The two Hidden Mist Ninja who pounced out wore cruel, bloodthirsty smiles on their faces.
Looking at the trace of astonishment on Kakashi's face, who clearly hadn't expected this sudden attack, the two seemed to already see the scene in the next instant where they would dismember Kakashi into eight pieces.
However, in the next instant.
These Hidden Mist brothers were already hanging on the tree.
From their astonished expressions, it was not difficult to guess that they didn't understand how they were hung on the tree.
Recalling the astonished expression Kakashi had shown a moment ago, they almost simultaneously added a word to this expression in their hearts.
"Didn't expect that, I'm an acting king!"
At that moment, only Naruto and Sasuke clearly saw what had happened.
In the instant when the two Hidden Mist Ninja were about to tie up Kakashi, he didn't even use the Substitution Technique.
Kakashi, without the Sharingan, which was a huge chakra consumer, had recently picked up the Hatake Sword Technique inherited from his father again. In addition to the progress in Sealing Techniques, he had also made great progress in nin-Taijutsu.
At this moment, with a Body Flicker Technique, he appeared behind the two like a shift in form and shadow.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he unhesitatingly slammed the two against the tree beside them.
For ninjas, the living are undoubtedly more valuable than the dead.
Whether it was interrogating for information or having the force they belonged to pay a ransom, both were good choices.
Kakashi possessed an absolute advantage in strength, and Sasuke and Naruto were able to protect themselves while also protecting Sakura and the mission target, so he didn't need to kill them.
"You guys stay here obediently, or you'll understand the consequences." Kakashi warned the two Hidden Mist Ninja hanging on the tree.
Then, he cast a cold gaze at Tazuna: "Mr. Tazuna, please give an explanation for this matter. Ninjas should not appear in C-rank missions. If you don't have a special reason, we have the right to abandon the mission."
Tazuna came back to his senses from the astonishment of being suddenly attacked, and his expression changed immediately when questioned by Kakashi.
He sighed dejectedly and began his performance, tearfully recounting the miserable situation the Land of Waves was currently facing.
The evil merchant Gato controlled the lifeline of the Land of Waves' transportation, forcing the people of their Land of Waves to a dead end, and they could only rely on building a bridge to open the door to external communication, so as to save themselves.
Because too much money was spent on building the bridge, they came up with the idea of falsely reporting the mission level in a helpless situation, and invited ninjas from Konoha to protect them.
Among the four members of Team 7, only Sakura, who was inexperienced and more emotional, was moved and couldn't help but cast a sympathetic look at Tazuna.
Of course, it was just sympathy. Sakura didn't forget the ninja manual she had learned.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi were indifferent. Their values were similar. For this kind of wise client, not killing him was already extremely polite according to the ninja's code of conduct.
Especially Naruto, he sneered at Tazuna's story.
When Santafu asked Kakashi and the others to help restore the country, he also used the guise of protecting the actress and directly gave an A-rank mission rating.
You have money to build a bridge, why don't you just use the money to hire a Jonin to kill Gato?
Running here to deceive Genin children?
There's something wrong with your brain.
Especially Kakashi, this was not the first time he had encountered this kind of thing in his long mission career.
This act of falsely reporting the mission level is irresponsible towards the lives of them ninjas, and Kakashi will absolutely not condone it.
After sighing, he said to Team 7, "Well then, from now on, we will abandon the mission and return to the village."
Naruto nodded, and Sasuke, seeing Naruto nod, also nodded.
Sakura, seeing Sasuke nod, also nodded.
Team 7 reached a consensus, tied up the Demon Brothers of the Hidden Mist, and prepared to return.
"Sasuke, the city we passed by earlier was quite prosperous, we can go shopping when we go back."
"Yeah, Naruto, there's a food street in that city, we can try it out, maybe there are some dishes that can be added to our Hot Spring Hotel."
Sasuke and Naruto chatted as if no one else was around.
This time, Tazuna panicked.
From the beginning, Tazuna had counted on the good reputation of the Konoha ninjas, trying to hire them to protect them and complete the bridge construction mission with the least amount of money.
A considerable part of the mission money that the people of the Land of Waves had scraped together for him was spent on eating and drinking along the way.
A B-rank mission encountering ninjas would only have a reward tens of thousands of taels higher than a C-rank mission of fighting ordinary mountain bandits and brigands.
At current prices, it's just the cost of a few meals of barbecue.
Although the people of the Land of Waves are poor, they wouldn't skimp on such a crucial matter.
So much money has been spent on building the bridge, there's no need to save money in this area.
If an A-rank or even higher mission level is reached in a B-rank mission due to encountering a Jonin, it can only be considered an unexpected situation, a risk that ninjas must bear, and the reward can be negotiated afterward.
But like now, falsely reporting the mission level because of insufficient money can only be said to be Tazuna's problem.
In Naruto's view, Tazuna's thoughts are not difficult to guess.
As long as the mission starts, these Konoha ninjas will most likely not be able to save face and abandon the mission.
When the time comes, the mission will continue, and he can save a lot of money.
He just didn't expect that the development of the matter was completely different from what he thought.
These few Konoha ninjas actually abandoned the mission so decisively and simply, and if it weren't for the fact that they were from the Hidden Leaf Village with a good reputation, even his little life would be in danger.
It was not until this time that Tazuna realized the seriousness of the matter.
He could already imagine that if he didn't have the protection of the Konoha ninjas, he would be killed by Gato's henchmen in less than three days, and even his ashes would be scattered.
And his daughter and grandson would also not escape the fate of death.
Before Tazuna could think of how to keep them, he saw Team 7 turning around without hesitation, intending to leave, with the two Hidden Mist ninjas tied up.
Thump!
Tazuna prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing and shouting, "Please don't give up the mission, please forgive my mistake, I will find a way to make up for the mission money, please continue the mission and save me, save the Land of Waves."
In Naruto's perception, Tazuna's emotions were mixed with fear and some secret joy, it was not difficult to guess his thoughts: 'Just a few Genin kids, as long as I beg in a low voice, can you still refuse?'
Even, Naruto could imagine that once they refused, this person would have a huge resentment in his heart.
However, who cares?
Apart from Sakura looking back at Tazuna, the others were unmoved and continued to move forward.
The group eventually walked further and further away.
The Land of Waves escort mission came to an end.
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