"Mr. Tazuna, given the discrepancy between the actual mission and its assessment, we're allowed to abandon it."
As Kakashi Hatake asked this, he recalled what Minato Namikaze had told him earlier in the Hokage's office. His mission was to assassinate Gato, the wealthy merchant who now controlled the Land of Waves. His keen instincts told him that the man before him might have something to do with it.
"I don't know why anyone would send ninjas to assassinate me. I don't know."
Tazuna still refused to admit it. He glanced to the side, avoiding Kakashi's eyes. Everyone could see how he was acting. Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin fell silent, and Kakashi sighed before saying:
"In that case, since this mission is beyond our team's capabilities..."
"I have no choice but to abandon it."
Kakashi beckoned to Naruto and the others, preparing to leave. Naruto was reluctant, but when Tazuna remained silent, he could only fall in behind Kakashi.
Team 7 began gathering their things and cleaning up the battlefield.
Watching the Konoha Ninja cleaning up the battlefield, Tazuna pursed his lips. At last, he let out a heavy sigh and said:
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect something like this to happen."
"Actually, I'm a bridge engineer from the Land of Waves. Those ninjas who tried to assassinate me were probably hired by Gato."
Tazuna's expression darkened as he spoke. When he finished, Kakashi wore an expression that said he'd expected as much. The members of Team 7, who had been cleaning up the battlefield, all stopped almost at once and gathered in front of Tazuna.
"Hey, old man, why would that Gato hire ninjas to kill you?"
"Did you do something bad?"
Naruto asked innocently. Looking at the boy before him, Tazuna couldn't help sighing again. He began explaining what