['The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are probably all arrogant pricks.']
['If there were no issues with their strength, it would be acceptable... but it's precisely the strength issue...']
[Because of Might Duy, Naruto's impression of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was indeed not particularly good.]
Hidden Mist Village: "..."
Was it because the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were too weak?!
Damn it!
Might Duy: Hahaha~
Might Duy: It seems I did something incredible.
["Our Land of Waves is an extremely poor small country."]
["Even the Daimyo of the Land of Waves has very little money."]
["Actually, I didn't want to post a C-rank mission, but... the Land of Waves is truly too poor; this is almost the absolute limit of what everyone can afford."]
["If we were to add more compensation... we wouldn't even be able to pay for the materials needed to build the bridge."]
["Once the bridge is built, it will be beneficial for both the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire... but someone has been obstructing us... we really have no other choice."]
["If you don't protect me, I will surely die... and the bridge will never be built."]
["Playing the pity card?" Sasuke sneered.]
[He wanted to take this mission, but he wasn't about to be manipulated by this old man.]
["Your story is indeed very tragic, but the problem is, it has nothing to do with us. In fact... if it weren't for our strength, we might have already suffered casualties by now!" Sakura's tone was equally unfriendly.]
[Tazuna was stunned.]
[He immediately lowered his head and forced out tears.]
[Kakashi nodded slightly.]
[He was very satisfied with Team 7's performance.]
[In fact, he felt that Team 7 had already completely surpassed Team Minato.]
['It seems that with Naruto around, this Team 7 will continue to grow rapidly.']
[Thinking this, Kakashi looked at Tazuna.]
[Tazuna's whole body trembled, and then he squeezed out tears, saying in despair:]
["Fine... this mission is indeed too dangerous."]
["The compensation is just one of many issues," Naruto said with a faint smile.]
["Yes, I understand," Tazuna said dejectedly.]
["I should just go back alone. I accept my fate of death, it's just..."]
["I didn't post the C-rank mission for my own sake..."]
["You spend quite a bit on alcohol; it's barely enough to pay the fee for a B-rank mission."]
["How did you know?!" Tazuna's eyes widened, looking at Naruto with complete disbelief.]
[In an instant, Tazuna reacted, quickly lowering his head to continue his sorrow.]
["My poor grandson... he's not even ten years old... yet he has to face threats all day..."]
["And my daughter... she has already lost her husband, and soon, she will probably lose her father... for the rest of her life, she might die in depression, harboring resentment toward the Konoha Ninja..."]
[Thump—]
[The moment the words fell.]
[A foot was already imprinted on his face.]
[Everyone was shocked by this scene.]
[But similarly, everyone also breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.]
[That felt good.]
[Still trying to use Moral Kidnapping?!]
[And using Moral Kidnapping against children who just became Ninjas.]
[Such intentions are damnable!]
[Uzumaki Kushina: "What a tragic story!"]
[Uzumaki Kushina: "The Naruto of that world was almost killed!"]
[Uzumaki Kushina: "Cough... although it's a bit embarrassing, it's the truth. Genin who aren't mentally prepared have an extremely high mortality rate!"]
[Minato Namikaze: It's currently a semi-peaceful era; the Genin haven't seen bloodshed, so it's understandable.]
[Uzumaki Kushina: "You... say it yourself!"]
[Minato Namikaze: ...Those familiar with these two were left speechless.]
[They had a bad feeling.]
[Please don't start showing off your affection in the middle of an argument!]
[Tazuna was kicked to the ground.]
["Don't say things recklessly."]
["Otherwise, if we kill you, no one would trouble us, and they might even continue to trouble your people."]
[Naruto glanced indifferently at Tazuna.]
["Since that's the case, let's head back."]
[That kick just now was delivered by Naruto.]
[It caught several people by surprise.]
[Of course, even if they had known, no one would have stopped him.]
[Tazuna was dazed for a moment.]
[Then, without hesitation, he lunged forward and grabbed Kakashi's foot.]
["I beg you!"]
["I really beg you!"]
["If you leave... the Land of Waves is truly beyond saving!"]
["I..."]
[This time, Tazuna couldn't keep up the act.]
[The effect was naturally much better than the punchable attitude he had just now.]
[Kakashi felt a bit helpless.]
[Naruto is the one making the decisions, why come and beg me?]
[However, truth be told, Kakashi also felt very uncomfortable.]
["Let go!"]
[This time, he didn't let Naruto handle it himself.]
[Sakura shouted sharply.]
["I beg you all!"]
[Tazuna knelt directly in front of the four of them.]
[He kowtowed repeatedly, not daring to have even a hint of wishful thinking.]
[He kowtowed until his head was bloodied.]
[Sasuke's brow furrowed slightly.]
[He then looked toward Naruto.]
[Seeing Naruto unmoved, he didn't speak either, just stood with his hands in his pockets, looking coldly at Tazuna.]
[After a long while, Naruto spoke.]
["Two choices."]
["First, go back by yourself, and we will go back to report the situation of this mission."]
["Then I will surely die... My death is nothing, but... everyone can't go on like this... there will be no hope."]
[Tazuna looked up, his voice full of tears.]
[He pleaded with Naruto.]
["Second, continue the mission and help you solve the problem."]
["As you stated, after the bridge is built, it will connect the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire."]
["If you want to get rich, build roads first; the same applies to building a bridge."]
["If you can represent the Land of Waves, then this is negotiable."]
[Hearing this, Tazuna nodded hurriedly, "I can! I can! Over the years... I still have quite a bit of influence in the Land of Waves!"]
["Very well."]
[The corners of Naruto's mouth curled up slightly as he helped Tazuna up.]
["Then this mission will be considered an S-rank mission."]
["The compensation will be at the highest level."]
["Since you will be owing the compensation, plus the previous concealment... it counts as the highest compensation. You shouldn't have any objections, right?"]
[Tazuna was stunned.]
["No need to write an IOU, but you must pay us."]
["I'll give you a two-and-a-half-year deadline."]
["By then, even if you have to sell off every last asset, including your Daimyo, you must pay back this compensation."]
["If you don't... then you'd better be prepared."]
[Looking at the blond young man with a gentle smile that made one feel at ease.]
[Tazuna's legs went weak, and he slumped onto the ground.]
[Naruto clearly didn't have much patience.]
[He despised this kind of person the most.]
[However, this matter wasn't just his own business.]
[It was a matter for Team 7.]
[He couldn't let Sasuke, Sakura, or Kakashi, the Jōnin Instructor, lose out because of his words alone.]
["Fine!"]
[After a long time, Tazuna made a decision.]
[Gritting his teeth, he agreed to Naruto's conditions.]
["Let's go."]
[Naruto didn't waste any more words.]
[The other three looked at each other.]
["Can it even be done like this?"]
[Kakashi scratched his head and helped Tazuna up.]
['I'm supposed to be the Jōnin Instructor and the leader of this squad, right?']
['Forget it, as long as the result is good.']
[Kakashi looked at Naruto's back and shook his head with a smile.]
["If Sensei Minato were here, he probably wouldn't have handled it this way... but it seems Naruto's way is better and easier to accept."]
[As they set out again, the atmosphere was clearly better.]
[Tazuna was like a lackey, constantly fawning over them.]
[The atmosphere became a bit more lively.]
[They camped for the night, waiting for a boat in the early morning.]
[The next morning, Tazuna's friend came with a boat to take them into the country.]
[At this time, visibility was extremely low due to the fog on the water.]
[Tazuna's old face was beaming with a smile.]
[After spending time together, he found that this squad didn't seem hard to get along with.]
[He had thought Naruto was the fiercest, but unexpectedly, he was the easiest to talk to.]
[Little did he know that within a few words, he had revealed everything about the Land of Waves.]
[The plan in Naruto's mind became increasingly concrete.]
[Before long.]
[The boat docked, and Team 7 stepped onto the territory of the Land of Waves.]
[The four of them suddenly fell silent; seeing this, Tazuna didn't dare to speak either.]
[The fog grew thicker and thicker.]
[Visibility became lower and lower.]
[A faint sense of malice wafted over.]
[Naruto glanced ahead, where it was shrouded in thick fog.]
[The source of that malice was right there.]
["Heh... Konoha Ninja, is it?"]
["There's an opening!"]