Tazuna, who had always disguised himself with a drunken demeanor and lies, suddenly trembled.
His hand, holding the sake bottle, froze in mid-air, and the last shred of hope and pretense in his cloudy eyes was completely shattered by that single sentence.
He deflated like a punctured ball, his entire being collapsing.
"Protecting…" Tazuna's voice was hoarse and dry, tinged with a sob, "What do you understand! What do you brats understand! The opponent is Gato! That Gato!"
He finally broke down, shouting everything out.
About the man who was rich enough to rival a nation, yet used money and violence to choke the entire country.
About the wandering samurai and rogue Ninja he hired, about the tragic public executions of those who resisted.
About his grandson, Inari, who had become withdrawn after witnessing a hero's death.
This was a country steeped in despair.
Sakura's face turned pale as she listened, her hands clutching her clothes tightly.
Sasuke's brow furrowed into a knot.
For the first time, they truly felt the heavy reality behind the cold words on the mission scroll.
Kakashi was secretly pleased, but he feigned a sigh and was about to emphasize the necessity of aborting the mission again.
"So what?"
Naruto's voice rang out again, interrupting Tazuna's weeping.
Everyone looked at him.
Naruto calmly looked at the broken old man.
"Can your tears build a bridge? Can your fear drive away Gato?"
Tazuna's crying stopped abruptly.
"These emotions have no value other than consuming your already limited physical strength."
Naruto walked to the bow of the boat, turned to face everyone, his blue eyes sweeping over each person's face.
"Our mission objective has changed from 'escort the client' to 'ensure the bridge is built.'
Gato's existence is the biggest obstacle to achieving this objective.
Conclusion: he must be eliminated."
His logic was so clear it sent shivers down their spines.
"So, the mission continues? Sensei will follow your lead."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"So, the mission continues."
Naruto's tone left no room for discussion.
"The risk has been confirmed; the unknown has become known.
We have the initiative and can set traps, waiting for the next enemy.
This is the choice that maximizes our gain."
"We have one Jonin, and two…" Naruto paused, his gaze sweeping over Sasuke and Sakura, "…two usable combat units.
And a brain with a complete tactical plan."
"And every citizen of the Land of Waves; they are all a solid force."
He wasn't asking for opinions; he was issuing a conclusion.
Sakura opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself utterly unable to refute him.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
He looked at Naruto, and that feeling of powerlessness washed over him again.
But deep inside, a fire was ignited.
This was a true Ninja; this was true strength.
Kakashi fell silent.
He looked at the young man before him, whose image was overlapping in a strangely precise way with that of the figure cloaked in the Fourth Hokage's cape.
The small boat cut through the dense fog, continuing its journey towards the darkness-shrouded country amidst the boatman's silent rowing.
In the almost static silence, Naruto issued new instructions.
"Don't be afraid."
His voice was calm, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
"It's just an A-rank mission."
The dense fog began to spread from the water's surface.
By the time the boat docked, the damp, cold white had swallowed the entire world.
It was silent, yet carried a bone-chilling cold, enveloping, saturating, and then dissolving every wooden pile on the dock, every distant tree shadow, and even every sound in the air.
The boatman took his money, said nothing, turned the boat around, and vanished behind the white curtain, as if fleeing from a place of plague.
"Is this…the Land of Waves?" Sakura's voice was a little dry.
She hugged her arms tightly, trying to ward off the chill that had seeped into her bones.
Sasuke said nothing, his hand already on his Ninja tool pouch, his black eyes scanning vigilantly through the dense fog, trying to imitate someone's composed demeanor.
Only Kakashi still looked half-asleep.
With his hands in his pockets, he lazily addressed Tazuna, who was shaking like a leaf beside him: "Tazuna-san, your welcoming ceremony here is quite unique."
Tazuna's lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.
"Alert formation."
Naruto's voice was not loud, but it was like a sharp knife, instantly cutting through the stagnant air.
He didn't even turn to look at his Sensei.
"Sasuke, ten meters to the front-left, that rock is the high ground; scout."
"Sakura, protect the client, stay in the center of the formation.
Place your medical kit in the most accessible position."
The commands were clear, concise, and unquestionable.
Sasuke's body reacted faster than his brain.
He moved almost the instant Naruto's words fell, merging into the shadow of the rock in a few leaps, leaving only a brief response.
"Hm."
Sakura jolted.
Looking at Naruto's straight back, the fear in her heart was inexplicably replaced by something else.
She took a deep breath, and imitating Sasuke, quickly stood in front of Tazuna, one hand shielding him, the other resting on the medical Ninja tool pouch at her waist.
The command of the entire team was smoothly transferred within thirty seconds of landing.
Kakashi scratched his head, feeling a bit superfluous.
As a Jonin, he now seemed to be the team's mascot responsible for filling in gaps.
"Well, it's good for young people to be motivated," he muttered softly, giving himself an excuse.
Just then, Naruto suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing into the depths of the dense fog.
The mist there was churning in an abnormal pattern.
The moisture in the air became viscous, carrying a unique scent mixed with rust and blood.
The laziness on Kakashi's face vanished instantly.
His exposed eye narrowed sharply, and his hand slowly rose, reaching for his forehead protector.
This Chakra… there was no mistake.
"Kakashi-sensei, there's an enemy…" Sakura's voice trembled.
"Shut up."
Naruto's rebuke was brief and cold.
"If you yourself are afraid, what will the client think?"
Sakura's face instantly flushed, a mix of humiliation and fear, but she still clamped her hand over her mouth.
Kakashi's main body stood at the very front of the team, his exposed eye narrowed.
He had, of course, also sensed it.
This dense Chakra, carrying a heavy killing intent, was certainly not from an ordinary opponent.
A figure appeared silently on a tree branch not far ahead.
He carried a huge broadsword proportional to his body, his entire body wrapped in bandages, revealing only a pair of cold, sharp eyes.
"Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake."
The man's voice was like a blade scraping against rock, hoarse and grating.
"Zabuza Momochi."
Kakashi slowly raised his forehead protector, revealing his scarlet Sharingan.
"A Hidden Mist rogue Ninja, I didn't expect to meet you here."
Sasuke's heart gave a violent lurch.
Zabuza Momochi, that name in the Ninja handbook, was on the same level as Kakashi.
An A-rank mission… it was real after all.
"Hand over the old man who's building the bridge."
Zabuza's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on the trembling Tazuna.
"I can let you brats die quickly."
The killing intent in the air solidified into a tangible presence.
"It seems I'll have to deal with you here."
Kakashi took a stance.
Just as he was about to charge forward.
"Defensive formation, Delta-3."
Naruto's command rang out again, clearly reaching Sasuke and Sakura's ears.