The Land of Waves, somewhere gloomy.
Two days after Hao Shuai and his group were attacked.
"The Demon Brothers actually failed? I thought you said they were powerful ninja. That's why we paid such a high price to hire you."
A short, bespectacled middle-aged man stood in the middle of the hall, pointing at the ninja seated on a sofa and complaining angrily.
The arrogant little man was named Gato, the enemy Team 7 would face on this mission.
On the surface, he was the owner of a shipping company in the Land of Waves and one of the richest men in the world.
In private, he used warriors and ninja to smuggle drugs and contraband. He also wanted to seize the profits of other companies and countries, making him a thoroughly vile man.
"Quit your yapping. You're annoying!"
A huge beheading sword suddenly pressed against Gato's neck, cutting off his complaints. The ninja on the sofa then said coldly, "This time, I'll go myself and kill him with my beheading sword."
"R-really? Are you sure?" Gato was momentarily intimidated by the ninja's imposing presence. "I heard they hired a very powerful ninja to protect them. And after the Demon Brothers failed, they'll surely be on their guard."
"Hmph! Who do you think I am? I'm Momochi Zabuza, known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist." The ninja—Momochi Zabuza himself—spoke with absolute confidence.
"Then I'll be waiting for good news."
With that, Gato left under his bodyguards' protection.
"Hold it~~"
The beheading sword once again blocked Gato's way.
"You think you can just walk away?"
"Zabuza, what else do you want?" Gato was startled again.
"When you hired us, you said our target was just an ordinary old man. You didn't mention there'd be a Konoha jonin! Your bad information