The Kind Wandering Monk

The next day, 10 a.m.

Li Chuan stood on the shoreline, watching several people emerge from a forest path, a faint smile gradually appearing on his face.

"They're finally here!"

The white-haired man with his forehead protector slanted over one eye and his face half-covered was Elite Jonin Kakashi. The old man in front of him was presumably Tazuna, the bridge builder from the Land of Waves.

Surrounding Tazuna in the standard formation of a ninja escort squad were three eleven- or twelve-year-old children. With black hair, yellow hair, and pink hair respectively, they were clearly Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.

"Who are you? Leave this to Lord Naruto!"

Seeing Li Chuan standing there, Naruto, who was walking at the front, immediately pulled out a kunai and assumed a fighting stance. Sasuke and Sakura did the same.

Not long ago, they had been attacked by two Rogue Ninjas.

"No need to be so tense. He probably isn't an enemy."

Kakashi swiftly glanced over Li Chuan, then grabbed Naruto from behind just as he was about to charge forward and hauled him back.

He sensed no hostility from Li Chuan and had also recognized the mark at his waist, one exclusive to Monk Ninjas of the Fire Temple.

"You're ninja from Konoha?"

Li Chuan stepped forward a few paces, glanced at Naruto's forehead protector, and feigned sudden realization.

"Yes, we're carrying out a mission. Are you a Monk Ninja from the Fire Temple?"

Kakashi narrowed his dead-fish eyes slightly.

Though the other man bore the symbol of the Fire Temple, he still needed to confirm it.

"This humble monk is indeed from the Fire Temple. I am currently traveling and happened to pass through here. I was planning to visit the Land of Waves ahead, but I discovered there wasn't a single boat by the shore to take me across. Do you know what's going on?"

Li Chuan nodded with some helplessness.

"What kind of place is the Fire Temple?"

Naruto looked utterly confused beside them, clearly having never heard of it.

Sakura immediately smacked him on the head.

"They teach this in school. The Fire Temple is the only ninja temple in our Land of Fire. There are many monks there who practice ninjutsu, and they're also allies of Konoha."

Konoha's education system was comprehensive. It did not merely teach basic ninjutsu and Body Techniques. It was just that Naruto, a poor student, slept through all his academic classes, so naturally he knew nothing.

"The Land of Waves' sea routes have long been controlled by Gato. Without his permission, no one can enter the Land of Waves or leave it."

At that moment, Tazuna stepped forward and explained.

"Gato? The owner of that shipping company, the world-famous tycoon?"

Surprise appeared on Kakashi's face.

Tazuna nodded and sighed softly.

"Since we've already come this far, I'll tell you the truth. Weren't you asking why I was attacked by Rogue Ninjas, and who sent the people after me?

I'll tell you now. It was Gato, because—"

Tazuna then laid out the entire situation.

It turned out that Gato had used violent means to control the Land of Waves' shipping industry, thereby indirectly controlling its politics, wealth, and people.

To save the people of the Land of Waves, Tazuna had wanted to build a bridge across the sea so that they could completely break free of Gato's control and gain their freedom.

Unfortunately, when the bridge was only half completed, Gato threatened him. Left with no choice, he went to Konoha to hire ninja to protect him while he continued building it.

However, because he truly had very little money, he could only falsify the mission details and lower its rank.

"If you cancel the mission now, I'll surely be killed before I can even get home. But it's fine, I understand. It isn't your fault.

It's just that my eight-year-old granddaughter will spend every day in tears, while my daughter will hate Konoha's ninja forever and ever and ever, then live on alone.

Little monk, don't you think I'm right?"

After finishing his performance, Tazuna deliberately singled out Li Chuan, who looked especially kind-hearted.

Li Chuan did not disappoint him. He nodded indignantly and said, "I can't believe such a vile person exists in this world!

"Mr. Tazuna, rest assured. Even if the Konoha ninja are unwilling to act because of the payment, though this humble monk is not particularly strong, I am willing to protect you with my life until the bridge is completed."

Li Chuan's intentions aligned with Tazuna's, so naturally he spoke in his support.

Kakashi, Naruto, and the other two looked at each other, unsure how to respond for a moment.

If they followed normal procedure and canceled the mission because Tazuna had falsified its details, it would feel as if they had committed some unforgivable evil, leaving them filled with guilt.

Tazuna had not expected Li Chuan to be so kind-hearted. He first sincerely thanked Li Chuan, then turned his gaze toward Kakashi.

The meaning was obvious: Look at him, then look at yourselves.

Kakashi scratched his head, then glanced at Naruto and the other two, whose eyes were filled with anticipation. Finally, he nodded helplessly.

"Fine. Then we'll continue protecting you."

It was not as though he could not see through Tazuna's little scheme. He merely wanted to use this opportunity to temper his subordinates. Besides, most of Gato's men were just Rogue Ninjas, and he did not take them seriously.

As for this young monk from the Fire Temple, who had only just left the temple to travel, Kakashi saw him as nothing more than a kindhearted little monk without any ulterior motives, completely fooled by old fox Tazuna's acting.

But honestly, he did admire Tazuna's willingness to risk his life to build the bridge. Otherwise, he would not have agreed so readily.

"Thank you so much! When we get back at noon, you have to let my daughter cook you all something delicious!"

Hearing Kakashi agree, Tazuna finally relaxed.

The little monk might be kind, but his strength surely could not compare to the famed Konoha Ninja. If the Konoha Ninja abandoned the mission, then he could only wait for death.

"Please wait a moment."

Tazuna took a small whistle from his pocket, stood by the shore, and blew it hard. A very strange sound carried far into the distance.

About ten minutes later, a young man steered a boat carefully through the thick fog and appeared by the shore.

"Mr. Tazuna, get aboard quickly. We need to head back before the fog clears. Otherwise, it'll be trouble if Gato's men spot us."

And so, Li Chuan boarded the small boat alongside Kakashi and the others.

During the crossing, Kakashi's group and Li Chuan introduced themselves to one another and chatted casually aboard the boat.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were simply making small talk, but Kakashi kept probing Li Chuan throughout the conversation, seemingly trying to further confirm his identity.

In truth, allowing an unfamiliar ninja to suddenly join them during a mission like this was not a wise decision.

But Li Chuan was a Monk Ninja from the Fire Temple, and he had already intended to travel to the Land of Waves. Since he was offering help out of goodwill, Kakashi had no way to refuse him.

How could Li Chuan fail to notice Kakashi's probing? But there was nothing wrong with his identity to begin with, so he had nothing to fear from Kakashi's tests.