Trial? No... Just an Accident

A dog came running over. It was Kakashi's ninja hound.

"There's a ninja involved in the mission. There may be unexpected developments." Upon seeing Tenzō, the ninja hound spoke directly, then dispelled its summoning.

Seeing this, Tenzō no longer hesitated and immediately ordered them to move closer. Because he had a special sense for the Nine-Tails within Naruto, he could accurately determine Naruto's location.

It was precisely because of this that Tenzō had been able to lead them trailing behind Kakashi without needing any markers.

The group immediately set off and soon arrived at a battlefield. It had clearly been cleaned up, though the scent of blood still hung in the air. Not all the blood on the ground had vanished, but the corpses were gone.

Uchiha Shunichi knew that this was likely where the so-called Demon Brothers had fought Sasuke and Naruto.

"They only left recently. We can't get any closer. We'll just follow them like this!" Tenzō said after examining the traces on the ground.

Uchiha Shunichi and the others had no way to determine their location, so only Tenzō could make that decision. All they could do was follow orders. Only Tenzō could judge the specifics of the situation.

After being delayed here for a while, the group set off again. This time, however, they matched the pace of the people ahead, making the journey exceptionally leisurely.

That was right. The traveling speed of ordinary people was exceptionally relaxed for ninjas. This continued all the way to the shore.

Because the Land of Waves was an island nation, it was surrounded by the sea. To reach the Land of Waves, they had to take a boat. Although the Land of Waves planned to build a bridge, that bridge...

"Captain, what do we do? We're too close. We'll be easily spotted on the open sea." Looking at the water, Uzuki Yugao gazed at Tenzō helplessly.

"A submarine. I can use Wood Release to make one. The air inside will be limited, but crossing this distance won't be a problem." Tenzō answered without hesitation, clearly quite experienced with such matters.

As he spoke, strips of wood emerged from Tenzō's hands. Fully displaying his skills as a master builder, he produced a wooden submarine in just a few seconds.

The wooden submarine looked quite realistic, but when Uchiha Shunichi entered it, he discovered it was merely a shell. The propulsion system was inside and required human power, much like bicycle pedals...

The technology tree of the Hokage world was strange. Aside from high-powered firearms, it basically had all the usual technological products, though they were far from widespread.

But if one looked carefully, most common electrical appliances could be found.

The submarine's interior was cramped, but it was enough for travel. Uchiha Shunichi was responsible for powering the submarine, while Tenzō handled the course.

As for Gekko Hayate, he was outside the submarine. Thanks to Transparent Release, he would not be discovered even while above the sea's surface.

"Captain, a battle has broken out ahead." Suddenly, Gekko Hayate outside discovered something and immediately reported it.

By then, thick mist had already filled the outside. Within it, the sounds of ninja combat rang clearly.

They were already close to the shore, so Tenzō immediately decided to land first. With the forest's cover, they could better conceal their tracks.

Their mission was to protect Naruto in secret. Secretly meant they could not be discovered unless it was a matter of life and death.

"Captain, the battle seems to be going badly!" Gekko Hayate, using Transparent Release, reached the edge of the battle and saw Kakashi trapped by Water Release. His expression turned grave.

"Report the specifics!" Tenzō frowned and ordered through the radio.

"Kakashi is trapped in the Water Prison Technique. The three kids are fighting Zabuza's Water Clone. The situation seems dangerous. Should we intervene?" Gekko Hayate briefly reported the details through the radio.

"Kakashi is trapped in the Water Prison Technique..." Hearing this, Tenzō sank into thought. But a moment later, he immediately said, "Continue observing. Intervene only if Kakashi gives the signal!"

Tenzō had guessed Kakashi's intentions. He was probably trying to use Zabuza's Water Clone to temper those kids, but being trapped in the Water Prison Technique... wasn't that too dangerous?

"Sure enough, you were here!" Kakashi's voice rang out from the mist as a figure appeared behind Uchiha Shunichi.

"Kakashi... no, so it's a Shadow Clone!" Tenzō understood at once.

Compared to a Water Clone, which possessed only one-tenth of the original body's strength, a Shadow Clone was far more powerful. If anything truly went wrong, Kakashi's Shadow Clone could resolve the Water Prison Technique at any time.

"Isn't it too much to use one of the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist as a trial opponent for Genin?" Tenzō asked Kakashi's Shadow Clone with some concern.

Kakashi's Shadow Clone gave a bitter smile. "That wasn't what I intended. The battle happened suddenly, and the original body got trapped just like that. I originally planned to resolve it quickly, but then I realized that my few subordinates seemed pretty capable?"

"I see... It looks like we don't need to help for now."

At that moment, Gekko Hayate's report came through Tenzō's radio earpiece. Kakashi had broken free of the Water Prison Technique and was fighting Zabuza.

Just then, a figure suddenly crossed Tenzō and the others' perimeter, charging toward the battlefield at tremendous speed...

"Something's happened. Follow him!" Tenzō's expression changed. He immediately led his subordinates toward Kakashi, while Kakashi's Shadow Clone dispelled itself at once.

When Tenzō and the others reached their destination, they found that the battle had not resumed. The newcomer had disguised himself as a Hidden Mist pursuit squad and taken Zabuza away.

Kakashi had seen through it, but after some hesitation, he chose not to fight them at that moment.

Tenzō saw Kakashi's decision and did not stop him. Instead, he remained hidden and allowed the newcomer to take the heavily injured Zabuza away.

"Captain? Aren't we going to act?" Uzuki Yugao asked in confusion.

Tenzō answered, "Our primary mission is protection. Pursuit isn't our task."

The battle came to a temporary end...

At the employer's request, Team 7 stayed at the employer's home. Tenzō and the others also slipped into an empty room, where they rested for the time being.

Because they needed to conceal their identities, those hidden days were somewhat boring. Naruto and Sasuke were growing under Kakashi's guidance, and more than a week passed in the blink of an eye...

That bridge was nearing completion.