Chapter 12
The sun streamed through the windows of the Hokage’s office, casting a warm glow over the room. Team 7 stood in front of the desk where Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was sitting, flipping through some papers. Naruto was bouncing on his heels, a frown etched across his face as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I’ve had enough of these D-rank missions!” Naruto whined, his voice filled with frustration. “All we do is run errands and deal with old ladies and cats! What kind of ninja am I supposed to be if all I do is this?!”
“Old man Hokage, don’t you have anything more exciting for us?” Naruto continued, pointing an accusing finger at the Hokage.
Yona, standing next to him with her arms folded, couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his antics. Without hesitation, she smacked Naruto over the head with her palm, the smack echoing in the otherwise quiet room. Naruto winced and rubbed his head, glaring at her. “What was that for?”
“For calling him old man!” Yona shot back. “Show some respect!.”
Hiruzen chuckled softly at their exchange, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Ah, youth… How refreshing.” He set down his papers and looked over at them with a smile. “Naruto, I understand your frustration, but those missions are important. Not every mission requires great skill. They are meant to teach you discipline.”
Naruto huffed and slumped his shoulders. “Still, can’t we get something a little more exciting?”
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Well, there are a few D-rank missions available. Let’s see… There’s a mission to deliver groceries to a nearby elderly woman...”
Naruto groaned loudly, his arms falling to his sides. “Ugh, more of that boring stuff?”
“And,” Hiruzen continued, “there’s another one where you’ll be assisting an old lady in gathering herbs.”
Yona gave Naruto a knowing look and shrugged. “I guess you’re not going to get your wish for a while, huh?”
Naruto sulked, but before he could protest further, Hiruzen smiled again, leaning forward with a slight twinkle in his eye. “But… I do have a different kind of mission for you.”
Naruto’s eyes immediately lit up with hope. “What kind of mission?”
“I’ve just received word of a task that requires a team to escort a certain individual safely to the Land of Waves.” Hiruzen explained, flipping through his paperwork again. “It’s a bridge builder by the name of Tazuna. Your job will be to ensure his safe passage and protect him from potential dangers on the way.”
“Escort mission?” Sasuke, who had been silent up until now, raised an eyebrow. “Sounds simple enough.”
“That’s what we thought too,” Hiruzen said with a slight frown, “but there have been rumors of rogue ninjas and bandits in the area. It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“Rogue ninjas? Bandits?” Naruto grinned widely, his enthusiasm reigniting. “Now that’s more like it! I’m ready!”
“Hold your horses, Naruto,” Kakashi interjected lazily, glancing up from his book. “This mission will require more than just running in headfirst.”
Yona added with a smirk, “As much as you want to rush into things, Naruto, this is an escort mission. You’ll need to use that brain of yours… if you can find it under all that shouting.”
Naruto shot her a glare but quickly bounced back with a grin. “Yeah, yeah, whatever! I’m just happy to finally be going somewhere!”
Hiruzen nodded, pleased with their reactions. “I’ll give you the details once you meet Tazuna in person. For now, head out and prepare yourselves.”
---
The team exited the Hokage’s office, Naruto already bouncing on his heels with excitement. They made their way to the village gates, where they met Tazuna, the bridge builder. The man looked to be in his late 50s, with a scruffy beard and a gruff demeanor.
Tazuna didn’t look impressed by the presence of the young ninjas before him. “So you’re the ones they’re sending to protect me, huh? A bunch of kids?”
Naruto immediately bristled at the comment. “Hey, old man, don’t look down on us! We’re ninjas, not babies!”
Tazuna didn’t even look at him. “Hmph. As long as you get me to the Land of Waves safely, I don’t care who you are. Just stay out of my way.”
Yona smirked, stepping forward as she crossed her arms. “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure no one messes with you. Even if you are a little grumpy.”
Tazuna shot a glare at her, clearly not pleased with her words. “Keep your mouth shut, girl.”
Sasuke glanced around at the surroundings, his sharp eyes scanning for any immediate threats. He wasn’t worried about this mission, but his sense of duty kept him alert. “Let’s just get going. No point in wasting time.”
Kakashi, his hands tucked into his pockets, observed the interaction silently, letting his team get used to the mission’s flow. “Alright, let’s head out. Stay sharp, and don’t get careless. The Land of Waves isn’t as peaceful as it looks.”
The group began their journey, leaving the village behind them. Naruto was already chatting enthusiastically with Tazuna, while Yona occasionally threw in a sarcastic comment, keeping the mood light despite the tension building in the air. Sasuke remained quiet, and Kakashi followed behind, his ever-present book in hand.
As they traveled through the thick forests and winding roads, Naruto continued to talk, much to Tazuna’s annoyance. “So, old man, tell me all about the Land of Waves! What’s it like? Are there ninjas there too?”
Tazuna sighed, clearly irritated. “It’s none of your business, kid. Just keep up and make sure nothing happens to me.”
Naruto grinned widely, completely ignoring Tazuna’s attitude. “You’re gonna love it! We’re gonna have an awesome time!”
Team 7 walked through the misty forest on the road to the Land of Waves. The tension that had been building up seemed to grow thicker, but none of the members were fully aware of the impending danger.
Suddenly, Naruto’s voice broke the silence.
“This mission is so boring!” he groaned. “I mean, I get it’s just an escort mission, but there’s not even anything fun about this! How long is this going to take?”
Yona walked beside him, rolling her eyes. "You complain too much, Naruto. You should be thankful for the peace and quiet." Her voice was calm but pointed, a sharp contrast to his usual enthusiasm.
Tazuna shuffling behind them with a suspicious glance over his shoulder. The forest was dense, and dew clung to the leaves, glistening like tiny diamonds. Kakashi walked at the front, his single visible eye scanning the area ahead.
Yona’s senses tingled as they passed a section of the path where the ground was unusually damp. Her keen eyes darted to the small puddle that lay incongruously in the middle of the road, despite the recent dry weather. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing, trusting that Kakashi had noticed it too.
Kakashi’s eyes shifted to the puddle, a subtle sign only visible to those who knew him well. He continued walking, pretending not to notice, but Yona picked up on the slight tensing of his posture. Her heart thudded in her chest as she kept her expression neutral, not wanting to alert whoever was hiding.
Suddenly, with a metallic swish, two figures emerged from the puddle, chains in their hands gleaming as they lunged toward Kakashi with deadly precision.
“Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto shouted, eyes wide in horror as the chains wrapped around their sensei and shredded him into pieces. Blood sprayed across the path, and Naruto’s breath caught in his throat.
The two masked ninjas smirked under their coverings. “One down,” one of them said. “Now for the old man.”
Naruto froze, eyes locked on the spot where Kakashi had stood moments before. His legs felt like lead, and panic clawed at his throat. The scene replayed in his mind, rendering him immobile.
“Move, Naruto!” Sasuke yelled, breaking into action. He sprang forward, shuriken flashing as he launched them at the attackers. The first ninja deflected the weapons with ease, while the second charged at Naruto, claws aimed to strike.
Naruto’s body remained rigid, his mind unable to process the fear. Yona’s eyes widened as she watched the scene unfold. Her senses screamed at her—Kakashi’s chakra was still present. He was alive, but she couldn’t reveal that just yet.
“Damn it, Naruto!” Sasuke grunted, positioning himself between the attacking ninja and their frozen teammate. The ninja’s clawed gauntlet slashed toward them, but Sasuke blocked it with a kunai, muscles straining as he held the enemy at bay.
In a swift movement, Yona dashed forward, pulling Naruto out of the danger zone. “Snap out of it!” she shouted, her voice sharp and commanding. “Now’s not the time to freeze!”
Naruto’s eyes met hers, wide and unfocused. His heart thumped erratically, shame and fear mixing in his gut. Before he could respond, a blur of silver appeared behind the attacking ninjas.
“Too slow,” Kakashi’s calm voice announced as he grabbed the ninjas from behind, twisting their arms and disarming them in one fluid motion. The masked assailants’ eyes widened in shock.
“How—?!” one of them sputtered, but before they could react, Kakashi had them both subdued, their limbs immobilized.
Naruto’s jaw dropped, a mix of relief and disbelief crossing his features. “Kakashi-sensei... you’re alive?”
Kakashi glanced over at him, his eye crinkling in what could almost be called a smile. “Of course. Did you really think I’d go down that easily?” He turned his attention back to the restrained ninjas. “Now, who sent you?”
The masked enemies stayed silent, glaring defiantly at Kakashi.
Suddenly, Naruto gasped and clutched at his arm, eyes wide as he noticed the cut from the enemy’s gauntlet. Blood trickled down his forearm, but there was something more alarming—a faint purple discoloration around the wound.
“Poison?” Yona said, her eyes narrowing as she stepped forward, assessing the injury. “Naruto, sit down now.”
“But—” Naruto began, only to have Yona push him down with surprising strength.
“I said sit,” she snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument. She quickly tore a strip of cloth from her sleeve and tied it tightly above the wound to slow the poison’s spread. Placing her glowing hand over the injury, Yona’s expression softened as she channeled her chakra into healing.
As the green glow enveloped his wound, Yona’s eyes widened slightly. She could feel a foreign chakra pulsing within Naruto, fierce and potent, pushing the poison out of his bloodstream. What is this? she thought, her mind racing. She’d heard stories of the Nine-Tails’ chakra, but seeing its influence firsthand was another matter. The red, fiery presence seemed almost alive, burning the toxin out from within.
Naruto’s eyes met hers, confusion evident in his gaze. He could feel something inside him stir, but he didn’t understand what it was.
“Don’t thank me yet, idiot,” Yona said, though the corners of her mouth quirked upward to mask her concern. “You’re going to owe me for this one.”
Kakashi, who had been watching with keen interest, felt a pang of nostalgia. The sight of Yona’s healing touch brought memories of Rin flooding back, a bittersweet reminder of his past. His voice was steady when he finally spoke. “Impressive, Yona.”
Sasuke, who had kept his guard up during the brief exchange, allowed himself a small smirk. “Next time, try not to freeze up, will you?” he muttered.
Naruto clenched his fists, resolve igniting in his eyes as he muttered, “I won’t let that happen again.”
Kakashi nodded, releasing the subdued enemies to the guards arriving from the village. “Good. Because from now on, this mission won’t be so simple.”
The group reached the edge of the dock, the mist thick in the air as they approached a small, weathered boat. Kakashi led the way, followed by Naruto, Sasuke, and Yona. Tazuna climbed in last, his nervous energy palpable as he took a seat beside Kakashi.
The boat rocked gently as it cut through the misty water. Kakashi, sitting at the front, kept a watchful eye on Tazuna, who sat beside him, looking tense. Naruto, Sasuke, and Yona followed behind, their faces a mixture of curiosity and unease as the truth of their mission slowly unfolded.
Kakashi finally broke the silence, his voice sharp as he addressed Tazuna. "I’ll ask you again. Why are you being targeted? Tell me everything."
Tazuna hesitated, his discomfort apparent. The weight of the truth pressed down on him, and after a long pause, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m just a bridge builder... It’s because I’m building a bridge to connect the Land of Waves to the rest of the world. It’s going to change everything, but... there’s someone who doesn’t want that."
Kakashi’s eye narrowed. "Who? Who’s behind this?"
Tazuna glanced away, looking out over the water. "A man named Gato. He controls this country through his wealth and power. He’s a criminal, and he’s afraid of the bridge because it’ll open up the country to trade, making his grip on us weaker."
Kakashi’s fists clenched. "So, this mission was about a bridge, but now it’s about survival?"
"Yes," Tazuna confirmed, his voice thick with regret. "Exactly. I was trying to protect my people, to give them a better future."
Kakashi exhaled sharply, the realization sinking in. "I see. But that doesn’t change the fact that we were misled. The mission was to protect you, but the truth is we’re facing much more than a simple bodyguard job."
He turned to the rest of the team. "The ninjas didn’t go after us—they went after him," Kakashi said, pointing toward Tazuna. "That means they were after the builder, not us. They knew he was the target, not a simple civilian."
Tazuna lowered his gaze, guilt etched on his face. "I... I didn’t want to bring you into this, but I didn’t know who else to turn to."
Kakashi’s voice was cold, his suspicion growing. "You’ve been lying about who’s after you."
Tazuna froze, not expecting the direct accusation. Kakashi’s tone remained unwavering as he continued, "I’ve been watching. Those ninjas that attacked us were Chūnin. You don’t send Chūnin for a simple mission like this. They knew exactly who they were after, and I noticed they didn’t go after us. They went straight for you."
Tazuna's face grew pale as Kakashi’s words hit him like a blow. He opened his mouth to speak but faltered. Kakashi leaned forward, his gaze sharp.
"You lied to us about who was targeting you," Kakashi accused again, his voice low but firm. "If you had told us the truth, we would’ve classified this as at least a B-level mission. Maybe even higher. But instead, you tried to save money, and now we’re all in a much more dangerous situation than we should have been."
Tazuna swallowed hard, his face contorted in regret. "I didn’t know who else to turn to. I thought if I told you the truth, you’d refuse to help. I didn’t want to burden you with all of it. But now... I see I’ve made things worse."
Kakashi shook his head, a deep sigh escaping him. "We don’t have time to second-guess. We’ll finish the mission. But understand that we’re going into this with a target on our backs. You’ve endangered us all with your lies. This isn’t just a C-rank mission anymore."
Tazuna nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I’m sorry. I truly am."
Kakashi turned to his team, his gaze hardening. "Alright, let’s continue. We’ll get to the bridge, and we’ll deal with whatever comes next. But be prepared—this mission just became a lot more dangerous."
The boat continued through the mist, cutting through the waters toward the Land of Waves. The tension had grown since Kakashi’s confrontation with Tazuna, but now there was little time left for words. Kakashi, still on edge, scanned the horizon as the boat glided closer to the shore. Naruto fidgeted with impatience, while Sasuke remained eerily quiet, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. Yona, sensing the change in the air, stayed alert, her instincts telling her something was coming.
"How far are we?" Naruto finally asked, breaking the silence in his usual loud manner.
"We’re almost there," Kakashi replied without looking at him, his gaze focused on the fog ahead. "Stay alert."
As they neared the shore, the mist seemed to thicken, and the sound of the boat’s engine was the only noise cutting through the stillness. The air felt unnaturally heavy, and the weight of the situation pressed down on the group.
Suddenly, the boat jolted as something large crashed through the water beside them. Kakashi was on his feet in an instant, scanning the waters with practiced ease. "Get ready!" he barked, his voice tight with urgency.
Yona’s eyes widened, her body tense, ready for action. "It’s here."
Without warning, a massive figure broke through the fog ahead—a tall man standing on the water, his silhouette imposing and menacing. He held a large sword, and his presence sent a chill through the group.
Kakashi’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the man. "Zabuza Momochi," he muttered under his breath. "The Demon of the Hidden Mist."
Naruto, despite Kakashi’s warning to stay quiet, couldn’t help but shout. "Who the heck is that?!"
Kakashi’s eye twitched, his patience wearing thin. "Naruto, now is not the time for questions!" he snapped.
Zabuza stepped forward, his massive sword resting casually on his shoulder, his eyes cold and calculating. "So, you’re the ones sent to protect the bridge builder?" His voice was low, dangerous, and filled with a dark amusement. "I’ve been waiting for this."
Sasuke stood ready, his expression grim. "Looks like we’ve got our hands full."
Yona’s stance shifted, her chakra flaring just slightly as she prepared for whatever was coming next. She glanced at Tazuna, who was visibly shaking in the boat, the gravity of their situation finally dawning on him.
"Stay behind us," Kakashi ordered sharply. "This isn’t going to be easy."
The boat came to a slow stop, the thick mist around them seeming to close in even tighter. Zabuza’s gaze swept across the group, his smirk widening as he noted their readiness. "This’ll be fun," he said, a wicked gleam in his eye.
Kakashi took a step forward, his posture defensive as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation. "Don’t underestimate him," he warned his team. "Zabuza’s not someone you take lightly."
As the boat gently bobbed on the still waters, the world around them seemed to hold its breath. The stage was set. Zabuza’s presence was enough to make even the bravest of warriors wary, and Kakashi knew this would be a battle like no other.
And then, as if to answer the tension in the air, Zabuza swung his massive sword, its heavy weight cutting through the fog as he leaped toward them with terrifying speed. The mist parted as the clash of steel and intent filled the air.