Coward, Attack!

RUMBLE--!!!

Meitou's eyes widened.

He looked at the kunai stuck in his chest, the explosive tag already on the verge of detonation.

After a bang.

Meitou was directly sent to his death.

Yetou only heard an explosion behind him.

He didn't have time to look back.

The arrow was already on the string.

He looked at the terrified blond kid in front of him.

He grinned menacingly, "Die, flower grown in a greenhouse!"

He raised the sickle in his hand.

It was about to fall.

Naruto, who had fallen to the ground, stared with wide eyes, his whole body trembling.

In his eyes, besides fear, there was only the intention to flee.

But his body wouldn't obey him.

"Mr. Tazuna, please stay behind me!" Sakura looked at the location shrouded in thick smoke and took out another kunai with an explosive tag attached from her ninja tool pouch.

Her stock was low.

She only had ten left...

Cough, cough, speaking of which, she owed it all to Cangwu.

Tenten, seeing how pitifully poor she was, had generously given her some for self-defense.

Of course, the words might have been a bit sharp.

Sakura gripped the kunai with the explosive tag in her hand, and Tenten's voice from back then echoed in her mind.

'If it weren't for the fact that you're Cangwu-sensei's student... I wouldn't have advanced them to you beforehand, fearing Cangwu-sensei would blame himself if such a weakling like you died~!'

'Remember to pay me back, Flat-chested Sakura~'

Thinking of this, Sakura's lips curved upwards unconsciously.

Her perception told her that the enemy just now had been dealt with by her.

However, she remained vigilant.

Tazuna snapped back to reality and quickly said, "I know... that black-haired young man?"

In the blink of an eye, Sasuke, who had been protecting him, disappeared.

BANG--!!!

"Yo~"

"Are you hurt?"

"Scaredy-cat!"

BOOM--

Naruto's mind went blank.

He looked at Sasuke standing in front of him, and at Yetou, whose neck had been broken by Sasuke's kick.

He looked at Yetou, who was still twitching.

For the first time, Naruto felt the presence of death.

Splash--

Suddenly, a dark shadow plunged into Yetou's neck.

Instantly, blood splattered.

Sasuke expressionlessly pulled out the kunai.

Ghost Brothers - Dead!

Cangwu watched everything unfold.

He couldn't help but nod.

'Sakura and Sasuke have both made significant progress.'

'Naruto... his mindset will adjust after this.'

Seeing that there was no more danger, Sakura immediately rushed towards Naruto.

Naruto stared blankly at Sakura.

Until Sakura's iron fist landed on his head.

"You idiot!!!"

Sakura was truly furious.

If Sasuke hadn't reacted quickly enough, Naruto would probably be dead.

"What are you doing?"

"You tell me!"

Sakura grabbed Naruto and fiercely said, "Do you know you almost died just now?!"

"Don't you always say you want to show off?"

"Is this how you show off?!"

After speaking, Sakura calmed down a bit, let go, and said irritably, "What a big idiot!"

"I..." Naruto lowered his head, not daring to look at Sakura at all.

Sasuke's words still echoed in his ears.

"Good job."

Cangwu came before the three children.

He ruffled Sasuke and Sakura's heads.

"You haven't disappointed your teacher's expectations."

Hearing this, Naruto lowered his head even further, gritting his teeth, his face filled with regret.

He, who always bragged endlessly, had performed so miserably when faced with actual trouble.

"Hmph~!"

Sasuke haughtily turned his head away, dodging Cangwu's head-pat.

"Such a low-level disguise can be seen through at a glance, and the enemy was pathetically weak. There's nothing to be proud of."

Sakura, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. Although she told herself she shouldn't, her body betrayed her, and she enjoyed the feeling of being petted.

"Hmph, unlike some people, you're not injured, are you?" Sasuke glanced at Naruto, sneering and mocking him again.

"Damn it..." Naruto felt a familiar large hand press down on his head.

Thwack

"Your performance was indeed very poor."

Cangwu tapped Naruto's head.

"If Sasuke hadn't intervened, you'd be gone. Aren't you going to thank Sasuke?"

"No need. I don't need thanks from a coward like that," Sasuke said indifferently.

"Damn it!"

"I will absolutely never again..."

Slash

Naruto plunged a kunai into the back of his own hand.

He wanted to speak of his ninja way.

But Cangwu's words flashed through his mind.

He immediately suppressed those chuunibyou thoughts.

He needed to let his actions speak for themselves.

Who couldn't talk big?

Sakura gave him a sideways glance.

After Cangwu's comforting words, Sakura's heart had completely calmed down.

She took out medical supplies from her backpack.

"What an idiot."

Saying that, she pulled Naruto's hand over and began treating his wound.

"If you do this again next time, you can just wait to die from blood loss. I won't help you then."

"Huh?"

"I'll die?"

Upon hearing about dying from blood loss, Naruto asked with some fear.

Sakura naturally gave him another glare.

Cangwu glanced at Yetou's corpse on the ground.

Sasuke, meanwhile, turned to look at Tazuna.

Ninja have appeared; this is no longer a C-rank mission.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Naruto also belatedly realized something was wrong.

Cangwu glanced at Tazuna, who was bowing his head in silence, and chuckled with a shake of his head.

This mission was never a C-rank to begin with.

If Tazuna had requested a B-rank mission, Hiruzen Sarutobi might have had a headache.

But, as luck would have it, it was a C-rank mission.

This allowed for a Jonin to be reasonably dispatched.

The Land of Waves, a neighboring country to the Land of Fire, does the Land of Fire know nothing about what's going on inside?

As the saying goes, one cannot interfere in another country's politics.

The Land of Waves cannot deal with Gato's existence.

The Daimyo of the Land of Waves has likely already petitioned the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

After all, once the bridge in the Land of Waves is completed, it will bring considerable benefits to the Land of Fire.

With convenient transportation, wouldn't the economy naturally improve?

However, Gato's identity is not simple either.

A figure from the underworld, able to remain unharmed for years, even growing to the point of being richer than a nation.

This is quite suspicious.

Who knows if other countries have cooperated with him, or if some high-ranking officials used him to launder money?

Of course, there's another rule for ninja: they cannot attack their employer at will.

Zabuza said before he died that he would do one last favor.

That was to personally... personally kiss Gato to death.

So... where did Gato's wealth go afterward?

Who knows?

Huh? This feels a bit familiar... the Land of Whirlpools?

Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's truly difficult to be a neighbor to the Land of Fire.

Cangwu walked towards Tazuna.

Seeing this, Tazuna continued to play dumb.

"Speak."

Although Cangwu's tone was gentle, Tazuna quickly averted his gaze and said guiltily:

"What's going on?"

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted coldly.

Sakura also stared at Tazuna with unfriendly eyes.

Naruto scratched his head, not understanding what had happened.

"Falsifying a mission, in serious cases, can lead to direct action against the employer."

Cangwu maintained his smile.

Tazuna dared not meet his gaze, "I... I don't know what you're talking about!"

"A rogue ninja from Kirigakure has no reason to attack us, Konoha ninja."

"They are already being watched by Kirigakure; they wouldn't provoke the behemoth that is Konoha lightly unless absolutely necessary."

"So, do you think... they are stupid?"

"Or are we stupid?"