Konoha: After the Diary Was Exposed, the Kunoichi Fell Apart

He made it sound so convincing.

That acting...

No wonder even the Third Hokage had been fooled completely.

"Hey, why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Even if you praise me, I won't be happy."

"Hahahahaha..."

Everyone stared speechlessly at Naruto Uzumaki, who stood with his hands on his hips, laughing.

That expression of yours...

It doesn't match what you just said at all!

"Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto has made his decision. I want to hear what you two think."

"Do you still want to continue the mission?"

Kakashi Hatake looked at Sasuke and Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei, whatever Naruto wants to do, I'm behind him!"

Sakura answered at once.

Kakashi: "..."

He got it now. Sakura was hopelessly lovestruck!

"What about you, Sasuke?"

Kakashi turned to Sasuke Uchiha.

"Hmph!"

Sasuke Uchiha gave a quiet snort and stole a glance at Naruto, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.

"I agree we should continue the mission too."

Kakashi: I can understand Sakura being lovestruck, but what the hell are you blushing for?

Still,

Since all three members of the team agreed to continue the mission, he had nothing more to say.

"In that case, I declare..."

"The mission continues!"

Tazuna was thrilled to hear Kakashi's decision.

If these Konoha Ninja had abandoned the mission, everything would have been over.

His own death would have been one thing. Letting down the villagers who had placed their hopes in him would have been far worse.

Fortunately,

Despite a few hiccups, things had worked out in the end.

"Naruto Bridge..."

"That sounds like a pretty good name."

Tazuna murmured to himself.

Is This the Legendary Art of Trading Compliments?

Land of Waves.

A villa on the outskirts.

A short, fat man in sunglasses stormed in with a crowd of underlings.

"Zabuza!"

The fat man marched up to Zabuza and jabbed a finger at him, his face twisted with anger.

"What did you promise me, Zabuza?"

"Why is Tazuna still alive and well?"

"And you call yourself an S-Rank Missing-nin... Sounds like your reputation is all talk!"

At the man's words, Zabuza calmly drained the red wine in his glass.

"Gato, you'd better watch your mouth."

"This time, he hired Konoha Ninja. That's why the assassination didn't go as planned."

"When it comes down to it, the information you gave me was wrong."

"Two of my men died because of it. You're responsible!"

With that,

Zabuza swung a blade nearly two meters long with one hand, slashing straight at Gato.

"Aaaah!!!"

Sensing death upon him, Gato screamed in terror.

"Hahahahaha..."

Laughter filled the room.

Gato opened his eyes.

The massive Kubikiribōchō had stopped less than a centimeter from his neck.

"Z-Zabuza, what are you doing?"

"I'm your employer! Are you going to attack me?"

Gato asked, still shaken.

"Heh... Don't forget, I'm already a wanted Missing-nin."

"One more life on my hands won't make a difference. Neither will one less."

Zabuza spoke evenly.

Only then did Gato realize how badly he had miscalculated.

"Um... Mr. Zabuza, I let my anger get the better of me just now."

"If you can get rid of Tazuna, I'll double your fee!"

"That's more like it."

At Gato's promise, Zabuza rested the Kubikiribōchō on his shoulder.

"Stay home and wait for the good news."

"This time, I'll handle it myself."

"Thanks for all your hard work. Once we reach the Land of Waves, dinner's on me."

Tazuna smiled as they traveled.

Ever since he had explained everything, he no longer acted so cautiously around them.

He had grown more cheerful, too.

"Don't celebrate too soon, Mr. Tazuna."

"The first assassination failed, but they may send other Assassin Ninja after you."

Kakashi Hatake warned him.

"It'll be fine."

"Mr. Kakashi's strength goes without saying."

"But even Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto are exceptionally strong."

"No matter what Ninja they send, I'm sure you'll keep me safe."

"When this mission is over, I'll tell all the villagers about the mighty Konoha Ninja."

Tazuna laughed heartily.

A hint of pride appeared on Sasuke Uchiha's face at his words.

Being praised by their client on his first mission put him in an excellent mood.

As they talked, something suddenly whistled through the air behind them.

Everyone turned.

A huge blade was spinning rapidly toward them.

"Look out!"

Kakashi Hatake shouted and tackled Tazuna to the ground.

Sasuke Uchiha narrowly dodged the blade with the help of his Sharingan.

Naruto Uzumaki, meanwhile,

Teleported Sakura and himself out of the way at once.

"No wonder the Demon Brothers failed to kill him. You lot really do have some skill."

A deep voice rang out.

Everyone looked up.

They saw

A tall Ninja wrapped head to toe in bandages standing atop the Kubikiribōchō embedded in a tree trunk. None of them had seen him arrive.

"Naruto, thank you for saving me just now."

Sakura spoke, still shaken.

"It's okay."

Naruto Uzumaki patted her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Another Assassin Ninja sent by that Gato?"

"Hmph!"

"I'll take you down!"

Sasuke Uchiha snorted and drew a Kunai, ready to attack the tall Ninja.

But before he could move, a hand came down on his shoulder.

"Sasuke, stay back with the others and protect Tazuna. This guy is nothing like the two we faced earlier."

"You're no match for him."

Sasuke Uchiha looked back and saw Kakashi Hatake staring gravely at the Ninja in the tree.

"That distinctive weapon..."

"Would you happen to be Zabuza Momochi?"

Kakashi Hatake asked in a low voice.

"Oh?"

"You know me?"

Zabuza raised an eyebrow at Kakashi's words.

"Kakashi-sensei, you know this guy?"

Sasuke Uchiha asked tensely.

He had never seen Kakashi look so serious before.