FWF Chapter 145 Leaving the Beginner Village
Chapter 145 Leaving the Beginner Village
Seeing the kunai already drawn from its sheath in Satsuki's hand, and Tazuna, who was terrified by the palpable killing intent and collapsed to the ground, his clothes soaked with cold sweat, Kakashi finally realized that something was wrong.
Satsuki's reaction went far beyond the anger one would expect from a lie.
"Wait! Satsuki! What are you doing?" Kakashi immediately stopped him. "Even if the client deceived us and concealed the mission level, we absolutely cannot harm the client!"
Tazuna was utterly terrified by the sudden murderous intent. He collapsed to the ground, instinctively raising his hands to shield himself. "Wait, wait! I can explain! I really can explain! Don't kill me!"
However, Satsuki seemed not to hear Kakashi's warning or Tazuna's pleas for mercy. Her entire attention remained fixed on Tazuna, and she even tightened her grip on the kunai.
At this tense moment when swords were about to be drawn—
"Satsuki, put down the kunai."
Naruto's voice rang out from the side, and at the same time, he reached out and firmly grasped Satsuki's wrist, which was tightly gripping the kunai.
As soon as she finished speaking, Zuo Yue's tense body relaxed almost subconsciously. The hand that was holding the kunai obediently loosened its grip, and the kunai fell to the ground with a "clang".
Her body, before her mind could process it, had already made the most instinctive response to that familiar voice and touch.
Satsuki abruptly turned his head, his crimson Sharingan fixed on Naruto, his eyes filled with lingering ferocity and a hint of bewilderment at being interrupted. But when he met Naruto's azure eyes, which held concern and confusion, the terrifying killing intent vanished like a receding tide, and the bloodlust in his eyes gradually faded, returning to their original pitch black.
"What's wrong?" Naruto frowned slightly, carefully examining Satsuki. "You seemed a bit off earlier. What happened?"
Satsuki finally realized that she hadn't been able to suppress the emotions surging deep inside her at all... The almost obsessive protectiveness and strong possessiveness she had carefully suppressed beneath her calm exterior for Naruto had inadvertently been revealed because of Tazuna's deception and the potential danger he might pose to Naruto.
She quickly suppressed all her emotions, lowered her head slightly, and let her black hair cover her slightly flustered eyes. "...It's nothing, I'm fine. I'm just a little angry because this guy almost led us all into unexpected danger for his own selfish reasons."
"I see," Naruto said, giving Satsuki a reassuring smile. He naturally reached out and ruffled Satsuki's hair. "It's okay, don't be afraid. If we really encounter any danger, I will definitely protect you. Trust me."
Seeing how quickly Satsuki calmed down, and how she showed no resistance to Naruto's touch and even seemed to rely on him, along with Naruto's natural promise, Kakashi appreciated the mutual trust and care among his teammates...
But his intuition told him that Satsuki's reaction just now and Naruto's influence on her seemed a bit... too unconventional?
It seems that after this matter is over, I need to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Satsuki and reiterate the rules and bottom line of ninjas.
Kakashi silently memorized it.
"Well then, Mr. Tazuna," Kakashi turned his gaze back to the client who was still slumped on the ground, his tone returning to a businesslike manner.
"I will report your deliberate misrepresentation of the mission's level, which put my subordinates in danger, to the Hokage. As for your request, Team 7 will not be able to continue. We will return to Konoha now."
After saying that, Kakashi called the three of them to prepare to leave.
"No! Please wait! Don't leave!" Tazuna panicked, scrambling to stop them. "Please! Please continue the mission! If you leave now, not only will I die, the entire Land of Waves will be doomed!"
After witnessing firsthand that ninjas were actually chasing him, Tazuna realized with absolute clarity that without the protection of the Konoha ninjas, he would never be able to return to the Land of Waves alive on his own.
In his original plan, if the lie about the mission level were exposed, he had prepared a set of excuses to try to morally blackmail the situation, such as saying things like, "If I die, my daughter and grandson will resent the Konoha ninjas for the rest of their lives"...
However, when he thought of Zuo Yue's murderous gaze, the look that seemed ready to tear him apart at any moment... he immediately swallowed all those thoughts. Saying those words now would probably kill him.
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Finally, under Naruto's somewhat surprised gaze, Tazuna abandoned all wishful thinking and calculations, bowed his head in utmost sincerity to apologize, admitted his mistake, and repeatedly promised that as long as the mission could be completed, he would personally go to Konoha to explain everything to the Hokage and make up for all the employment fees according to the standards of a true B-rank or even A-rank mission.
Kakashi looked at Tazuna, whose attitude had completely changed, pondered for a moment, and finally decided to give the choice to the students.
After all, he had carried out countless high-difficulty missions, and even if there were further ninja attacks, he was fully confident that he could handle them. Moreover, his students, except for Sakura, were all exceptionally strong.
Unless a powerful nation's "shadow" personally comes to intercept him, or the mysterious "Jin" organization suddenly takes a dislike to Tazuna...
Kakashi mentally considered the worst-case scenario, then immediately dismissed the idea. But the probability of that happening was practically zero, right? How could that be?
Finally, Naruto suggested that they continue with the mission. His reasoning was practical: Tazuna had sincerely apologized and promised to make up for the owed wages.
So he was willing to give it a try and see if he and his companions were capable of completing this dangerous mission that truly involved ninja combat, which would also be a valuable experience for their growth.
Immediately afterward, Satsuki, without any hesitation, immediately expressed that she would follow Naruto's decision.
Although Sakura was still a little scared, seeing that Naruto and Satsuki had chosen to continue, she mustered up her courage and said she was willing to follow the team.
And so, without encountering any moral blackmail, Naruto was able to get the mission to continue as he wished.
After trekking for several more hours and having a simple lunch with the dry rations they carried, the group finally arrived at a seaside pier on the border of the Land of Fire.
Next, they needed to cross the sea by boat to reach the Land of Waves overseas. When Naruto saw the ship docked at the pier, he was once again struck by the absurdly skewed technological development of the ninja world.
On land, horse-drawn carriages are still the primary mode of transportation, so how come this ship is powered by electricity at sea? And what's with that motor noise...?
He looked at the ship that was humming slightly and was clearly not powered by sails or manpower, and couldn't help but complain to himself again.
After successfully arriving in the Land of Waves by ship and setting foot on this island nation shrouded in thick fog, Kakashi finally found an opportunity to ask Tazuna the crucial question: Who exactly were those Hidden Mist ninjas who attacked him? And why did they go to the trouble of crossing the sea to hunt him down?
Tazuna begins to recount the predicament facing the Land of Waves. Simply put, it all stems from a ruthless merchant named Gato.
According to Tazuna, Gato used immense wealth and violence to almost completely blockade all maritime transport routes of the Land of Waves, effectively strangling the island nation's economic lifeline. His goal was to completely control all maritime traffic and the economy of the Land of Waves, turning it into his private domain.
Tazuna, for the sake of the entire nation's future, was determined to build a large sea bridge connecting to the outside world, thereby breaking Gato's monopoly and revitalizing the Land of Waves. It was precisely this action that angered Gato, leading to his death.
In Dazner’s emotionally charged story, Cardo is portrayed as one.
A ruthless businessman who uses capital and violence to establish a monopoly – he suppresses all competitors with unfair competition and threats of force.
The mastermind behind the assassination of the Patriots by hired ninjas – he is ruthless and merciless towards anyone who gets in the way of his plans.
A ruthless gangster boss who oppresses civilians and commits all sorts of evil deeds – his henchmen run rampant in the Land of Waves, causing immense suffering to the people.
A despicable, treacherous, cold-blooded, and shameless man – he has no credibility or bottom line, and only interests in his eyes.
...Although Tazuna's narration was filled with a lot of personal indignation, Naruto knew that the core content of what this guy said was basically true.
In the world of Naruto, where the motives of a villain like Gato are so pure and the evil so "simple," they seem rather "rare."
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(Taking a day off today, updating two chapters)
(The author will complete the task after three more updates.)