"Trash! A bunch of trash! I paid you so much, and you still haven't killed Tazuna!"
Inside a luxurious hall in the Wave Country.
Gato, wearing tiny glasses, was furious as he harshly berated the people below him.
"Sir, it's not that the ninja carrying out the mission were weak, but..."
Bang!
A priceless vase shattered at the speaker's feet.
"But? But what? I refuse to believe there are people in this world whom money can't kill!"
Gato's face twisted viciously, veins bulging across his piggish face.
"Go! Keep looking for bounty ninja! No matter how much it costs, I want Tazuna dead!"
Just as the people below were about to respond, seven figures entered through the main doors.
"Yo, having a meeting? Hope we're not interrupting."
One person stepped forward from among the seven.
He looked handsome and valiant, though traces of childishness had yet to fade from his face.
"Who are you?"
Gato frowned slightly.
"Who am I?"
Uchiha Kei chuckled and pointed at Tazuna, who looked like an old farmer among the seven.
"Haven't you always wanted to kill him? I brought him right to you."
Gato looked in the direction he pointed.
Sure enough, it was Tazuna, the man he had been dreaming of killing day and night.
"Tazuna! You actually dared to come here!"
Gato sneered, then clapped his hands.
The gesture was imposing enough, but unfortunately...
Outside the hall, it was completely silent.
"Hm? Where is everyone? Where the hell did they all go?"
Gato froze for a moment, then clapped several more times.
Still, not a single person entered.
The scene was rather awkward.
"Stop clapping. Your men never got the chance to come in."
Momochi Zabuza, with Kubikiribōchō slung over his shoulder, spoke coldly.
"Demon of the Hidden Mist, Momochi Zabuza?"
Gato