Author's Note:
I'd really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on this chapter in the comments—whether you liked it, disliked it, or noticed any strengths or weaknesses.
Your feedback helps me understand what works and what needs improvement, and it also creates a space for readers to discuss the chapter and its events together.
Feel free to be honest and speak your mind. This story grows with you and because of you.
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[—
"Stop your bitching. This time, I'll go myself—with this head-splitting cleaver."
The shinobi carrying a massive sword spoke, half of his face concealed.
"And I'll kill them."
"Are you sure?"
The short man in a formal suit said nervously, glancing at the sharp blade hovering close to his face.
"It seems the enemy has hired some skilled ninjas. And with the failure of the Demon Brothers, they'll be better prepared."
The swordsman grew irritated.
"Who do you think I am…?"
Then he added, "There's a reason I'm called the Demon of the Hidden Mist—Momochi Zabuza."
—]
…
"The Demon of the Hidden Mist, Momochi Zabuza?"
"Who is that?"
"Is that sword one of the Seven Swords of Kirigakure? Don't tell me he's one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
The Third Hokage immediately recognized Zabuza's sword, even though he did not recognize Zabuza himself. After all, at this point in time, Zabuza was merely a five-year-old child.
(Author's Note: For clarity, the current timeline is 22 years before the beginning of the main plot—Part One of Naruto, and 10 years before Naruto's birth and the Nine-Tails' attack on the village.)
After all, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were Kirigakure's greatest claim to fame. All of their most skilled and elite shinobi belonged to that group, and their swords were passed down from generation to generation.
Hiruzen was not the only one shocked.
Even Sakumo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Minato—who had experienced a few clashes with one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—were stunned by Zabuza's astonishing appearance.
The ending of Chapter 10 of the Naruto manga served as a cliffhanger, sending readers straight into the next chapter to find out what would happen.
If a high-level shinobi from Kirigakure intervened in the mission of Team Seven, led by Kakashi, wouldn't that mean an incredible arc—possibly featuring top-tier combat?
"Hm. If this person's identity is that of a missing-nin from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, then this mission's rank might not be just B or A… It could become a dangerous S-rank mission."
Hiruzen stroked his beard, studying the figure known as Momochi Zabuza with keen interest.
"Hm. He certainly seems unusual…"
Danzo spoke from the side.
"I recognize that look… He's a perfect killing tool."
Danzo said calmly, watching Zabuza threaten the short man in the suit with his long blade.
…
"That short man… I know him. It's Gatou!"
The Third Hokage suddenly stood up, having recalled the familiar face and name.
"Really?"
Mito looked at Hiruzen with a skeptical expression.
"Without a doubt… It's that man. He recently founded a massive shipping and transportation company. He's wealthy—at twenty-seven years old, he already possesses enormous riches, inherited from his late father, who was also a wealthy feudal lord."
"His origins are unclear, but as a rich man, he has a long record of missions he's commissioned from us over the past two years… To think I'd see him in a manga. It's incomprehensible."
Hiruzen sighed, trying to suppress the shock in his heart.
It turned out that one of the wealthiest sponsors in the Land of Fire had appeared in the manga as a villain.
Indeed, after Hiruzen read the following chapter, Tazuna's explanation confirmed Gatou's identity—and his malicious nature as well.
"It seems he wants to control the Wave Country using his wealth…"
Danzo nodded, though he paid little attention to such a minor figure.
He quickly flipped the page to the next scenes, where the manga began to take another turn.
…
Far from Konohagakure, the scorching sunlight beat down on Sunagakure. Yet inside the art store, the villagers felt no oppressive heat at all.
Instead, thanks to the incredible atmosphere inside the store, both civilians and shinobi felt as though they were in paradise.
Rob looked at the lively, enthusiastic scene inside the art store in Sunagakure, a strong sense of pride washing over him.
Not only had he successfully opened his art store here, but he had also earned the villagers' acceptance—so much so that they greeted him with gentle smiles.
At that moment, the Third Kazekage, Saburō no Shazan, was immersed in the manga's events when he suddenly stood up with a shocked expression.
"This man… I know him…"
His reaction closely mirrored that of the Third Hokage. As Kazekage, he too had dealings with wealthy individuals—especially those who commissioned B-rank missions or higher and paid generous fees.
And Gatou was one of them.
So it made sense that the Kazekage recognized him.
"If he's gone so far as to employ shinobi who have abandoned their village, then he's chosen a path of darkness with no return."
Chiyo snorted coldly as she looked at the manga page.
"As expected, the Mist Village's brutal training system makes them more prone to coups and ninja desertion."
Ebizo spoke with a mocking tone.
"But this time, it seems a big fish has defected."
"To think that one of the Seven Swords abandoned his village… Are you saying the future of the Mist Village will be bleak and filled with conflict?"
Shazan looked toward Rob, who stood behind the counter not far away.
The Third Kazekage had yet to grasp the deeper layers of the story. After all, like everyone else in Sunagakure, he had only started reading the manga today.
They read the first volume, then bought the second out of curiosity. Reading a manga—presented as a high-quality illustrated story—about the life of a child from a 'rival' village felt strange to them.
They only grew accustomed to it after delving deeper into the chapters. Without realizing it, they found themselves following Naruto and Team Seven on a mission outside Konoha.
Across these two volumes, they discovered much about Konoha—things they had never known before.
That was why, from time to time, the Kazekage asked Rob about the accuracy of certain revealed details.
"Is this realistic?"
"Is that even possible…?"
"Really?"
"You're exaggerating, aren't you?"
"Seriously, is that reasonable?"
"Ramen? That dish isn't exclusive to Konohagakure—it's originally popular in Sunagakure, too."
Rob felt exhausted by the barrage of questions from the Third Kazekage and his companions. 'What a chatterbox! Can't you read in silence?'
At that moment, Rob declared his surrender. Since arriving in Sunagakure, he had swallowed a ton of water just from answering the Kazekage's questions.
"Kazekage-san, what I draw is nothing more than my imagination—my personal speculation of what the future of this world might be like. Please don't take it too seriously. Just enjoy it."
Rob forced a smile as he spouted nonsense.
Of course, he would never openly say, 'I'm drawing the future. Accept it if you wish.'
Whether one realized that or not depended on the readers' own intelligence.
Those clever enough would sense that something was off—but not from Naruto's earliest beginnings. Everyone in this world would need to delve deeper into the story and read the coming arcs to reach their own conclusions about the manga's true nature.
'Of course, there are exceptions…' Rob thought inwardly.
He knew that among his readers, there were already some who had realized that Naruto's manga was a mirror of the future—whether through intuition or confirmed truth. Such people existed, and they were extremely wary of Rob.
Foremost among them were Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo.
…
Back in Konoha, the Third Hokage narrowed his eyes as he looked at the final scene of Chapter 11.
'Let me see what you'll do, Kakashi, when facing a ferocious shark from the Hidden Mist,' Hiruzen thought to himself.
He had already sensed Zabuza's exceptional nature—from the very first glance, he knew this man was powerful.
He called him a ferocious shark of the Hidden Mist because he understood the nature of those beasts who lived in Kirigakure.
'To be a missing-nin means he grew tired of his village's politics—and possessed the strength to rebel… A shinobi of this level must not be underestimated.'
'Kakashi must be exceptional enough to overcome him and protect the kids and the old man.'
'Will this mission end well, I wonder?'
Hiruzen smiled with excitement as he pondered this.
Indeed, the current development of future events had made him eagerly anticipate what would happen next.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 63: The Copy Ninja, Kakashi of the Sharingan!
Chapter 64: Kakashi vs. Zabuza – An Astonishing Battle!
Chapter 65: Leaf Village Ninja, Uzumaki Naruto!
Chapter 66: Valuable Information About the Hidden Mist Village!
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