A Completely Different Attitude

"Since you've already admitted it, you should know that the difficulty of a mission involving shinobi is completely different from before. These two are shinobi from Kirigakure. By mission ranking, this should at minimum be a B-rank mission. Considering the possible risks ahead, even classifying it as an A-rank mission would not be an exaggeration. Yet the payment you offered the village was only for a C-rank mission. Tazuna-san, you understand the difference here, don't you? We have the right to abandon this mission outright!"

Kakashi looked at Tazuna with an unmistakably stern expression as he spoke.

Kakashi was practically saying outright that Tazuna had deceived Konohagakure and falsely reported the mission rank. In the Shinobi World, that was an unforgivable mistake!

Because it could expose the shinobi carrying out the mission to unforeseeable dangers. At best, the mission would fail; in most cases, the entire team could be wiped out!

Therefore, Kakashi's words were not harsh in the slightest.

Tazuna himself understood that as well.

"Of course I understand, but, sir shinobi, I truly had no other choice. You are an experienced shinobi, so you should know that the Land of Waves is a small country, and the poorest among small countries. Especially after it was taken over by the wealthy merchant Gato, the entire economic lifeline of the Land of Waves fell under Gato's control. The payment for this mission was scraped together by the villagers. We truly have no more money. The fee required for a B-rank mission is already far beyond what we can imagine, much less an A-rank mission. So I could only resort to this method!"

Tazuna spoke with a deeply sorrowful expression.

"If you choose to abandon the mission, that would only be natural. But I held onto one final shred of hope. I only wanted to build a Bridge of Courage for all the people of the Land of Waves. Sir shinobi, I am not afraid of death. I only worry about my country, my young daughter, and my still very young grandson..."

A faint tremor had entered his voice.

Others aside.

Sakura and Naruto were directly moved.

When all was said and done.

The new generation of shinobi trained by Konohagakure in recent years could not be considered qualified shinobi at all, because too many of them possessed unnecessary sympathy.

For shinobi, that was a true taboo!

In many situations, it would not only harm themselves but could also harm their companions.

Menma thoroughly disliked this kind of behavior. Just because you were pitiful, did others have to stake everything to pay for your lies?

Perhaps Tazuna's actions truly were for the entire Land of Waves. Perhaps he was indeed someone with compassion, courage, and righteousness in his heart.

But at least in the Original Work, and in this life.

The lies he had told Team Seven undeniably existed. To put it bluntly, Tazuna's actions were equivalent to gambling Team Seven's lives on his dream, on the future of the Land of Waves!

And he could not even provide appropriate compensation, intending only to emotionally manipulate them with pity!

Thus, Menma did not hesitate in the slightest and said directly, "Since Tazuna-san has already admitted it, Teacher Kakashi, let's abandon the mission. Under the village's mission protocols, if we abandon the mission under these circumstances, we won't bear any responsibility!"

Even though Menma knew full well that the enemies ahead were merely Zabuza and Haku.

With him added to Team Seven, as long as Kakashi was not careless, they would most likely defeat the Zabuza-Haku pair even more easily than in the Original Work.

If they truly continued the mission, Menma would not have minded.

But why should they do that!?

Menma could not think of a single reason to support such a choice.

This was not their only opportunity to leave the village!

Menma had no intention of playing the saint. Even if he could help some people within his abilities, he absolutely would not help someone who had emotionally manipulated and deceived them.

"Mm, indeed. Abandoning the mission is the most appropriate decision!"

Kakashi nodded lightly as he spoke.

The team he led was no ordinary team.

There was Sasuke Uchiha, the sole remaining orphan in the village from the once-great Uchiha Clan; Namikaze Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage who had died in battle; and Uzumaki Menma, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Every one of them was important and could not be allowed to meet with an accident!

Now that the mission had exceeded expectations, they truly needed to abandon it decisively.

Sasuke said nothing from the side, but clear agreement showed on his face. He likewise felt there was no need to continue such a mission.

When Tazuna heard Menma and Kakashi speak one after the other, obvious panic appeared in his pupils.

Even if he had not held much hope.

If Team Seven, led by Kakashi, no longer protected him.

He would definitely lose his life!

Of course, to be fair.

Tazuna was not truly afraid of death. If his death could ensure that the bridge was completed smoothly and allow the people of the Land of Waves to escape Gato's control, Tazuna could naturally accept it. But if he simply died now, it would be utterly meaningless!

And he also had to consider his young daughter and young grandson at home.

At this moment, Tazuna's heart visibly tightened.

"Huh? We're just giving up like that? I don't think that's right, Brother Kakashi. This old man is so pitiful. I think we can definitely help him, can't we?"

Naruto very clearly displayed his usual "saintly nature"!

In the Original Work, Naruto could even forgive Nagato and Obito!

So sympathizing with Tazuna and being willing to help him was naturally only expected.

When Menma heard Naruto's words, his brows furrowed slightly on instinct.

Honestly, Menma had truly hoped that Naruto in this life would be different. But now, it seemed that his "Younger Brother" in this life was really going to turn out exactly the same as in the Original Work?

That thought made Menma deeply uncomfortable.

"Yes, Teacher Kakashi. I think that Gato is just too awful. We should still help Tazuna-san. We only need to protect him until the bridge is completed. I think we can totally do it!"

Sakura Haruno, who likewise had no idea of her own limits and whose sympathy had completely overflowed, echoed Naruto at this moment. She looked up at Kakashi with hope in her eyes.

To Tazuna, their words sounded like heavenly music.

They made the hope that had completely sunk in his heart rise once again, and his gaze fixed tightly on Kakashi.

He understood clearly.

The decision of whether to continue the mission rested entirely with Kakashi!