"Kakashi-sensei, you're late again!"
"Ah, sorry about that. Let's begin the mission. First, let me introduce our client—this old man here is Tazuna." Kakashi stood with his pack slung across his back, hands shoved in his pockets, looking at the straw-hatted old man beside him.
"Uh, greetings. I'm Tazuna, an engineer. I plan to build a bridge between our village and the Land of Waves. But a corrupt merchant is obstructing me, so I came to Konoha for help. I didn't expect them to send… children." His expression was sour—it was obvious he looked down on Sasuke and the others. "Hey, old man, are you underestimating us? I'm the man who'll be Hokage!" Naruto shouted.
"Enough, Naruto." Kakashi looked at Tazuna. "Old man, if it's just some corrupt merchant, these kids can handle it. And if things escalate, I'm a jōnin. But if more dangerous enemies come after you—"
"There won't be anyone else! Just that corrupt merchant! You think I'd lie to you?"
"Is that so?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes at him.
"I agree to your escort."
"Then let's move out."
"Yeah! A real mission!"
They entered the forest. Naruto grumbled, "What kind of mission is this? No chance to show off." Sasuke scoffed, "Just don't hold us back, dead-last."
"What? Wanna fight?"
"Naruto—" Sakura started, but several shadows flashed past. "Ah!" she screamed. Two shinobi lashed out chains, binding Kakashi. "Eh? Ah!" Kakashi cried. The chains tightened, and Kakashi's body seemed to burst apart in a spray of blood. "Hmph, that's all?" the two sneered. "Next." Chains whipped toward Naruto. "No, no, stay back!" Suddenly two kunai intercepted, pinning the chains to trees. Sasuke had thrown them. He sprang up, planting his feet on their arms, then shoved off and kicked them both hard.
"You okay, Naruto?" Sasuke asked. Naruto wanted to hit him just for saying it. Before he could answer, the two enemies targeted Tazuna. Sasuke stepped in to block and took the blow head-on—but felt no pain. Kakashi's hands had already seized the rogues from behind. With his grip, they had no resistance left.
"I could've ended them instantly," Kakashi said lazily to Tazuna.
Tazuna snapped, "Then why play dead? That child was injured!"
"I had to confirm their intent. You said it was just a corrupt merchant. But these are rogue ninja…"
Tazuna lowered his head. "I… I had no money. So…"
"Then the mission is terminated."
"But Kakashi-sensei, we can't—" Naruto started. Kakashi cut him off. "Because you're hurt, we can't continue. We're heading back."
"Wait! This little scratch is nothing!"
"That chain was poisoned. You'll die."
"What—?!" Naruto froze. "Then—" Before Kakashi could finish, Naruto jammed a kunai into his wound, letting the poisoned blood flow out. "Now we can continue, right?"
"…Fine. We'll proceed."
"Where are they? Come out and fight!" Naruto shouted, trying to look brave. "Naruto, down!" A massive blade whirred past his head.
Kakashi thought calmly, *Momochi Zabuza… perfect. I'll pull you to my side.*
"Oh? So it's you, the Copy Ninja, Kakashi of the Sharingan." The man stood balanced on the great sword lodged in a tree.
"Sharingan? Kakashi's an Uchiha?" Sasuke stared in shock.
"Oh! One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist… Demon of the Hidden Mist, Momochi Zabuza."
"Demon…?" Sakura trembled.
"As a child, he was in a training camp where hundreds of children slaughtered each other—he was the only survivor."
"Oh? Surprised you know that, Kakashi. Now, hand over the old man. I've no interest in fighting you." Zabuza's tone was flat.
"Looks like I'll have to move. Sasuke, you three—mandala formation. Guard Tazuna."
"Oh? I'd like to see this Sharingan for myself." Zabuza readied his blade.
"You want to see my Sharingan? I'm not interested in using it. But I'll show you my sword." Kakashi drew a crimson blade from nowhere, blood-red light gleaming.
Zabuza was surprised. "The Copy Ninja uses a sword? And not just any blade. Let's see its power. I'll test it." He leapt, massive sword swinging. Kakashi slipped aside, his own blade trembling. "Blood Slash—Falling Star."
Eight slashes struck Zabuza. After three seconds, eight lines of blood welled and began to flow.
But the "blood" splashed on the ground turned to water. "Mizu Bunshin (Water Clone)." Kakashi wasn't surprised—it wasn't the first time.
"Heh. Fine swordplay." A voice came from behind. Zabuza swung, cutting Kakashi in half—the body split at the waist. He blinked. "A Water Clone? You, the Copy Ninja, know our village's jutsu?"
"Doton—Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu (Headhunter Jutsu)." A hand seized his ankle, dragging him into the ground until only his head was visible. "Damn—" he struggled. "Ah—" Three senbon whistled into his neck, striking lethal points.
"Thanks, Leaf shinobi. I'm from the Mist ANBU. Please leave his body to me." The speaker was a masked youth, expression unreadable.
Kakashi checked Zabuza's pulse. "He's dead. Take him." He knew otherwise, but he had other matters to handle. "Thanks to you, Kakashi-san," Tazuna said, relieved.
"No need. Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura—you'll stay here. Over there is a chakra-rich forest. Train your control."
"How do we train?" Naruto scratched his head.
"Tree climbing. Walk up with both feet, using chakra to stick. That's all. I'll test you when I return. Tazuna-san, they're in your care."
"No problem, no problem." Tazuna nodded quickly.
//Check out my Patreon for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[[email protected]/Razeil0810](http://[email protected]/Razeil0810)