Chapter 196: Leaving the village (Part 5)

Sasuke's foot connected with the bandit's face, sending the man sprawling backward with a sickening thud. The Uchiha landed gracefully in front of Tazuna, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings for any more threats.

"Thanks, kid," Tazuna panted, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and awe. He had been moments away from being attacked, but Sasuke had intervened just in time.

Sasuke merely grunted in response, not one for small talk during battle. His focus was already shifting to the next potential danger as the group of bandits circled around them, snarling like wild animals.

Nearby, Homura swung his short blade with practiced precision, slicing through clubs and pickaxes with ease. The bandits watched in shock as their makeshift weapons fell apart before their eyes, the remnants clattering to the ground.

"How many of you are there?" Homura muttered, more to himself than to the bandits. This was the second group that had attacked them in less than a day. Something didn't add up. Bandits were common enough, but this many, this organized, was unusual. His mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle as he prepared for the next strike.

Before he could dwell on it further, Naruto dashed past him, a look of determination etched across his face. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he yelled, forming the familiar hand seals. Two identical clones appeared on either side of him, and together they charged at the biggest bandit in the group—a hulking brute who towered over the rest.

The clones moved in unison, sweeping low and kicking the bandit's legs out from under him. The man let out a surprised grunt as he crashed to the ground. Naruto, not missing a beat, leaped into the air and brought his knee up, slamming it into the man's chin with a force that sent him flying backward. The impact left the bandit dazed and unconscious, and Naruto couldn't help but grin in triumph.

"Yes! Got him!" Naruto cheered, his confidence soaring. This was the kind of action he thrived on.

Meanwhile, Kakashi was moving effortlessly through the chaos, avoiding a bandit's wild swing with a casual sidestep. He pivoted on his heel, delivering a swift kick to the man's back that sent him sprawling. As two more bandits lunged at him from either side, their blades gleaming in the sunlight, Kakashi's movements became a blur. He ducked, dodged, and countered with precise punches and kicks, taking them down without breaking a sweat.

"Pick up the pace," Kakashi called out to the others, his tone calm but commanding. He knew they needed to finish this quickly and keep moving. They were still on a mission, and time was of the essence.

The fight raged on for another five minutes, the sound of clashing weapons and grunts of exertion filling the air. But eventually, the bandits were overwhelmed. One by one, they fell, and soon the group was left tying them up to the ground, ensuring they wouldn't pose any further threat.

Naruto wiped sweat from his brow as he looked down at the bound men. "Should we just leave them here? We're too far from the village now—they could escape if we don't keep an eye on them."

Kakashi, standing a few feet away, reassured him with a casual wave of his hand. "We're still within the Land of Fire. There should be Leaf shinobi patrolling the area. It might take a few hours, but they'll find these guys."

With that, Kakashi pulled out a small signal flare and tossed it into the sky. A burst of smoke erupted above them, marking their location for any nearby allies.

Satisfied that the situation was under control, the group once again departed, leaving the tied-up bandits behind. The journey continued with more skirmishes along the way and hours of relentless walking. The sun had begun to dip toward the horizon when they finally arrived at the shoreline of the Land of Fire.

Tazuna greeted a man waiting by a small boat docked on the riverbank. The man, a grizzled old fisherman, nodded in acknowledgment as Tazuna approached. "This man will take us the rest of the way," Tazuna explained, his voice tinged with fatigue.

Everything seemed normal as they prepared to board the boat, but then Homura's eyes lit up with curiosity as he spotted the boat's motor. "Hey, old man," he called out to the fisherman, "does the motor run on electricity or some kind of fuel?"

The fisherman hesitated, his face betraying a flicker of unease. "It's, uh, just a regular motor, nothing special."

But Homura wasn't satisfied with that answer. He stepped closer, grabbing the man's hand and getting uncomfortably close to his face. "Can I check it out? I could probably boost its performance. I've always wanted to see how these things work!" His eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of dissecting the motor, his mind racing with possibilities.

Konohagakure didn't have many boats, and the ones they did have were simple, meant for shallow rivers that didn't see much traffic. This was a rare opportunity for him, and he wasn't about to let it slip by.

The fisherman stammered, trying to refuse, but before the situation could escalate, Kakashi appeared behind Homura and gave him a sharp knock on the head. "Enough, Homura," Kakashi said, his voice laced with mild irritation. Homura stumbled slightly, dizzy from the hit, but Kakashi quickly scooped him up and carried him to the boat.

"Let's get moving," Kakashi instructed, not giving anyone a chance to argue. The rest of the group followed suit, boarding the boat as it finally departed from the Land of Fire. Their journey now led them across the water toward the cluster of islands that made up the Land of Waves, the misty horizon beckoning them onward.

After what felt like hours on the water, the gang finally approached the shore. The boatman, now paddling silently to avoid making any noise, turned his head slightly and whispered, "We're almost there."

The genin tensed, preparing themselves for whatever awaited them. Naruto, always the most eager of the group, squinted into the thick mist surrounding them. "He's right," Naruto muttered, trying to peer through the dense fog. "I can barely see anything with all this mist."

"Quiet, Naruto," Sasuke hissed, his voice low but sharp. "You're making too much noise."

Naruto quickly covered his mouth with both hands, his eyes narrowing as he shot a glance at Sasuke. I'll get him back for that later, he thought to himself, but for now, he knew better than to argue.

The boat glided through a narrow tunnel that seemed to be connected to the bridge. As they emerged on the other side, the sight before them took their breath away. A small, sea-faring village came into view, its few boats gently bobbing in the water. Trees appeared to rise directly from the water's surface, their roots submerged, creating a surreal and almost magical atmosphere. The sky above was clear, the earlier mist now seeming like a distant memory or perhaps even an illusion.

For a moment, they were all captivated by the sight. It was beautiful in a haunting way, but as they looked closer, the reality of the village became apparent. The streets were eerily empty, and the buildings looked worn and weathered. There was a ruggedness to the place that spoke of hardship.

Homura broke the silence. "So you weren't lying, Tazuna. A village in this state could never afford an A-rank mission."

Naruto shot Homura an irritated look. "Why do you have to say that out loud?" he snapped.

Kakashi sighed, feeling the tension between his students rise. It was a common occurrence by now, but in a situation like this, they needed to stay focused.

Sasuke, ever the observer, noticed something odd. Despite their talking, not a single villager had come out to see who they were. The whole place seemed abandoned. They must be hiding, he thought, but he kept his suspicions to himself.

After they disembarked and saw the boatman off, Tazuna turned to the group. "We need to get to my house. It's a bit further away from the village."

Homura frowned at this. "You don't live here? Outside the village means it'll be twice as hard to guard you."

Tazuna nodded, a bit apologetic. "I know it's inconvenient, but it's safer for my family this way."

"Hm... Sure," Homura said in a calm voice, but internally he thought that it was probably better if they lived in the village like everybody else, after all it's easier to commit crimes when nobody is around to hear screams.

The group began to walk, with the genin forming a protective formation around Tazuna, ready for any sign of danger. Kakashi's thoughts drifted as they moved. The next ninja they send won't be a simple Chunin, he mused. It'll be a Jonin with far deadlier skills. This is going to be a real hassle.

Naruto, growing impatient, started to walk ahead at a faster pace, scanning the surroundings intently. Homura, noticing this, couldn't resist making a quip. "You know, Naruto, if you need to pee, this is a forest. No one's going to stop you."

Naruto shot him a glare. "Shut up! I'm obviously checking the area."

Homura just shrugged, his expression bored. "Is that so…"

But underneath his nonchalant exterior, Homura was uneasy. They were out in the open, in a foreign land, and they had a target on their backs. Their enemy knew where they were heading. At this point, it might have been wiser to take Tazuna on a different route, but if the enemy had already sent assassins after him, they likely knew where he lived as well.

A troubling thought crossed Homura's mind. What if they've taken his family hostage? He wasn't entirely sure. His knowledge of the mission's plot was patchy. He had never read that part of the manga and had only seen bits and pieces of the anime. Most of what he knew about the Naruto world came from games, movies, and filler episodes that tended to repeat. Watching anime or reading manga took too much time for him, but now he regretted having an incomplete understanding of the story.

As they walked, Homura found himself lost in thought, trying to piece together what little he remembered, while the rest of the group remained vigilant, sensing the danger that lurked just beyond the treeline.