The Land of Waves Mission Begins

March, Year 60 of Konoha.

"Yo, Sasuke, you graduated! You'd better hurry up and grow stronger. You're already way behind me. And you still look as smug as ever. Naruto really was right to call you Stinky Sasuke."

Issui had come to see Hinata's graduation ceremony and spotted Sasuke nearby, wearing an icy expression. The guy really did love acting cool.

"Tch, Shuihuo, what are you doing here? Aren't you always out on missions? How did you find time to come here? Or did you want to reminisce about your school days? I've barely seen you these past few years. I heard you've already been promoted to Chunin. Let's have a match." Sasuke looked at the boy his own age and felt a wave of helplessness. He's a genius, just like my brother. The gap between us keeps getting bigger.

"Tch, didn't I tell you not to call me Shuihuo? I'm just here to see Hinata. And your information is pretty out of date. I was promoted to Special Jōnin last year. I'm still some distance from becoming a full Jonin, but not far. I'd lose face fighting a Genin like you. But you have the potential to grow stronger, Sasuke. You just need someone to guide you. Now that you've graduated and will have a Jonin team leader, you'd better work hard," Issui said.

"What!? Special Jōnin? You... you really are... Damn it, am I that bad?" Sasuke said dejectedly.

"No, you're already as strong as an ordinary Chunin. You just lack experience. The gap between us isn't that big. And you need to hurry up and develop your Kekkei Genkai, too. Part of the reason my strength has grown so much is my Kekkei Genkai. The Sharingan is one of the three great Dōjutsu, and it's incredibly powerful. Think about your brother. His growth wouldn't have been possible without his eyes. You have that potential too, and you might even be stronger than him. So go through trials of life and death and discover your talents. Once you've become reasonably strong, I'll come looking for you," Issui said seriously.

"Is that so? I understand. Just you wait. You won't let you stay smug for long," Sasuke said seriously. That's right. I lack experience in war and trials of life and death. My life at the academy has been too peaceful. Brother, just you wait. I'll kill you with my own hands.

"All right, see you. I'm going on a date with Hinata." Issui took Hinata's little hand and left. What a happy man he was.

That evening, the Third suddenly summoned Issui. Naruto had stolen the village's Scroll of Seals. It seemed the events of the original story had happened again. That idiot Naruto had been tricked by Mizuki.

"Grandpa Third, I don't think Naruto would have acted so impulsively. Someone must have put him up to it. Naruto has always wanted the people in the village to acknowledge him. I understand how he feels, having no parents and wanting everyone to acknowledge him. He may not be very bright, but I believe he'll become a great ninja. No one has ever paid attention to him. Naruto is a very strong person, and I've already acknowledged him. I hope you won't blame him, Grandpa Third," Issui said to the Third after waiting for everyone else to leave.

"Mm, I understand. Go get some rest. I also believe Naruto wouldn't do something like that," the Third said mildly, taking a puff of his pipe.

The result was clear. The touching scene from the anime still played out: Naruto gave that idiot Mizuki a beating, Iruka acknowledged Naruto, and Naruto finally took a step down his great path toward becoming Hokage, becoming a Genin of Konohagakure. Issui had watched this part of the story many times in his previous life, and every time it had moved him to tears. Naruto Uzumaki really was a ninja who moved people. Experiencing the emotions of these flesh-and-blood ninja in the world of Naruto was Issui's greatest gain.

The next day, the Third gathered all the Jonin and Special Jōnin to select team leaders for the students graduating from the Ninja Academy that year. Issui was there too, of course. As Konoha's youngest Jonin, he still couldn't lead and instruct Genin. He was only there as an extra today.

"So this is the top graduate this year?" Kakashi said, looking at the device the Third used to peep.

"Yo, isn't that Sasuke? Both the genius and the dead last ended up on your team, Senior Kakashi. You'll have plenty of trouble from now on," Ichimon said with a smile.

What a hassle... Kakashi thought.

After Kurenai led Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame out of the classroom, Issui quietly followed them. Kurenai Yuhi was a beauty, and sexy too. Issui thought that when it came to sexiness, Kurenai Yuhi was the first to come to mind, followed by his teacher Mei Terumi. It was only a matter of when they appeared; Kurenai had appeared first and gained more support. The little clothing she wore couldn't conceal her allure at all. Her full breasts and ample hips, her slender willow waist, her alluring red lips, and those blood-red eyes all showed off her lovely looks.

"Someone's coming. My bugs told me," Shino said mildly.

"Who is it? Come out!" Kurenai said sternly.

"Now, now, don't be so tense, Senior Kurenai. Are these the Genin you're leading this year? I went to the Ninja Academy with them. I happened to run into you, so I came over to say hello. Don't be angry," Issui said, jumping out.

"I heard a newcomer was promoted to Special Jōnin at eleven last year, breaking Kakashi Hatake's record as the youngest to be promoted to Jonin in Konoha. That must be you. You really are surprising: promoted to Genin at eight, Chunin at ten, and Jonin at eleven. Your mission completion rate is also one hundred percent, and you've received praise from many clients. I'd really like to fight you," Kurenai said mildly, though she felt a little put out. This kid has a lot of killing intent. He's doing his best to suppress it, but some is still leaking out. Otherwise, Shino's bugs wouldn't have sensed him. Akamaru and Kiba can probably sense it too. I heard he's the Hyuga Clan's son-in-law and married into the clan. I suppose he came to see Hinata.

"Well, you're very strong, Senior Kurenai. I don't want to fight you right now. Juniors have to respect their seniors," Issui said, waving his hand.

"Is that so? Then don't interrupt me while I'm teaching my students." Kurenai dismissed him outright.

"All right, then. See you. Train hard, Hinata. Goodbye, everyone." Issui used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished.

"Teacher Kurenai, no way! That boy's about my age, and he's a Jonin? This..." Kiba shouted after Issui left.

"Mm, Kiba, have you forgotten? Remember the one who was tied with Sasuke for first place during our first two years at the academy? We even watched when he was promoted to Genin. Lady Hinata, you must know him very well..." Shino reminded him.

"Don't be discouraged, Kiba. If you train hard, you'll become powerful ninja too. There are always some genius ninja in the ninja world. The reason they grow so quickly is that they undergo grueling training and fight life-and-death battles. Which of you three would keep up years of nonstop training and fighting on missions, day and night? I heard that boy sleeps only six hours a day and devotes all his remaining time to training. Hinata, you've lived with him all this time, so you should know him very well," Kurenai said with emotion.

"Yes. Issui-kun is a genius, but he still works very hard. Sometimes, even when I can't keep going, he's still doing his tedious daily training. He's the hardest-working person I've ever met. He once said, 'No ninja is born a genius. Genius is ninety-nine percent perspiration and one percent inspiration. Inspiration is important, but without diligence and hard work, you'll never succeed. Those without talent can surpass geniuses through hard work, while geniuses who don't work hard become trash,'" Hinata said confidently. Issui-kun, don't worry. I'll show you how much I've improved.

"You heard her, everyone. Train hard..." Kurenai looked at Hinata. This girl must be the strongest kunoichi in this year's class.

May, Year 60 of Konoha.

Team Kakashi accepted a C-rank escort mission to the Land of Waves. Issui also picked up a mission; his destination wasn't far from the Land of Waves. His target this time was Zabuza Momochi. Was the hatred about to end...?

After completing his own mission, Issui headed for the Land of Waves. He wanted to fight Zabuza himself and avenge all the villagers of Heaven Village, as well as his grandfather in name whom he had never met. Without them, Issui could never have survived. There was also the red-haired man who had protected him. Everything was about to end, and afterward Issui would formally set out to fight in the ninja world, opposing its evil forces.

Things had gone slightly differently from the original story. After breaking out of the water prison, Kakashi had failed to defeat Zabuza, whose strength had now reached Quasi-Kage Level. He had gained a great deal from the battle at Heaven Village.

When Issui arrived on the battlefield, Zabuza and Kakashi were facing each other.

"Yo, another brat? Have you come here to die? Are all Konoha brats idiots?" Zabuza laughed when he noticed Issui suddenly appear on the battlefield. Another Konoha brat.

"Senior Kakashi, could you leave him to me? There's a great deal of hatred between us," Issui said to Kakashi, who stood on the water, paying no attention to Zabuza's laughter.

"What are you doing, Shuihuo? He's strong enough to match Kakashi. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Get back here!" Sasuke knew Issui hated Zabuza, but Sasuke couldn't even resist Zabuza. Could Issui?

"Don't underestimate me! All these years of hard work were preparation for this day!!!" Astonishing killing intent surged from Issui, stirring enormous ripples across the surrounding water.

"What?" Zabuza stared at the boy in surprise. Killing intent this intense isn't something you can gain just by killing a few people. Only by going through trials of life and death...

Kakashi looked at Issui. So he had worked tirelessly at inhuman training to take revenge. But could he defeat an elite missing-nin like Zabuza?