Tazuna gulped under Kakashi's sharp gaze, shifting uncomfortably. His eyes darted toward the two unconscious assassins, then to the four shinobi who had so easily taken them down. He hesitated for a moment before rubbing the back of his head and laughing nervously.
"Well… uh… you see, the thing is… I might've… slightly downplayed the danger of this mission," he admitted.
Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temple. "Tazuna-san."
Tazuna held up his hands. "Listen, listen, I had to! If I told you guys the truth, the mission would've been bumped to a higher rank, and I can't afford that! The Land of Waves is poor, and Gatō's got us by the throat! If I didn't do this, the bridge would never be finished, and we'd all be doomed! I had to take a chance!"
Sakura looked horrified. "Wait, wait, wait—so this isn't just some simple escort mission? You lied to the Hokage?!"
Tazuna flinched but stayed firm. "I had no choice!"
Kakashi exhaled heavily, crossing his arms. "This mission was assigned as a C-rank, but these two were professionals. This means we're dealing with a much bigger threat than simple bandits." His visible eye sharpened. "And you knew this."
Tazuna lowered his gaze. "I… yeah."
Sasuke scoffed. "Tch. Typical."
Naruto just stared at him, blank and unreadable. He wasn't particularly surprised. Humans lied all the time. He had seen it in every life he had lived—desperation, fear, greed. It was all the same. Still, he wasn't sure how to feel about this.
Sakura turned to Kakashi. "Sensei, shouldn't we go back and report this? If this is actually an A-rank mission, then we shouldn't be handling it, right?"
Kakashi hummed, considering. "Technically, yes."
Tazuna's shoulders slumped. "So… you're really going to leave?" His voice was strained, his fists clenched. "You're just going to let us suffer? Let him win?"
There was silence.
Naruto felt the weight of the moment settle over them. Tazuna wasn't just trying to build a bridge—he was trying to free his people. It was a battle of survival, of resistance against a tyrant who saw them as nothing more than tools to exploit.
Naruto had been prey before. Had been hunted, had been powerless. He knew what it was like to have no control over his own fate.
Slowly, he turned to Kakashi. "We're already here."
Kakashi glanced at him.
Naruto continued, voice quiet but steady. "It'll take too long to get a replacement team. If we leave, they won't get help in time. If we stay, we might be able to finish this before it gets worse."
Sasuke huffed. "I can handle an A-rank mission."
Sakura bit her lip but, after a moment, nodded. "If we're careful, we can do this."
Kakashi studied them for a moment before sighing. "Alright. We'll continue."
Tazuna let out a breath of relief. "Thank you. Seriously, thank you."
Naruto didn't respond.
The journey continued, the air heavier than before. Now that they knew the stakes, every rustling leaf, every distant movement in the trees, every shadow felt like a potential threat.
Kakashi remained alert, but his body language was still relaxed—watchful, but unbothered.
Naruto, however, was more tense than usual. His mind kept circling back to one thing.
Those assassins had attacked Kakashi first.
A direct move to remove the strongest fighter. Which meant they knew who Kakashi was. Which meant they expected him.
This wasn't random.
They knew about Team 7.
They knew their route.
Naruto's fingers twitched.
They weren't just dealing with assassins.
Someone had planned this.
By late afternoon, they reached a wide riverbank. Tazuna led them to a small boat, explaining that they had to cross quietly since Gatō's men patrolled the area.
Naruto didn't like the water.
He had died in water before—drowned, hunted, dragged beneath the depths.
Still, he didn't hesitate as he stepped into the boat, settling himself as Tazuna paddled them forward.
The river was eerily quiet, mist rolling in thicker as they moved.
By the time they reached the other side, the air felt almost suffocating.
They walked for a few more minutes before Naruto's eyes narrowed.
Something was watching them.
Then—
Shhhk!
A massive sword whirled through the air, slamming into a tree with a deadly thunk.
The air turned deadly still.
Then, a deep voice rumbled from above.
"Well, well. I was hoping to see you, Copy Ninja Kakashi."
A figure stood on the sword's hilt, looming over them with a shark-like grin.
Zabuza Momochi.
Kakashi's eye darkened. "Everyone, stay back."
Naruto didn't need to be told twice.
This wasn't just another enemy.
This was real.
This was a true predator.
And for the first time in a long time, Naruto felt like prey again.