Chapter 386: In This World, There Are People Younger Than You and Stronger Than Me!

"Mr. Tazuna, considering the discrepancy between the actual mission and its evaluation, we allow the mission to be abandoned."

When Hatake Kakashi asked this question, he recalled Namikaze Minato's explanation to him in the Hokage's office. His mission was to assassinate Kado, the wealthy businessman now controlling the Land of Waves. With his keen intuition, he suspected that the man before him was somehow connected to this matter.

"I don't know why a ninja was sent to assassinate me... I really don't know."

Tazuna remained stubborn, glancing sideways to avoid making direct eye contact with Kakashi. His hesitation did not go unnoticed. Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin all remained silent, while Kakashi sighed and said:

"In that case, considering that this mission exceeds our team's capabilities..."

"We have no choice but to abandon it."

Kakashi gestured for Naruto and the others to prepare to leave. Although Naruto was reluctant, seeing Tazuna's silence left him with no choice but to follow Kakashi.

The Seventh Squad began packing their belongings and clearing the battlefield.

Tazuna watched as the Konoha ninja tidied up the area. He pursed his lips, then let out a heavy sigh before finally speaking:

"I'm sorry... I didn't expect things to turn out this way."

"In truth, I am a bridge expert from the Land of Waves. These ninjas who came to assassinate me were likely hired by Kado."

Tazuna's expression darkened. As his words fell, Kakashi's expression turned thoughtful. The Seventh Squad, who had been cleaning up the battlefield, stopped almost simultaneously and gathered in front of Tazuna.

"Hey, old man, why would Kado hire a ninja to kill you?"

"Did you do something bad?" Naruto asked innocently.

Tazuna sighed once more and began to explain.

It turned out that the Land of Waves was an island nation with limited resources, forcing its people to rely on imports for daily necessities. Kado, who controlled all the ports, imposed exorbitant transportation fees. This kept the people of the Land of Waves impoverished and struggling to survive.

As a bridge expert and a man of vision, Tazuna understood that the only way to change the country's situation was to restructure its foreign trade system.

Building a bridge was his proposed solution. To achieve prosperity, one must first improve transportation. Even without formal education in economics, Tazuna had devised a plan to pull his country out of poverty.

However, Kado would not stand idly by while his profits were threatened. Realizing that the bridge would undermine his monopoly, he hired ninjas to assassinate Tazuna.

"That despicable man dares to do such a thing!"

"Don't worry, old man! We'll definitely help you!" Naruto declared with a determined expression, clenching his fists.

"Naruto, let's listen to Kakashi-sensei first." Though Karin sympathized with Tazuna's plight, she remained more rational than Naruto. Noticing Kakashi's silence, she tugged on Naruto's sleeve and spoke in a low voice.

Naruto turned to Kakashi, his eyes filled with determination.

"Well, even though the difficulty of this mission differs from what was reported, since we're already here, it would be a shame to give up now."

"Mr. Tazuna, Konoha will assist you in completing your commission," Kakashi said, nodding as he stroked his chin.

In his mind, he recalled Minato's previous instructions. His target for assassination was Kado, and coincidentally, Kado was also Tazuna's greatest obstacle in bridge construction. Had someone from Konoha orchestrated this mission from behind the scenes?

After discussing the matter and reaching a consensus, the group set off once again toward the Land of Waves.

The Land of Waves was an island nation located east of the Land of Fire. With a small land area and relatively low population, it had historically served as a buffer zone for Konoha during conflicts with the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water.

During autumn, the Land of Waves' climate differed significantly from that of the Land of Fire. From evening until sunrise, a thick fog blanketed the country for over ten hours, leaving it perpetually shrouded in mist.

After several days of travel, Hatake Kakashi and his team finally entered the Land of Waves, treading along a forest path.

"This damp, ghostly weather is unbearable!" Naruto grumbled.

Unlike the crisp autumn air in Konoha, the misty forests of the Land of Waves were cold and humid, making Naruto feel uncomfortably out of place—like someone used to the dry northern climate suddenly finding themselves in the humid south.

"The climate here is always like this. That's why even if our people try to grow fruits and vegetables, they rarely ripen properly," Tazuna explained.

As they neared his village, a faint smile appeared on his face.

As the group continued forward, the surrounding fog thickened. Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin remained unaware, chatting idly as they walked through the forest.

However, at the front of the group, Kakashi suddenly halted and raised his right hand, signaling the team to stop.

"Kakashi-sensei, what's wrong?" Naruto asked, puzzled by his sudden action.

Kakashi didn't respond. Instead, he silently reached for a kunai from his pouch and held it firmly.

A wave of oppressive energy suddenly surged toward them.

"This overwhelming presence... What's happening?!"

Naruto, positioned at the edge of the formation, immediately assumed a defensive stance alongside his teammates, shielding Tazuna at the center. His heart pounded as an overwhelming, monstrous aura pressed against him. His body trembled uncontrollably.

On the other side, Sasuke also struggled against the suffocating murderous intent. Instinctively, he pulled a kunai from his pouch, gripping it tightly for reassurance. However, as Kakashi released his own aura in response, the two oppressive energies clashed violently in the air.

Sasuke had never encountered anything like this before. Though he had engaged in several real battles, none of his previous opponents had exuded such a terrifying aura. His body began to tremble violently, and his breathing became labored.

Karin's situation was no better, though Naruto tried to maintain his composure amidst the suffocating pressure.

"Sasuke, don't worry! I won't let my comrades die in front of me!"

Kakashi noted Sasuke's distress but understood that even the top students from the Academy would struggle to endure a Jōnin's murderous intent. He offered reassurance.

"Is that so?"

"But... you're already dead!"

Suddenly, an enormous figure appeared before them. A shirtless man with a menacing expression and no eyebrows stepped into their formation, carrying an enormous sword. His terrifying aura spread like a storm.

In an instant, his right hand gripped the hilt of his massive blade. With a fierce pull, he drew it out and slashed straight at Sasuke.

Sasuke and the others stiffened in shock. Their bodies refused to move.

Naruto tried to react, but his body felt paralyzed. Even Karin, who possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, was frozen in fear.

Just as the sword was about to cut Sasuke in half, a figure suddenly appeared between him and the blade. A kunai plunged into the attacker's body.

The eyebrowless man wielding the broadsword stopped in his tracks.

"This white hair... Are you Konoha's White Fang?!"

Though Kakashi's kunai had struck his lower abdomen, the man remained unfazed and spoke smoothly.

"No. I am the son of the White Fang—Hatake Kakashi."

"And that sword... You're the Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi!"

Kakashi identified the man based on his weapon and familiar attire. His slanted forehead protector and massive blade matched the descriptions Kakashi had heard from his longtime friend, Might Guy. He had also studied the profiles of infamous shinobi from other villages.

Piecing together the information, Kakashi confirmed the identity of his opponent.

"Heh, I didn't expect you to know me!"

As Zabuza Momochi spoke, water trickled from the wound on his lower abdomen. That's right—what flowed out was not red blood, but water!

Kakashi looked down and raised an eyebrow. The next second, the Zabuza in front of him suddenly exploded into a misty spray of water, disappearing from sight. The resulting water vapor momentarily obscured Kakashi's vision.

By the time Kakashi regained his sight, a strong gust of wind surged from behind.

He barely turned in time—Zabuza's massive beheading sword was already swinging toward him!

"Sensei!"

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto and Sasuke shouted in alarm, their eyes wide with shock. Zabuza, having seemingly landed a decisive strike, smirked in triumph. Even with his lower face concealed by a mask, the arc of his grin was unmistakable.

"It's over!"

Just as everyone thought Zabuza had cut Kakashi down, a sharp kunai pressed against Zabuza's throat. Kakashi's cold voice came from behind him, sending chills down everyone's spine.

"Hahaha!"

"Hatake Kakashi of Konoha... I've heard of you."

"You're strong—not an ordinary man at all."

Despite the kunai at his throat, Zabuza showed no signs of panic. Instead, he sneered, glancing at the 'Kakashi' he had just cleaved in two. That Kakashi collapsed into a puddle of water.

It was a water clone.

"But—"

Before he could finish, Kakashi struck, stabbing his kunai into Zabuza's throat. Yet, as soon as the blade pierced, something felt off. Kakashi's eyes narrowed—there was no resistance.

Realizing the trick, Kakashi immediately rolled backward.

A fraction of a second later, Zabuza's beheading sword came crashing down, splitting the ground where Kakashi had just been standing. A crater formed beneath the force of the strike.

The battle intensified. Naruto and the others watched, sweating profusely. Though the suffocating murderous intent had slightly faded, they were still shaken. Naruto tried to move forward and assist Kakashi, but Kakashi immediately stopped him with a sharp warning.

"Don't interfere!"

"This isn't a fight you can handle at your current level."

"Protect Mr. Tazuna—the enemy's real target is him!"

Holding his kunai tightly, Kakashi glared at Zabuza and threw his weapon at him before quickly drawing the short sword strapped to his back.

A crisp clang echoed through the air as Kakashi charged at Zabuza, his dagger flashing.

Recognizing the attack, Zabuza immediately met him head-on, gripping his massive blade with both hands.

Hatake Kakashi and Zabuza Momochi—two veteran Jōnin with fearsome reputations—clashed fiercely. Zabuza, wielding his oversized sword with practiced skill, held the advantage in sheer strength. However, due to the weapon's bulk, his agility suffered.

Both warriors had their strengths, and for a time, their battle remained deadlocked.

"Is this the one Lord Raiden mentioned?"

"Zabuza… I've heard of him. But does someone like him really deserve Lord Raiden's attention?"

Perched atop a tall tree some distance away, Kisame Hoshigaki observed the battle. Dressed in black, his large sword rested on his back, his dead-fish eyes locked onto the two fighters below.

"And that one... is he from the Mist's Anbu? Why is Anbu here?"

Meanwhile, on another tree just ahead, a thin figure wearing a Kiri Ninja mask also observed the battle closely.

Kisame, despite remaining well-hidden, quickly noticed the other figure. A strange expression flickered across his shark-like face. Originally, he had intended to capture Zabuza himself, but with the interference of Kiri's Anbu, he chose to wait.

The battle on the field erupted suddenly—and ended just as abruptly.

Though Hatake Kakashi lacked the Sharingan, earning him the nickname "Konoha's Mechanic" instead of "Kakashi of the Sharingan," his strength surpassed his reputation.

As he fought Zabuza, he quickly realized that conventional combat wouldn't be enough to subdue him. Thus, he began channeling his Lightning Release Armor, albeit in its early and underdeveloped form.

Even in its incomplete state, the technique significantly boosted his speed and strength. Within just a few exchanges, Kakashi managed to slash Zabuza across the chest. Though Zabuza dodged at the last moment, Kakashi's blade still left a deep gash on his torso.

Just as Kakashi prepared to land a decisive blow, an unexpected development unfolded.

Without warning, three senbon needles shot through the air. They were impossibly fast, aimed directly at Zabuza's neck.

Kakashi, who had intended to finish Zabuza off himself, froze in surprise.

"Who?!"

His grip on his dagger tightened, and he glanced sharply in the direction from which the senbon had come.

Zabuza's limp body fell to the ground, motionless.

"I am part of the Mist's tracking unit. I have been pursuing Zabuza for some time, waiting for the right moment to strike."

"Konoha ninja, thank you for your assistance."

Kakashi looked up. On a branch above, a small figure in a Mist Anbu uniform stood, offering polite gratitude.

Judging by the voice and stature, the Anbu seemed young—close in age to Naruto and the others.

"A Mist tracking unit?"

"You're... just a kid."

Kakashi was somewhat surprised but didn't doubt the claim. After all, they were in the Land of Waves. The presence of Mist Anbu here wasn't entirely unusual. Additionally, the precision of the senbon attack—well-aimed and near-instantaneous—indicated elite training.

If the attack had been directed at Kakashi instead, he might have managed to defend himself with his Lightning Armor, but dodging it outright would have been impossible. Given the skill displayed, it was clear that this youth was not an ordinary ninja.

"You bastard, what's going on?!"

Naruto suddenly sprang forward, glaring up at the Mist Anbu with frustration.

His fists clenched as he pointed at the masked figure.

Naruto was struggling to accept the reality before him.

The Mist ninja before him wasn't much older than he was. Yet, this same person had just effortlessly eliminated a Jōnin—someone Naruto had been utterly powerless against.

The disparity between them was crushing.

Naruto had trained hard for years, enduring endless struggles, yet this mysterious youth had accomplished something he couldn't even dream of.

The realization stung.

It made him question everything.

Was all his effort meaningless?

"Naruto," Kakashi called out, his tone gentle yet firm.

Kakashi could sense Naruto's frustration. Was he angry? Certainly. But beneath that anger was a deeper emotion—one of self-doubt. It was natural to feel discouraged when confronted with someone whose abilities seemed so far beyond reach.

"Naruto, in this world, there are people younger than you... and stronger than me."

Kakashi placed a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder. His words were meant as both a lesson and encouragement.

After a brief pause, Kakashi crouched down to check Zabuza's condition. After confirming the lack of a pulse, he stood up and pulled Naruto a few steps back—just in case.

Seeing Kakashi retreat, the Mist Anbu swiftly moved toward Zabuza's lifeless body and hoisted it onto their back.

"Hatake Kakashi, I'll be taking my leave now."

A sudden gust of wind lifted the fallen leaves, swirling around the Mist Anbu and Zabuza's body as they prepared to vanish into the forest.

However, before they could disappear—

"Wait!"

A thunderous roar echoed through the woods.

A massive, three-to-four-meter-long shark-shaped water bullet shot out from the forest, hurtling toward Zabuza and the Mist Anbu.

(End of Chapter)