Zabuza's Blade

"The person who wants to kill me is named Gato."

Tazuna finally spoke up: "The Land of Waves, where I reside, is a..."

Through Tazuna's explanation, Team 7 was able to understand the specific situation.

"I see, no wonder Old Man Third sent us here."

Naruto looked at Kakashi: "Kakashi-sensei, are we going to continue the mission?"

Kakashi did not answer directly, but instead looked at the three of them—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—and asked: "What do you intend to do?"

Sakura thought for a moment and said: "I can barely accept doing a B-rank mission for C-rank pay. However, because Mr. Tazuna concealed information, we were nearly put in mortal danger, and I cannot forgive him for that. Therefore, I wish to abandon this mission."

Sasuke was the second to speak: "I want to continue. I've already been away from the village for many days; if I don't finish what I set out to do, the time will have been wasted."

"One to one. The deciding vote falls to you."

Kakashi looked at Naruto: "Do you want to quit, or continue?"

"I want to continue the mission, but I think Sakura is right."

Naruto pondered for a moment, then said to Tazuna: "So, Mr. Tazuna, I want you to compensate us."

Tazuna: "What kind of compensation are you talking about?"

"Three conditions."

Naruto held up three fingers: "First, although the Land of Waves is poor now, after the bridge is built, your lives will improve quickly, and there will be extra money. I hope that when that time comes, you can compensate us at double the standard of a B-rank mission."

"No problem!"

Tazuna was very decisive: "What about the other two conditions?"

"Second, if there are any commissions from the Land of Waves in the future, you must choose Konoha first, unless it is something we cannot do."

Naruto: "Third, apologize to us until Sakura is willing to continue the mission."

"I will apologize with all my heart, until this little... beautiful kunoichi is willing to continue the mission."

Tazuna said with some difficulty: "However, I cannot guarantee anything regarding commissions from the Land of Waves. After all, I am just a bridge builder; I cannot represent everyone in the country."

"No, you can."

Naruto said: "The fact that you could come to Konoha, and the money spent on the commission, are proof that the others in the Land of Waves trust you. As long as you speak up, others will prioritize giving their commissions to Konoha."

"Fine."

Tazuna agreed with a hint of unease: "When I return to the Land of Waves, I will make sure others commission tasks to Konoha as much as possible."

Naruto nodded and signaled for Tazuna to look at Sakura: "Please begin your apology."

Tazuna showed sufficient sincerity, expressing his apologies to Sakura in a manner bordering on prostration, and the young girl eventually softened her heart, so the mission continued.

Kakashi personally dragged the two attackers into the nearby woods to "take care of them," and the group set off once more.

To deal with potential ninja attacks, the formation of the five changed slightly:

Originally, Tazuna led the way at the front, Kakashi brought up the rear, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura protected Tazuna from three directions;

Now, Kakashi walked at the very front, Sakura and Sasuke were on the left and right, Naruto was at the back, and Tazuna walked in the middle of the four.

However, until they entered the borders of the Land of Waves, no attacking ninjas appeared.

"A little further, and we'll be at my house."

Tazuna was a bit excited: "Once we arrive, I'll make sure my daughter treats you all well!"

"We might be a little late getting back."

Naruto suddenly said, turning to look at a patch of woods behind them: "The enemy is already here."

Sasuke and Sakura immediately drew kunai, shielding Tazuna behind them and remaining vigilant against attacks from all directions.

"I didn't sense any presence."

Kakashi pulled up his headband and looked in the direction of Naruto's gaze: "How did you discover them?"

Naruto: "I can sense malice."

Kakashi recalled briefly: Didn't his master's wife have this ability as well?

Suddenly, Kakashi's eyes narrowed: "Look out!"

Before the words had even faded, a long, wide blade flew out of the woods, spinning like a shuriken.

Kakashi chose to crouch down to dodge.

Sasuke and Sakura pulled Tazuna to the side to avoid it.

Naruto's eyes widened, and at the critical moment, he grabbed the hilt of the high-speed spinning blade. His body was pulled into a rotation by the blade's momentum, but after only one turn, he slammed the blade into the ground, forcing it to a stop.

At this moment, a man with his face wrapped in bandages and his chest bare landed in front of Naruto, following the blade. He reached out to grab the hilt and said in a low voice: "You brat have quite a bit of strength. But this 'Kubikiribōchō' isn't something you can use."

As he spoke, he exerted force through his arm, intending to forcibly reclaim the blade.

"Whether I can use it or not, I'll only know after I try."

Naruto exerted force with both hands, pinning the blade down, while two golden chains shot out from behind him.

The man discovered that he couldn't immediately retrieve his heavy blade, and upon seeing the golden chains behind Naruto, he realized something was wrong: "You brat...!?"

Hatake Kakashi didn't just watch; the moment Naruto grabbed the blade, he had already charged toward him, seizing the opportunity while the man failed to reclaim his weapon to thrust a kunai toward the man's heart.

Hit, pierced, but no blood.

The next second, the man dissolved into a puddle of water, slowly seeping into the ground.

"Water Clone."

Hatake Kakashi muttered, turning to look at the nearest tree: "I never expected to see you in a place like this... a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the Demon- Zabuza Momochi."

"That's what I wanted to say."

Zabuza Momochi stood on a thick tree branch, his tone quite calm: "The Copy Ninja of Konoha- Hatake Kakashi, to think you were the one in charge of the old man's escort mission; no wonder the Demon Brothers didn't make it back."

"Gato hired you, didn't he?"

Hatake Kakashi stared at Zabuza Momochi: "To think that even as a rogue ninja, you still accept commissions like an ordinary shinobi. Lord Zabuza, you truly are a model for all ninjas."

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

Zabuza Momochi said coldly: "Even for you, it is impossible to fight me while simultaneously protecting that old man and three children."

"Ha..."

Hatake Kakashi let out a mocking sound: "The Kubikiribōchō has already been snatched away by the very child you were just talking about, yet you still have the nerve to say such things?"

Zabuza Momochi's face twitched, speechless, as he quickly moved to the water's surface nearby and formed hand seals: "I'll take it back immediately."

"Immediately?"

Naruto immediately took a small scroll from the pouch at his waist, opened it, slapped it onto the blade of the Kubikiribōchō, and formed a seal with one hand: "Seal!"

The Kubikiribōchō vanished.

Naruto quickly put away the scroll and formed seals: "Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

Hundreds of Naruto clones spoke in unison to Zabuza Momochi: "Now, why don't you try taking it back immediately and show me?"

To this, Zabuza Momochi's response was: "Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"

Hatake Kakashi observed the massive consumption of chakra within Zabuza Momochi's body: To use this much chakra in one go, is he planning to end this quickly?

A vast amount of mist rapidly filled the surroundings, reaching the point where one couldn't even see their own hand in the blink of an eye...