Night Raid

Naruto came to the depths of a forest in the northern part of the Land of Waves.

Towering trees and thick fog surrounded him on all sides, and the humidity was high.

He could feel the moisture in the air with every breath.

This hidden, remote place was Zabuza's base in the Land of Waves.

Naruto didn't hesitate. He walked into the base as if he knew it by heart.

The sudden noise startled Zabuza and Haku inside.

They both took fighting stances almost at the same time.

Only after recognizing Naruto did they relax a little and lower their guard.

"You're here already?"

As he spoke, Zabuza casually wiped away the fake blood and wounds he'd smeared on himself as part of his disguise.

They were just for show, meant to fool Gato.

Gato had left only a few hours ago.

"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "The time for the operation is set. We move tonight."

"Already?" Zabuza frowned, but didn't object.

Instead, it was as if some long-suppressed emotion had been stirred. He got to his feet and grabbed Kubikiribōchō from where it leaned against the wall, his movements radiating a fierce readiness to take action.

Zabuza had loathed Gato for a long time.

And since the Hidden Mist had officially branded Zabuza a rogue ninja, he couldn't draw too much attention to himself. That had given Gato plenty of chances to humiliate him.

Naruto seemed to know the base better than Zabuza and the others did. He walked naturally over to a wooden table, took paper and a pen from a drawer, and quickly began sketching.

Before long, the paper clearly showed Gato's current residence and the troop deployments around it, along with the names of several key figures.

Naruto handed the paper to Zabuza and said calmly, "There's a list of names here. I'm sure you know the people on it. Kill the ones I've circled. The ones without circles can be brought over for now."

After so many cycles, Naruto knew the inner workings of Gato Company and the personalities of its people inside out.

He knew who was utterly loyal to Gato and would never yield, who would feign submission before betraying them, and who didn't care who their boss was as long as they kept getting paid.

Naruto knew it all.

For now, they needed to eliminate the first group, keep the second in check and deal with them later, and leave the third alone.

Zabuza took the intelligence Naruto handed him and studied it closely.

The more he read, the graver his expression became. He even swallowed involuntarily.

The information was far more detailed than he'd imagined. It listed not only names and positions, but even certain people's habits.

What kind of terrifying intelligence-gathering ability was this?

There was no time to waste.

Zabuza, Haku, and Naruto set out at once, heading for Gato's residence under cover of night.

Before leaving, Naruto placed a Flying Thunder God Mark there.

After traveling for a while, they quietly approached Gato's luxurious mansion.

The mansion was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the impoverished village outside.

Though it was already late, the sound of metal clashing still came from inside.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

"That's..." Zabuza cocked his head slightly and recognized the sound at once. "Gato's samurai bodyguards, Jōri and Faraday."

The two were on the list of people who had to die.

"Sounds like they're practicing swordsmanship... and it's Iaidō Slash," Naruto said coolly.

Even after all these cycles, Naruto had never seen the two bodyguards use that technique.

Compared to the samurai of the Land of Iron, these two were still far too weak.

"Yeah." Zabuza nodded. "They're skilled samurai, hired by Gato for a high price. They're also his most trusted subordinates."

Haku added quietly, "They are indeed the strongest of Gato's bodyguards. Of course, they won't be too hard to deal with. Should I take them out?"

"Then let's go straight in. We'll stick to the plan. I'll deal with those two." Naruto headed for the mansion's entrance first.

The three began carrying out their assigned roles.

Zabuza formed Hand Seals, and the Mist Technique took effect.

The night, already shrouded in fog, was soon blanketed by an even thicker mist. Visibility plummeted.

The samurai guarding the mansion immediately grew wary and looked around in confusion.

In the next instant, Zabuza appeared behind them. Kubikiribōchō swung down with a fierce rush of wind, cutting down several guards before they could react.

Haku moved at the same time. His Senbon flew silently through the mist, striking the samurai who couldn't be persuaded to join them.

He quickly incapacitated them, leaving no chance for anyone to escape and raise the alarm.

Naruto had it even easier. He didn't even approach the courtyard. Through the fog and a gap in the window, he spotted the two figures practicing their sword strokes.

Then he took Shuriken from his ninja pouch and flicked them forward with a light motion.

Two Shuriken shot through the air and struck Jōri and Faraday in the throats.

Their swords remained poised mid-swing, but they were already on the ground.

With the strongest guards dealt with, Naruto didn't slow down. He headed straight for Gato's bedroom.

On the way, he casually took out the two samurai guarding the door.

When Naruto opened the bedroom door, Gato stood with his back to it, slowly unbuttoning his suit.

At the sound, he turned around impatiently. "Who said you could come in? Get out—"

He abruptly fell silent.

Gato's eyes widened, and he instinctively stepped back, bumping into the edge of the bed.

"Bodyguards!" Gato shouted. His voice didn't sound nearly as intimidating as he'd hoped. "Who are you? Do you know where you are?"

Naruto stepped forward. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating his icy blue eyes.

There wasn't a hint of emotion in them, only pure murderous intent.

When Gato saw the killing intent in Naruto's eyes—and the fresh blood on his Kunai—he knew his bodyguards weren't coming.

"Wait... We can talk. Money? I've got plenty. I'll give you whatever you want..." Cold sweat instantly beaded on Gato's forehead, and his voice turned hoarse.

Naruto gave him no chance to explain or beg. He struck without hesitation.

He flicked his Kunai. A glint of cold light flashed, ending Gato's life.

In his first life, Naruto had only heard about Gato's crimes. He'd been angry, but that was all.

Over one cycle after another, Naruto infiltrated Gato Company many times.

Only then did he gradually learn that Gato was far more evil than he'd ever imagined.

He didn't just control the Land of Waves. Many poor island nations without hidden ninja villages had also fallen into his clutches.

Using his underworld organization and samurai forces, Gato rapidly seized control of those countries' economic lifelines, plunging countless civilians into misery.

Because Naruto knew all this, he acted without hesitation or doubt.

Afterward, Naruto quickly searched the room and soon found some of Gato's personal seals, contracts, vault keys, and various property documents.

But those alone weren't enough.

About two minutes later, Zabuza entered the room from a corridor deeper inside, escorting a middle-aged man by the arm. The man wore a dark kimono, and his hair was streaked black and white.

The butler was well-dressed, but his face was pale and his body trembled slightly. The commotion in the mansion and Zabuza's appearance had clearly frightened him badly.

According to the list Naruto had provided beforehand, this was one of the few butlers in Gato Corporation who held real power and might be persuaded thanks to his cautious nature.

Gato's businesses were vast and involved many shady dealings, so he naturally relied on more than one butler. But that only made things easier for Naruto's plan.

All they had to do was eliminate the diehards and the stubborn ones.

Then this seemingly unimportant figure could become the most suitable—and most authoritative—spokesman.