Battle at the Docks

"Uh..." Tazuna's expression turned strange.

"The people trying to kill you are chunin. I don't think you made that clear in the commission." Tianming withdrew his gaze. "Since that's the case, we need to have a proper discussion about this mission."

"Our current lineup can't complete a mission like this. We should return to Konoha first. Besides, Kakashi-sensei is unconscious right now."

"I'm truly sorry. I concealed it!" Tazuna bowed in apology. "If I had told you, the mission fee would have doubled! And I simply can't afford the extra money!"

"You don't need to apologize to me. The people you should apologize to are my companions!"

Of course, Tianming knew why Tazuna had concealed the information, but knowing was one thing—he couldn't say it aloud. Getting Tazuna to lay everything out was the best option.

"Kakashi-sensei just appointed me temporary captain, but I respect everyone's opinions. If we continue to the Land of Waves, we may encounter even stronger ninja. So, what should we do about the mission?"

"Old man, lying can get people killed," Naruto Uzumaki remarked.

"Chunin aren't opponents we can handle," Kiba Inuzuka said.

"I second that." Shino Aburame nodded.

"We should return to Konoha first." Hinata Hyuga and Sakura Haruno shared the same opinion.

In the end, only Sasuke Uchiha and Tianming still needed to state their positions.

"I want to hear what you think," Sasuke Uchiha said coldly.

"Me?" Tianming said flatly. "Of course I'm continuing the mission!"

The Land of Waves' greatest enemy was Zabuza Momochi. Zabuza Momochi was strong, but that wasn't a reason for Tianming to back down.

Besides, there was still the check-in mission waiting for him.

"Then I'm going too," Sasuke Uchiha said directly.

"Hey, hey, hey! If you're all going, how could I possibly stay behind?" Naruto Uzumaki said as well.

The three boys of Team 7 had already made their stance clear.

The atmosphere instantly became awkward. The mission had initially been carried out by two teams together, led by the jonin Kakashi Hatake.

But now that the mission's difficulty had increased, Kakashi Hatake was down too.

"Here's what we'll do. Team 8 will return the way you came. Take Kakashi-sensei back to Konoha. We'll handle the rest of the journey ourselves," Tianming declared decisively.

"Wait, Qingchuan Tianming. I want to know what gives you the confidence to do this," Shino Aburame suddenly asked.

Confidence? The two strongest people in the future—the Susanoo-wielding Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, the Sage of Six Paths. What do you think my confidence is? Naturally, Tianming wasn't going to say any of that.

"Backing down isn't my ninja way!" Tianming finally declared with great seriousness.

Little did he know that this one statement about a ninja way completely stunned everyone else!

"Yeah!" Naruto Uzumaki's eyes lit up. "Then my ninja way is becoming Hokage! That's my ninja way!"

"Boring." Sasuke Uchiha dropped those words and walked ahead on his own.

"Then good luck to you." Kiba Inuzuka didn't say much more. To put it bluntly, Teams 7 and 8 had never had any teamwork to speak of.

"We'll bring reinforcements for you." After saying that, Kiba Inuzuka placed Kakashi on Akamaru's back.

The two groups went their separate ways.

"Tianming, Naruto! Be careful!" Hinata Hyuga urged.

"Sasuke, you be careful too," Sakura Haruno said weakly, her beautiful eyes drifting toward Tianming again.

"Qingchuan Tianming, be careful in everything!"

After regrouping, the three set out again.

Tazuna wore an unreal expression. This escort mission had ultimately turned into three genin protecting him.

They traveled along the coast, and when they entered the Land of Waves—

A huge hole had been torn through one of the ships docked at the pier, with half its hull sunk beneath the water.

A dense crowd had gathered on the docks.

"Are you absolutely certain?" Zabuza Momochi stared coldly at the Mist ninja kneeling by his feet. "One jonin and seven genin did this to you?"

"That Konoha jonin is named Kakashi Hatake. He activated an ocular jutsu in an instant and took out A-Da and A-Er." The Mist ninja said nervously, "And Fourth was killed by a genin..."

"Hahahaha, did I hear that right?" A mocking voice came from the crowd behind them.

The pot-bellied Gato held a cigar between his lips and puffed out rings of smoke. "Though the Land of Waves has no ninja, even I know that genin from ordinary ninja villages are just children of eleven or twelve, right? Your men were killed by a genin?"

"I paid a hefty price to hire you. Don't disappoint me."

"You're still worried even if I handle it personally this time?" Zabuza Momochi did not get angry at Gato's mockery.

"That would be best. Kill Tazuna here and be done with it once and for all." Gato turned and left after speaking.

"Let me make this clear beforehand—my men won't be helping!" Gato left, taking a large group of warriors with him.

In an instant, only a dozen or so people remained on the docks. Those following Zabuza Momochi were all ninja, though there weren't many of them.

"Kakashi Hatake, Qingchuan Tianming?" Zabuza Momochi chuckled. "Let me look forward to this!"