Journey to the Land of Waves

Inside the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was listening to Naruto complain.

"How long are these boring missions supposed to go on?! Kakashi-sensei is unbelievable too! Can't he assign us something decent? We're ninja who are going to become big shots!" Naruto stood in front of the Third Hokage's desk, hands on his hips, yelling at the top of his lungs, his face full of grievance and dissatisfaction, as if he had suffered some terrible injustice.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, set down the pipe in his hand and looked at the blond boy before him, who was bursting with energy yet wearing a face full of complaints. A kindly smile appeared on his face. His weathered eyes glimmered with wisdom, as if he could see straight into Naruto's heart.

"Oh? Naruto, it seems you're not very satisfied with your recent missions." The Third Hokage spoke slowly, his voice gentle and steady. "However, these basic missions are very important training for genin who have just graduated. They teach you teamwork, help you build practical experience, and let you understand the responsibilities of being a ninja."

"But... but these missions aren't exciting at all! There's no fighting, no enemies, and no chance to save the world!" Naruto argued unwillingly, waving his arms as he tried to emphasize his point. "We're elites who passed Kakashi-sensei's super strict test! We should be carrying out higher-level missions!"

Kakashi stood to the side with both hands still in his pockets, wearing that same lazy expression he always had, as if Naruto's complaints had gone in one ear and out the other.

Only when the Third Hokage looked at him did he speak unhurriedly. "Lord Hokage, I believe Team 7's current level of coordination is already enough to handle some low-difficulty C-rank missions."

The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kakashi with some surprise. "Oh? You think so?"

"Yes," Kakashi said with a nod. "Although they're still immature, during the previous test and these D-rank missions, I saw their potential—especially Duanmu and Sasuke, as well as Naruto's... mm, energy. Sakura's theoretical knowledge is also very solid. Letting them try some more challenging missions might better stimulate their growth."

Duanmu's heart stirred. He knew the turning point from the plot was coming.

The Third Hokage pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the children of Team 7. He saw Naruto's eagerness, Sakura's worry, Duanmu's composure, and Sasuke's brows, still tightly furrowed even while unconscious. In the end, he nodded and took a scroll from a drawer. "Very well. Team 7 does have four members, after all. Since you put it that way, Kakashi, here is a C-rank mission. You are to escort a bridge builder named Tazuna back to the Land of Waves. The mission isn't too difficult, but public security in the Land of Waves hasn't been very good recently. You must be extra careful."

"The Land of Waves?" Naruto's eyes lit up, and he jumped up excitedly. "Awesome! We're finally not pulling weeds or looking for cats anymore!"

Sakura, on the other hand, looked a little nervous. After all, she was only a genin who excelled at theory, and she was still somewhat afraid of the battles that might occur. She subconsciously moved closer to Duanmu and asked in a low voice, "Duanmu, a C-rank mission... will it be dangerous?"

Duanmu patted her shoulder and comforted her. "Don't worry. Kakashi-sensei will be with us, and we're not little kids anymore. As long as we're careful, cautious, and work together, we'll definitely complete the mission." His tone was calm and firm, giving Sakura quite a bit of confidence.

Speaking of which, on this trip to the Land of Waves, they would run into Haku and Zabuza, wouldn't they? This time, he had to save Haku. Duanmu secretly clenched his fists.

And besides, there was one question he absolutely had to hear Haku confirm in person.

"All right, everyone, go home and prepare now." After they walked out of the Hokage Building, Kakashi turned around and said to the three of them, "We set out first thing tomorrow morning. Remember to bring enough ninja tools and supplies. Especially you, Naruto—don't forget to bring a spare forehead protector again." He deliberately glanced at Naruto, a trace of teasing in his tone that was hard to detect.

Naruto's face immediately flushed red, and he craned his neck as he retorted, "I won't forget! Last time was an accident! An accident!"

"All right, all right," Sakura hurriedly smoothed things over. "Everyone, hurry back and get ready. Rest early so you'll have the energy to travel tomorrow."

Duanmu nodded, his gaze falling on Sasuke again. Sasuke seemed utterly uninterested in the upcoming C-rank mission and simply turned away in silence.

After returning home, Duanmu briefly packed his ninja tool pouch, checked his chakra refinement once more, and then continued training.

He knew the trip to the Land of Waves would definitely not be easy. Zabuza's strength was not to be underestimated, and Haku's kekkei genkai would be even trickier.

Although Kakashi would be there, he could not count on Kakashi to solve every problem. He had to improve his own strength as quickly as possible so that he could protect his companions at the critical moment, and only then would he have the ability to try to change those predetermined tragedies.

Elsewhere, Sasuke did not go straight home. Instead, he went to the hospital. He came to the door of the hospital room where Uchiha Izumi was being kept under house arrest, hesitated for a moment, but still chose not to go in.

Just as Sasuke was about to leave, he heard Izumi call out to him.

"Sasuke." Izumi's voice carried the weakness of someone recovering from illness, yet it was exceptionally clear. Sasuke's steps came to an abrupt halt, and his body stiffly turned around. The door to the hospital room was ajar. Izumi was sitting propped up on the sickbed, her face as pale as a sheet of paper. Only those eyes of hers, which had once always brimmed with a gentle smile, were now quietly watching him.

"Izumi... nee-san." Sasuke's voice was a little dry. He subconsciously clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

He did not know how to face Izumi, this clanswoman who had luckily survived the night of the massacre, only to be placed under Konoha's upper echelons' close watch—protected in name, but effectively under house arrest.

Izumi tilted her head slightly, and the corners of her mouth struggled to lift into a faint smile. "I heard... you became a full-fledged ninja? Congratulations."

Sasuke remained silent and did not respond. He could feel the concern in Izumi's words, but that concern stabbed at his heart like a needle. He could not even protect his own clansmen, so what was there to congratulate?

"You're... going on a mission tomorrow, right?" Izumi's gaze swept over the forehead protector on him and the ninja tool pouch on his back as she asked softly.

"Yeah." Sasuke forced a single syllable out of his throat.

"Where to?"

"The Land of Waves."

"The Land of Waves..." Izumi repeated thoughtfully, her eyes drifting toward the window as if she had remembered some distant past. "That place... hasn't been very peaceful lately. Be careful."

Sasuke remained silent, but a strange ripple stirred in his heart. He had not expected Izumi to know about the situation in the Land of Waves, much less expected her to care about his safety.

"I know what you're thinking, Sasuke." Izumi's voice lowered a little, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible sigh. "Hatred... can indeed make a person stronger, but it can also devour everything. Look at me. In my current state, I can't do anything. I can only linger here, barely clinging to life."

Sasuke suddenly raised his head, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "I'm different from you! I'll take revenge! I'll kill that man!"

"And then?" Izumi asked calmly in return. "After you kill him, what will you gain? Will the Uchiha clan come back? Those who died... will they live again?"

The string of questions struck Sasuke's heart like heavy hammers, leaving him unable to refute them. He opened his mouth, only to realize he could not say a single word.

Izumi looked at him as he struggled in pain, deep pity showing in her eyes. "Sasuke, strength takes many forms. The flames of revenge might ignite your fighting spirit, but perhaps it is the warmth of companions that will let you find your true direction in the darkness. Don't push yourself too hard. Once in a while... look at the people around you too."

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the hospital room, looking toward some distant figure.

Sasuke's heart trembled violently. Izumi's words and what Duanmu had said before—"the bonds between companions can also become a powerful driving force"—somehow overlapped.

He subconsciously wanted to retort, to say he did not need companions, that all he needed was power. But looking into Izumi's eyes, filled with expectation and worry, every word lodged in his throat.

"I..." Sasuke spoke with difficulty, but he did not know what to say.

Izumi gently shook her head, a relieved smile appearing on her face. "All right, hurry back and prepare. Remember, no matter what happens, you have to come back alive. The Uchiha... cannot afford to lose another clansman."

Those words were like a warm current slowly flowing through Sasuke's cold heart. He stared blankly at Izumi for a long time before finally lowering his head and saying hoarsely, "...I know."