Zabuza's Return Gift

The facts proved that in the world of Naruto, the strength of a faction had little to do with how many ninjas it possessed. A truly powerful ninja could destroy an entire country alone.

Hoping to adopt a large number of orphans in the Land of Waves and train them into a ninja army was nothing but a fool's dream. Being able to produce even one jonin after several years would already be considered good luck.

Rather than waste time on that, it would be better to focus on improving himself and recruit genuine geniuses of the ninja world like Zabuza and Haku into the organization.

Li Chuan understood very clearly that his primary purpose in coming to the Minor World was to improve his own strength. Everything he did had to be based on that premise; there was no need to do it if he got things backwards.

Because when he left the Minor World, he would not be able to take anything with him except his own strength.

After lunch, he and Sakura went to the bridge again that afternoon to protect Tazuna. Near dusk, a large ship bearing the character "Chuan" gradually emerged from the mist-covered sea.

"Wow, what a huge ship!"

Sakura pointed at the approaching vessel and cried out in amazement.

For Sakura, who had always lived in the village and was traveling outside for the first time, this was also the first time she had seen such a large ship.

"Oh, looks like my friend has arrived!"

Seeing the flag aboard the ship, Li Chuan immediately knew that Matsukawa had brought people over according to plan.

The ship docked, and a middle-aged man led more than forty sturdy men carrying all sorts of construction tools over to Li Chuan.

"My lord, I've brought everyone."

"Good. Have them work according to Mr. Tazuna's instructions!"

Li Chuan nodded, then smiled at Tazuna behind him.

"Mr. Tazuna, this is my friend Matsukawa. You two can discuss whatever you need to. This humble monk doesn't know much about bridge construction or trade."

After introducing Matsukawa to Tazuna, Li Chuan stopped involving himself in their subsequent conversation.

At that moment, Sakura approached him with some confusion and asked quietly, "Brother Chuan, why do I feel like your friend Mr. Matsukawa is especially respectful toward you?"

If it had been Naruto or Sasuke, they probably would not have noticed such subtle details. They only cared about powerful ninjas, but Sakura was someone with a delicate and observant mind.

From Matsukawa's attitude toward Li Chuan just now, she had clearly sensed that it did not seem like the sort of attitude one friend would have toward another.

"Mm, he is rather respectful toward me. Maybe it's because I lent him the money he used to start his business back then."

Li Chuan smiled without explaining further.

Sakura found Li Chuan's explanation quite reasonable and did not ask again.

She did not mean anything by it; she was simply curious.

With the help of the professional construction workers Matsukawa had brought, the bridge's construction speed noticeably increased. According to Tazuna, the bridge-building master, it would likely take less than a month to complete the bridge entirely.

That night, Li Chuan did not return with Sakura and Tazuna. Instead, claiming that he needed to protect Matsukawa and the others, he remained aboard the ship by the shore.

With Kakashi at Tazuna's house, there were many things he could not conveniently do.

"Good to see you again, Mr. Zabuza and Haku!"

Inside the ship's cabin, Li Chuan greeted Zabuza and Haku, who were resting.

"Hello, Mr. Chuan."

Haku politely greeted Li Chuan, while Zabuza merely gave a cold snort.

"When do we kill Gato?"

"Wait a little longer. Once Gato can no longer sit still and takes the initiative to bring people here to attack, it would be best if Kakashi and the others kill him. If they don't, then you can step in and take him out."

Li Chuan sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

As one of the world's top tycoons, Gato might have been an ordinary person, but he was not someone who could simply be killed at will. Li Chuan was worried that Kakashi might choose to spare Gato out of concern for the impact it could have on Konoha.

If that happened, the rogue ninja Zabuza would have to kill him instead.

"No problem. These two things are for you."

Zabuza nodded, took out two scrolls, and placed them on the table.

Li Chuan picked them up and opened each one, his face showing surprise.

"These are the B-rank Water Dragon Bullet Technique and the A-rank Great Waterfall Technique!"

"I don't like owing people favors. Since the organization's purpose is mutual assistance, helping you kill Gato and giving you these two Ninjutsu scrolls will offset the intelligence and help you gave us before."

Zabuza answered with a cold expression.

What Li Chuan needed was ninjutsu. As long as it was high-level ninjutsu, he wanted it. The Water Dragon Bullet Technique and Great Waterfall Technique were not particularly rare techniques, nor were they secret techniques of the Hidden Mist Village. Ninjas from the other Great Ninja Villages knew them as well.

So after learning of Li Chuan's needs, Zabuza wrote them down and gave them to him.

Although these two techniques were nothing compared with the intelligence Li Chuan had provided earlier and the help he would give in concealing their identities later on, they at least showed Zabuza's sincerity after joining the organization.

"Of course. It would be even better if you have the time to guide me in learning these two techniques. In return, I'll pay you as well!"

Having obtained two high-level ninjutsu, Li Chuan was in an excellent mood.

Four days later, Kakashi had fully recovered. Two weeks later, Naruto and Sasuke finally completed their tree-climbing training. By then, there was less than a hundred meters left before the bridge reached the opposite shore.

That morning, the bridge was as busy as ever. Tazuna led dozens of Chuan Ji bridge workers as they worked fervently, while Li Chuan, Kakashi, and the other three chatted nearby and guarded their safety.

Just then, a short middle-aged man in a suit, carrying a cane, came walking over from the other end of the bridge with more than a hundred ninjas armed with all kinds of weapons.

In a domineering tone, he pointed at Tazuna, Li Chuan, and the others. "Did you think that once the bridge was nearly finished, and once you hired a few Konoha ninjas, I'd be scared? Hahaha, I merely wanted to wait until your hopes were at their highest before crushing them underfoot. I want everyone to know that defying me, Gato, will never end well. You will never escape my control!"

"Looks like he finally couldn't hold back any longer."

Kakashi looked at Gato and the hundred-plus Rogue Ninjas behind him without the slightest change in expression. Instead, he turned to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura and instructed them, "All right, now let's see the results of your training these past days."

"Huh? Just the three of us? Kakashi-sensei, you're not going to help us?"

A somewhat panicked look appeared on Sakura's face.

Every one of the hundred-plus ninjas on the other side radiated killing intent and wore vicious expressions. They looked like serious trouble. How could three Genin who had only just graduated possibly defeat them?

Yet the moment she finished speaking, Sasuke had already charged forward with a kunai in hand. Seeing Sasuke rush out, Naruto naturally refused to be outdone and immediately followed.

"Sasuke, you're trying to hog the spotlight again! This time, I won't lose to you!"

"Sakura, believe in yourself. They're actually all very weak."

Li Chuan smiled and offered a word of reassurance. Sakura finally gathered her courage and charged forward as well.