The Land of Waves Mission
The mission was issued by Mr. Dazna, a bridge builder from the Land of Waves. His request was for the ninjas of Konoha to protect him as he returned home, serving as his escort.
The mission was initially evaluated as a C-rank assignment.
A C-rank mission's limit is to provide ninja escorts, but not to engage in combat situations.
Primarily, it's intended for encounters with wild animals and bandits along the road.
"Although it's called the Land of Waves, it's essentially just a small fishing island," Sasuke explained.
"There are no ninja villages in that region."
"But they have rich resources of seafood from flood fishing."
"Logically speaking…"
"They should have sufficient funds to request proper escort services."
On the road to the Land of Waves, Sasuke conducted an analysis.
As the top student of the class and heir to the Uchiha clan, he had always been both admired and naturally talented.
So when Kakashi revealed that the usually unnoticed Kitahara-kun, who never sought to stand out in class, was the actual team leader, Sasuke's heart swelled with competitive tension.
Now that Kakashi had accepted Dazna's escort mission, he asked the team to analyze its true nature.
"Oh." Naruto didn't really get it. Or rather…
"Sasuke, how do you know all this about the Land of Waves?" Naruto asked curiously.
"..." Sasuke glanced at him. "Do you even pay attention in class?"
"Our curriculum includes information about the other shinobi villages."
"Though technically, the Land of Waves information falls under extracurricular material," Sasuke said.
"Oh…"
Extracurricular reading…
Which meant it had nothing to do with Naruto.
After all, Naruto spent most of his time getting into trouble. He wanted to learn ninjutsu, but failed again and again, trying over and over with stubbornness.
He didn't exactly have spare time for reading.
"Hmm." Kakashi nodded. "Sasuke's knowledge isn't bad."
"So then…"
Kakashi lightly adjusted the Konoha forehead protector covering his left eye.
"Kitahara-kun, your turn to analyze," Kakashi said.
"..." Kitahara Hitoshi.
"Alright."
Kitahara Hitoshi began. "According to the contents of the extracurricular books, there are no ninja in the Land of Waves currently or historically."
"But…"
"The frequency of book updates and real-life events don't always match."
"For instance…"
"In the past, merchants from the Land of Waves traveled to Konoha without the need for escorts."
"Also…"
"Bridge builders like Dazna in the Land of Waves may not be wealthy, but they're not so poor that they can't afford bodyguards."
"Lastly…"
"The idea that a bridge builder like Dazna is being targeted for assassination? That doesn't appear in any books."
"What I think is—Kakashi-sensei realized Dazna was lying, but still deliberately chose to accept the mission."
Kitahara Hitoshi continued, "After all, Kakashi-sensei is well-known for his strategic mind, so he should have had access to some classified intel."
"Cough…" Kakashi cleared his throat, not entirely sure being called liver emperor was a compliment.
But he did indeed possess a wealth of information, especially from his time in the ANBU.
Not just any ANBU operative—Kakashi had been a captain.
He was the first to receive and assess even minor intelligence, then pass it along the chain of command.
He had received reports that trade between Konoha and the Land of Waves had halted completely over the past six months.
That was unusual.
Then Dazna appeared, with his disheveled appearance and clear desperation.
Kakashi also hoped to give the fresh Genin—Naruto and Sasuke—some valuable field experience. The more complicated the mission, the more they'd learn.
But…
Kitahara Hitoshi seemed to have seen right through all of it.
---
Children and Grandchildren: Chat Group
Kakashi: @Minato-sensei, I feel so much pressure.
Kakashi: How am I supposed to be a teacher to Kitahara Hitoshi?
Kakashi: It feels like he's the one teaching me instead.
Hashirama: Hmm… So Konoha now has someone who can shake the foundations, huh?
Tobirama: Brother, that's a strange way to put it.
Hashirama: Tobirama, you're sulking again, aren't you?
Hashirama: I get it. Kakashi didn't spell it out, but you already figured it out.
Hashirama: Sarutobi succeeded the Hokage seat, and the village's development didn't go well.
Hashirama: And you blame yourself.
Hashirama: But there's no use dwelling in the past.
Hashirama: Just like with Minato's son, Naruto. If we were alive, we'd never have agreed with Sarutobi's decisions.
Hashirama: But…
Hashirama: We're gone now.
Hashirama: We're only predecessors. There's nothing we can do anymore. The best we can offer is hope in the next generation.
Tobirama: Brother, are you saying…
Hashirama: My era was a failure. I left the problems for you to fix.
Hashirama: But now…
Hashirama: I want to believe in the younger generation one last time.
Tobirama: …
Tobirama: So you're looking for ways to make amends?
Hashirama: That's basically it.
Hashirama: Even thinking about our legacy is a little embarrassing now.
Tobirama: …
Tobirama was silent for a moment.
Tobirama: Understood.
Tobirama: I'll pull myself together.
Tobirama: As long as I can still be of use—for the sake of the village—I will give everything.
Tobirama: Minato…
Tobirama: If there's a chance, I'll try to make things right for you too.
Minato: …
Minato: I can't forgive what happened to Naruto. But… I used to be Hokage. And I guess I was selfish too.
Minato: When the Nine Tails attacked, I chose to use the Reaper Death Seal, giving my life. But even before that, my wife was dying.
Minato: If she had survived, I might have raised Naruto myself. But without Kushina, I wasn't confident.
Minato: I was afraid.
Minato: I'm the one who failed Naruto the most.
Minato: I even sealed the Nine Tails into him, hoping he might one day master its power, unlike past Jinchūriki.
Minato: But in the end, I burdened him. The Nine Tails' power haunted his growth.
Minato: No matter how hard he tried, it was never enough.
Minato: I was an incompetent father.
Minato: …Now I understand Hashirama's feelings.
Minato: Please, Kakashi. Take care of Naruto.
Hashirama: @Kakashi, please.
Hashirama: Naruto and Kitahara Hitoshi are Konoha's future. You're their guide now.
Tobirama: The burden rests on you.
Kakashi: …
Kakashi suddenly felt overwhelmed.
Originally, he just wanted to vent about Kitahara Hitoshi's unpredictable thinking. Now he was being entrusted with the entire future.
He felt the weight settle on his shoulders.
"Kakashi-sensei, are you okay?" a voice asked.
"Hmm?" Kakashi looked over. Kitahara Hitoshi had noticed the tension in his expression.
"Cough…"
"So how did you figure out Dazna was lying?" Kakashi asked quickly.
"It was simple," Kitahara Hitoshi said. "Didn't Sasuke notice?"
"Huh?" Sasuke blinked.
"We were being followed just half a day after leaving Konoha," Kitahara Hitoshi explained.
"Nani!"
Sasuke was stunned.
"They were Chūnin-level."
"And judging by their style, they're from Kirigakure."
"It's been sunny yesterday and today."
"Don't you think it's strange there were puddles everywhere?" Kitahara Hitoshi added.
"..." Sasuke.
His analysis was purely theoretical. In reality, Kitahara Hitoshi had already discerned the change in the Land of Waves' situation. Shinobi from other villages had gotten involved.
That meant…
They were going to fight.
"Leave it to me!" Sasuke shouted. "Don't underestimate the Uchiha!"
"..." Kitahara Hitoshi.
"Naruto, watch out. Sasuke's being reckless."
"What's there to worry about!"
Sasuke was annoyed.
Did he really need help from Uzumaki Naruto, the former dead-last?
Sure, Naruto had once created ten clones in front of Iruka, something Sasuke couldn't do, but that wasn't real strength…
"Watch this!"
Sasuke pulled three kunai from the pouch on his left leg and threw them at a nearby puddle.
Two figures emerged from the water.
Their headbands bore the mark of Kirigakure.
Sasuke was just about to smirk.
But—
"Sasuke!"
Naruto suddenly shouted.
Sasuke then noticed chains wrapped around him—he was hoisted into the air.
A scythe struck down where he had just stood.
Had he not dodged, he would've been cleaved in half.
"As expected." Kitahara Hitoshi narrowed his eyes.
The wind died, the rain had cleared, and Sasuke's flashy confidence was immediately shut down.
That was the truth.