"Tap, tap, tap."
The sound of a cane striking the ground echoed across the empty bridge.
The thick mist had completely cleared.
At the far end of the bridge, a dense crowd of figures came into view.
There were a full two or three hundred of them.
Every one carried a katana, a spiked club, or a spear, and they looked exactly like the sort of thugs who only bullied civilians.
Standing at the very front was a short, middle-aged man wearing sunglasses and an expensive suit.
Gato.
One of the richest men in the world, and the source of the Land of Waves' nightmare.
"My, my, what a sorry sight, Zabuza."
Gato adjusted his sunglasses.
"So this is the so-called Demon of the Hidden Mist? You can't even deal with a few brats."
Veins bulged on the hand Zabuza had wrapped around his massive sword.
"Gato... what are you doing here with all these men?"
"What am I doing?"
Gato pointed his cane at Zabuza, then at Kakashi and the others.
"I was going to have you kill them, then kill you once you were exhausted. That would've saved me a hefty commission."
"But looking at what a useless wreck you are, you're not worth anything anymore."
"Boys!"
Gato waved his hand, and the hundreds of thugs behind him raised their weapons, letting out wild cries.
"Chop these ninja and that old bridge builder into mincemeat!"
Tazuna was so frightened that he dropped onto his backside.
Hundreds of desperate outlaws.
How were they supposed to fight that?
Kakashi was just about to force himself to muster his chakra when a hand blocked his path.
"Sensei, take a break."
Son Goten took a step forward.
He looked thoroughly sour.
As sour as if his ramen had come without a marinated egg, or he'd discovered that his beloved dream girl was actually a man whose equipment was bigger than his.
"I've got a bellyful of anger and nowhere to vent it."
In his eyes, those shouting thugs were nothing but walking punching bags.
"Besides, who did that shorty just say he was going to kill?"
Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a glance and silently took two steps back.
They knew that look on Son Goten's face all too well.
He was about to go berserk.
"Hey, brat!"
Gato noticed Son Goten stepping forward and laughed scornfully.
"You want to play hero? Do you know who I am? I've got money to spare! I could buy your entire Konoha!"
"You have money?"
Son Goten stopped, his eyes instantly lighting up.
"A lot of money?"
"Of course! I've got enough money to bury you!"
Gato arrogantly patted his bulging suit pockets.
Son Goten smiled.
"Good."
"As long as you've got money, I won't throw you too far."
Son Goten vanished.
Where he had been standing, a huge crater had been smashed into the concrete.
The next second.
He appeared right in the middle of the hundreds of thugs.
No ninjutsu.
Only the most primitive, most brutal Taijutsu.
"Ah!"
A scream pierced the sky.
Before a thug holding a large sword could even see what had happened, he went flying into the air.
He really did fly into the air.
A full twenty meters up, with even the sword in his hand shattered by the impact.
Then.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
A barrage of impacts exploded like firecrackers.
Son Goten was a tyrannosaurus charging into a flock of sheep.
Fists, elbow strikes, elbow strikes.
Every movement sent another figure flying backward.
"My hand!"
"My leg's broken!"
"Monster! He's a monster!"
The gang of thugs who had been so overbearing moments before descended into utter chaos.
Their blades struck Son Goten with sharp clangs, unable to break even his skin.
Meanwhile, a casual sweep of Son Goten's hand sent three or four men flying like bowling balls.
Son Goten was having a great time.
With every punch, a little more of his frustration drained away.
"That's for having a dick!"
One punch sent two men flying.
"That's for being so pretty!"
One kick sent three men flying.
"That's for playing with my feelings!"
A spinning kick swept seven or eight men into the sea.
In just three minutes.
The bridge was littered with groaning thugs.
Some had broken arms or legs, some were foaming at the mouth, and some were draped over the railings.
Not a single one could stand.
Only Gato remained.
He stood alone amid the pile of bodies, his sunglasses half fallen off, his legs shaking like leaves.
"Y-you stay away..."
Gato stared in terror at the cute little boy approaching him step by step.
How was this a brat?
He was clearly a tailed beast wearing human skin!
"I have money! I'll give you money! I'll give you everything!"
In a panic, Gato pulled out his wallet, his bankbook, and his gold notes.
Son Goten walked up to him, grabbed his collar, and lifted him into the air like a little chick.
"Couldn't you have just said that in the first place?"
Son Goten's other hand expertly searched him.
Wallet, taken.
Gold rings, stripped off.
Gold necklace, snapped off and taken.
Even the two gold teeth in Gato's mouth were forcibly pried out.
"Anything else?"
Son Goten shook Gato.
"N-no..."
Gato's face was battered and bruised, and he cried like a two-hundred-pound child.
"Cheapskate."
Son Goten curled his lip in disgust.
He walked to the edge of the bridge and looked down at the churning sea.
"You said you were going to kill us all, right?"
"I'm a very fair person."
"If you're going to kill people, you'd better be prepared to be killed."
"But since you contributed so much ramen money, I'll give you a chance."
Son Goten flicked his wrist.
"Off you go!"
Gato let out a piercing scream as he traced a graceful arc through the air, flying far out to sea.
"Whether you can swim back is up to your luck."
Son Goten clapped his hands and turned around, thoroughly satisfied.
He held a huge pile of gold notes and jewelry.
I'm rich!
This is enough money to eat at Ichiraku Ramen until I'm eighteen!
He strode over to Haku, who was still in a daze.
Zabuza warily raised his broken sword.
"Relax. I'm not going to hit you."
Ignoring Zabuza, Son Goten took half the spoils and shoved them into Haku's hands.
"Take it."
Haku froze.
His hands were heavy with money.
This sum was enough for rogue ninja like them to live on for several years.
"Why?"
Haku looked blankly at Son Goten.
Son Goten scratched his head and turned his face aside somewhat awkwardly.
"I'm not giving you this money for nothing."
"There's a condition."
He pointed at Haku's clothes.
"Stop wearing these unisex clothes."
"Take this money and buy dresses."
"Pink ones with lace. Preferably ones that show your legs."
Son Goten grew more animated as he spoke, his eyes shining.
"With a face like that, don't let it go to waste."
"Even if you're a guy, I can just about accept it if you're dressed as a girl!"
Zabuza nearly dropped his sword.
This brat...
What kind of garbage is stuffed inside his head?
Haku's face turned so red it almost looked ready to bleed, and he held the money, unable to keep it or throw it away.
"All right, get lost."
"Before I change my mind and beat you both up."
Zabuza stared at Son Goten for a moment.
He knew very well that if Kakashi had been the one to act today, they would certainly have died.
But this brat...
"Haku, let's go."
Zabuza put away his sword, supported Haku, and turned to walk toward the other end of the bridge.
Their shadows stretched long beneath the setting sun, carrying a hint of desolation.
After they had walked several dozen meters.
Son Goten suddenly shouted from behind them.
"Hey!"
"Remember to wear women's clothes next time we meet!"
"If you don't, I'll strip you naked and hang you at Konoha's main gate!"
Haku stumbled, nearly falling.
He didn't look back, only quickened his pace and fled that trouble spot in a panic.
Son Goten watched the direction the two had disappeared in, stroked his chin, and chuckled.
"Tsk, tsk. With legs like that, he'd definitely look good in a qipao too."
Nearby.
Naruto came over, his face full of admiration.
"Boss, you were so cool! How did you pull off that move just now? Teach me!"
Sasuke snorted coldly and turned his face away, but inwardly, he was utterly shaken.
Only Sakura.
Her face dark, she walked up behind Son Goten and grabbed his ear.
"Ow! That hurts, that hurts, that hurts! Honey, let go!"
"Women's clothes, huh? Lace skirts, huh?"
Sakura gritted her teeth and tightened her grip.
"You damned pervert! You won't even leave men alone!"
"It was for art! For aesthetics! Honey, you don't understand... Ow! I was wrong, I was wrong!"
Before you continue