Konoha: Starting with the Tenseigan and Taking Over Team 7

If they continued the mission, they would run into Demon Zabuza, an A-rank rogue ninja from Kirigakure, and Yuki Haku, a ninja with a Kekkei Genkai who could use Ice Release!

Those two heads were worth only a hundred thousand?

What a joke.

"I... I don't have any more money." Tazuna looked miserable.

"I told you I'd raise my price on the spot, didn't I? Once you finish that lousy bridge." Aogetsu Hyuga held up three fingers. "I want thirty percent of the Land of Waves' profits every month."

Once the Land of Waves completed its bridge, it would be able to trade with the Five Great Nations. Its economy would soar!

The reason he had kept quiet about the mission's hidden dangers back in the village was that he had been waiting for Tazuna to run out of options. Then he could demand an outrageous price: thirty percent of the Land of Waves' monthly profits!

That thirty percent was worth far more than twenty million. It meant a steady, substantial payment every month.

"..." Everyone on Team 7 was speechless. The Land of Waves might be a remote little country, but it was still a country.

Thirty percent of an entire country's monthly profits had to be an astronomical sum.

Raising his price on the spot...

When Aogetsu-sensei raised his price, he showed no mercy!

"How could I possibly give you that much?" Tazuna was dumbfounded. He had never imagined Aogetsu would demand a share of the Land of Waves' profits.

Tazuna gritted his teeth. "We can negotiate the money, but the Land of Waves' profits... That isn't my decision to make!"

"Playing dumb won't help. I know you're the one calling the shots in the Land of Waves." Aogetsu Hyuga walked up to Tazuna with his hands in his pockets. He bent down and gave him a nasty smile. "You still don't seem to understand. The Land of Waves is on its last legs."

"If I abandon this mission, you'll die on your way back. The bridge will be destroyed, and the Land of Waves will become a crooked merchant's plaything."

"Old man, I'm the only one you can count on now."

He wasn't lying to manipulate him. That was the truth. At present, Aogetsu was the only one who could save the Land of Waves. If Tazuna wanted to build the bridge and revive his country, he had to accept Aogetsu's exorbitant fee.

"I agree." Tazuna let out a long breath and slumped like a deflated balloon. He seemed to have aged several years in an instant.

He had no choice.

The Land of Waves had nowhere else to turn. Tazuna could only grit his teeth and accept Aogetsu's outrageous demand.

"Wise Dan. Sign the contract." Aogetsu Hyuga took out a scroll, opened it, and tossed it to Tazuna.

"You... You knew all along there was something wrong with the mission I posted, and you were already planning what to charge me?" Tazuna held the contract scroll, astonishment flashing in his eyes.

He couldn't believe it!

The bastard had even prepared a contract!

So Aogetsu had spotted the problem with his mission long ago and had been patiently waiting to raise his price.

"Who knows? It's a contract with the feudal lord. Breaking it won't do you any good." Aogetsu Hyuga leaned close to Tazuna's ear and spoke softly with a smile. "Old man, remember this: if you short me even a single coin, I'll destroy the Land of Waves."

Tazuna swallowed and signed the contract with trembling hands.

"Good. Now we can carry on with our pleasant trip." Aogetsu Hyuga put away the scroll. His attitude changed completely as he looked at Team 7 and chided them. "Don't just stand there. Help Mr. Tazuna up. He's an important client."

"..." Team 7 was speechless. Aogetsu-sensei's change in attitude was a little too blatant!

Soon, Team 7 resumed its journey to the Land of Waves.

The Kubikiribōchō Is Mine!

The light was fading as the red sun sank behind the western mountains.

In the forest.

Tazuna drank as he walked. He glanced at Naruto Uzumaki, who was trudging beside him in low spirits, and said drunkenly, "Hey, kid, are you going to be all right? If you're scared, go home to your mother."

Now that he had revealed the mission's full details, he felt much lighter.

The only thing still weighing on him was that thirty percent of the Land of Waves' profits.

Sasuke Uchiha walked ahead with his hands in his pockets. He looked back at Naruto and sneered. "If you're scared, don't stray too far from me, coward."

"What did you say... Sasuke?" Naruto Uzumaki's face darkened. He gritted his teeth and slowly clenched his fists, itching to fight Sasuke.

"Nobody's perfect. We're all born with flaws. Yours, for example, is that you're a coward." Aogetsu Hyuga took a pack of three-colored dumplings from Naruto's bag. There was a hint of mockery in his faint smile.

"You bastard!" Naruto Uzumaki looked even more upset.

Aogetsu Hyuga ate a dumpling and glanced at the scratch on Naruto Uzumaki's right hand. "Those people had poison under their nails. You'd better treat that wound. Kids really are a hassle. Anyway, keep working hard, and try not to hold us back."

"Coward... coward. Every last one of you looks down on me!" Naruto Uzumaki stopped, drew a Kunai, and drove it hard into his right hand. Crimson blood ran down the back of it.

Everyone froze. They stopped in their tracks and stared at Naruto Uzumaki.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Sakura Haruno's pupils contracted. She hurriedly pulled out some gauze and ran toward him.

"Wait. Naruto seems to have something to say." Aogetsu Hyuga put a hand on Sakura Haruno's shoulder and took the opportunity to squeeze her rounded backside.

"You pervert! Where do you think you're touching?" Sakura Haruno blushed. Anger flashed in her eyes as she pinched the back of Aogetsu's hand hard.

Aogetsu Hyuga withdrew his hand and watched Naruto Uzumaki calmly.

The Nine-Tails kid has finally figured it out.

"Why am I so different? Why am I always the one holding everyone back? Damn it!" Naruto Uzumaki gripped the Kunai. Tears welled in his reddened eyes, and frustration roughened his voice.

"I should be stronger than I used to be. I've been completing missions and doing special training every day, just like Aogetsu-sensei told me."

"I don't want to keep waiting for someone else to save me."

"I won't let setbacks stop me, and I won't run away. I don't want to lose to Sasuke. I want to prove myself to Aogetsu-sensei." Naruto Uzumaki's voice trembled with tears, but there was determination in it.

"Hmph." Sasuke Uchiha watched Naruto Uzumaki coolly, his hands still in his pockets.

"I swear on this pain that I'll become strong. Strong enough to protect all of you and earn Aogetsu-sensei's approval!" Naruto Uzumaki raised his bleeding right hand, then drove the Kunai straight through his palm.

Naruto Uzumaki looked at everyone with determination. "I say what I mean, and I do what I say. That's my Ninja Way!"

He swore that from this moment on, he would be a strong ninja, one who could stand with Team 7 and face any enemy without wavering.

He would earn Aogetsu's approval and praise!

The corner of Sasuke Uchiha's mouth lifted. He raised his chin and snorted. "Idiot. You've still got a long way to go."

"Naruto..." Sakura Haruno was speechless. She hadn't expected him to say anything like that.

A Ninja Way?

What's my Ninja Way?

There's someone I don't want to lose to, too. I want to prove myself to Ino.

Aogetsu Hyuga clapped, giving a pleased chuckle. "Well said. Seeing you grow like this moves me too. I'll find a chance to give you an award."

It was a good thing that the Nine-Tails kid was growing mentally.

A firm will was essential to becoming stronger. It would help Aogetsu complete his master-disciple tasks faster, earning him more rewards.

Perfect.

Aogetsu Hyuga pointed at Naruto's right hand. "Showing off is all well and good for a ninja, but you're going to lose too much blood."

"Huh? Huh? Huh?" Naruto Uzumaki's eyes went wide. He clutched his head and shouted in panic, "Am I going to die? What do I do? What do I do, Aogetsu-sensei?"

"It's fine, don't worry. I'll buy you a coffin after you die. They're on sale right now." Aogetsu Hyuga took Naruto's right hand and calmly examined the wound, which was gradually closing.

The Nine-Tails' power?

Healing yourself with a vast amount of chakra really is convenient.

He now had even more chakra than the Nine-Tails, so healing his own wounds would be easier still.

Naruto Uzumaki shouted indignantly, "Hey! Is that something a teacher should say?"

Sakura Haruno pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed. "Even after saying all that, he's still an idiot."

As they laughed and talked, white mist gradually spread around them.

Pale snowflakes drifted down, and a chill crept into the air.

"Fog?"

Every member of Team 7 looked alarmed. They scanned their surroundings and found that pale mist had covered the entire area. They could barely see a hand in front of their faces!

"Why is it getting foggy? Is the weather changing?" Sakura Haruno looked puzzled.

Naruto Uzumaki complained, "What kind of weather is this? One minute it's hot, the next it's cold!"

Sasuke Uchiha frowned. There was something strange about this white mist.

"Everyone, get down." Aogetsu Hyuga ate his three-colored dumplings and activated the Tenseigan's see-through ability. In the distance, he spotted a large sword spinning rapidly toward them.

"Get down?"

Everyone on Team 7 froze and looked at Aogetsu Hyuga in confusion. After a moment, they all covered their heads and crouched on the ground.

Why do we have to get down?

Is Aogetsu-sensei fooling around again?

"What's this about? Telling us to get down out of nowhere." Naruto Uzumaki crouched with his hands over his head, grumbling. "Aogetsu-sensei, can you stop playing pranks? We've got a mission to do."

No sooner had he spoken than—

Whoosh! A fierce Gale swept past. A massive sword cut through two tree trunks and flew over Team 7's heads.

The Kubikiribōchō spun like a Shuriken. All Team 7 could feel was a powerful Gale as the sword hurtled toward Aogetsu Hyuga's neck.

Aogetsu Hyuga kept eating his dumplings. Without moving from his spot, he watched the sword close in, then raised the slender wooden skewer and effortlessly blocked the vicious attack.

Clang! The blade struck the skewer, unleashing a powerful Gale that sent dust billowing into the air.

The sword fell heavily to the ground. The slender wooden skewer remained intact.

"A welcome gift for me? You didn't have to go to the trouble." Aogetsu Hyuga ate another dumpling, picked up the Kubikiribōchō, and slung it across his back.

With the Tenseigan's see-through ability, he could see Zabuza hiding nearby.

Zabuza Momochi had probably thrown the sword intending to lodge it in a tree. Then he could make a dramatic entrance, stand on the blade, and look down on everyone while showing off.

Want to show off?

Not a chance!

So much for your grand entrance!

And now the Kubikiribōchō is mine!

Aogetsu Hyuga loved nothing more than watching someone fail to show off.

Demon Zabuza Appears!

"Wh-what was that? What happened?" Naruto Uzumaki looked around in a daze. He had only felt a powerful Gale blow past. Then his gaze settled on the Kubikiribōchō on Aogetsu's back.

"Was that...?" Naruto Uzumaki went pale, fear rising in his eyes. Had that frightening-looking sword been what flew over them?

If he hadn't listened to Aogetsu-sensei and stayed down on the ground...

Team 7 might already have been wiped out!

Naruto Uzumaki touched his neck. A chill ran down his spine, and fear struck him belatedly.

Everyone on Team 7 felt the same. They silently swore to listen to Aogetsu-sensei more often. Whatever Aogetsu told them to do, they would do it.

If they hadn't listened to Aogetsu-sensei just now, their heads might already have been sent flying.

"Naruto, Sasuke!" Sakura Haruno came to her senses, drew a Kunai, and moved in front of Tazuna. Her face had gone pale with fear, but she watched the space ahead vigilantly.

As Sakura moved, Sasuke and Naruto drew their Kunai too, keeping Tazuna behind them.

The three members of Team 7 formed a manji formation, guarding Tazuna at its center.

"Where's the enemy?" Sasuke Uchiha's expression was grave. He stared ahead with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, but he still couldn't find where the enemy was hiding in the white mist.

Aogetsu-sensei must know where the enemy is, right?

He hadn't spotted the sword when it suddenly came flying at them, either. Without Aogetsu's warning, he might already be dead.

That's Aogetsu for you, I guess.

Damn it!

This has to be a joke!

I'm a genius of the Uchiha Clan!