Konoha Mission Assignment Office — Today.
Like clockwork, Kakashi brought Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura of Team 7 to the mission office to pick up another routine task.
But today was different.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had just received a request from the Land of Waves.
The client's name: Tazuna.
The mission: escort him safely until the completion of the bridge he's building in the Land of Waves.
The Land of Waves bordered the Land of Fire. In the past, they had a friendly alliance.
Long ago, the Uzumaki Clan had lived in the region. Because of this, the alliance agreement obligated Konohagakure to support the Land of Waves when in need.
However…
In recent years, Hiruzen watched the Land of Waves fall into economic decline.
There was little benefit in continuing to offer aid.
Naturally, Konoha's support dwindled. Relations cooled.
Now, with Tazuna personally visiting the village to request help, the only way to proceed was for him to officially issue a paid mission.
"Ah, Kakashi, you're just in time," said the Third Hokage, looking up as Team 7 arrived.
"I've got a mission for your squad. You'll be acting as escorts for a client."
Given Team 7's steadily improving performance, Hiruzen decided they were ready for a C-rank mission—something more serious than errands or lost pet retrieval.
He gestured for the client to step forward.
The man was clearly not a shinobi—an older figure dressed in civilian clothes, holding a bottle of sake in one hand. He looked at the young ninja in front of him with suspicion.
Aside from Kakashi, they were just kids.
He frowned but had no other choice.
"I'm Tazuna, a master bridge builder," he said, taking a swig. "Please protect me with your lives until I return home and complete the bridge."
Kakashi accepted the assignment without protest.
He'd had Naruto and the others running D-rank missions long enough. It was time for them to get a taste of the real world.
Sasuke looked eager. Finally, a mission outside the village. But part of him was frustrated.
Just yesterday, he'd mastered tree-climbing and water-walking—the basic chakra control techniques. He'd planned to show Kakashi and ask to start learning real ninjutsu.
Now, with the team being dispatched, that plan was on hold.
Sakura didn't mind. As long as she was on a mission with Sasuke, she was happy.
Naruto, on the other hand…
He was thrilled.
The moment he saw the mission details, he clenched his fists in silent excitement.
Finally. A chance to leave the village!
Since birth, Naruto had never left Konoha. As the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, he had been under constant surveillance—ANBU and Root operatives watching his every move, 24/7.
But after he graduated from the Academy, the Third Hokage withdrew the ANBU.
In their place, Kakashi had been assigned—not just as his jōnin sensei, but also, quietly, as his watcher.
Still, Naruto didn't mind.
Kakashi had stood up for him before. Naruto knew the difference.
Kakashi wasn't like those faceless ANBU with orders and no heart. He was his father's student.
There was a bond—almost like family.
If something were to happen, Naruto trusted Kakashi wouldn't immediately report it to the Third Hokage.
Instead, he'd try to understand.
That's why this mission mattered.
It was a rare chance to operate outside Konoha—free from the watchful eyes of the Elders and the Third's advisors.
He decided: he would talk to Kakashi. Maybe even confide in him. With Kakashi's support, things could go smoother.
And who knows?
If things lined up, maybe he could even bring Sasuke and Sakura into the plan.
After all, aside from Hinata, Shikamaru, and a few others, Naruto considered Team 7 his only true companions in the village.
Later that afternoon…
Team 7 packed their gear and met at Konoha's front gate.
Tazuna was already waiting, his sake bottle still in hand.
Kakashi did a quick headcount and gave a nod.
"All present? Good. Then let's move."
With that, Team 7—Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura—and their client set off down Konoha's main road.
Under the afternoon sun, they traveled toward the coast of the Land of Fire.
Their destination: The Land of Waves.
Along both sides of Konoha Avenue, tall, lush trees stretched endlessly.
This kind of vibrant scenery was unique to the Land of Fire, and especially common around Konoha.
After walking for a while, Sakura, starting to feel bored, suddenly asked a question out of curiosity.
"Mr. Tazuna, you're from the Land of Waves, right?" Sakura asked.
Tazuna nodded casually. "Yeah. Why?"
Sakura turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, don't they have their own shinobi? Why would they come all the way to Konoha for protection?"
It was a good question—why not hire local ninja?
Kakashi took the opportunity to give Team 7 a bit of background about the shinobi world.
"In this world," he began, "only nations with significant strength can support a Hidden Village. The Land of Waves is small and doesn't have its own shinobi forces."
"Among the Great Nations," he continued, "the strongest Hidden Village is our own—Konohagakure of the Land of Fire."
He paused.
"And at the top of Konoha… is the Third Hokage."
Sakura's eyes lit up in admiration. "The Third Hokage is that strong?!"
But a flicker of doubt passed through her mind.
As they continued walking, the group passed a small puddle on the road.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed subtly.
He had noticed something off.
So had Naruto.
From the moment they left the village, Naruto had been aware of two chakra signatures trailing them from a distance.
He remembered this scene clearly—it was just like in the original storyline.
These were the Demon Brothers, Kirigakure ninja sent to assassinate Tazuna.
Just as Kakashi—at the rear of the group—walked past the puddle, two figures erupted from it.
Masked and cloaked in the Mist Village style, the Demon Brothers sprang into action.
With synchronized movements, they flung chakra chains at Kakashi, ensnaring him in an instant.
In a flash, the chains wrapped around his body—crushing him.
Blood splattered.
"Sensei!?" Sakura screamed in horror.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "When did they—?!"
Tazuna stumbled back in shock, struggling to comprehend that Kakashi had just… died?
"The first one's done," one of the Demon Brothers said coldly.
"You're next," said the other, eyes locking onto Naruto.
Sasuke clenched his fists, his body moving instinctively to help Naruto.
But—
Naruto didn't panic.
He sighed, almost exasperated.
"How unlucky for you two to run into me," Naruto muttered.
Then, in front of the stunned Mist ninja, Naruto grabbed the chains still in their hands.
With a sudden burst of strength, he yanked them forward, overpowering them.
The Demon Brothers' eyes widened.
Ignoring them for the moment, Naruto turned to a nearby tree.
"Kakashi-sensei," he called out calmly, "you can stop hiding now."
Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna all turned toward the tree Naruto was staring at.
A figure emerged from behind the trunk.
Kakashi scratched his head sheepishly. "Ah… I guess I've been found out."
He smiled under his mask.
Naruto's sensory skills were sharper than he expected.
And that reaction speed…
Kakashi had known Naruto was improving—but to perform so smoothly in real combat was a pleasant surprise.
Meanwhile, the Demon Brothers, realizing Naruto wasn't someone they could take down easily, made a split-second decision.
They dropped the chains and bolted—straight for Tazuna.
After all, their mission was simple: assassinate the bridge builder.
If they killed Tazuna, it didn't matter what happened afterward.
Tazuna's face went pale as the Mist ninja closed in.
Am I going to die…?
Sakura took a step forward, prepared to shield the client.
Sasuke reacted instantly as well.
But before either of them could act—
Naruto lashed out.
He still held the chains in both hands.
With a sharp crack, the chains snapped through the air like whips.
"Clang!Snap!"
In a blur of movement, the chains wrapped around the Demon Brothers—binding them tight.
The Mist ninja were immobilized before they could reach Tazuna.
Kakashi's eyes sparkled behind his mask.
What precise control… That's a high-level technique for handling ninja tools.
Sakura and Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the threat neutralized.
Tazuna, who had been on the verge of death, stared at Naruto in disbelief.
Saved by a kid?
He felt a twinge of guilt for ever doubting them.
"Thank you..." Tazuna said, guilt plain on his face as he looked at Naruto.
Naruto casually waved it off. "Don't worry about it."
For him, this mission wasn't really about the escort.
What mattered more was measuring himself against Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura.
As for the mission itself—he could handle that effortlessly.
But just as Naruto had restrained the two Kirigakure shinobi with his chains, Kakashi took in the situation, frowning beneath his mask.
He had already deduced what was happening.
"Tazuna-san," Kakashi said, voice calm but firm, "there's something you're not telling us."
"W-What…?" Tazuna stammered. Kakashi's expression made it clear that the deception wouldn't last much longer.
"They were Hidden Mist ninja," Kakashi continued, "known for fighting to the death without hesitation. And judging by how they attacked, their target was you."
He stated his deduction plainly.
"The mission, as it stands now, has escalated to a B-rank assignment. Enemy shinobi are involved. That's beyond the scope of a standard escort mission."
"Our agreement was to protect you while you completed the bridge. That's what we accepted under the C-rank request."
"But involving enemy ninja? That pushes this into a high-risk, high-priority B-rank mission."
"I understand if you had your reasons… but this is a bit much."
Sasuke and Sakura were silent, but they understood now.
This wasn't some low-tier mission.
This was a dangerous assignment involving actual enemy combatants.
Tazuna looked down, ashamed and clearly uncomfortable. But it was obvious—he had no other choice.
Sakura said nothing.
Sasuke also remained silent—but it wasn't because he wanted to withdraw.
In fact, Naruto's earlier actions had reignited his own competitive drive.
To Sasuke, missing this kind of live combat experience would be a wasted opportunity—one he might not get again for a long time.
Kakashi observed their reactions. Then his gaze shifted to Naruto.
Naruto met his gaze and said calmly:
"Kakashi-sensei, let's keep going."
"If something comes up, I'll back you up."
Kakashi's lone visible eye narrowed slightly with interest.
He was already aware Naruto's strength exceeded that of a typical genin, but seeing him effortlessly subdue two enemy shinobi with chain techniques had confirmed it.
If Naruto was with them, continuing the mission was more than feasible.
Seeing Naruto's calm acceptance, Tazuna finally sighed and began to explain the truth.
The real reason for the bridge—and why he had lied.
It all came down to one man.
Gato.
A wealthy and powerful shipping magnate.
Roughly a year ago, Gato had set his sights on the Land of Waves—a small, poor nation surrounded entirely by sea.
In order to monopolize its economy, he relied on maritime trade routes and made huge profits.
But if the bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the mainland was completed, Gato's shipping empire would collapse.
So Gato did what criminals do.
He hired thugs and rogue ninja to sabotage the project.
And now, he was targeting Tazuna—the chief architect of the bridge.
If Tazuna died, no one else would dare to take up the project. The entire Land of Waves would remain under Gato's thumb.
Tazuna had wanted to hire proper protection.
But the Land of Waves didn't have a shinobi village.
And it certainly didn't have any money.
Most of their resources had already been stolen by Gato. Whatever remained was being funneled into building the bridge.
All Tazuna could afford was the lowest-tier mission—barely enough for a C-rank escort.
That payment had come from his family's last remaining savings.
He had no other choice.
He had concealed the truth out of desperation.
Naruto, however, almost found it amusing.
Because this job hadn't fallen to just any genin squad.
It had landed in the hands of Team 7.
If any other team had taken the mission…
Things might have gone very differently.
Maybe he would die on this mission.
What Tazuna had done—hiding the true nature of the mission—was deeply irresponsible.
Naruto didn't like people like that.
But in truth, this mission was just a convenient excuse for him.
A reason to leave Konoha, even if only temporarily.
As for the mission itself?
He couldn't care less.
At that moment, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura listened quietly as Tazuna explained the situation.
Their reactions varied.
Naturally, a seasoned shinobi like Kakashi wasn't swayed by a few emotional words.
But he was already thinking a step ahead.
Now that Naruto had agreed to continue the mission, and since this situation offered valuable combat experience for Team 7, there was no reason not to press forward.
And so—
Team 7 and Tazuna, each harboring their own thoughts, boarded a wooden boat bound for the Land of Waves.
They crossed the vast sea until, at last, they saw it:
A massive bridge, still under construction, stretching from the coastline out toward the sea.
This unfinished bridge represented the hope of the Land of Waves—hope that they might one day reconnect with the world beyond their isolated shores.
Upon seeing it, Tazuna's expression became visibly tense.
To avoid potential danger, he steered their small boat toward a hidden waterway overgrown with aquatic plants.
They entered a long, narrow tunnel.
A short while later—
Naruto and the others finally caught sight of the Land of Waves.
Meanwhile, in a far-off location...
News of the two missing Kirigakure ninja reached its intended recipient.
The information quickly made its way back to Gato.
There was no helping it.
With his hired thugs eliminated, Gato had no choice but to escalate the matter.
He needed someone stronger.
That someone... was Zabuza Momochi.
The man known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist.
A former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and wielder of the massive Kubikiribōchō—the Executioner's Blade.
"You want me to handle this personally?" Zabuza sneered.
"Tch."
"Fine, then. Let's go."
With one hand, he hefted the giant sword onto his shoulder, staring coldly at Gato, who stood across from him.
To Zabuza, the death of those two incompetent thugs meant nothing.
Even if the enemy had somehow managed to defeat the Demon Brothers, they would be nothing compared to him—
The true demon of Kirigakure.
...
TN:
Support me on P-com/LordMerlin