Hic. Tazuna let out another drunken burp. Whether it was the alcohol giving him false courage or just a need to vent his frustrations, he looked at Team 7 and began ranting:
"A bunch of kids… Are you really capable of protecting me? Especially—"
"Think carefully about the consequences before you speak."
Naruto cut him off coldly.
Tazuna sobered up quickly under Naruto's gaze.
'This brat's eyes… they're terrifying.'
And it wasn't just Tazuna. Even Chūnin instructors at the Academy couldn't handle that pressure.
"Even if you're our client, don't think you can be overly rude," Naruto said, eyes narrowed.
"Y-yes… of course…" Tazuna stammered, suddenly obedient.
"Now, now, Naruto—don't scare the client." Kakashi stepped in, patting Naruto's shoulder. Then he addressed the group: "Half an hour from now, we meet at the village gate. Don't be late."
"As long as you're not late, Kakashi-sensei, I suppose we should push that back by two hours," Karin muttered.
Everyone in Team 7 was already familiar with Kakashi's chronic lateness.
"This time, I absolutely won't be late. I swear!"
---
Half an hour later
Team 7 assembled at the gate and, under Tazuna's guidance, departed for the Land of Waves.
Along the way, Kakashi lectured the team on various mission protocols. When he stated that a C-rank mission typically wouldn't involve fighting other ninja, Naruto noticed Tazuna's heart rate suddenly spike.
They kept a steady pace—enjoying the scenery as they moved. By noon, they'd already traveled over 50 li (approx. 25 km) from Konoha. If it weren't for Tazuna slowing them down, they'd probably already be boarding a boat to the Land of Waves.
The world of Naruto is relatively small. Much of it is uninhabitable wilderness. Human settlements are mainly concentrated in the Five Great Nations and a few smaller countries. The total landmass is actually quite limited. Compared to Earth—or the Dragon Ball world—this planet is much smaller.
---
As sunset approached, Naruto suddenly sensed two faint chakra signatures nearby—both just below Chūnin-level.
On the path ahead, two suspicious puddles of water had formed on either side of the road—each radiating faint hostility.
'Sloppy concealment.'
Sasuke, Karin, and Kakashi all noticed them too. In fact, everyone except Sakura and Tazuna seemed to catch on.
But no one said a word. They calmly walked past the puddles.
Just as they passed, two masked figures emerged from the water, breathing through filtration masks.
They instantly targeted Kakashi—seemingly the strongest of the group—launching an attack with a bladed chain.
"One down!"
With a sharp pull, the chain appeared to rip Kakashi apart in a spray of blood and gore.
But before the attackers could even celebrate, a blur of blue chakra flashed past them. In the blink of an eye, a figure struck both men with powerful kicks, sending them crashing into nearby trees—completely incapacitated.
It was over in seconds.
These were supposed to be Chūnin-level enemies. Team 7 could have let Sakura handle them as training.
Kakashi bound the two unconscious assailants and explained who they were:
"Chūnin from the Hidden Mist. They're known for fighting to the death, no matter the odds."
More accurately, these two were missing-nin from the Mist—known as the "Demon Brothers," Gōzu and Meizu, subordinates of the infamous Zabuza Momochi.
Still, since their headbands weren't scratched and they weren't well-known, it was reasonable that Kakashi didn't recognize them at first.
---
"Tazuna-san," Kakashi turned toward their client, "care to explain why ninja from the Mist Village are after you?"
"Running into enemy shinobi makes this at least a B-rank mission."
Falsifying the rank of a mission is a serious offense in every Hidden Village.
B-rank missions usually mean facing Chūnin-level enemies.
But someone like Zabuza Momochi? Even an A-rank designation would be an understatement.
That's two whole ranks higher than C-class—essentially jumping from Genin-level to Jonin-level difficulty.
"I had no other choice…" Tazuna mumbled, now drenched in sweat. The alcohol was long gone from his system.
"No need to waste breath."
Naruto interrupted coldly. "I don't care what your excuse is. The mission continues. Team 7 doesn't abandon its assignments halfway."
As for the consequences?
That's on you.
Whether or not the Third Hokage had his eyes on Gato's fortune didn't matter. Naruto definitely had his sights set on it—along with the Land of Waves, which bordered the former territory of the Uzumaki clan.
"Kakashi-sensei, isn't it good to have some enemy ninja to sharpen our real-world combat experience?"
"Only Sasuke and Sakura haven't fought in real battles yet, right?"
"Let's just consider this preparation for the upcoming Chūnin Exams, don't you agree?"
It was rare for Naruto to even mention Sakura, and it wasn't exactly a compliment.
But the real message was clear:
> "Naruto and Karin have already seen combat while in Root."
Kakashi wasn't blind. From the way Karin interacted with Naruto—sometimes a bit overly familiar—it was obvious they'd known each other long before joining Team 7.
That final comment especially caught Kakashi's attention: Genin with no real-world battle experience would be at a severe disadvantage in the Chūnin Exams.
Back when he was their age, Kakashi had already fought countless real missions.
After thinking it over, Kakashi finally nodded.
"Team 7, we continue the mission."
"Yes!" Karin beamed as she grabbed a now-leg-wobbly Sakura, smiling like nothing was wrong.
"Hmph." Sasuke didn't say anything—he just let out a cool snort.
But his slightly trembling hands betrayed his excitement.
---
With renewed focus, they sped up their pace and reached the port shortly after.
The Land of Waves was a small island nation—isolated from the mainland by water. This was why Tazuna's bridge project was so crucial: the nation's lifeline was entirely controlled by the tycoon Gato.
To Naruto, it didn't make sense. Why try to stop the bridge before it was built?
Wouldn't it do more damage to morale to destroy it after completion?
If it were up to him, he'd definitely go with the second option.
When the group asked to cross the sea, not a single boatman dared take them.
Gato's name alone struck fear into the hearts of civilians.
Still, Tazuna wasn't just anyone—he had connections. Eventually, a local fisherman agreed to help, and successfully ferried them to the Land of Waves' shoreline.
---
Even before they landed, Naruto sensed a presence watching them closely.
"Hmm... Not bad. I'd give it… maybe a 90 out of 100."
He wasn't comparing it to his own chakra signature—he was using Kakashi as the benchmark.
Then it came.
Wind roared, waves crashed, and a massive executioner's blade sliced through the air toward Team 7.
A bold, arrogant voice rang out:
"No wonder the Demon Brothers lost. So you're the famous Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake."
The Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi, had arrived.
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