After Kakashi woke up, he began special training for Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
Unfortunately, Naruto and Sasuke had already completed Kakashi's tree-climbing training long ago, while Sakura, naturally having superb chakra control ability, mastered it in just a very short time.
As for the advanced version of tree-climbing - water-walking training - Naruto and Sasuke had also completed it long ago.
Unable to help it, even lazy Kakashi had to teach the two other training while Sakura underwent water-walking training.
"Well, so this is the Land of Waves. Truly barren - looks exceptionally desolate." A youth in black clothes, with a fan pattern printed on the back, observed the Land of Waves' populace.
Although the clothes were black, the edges had been washed somewhat white.
"All this is thanks to that merchant called Gato. Worthy of being a world-famous tycoon. Hehe, to be able to control a small country's wealth - how rich must he be?" This was said by a young man standing beside the youth, though his tone when mentioning Gato was filled with disdain.
"Alright, Sou, Gi. Let's go. This time we're here to take over Gato's wealth. Don't create extra problems." A youth who looked even younger than the previous one said. This person was the Uchiha's current strongest member, Uchiha Musashi.
"Rei and the others are waiting for us. We must get some money back. After hiding for so long, we're almost out of touch with the outside world."
Yes, the current Uchiha survivors were very short on money. Who would have thought? The dignified Konoha elite family, the great Uchiha clan of the ninja world, also had days of being short on cash.
But thinking carefully, it made sense. When leaving Konoha, they left in such a hurry that they basically didn't carry anything valuable.
After all, being able to save their lives in that situation was already good - who had time to bring money?
Secondly, because the entire ninja world coveted the Sharingan, they all hid in a deep mountain forest. If not for Meruem's help, perhaps even hiding in the deep mountains wouldn't be safe.
In that isolated environment, there were basically no opportunities to earn money. However, although the Uchiha clan could be self-sufficient in the deep mountains, once they decided to re-emerge, lack of money was truly a primary problem.
Fortunately, there was now a moving vault standing before them. Moreover, this vault had almost no security measures.
Only a few wandering swordsmen that even genin could handle for protection. Even though Gato had reportedly now hired an elite jonin, Zabuza, he was just an elite ninja-level rogue ninja. As long as they didn't face a ninja village, the Uchiha would gladly accept Gato's wealth.
For the Uchiha clan with extremely scarce funds, this was simply a dish delivered to their door.
Money was very important at any time, and the world where ninjas ran rampant was no exception.
"Zabuza, I heard you failed? You useless waste. Still one of the Mist's strongest ninjas? You can't even kill an old man." A somewhat punchable voice rang out in the small wooden house where Zabuza was recuperating.
A short, wretched middle-aged man with small mustaches on both sides wearing round sunglasses, flanked by two samurai-like bodyguards, walked in.
"..." Zabuza glanced at him without speaking. Honestly, if he really weren't short on money, Zabuza wouldn't have wanted to work for this annoying man before him.
"Bastard! You dare ignore me! You should know you're the one who failed, you useless waste!" As Gato spoke, he approached Zabuza wanting to attack him while injured and unable to move.
"Don't insult Zabuza-san." His arm was grabbed by a beautiful youth nearby as soon as it got close, but at this moment the youth's face was full of deep disgust and anger.
Zabuza was the person he cared about most.
"Ow, ow... let go, I said let go! Are you trying to rebel?" Gato broke out in a sweat from the grip.
The two samurai beside him wanted to act but were frightened into immobility by Haku's glance of killing intent.
In this era of samurai decline, ninjas had natural advantages.
"Let him go, Haku." At this time, Zabuza lying on the bed spoke. As for Gato, he only wanted to teach him a lesson. He temporarily had no plans to kill his employer.
Haku, following Zabuza's instruction, released Gato accordingly.
Gato, whose right hand was freed as if granted amnesty, quickly pulled it back. A clearly visible handprint appeared on Gato's arm.
"Leave it to me. In seven days, I will definitely kill them all." Zabuza's hoarse voice rang out again.
"Hmph, fine, then I'll trust you once more." Gato didn't want to stay in this place even one more minute. After releasing harsh words, he cursed and left with two samurai.
"Damn Zabuza, actually daring to treat me like this! Hmph, good, good, good. So what if it costs thirty million ryo? As long as I can control this country, I can earn back however much money." Gato looked gloomily at the wooden house where Zabuza and Haku were, seeming to have made a decision.
"That guy only cares about money. Hmph, it's all because this Zabuza is useless. Otherwise, if he'd killed that old man earlier, there wouldn't be so many problems."
"Zabuza-san, Gato isn't a good person." After Gato left, the wooden house fell into silence. Finally, Haku spoke first.
"I know he's not a good person. But we're ninjas. You're still too kind. Did you see through that Kakashi guy's tricks?" Seeming not to want to continue that topic, Zabuza diverted Haku's attention.
"Mm."
—————Dividing Line—————————
"Eh, that short guy is Gato? So ugly." Although the Land of Waves wasn't large, it also wasn't small. After spending half a day, Uchiha Musashi's trio finally found Gato's location.
"Who's that person beside him? Such strange clothing - red clouds on black background. And he feels very strong. Wasn't it said Gato only hired Zabuza? Why is there someone else?"
"Hmm? I didn't expect he'd come. Interesting... this money-obsessed guy appearing here is also reasonable. Gato indeed isn't as incompetent as shown in the anime - just a bit too stingy." Musashi looked at the man covering most of his face with interest from a distance.
Red clouds on black background - Akatsuki organization clothing. Plus the money-obsessed attribute. Counting these attributes, among the Naruto world's experts, only Kakuzu who fought the First Hokage fit.
"Speaking of which, Gato is really willing to spend. With his miser personality, he actually spent big money to hire this guy out."
"Leader, who is that guy? Is he strong? Should I go kill him?" Uchiha Sou said excitedly.
"You said kill him? You? Forget it. Unless you can awaken Mangekyou Sharingan, otherwise if you encounter him, run away quickly." Musashi found Sou's words somewhat funny. Although Akatsuki organization members became chess pieces in the late-stage ninja war, except for Hidan, which of them wasn't a Kage-level expert? Sou with only three-tomoe Sharingan wanting to kill Kakuzu, who had five hearts? He was overthinking.
"That guy is called Kakuzu - a man who fought the First Hokage Senju Hashirama and survived. He definitely has village Kage-level strength. Moreover, he has five hearts - to kill him, you must kill him five times first." Musashi's simple introduction of Kakuzu instantly made Sou dismiss the idea of fighting him.
Joking? Even elite jonin he might not beat, let alone an immortal Kage-level powerhouse who fought the First?
"Leader, will this guy affect our plan?" Compared to Sou, Gi was more cautious and considered things more comprehensively.
"No problem. This guy values money like life - should be a killer hired by Gato. Even if he interferes with our plan, just kill him." Musashi's words contained immensely powerful confidence, also giving Sou and Gi some courage. Even a veteran Kage-level expert like Kakuzu was just casually mentioned in Musashi's mouth like killing random cats and dogs on the roadside.
Because he had this confidence.
"Oh? Kakuzu also came. This is more troublesome now. The current Kakashi isn't a match for an expert of Kakuzu's level. Must I let Naruto use full power? Nine-Tails mode? Whatever, let's see how it goes." The Golden Silkworm Gu originally lying on Naruto's head raised its little head after receiving information transmitted by Musashi, but soon lay back down.
Musashi, Golden Silkworm Gu, and Meruem were originally one entity, but Meruem couldn't possibly control them every moment - they also had some independent thinking ability.
Similar to the feeling between shadow clones and the main body, but more marvelous with no distance limitations. Transmitting messages between them was just a thought.
"You hired me just to kill an ordinary old man? You should know my rules. Thirty million ryo, not a penny less. Prepare cash. After I kill him, I'll collect payment from you. If you dare short me even one yen, I'll kill you." Staring with small greenish eyes, looking down at the short Gato from above, invisibly continuously giving Gato pressure that made him somewhat unable to breathe.
"Yes, yes... yes. As long as you kill that damned old man, I'll definitely present thirty million ryo with both hands." You should know the target was Kakuzu. This was completely different pressure from facing Zabuza. If facing Zabuza was just fear, then facing Kakuzu felt like death could come at any moment.
"Just... just sir, I have one small request." Gato hesitated, but ultimately stammered it out.
"Speak."
"That... I'd like to ask you to act three days later, on that big bridge the old man is building. I want to ask you to kill that ninja Zabuza who was disrespectful to me earlier, along with his subordinate." Zabuza, you actually dared nearly break my hand - this isn't over! Gato's small eyes flashed with hatred.
(End of Chapter)
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