章 35: Massacre

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Even if it was 99% certain that Gato had no connection to the Land of Water and the Hidden Mist Village, caution was essential on every mission. Any situation that might involve the Hidden Mist Village, one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, required thorough investigation to ensure absolute certainty.

Kakashi, Naruto, and Menma approached the left side of the ship, deliberately staying visible rather than concealing themselves. Some crew members on the deck spotted the shinobi trio and immediately panicked.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" the lead crew member shouted, his voice shaking with terror as Kakashi, Naruto, and Menma leaped onto the bow of the ship.

"What?!"

"Who's attacking us? Who dares challenge us?"

"Heh, my blade's been itching for a fight. Let's see who's foolish enough to seek their death."

"Everyone, take them down!"

In an instant, the ship erupted into chaos. Rough-looking men swarmed from every corner, each wearing a ferocious expression. Some brandished machetes, others wielded long swords—hardened criminals, the lot of them. For ordinary people, these men might be intimidating. But to trained shinobi, they were laughable.

If not for the need to capture Gato alive, Kakashi would have already used a Water Style jutsu to eliminate the thugs.

Gato emerged from the group, a cigar clamped between his teeth, exuding an air of undeserved confidence. He sneered at Kakashi, Naruto, and Menma. "Well, well, look who it is. Konoha shinobi. I knew Zabuza was useless—couldn't even kill one person. But no matter, I've got my own trump card. Now, be smart and leave. Do that, and I might let you live. But if you don't, you'll all end up as fish food!"

Menma couldn't believe the audacity of this man. Though he knew Gato was arrogant and foolish, seeing it in person was still shocking. "How does someone this idiotic become a big-time businessman?" Menma wondered, shaking his head.

"Sensei, shall we?" Menma asked, glancing at Kakashi.

"Leave it to you two. No need to hold back," Kakashi replied calmly, leaning against the mast and pulling out his book, waving Menma and Naruto forward as if the situation was a minor inconvenience.

"Right!" Menma and Naruto answered in unison.

With a burst of chakra beneath their feet, the two shot toward Gato's position.

"Hmph, stubborn fools! Kill them all, and I'll double your pay!" Gato snarled, enraged by their defiance.

"Yeah, we've got this!" one of the thugs shouted.

"Hah, they're just kids!" another added as the group rushed at Menma and Naruto, their greed blinding them to reality.

Fools.

Menma's brow furrowed as he sensed the thugs charging at him. His eyes narrowed, and a dark intent radiated from him. He mouthed silently, "Pathetic," before a kunai appeared in his hand.

In an instant, Menma was among them, moving like a whirlwind of death.

"Ugh!"

"Huh?"

"Argh!"

Each flicker of movement left another man on the ground, lifeless. Menma cut down the thugs with cold efficiency, showing no mercy. His expression remained detached, his actions lethal.

Naruto, focused on reaching Gato, sent anyone in his way flying, knocking them unconscious but leaving them alive. The thugs were startled by Naruto's strength, but not enough to stop their charge—after all, no blood had been spilled on his end.

Menma, on the other hand, was painting a different picture.

In less than a minute, seven or eight men lay dead around him, blood pooling at his feet. The sheer brutality of his actions pierced the thugs' bravado, and fear twisted their faces as they realized the nature of the enemy before them.

"He's a demon! A demon! Run away!"

"We can't fight him! We're no match!"

"Run for your lives!"

The remaining gangsters abandoned their weapons, fleeing in every direction—some even leaping overboard, preferring the sea over Menma's wrath.

Gato, who had been smirking moments ago, paled as his men scattered. His bravado disappeared, replaced by pure panic.

"You cowards! I paid you! Come back! Come back and fight!" Gato screamed, but his shouts fell on deaf ears.

When Gato met Menma's cold gaze, his body trembled uncontrollably. For the first time, the reality of his situation dawned on him.

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"Ah ah ah ah ah!" Gato let out a terrified scream, stumbling as he tried to flee.

"Where do you think you're going?" Naruto called out, already on his tail.

Before Gato could take another step, Naruto caught him by the collar with one hand, easily lifting him off the ground. Gato kicked and flailed, desperate to escape.

"Please don't kill me! Don't kill me!" Gato begged, his voice trembling with fear. As Menma approached, Gato's panic intensified, and he screamed louder. Naruto, holding the terrified man, grimaced as Gato became incontinent.

"Is this guy really that cowardly?" Naruto asked, disgusted.

"Naruto, sometimes evil looks like him. Nothing unusual," Menma replied calmly.

"I guess... But Menma, why were you so ruthless? These guys were just hired thugs, right? Couldn't you have knocked them out? They weren't shinobi." Naruto frowned, glancing at the bodies.

Menma looked at him, his voice even. "You're right. I might've gone overboard. I'll keep that in mind."

Naruto, expecting an argument, was surprised by Menma's concession. It left him feeling uneasy, as though something between them had changed. Was it good that Menma agreed with him? It didn't feel like it.

Menma, however, seemed unaffected. "The mission's almost done. Let's take him to Kakashi-sensei. Once we confirm everything, Tazuna can finally be at peace."

Dragging Gato along like a sack of rice, Menma headed toward the bow where Kakashi waited. Naruto, trying to shake off his discomfort, followed.

Kakashi took no chances with Gato, despite the man's cowardice. After all, he had worked with Zabuza, a dangerous missing-nin. Kakashi quickly cast a genjutsu to extract the information they needed.

As expected, the mission had nothing to do with the Hidden Mist Village. Gato had hired Zabuza on his own. Relieved that Kirigakure wasn't involved, Kakashi knew Konoha wouldn't have to worry about a conflict with the Mist. If the Mist had been involved, it could have sparked another war—something no one wanted.

"Well, seems there's nothing more to worry about. Kakashi-sensei, may I handle him?" Menma asked, gesturing to the entranced Gato.

Kakashi understood immediately. Chuckling, he tossed Menma a sealing scroll. "Go ahead, Menma. He's all yours."

To Kakashi, there was nothing wrong with Menma's earlier actions. As shinobi, taking down enemies, even thugs, was part of the job. What concerned him was Naruto's hesitation. While kindness was important, it shouldn't cloud a shinobi's judgment.

"Alright, I'll handle it," Menma replied, dragging Gato into the ship's cabin for further interrogation.

Kakashi turned to Naruto. "Let's head back. Menma's got this."

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied, though his mind was still troubled.

As they departed, the ship, which had stopped, now sailed in the opposite direction, toward a small island to the north.

After about an hour, they arrived at a small island just north of the main Land of Waves.

"You sure this is the place? You know the consequences of lying to me," Menma said coldly, pushing a now-conscious but trembling Gato out of the cabin.

Gato nodded rapidly. "Please, Lord Menma, I swear! Most of my assets are here. I wouldn't lie!"

Menma's eyes narrowed. "Good. Lead the way."

"Yes, of course, my lord," Gato stammered, bowing repeatedly as he led Menma toward the island's only large building.

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