Leaving the Village

The next morning, at the gates of Konohagakure.

Team 7, all four of them, were unusually punctual.

Even Kakashi, who was always late, arrived a few minutes early, leaning against a gatepost and reading his favorite lewd book.

Naruto, mimicking the cool Sasuke, put his hands in his pockets and watched a figure approaching unsteadily in the distance, sighing inwardly.

Gato was still carrying his half-empty sake bottle, his unshaven face flushed, his steps unsteady and swaying.

Naruto watched him, his feelings complicated.

In his first life, he had genuinely sympathized with the old man's plight, even feeling a surge of passion to protect him and his country.

But after so many reincarnations, seeing the bridge-building expert with sake constantly in hand, Naruto could only feel a sense of helplessness.

It was understandable that the Land of Waves couldn't afford high-level ninja.

But with you looking so drunk, it's hard to take you seriously...

After all, your country is on the verge of "destruction" because of Gato. If you could at least quit drinking, you'd save more money, wouldn't you?

The spring air was dry and crisp, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of grass and trees from the nearby forest. Birdsong could be heard sporadically in the distance.

Sasuke and Sakura, venturing out of the village for the first time on a mission, clearly felt a sense of novelty, like they were on an outing.

Sakura even took a deep breath, a relaxed smile on her face.

"Wow, the weather is so nice today! It's perfect for..." She glanced at Sasuke beside her, her cheeks slightly flushed, her voice carrying a hint of suggestion, "a date!"

Sasuke, however, seemed not to have heard her. Hands in his pockets, he scanned his surroundings with a cold gaze.

Women only slow down my hand seals, he thought. My goal is to get stronger, to get revenge, not to chat idly on the road.

Naruto didn't join their awkward interaction. Instead, he focused on a puddle of water on the ground, which shouldn't have been there on a dry spring road, his eyes darkening slightly.

They're here, the Demon Brothers from Kirigakure.

Naruto thought silently, Sasuke should be able to handle both of them at the same time now, right?

It's a good chance to test his recent training results.

Sasuke also noticed the puddle, his brow furrowing slightly.

The weather is so nice, why is there a puddle on the road?

Something's not right.

Something's twelve out of ten wrong.

Kakashi's gaze lifted from his book, glancing at the puddle and then at the seemingly unguarded Tazuna, his expression still lazy.

It seems the ones targeting Tazuna aren't ordinary thieves or thugs...

No, perhaps their target isn't him at all, but the descendant of the Uchiha, or... the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

With that thought, Kakashi closed his book, deciding to wait and observe for now.

The group walked past the puddle as if nothing had happened.

The very next second after they all passed, two figures emerged silently from the water.

They wore masks resembling gas masks, and sharp, horn-like forehead protectors adorned with the symbol of Kirigakure.

However, there was no slash mark across the symbol.

They were indeed ninja who had left Kirigakure with Zabuza, the Demon Brothers.

The two appeared slowly, back-to-back, then suddenly separated to the left and right.

From guards on their wrists, two serrated metal chains sprang out, rushing towards Kakashi!

These were no ordinary chains.

They were deadly weapons made of multiple sharp serrations strung together.

The chains instantly wrapped around Kakashi's body, making a "creaking" sound as they dug deep into his flesh.

"The first one took the bait."

One of the Demon Brothers, Mei, muttered in a cold voice.

Then, the two pulled the chains tight simultaneously.

"Pfft!"

Kakashi's body was torn apart in an instant, scattering into a mist of blood before slowly falling.

"Ka... Teacher Kakashi!!"

Sakura's scream pierced the quiet air. Her face was deathly pale, and she was trembling all over.

Sasuke's pupils contracted, and he instinctively adopted a defensive stance.

Only Naruto, after witnessing this horrifying scene with his own eyes, felt nothing but a slight urge to yawn.

Teacher Kakashi, you sure dodged fast.

Naruto then turned his head and whispered to Sasuke beside him, "Your turn to perform. It's a good chance to test your recent training results."

"Annoying..."

Sasuke cursed under his breath, his gaze growing more serious.

Teacher Kakashi just died right in front of you, and you're still this calm?

And after landing one hit, the enemy disappeared in an instant.

"The second one took the bait."

A cold voice suddenly came from directly behind Naruto.

Naruto knew clearly that if he didn't dodge, he would suffer the same fate as "Kakashi" in the next second.

But Naruto had no intention of moving at all.

The Demon Brothers swung their chains like lassos, throwing them towards Naruto's head.

Naruto, who already knew everything, could only quietly watch as a black circle appeared above his head and closed in on him.

At that very moment, the Demon Brothers' movements suddenly froze!

"To test my strength, was it necessary for you to personally be the bait?"

Sasuke cursed in a low voice, but his hands didn't slow down at all.

The shuriken he had already thrown accurately pierced the chain, pinning it firmly to a nearby tree trunk.

Immediately after, he quickly threaded a kunai through the center hole of the shuriken, fixing it completely.

"It won't budge?!"

The Demon Brothers were startled simultaneously, trying to retract the chain but failing.

Sasuke seized this momentary opening, his body darting forward like lightning.

He first delivered two rapid kicks precisely to the opponents' wrist guards, numbing both their arms.

Then, Sasuke followed up with two heavy kicks to their chests!

"Bang! Bang!"

The Demon Brothers grunted in unison, kicked backward and stumbling.

Sasuke didn't pause at all, delivering a clean and sharp hand chop to both their napes.

Darkness fell before their eyes, and they collapsed limply.

In reality, Sasuke could have easily used a kunai to end their lives, but he didn't.

"That was really dangerous just now... Naruto!"

Kakashi's voice lazily came from behind Naruto.

He had appeared there at some unknown time, one hand casually resting on Naruto's shoulder, looking completely calm.

Sasuke and Sakura simultaneously turned their heads, looking at Kakashi behind Naruto in shock.

The pool of blood mist from before had long since turned into a pile of broken wood, the Substitution Technique taught at the Ninja Academy.

"Teacher Kakashi, you're not dead!"

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a little annoyed.

Kakashi ignored their surprise and walked over to the unconscious Demon Brothers, taking out ropes and skillfully tying them to a tree by the roadside.

"These are Chunin from Kirigakure, nicknamed the 'Demon Brothers.' They specialize in using these chains in coordination to eliminate targets instantly."

After confirming their identities, Kakashi stood up. "Enemies for a C-rank mission shouldn't be ninja... Mr. Tazuna, this mission rank probably needs to be raised to B-rank."