially since it was a direct order from the Hokage. If it came down to it, even killing Tazuna wouldn't weigh on him.
"He's here," Shinho said, opening his eyes as one of his tracking insects circled briefly in front of him before flying off again.
When traveling, he always relied on his insects for scouting—an efficient method that didn't even drain his energy reserves.
Naruto immediately jumped to his feet. "Where?"
It didn't take long before they spotted their target—a scruffy old man with glasses and a bottle of sake, his face flushed red with drink, stumbling toward them.
"He's drunk?!" Naruto shouted in disbelief.
Sasuke was about to comment but stopped when he noticed Kakashi lifting his headband to reveal his Sharingan.
What's going on? Sasuke thought, suddenly on high alert.
Kakashi only ever used his Sharingan in dangerous situations, but they were still within Konoha's walls. Was there a threat nearby?
"Three brats? Are you really capable of protecting me?" Tazuna slurred as he took in the sight of them.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. If they weren't on a mission, he would've made sure this old man learned what it meant to insult an Uchiha.
"Tazuna-san," Kakashi called out calmly, catching Tazuna's gaze with his Sharingan.
Tazuna hesitated for a moment, a brief, confused expression crossing his face before he snapped out of it. "What's the big idea? Trying to scare me with those red eyes?"
Sasuke's face darkened at the comment. You've chosen the wrong words, old man.
But he held himself back, realizing something was off. He had felt the pulse of Kakashi's chakra just a moment ago.
What had he done to Tazuna? Clearly, there was more going on here than met the eye.
If shinho knew what he was thinking, he'd be shocked. Since when did Sasuke start using his brain?
Kakashi lowered his headband and covered his Sharingan once again. "I was just proving that our team is fully capable of protecting you."
"Hmph!" Tazuna scoffed, clearly emboldened by the gesture. "I paid for this mission. You have to protect me all the way to the Land of Waves!"
"Don't worry, we will," Kakashi said with a calm smile.
"Then let's get going!" Tazuna huffed, his mind already more at ease.
"Let's move out," Kakashi said, signaling to the team. "Shinho, you'll handle reconnaissance."
"Understood." Shinho nodded and set his tracking insects into action.
They left Konoha, heading southeast toward the coast, where the Land of Waves lay beyond the sea. Because they had a civilian with them, their pace was slower, stopping frequently to rest.
At first, Naruto's excitement was palpable, but after days of nothing but walking, his enthusiasm waned. He had expected to encounter bandits or pirates by now, but the journey had been uneventful.
Meanwhile, Shinho was unperturbed, taking the time to enjoy the scenery.
After five days of travel, they finally reached the sea.
"Whoa! The ocean!" Naruto shouted, suddenly full of energy again, running up to the water's edge.
Shinho couldn't help but compare his reaction to the joy of someone from the south seeing snow for the first time.
Tazuna exhaled in relief. They had reached the border of the Land of Waves, but he knew the real danger lay ahead.
Gato wouldn't let him return home alive. Still, he hoped the presence of Konoha shinobi would be enough to scare off any attacks.
"Do you have a boat?" Kakashi asked, eyeing the distant islands.
Walking on water was an option, but it would drain too much chakra, leaving them vulnerable if they encountered any enemies.
"Yes, I've arranged for one," Tazuna said, now acting more sober.
It wasn't long before they boarded a small fishing boat.
As they set off toward the Land of Waves, Kakashi stood at the bow, scanning the horizon with a wary eye.
He remembered Shizune's briefing—there was a chance Gato was backed by Kirigakure, and if Mist shinobi were involved, water techniques would be their specialty.
This was the perfect location for an ambush.
"Sensei," Shinho said, walking up beside Kakashi. "Look straight ahead, by the shoreline."
Kakashi looked toward a seemingly insignificant puddle on the sandy shore. It was a common hiding place used by Mist ninjas. This was likely where an ambush awaited them.
"I'll leave it to you guys," Kakashi said after a moment, deciding to let his students handle the situation. He was there not just to complete the mission but also to test and train them.
The enemy didn't seem too formidable, making it an ideal opportunity for Team 7 to gain battle experience.
Shinho nodded. The ones waiting in ambush weren't Zabuza, but the Demon Brothers, two average-level chūnin who were easily dealt with in the original timeline.
Shinho's thoughts turned to Naruto's first real battle in the original story, where he had frozen in fear. Hopefully, this time Naruto wouldn't embarrass himself.
"Bring the boat closer," Kakashi instructed.
Naruto, who had been rowing, grumbled but complied, guiding the boat toward the shore. Once they reached land, Naruto jumped off the boat, full of excitement again.
"Wait," Sasuke suddenly spoke, his eyes narrowing as he sensed something off.
"What is it?" Naruto asked, turning around.
"Brats! It's over for you!" a voice snarled as two figures leaped out of the puddle.
Clad in black cloaks and masks, the Demon Brothers struck out with long chains, wrapping Naruto up before he could react.
The next moment, there was a flash of metal as blades came down toward Naruto, but they clanged loudly as Sasuke appeared in mid-air, blocking both attacks with kunai in each hand.
"You're dead!" one of the Demon Brothers growled, pushing against Sasuke.
Without hesitation, Sasuke released his hold on the kunai, letting the force of the Demon Brothers' swing pull them off balance.
Sasuke twisted mid-air, unleashing a powerful spinning kick.
"Wait... was that the Leaf Whirlwind?" Naruto blinked in confusion. "When did you learn that?"
Sasuke, ignoring Naruto, completed his kick, landing a clean hit on one of the Demon Brothers, sending him flying backward.
"Damn brat!" the other brother growled, releasing the chain binding Naruto and quickly forming hand seals.
"Water Style: Wild Water Wave!"
A stream of water surged from his mouth toward Sasuke.
Is that all? Sasuke snorted, gathering chakra in his throat.
With a swift motion, he unleashed a giant fireball that evaporated the incoming water, shrouding the area in thick steam.
"You think you can hide in the mist and kill me?" the remaining brother grinned. This was a typical Mist Village technique—killing in the fog was their specialty.
But then, through the haze, two ominous, crimson eyes appeared—Sharingan.
"Sharingan?!" the Demon Brother's voice quivered with shock and fear.
Sasuke's confidence surged, his chin tilting upward slightly as he reveled in the terror his eyes inspired.
This was the power of the Uchiha clan, a name that struck fear into the hearts of shinobi everywhere.
He raised his hand, white lightning crackling around it.
"Run!" the remaining brother panicked.
"It's pointless. In the face of these eyes, there's nowhere to hide," Sasuke said coldly.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Arrow!"
With a swift motion, Sasuke released bolts of lightning that struck both brothers, causing them to collapse in a heap, unconscious from the shock.
"I'm coming to help you Sasuke!" Naruto finally broke free from the chains, charging into the fog only to find both enemies already defeated.
"But, Sasuke! I was just about to help! You've got to be kidding me!" Naruto groaned, clutching his head in frustration.
"You were too slow, Naruto," Sasuke said, casting a calm, superior glance at his teammate. He made it look effortless.
"Damn it!" Naruto clenched his fists. They had finally encountered real ninja enemies, but Sasuke had handled everything by himself. Naruto hadn't had the chance to do anything.
Shinho looked up at the clear sky, shaking his head slightly. As expected, Sasuke had more than proven himself in this encounter.
"Well done," Kakashi praised, stepping forward. From detecting the threat to rescuing Naruto and swiftly defeating the enemies, Sasuke had performed flawlessly. He was already displaying the skill level of a chūnin.
As for Naruto, his observational skills still needed work.
Shinho hadn't intervened, but as the team's medical-nin, it was expected that he wouldn't engage unless absolutely necessary.
"Tazuna-san," Kakashi turned to the bridge builder, his tone growing serious. "You lied about the mission details."
"I... I had no choice," Tazuna stammered, taking a step back.
"No matter the reason, you've broken Konoha's rules by providing false information," Kakashi said coldly. "We will have to abandon this mission."
"No! Please!" Tazuna lunged forward, grabbing Kakashi's wrist with desperation in his eyes. "If you leave, the Land of Waves will be doomed!"
Shinho couldn't help but think of a phrase: They aren't apologizing because they regret their actions, but because they fear the consequences.
"Maybe we should listen to him, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto spoke up, his compassion shining through.
"Alright," Kakashi said after a brief pause, glancing at Naruto as if he was reluctantly giving in.
Of course, Kakashi had already anticipated Naruto's reaction and was merely playing along.
"Thank you!" Tazuna breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his brow as he began explaining the situation with Gato and the plight of the Land of Waves.
"So that's the situation," Kakashi nodded after hearing the story. "This is a dangerous mission, which means the price needs to go up."
"But... I don't have any more money..." Tazuna mumbled, clearly uncomfortable.
"No money, huh? Then we'll take something else in exchange—like the control of the bridge," Kakashi suggested calmly.
"That's... well..." Tazuna seemed to want to refuse, but before he knew it, the words had slipped out, "Fine."
"Great, then let's formalize the contract." Kakashi produced a scroll, clearly prepared for this turn of events.
Sasuke couldn't help but feel there was something off about all this. His teacher had planned this from the beginning. It was becoming clear that this entire mission was designed to trap Tazuna.
Still, Sasuke didn't particularly like the old man, so he wasn't bothered by it.
Naruto, on the other hand, found the negotiation a bit odd, but shrugged it off, more excited about the prospect of encountering more ninja.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Tazuna-san," Kakashi said, rolling up the scroll.
Konoha would benefit from this mission, but it was also important to make sure they had a legitimate reason for their involvement.
"It's me who should be thanking you," Tazuna said, unaware of the bigger implications of what he had just agreed to.
Kakashi smiled slightly, then turned his attention to the unconscious Demon Brothers.
Activating his Sharingan once more, he issued an order to Shinho. "Wake one of them up. I need to interrogate him."
Shinho stepped forward, his hands glowing green with medical chakra as he revived one of the brothers.
The moment the enemy ninja woke, Kakashi's Sharingan took hold, locking him in a genjutsu.
"Who sent you?" Kakashi asked, his voice commanding.
"Gato..." the ninja muttered.
"Are there any other ninja besides you?"
"Zabuza Momochi..." the man replied, his voice shaky.
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi?"
"Wait, Zabuza? You mean the one from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen that Guy-sensei's dad, Dai, fought?" Naruto's eyes lit up in excitement.
He had heard the story of Dai from Guy-sensei and was eager to hear more.
"Yes," Kakashi said, his expression a little tight. Naruto's comment had somewhat dampened the gravity of the situation.
Kakashi explained, "Dai fought the first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Zabuza is from the second generation."
"So is Zabuza stronger?" Naruto asked, brimming with enthusiasm, clearly thinking about how Dai had defeated so many.
"He's strong," Kakashi admitted gravely. "He even survived an assassination attempt on the Fourth Mizukage."
"So Dai was stronger than the Mizukage?" Naruto exclaimed excitedly.
What kind of logic is that? Kakashi thought, exasperated. Still, he nodded, understanding that in Naruto's mind, Dai defeating the Seven Swordsmen made him a legend.
Naruto beamed, already imagining himself achieving a similar feat one day.
"I'm going to surpass Shinho with all this training, just wait!" Naruto grinned, already lost in his own daydream.
Shinho, on the other hand, could only sigh. Is he really going to say the same things Guy-sensei says? he wondered.
The Eight Gates... with Naruto's potential... Shinho's thoughts wandered briefly before Kakashi called for the group to move out.
"We're done here," Kakashi said, knocking the Demon Brother unconscious once more.
The remaining cleanup would be handled by the Anbu following them. Their next step was to deal with Zabuza.
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