Exactly! Now this was the kind of mission a ninja was supposed to take!
Were they protecting a feudal lord or a princess?
Burn, my youth!
Excitement flashed in Naruto's sky-blue eyes.
Looking at Naruto, Lin Fan couldn't help smiling and shaking his head.
Emperor Guy's catchphrase really was incredibly brainwashing.
Ahem, please come in!
The Third Hokage instructed the person outside with a helpless sigh.
The Hokage's office door slowly swung open, revealing a drunken old man with a wine bottle in hand and a flushed face.
It was none other than Tazuna, the bridge expert from the Land of Waves.
He glanced at the four members of Team 7 with displeasure before speaking. "Why are they all kids? Especially that shortest one—he looks incredibly stupid."
"Are you really a ninja?"
Naruto then looked around with a smile, wondering which of them Tazuna had called the stupidest ninja.
But after comparing his height with Lin Fan and Sasuke, he gradually understood.
So the real clown was himself.
"Bastard, you old geezer! I'll kill you right now!"
Naruto immediately prepared to punch Tazuna, but Kakashi quickly grabbed him by the collar and held him back.
"Mister, you'd better stop complaining so much!"
"Konoha's already doing you a favor by not charging you more for this mission. And now you're being picky?"
Lin Fan went over to Tazuna and whispered in his ear.
Sure enough, Tazuna's body trembled slightly when he heard that, and he immediately fell silent.
"All right, Team 7 will take this mission."
"Everyone, go home and pack your things. We'll meet at the village gate this afternoon."
After speaking, Kakashi vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.
As soon as Lin Fan got home, he quickly packed a series of daily necessities and tossed them into the Other-Dimensional Scroll.
He stopped by Naruto's place to arrange to meet again at the village gate that afternoon, then left ahead of schedule.
His next destination was naturally the Hyuga Estate.
The mission to the Land of Waves wouldn't be a short one, and Lin Fan wanted to spend some more time with Hinata before he left.
Team 8 had no mission today, and Hinata was training diligently in the courtyard of her family's estate.
From a distance, Lin Fan saw her activate her Byakugan. Veins instantly bulged around her eyes.
She radiated an aura as if she could see through everything.
She looked rather adorably fierce.
Seeing this, Lin Fan finally understood why Hinata had taken such a liking to him.
Perhaps the little Byakugan girl had already discovered his special talents in certain areas!
"Good. That's enough training for this morning. Go say goodbye to Lin Fan, and remember to come home early and train."
After learning why Lin Fan had come, Hiashi went over to Hinata and spoke with great satisfaction.
Soon, Lin Fan and Hinata sat down by a scenic spot nestled between the mountains and water, eating Self-heating Hot Pot.
"Lin Fan, you're leaving for the Land of Waves this afternoon? What kind of mission is it? Will you be in danger?"
Hinata's big eyes were filled with worry.
"I'm just escorting an old man home. There won't be any danger."
Lin Fan reassured her.
Suddenly, Hinata thought of something.
She took a small pouch from inside her clothes. A Sealing Jutsu formula was drawn on the outside, and she handed it to Lin Fan.
"Lin Fan, this is an Amulet my father had me wear from the time I was little. It has the Hyuga Main Family's Secret Technique, Rotation, sealed inside."
"It can release the seal and provide all-around defense if you're ever in mortal danger. I hope it'll protect you and help you complete this mission safely."
Seeing that clever Hinata had already guessed this trip to the Land of Waves wouldn't be easy, Lin Fan could only accept the Amulet and place it over his heart.
"Thank you. But I still hope the seal on this Amulet never has to be released."
Lin Fan smiled.
"Mhm! You'll definitely return to the village safely, Lin Fan. I'll train hard here and pray for you every day."
Hinata nodded firmly.
That afternoon, the four members of Team 7 gathered at the village gate. They set out for the Land of Waves, protecting Tazuna in a diamond formation.
Not long after the five left the Land of Fire, Lin Fan, bringing up the rear, heard footsteps from someone following them.
"Everyone, stay alert. Something seems off along the way."
Lin Fan's brows knitted as he grew wary.
Kakashi couldn't help smiling when he heard Lin Fan.
He'd sensed something strange nearby, too.
As expected, Lin Fan really was a genius who could force him into a fifty-fifty match.
The five continued along the road for a while.
When Lin Fan spotted a puddle ahead, he deliberately hurried forward a few steps and positioned himself in front of Tazuna.
Whoosh, whoosh!
At that moment, two figures suddenly appeared from the puddle.
Lin Fan saw that they wore Kirigakure Forehead Protectors and held specially made iron claws.
They were Zabuza's subordinates, the brothers Gozu and Meizu.
The two appeared in an instant and simultaneously flung out sturdy chains lined with iron spikes, binding the leading Kakashi tightly.
"First prey—die!"
The brothers shouted, tightening their grip at the same time. Kakashi was instantly torn to pieces.
[ Ding, a guided mission has been issued: kill the Demon Brothers within sixty seconds. Reward: Water Style: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death Lv. 1 ]
Haku's Secret Technique. Not bad.
Lin Fan's lips curled as he prepared to finish them quickly.
"Kakashi-sensei!!!"
Seeing Kakashi instantly torn apart, Naruto fell into despair.
By then, the Demon Brothers had already reached Naruto from behind.
Clang, clang!
Two Kunai shot out from Lin Fan, knocking back the iron claws that had nearly reached Naruto's chest.
"Kid, if you want to die first, we'll grant your wish."
The Demon Brothers grinned cruelly and unfurled their spiked chains once more.
Once fully extended, each chain had a Fuma Shuriken attached to its end.
Then they charged at Lin Fan from both sides, sweeping the weapons toward him.
Splurt!
Unable to dodge, Lin Fan was struck at his blind spots. The two Fuma Shuriken cut him in half at the waist.
"Lin Fan!"
Naruto and Sasuke both cried out in anguish.
Poof!
A cloud of white smoke slowly drifted past.
The Lin Fan who had been cut in half turned into two pieces of wood.
"Substitution Technique?"
Gozu and Meizu's eyes narrowed.
They couldn't believe a kid could be this strong.
[15 seconds remaining. Host, hurry and complete the selection mission.]
Just then, Lin Fan used the Taijutsu Body Flicker to appear behind the Demon Brothers.
He spoke softly. "There's something I want to get off my chest."
Zzzzt!
"Lightning Style: Double Chidori!"
As soon as Lin Fan finished speaking, lightning flashed in both hands. The two Chidori thrust out in opposite directions and pierced the Demon Brothers through the heart.