Seeing the kunai already drawn in Satsuki's hand, and Tazuna, who was paralyzed on the ground, his clothes soaked with cold sweat from the palpable killing intent, Kakashi finally realized that something was seriously wrong.
Satsuki's reaction far exceeded the anger one should have for a lie.
"Wait! Satsuki! What are you doing?" Kakashi immediately interjected, "Even if the client deceived us and concealed the mission rank, we absolutely cannot harm the client!"
Tazuna was utterly terrified by the sudden killing intent, collapsing onto the ground, his hands instinctively raised in front of him, "W-wait a minute! I can explain! I really can explain! Don't kill me!"
However, Satsuki seemed not to hear Kakashi's warning or Tazuna's pleas. Her full attention remained fixed on Tazuna, and her grip on the kunai even tightened.
Just at this tense, volatile moment—
"Satsuki, put down the kunai."
Naruto's voice rang out from beside them. At the same time, he reached out and firmly grasped Satsuki's wrist, which was tightly clutching the kunai.
As soon as he spoke, Satsuki's taut body almost instinctively relaxed. The hand holding the kunai obediently loosened its grip, and with a "clank," the kunai fell to the ground.
Her body, before her mind, had already responded instinctively to that familiar voice and touch.
Satsuki abruptly turned her head, her crimson Sharingan looking at Naruto, her eyes filled with lingering hostility and a trace of confusion from being interrupted. But when her gaze met Naruto's concerned and questioning azure eyes, the terrifying killing intent rapidly receded like a tide, and the blood-red color in her eyes gradually faded, returning to their original jet black.
"What's wrong?" Naruto frowned slightly, carefully observing Satsuki, "You seemed a bit off just now. What happened?"
Satsuki finally realized that she seemed to have completely failed to suppress the surging emotions deep within her… The almost obsessive protectiveness and strong possessiveness she had always carefully suppressed beneath a calm exterior for Naruto had inadvertently leaked out due to Tazuna's deception and the potential danger it posed to Naruto.
She quickly reined in all outward emotions, lowering her head slightly, allowing her black hair to conceal her somewhat flustered eyes, "…Nothing, I'm fine. It's just that I'm a bit angry that this guy almost dragged all of us into unexpected danger for his own self-interest."
"I see," Naruto said, hearing this. He gave a reassuring smile and very naturally reached out to ruffle Satsuki's hair, "It's okay, don't be afraid. If we really encounter any danger, I will definitely protect you. Trust me."
Kakashi looked at Satsuki, who had quickly calmed down, and her dependent posture, showing no resistance to Naruto's touch, as well as Naruto's natural promise. While he appreciated the trust and care among teammates…
His intuition told him that Satsuki's reaction and Naruto's influence over her seemed a bit… too unconventional?
It seems that after this matter is over, he needs to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Satsuki and reiterate the rules and bottom lines of a Ninja.
Kakashi silently made a mental note.
"Well then, Mr. Tazuna," Kakashi redirected his gaze to the client, who was still slumped on the ground, his tone returning to a business-like demeanor.
"Regarding your deliberate misrepresentation of the mission rank, which put my subordinates in danger, I will report it truthfully to Hokage-sama. As for your request, I'm afraid Team 7 will no longer be accompanying you. We will return to Konoha immediately."
Having said that, Kakashi motioned for the three to prepare to leave.
"No! Please wait! Don't leave!" Tazuna became frantic, scrambling to stop them, "I beg you! Please continue the mission! If you leave now, not only will I die, but the entire Land of Waves will be finished!"
After witnessing with his own eyes that there were indeed Ninja pursuing him, Tazuna clearly realized that if he lost the protection of Konoha Ninja, he would absolutely not be able to return to the Land of Waves alive on his own.
In his original plan, if the misrepresentation of the mission rank was exposed, he had prepared a set of excuses, attempting to use moral blackmail, such as "If I die, my daughter and grandson will resent Konoha Ninja for the rest of their lives" and so on…
However, the thought of Satsuki's murderous gaze just now, as if she would tear him apart in the next second… He immediately swallowed all those little thoughts. Saying such things now would probably cost him his life.
— — — — — —
Ultimately, under Naruto's somewhat surprised gaze, Tazuna abandoned all wishful thinking and schemes, sincerely bowed his head in apology, admitted his mistake, and repeatedly promised that if the mission could be completed, he would personally go to Konoha to explain everything to the Hokage and make up for all the hiring fees according to the standards of a true B-rank or even A-rank mission.
Kakashi looked at Tazuna, whose attitude had done a complete 180, and after a moment of contemplation, decided to give the choice to his students.
After all, for him, the number of high-difficulty missions he had completed was countless, and even if there were further Ninja attacks, he had full confidence in his ability to handle them. Moreover, his students, except for Sakura, were all exceptionally strong.
Unless an 'Kage' from a major nation personally came to intercept them, or that mysterious 'Zetsu' organization suddenly took a dislike to Tazuna…
Kakashi considered the worst-case scenario in his mind, then immediately dismissed the thought. After all, the probability of such a thing happening was zero, right? How could it be?
Finally, Naruto spoke up, suggesting that they continue the mission. His reasoning was practical: since Tazuna had sincerely apologized and promised to make up for the appropriate hiring fees.
Then he was willing to try and see if he and his companions had the ability to complete such a dangerous mission involving actual Ninja combat, which would also be valuable training for their growth.
Immediately after, Satsuki, with almost no hesitation, promptly stated that she would follow Naruto's decision.
Although Sakura still felt a little scared inside, seeing that both Naruto and Satsuki chose to continue, she also mustered her courage and expressed her willingness to follow the team's pace.
Thus, without encountering any moral blackmail, Naruto got his wish and the mission was allowed to continue.
After trekking for several more hours and having a simple lunch with their portable dry rations, the group finally arrived at a seaside dock on the border of the Land of Fire.
Next, they needed to cross the sea by boat to reach the offshore Land of Waves. And when Naruto saw the boat docked at the pier, he once again felt the Ninja World's incredibly skewed technology tree.
On land, transportation was mainly by horse-drawn carriages, so how was it that at sea, this boat was powered by electricity? And that motor sound…
He looked at the boat, which emitted a slight hum and was clearly not relying on sails or human power, and couldn't help but complain internally once more.
After successfully arriving in the Land of Waves by boat and stepping onto this fog-shrouded island nation, Kakashi finally found an opportunity to ask Tazuna the crucial question: who were the Hidden Mist Ninja who attacked him, and why would they cross the sea to pursue and kill him?
Tazuna began to recount the predicament facing the Land of Waves. Simply put, everything stemmed from a ruthless merchant named Gato.
According to Tazuna, Gato, using immense wealth and violent means, had almost completely blockaded all maritime transport routes for the Land of Waves, effectively strangling the island nation's economic lifeline. His goal was to completely control all maritime traffic and economy of the Land of Waves, turning it into his private territory.
Tazuna himself, for the future of the entire nation, was determined to build a large maritime bridge that would connect to the outside world, thereby breaking Gato's monopoly and allowing the Land of Waves to regain its vitality. It was precisely this action that enraged Gato, leading to a death threat.
In Tazuna's emotionally charged story, Gato was depicted as:
A ruthless merchant who monopolized with capital and violence – He suppressed all competitors with unfair competition and armed threats.
The mastermind behind hiring Ninja to assassinate patriots – He would ruthlessly kill anyone who hindered his plans.
A mob boss who oppressed civilians and committed all sorts of evil – His subordinates ran rampant within the Land of Waves, and the people suffered immensely.
A treacherous, cold-blooded, and shameless scoundrel – He had no credibility or moral bottom line, caring only about profit.
…Although Tazuna's narrative was laced with a great deal of personal indignation, Naruto knew that the core content of what he said was largely true.
A villain like Gato, with such pure motives and so "simply" evil, seemed somewhat "rare" in the world of Naruto, which was filled with complex hatred and destiny.