"Gato, you have exploited the people of the Land of Waves for so many years and killed countless innocents. Today, it's time for you to pay the price!"
Tazuna showed no fear as he stared at Gato with an expression of cold determination.
At this moment, Naruto and the others had already stepped out of the shadows, standing firmly by Tazuna's side.
Tazuna had witnessed their strength firsthand just yesterday. Against Naruto and his group, the three hundred or so men Gato had brought were as good as useless. Even if their numbers were ten times greater, they wouldn't stand a chance against these shinobi.
"Zabuza?! So you're still alive!" Gato shouted, his face twitching in surprise. However, his shock quickly turned into rage. "You took so much of my money and still failed to complete the job? What a waste!"
His voice dripped with frustration as he continued, "What kind of so-called Jonin are you? What kind of so-called number one assassin?! Get rid of that old man, Tazuna, this instant!"
If Tazuna completed the bridge, Gato's monopoly over the Land of Waves would crumble. His sea trade routes would become obsolete, and his vast fortune would shrink overnight. He couldn't allow that to happen.
Zabuza, however, remained unfazed. "I have no intention of completing your mission. As promised, I'll return your commission threefold."
Then, gripping the handle of his massive executioner's blade, his voice turned chillingly cold. "But after the way you just spoke to me, I've decided I'm definitely going to kill you."
Gato's smug expression shattered, and he stumbled backward, frantically pushing his men in front of him like a human shield.
"W-What are you all standing around for?! Kill him! Kill them all!" Gato screeched, his voice cracking with panic.
Zabuza snorted. "I already told you I'm here to send you to hell."
With that, he swung his executioner's blade and charged into the mob.
"S-Stop him! Stop him!!" Gato screamed, retreating as fast as his short legs could carry him.
But there was no stopping Zabuza. Like a tiger pouncing into a flock of sheep, he cut down anyone in his path. Limbs flew, and blood splattered as mercenaries screamed in agony. No one could stand against him for long.
"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke let's assist!" Kakashi ordered, following Zabuza's lead.
But Naruto had a different plan.
Instead of engaging with the mercenaries, he used the Body Flicker Technique to dart past them, leaping over the chaotic battlefield to pursue the fleeing Gato.
Gato was the leader. If he fell, the rest would scatter like headless chickens.
"Stop that brat! Don't let him reach the boss!" some mercenaries shouted, realizing Naruto's intent.
Several samurai wielding swords rushed to block his way.
Naruto formed hand seals rapidly. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
With a deep breath, he spewed a massive fireball forward. The searing heatwave blasted down the bridge, engulfing the samurai.
"Aaaahhh!!" Their screams echoed as they were consumed by flames, their charred bodies collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Gato, witnessing the massacre, completely lost control of his bladder. A dark stain spread down his trousers as he ran in blind terror, water droplets trailing behind him.
When he turned back and saw the boy in orange sprinting towards him, his heart nearly stopped.
He wished more than anything that he had been born with extra legs so he could run faster.
But he wasn't a ninja. He was just a middle-aged, overweight businessman with zero stamina. Naruto easily caught up.
With a powerful kick to the back, Naruto sent Gato sprawling to the ground, landing hard on his stomach.
"P-Please, don't kill me! I have money! Lots of money! I'll give you as much as you want!" Gato begged, scrambling forward on all fours, his face twisted in pure terror.
For a man who had spent his life exploiting others, this was the lowest, most pathetic moment of his existence. But right now, pride meant nothing to him—only survival.
Naruto's gaze remained cold. "When you do evil for too long, karma catches up with you."
He pressed his foot on Gato's back, pinning him down. With his right hand, he pulled out a kunai from his pouch.
"I like money," Naruto admitted. "But not dirty money stained with innocent blood."
Then, with a swift motion—
Slash!
The kunai sliced cleanly across Gato's throat.
Blood gushed as Gato clutched at his neck, his body convulsing. Panic, regret, and sheer helplessness flickered across his face. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no sound came out. Within seconds, his body went still.
"The boss is dead!"
"Run for your lives!!"
One mercenary's panicked scream was all it took.
The remaining thugs dropped their weapons and fled in all directions. Some even leaped off the bridge into the waters below, desperate to escape.
The nightmare that had plagued the Land of Waves was finally over.
As for Gato's remaining assets, his former subordinates would likely pillage them and vanish. That wasn't something Team 7 needed to worry about.
Zabuza and Haku, the newly appointed protectors of the Land of Waves, would take care of the rest.
Team 7 stayed at Tazuna's house for a few more days to ensure the village's safety. Once things settled, they had no reason to linger.
It was time to return to Konoha.
Years later, when Naruto returned to the Land of Waves, he was surprised to find that the bridge connecting it to the Land of Fire had been named "The Great Naruto Bridge"—just like in the original timeline.
Even more astonishing, the newly established ninja village in the Land of Waves had been named "Naruto Hidden Village."
But those were stories for another time.
Back in Konoha, at the Hokage's office—
"Oh? So this turned into an A-rank mission or higher?" Hiruzen Sarutobi mused, puffing on his pipe as he listened to Kakashi's report.
The old Hokage had been surprised when he heard about the events that unfolded. If only regular mercenaries had been involved, it would've been a B-rank mission at most. But with rogue ninjas like Zabuza in the mix, it had undoubtedly escalated to A-rank.
"Yes," Kakashi confirmed, finally looking up from his book. "Honestly, if not for Naruto, things wouldn't have gone as smoothly as they did."
He proceeded to explain how Naruto had handled the mission with surprising maturity.
The Hokage listened carefully, a knowing smile forming on his lips.
Naruto was growing stronger. And at this rate, he would soon be a force to be reckoned with.
(End of Chapter)
(This is the last chapter that I have translated I won't be uploading any chapters Tomorrow if I did than it would be at evening or something. Have my project presentation tomorrow, and it's not done yet T_T. Am cooked fr. Aly_Salah thanks man for always pointing out my mistakes)