Retainers: Not Prisoners, Yes!

Naruto covered his head and bared his teeth, "Is there news about Gato?"

Kakashi nodded, "His tracks have appeared on the border of the Land of Waves. It looks like he plans to sneak into another country and start over."

After Team 7 wiped out Zabuza's forces, they spent a few more days clearing out various hidden strongholds. Inari ran around during this time, urging his frightened coworkers to stand up again and build the bridge.

But Gato was one of the richest men in the world before, and he still had the ability to make a comeback.

Naruto pondered for a moment and smiled at Kakashi, "Boss, I actually have a little idea."

"Oh?" Kakashi's interest was piqued, "Tell me about it."

Border of the Land of Waves.

The sea breeze carried a salty, damp scent, blowing past the numerous masts. Warehouses were neatly arranged not far away. By the harbor, the azure sea sparkled, and waves gently lapped against the shore.

Gato changed into a work uniform, put on a long bamboo hat, and scanned the crowd by the coast.

Just one step away, and he would be able to escape this place of trouble and start anew in an unfamiliar land.

Thinking back, when he first transmigrated to this godforsaken place, he was somewhat devastated.

In his previous life, his looks weren't exactly comparable to Gong Yoo, but he was still considered exceptional among men, with a pair of long, straight legs. His acquaintances all said he was practically Lee Kwang-soo's double... Well, to be fair, Lee Kwang-soo wasn't bad-looking either.

However, his experiences had nothing to do with Lee Kwang-soo. He took the civil service exam for five years, but his results vanished without a trace. He had no choice but to work as a cashier at a supermarket while intensely preparing for the exam.

He considered himself very diligent. For example, every morning he would rewrite all the knowledge points he had learned the previous day. The notebooks filled with writing were piled up in his cubicle. Another example was borrowing money from his mother to enroll in numerous cram schools... Yes, borrowed, and he would repay it as soon as he landed a job and earned money.

But his mother didn't understand him. She actually said these notebooks took up too much space at home and that she was going to throw them out as scrap!

Sigh, how could he just throw them away? These were proof of his hard work!

Later, his internal struggles became more severe. Fortunately, a friend invited him to a group sharing session. They poured out their hearts to each other, licking each other's wounds, and he finally felt a long-lost warmth.

What followed was 'as natural as water flowing', he gradually gained the attention of the group leader, was recommended for training, and learned profound concepts like the "sacred doctrine" and "spiritual awakening."

He was skeptical at first, but the clan leader said these could solve all the problems facing humanity and placed great hope in him.

"My friend, you have the chance to become humanity's savior!"

From birth until now, he had never been valued so highly. The clan leader's words were like a heavy hammer, shattering his psychological defenses.

He began to preach the organization's doctrine to everyone around him. Later, he simply stopped preparing for the exam, as saving the world was more important than preparing for it, wasn't it?

During this process, only his mother resolutely opposed him from beginning to end, even threatening to report the organization. He was enraged. It was one thing not to support me during exam preparation, but now I'm saving the world and you're stopping me? Can't you just see me do well?!

Fine, fine, fine! You're not getting back the money I borrowed for cram school!

Later, it seemed he tried too hard and passed out. When he opened his eyes, he was in a completely new and unfamiliar world, and in this short, chubby body.

Sigh, Mom! Why did I transmigrate into such an ugly body... Oh, a rich man? That's fine then.

Why did I transmigrate? Because I worked hard to save others in my previous life, so God rewarded me by letting me enjoy myself in this life.

Koreans cannot escape chaebols as long as they are alive, but can't I just be a chaebol myself?

But I cannot be complacent. I must continue to preach in God's kingdom, letting the light of truth shine upon the earth.

Hiss, wait a minute, this world seems to have a profession called ninja. It's so familiar, I feel like I've heard of it somewhere in my previous life?

Never mind, I'll continue preaching in the Land of Waves for now. It looks like this is the beginner's village, and my great journey begins here.

Sigh, what are these people doing? They can't even handle a three-person guard team?

Tsk, the settlement I just built was raided, and the assassins I hired at a high price were also defeated. What's going on? I'm the protagonist!

That guy named Tazuna is hiding... That little brat! I'll have my retainers search the mountains! Let's see what you can do!

It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over. They're attacking. I need to get out of here quickly.

It's ninjas! These are the key factors in all of this. Damn it, why do I always encounter obstacles whenever I want to do something big? I clearly haven't done anything wrong!

You Konoha brats are as foolish as my mother... Just you wait, when I make a comeback, I'll still be a hero! As Chow Yun-fat said, this is called true colors!

Gato finally pinpointed several suspected snakeheads and began to approach them one by one, observing them.

"F-friend, are you going by water?"

The person turned his head, lowering the brim of his hat. He made a "five" gesture.

Gato understood, but the price was a bit more than he expected. "Friend, I don't have much cash on me. Make it cheaper, and I'll introduce more customers to you later."

The person revealed a blue pupil. "Introduce customers? Are you an idiot?"

Gato felt a surge of Blood Essence and was about to argue when he was pulled away by another tall man.

The tall man lowered his voice and said angrily, "Are you crazy? That person is a Konoha ninja, specifically here to fish!"

Gato was greatly alarmed, but maintained his composure on the surface. "Why do you say he's a Konoha ninja?"

"Look at his eyes! Idiot, he's one of Tazuna's guards, named Naruto Uzumaki. Look at his hair too."

Gato looked closely and indeed saw a bit of yellow hair peeking out from around the man's bamboo hat!

"Scared me to death. Luckily, he didn't recognize me..." Gato secretly thought, and quickly followed the tall man's footsteps.

Reaching a dark corner, the tall man told Gato another number.

"What? More expensive than the last guy!?" Gato's eyes widened. He couldn't help but wonder if he was being played.

"You want to go, go. If not, get lost. This is a custom service, all meals are provided, and you even get a map after landing. Got it?"

Just then, another person walked over, lowering their hat brim. The tall man's eyes immediately showed vigilance.

"Yamashita, can we just mind our own business? This is business I brought in."

The person named Yamashita looked at Gato and said with a chuckle, "Old man, I've been watching you for a while now. You're looking to go by water, right?"

"My price is half of his, and I cover food and lodging too."

The tall man got angry and immediately started fumbling in his pocket for something.

Seeing this, Gato quickly held back the tall man, secretly handed him a piece of broken silver, and sent him away. He then asked Yamashita a few more questions and officially finalized the price.

He followed Yamashita, turning left and right, finally arriving at a hidden shore where a dark house-boat was docked.

"This is it?"

"Yep."

Gato cautiously stepped inside. There was no one there.

Just as he was wondering, several more people walked in one after another from behind.

"Yo, retainer." The boy with blue eyes and yellow hair took off his straw hat and looked at Gato expressionlessly.