"Was the mission they received only a C-rank?"
Hearing the mission rank, Kiba Inuzuka immediately furrowed his brow.
"Since they're protecting a citizen while he builds a bridge, they're bound to clash with Gato.
The fact that he could send a Chunin to set up defenses means there are at least a bunch of ninjas around him. There might even be a Jonin among them.
That would make the mission Team Kakashi is facing at least A-rank.
In that situation, Team Kakashi wouldn't just abandon the mission right away, would they?"
"Kiba, don't let yourself be constrained by the mission's classification..."
Kurenai Yuhi said slowly.
"If I heard that Team Kakashi was still carrying out the mission, that means they knew the situation and chose to continue anyway.
They're mentally prepared to fight Gato!
And now that we've sent our intelligence, I'm sure the village has already updated Team Kakashi's briefing.
So this mission has now become a joint operation between our two teams!"
"I see. I hadn't thought it through..."
Kiba said, suddenly understanding.
"Then we should get moving as soon as possible and meet up with Team Kakashi."
"Getting moving quickly is right, but there's no need to rush into meeting Team Kakashi..."
Kazeka rubbed his chin.
"Joining forces would certainly make us stronger, but it would also put Gato on guard. Worse, if things go badly, he might flee ahead of time.
There's a saying: you can spend a thousand days as a thief, but you can't spend a thousand days guarding against one.
If Gato runs off in advance, it won't matter much to us, but the people of the Land of Waves could suffer his revenge!
So the best choice is to support Team Kakashi from the shadows!"
"I think you just want to let Gato drop his guard..."
Kiba glanced at Kazeka.
"Then catch him off guard and carry out some kind of evil plan!"
"Of course!"
Kazeka admitted without hesitation.
"Never mind everything else. The Rogue Ninjas gathered around him are a whole batch of excellent experimental subjects.
Those guys have no professional discipline. What if they run off when the time comes?
They're all my spoils of war!"
Seeing Kazeka's excited expression, Kiba couldn't help shuddering. But as Kazeka had said, acting in secret was the safest option.
He looked over at Kurenai Yuhi and saw her nod in agreement.
"Kazeka's right. In that case, we'll operate in secret. There's no time to waste. We leave now!"
In the center of the island nation of the Land of Waves stood its most luxurious wooden villa.
A man in sunglasses and a suit sat in the main seat. Short and round, with a pair of small mustaches, he looked every bit the stereotypical crooked businessman.
He was Gato. To the public, he was the president of an international shipping company. In truth, he was a mafia boss!
Looking at the two ninjas beside him, Gato gave his orders in a cold voice.
"Zabuza has already gone after Tazuna and those ninjas. Yajima, gather your men. You're coming with me to find them in a little while.
"If Zabuza loses, you'll step in right away. If he wins, take the opportunity to ambush him and finish him off!"
"Boss, is that wise?"
The ninja called Shima was covered in scars and looked vicious.
But the thought of facing the renowned Zabuza still made him uneasy.
"That guy won't be easy to deal with!"
"Not easy to deal with? I don't think so!"
Gato sneered.
"What Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? What Kubikiribōchō? It's all empty reputation!
"He bragged to me before, making a huge show of himself, and then got beaten down in a single exchange.
"When he goes back this time, he might get pounded by his opponent again.
"Even if he gets lucky and wins, he'll probably be badly injured. It'll be easy to take care of him then!
"That idiot really thinks my money comes so easily?"
Gato gave a disdainful snort, embodying the very meaning of breaking one's word.
"Zabuza and Haku have always talked back to me. All they want is to get money out of me.
"But if they want to take my money, they'd better be able to live long enough to spend it!"
His eyes narrowed, barely containing the venomous fury in them.
"Don't kill them too quickly. Leave them alive. I want to torture them, little by little.
"Aren't they always going on about a ninja's honor? Don't they always put on that damn air of superiority?
"I'm going to crush their pride under my feet.
"That bastard Haku even dared to hit me before. This time, I'll make him lick the soles of my shoes himself.
"If he refuses, I'll flay Zabuza alive in front of him. Once I've tortured them enough, I'll throw them into the sea for the sharks!"
After he finished speaking, Gato let out a long breath, seeming to lose himself in a delightful fantasy.
A little while later, he finally stood up from his chair and beckoned Shima over.
"All right, go gather the men. Leave four to guard my study. Everyone else comes with us.
"I'm a cautious man. I won't give Zabuza the chance to fight back!"
"He may be an idiot, but he's certainly not lacking in caution..."
Watching the Rogue Ninjas pour out under Gato's command, Kazeka clicked his tongue.
"He really is a coward, but that works out well for us. We won't have to go out there and alert him. Kiba..."
Kazeka turned to Kiba Inuzuka beside him.
"How are you doing with the preparations?
"There are only four ninjas left, and from the look of them, they're just as greedy and lecherous as Gato.
"Our chances of success are very high!"
"I don't understand..."
Listening to Kazeka and looking at the four greasy Rogue Ninjas guarding Gato's study, Kiba's face clearly showed his reluctance.
"We have so many ways to handle this. Even if we fought them head-on, we could take care of those four obvious Genin. So why do we have to use Sexy Jutsu?!
"Kazeka, I feel like you're deliberately messing with me!"
"Damn it, we're short on time. Do you think I have the patience for that right now?
"Besides, the other methods would take too long, and the slightest slip could alert Gato, who's already left.
"Right now, Sexy Jutsu is the safest option..."
Kazeka glared fiercely at Kiba. As Kiba lowered his head, Kazeka breathed a sigh of relief that he'd managed to fool him.
"Besides, those guys look like cowards. If anything goes wrong, they won't dare raise the alarm.
"That's much better than carelessly setting off the alarms Gato left behind!"
"Really? There really isn't any other way?"
Kiba still tried to struggle at the last moment, but Kazeka, who wanted to see what would happen, gave him no chance.
"Kurenai put me in charge of the team, so I have to take responsibility. Hinata's personality makes her unsuitable for this, so you're the only one left.
"Besides, you wouldn't want me to turn Akamaru into a lovestruck dog girl and send him to seduce them, would you?"
Kiba: "..."
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