Did he notice?
Kakashi's lips curved slightly.
Looks like I worried for nothing.
Kakashi shook his head with a smile, but didn't dwell on it.
No matter what, in Kakashi's eyes Naruto was still a child.
A child whose strength was almost frightening.
Naruto's brows drew together.
The moment they left the Village he sensed two hostile presences.
Their target is Tazuna, huh?
If Ninja are involved… this isn't a C-rank mission anymore.
Naruto looked toward Kakashi.
Three pairs of eyes met.
Kakashi noticed too, yet he hasn't called off the mission—this really isn't simple.
The Land of Waves… a poor country.
Land of Waves…
After a moment's thought he found the relevant data.
Gatō?
Runs a shipping conglomerate… one of the richest men in the world, but in truth he uses mafia and rogue Ninja to smuggle drugs and contraband. He controls every sea lane in the Land of Waves.
'Mustn't interfere in another nation's internal affairs'… what a joke.
Ninja rely on daimyō funding… heh, it seems no one's hands are clean.
Otherwise a non-Ninja, a man who isn't even nobility like Gatō couldn't survive this long. Could the great Villages be laundering money and keeping their subordinates on a leash…
Kakashi narrowed his eyes; instinct told him Naruto had sensed something was off.
Control the maritime lifeline and you control the nation's wealth, politics, and people.
So the Old Thing plans to rob the robber?
Heh, I won't let you have your way.
Perfect.
Controls sea trade, does he?
Then the odds of finding the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools just shot up.
Thanks for the big gift, Old Thing.
Seize Gatō's company, his money, his fleet and every Village will come after us. If they know Konoha didn't do it they'll try to grab a piece. So I'll pin the blame on Konoha.
Huu—
He drew a deep breath.
A rough plan had already formed in Naruto's mind.
Tobirama: "The Ninja World isn't black and white."
Shikaku: "Not bad—he's grown a lot."
Orochimaru: "Black-framed Naruto-kun sees far indeed."
Ino: "Make the Old Monkey take the fall—pfft."
Mabui: "Gatō's company?"
Mabui: "From what I know, quite a few Villages have dealt with him."
Mabui: "Just as Black-Framed Naruto says, he's the laundromat for the great Villages."
Mei: "I suppose my Hidden Mist Village is the worst."
Mei: "Money blinds people, and with the village of the bloody mist… the higher-ups did nothing, giving Gatō plenty of openings."
Mei: "Everyone's been thinking of fattening him up before the slaughter."
Kurotsuchi: "Hmph! Relying on nobles—makes Ninja look small. Only Black-framed Naruto-kun can change the Ninja World; I'm looking forward to how he'll do it."
Naruto pondered.
The version of himself in the black frame world was about to pull off something huge.
Thinking of the Land of Waves trip,
Naruto stayed silent for a long time, then shook his head. The Great Naruto Bridge?
Uncle Tazuna really thinks highly of me.
Just a name now, maybe meaningless, but what about the future?
Naruto felt fairly confident about that.
Shh—
Right then
the sources of the two hostile auras moved, speeding past Team 7 and stopping ahead.
Naruto glanced calmly at Sakura and Sasuke.
Neither had noticed yet.
Let them taste blood.
With that decision made, Naruto ignored the pair.
He believed Sakura and Sasuke could handle it.
If even those two couldn't, he'd send them back.
This escort mission to the Land of Waves had handed him a perfect springboard; he had to seize it.
Kakashi slowed his pace slightly, but seeing Naruto's composure he kept to his former speed.
Soon,
under the clear sky, a puddle stood in the road.
It looked out of place.
Yet somehow plausible.
Kakashi walked at the front and stepped around it.
Almost the instant the puddle appeared, Sasuke and Sakura noticed.
Something's wrong.
Sakura narrowed her eyes, glancing at Naruto, who seemed lost in thought.
She edged closer and pulled on her gloves.
Sasuke still kept his hands in his pockets.
Seeing Sakura move toward Naruto, he shifted nearer to Tazuna.
Hmph!
Obvious disguise.
From the corner of his eye he watched Naruto.
Didn't notice?
No—most likely Naruto sensed it long ago and is just waiting for our performance.
Sasuke's lips curled, confidence flashing in his eyes.
The sky clears, the rain stops—
No sign of movement.
Team 7 escorted Tazuna past the puddle.
A figure slowly rose from the water.
On a nearby tree trunk another figure appeared.
The two exchanged glances.
Konoha Ninja…
Attack!
The Demon Brothers struck in perfect sync.
Clank-clank-clank—
The iron chains screeched.
Years of teamwork had made them read each other's minds.
Their first targets weren't Tazuna but the three Konoha Genin guarding him.
While one brother engaged the Genin, the other would eliminate the target first, then assist.
Front and rear, roles clearly split.
An ordinary Genin squad would have been helpless.
Unfortunately, their luck ran out against the strongest Genin team in Konoha's history.
The Demon Brothers launched their assault.
Yet Sasuke and Sakura were ready.
One aimed for the distracted Yellow-Haired Kid.
The other for Tazuna.
Sasuke gave a cold laugh.
Sakura clenched her fists, gathering Chakra.
The instant the enemy charged, Sakura spun around.
Seeing this, the Demon Brother paid no heed.
He flicked his chain, scythe in hand.
Those skinny arms and legs—no threat; he'd cut her in two.
After so long in ambush, the brothers chose to trade injuries and kill two at once.
Too bad he would pay for that choice.
The moment that "harmless" little fist struck his chest, he knew he was wrong.
Eyes wide, pupils shrinking.
Boom—!!!
The Demon Brother's rush froze mid-air; then he flew back at tremendous speed.
Disbelief filled his face.
Instinctively he looked toward his brother.
His pupils shrank again.
Sasuke already had the other brother pinned beneath his foot.
He stared down with utter contempt.
Thud—
The body slammed into a tree trunk.
Limbs twisted at grotesque angles like a broken doll.
Dead!