A large force of samurai blocked the Great Bridge's only exit. At their leader's command, several men who had failed to escape in time were cut down.
The distant commotion finally caught the attention of Team 7 at the other end of the Great Bridge.
Kakashi found the situation troublesome. It wasn't that he feared these samurai, but their mission was to protect Tazuna, not the entire Land of Waves.
"Kakashi-sensei, should we step in?" Sakura clenched her fists at the sight.
Sasuke said nothing, but he frowned when he saw so many men attacking civilians.
Only Naruto remained relatively calm.
New life often came hand in hand with death. Awakening a small country like this would take more than one or two people. It would take the entire town.
He was waiting for an opportunity.
"Everyone! Come over here!" Tazuna knew the Konoha Ninja had no obligation to protect them, but he could still gather everyone here to take shelter.
"I'm afraid this bridge will run red with blood today." Naruto watched the large ship below the Great Bridge dock as more samurai gathered.
Hundreds of burly men with swords eyed them hungrily. Their vicious expressions put considerable pressure on Sakura and the others.
All the bridge builders retreated. Facing the dark mass of samurai, their faces finally showed the fear one would expect from ordinary civilians.
With matters reaching this point, Team 7 found themselves on the front line. If these men advanced any farther, they could threaten their employer, Tazuna, and protecting him was Team 7's mission.
"Hey, you damned Konoha Ninja! Do you have a death wish?"
"Get out of the Land of Waves if you know what's good for you!"
Faced with the crowd's taunts and threats, each member of Team 7 simply drew a