Chapter 242: 235. Monetary Problems
A/n:- I have edited the first chapter. Please re-read and rate it.
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In Land of Waves,
Near a semi-constructed bridge,
"Kakashi-sensei, why did you allow that masked ninja to get away with Zabuza?"
Naruto questions Kakashi.
Sigh…
Kakashi takes a deep breath as he turns towards the bridge builder Tazuna.
"Tazuna-san… I am afraid this mission is now an A-rank mission. The involvement of Zabuza Momochi, the demon of the hidden mist, has complicated a lot of things."
Kakashi turns towards Naruto and answers him.
"As for your question, Naruto, that masked ninja is a part of the hunter-nin of the Kirigakure. It is a special branch of Anbu of Kiri assigned to capture and deal with the Rogue Shinobis."
"Ah… so that's how it is."
Naruto nods his head.
"Kakashi Sensei! How does the hunter-nin deal with the Rogue Ninja? Do they decapitate them or just capture them alive?" Sasuke questions him.
"Earlier, although the senbons pierced through the central nerves of Zabuza rendering him dead I have my suspicion."
Hmm…
Kakashi ponders for a while and answers.
"Usually as soon as the Hunter-nin spots a rogue shinobi, they would immediately take action and decapitate them without giving a chance to retaliate. But in some rare situations, they would restrain the rogue shinobi to interrogate them. However, that doesn't seem to be the case with Zabuza."
"So, Sensei you mean Zabuza isn't dead yet." Sakura speculates.
"Most likely… We have to prepare to confront him again. This time though we will get rid of him for sure." Kakashi remarks.
He turns towards Tazuna with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Tazuna-san, you need to give a suitable explanation and compensation for the current rank of the mission. We won't risk our life meaninglessly for such meager compensation."
Ah…
Tazuna has a grim expression on his face upon hearing Kakashi's words.
'I must inform them about the situation of the Land of Waves. Maybe out of pity they would agree to complete the mission.'
Sigh…
Tazuna sighs helplessly as he narrates his story with a sad expression.
Sniff… sniff…
Naruto and Sakura have tears in their eyes as they listen to the sad story of the bridge builder Tazuna.
At some distance from the group, on a tree;
Izuna rolls his eyes as he listens to the sob story of Tazuna.
"Regardless of other things, I have to say this old man has a way with words. His Talk-no-jutsu is in no way inferior to Naruto.
The situation of Lord of Waves is commonplace in Shinobi World. Many powerful people bullies common people in smaller nation and in turn these shinobis serves as dogs for some rich mogul."
Izuna turns his attention to Naruto to see his reaction.
Sniff… sniff…
Naruto has tears in his eyes as snot leaks from his nose.
"Here."
Sakura passes a handkerchief to Naruto to wipe his tears.
Brrr…
Naruto wipes his tears and snots on the handkerchief.
"Thank you, Sakura-chan.,"
Naruto passes the handkerchief back to her.
Eew…
Sakura's brows crease in disgust as she pats away Naruto's hand.
"You can keep it." She shakes her head and turns towards Sasuke with a hopeful expression.
Sasuke completely ignores her and directs his attention to Tazuna.
'Hmm… although the words of this old man are overly exaggerated; still there is some truth to them. But I don't want to needlessly risk my life for nothing."
Izuna's teachings come to his mind.
'In this world, the strong feed on the weak. Such is the rule of this world. However, one must follow their conscience and act accordingly.'
He turns towards Naruto and waits for his response.
"Old man!… We will help your village deal with this problem. Dattebyo!"
Naruto pumps his fist.
Sigh…
'Nothing less to expect from this idiot. He is too naïve and easy to manipulate.'
Sasuke shakes his head.
'Still, I won't allow anybody to take unfair advantage of him.'
Kakashi silently listens to the story of the Land of Waves. Before arriving here, he has already done some prior research about this place.
It has become a habit of his to uncover everything before the start of a mission. A habit instilled in him by his former Anbu Team Leader Izuna.
"Sometimes I wonder Izuna-san was overly concerned or a little cynical in his approach."
Kakashi murmurs to himself.
Oh…
"So that's what Kakashi thinks of me. Looks like I have to seize some of the books from his collection."
Izuna glares at Kakashi.
Brrrrr….
Kakashi feels a shiver run down his spine.
"Kakashi Sensei!… Kakashi Sensei!"
The Banshee-like screams of Sakura drag him out of his stupor.
Ahem…
Kakashi clears his throat and turns to his group.
"So, what's the opinion of you, bunch? If you agree to continue your mission, then we will complete it. But you think it is too much for you then we will end it here."
"I will do it, Sensei!"
Naruto pumps his fists in excitement. Kakashi turns to Sasuke and Sakura for their opinion.
"Since this idiot has already said it, then I won't refuse either. Also, I would like to test my limits with a B-Rank or A-Rank mission." Sasuke shakes his head.
"If… if… Sasuke-kun is doing this mission then I will also do it!" Sakura exclaims with a red face.
Mmm…
Kakashi nods his head.
"Still, since it is registered as a C-Rank mission; the compensation would accordingly be of the same rank. There won't be any rise in your pay grade."
At the sidelines,
Tazuna is relieved to hear this as he takes a deep breath.
'Finally, my people have some hope.'
"Alright! I will lead you all to the village. The bridge is already semi-constructed. You folks have to protect me and the villagers for a couple of days till the completion of the bridge."
Tazuna leads them towards the village.
Buzzz… buzz…
Kakashi hears a buzzing noise in his head.
'This is… this is the secret voice transmission technique of Anbu created by Captain Izuna.'
Kakashi turns around and inspects his surroundings. He notices a pair of red eyes at a faraway tree.
Shoom…
The surroundings of Kakashi changes as he appears in a vast empty world coated in red and black.
Whoosh…
Izuna appears in front of him.
"Captain!"
Kakashi greets him.
"What brought you here? I thought you were out on an important mission." He inquires.
"The mission was a false alarm. As for why I am here, I am here to naturally deal with Gato and his goons. You see… this Gato dude has no strong backing from any hidden village or organization but he still dares to deal in illegal business.
Since our organization lacks monetary funds; we will usurp all of his wealth and business. You and the group take care of Gato while I will make arrangements for his business."
"Yes, Captain. As you wish." Kakashi nods his head.
Whoosh…
Kakashi is released from the Tsukuyomi as his consciousness returns to the real world.
"Also… don't kill Zabuza and his acquaintance. Just incapacitating them is enough. I still have some use for them."
Izuna's voice echoes in his ears.
"Yes!"
"Sensei!… Sensei!"
Naruto's voice falls in Kakashi's ears as he nags him.
"Why were you staring blankly in the air for a second?" He curiously asks Kakashi.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about the earlier battle. Let's go!"
He nudges Naruto as the group follows Tazuna.
Whoosh…
Izuna appears at their previous place as he gazes at their faraway back.
"This Gato guy is an opportunity for me to get rid of my poverty. After investing in the model of chakra cannon, I am out of funds. The gambling in chunnin exam helped a little with the funds but all of it was consumed within a month."
Hmm…
Izuna ponders on his monetary situation.
"Looks like I will have to finally make a trip to Land of Silence to mine that reserve of pure chakra ore. That will substitute for the need for shinobis continuously pumping their chakra in the cannon to fire it. Also, the charging time would be a lot less with chakra ore acting as a fuel."
Izuna nods his head as he ponders over his next course of action.
'Since the canon has already started, I should also make suitable preparation accordingly. Also…'
Izuna activates his Mangekyo Sharingan and peeks inside his body.
Various small cracks in his chakra system appear in his vision.
'Then there is also this issue of me dying prematurely. My body is unable to content with my higher tier of chakra. Even my regeneration can't keep me going. I have to look for a solution to this problem as soon as possible.'
Sigh…
He takes a deep breath and shakes his breath.
'Taking too much tension is not good for my health. I have to visit Mei to calm myself.'
Whoosh…
He teleports from his location.
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A/N:- How you doing all? I have started a editing campaign starting with the first chapter. Back then my writing was slightly jarring and offensive to read but I am editing it all again to improve the quality of the fic.
I will also remove many non-sensical things from the chapters. If you want to re-read some day. Give it a shot. So, comment your thoughts on the new first chapter.
Note:- I will only edit staring 120 chapters or so. Since I think rest of the chapters are fine as they are.
Chapter 243: 236. Golden Goose
In a dilapidated hut somewhere near the semi-constructed bridge,
Whoosh…
A small petite figure agilely carries a large man on his shoulders. He lays the man on the ground and proceeds to remove the senbons stabbed in his neck.
Swoosh…
Zabuza grabs Haku's hand and stops him.
"It's alright. I will do it myself."
Zabuza removes the senbons from his neck and slowly sits up.
"You already came back to life?!"
Haku has a surprised expression on his face.
Crack… crack…
Zabuza cracks his neck and straightens his posture.
"We have already done this drill countless times. Now I don't feel that much pain. Nevertheless, the feeling of being close to death isn't much pleasing."
Zabuza swings his arms around to get back his motor sense.
"Still… I severely underestimated the Copy Ninja Kakashi. His combat abilities are far more superior as compared to the one listed in the Bingo Book."
Zabuza has an ugly expression on his face.
"Looks like we have kicked a hard metal plate this time. Never in my wild dreams, I thought we would face Kakashi as our opponent."
Zabuza helplessly shakes his head.
The trouble this time is too big for him to handle.
'Looks like I have to seek Gato for more compensation. Also, it will take me almost a week to recover from injuries sustained in this battle.'
"Zabuza!!… I will be the shield that will protect you from any harm. If required, I will be the blade that will cull the enemy's obstructing your way. I won't ever leave your side."
Haku has a resolute expression.
Zabuza stares at Haku before closing his eyes as he scoffs inside.
'For me, you are just a tool, a weapon meant to fulfill my interest. If your edge gets dull, I won't hesitate to get rid of you that very instance. As for trust and familial bonds, those are just the fallacies of a naïve and foolish person.
To survive in this world, I have slaughtered far too many people than I can keep the count.'
Old memories of the Blood Mist as well as the dirty deeds done under the orders of the Elder Akifumi surfaces in his mind.
Haku slowly nurses Zabuza's wounds as the latter is lost in his thoughts.
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Haah… Haah…
Naruto and Sasuke are currently sparring with each other as Sakura watches them from the sidelines.
"Sasuke-kun!… Naruto-kun! Both of you do your best."
Sakura cheers them.
'Sasuke-kun… beat Naruto up! Shannaro!!'
The inner Sakura clenches her fists.
Kakashi is lazily resting on a nearby tree with a book in his hand as he glances at the trio.
'Since Izuna-san has a plan, I won't interfere with that. I will treat this mission as a vacation for myself.'
Hu… Haan…
A pervy smile appears on Kakashi's face as he is deeply engrossed in the book.
"No matter how many times I read Icha Icha Paradise, I can't get enough of it."
"Kakashi Sensei!... what are you reading?"
"It is not a book meant for kids."
Kakashi answers Naruto without raising his head.
Naruto shrugs his shoulders and asks.
"Anyway… Kakashi Sensei! Since you are the Copy Ninja having copied over a thousand Jutsu; teach me a powerful jutsu. I want to defeat my enemies in a single move."
Kakashi closes his book and turns to Naruto.
"Naruto! Even I am unable to beat my opponents in a single move, much less you will. For now, you should focus on your upcoming chunnin exam. Although you folks are quite strong in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, the chunnin exam also tests your patience, endurance, intelligence, and all other factors.
Most importantly, you will take part as a team. As such, you should focus on teamwork and coordination."
Kakashi reminds them as his gaze lingers on Sakura.
'Izuna san has taught almost everything to both Naruto and Sasuke. So, it is futile for me to teach them anything. Sakura is a weak link of the team; I should teach her some jutsus to make her presence more useful during a battle.'
Kakashi ponders on Sakura's strengths and weaknesses.
'Hmm… her chakra control is quite good, but she doesn't have much talent for Ninjutsu. Maybe I should train her in some Genjutsu techniques.'
He turns towards Sakura and beckons her.
"Sakura!… I will teach a genjutsu technique to you. It will help you during the upcoming chunnin exam."
Upon hearing these words, a smile blooms on Sakura's face as she happily tip-toes towards Kakashi with an excited expression.
"Sensei! Please train me in the Genjutsu technique."
Kakashi nods his head as he instructs her on the hand signs for the Genjutsu techniques.
At the sidelines,
Tazuna stares at the group as he is busy with the construction of the bridge.
'These Ninjas have quite a sturdy body and their endurance is quite good.'
He turns towards Naruto as a sly smile appears on his face.
'Out of this bunch, this kid is the easiest to fool. Maybe I can ask him for help.'
He turns towards Naruto and yells.
"Oye! Yellow-haired kid…"
Huh!
Naruto turns towards the bridge builder and points a finger towards himself.
"Yes! You! I am talking to you."
Tazuna nods his head. Naruto walks towards him.
"Earlier I heard you want to train yourself. I can help you with that.
Tazuna points towards the heavy logs on the ground.
"Why don't you help me carry these logs to the end of the bridge? This way you will be able to train your body as well as help with the bridge-building."
Hmm…
Sasuke raises his head and senses Tazuna's intentions.
'Although Naruto is a knucklehead, he is not a fool.'
Sasuke closes his eyes and ignores them as he meditates.
"Nii-san told me that the Sharingan affects the state of mind. Its power stems from intense love and hatred. If hatred consumes one's mind, then they will eventually lose the power of their eyes turning blind. This is Uchiha's curse of hatred.
I must control my state of mind to prevent myself from falling prey to the curse of hatred."
Shiing…
Sasuke's black eyes changes as a three tomoe Sharingan appears.
'Izuna Nii-san, Shisui Nii-san, and Itachi Nii-san; all of them possess the next form of Sharingan called Mangekyo Sharingan. I wonder when would I be able to achieve those eyes.'
"Alright Old man! I will help you."
Naruto nods his head and agrees to help the bridge builder.
'Izuna Nii-san asked me to train my body. Only then would he teach me the Cool Sage Jutsu.
Though this old man wants to take advantage of me; his intentions aren't bad. So, I will entertain this old guy.'
Haah…
Naruto picks up a bundle of heavy logs and steadily walks towards the bridge.
Ah!
The eyes of Tazuna and the rest of the villagers widen in surprise as they gape at Naruto with their mouths wide open.
"This little boy can carry a weight meant for ten strongmen to lift on his own."
"How strong!"
A small boy with black spiky hair and dark-colored eyes stares at Naruto from a corner. The boy wears a green jumpsuit with a yellow shirt and a simple pair of sandals. There is a blue and white striped hat covering a portion of his head.
The boy has stars in his eyes as he stares at Naruto.
"I also want to be as strong as him. So that no one will be able to bully mother and grandfather."
The boy resolutely clutches his fists.
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In a small warehouse at the outskirts of the Land of Waves near the sea,
A short man with shaggy brown hair sporting a pair of small, circular sunglasses swaggers inside the warehouse. His two bodyguards follow behind with a fierce expression.
"Gato-san! It is nice to do business with you."
A group of thugs armed with swords, metal pipes, and various other weapons appear in Gato's vision.
Mmm…
Gato unnervingly nods his head.
"I want you bunch to wreak havoc in the village and disrupt the construction of the bridge. After the completion of the mission, I will pay you handsomely."
"Yes!" A smile appears on the faces of goons as they rub their hands together.
'Oh!'
An invisible shadow is hovering near the warehouse as it stares at the bunch.
'Looks like my golden goose is ready to lay eggs.'
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