Zabuza strikes

In the Shinobi World, where the strong preyed on the weak and strength reigned supreme, this was undoubtedly the most cowardly display imaginable.

At the Konoha Ninja Academy, they did not even try to hide their contempt.

"I knew he couldn't do it. He really is useless!"

"He doesn't even dare to fight, yet he still got put on the same team as Sasuke and Sakura Haruno. Talk about lucky!"

Sasuke ranked first in practical combat!

Sakura Haruno ranked first in academics!

Mockery rose from every direction, reaching Naruto's ears. His face turned deathly pale, and his fists clenched tight. Humiliation, anger, and resentment tangled inside him, making him wish he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Naruto did not stop to wonder whether the version of himself on the sky screen was real or fake. He simply felt ashamed.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Naruto on the sky screen and sighed helplessly.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto bore a special responsibility. Yet his temperament was far too immature. He still had a long road ahead of him.

Shimura Danzō watched the cowardly Naruto on the sky screen, his single eye filled with disdain and contempt. "Trash is trash. Even as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he'll never amount to much. You should have handed him over to me."

Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi could never agree to that. He needed Danzo, but he remained wary of him all the same.

On the sky screen, the attack in the woods had just ended, yet the tension had not eased in the slightest.

Kakashi looked at the two black-clad attackers bound on the ground, his brow tightly furrowed. His usual lazy expression had vanished completely, replaced by unprecedented gravity.

A C-rank mission should never have drawn ninja assassins. The mission's true difficulty had clearly been concealed. This was a high-risk assignment of at least B-rank!

He stood and turned toward Tazuna, the gray-haired bridge engineer behind him, who looked distinctly uneasy. Kakashi's voice was cold and hard, carrying unmistakable displeasure. "Mr. Tazuna, you owe me an explanation. This isn't an ordinary C-rank escort mission. Those attackers were ninja. What exactly have you been hiding?"

Tazuna's face instantly turned pale. His lips trembled, and his eyes darted away. At first, he tried to make excuses, but he could no longer conceal the truth. With a long sigh, he finally explained everything.

The Land of Waves was under the control of the ruthless businessman Gato. Tazuna was building the bridge to break Gato's monopoly, which had provoked vicious retaliation. The attackers they had encountered were ninja hired by Gato.

He simply could not afford the steep mission fee, so he had deliberately concealed the truth. All he wanted was to return safely to the Land of Waves and finish the bridge upon which his country's future depended.

"I... I had no other choice. The people of the Land of Waves are counting on this bridge to survive!" Tazuna's face was full of guilt, his voice pleading.

"I'm sorry, but we can't continue this mission," Kakashi said without hesitation, his expression resolute. "The mission rank doesn't remotely reflect the actual risk. I have a duty to protect my students. There's no reason to expose them to unnecessary mortal danger. We're returning to Konoha to report the discrepancy."

As an elite jonin, he naturally had no fear of these enemies.

But Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were only newly graduated Genin with no real combat experience. If they went any farther, their lives could be in danger at any moment. He could not gamble with his three students' lives.

Hearing that Kakashi intended to abandon the mission and return to Konoha, Naruto immediately grew anxious. Sasuke lifted his head, while Sakura looked equally stunned.

"Kakashi-sensei! Why do we have to go back? We can still finish the mission!" Naruto was the first to rush forward, clenching his fists as he looked up at Kakashi.

The humiliation his earlier fear had brought him was still etched into his heart. He desperately wanted to prove himself. He did not want to run away or be looked down on again.

"I was useless back there, but I won't stay scared forever! I can fight, and I can protect everyone! We can't quit halfway!"

His voice was young but utterly firm, his blue eyes filled with stubborn resolve. His earlier trembling cowardice had already faded, leaving only a tenacity that refused to admit defeat.

Sasuke Uchiha also spoke coldly, his tone level but persistent. "I don't want to go back. The mission isn't over yet."

He yearned for real combat, to grow stronger through battle. This level of danger was not enough to make him retreat.

Though Sakura Haruno was still nervous, she nodded firmly and tightened her grip on her kunai. "Sensei, we can keep going. We'll protect Mr. Tazuna."

All three children stepped forward together. Even knowing that greater danger lay ahead, not one of them chose to back down.

Their eyes were resolute as they looked at Kakashi, determined to finish the mission and prove, in their own way, that they could shoulder a ninja's responsibilities.

Kakashi looked at his three stubborn students, at the defiance in Naruto's eyes, the persistence in Sasuke's, and the determination in Sakura's. He remained silent for a long time.

In the end, his resolve softened. He also wanted to give these three children a chance to grow.

After a long while, he sighed softly. His tense expression eased a little, and he nodded. "All right. We'll continue the mission."

"But from now on, everyone must follow my orders to the letter. No acting on your own. Your safety comes first."

With Kakashi's permission, Naruto instantly broke into a delighted smile. Even Sasuke's tightly pressed lips relaxed slightly. Fighting spirit ignited in all three of them.

After a brief rest, Team 7 set out again. This time, however, everyone abandoned any trace of complacency, remaining on high alert as they steadily made their way toward the Land of Waves.

In the end, they could not escape the danger that awaited them.

They had only just entered the Land of Waves and reached the riverside when a wave of killing intent, far sharper and more terrifying than that of the two earlier attackers, abruptly engulfed the entire area!

The river erupted. A burly figure dressed in Kirigakure attire burst from the water, wielding the enormous Kubikiribōchō. Its blade gleamed coldly as it cleaved straight toward Kakashi with unstoppable force!

"The Demon of Kirigakure, Zabuza Momochi!" Kakashi's pupils constricted as he instantly recognized him. This was a renowned rogue ninja from Kirigakure, a powerful and extremely dangerous opponent!

"Kakashi." A cruel smile curled Zabuza's lips as he swept the Kubikiribōchō across, his attacks fierce and vicious, every strike lethal. "Today, all of you will die here!"

Battle erupted in an instant!

Kakashi immediately ordered Naruto and the other two to retreat with Tazuna under their protection, then sprang forward to engage Zabuza.

Chakra clashed violently. Flashes of steel intertwined with ninjutsu, and the sounds of fierce combat rang along the riverbank. Terrifying surges of energy snapped the surrounding trees one after another.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura sheltered farther back, staring intently at the battlefield, their palms slick with sweat.

They watched Kakashi and Zabuza fight fiercely, both unleashing ninjutsu as they battled to a stalemate. Their hearts were filled with both tension and awe.