Chapter 47: Let Haku Deal with Yoruha
After chatting with Tazuna for a while, Kakashi called Yoruha, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura together for a meeting.
In the room, Kakashi sat in front of the four of them and said, "I need to make some arrangements for this escort mission."
"Since we need to protect Mr. Tazuna while also keeping up with training, I'm planning to divide you into two groups. The two groups will take turns protecting Mr. Tazuna."
"When one group is protecting Mr. Tazuna, the other group will train with me."
Hearing Kakashi's arrangement, Naruto immediately raised his hand. "Kakashi-sensei, I want to be in the same group as Sakura."
Sakura's mouth twitched, and she said with disgust, "No way."
Sakura's blunt rejection left Naruto heartbroken.
"Sakura, let's be in the same group."
Naruto said.
Even though Sakura had always made it clear that she didn't like Naruto and liked Sasuke instead, Naruto still refused to give up.
At this point, Sakura was the goddess in Naruto's heart.
The way Naruto acted even had a bit of a simp-like quality to it.
But the more intimately Naruto acted, the less Sakura liked it.
So she still said with distaste, "I said no."
Sakura quickly added, "I want to be in the same group as Sasuke."
Sasuke didn't show much reaction.
He didn't care which group he was in.
Yoruha was the same.
Kakashi looked at Naruto and Sakura and got a headache.
"All right. Sasuke and Naruto in one group, Yoruha and Sakura in the other. That settles it."
When Naruto heard that plan, he jumped up in anger. "Why? I don't want to be in the same group as Sasuke!"
Naruto's face was full of indignation. The person he hated most was Sasuke.
Sakura was stunned for a moment too. She didn't dislike Yoruha.
She just wanted even more to be paired with Sasuke.
So she was a little dissatisfied as well.
But after looking at Yoruha's calm expression, she didn't say anything.
Seeing Naruto point at him with a face full of disgust, Sasuke was displeased too. "Like I'd want to be grouped with the dead last."
Naruto clenched his fists and glared at Sasuke. "Bastard, Sasuke, this isn't the Ninja Academy anymore. Do you really think you're still stronger than me?"
Sasuke wanted to retort, but after thinking about Naruto's personality, he ultimately kept his mouth shut.
Not because he was afraid of Naruto, but because if he kept arguing with him, the annoyed one would be himself.
Seeing that Sasuke had stopped talking, Naruto turned his fire on Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, aren't you being way too biased? Why does Yoruha get to be in the same group as Sakura?"
"Sakura isn't even on the same team as Yoruha."
Yoruha's expression stayed calm.
He really didn't care which group he was in.
If anything, he would have preferred to be alone.
Kakashi looked at Naruto and explained, "I divided it this way because Yoruha is strong enough to protect Sakura. As for you and Sasuke, while neither of you is especially strong, if you work together, you can at least protect yourselves."
Naruto froze for a second.
Then he looked at Sasuke.
"I'm not teaming up with Sasuke."
Still, he was happy about it. After all, Kakashi had acknowledged his strength.
Sasuke nodded. He agreed with the grouping too.
Sakura, however, looked a little helpless. "Kakashi-sensei, are you saying I'm the weakest?"
Although it was the truth, and during the battle with Zabuza Naruto hadn't performed especially well, he had still done better than Sakura.
Sakura knew that very clearly.
When it came to combat, she was the weakest on the team.
At this point, Sakura honestly didn't have much combat ability at all.
She only knew the Academy Three Basic Techniques and some basic use of ninjutsu.
Her fighting ability was far below even Naruto's.
Kakashi didn't answer Sakura's question, which amounted to silent agreement.
After the groups were decided, everyone went to rest.
Meanwhile, after Zabuza fled, he returned to his hideout in the forest.
In the room, Zabuza set down the Executioner's Blade and sat there in thought.
After a long while, the door opened.
A beautiful-looking person walked in from outside.
When Zabuza saw this person, he said, "Next time, you'll have to fight too. You saw the whole battle, didn't you?"
The person nodded, expression calm.
That person was Zabuza's assistant, Haku.
He was very beautiful—so beautiful that at first glance, anyone would think he was a pretty woman.
But in truth, Haku was a boy.
A ninja from the Yuki Clan of Kirigakure.
He possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
His strength was absolutely at the level of a Jonin.
If not for his personality, he would even count as one of the stronger ones among Jonin.
Haku walked in and stood beside Zabuza. "I saw it. That person is very strong, definitely not weaker than I am."
Zabuza's expression grew grave. "Yeah. His strength isn't below yours."
"If we want to complete this mission, we have to keep that kid occupied. As long as he's tied down, I'm confident I can kill Kakashi and finish the mission."
Thinking back on Yoruha's various performances in the battle, Haku said, "It seemed like his first real combat. Although the strength he showed was impressive, he clearly doesn't have much experience."
Zabuza nodded. "That kid should be Kakashi's student, and probably a newly graduated genin from the Ninja Academy."
"If that kid is allowed to live, Konohagakure is going to gain a powerful ninja."
"But that has nothing to do with us. If we want to complete this mission, that kid has to die."
Haku fell silent.
He didn't want to kill anyone.
Especially since he had no grudge against Yoruha.
Zabuza glanced at Haku. He knew Haku's temperament.
"Haku, you need to understand. If that kid doesn't die, we won't be able to complete this mission. We have to complete it."
"Your kindness shouldn't be wasted on him."
Haku said nothing.
Even so, he still didn't want to kill.
But he also knew Zabuza was right—they had to complete this mission.
Because they had been hunted by Kirigakure's Anbu the whole time, and it was hard for them to settle in one place long enough to take missions steadily.
If they wanted to survive, they had to complete Gato's mission.
Haku knew that in the end, he would probably have no choice.
Just as Haku and Zabuza were talking, the front door was kicked open.
Two samurai holding long blades appeared in the doorway.
Zabuza frowned.
He was very displeased that the door had been kicked open.
The two samurai felt Zabuza's icy stare and both shivered.
They knew very well how dangerous Zabuza was.
They hurriedly stepped aside, and Gato walked out from behind them.
He didn't seem afraid of Zabuza at all.
The moment he came in, he shouted angrily, "Zabuza, why didn't you kill that old bastard Tazuna? Aren't you a Jonin from Kirigakure?"
"I'm paying you such a high reward, so why haven't you completed the mission?"
Zabuza shot Gato a cold look.
That chilling aura made Gato take a step back.
But his status as the employer made him stop and glare back. "I only hired you because I heard you were strong. You've really disappointed me."
Gato said coldly.
Just as Gato was about to say more, he suddenly felt a line of blood appear across his neck.
Looking at the Executioner's Blade resting against his throat, Gato panicked.
His whole body trembling, he said, "Y-you, what are you trying to do? You're going to kill your own employer?"
"If you dare kill me, your reputation will be finished. In the ninja world, you'll never be able to take another mission from anyone again."
Zabuza said coldly, "If you dare keep yapping, I'll make your head fall off right now."
Feeling Zabuza's thick killing intent, Gato swallowed hard. He was truly scared now.
He felt like Zabuza really would kill him.