Leaving the Village

Early the next morning, at the gates of Konoha.

For once, all four members of Team 7 had arrived on time.

Even Kakashi, who was always late, had shown up a few minutes early. He leaned against a gatepost, reading that same indecent book he never seemed to tire of.

Naruto copied the cool-guy act Sasuke had perfected, keeping his hands in his pockets. Watching the unsteady figure approaching in the distance, he couldn't help sighing to himself.

Tazuna was still carrying his half-empty bottle of liquor. His unkempt, bearded face was flushed, and he staggered along unsteadily.

Naruto watched him, his feelings complicated.

In his first life, he had truly pitied the old man's situation. He had even burned with determination to protect him and his country.

But after so many cycles, seeing this bridge-building expert with a bottle perpetually in hand only left Naruto feeling a little helpless.

He could understand that the Land of Waves was too poor to hire high-ranking ninja.

But with you looking this drunk, it was hard to take anything seriously...

After all, your country was supposedly going to be "destroyed" because of Gato. Couldn't you at least give up drinking? You'd save a little more money that way, wouldn't you?

The spring air was dry and crisp. A gentle breeze carried the distinctive scent of trees and grass from the roadside forest, and birdsong drifted faintly from afar.

Sasuke and Sakura, out of the village on an official mission for the first time, were clearly enjoying the novelty of a "field trip."

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

"Wow, the weather's so nice today! It's perfect for..." She sneaked a glance at Sasuke beside her, her cheeks turning pink. Her voice took on a suggestive lilt. "A date!"

Sasuke acted as though he hadn't heard a thing. Hands in his pockets, he coolly surveyed their surroundings.

Women only slow down my hand seals.

My goal is to get stronger and take revenge, not to chat with you along the road.

Naruto didn't get involved in their awkward interaction. Instead, his gaze settled on a puddle on the ground that had no business being there on a dry spring day. His eyes narrowed slightly.

Here they come, the Demon Brothers from the Hidden Mist.

At this point, Sasuke should be able to take them both on at once, right?

This will be a good chance to test his recent training.

Sasuke had also noticed the puddle, and his brow furrowed slightly.

The weather's so nice. Why is there a puddle in the road?

Something's off.

Way, way off.

Kakashi's eyes lifted from his book. He glanced at the puddle, then at Tazuna, who appeared completely unguarded. His expression remained as languid as ever.

So the people targeting Tazuna aren't ordinary thieves or thugs...

No—maybe he isn't their target at all. Perhaps they're after the Uchiha heir, or... the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Kakashi closed his book. He decided to stay put for now and see how things played out.

The group walked past the puddle without a hint of concern.

The instant they had all passed, two figures silently emerged from the water.

They wore masks over their mouths that looked like gas masks, and sharp, hornlike Forehead Protectors emblazoned with the symbol of the Hidden Mist.

But there was no slash through the symbol.

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

The two appeared slowly, standing back-to-back, then abruptly split apart.

Two serrated metal chains shot from the guards on their wrists, hurtling toward Kakashi!

These weren't ordinary chains.

They were deadly weapons made of multiple sharp, interconnected teeth.

The chains wrapped around Kakashi in an instant, grinding with a "crunch" as they sank deep into his flesh.

"First one's hooked," Meizu muttered, his voice cold.

Then both men yanked hard on the chains.

"Pfft!"

Kakashi's body was torn apart in an instant, scattering into a cloud of blood that slowly fell to the ground.

"Te... Teacher Kakashi!!"

Sakura's scream tore through the still air. Her face went pale, and she trembled all over.

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

Only Naruto felt nothing after witnessing the horrifying scene firsthand. He even felt a little like yawning.

Teacher Kakashi, you sure dodged that fast.

Naruto turned his head and quietly said to Sasuke, "Your turn to put on a show. This is the perfect chance to test how your training's been going."

"Give it a rest..." Sasuke muttered, his expression growing even more serious.

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

And after striking, the enemies vanished in an instant.

"Second one's hooked."

A cold voice suddenly came from directly behind Naruto.

Naruto knew perfectly well that if he didn't move, he'd meet the same fate as "Kakashi" the next moment.

But he had no intention of moving at all.

The Demon Brothers swung their chains like lassos and threw them over Naruto's head.

Naruto, who already knew exactly what was coming, could only watch as a black circle appeared above him and drew closer.

At that very moment, the Demon Brothers abruptly froze!

"Did you really have to make yourself bait just to test my skills?" Sasuke muttered, but his hands didn't slow for an instant.

The Shuriken he had thrown earlier had pierced the chain precisely, pinning it firmly to a nearby tree trunk.

He immediately threaded a Kunai through the Shuriken's central hole and secured it in place.

"It won't budge?!"

Both Demon Brothers were startled. They tried to pull back their chains, but couldn't.

Sasuke seized the brief opening and shot forward like lightning.

First, he landed two rapid kicks squarely on the guards around their wrists, numbing their arms.

Then he drove two more powerful kicks into their chests!

"Thud! Thud!"

The Demon Brothers grunted in turn and staggered backward.

Sasuke didn't pause. With a swift, clean chop, he struck the back of each man's neck.

Their vision went black, and they crumpled to the ground.

Sasuke could easily have taken the chance to kill them with his Kunai, but he didn't.

"That was close... Naruto!" Kakashi drawled from behind Naruto.

He had appeared there at some point, one hand resting casually on Naruto's shoulder, his expression completely unruffled.

Sasuke and Sakura both turned, staring at Kakashi behind Naruto in shock.

The cloud of blood on the ground had already turned into a pile of broken wood—the Substitution Technique taught at the Ninja Academy.

"Teacher Kakashi, you're alive!"

Sakura sighed with relief, then immediately looked a little annoyed.

Kakashi ignored their astonishment and walked over to the unconscious Demon Brothers. He took out a rope and expertly tied them to a roadside tree.

"These are Chunin from the Hidden Mist, nicknamed the Demon Brothers. They're skilled at working together with these chains and can take down a target in an instant."

After confirming their identities, Kakashi stood up. "The enemy on a C-rank mission shouldn't be ninja... Mr. Tazuna, I'm afraid this mission needs to be raised to B-rank."