"By the way, Mr. Tazuna… you just said you're from the Land of Waves. Are there any ninjas in the Land of Waves?"
On the wide, sturdy dirt road, a bored Sakura asked curiously.
"No, Sakura… Generally speaking, small countries like the Land of Waves don't have ninjas."
Kakashi took over the conversation, using it to pass the time on their tedious journey.
"However, not all small countries lack ninja villages.
On this continent, only the Five Great Nations can truly be called Great Ninja Villages… namely the Land of Wind's Sunagakure, the Land of Lightning's Kumogakure, the Land of Earth's Iwagakure, and the Land of Water's Kirigakure.
And our own Konohagakure in the Land of Fire!!
Besides these, there are also some well-known small ninja villages…"
Under Sakura and Naruto's astonished gazes, Kakashi began to explain the situation of the ninja world.
This was the first time the two of them truly understood the reality of this world… As for Sasuke, he was already familiar with it, so he showed no surprise.
Amidst their chatter and laughter, noon quickly arrived.
"Hmm??"
Suddenly, Sasuke's steps faltered slightly.
His peripheral vision caught a puddle by the roadside, and he subtly glanced at the clear, cloudless sky… [Here they come!!]
Knowing the plot, Sasuke instantly understood, adjusted his body, and began forming hand signs.
This action immediately made Kakashi, who had also noticed something amiss, gasp in shock, his pupils contracting.
Sasuke, has he already noticed!
"Whoosh…"
The very next second after Kakashi, who was at the back, stepped over the puddle, two figures burst out of the water, rushing towards Kakashi.
The moment Naruto and Sakura were startled by the whooshing sound and turned their heads, they saw Kakashi split in two… "Kakashi-sensei…"
Instinctively, both of them cried out in alarm simultaneously.
Despite the suddenness, Sakura immediately rushed towards Tazuna, shielding him behind her.
"First one…"
The Demon Brothers, having succeeded, called out coldly, their eyes sharpening as they swiftly charged towards Naruto, who was closest.
Seeing this, Naruto's pupils contracted, and he stood trembling in place, his body stiff and unable to move!
For the first time, he felt the fear of death… "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu…"
At the critical moment, Sasuke's voice suddenly boomed through the air.
A high-temperature fireball, five meters in diameter, shot past Naruto's eyes, slamming hard into the rapidly approaching Demon Brothers.
"Ah…"
Caught off guard, the Demon Brothers were instantly engulfed by the sudden fireball… In a desperate emergency, both of them immediately unleashed their chakra, preparing to retreat at high speed.
Swish swish swish… Several shuriken suddenly flew out of the Grand Fireball at high speed… In an instant, they arrived in front of the two, a dire situation!
In a flash of lightning, one of the Demon Brothers' eyes flashed with ruthlessness.
He directly grabbed his companion, using him as a shield, kicked him into the fireball, and used the force to rapidly retreat… In an instant, that Mist ninja was consumed by the Grand Fireball's hundreds of degrees of heat… "Nani!!"
"That guy…"
Seeing the enemy instantly turn to charcoal, Naruto and Sakura cried out in unison.
At this moment, they truly understood the cruel reality of ninjas for the first time!
So-called comrades.
In a life-or-death situation, they were so simply and mercilessly abandoned!!
In an instant, both of them deeply grasped the true meaning of Kakashi's graduation exam.
"Run…"
While the two were still in shock, the one who had narrowly escaped turned and ran without hesitation.
This team was too dangerous!
"Thump…"
Just as Sasuke was about to pursue, Kakashi suddenly appeared, chopping his hand down on the back of the man's neck.
With a single blow, he knocked him unconscious… "Kakashi-sensei, you're not dead!"
Seeing Kakashi resurrected, Naruto's face lit up with joyful surprise.
"It was a Substitution Jutsu…"
Sakura saw the several wooden stakes nearby and instantly understood.
"Sasuke, you did very well!
Sakura also did great, successfully protecting the client…"
Kakashi turned to praise Sasuke and Sakura, then his gaze shifted to Naruto.
"A certain brat who keeps shouting about becoming Hokage was so scared he couldn't move just now!
It seems Sasuke is indeed a step closer to becoming Hokage…"
Kakashi exaggeratedly provoked him, making Naruto's face flush red.
Shame and unwillingness surged through him simultaneously… Even though it was their first time facing an enemy, why was Sasuke so decisive and brave!
Was this their difference??
How could he accept this… "What a clumsy performance…"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and muttered weakly, taking a few steps to stand in front of Naruto.
"Yo~~
Are you alright, scaredy-cat…"
Under Naruto's agitated and angry gaze, Sasuke casually uttered a remark and turned to leave.
Hmm, how could he miss out on such an interesting thing as slapping the protagonist's face… "Damn it, how arrogant!!
Next time, I definitely won't lose to you, Sasuke…"
Naruto immediately bristled with anger, jumping up and shouting, thinking Sasuke was going to say something encouraging or comforting.
"Mr. Tazuna… you seem to be hiding something from us!
The current situation clearly exceeds the mission rank you posted…"
Kakashi's eyes narrowed coldly as he stared at Tazuna, stating with certainty, having already discerned who the target was.
The Demon Brothers' assassination target was clearly Tazuna!
"This…"
Tazuna's old face stiffened awkwardly, his guilty conscience preventing him from speaking, thus incriminating himself.
Even without Sasuke's involvement, Naruto still erupted as in the original plot… The mission continued… After the assassination attempt by the Demon Brothers, the journey naturally proceeded smoothly, and the group set foot on the Land of Waves the next morning.
Along the way, they also learned of Gato's existence!
"Enemy…"
Suddenly, Naruto, who was leading the way, sharply threw a kunai and shouted gravely.
This made everyone's faces change, their nerves taut… "Naruto, please stop playing tricks!
Look what you've done…"
Upon seeing that the kunai had struck a white rabbit, Sakura couldn't help but exclaim in annoyance.
"Huh? A rabbit!!
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"
Naruto's face fell at the sight, and he awkwardly grabbed the rabbit, apologizing repeatedly.
[Here they come!!]
Sasuke ignored Naruto's antics, his internal alarm blaring, his limbs tensing, ready to act.
At the same moment, Kakashi looked at the rabbit, thoughtful and solemn!
"Get down fast…"
Suddenly, Kakashi's warning blared in everyone's ears.
Sasuke, already prepared, immediately tripped Tazuna, while Naruto and Sakura simultaneously ducked and crouched.
The next second
The sharp Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) swept past rapidly, slamming hard into a tree trunk ahead.
With a whoosh… A figure appeared with it, standing on the hilt of the blade, his eyes cold and sharp… "Oh my, my~~
Who do we have here!
It's the rogue ninja from Kirigakure, Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist…"
Seeing the newcomer, Kakashi's pupils contracted, and he feigned nonchalance.
But despite the teasing, he immediately lifted his forehead protector, revealing his scarlet left eye… "Sharingan!!
I see, no wonder the Demon Brothers failed their assassination.
I didn't expect this mission to be escorted by the rumored Copy Ninja, Kakashi…"
Seeing the scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan, Zabuza's gaze grew even colder as he spoke chillingly.
The battle was about to erupt…