Chapter 119 Naruto

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Chapter 119 Mission Briefings and Market Escort

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The table dissolved into laughter. Even Sasuke let out a small, reluctant chuckle. Tazuna, trying to steer the conversation back on track, cleared his throat loudly. "So… what's the plan for today?"

Kurenai took the lead. "Sasuke, Sakura, Shino, and I will be protecting you and your workers at the bridge," she said, slipping back into professional mode.

"Hinata, you'll be with me," Kakashi added.

"W-What are we going to do, Kakashi sensei?"

"We're going to the spot where I fought Zabuza," Kakashi explained. "I want to confirm whether or not he's still alive. Your Byakugan will be critical for this."

"Y-Yes, Kakashi sensei."

"What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

"You'll be staying here to protect the house."

Kiba's mouth opened for protest, but Shino gave him a quiet, reassuring nod.

"It's an important task," he said simply. That seemed to be enough to placate the eager Inuzuka.

As the table began to settle into the day's assignments, Tsunami spoke up hesitantly.

"Excuse me… I'll be going to the market today, so if anyone could..."

Naruto cleared his throat, then stood abruptly, his chair scraping across the floor.

"It would be my honor to escort you to the market as your bodyguard," he said, straightening his posture with exaggerated seriousness. Then, with a dramatic flourish, Naruto reached for the hilt of his Zweihander and performed a formal, knightly bow... his massive sword planted with a solid thunk against the floor.

Tsunami blinked. "…Um, thank you?"

"No need to thank me, ma'am," Naruto said, voice noble and full of faux gravitas. "It's my duty."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Sakura blinked slowly. "…Was he always like this?"

"Hn!"

Kiba raised a hand. "So, can I go with Naruto and protect Tsunami san too?"

"No!"

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Sakura, Sasuke, and Shino moved in a diamond formation with Tazuna positioned safely in the center. As they approached the incomplete bridge, they saw groups of workers scattered about. Tools like hammers, saws, and wrenches were strewn across crates, while stacks of wooden planks, heavy stone slabs, and coils of rope lined the edges. Metal girders and support beams stood half finished, their surfaces rusted in some places. Buckets of cement and barrels of water sat beside piles of gravel and sand. The workers themselves were a scrappy lot, dressed in patched up uniforms, some carrying tool belts loaded with nails and small tools. A few were slumped on crates, drinking water, while others leaned against steel beams, chatting.

"Well, would you look at that. The old man actually shows up sober this time and protected by a bunch of kids." The group around him chuckled, the laughter loud and careless.

"Don't laugh too hard. These 'kids' are the reason we can work without worrying about what happened last time."

The workers quieted immediately, the joking atmosphere evaporating.

Sakura frowned and turned to Tazuna. "What happened?"

"The bridge was originally funded by the Daimyō of the Land of Waves. We thought that meant we were protected… but Gato sent death threats and even planted a bomb to scare us. It was just to send a message, but it worked. The Daimyō pulled all funding and protection for the project."

"That's horrible."

Tazuna nodded grimly. "Luckily, we'd already bought most of the equipment and materials, but without protection, we were dead in the water."

"Speaking of distractions," a loud, boisterous voice cut in. "Not sure we'll finish this project with a beauty like you walking around." The man who spoke was broad shouldered with a scruffy beard and a hard hat tilted slightly on his head. His name was Hiroto, Tazuna's right hand man and the foreman of the crew.

Tazuna sighed apologetically and glanced at Kurenai, who raised an eyebrow.

"I think the snakes on your head are more distracting."

"Snakes?"

Suddenly, he froze, his eyes widening in horror as he felt something on his head and then the hiss.

"What the... there's a snake! Get it off! Someone get it off!" He stumbled back, frantically swatting at his hair as the hard hat toppled from his head and clattered to the ground. The other workers burst into laughter, doubling over as Hiroto spun in circles, completely losing his composure.

"What the hell, you bastards?!" Hiroto yelled. "Get a shovel or something!"

One of the men wheezed between laughs. "What snakes, Hiroto? There's nothing there! We just saw you freaking out and falling over!"

Hiroto froze, his eyes darting around wildly.

"I guess my 'beauty' must've played tricks on your mind. Careful, or you might imagine something worse next time. Like a tiger."

Hiroto paled, raising his hands in surrender. "No, ma'am. No tigers, please."

"Good." Kurenai said. "Now, please get back to work so I can focus on mine."

Tazuna took the opportunity to step forward and begin organizing the workers, while Kurenai turned back to the genin. "Alright, you three. You've heard about the previous incident. What's the best way to protect the client and the workers?"

Sakura raised her hand. "I can place kunai with seals to create barriers around the bridge in case someone tries to attack."

Kurenai nodded. "Good. And how quickly can you set them up?"

"It depends on the size of the area, but I can do a basic barrier in about twenty seconds," Sakura said.

"That's impressive," Kurenai said, "but twenty seconds is still a lot of time if someone launches a surprise attack. Do you think you could maintain a barrier while setting up the others?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Good. I'll want details on how you plan to implement that. Sasuke?"

Sasuke stepped forward slightly. "I'll use my Sharingan for surveillance. It'll help me track movement and pick up any signs of an ambush."

"Excellent," Kurenai said. "And you?"

Shino adjusted his glasses. "I can use my insects to tag each of the workers. Once tagged, I'll conduct a thorough sweep for hidden explosives or potential sabotage."

"You don't trust the workers?"

"It's not about trust," Shino said calmly. "If Gato could intimidate the Daimyō into pulling out of this project, it stands to reason that weaker men might be bribed, threatened, or coerced into sabotaging it."

"Fair point."

With the initial plan outlined, she straightened up. "Alright. I think we have a solid plan moving forward. Everyone knows their roles, so let's make this count."

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances, their expressions oddly contemplative.

"Yes?" Kurenai asked, catching their looks.

Sakura shook her head quickly. "Oh, sorry, Kurenai sensei. It's just… you're very different from Kakashi sensei."

"Different how?"

"A lot more positive reinforcement," Sasuke replied bluntly.

Kurenai blinked, slightly taken aback by the unexpected compliment.

"It's likely a habit she's developed from training Hinata," Shino said, his tone factual.

A faint blush spread across Kurenai's cheeks. She cleared her throat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well… she needs a bit more encouragement than most."

"She doesn't need encouragement," Sasuke said flatly. "She needs a push."

Kurenai couldn't deny his reasoning, but she hoped that being Naruto's one handed jutsu partner and playing a key role in a jonin's strategy would help Hinata find a little more confidence in herself.

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Kakashi and Hinata landed lightly on the remnants of the dock where Team 7 had clashed with Zabuza. The wooden planks were splintered and charred, some barely clinging to their supports, yet the space was alive with activity. Vendors had set up makeshift stalls on the broken dock, bartering and selling as if oblivious to the chaos that had once unfolded there.

"They're still using this place… even after all this destruction."

Kakashi tucked his hands into his pockets and gave a nod. "Life finds a way, doesn't it? People adapt, even when the odds are stacked against them."

Hinata nodded silently, then activated her Byakugan. The veins near her temples pulsed as her vision expanded, the dock and the surrounding area coming into sharp focus. She inhaled sharply. "There's so much residual chakra… it's overwhelming."

"Can you identify it?"

Hinata hesitated before answering. "Yes… this is Sasuke kun's chakra. Over there, that's Sakura san's… and…" She trailed off, her voice softening. "Naruto kun's chakra is everywhere."

Kakashi's single eye gleamed with interest. "You can distinguish residual chakra so clearly? That's an impressive skill, Hinata."

Hinata flushed at the compliment. "It's… it's just basic training, Kakashi sensei."

Kakashi snorted lightly. "Basic training? Trust me, I've known Hyūga in the Anbu who would disagree with you. Being able to sort through residual chakra in a battlefield like this is no small feat."

Hinata's gaze lowered modestly. "There's just… so much chakra here. It's hard to imagine Team 7's strength. They must be so powerful."

The older man studied her for a moment, noting the quiet.

"Tell me, Hinata," Kakashi asked, "what's the range of your Byakugan?"

"Five hundred meters."

Kakashi blinked, genuinely surprised. Most Hyūga he'd encountered had a range of hundred, maybe two hundred meters at best. But five hundred? That was extraordinary. Her field of vision was broad enough to encompass the entire dock, shore, and surrounding market, yet she managed to pinpoint individual residual chakra signatures with ease.

"Five hundred meters, huh? That's… impressive." Kakashi's tone turned thoughtful. "You know, if you're ever interested in joining the Anbu, let me know. They'd be lucky to have you on a recon team."

Hinata stiffened, her blush deepening. "Ano… I-I don't think I'm suited for the Anbu, Kakashi sensei. I'm not talented enough for something like that."

"Hinata, do you know how many Anbu captains would fight to have someone with your range and skill on their team?"

Hinata bit her lip, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "But… it's nothing compared to Neji niisan. He's so much stronger. His range is greater, his techniques are flawless… he's everything I'm not."

"And what exactly is his range?"

Hinata fell silent.

Kakashi pondered his next words carefully. "Hinata," he began, "it's fine to admire others, but don't lose yourself in comparisons. Every shinobi has their own strengths. Placing others on a pedestal only blinds you to what you bring to the table. Instead of worrying about where you fall short, recognize what you excel at. Own that."

Hinata's eyes flickered to him, the weight of his words sinking in. Slowly, she nodded, closing her Byakugan to center herself.

"I've found six distinct chakra signatures," she said after a moment, her voice steadier.

Kakashi's expression sharpened at her words. He immediately connected the dots. "Six? Looks like Zabuza had some help after all."

"Do you think his accomplice saved him?" Hinata asked hesitantly.

"Almost certainly," Kakashi replied. "Can you find any tracks? Anything they might have left behind?"

"They covered their tracks well. I can't see anything unusual."

"If they're good enough to escape a Hyūga's eyes, they're dangerous. We need to prepare for another confrontation. Zabuza Momochi won't stay hidden for long… and whoever helped him might be just as formidable."

Hinata nodded, her resolve hardening. "What should we do next, Kakashi sensei?"

"First, we report back. Team 7 and Team 8 need to know what we're up against." Kakashi glanced at her. "Good work, Hinata. You're sharper than you give yourself credit for."

Hinata's cheeks flushed again, but this time it was with quiet pride. "Thank you, Kakashi sensei."

As they turned to leave the dock, the faint sounds of the bustling market faded behind them. In Hinata's heart, Kakashi's words lingered, a small but steady light kindling within her.

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Naruto and Tsunami walked through the narrow, crowded paths of the market. The air was thick with the stench of damp wood, sweat, and rotting produce. Makeshift stalls lined the muddy streets, many barely held together by rusted nails and fraying ropes. Vendors shouted over one another, their voices hoarse from long hours of desperation. A few stalls displayed sparse offerings: bruised fruits, stale bread, and watered down fish, while others sold odds and ends like chipped tools, faded fabrics, and cheap trinkets that had seen better days.

Malnourished children darted between the crowd, their thin frames barely visible in the sea of bodies. A man with hollow cheeks stood to the side holding a sign that read: Will do any job. His eyes were dull, resigned to his fate.

Naruto pulled his tattered cloak tighter around him, the pyromancer set blending in with the surrounding misery.

"You fit right in," Tsunami commented quietly, her voice tinged with something between humor and sadness.

Naruto's eyebrows twitched, but he kept silent as a few beggars gave him sympathetic looks.

Further ahead, Naruto spotted a group of kids crouched in a corner, sharing a single piece of stale bread. One of them, a girl no older than six, had her hand outstretched, asking for change from passersby. Naruto paused and knelt, fishing out the few coins he had.

"Here," he said, handing the coins to the girl.

She stared at him with wide, mistrusting eyes, then snatched the money and scurried away without a word.

Naruto stood, his expression unreadable. Money is better than candy, he thought bitterly. You can't eat kindness, and most people only see you as a nuisance anyway. Memories of being kicked out of the orphanage flashed through his mind.

Breaking the silence, Naruto glanced at Tsunami.

"Miss Tsunami... I hope it's alright to ask, but why does Inari believe so strongly that we are going to die because of Gato?"

Tsunami's grip on her shopping basket tightened. She looked away, her face clouded with pain. "It's personal," she said curtly. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Naruto nodded, sensing it wasn't a wound she wanted reopened.

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 59, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!