Momochi Zabuza

"Since when do ninjas get a salary? Take on more missions if you want to save up money. Though, I suppose dragging two teams of students around is a bit of a hassle."

"It's only four people, and besides, Kakashi-sensei, your talent for hiding is top-tier. I clearly handled the B-rank mission to wipe out those bandits all by myself, yet I only received half the bounty."

"You really hold a grudge, don't you? That was just to test your capabilities. Even if I did fewer tasks, I was still protecting you from the shadows."

The two chatted for a few more moments before parting ways.

At the gates of Konoha, a group of six stood ready to depart.

"Yosh! Time to head out."

"What are you so excited about, Naruto?"

"This is my first time leaving Konoha, and I'm going with Yi Xiang-dage, Sasuke, and Sakura-chan. Hehe..."

"Is it really okay to send brats like these? They don't look reliable at all."

Tazuna cast a skeptical look at Kakashi, deeply worried that these few kids were truly capable of defeating the group of experts protecting Gato.

While the group was talking, Yi Xiang, who stood at the back, suddenly revealed a faint smile, his peripheral vision drifting toward the treetops on the left where a slight rustle had occurred.

After walking along the main road for some time, a small stream and a short, flat wooden bridge appeared before them.

Yi Xiang intentionally moved to the left side of the formation, a faint smile still lingering on his face. When he spotted a small puddle of water ahead, his smile became even more pronounced.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

While the others were focused on the journey, Yi Xiang exhaled a massive, crimson fireball from his mouth.

Due to the close proximity and the suddenness of the attack, the fireball completely engulfed the area around the puddle. Two ninjas wearing cloaks and Mist Village headbands collapsed in a miserable state within the crater blasted out by the fire jutsu.

Only then did everyone except Kakashi notice the presence of the two Mist ninjas.

"You... how did you discover us?! Cough, cough..."

Facing the enemy's question, Yi Xiang smiled calmly and replied with an air of ease, "The weather has been clear for days; how could there be standing water on the road? Idiots."

He even used a jutsu; this kid is as cautious as ever. Was he really that certain someone was hiding in that puddle?

Despite his slight confusion, Kakashi would not miss the chance to lecture Team 7.

"Well done, Yi Xiang. What are you lot just standing there for? Go tie them up and interrogate them about their objective."

"Observing the environment for danger is a basic habit for a ninja. The fact that none of you three felt any suspicion or vigilance toward that puddle shows that your grasp of the fundamental rules of being a ninja is still lacking."

"What if their target isn't us..."

Naruto retorted uncertainly.

"That's simple enough. They don't look like good guys anyway. A little interrogation will tell us everything."

Having a deep familiarity with this plot, Yi Xiang was one hundred percent certain that these two ninjas were subordinates of Gato, or rather, the Mist Village's Demon, Momochi Zabuza.

Through Kakashi's interrogation, it was confirmed that their goal was to assassinate Tazuna. After a brief discussion, the group continued to escort Tazuna toward the Land of Waves.

On a sea shrouded in thick, grey mist, the group traveled quickly to their destination aboard a motor-powered wooden boat.

Right, I almost forgot that Gato is one of the wealthiest people in this world. It looks like I can make a huge profit on this mission.

Just as Yi Xiang made up his mind, after hearing Tazuna explain the situation and use his grandson and daughter to appeal to their morals, the group—who had already intended to help—directly promised Tazuna they would deal with Gato.

Before long, the boat docked beside a house built on the shallow sea.

Yi Xiang looked around, seeing many uniquely constructed wooden houses perched on the water. The azure sky and the deep sea intertwined to form a breathtaking painting. In the sweltering summer heat, the sea breeze here made him feel exceptionally refreshed and tranquil.

If they developed tourism here, the future economy would surely flourish, and the residents' income would increase significantly. However, it would require someone to guard it to prevent malicious characters like Gato.

After all, even if one Gato is eliminated, there is no guarantee another, stronger Gato won't appear.

As they moved forward, Yi Xiang's gaze became increasingly vigilant.

They hadn't walked long before hearing a 'rustle.' Naruto was the first to throw a kunai, then stepped forward to push aside the bushes to check if he had hit his target.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

This time it was Yi Xiang who acted, sending eight or nine shuriken toward a treetop. A clanging of metal suddenly erupted from the canopy, and a shirtless man backflipped to the ground.

"I truly didn't expect a brat your age to have awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. And to have discovered my position so accurately—truly impressive."

"Who are you?"

Yi Xiang feigned confusion as he looked at Zabuza.

"I remember this guy, the rogue ninja from the Mist, Momochi Zabuza."

"Sharingan Kakashi, plus a Uchiha brat with the Three-Tomoe... this is truly something to look forward to."

Zabuza suddenly flickered to the surface of the water. As he performed hand seals, the surroundings rapidly turned grey, and a thick white mist that obscured vision enveloped the area.

Whoosh!

A kunai was thrown toward Zabuza, but Yi Xiang, who had intended to interrupt Zabuza's use of the Hidden Mist Technique, was a step too slow. Zabuza had vanished.

"Eight points. Throat, spine, lungs, liver, jugular vein and subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now, which vital point should I choose?"

Zabuza's cold, playful voice echoed through the sky.

"It's simple. If I kill you, I won't have to choose, will I?" Yi Xiang said indifferently.

As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of killing intent accompanied Yi Xiang's hand seals, slightly dispersing the surrounding white mist, while Kakashi cleared the mist within a ten-meter radius. However, the white mist quickly gathered again in the cleared space.

"Hahahaha! Interesting kid. Your killing intent isn't as strong as Kakashi's, but the murderous aura in those blood-red eyes is truly terrifying."

Zabuza's laughter came from all directions once more, making it impossible to pinpoint his exact location.

While the laughter still echoed in the sky, Zabuza suddenly flashed in front of Tazuna the next moment.

Having been prepared, Yi Xiang lunged forward, his kunai swiftly piercing through Zabuza's heart, but the wound dissolved into water and dripped downward.

The three members of Team 7 were all startled, with Naruto and Sasuke reacting faster than Sakura.

Naruto immediately formed hand seals, and seven or eight Shadow Clones surrounded Yi Xiang and Zabuza. Sasuke, who had already activated his One-Tomoe Sharingan, followed closely behind Yi Xiang. After the first Water Clone dissolved into a puddle, he threw shuriken with precision toward the vital points of Zabuza, who had just reappeared behind Yi Xiang.

With a few clangs, the shuriken were all blocked by Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō, and Sasuke simultaneously lunged in front of Zabuza, raising his hand to strike forcefully at his heart once more.