The Demon Brothers' Instant Defeat, Zabuza's Assault

"By the way, Mr. Tazuna...

You just said you were from the Land of Waves. Does the Land of Waves have ninja?"

On the broad, sturdy dirt road, the bored Sakura asked curiously.

"No, Sakura...

Under normal circumstances, small countries like the Land of Waves do not have ninja."

Kakashi took over the conversation, helping to pass the tedious journey.

"However, not every small country lacks a ninja village.

On this continent, only the Five Great Nations truly have what can be called major ninja villages...

The Land of Wind's Sunagakure, the Land of Lightning's Kumogakure, the Land of Earth's Iwagakure, and the Land of Water's Kirigakure.

As well as Konohagakure in our Land of Fire!!

Beyond those, there are only some well-known smaller ninja villages..."

Under Sakura and Naruto's astonished gazes, Kakashi began explaining the situation in the Ninja World.

It was also the first time the two of them truly understood the state of this world...

Sasuke, on the other hand, had long known all of this, so naturally he was not surprised.

Amid the three's chatter and laughter, noon soon arrived.

"Hmm??"

Suddenly, Sasuke's steps paused slightly.

The corner of his eye swept over a puddle by the roadside, then he discreetly glanced at the cloudless sky...

They're here!!

Knowing the plot, Sasuke instantly understood. He adjusted his stance and began forming Hand Seals.

This movement immediately made Kakashi, who had also noticed something was wrong, shrink his pupils in shock.

Sasuke had already noticed them!

"Whoosh..."

The second Kakashi, who was walking at the rear, passed the puddle, two figures burst out of it at high speed and charged toward him.

Just as Naruto and Sakura were startled by the sound cutting through the air and turned their heads, they saw Kakashi split in half...

"Teacher Kakashi..."

Instinctively, the two cried out in unison.

Though it had happened suddenly, Sakura still rushed toward Tazuna at once and shielded him behind her.

"The first one..."

Having succeeded, the Demon Brothers shouted coldly. Their gazes sharpened as they charged toward Naruto, who was closest.

Naruto's pupils contracted at the sight. Trembling, he stood frozen in place, unable to move!

For the first time, he felt fear of death...

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique..."

At the critical moment, Sasuke's voice suddenly exploded through the air.

A scorching fireball five meters in diameter streaked past Naruto's eyes and slammed viciously into the charging Demon Brothers.

"Ah..."

Caught off guard, the two Demon Brothers were instantly engulfed by the sudden fireball...

In the direst moment, the two had just erupted with Chakra and were about to retreat at high speed.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Several Shuriken suddenly shot out from the Great Fireball at tremendous speed...

In an instant, they arrived before the two men. The situation was extremely critical!

In that flash of lightning, viciousness flickered through one of the Demon Brothers' eyes.

He grabbed his companion and held him in front as a shield, then kicked him into the fireball while using the force to retreat at high speed...

In an instant, that Mist Ninja was swallowed by the Great Fireball's several-hundred-degree heat...

"What!!"

"That guy..."

Seeing the enemy turn to charcoal in the blink of an eye, Naruto and Sakura cried out at the same time.

At that moment, they saw the cruel reality of ninja for the first time!

So-called companions.

When life and death were on the line, they could be abandoned so simply and ruthlessly!!

In that instant, both of them deeply understood the true meaning behind Kakashi's graduation test.

"Run..."

While the two were still stunned, the survivor did not hesitate to turn and flee.

This team was too dangerous!

"Thud..."

Just as Sasuke was about to give chase, Kakashi suddenly appeared and chopped the man across the back of the neck with his palm.

Knocking him unconscious in a single blow...

"Teacher Kakashi, you weren't dead!"

Seeing Kakashi return from the dead, Naruto's face lit up as he cried out in delight.

"It was the Substitution Technique..."

Seeing several wooden logs nearby, Sakura instantly understood.

"Sasuke, you did very well!

Sakura was excellent too. You successfully protected the client..."

Kakashi turned and praised Sasuke and Sakura, then shifted his gaze toward Naruto.

"A certain brat who keeps shouting that he wants to become Hokage was so frightened just now that he couldn't move!

It seems Sasuke is indeed one step closer to becoming Hokage..."

Kakashi provocatively exaggerated, making Naruto's face burn red.

Shame and unwillingness surged up in his heart at once...

They had both faced enemies for the first time, so why had Sasuke been so decisive and brave!

Was this the gap between them??

How was he supposed to accept that...

"What a lousy performance..."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and complained weakly as he walked over to Naruto.

"Yo~~

Are you okay, coward..."

Under Naruto's agitated and furious gaze, Sasuke casually tossed out the remark before turning away.

Well, how could he possibly miss something as fun as slapping the protagonist in the face...

"Damn it, you're so arrogant!!

Next time, I definitely won't lose to you, Sasuke..."

Naruto immediately flew into a rage, jumping up and shouting. He had thought Sasuke was going to say something encouraging or comforting.

"Mr. Tazuna...

It seems you've hidden something from us!

The current situation has clearly exceeded the rank of the mission you issued..."

Kakashi stared at Tazuna with slightly cold eyes, certain that he had already seen through who the target was.

The Demon Brothers' assassination attempt had clearly been aimed at Tazuna!

"This..."

Tazuna's old face stiffened awkwardly. Guilty as a thief, he was left speechless, exposing himself without saying a word.

Without Sasuke's involvement, Naruto still erupted just as he had in the original plot...

The mission continued...

After the Demon Brothers' assassination attempt, the rest of the journey naturally went smoothly. The next morning, the group set foot on the Land of Waves.

Along the way, they also learned of Gato's existence!

"Enemy..."

Suddenly, Naruto, who was scouting ahead, fiercely threw a Kunai and shouted gravely.

Everyone's expressions changed, their nerves instantly tensing...

"Naruto, could you stop pretending there's something wrong!

Look at what you did..."

When she saw that the Kunai had struck a white rabbit, Sakura could not help shouting angrily.

"Huh? A rabbit!!

Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Naruto's face fell. Embarrassed, he grabbed the rabbit and apologized repeatedly.

They're here!!

Ignoring Naruto's antics, alarm bells instantly rang in Sasuke's mind. His limbs tensed as he prepared to strike.

At the same time, Kakashi stared thoughtfully at the rabbit, his expression grave!

"Get down..."

Suddenly, Kakashi's warning exploded beside everyone's ears.

Already prepared, Sasuke immediately tripped Tazuna with a kick. Naruto and Sakura also lowered themselves at the same time.

The next second

The sharp Kubikiribōchō swept past at high speed and slammed fiercely into the tree trunk ahead.

With a whoosh...

A figure appeared atop the hilt, his gaze icy and sharp...

"Well, well~~

Who do we have here!

So it's Kirigakure's rogue ninja, Demon Zabuza..."

Seeing the newcomer, Kakashi's pupils contracted as he spoke in a deliberately casual tone.

But jokes aside, he immediately lifted his forehead protector and revealed his crimson left eye...

"Sharingan!!

I see. No wonder the Demon Brothers failed in their assassination attempt.

I never expected the legendary Copy Ninja, Kakashi, to be escorting this mission..."

Seeing that crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan, Zabuza's gaze turned even colder as he spoke in an icy voice.

Battle was about to erupt...