The Ambush Arrives

"Ahaha? Is that so? I completely forgot!"

Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly and laughed sheepishly.

Sasuke shot Naruto a glance that seemed almost disdainful.

Menma alone thought this was perfectly normal. If Naruto did not act like this, he would not be Naruto. In this life, only his identity and circumstances were different; he simply had not pulled the same pranks as in the Original Work.

At his core, Naruto had not changed at all.

He was still that optimistic, husky-like idiot.

"You, Naruto, need to remember these things properly. Just as Sakura said, the five ninja villages we just mentioned belong to the Five Great Nations acknowledged by the Shinobi World. That does not mean only the Five Great Nations have official shinobi. In fact, other countries in the Shinobi World also have many villages from smaller nations, such as Kusagakure, Takigakure, Amegakure, and Yugakure. Shinobi from those villages are also considered official shinobi, but compared to the Five Great Nations, including our Konoha, the gap is enormous. Only the leaders of the Five Great Nations may be called 'Kage.' Ours is the Hokage, while the other four are the Mizukage, Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Kazekage!"

Kakashi lightly patted Naruto's little head as he spoke.

"Oh, oh! So that's how it is!"

Naruto said as though suddenly enlightened.

"So, Hokage is a truly great title. Naruto, if you want to inherit, or even surpass, the past Hokage, including your father, the Fourth Lord, then you cannot merely talk about it. You must put in even more effort!"

Kakashi looked at Naruto, his tone slightly stern.

"Of course I know that, Brother Kakashi. Just believe in me! When it comes to working hard, I definitely won't lose to anyone!"

Naruto raised his head and declared resolutely.

As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at Menma and Sasuke beside him. After all, in the Ninja Academy, based solely on practical skills, the three of them were undeniably the top three.

It was only natural that they competed with one another.

Still, while Naruto and Sasuke traded wins and losses, Menma had always suppressed both of them and remained firmly in first place.

Both Sasuke and Menma noticed Naruto's gaze. Menma naturally retained his calm expression, while Sasuke merely snorted and subconsciously glanced at Menma as well.

Tazuna, who had been quietly following behind them, could not help taking another look at Naruto at this moment.

The old man truly had not expected this blond brat, who did not seem particularly bright, to be the son of Konohagakure's hero, the Fourth Hokage.

Such an identity was already incomparably noble in the Shinobi World!

But because of that, Tazuna's confidence in this journey grew even stronger. After accepting the mission, he had already learned that Kakashi was a Jonin. Now, he had also learned that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son.

Then this Konoha Ninja named Kakashi Hatake had to be one of the very best even among Jonin!

Otherwise, how could he possibly be qualified to lead the Fourth Hokage's son as a Jonin!?

My Great Bridge will definitely be completed successfully this time!

Tazuna thought silently to himself.

Team Seven gradually moved farther away.

Even with an ordinary person like Tazuna in tow, after two or three hours, they had completely left Konohagakure's sphere of influence and steadily headed toward the southeastern coastal border of the Land of Fire.

Just as they entered a straight road lined on both sides with numerous towering trees—

Kakashi, walking on the far right, narrowed his eyes slightly.

The next second.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

All of a sudden—

From behind the thickets on either side of the road—

Two enormously burly figures sprang out and rushed toward them at high speed. Before most of those present could react—

They had reached close proximity to Kakashi in an instant, spreading out to his left and right.

"Clatter!"

A thick, pitch-black iron chain unfurled.

"Clang!"

In a flash—

It looped perfectly around Kakashi's body.

Then, with a violent pull from both sides—

"Splurt!"

"Riiip!"

A dull sound rang out, like metal piercing through flesh and tearing it completely apart.

Kakashi's "body" was instantly ripped to pieces.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

"Teacher Kakashi!?"

To one side—

Sakura, Sasuke, Tazuna, and the others all shrank their pupils sharply. Sakura Haruno, in particular, could not stop herself from screaming!

These young Konoha shinobi had grown up like flowers in a greenhouse and had never witnessed the cruel, bloody reality of a shinobi's life. Watching their Jonin instructor die before their very eyes in such a bloody and brutal manner naturally dealt a severe blow to Sakura Haruno's mind!

"First one!"

After "killing" Kakashi—

The attackers turned their eyes toward Menma, Naruto, and the others, a chilling murderous intent appearing in their pupils.

"Boom!"

With Chakra bursting beneath their feet—

They rapidly closed in on the group.

Sakura Haruno was clearly shaken by the sight and stood there blankly.

But Sakura was the only one with such poor mental fortitude. Everyone else, including Naruto, who had frozen up even in the Original Work, snapped out of it immediately after his initial daze.

However, Menma and Sasuke reacted clearly faster than Naruto.

Their experiences were not something Naruto could compare to. Both had witnessed their parents' tragic deaths with their own eyes. A mere scene like this could never shake their resolve.

Thus, neither of them had wavered from the start!

Almost at the very instant before the two ambushers twisted around and charged straight at them, Menma and Sasuke blurred into motion.

Each moved to meet one of them.

Their roles were clearly divided.

Their attacks covered one another in alternation.

"Bang!"

"Clang!"

They easily blocked the attacks of the two assailants.

"!?"

This response far exceeded the attackers' expectations.

These were obviously rookie Genin who had only graduated recently, yet they possessed such quick reactions and strength!?

The moment the two attackers' gazes met—

A sense of danger immediately rose in their hearts.

They wanted to pull away at once.

"Hmph!"

From the front—

Menma snorted.

"Whoosh!"

An even greater amount of Chakra erupted from him.

"Bang!"

With forceful pressure from below and to the side—

"Not good!"

The attacker before him staggered heavily.

Feeling the powerful suppression bearing down on him—

The attacker's expression changed drastically.

Locked in a close-range clash he could no longer escape, Menma swung his right hand with all his strength, knocking aside the attacker's guard with the sharpest possible motion.