Kuro: What in the world is going on?!

As Kabuto turned his gaze to the four figures gradually emerging from the mist, Kakashi's gaze also locked onto the same direction almost simultaneously.

The sea breeze blew in from the outside of the dock, blowing away the mist in front of the figures, making their outlines appear sometimes clear and sometimes faint, but it was enough for Kakashi to make out the figures' postures and strides.

His body tensed slightly, and the look in his dead fish eyes suddenly became serious:

"Are they backup sent by Mist Village?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a heart-wrenching sound of retching came from behind him.

Kai was lying on the dock railing, pouring nutrient-rich bait into the sea.

Kakashi closed his eyes in despair, took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, and silently prayed to Minato-sensei, Lord Jiraiya, and the Lord Third Hokage.

He also apologized to each and every one of the ancestors who had upheld the village's dignity in diplomatic settings since the village 'Konoha founding.

"It seems that Konoha's diplomatic image is doomed to perish in our hands..."

Kakashi murmured silently to himself in utter stillness.

Kabuto glanced at Kakashi beside him with a hint of pity, then silently took half a step forward, trying his best to shield Guy, who was still vomiting violently behind him, with his own body.

The two stood side by side, watching the four figures draw ever closer, until the sea breeze carried their conversation over...

Zabuza walked at the very front, his pace noticeably quickening.

His clothes fluttered in the sea breeze, his eyes were filled with urgency, and the half of his face not covered by bandages was noticeably flushed.

"At this point, the people from Konoha should have already arrived."

Zabuza murmured anxiously, his steps quickening.

"Damn it... it's all because of this brat that we wasted so much of his time!"

He immediately turned his head sharply, his gaze dark as he looked at Suigetsu behind him, and growled through gritted teeth:

"If you interfere with the mission assigned by Lord Sora, you'd better atone with your death—you brat from the Hozuki Clan!!"

His response was a rapid and angry whistling sound from behind.

Suigetsu was dragged behind Kimimaro with one hand, her whole body lying on her back as she was pulled along the ground by her collar, leaving a long wet trail in the ground.

His once gaunt face was now covered in bruises and swelling, and a bluish-purple tinge clung to the corner of his mouth.

"It's all your fault, Zabuza- Teacher. If you hadn't exhausted my Chakra to prevent me from using the Hydrification Technique, and then given me a good beating, we wouldn't have fallen behind."

Kimimaro Suigetsu, calmly translated Suigetsu's whimpering sounds.

He paused, then added:

"That's what Suigetsu said."

Upon hearing Kimimaro's words, Suigetsu began to writhe violently on the ground:

"Waaaaah! Waaaaah!"

Maro glanced down at him, a faint hint of confusion appearing on his usually expressionless face:

What do you mean you didn't say that?

He raised his head and murmured in confusion:

Was I being too tactful?

"Waaaaa!!"

Suigetsu let out a long, dying cry.

Bai, walking half a step behind Kimimaro, weakly raised one hand and said in a tactful tone:

"Um, Captain Kimimaro, I don't think Suigetsu meant that..."

"Enough!!"

Zabuza was at the very front, finally snapped.

He whirled around, veins bulging on his bandaged face, and growled at Suigetsu behind him:

"I don't need you to tell me!! If I delay the mission, I will naturally commit seppuku in front of Lord Kong to apologize, but before I do, I will definitely bring you along first!!"

Month:!!!∑(°Д°)

Kimimaro: OMO

White:இPanஇ

"Bai! Don't cry—that's an order!!"

"Yes, Lord Zabuza!!"

Shortly afterward, the four members of the Mist Village arrived at the dock and stopped in their tracks.

Kakashi and Zabuza stood at the front of their respective teams, their gazes not immediately falling on each other.

Almost simultaneously, both team leaders were drawn to the image of the other team member lying on the ground with a bruised and swollen face, and the figure kneeling by the dock, retching.

At the same time, the two of them breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Fortunately, we weren't the only ones who embarrassed ourselves." ×2

Kashi and Zabuza's eyes met briefly in the air, each seeing in the other's eyes a sense of relief at surviving a disaster and a shared sympathy for their misfortune.

The next second, the two of them took steps almost simultaneously, Earth Flow at the very front of their respective groups with remarkable tacit understanding, using their bodies to shield the family scandal behind them.

Zabuza's fierce face, Zabuza in bandages, twitched awkwardly a few times, managing to produce a smile that could only be described as "gentle":

"You must be the famous Red-Eyed White Fang, Kakashi Hatake of Konoha."

I've long admired your reputation, and meeting you today confirms it's true that your fame is well-deserved.

Zabuza Kakashi listened to Zabuza's flowery words, he couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of déjà vu.

"This wording, this tone... it feels so familiar..."

Kakashi shook his head slightly in his heart and murmured to himself:

"It must be my imagination."

He raised his eyes, revealing a similarly gentle and dignified smile beneath his mask:

"Not at all, not at all. I am the one who has long admired your reputation."

One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen Mist Village — Zabuza Momochi.

I had long heard of your name even from Konoha, and seeing you today, I can see you are truly extraordinary.

Zabuza his spine upon hearing Kakashi's response:

"He can actually utter elegant phrases that are almost on par with those of Master Kong..."

This level of cultural literacy truly befits Konoha ninja!

Zabuza silently turned around, glanced at the younger generation of Mist Village behind him, and sighed inwardly:

"The education system in Mist Village still has a long way to go..."

As the two were exchanging pleasantries, Guy, who was behind Kakashi, finally stopped his intimate interaction with the sea.

He was helped up and collapsed, utterly exhausted, onto a mooring stone by the dock.

Kai's face was pale, and his hands and feet were still trembling slightly.

His usually fiery gaze was now filled with weakness and confusion.

"I... I felt it..."

He shakily raised one hand, pointed towards the sea, and whispered weakly:

"That familiar youthful energy... is it Knock?!"

That's right! It's my best friend, Uchiha Kuro!!

Dou's lips twitched violently. He looked at Kai's trembling hand reaching towards the sea and decisively took a step back to the side.

"Senior Kai, you're vomiting so badly you're hallucinating, aren't you?"

His voice was gentle and polite, his tone full of a doctor's advice:

"I am Kabuto. This is not the place you mentioned."

"It's not a hallucination..."

Kai's hand slipped limply from the air, and he slid down the mooring stone like a lump of mud.

"I felt it... that familiar youthful energy... He's right here... He must be..."

Before Kai could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground, falling silent.

Looking at Kai lying on the ground, his life hanging in the balance, Dou sighed with despair.

Not far away, on the roof of a house, a tall figure stood silently.

Wearing Black Cloak with Red Clouds, Kou stared wide-eyed at the group from Konoha below, nearly dropping the string of three-colored dumplings he was holding in his mouth.

Kouchi stared intently at Kai and Kabuto below, his lips moving several times before he finally managed to murmur:

"What... what's going on?!"