Kakashi could only sigh as Naruto kept pouting in disbelief.
Explaining any further was pointless. Arata's situation was far from normal, and no amount of logic would make sense to someone like Naruto.
Turning to the old bridge builder, Kakashi asked,
"Mr. Tazuna, do you know how many jōnin Cardo has hired? Aside from Zabuza?"
Tazuna frowned, thinking hard.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "All I ever heard was that Cardo hired a jōnin-level ninja… but I don't know who else might be working for him."
Kakashi fell silent, tapping his chin.
One elite jōnin was already troublesome enough.
If there was another, things could turn ugly fast.
His gaze shifted toward Arata.
He trusted the boy's judgment — probably more than anyone else's right now.
Arata met his eyes and nodded.
"We've come this far. Turning back isn't an option."
He spoke calmly, but his tone carried quiet confidence.
"If another jōnin shows up, I'll hold him off. As long as I can buy time, you can focus on defeating Zabuza."
He paused, then added,
"If it's just Zabuza alone, then with your strength and mine combined… he won't stand a chance."
Kakashi's single eye curved slightly.
"…You've got guts. Alright then — we'll keep going."
He straightened and added firmly,
"During this mission, I'll make sure to teach you a few new jutsu. With your current ability, you've already reached the level of a jōnin. What you lack now is only variety — more techniques with actual combat power."
There was no exaggeration in his tone.
He meant every word.
Arata nodded simply. "Understood."
Naruto immediately leaned forward, hands on his hips.
"Hey! What about us? We're your students too, remember?"
Kakashi turned to him with his usual lazy smile.
"Of course I haven't forgotten. But right now, you three need to work on the basics first."
Naruto blinked. "Basics? What basics?"
He squinted suspiciously. "You just don't want to teach us, do you?"
Kakashi sighed. "Naruto… you can't build a jutsu on unstable chakra control. None of you — except Arata — can manage your chakra properly yet."
"Until you can, I'm not teaching you any advanced ninjutsu."
Naruto crossed his arms, puffing out his cheeks. "Hmph. Excuses."
Kakashi didn't bother arguing.
Sasuke, meanwhile, said nothing — but he understood.
He could feel the gap between them, and even he wasn't confident in his chakra control yet.
Sakura simply stared at Arata, admiration flickering in her eyes.
He was so calm, so quietly powerful.
Even standing next to Kakashi, he didn't seem overshadowed.
Watching Naruto sulk with a scowl, Kakashi could only sigh internally.
He really thinks I'm being unfair…
The truth was, he wasn't playing favorites — at least, not deliberately.
Yes, Arata was special.
But Naruto… Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son and the vessel of the Nine-Tails — someone who would one day shape the village's future.
Even so, the boy's foundation was a disaster.
Teaching him complex jutsu now would only hurt him.
They continued down the forest road until, at last, the trees opened up to reveal the quiet outskirts of the village.
By the time they reached Tazuna's home, the sun had begun to dip behind the hills.
Inside, three people waited — Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, and her young son, Inari.
The small house smelled faintly of cooked rice and ocean air.
But Inari's eyes, when they met the ninja, were cold.
Suspicious. Untrusting.
During dinner, Tazuna recounted their journey — the battle with Zabuza, the explosion of water, and Arata's impossible victory.
When he finished, Inari's gaze flicked between Kakashi and Arata, shining with a faint glimmer of hope.
"You… you can really beat Cardo's men?" he asked hesitantly.
Kakashi scratched his head.
"…We should be able to."
That uncertain tone shattered the little spark in Inari's eyes.
He looked down at the table. "I knew it. It's impossible… Those men are monsters. No one can beat them."
Naruto slammed his hands on the table.
"Hey! Don't talk like that! I'm going to be Hokage one day — I'll definitely defeat that Zabuza guy, you'll see!"
But Inari didn't even look at him.
He only snorted. "If even your teacher doesn't sound confident, what can you possibly do?"
Naruto's face turned red. "You—!"
"I'll beat him," he said stubbornly, "I swear I will!"
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a look — both thinking the same thing.
During the last battle, Naruto hadn't exactly been… heroic.
But before anyone could respond, Inari stood up suddenly, fists clenched.
"You don't understand anything!" he shouted, eyes glistening with tears.
"Cardo is too strong! Everyone who goes against him dies!"
The outburst silenced the room.
Then Inari turned and ran out, slamming the door behind him.
Tazuna sighed deeply.
Kakashi's tone softened. "That kid's been through something, hasn't he?"
Tazuna nodded. "His father was executed by Cardo. He tried to stand up for the people of this country… and paid with his life. Since that day, Inari stopped believing in heroes. He thinks anyone who resists Cardo is just throwing their life away."
Tsunami added quietly, "He still wants to believe someone can defeat Cardo — but he's too scared to hope. No one ever has."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"Then I'll do it," he said firmly. "I'll defeat Cardo, and make him believe again!"
But Tazuna didn't answer him.
His gaze turned instead toward Kakashi and Arata.
"…Kakashi. Arata." His tone grew heavy. "Be honest with me. Can you really defeat that Zabuza?"
Naruto froze.
He hated that question — because even he didn't believe his own words anymore.
Arata remained silent, his calm expression unchanged.
Kakashi thought for a moment before replying.
"If it's just Zabuza… yes. I can handle him alone."
Then he smiled faintly and added,
"But with Arata here, it won't even be close. If Cardo hasn't hired anyone else of that level, then Zabuza's finished."
He paused briefly, his voice lowering.
"However… if there's another jōnin, things could get complicated."
Tazuna's brows furrowed. The hope in his eyes dimmed again.
He knew what kind of miracle it already was — to have shinobi like Kakashi and Arata protecting him for the price of a C-rank mission.
Expecting more would be asking the impossible.
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