Chapter 321: Brats, Call Me Master Gato from Now On!
Hidden Leaf Village.
Mission Assignment Hall.
After Itachi Uchiha left, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was helping to process some of the backlogged missions at the hall. He happened to run into the restless Team 7 and casually assigned them a B-rank escort mission.
"Can these little brats really escort me safely to the Land of Hot Water? I paid a top-tier commission!" The fat client with a cigar pointed at the brats of Team 7 and said, "I need higher-level ninjas!"
He suddenly took a few steps forward, waving his hands and shouting, spittle flying from his mouth, "This could involve a battle between ninjas!"
"They are all excellent ninjas from the village, and the team is led by Kakashi of the Sharingan… I imagine that should meet your excellency's requirements."
Hiruzen was completely unconcerned. The Land of Hot Water was not far from Konoha, and it was a peaceful ninja village. He didn't think anything would go wrong.
"If it's Kakashi of the Sharingan…" The client finally wiped the sweat from his face and nodded, muttering, "Perhaps he can defeat those pursuing enemies."
The Third Hokage said seriously, "Please believe in the strength of our Konoha ninjas."
"I hope so!"
The fat client then turned his head to look at the three brats of Team 7 and said fiercely, "You little brats, remember to call me Master Gato!"
However, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki exchanged a glance, a look of disgust involuntarily appearing on their faces.
This person who had posted a B-rank mission in Konoha was none other than Gato.
Originally, he was one of the sea merchants of the Land of Waves. Because he had a flexible mind, he was the first merchant in the Land of Waves to side with the mysterious organization.
Over the years, Gato had made a lot of money through the developed trade in the Land of Waves and was a little unwilling to be controlled like this. Therefore, he had planned to launch a coup to overthrow the mysterious organization in the Land of Waves and take control of it himself.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated the strength of Zabuza Momochi and Haku. He had hired over a hundred wandering samurai and even some rogue ninjas from other enemy countries, but they had all been slaughtered.
Helpless, Gato had no choice but to flee to the Land of Fire. He had originally planned to hire a group of Konoha ninjas to launch a counterattack, but he hadn't expected Konoha's controls to be extremely strict, forbidding any casual participation in the coups and wars of other neighboring countries.
It was said that the upcoming Fifth Hokage of Konoha, as well as the Hokage's Assistant, Lady Tsunade, were very lenient towards the Land of Waves.
No Konoha ninja, without their application, was forbidden from landing in the Land of Waves, to avoid any objections from their ally, the Hidden Mist Village.
Similarly, to show respect for Konoha, the Hidden Mist would not send ninjas to set foot on the land of Konoha's early ally, the Land of Whirlpools.
Gato could only choose to hire a team of Konoha ninjas to escort him to the Land of Hot Water for refuge. After all, that was recognized in the ninja world as a peaceful country. It should allow him to hide for a while.
"Hey, Teacher Kakashi, do we really have to protect this fat guy who looks super, super annoying?" Naruto pressed his cheek and couldn't help but look up, agitated. "He looks like a lot of trouble!"
"Didn't you think the low-rank missions were too boring?"
Kakashi Hatake patted his yellow hair, bent down, and looked at his three disciples. "You three wait for me outside. I have something to discuss with the Third Hokage."
"Oh…"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura pouted and nodded with aggrieved faces, taking their still-dissatisfied Master Gato and leaving the Mission Assignment Hall.
After the kids had left.
Kakashi's eyes changed. "Lord Hokage, is it really appropriate for them to go so far on a mission at this time?"
Ever since the incidents of jinchuriki disappearing had broken out one after another, the remaining Land of Fire and Land of Lightning had become more and more concerned about the safety of their jinchuriki. It was said that the Eight-Tails jinchuriki had been put in confinement by the Fourth Raikage a long time ago, with heavy troops guarding him.
The reason the Land of Fire wasn't as tense was because Itachi's strength was sufficient, and he believed that a jinchuriki should not be shackled.
However, Itachi had ultimately found the Kakashi he recognized to be the supervising Jonin of Team 7, which also carried the meaning of protecting Naruto.
"Kakashi, Naruto possesses a tenacious will. He should not be bound in a cage. Only by experiencing some hardships will he grow." Hiruzen shook his head. "I believe the Fifth's view is the same as mine."
"But this matter hasn't been reviewed by the Fifth or Lady Tsunade, has it?"
Kakashi's expression was still not good. He was more convinced by Itachi's attitude.
In comparison, the Third Hokage, with his years of corrupt and conservative thinking, was clearly a bit out of touch with the times.
"Kakashi, to this day, I am still the acting Hokage of this village." Hiruzen's eyelids drooped, and he said in a cold voice, "Believe that I still have some judgment. We must learn to try and temper the budding sprouts of the next generation."
"Yes."
At this point, Kakashi could only helplessly lower his head.
Just at this moment, Tsunade strode in and muttered, "I just found out that a person named Gato registered for entry. I heard that guy came to the Mission Assignment Hall. Have you seen him?"
"…Lady Tsunade, that is our Team 7's protection target." Kakashi turned his head in confusion. "Is there something wrong?"
"Pro… protection target…"
Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then her expression changed. She clenched her fist and slammed it on the table. "That guy moves really fast!"
Hiruzen looked up. "Tsunade… did something happen?"
"Oh, it's nothing. That guy is a wanted criminal, suspected of embezzling money from the sea trade of the Land of Water and the Land of Waves…" Tsunade flicked her hair and said nonchalantly, "A message came from the Hidden Mist, hoping we can assist in capturing this wanted criminal."
"…Is that so…"
Hiruzen looked a little embarrassed. The Hidden Mist was Konoha's most important ally at present, yet he had just accepted a mission commission from the Mist's wanted criminal. Although the current situation had arisen because of an intelligence issue, it still made the old Hokage lose some face.
He was clearly on the verge of being forced to retire, yet he had to come out and exert some of his remaining authority, and as a result, this trouble had occurred…
Generally speaking, allied ninja villages would do their best to avoid the occurrence of hostile situations. For example, if Konoha and the Mist received mutually hostile missions, they would, based on the specific situation and their respective villages' interests, decide for themselves whether to abandon or continue, to avoid affecting the relationship between the two great ninja villages.
Although Konoha was currently stronger, and the Mist was in the position of a little brother, it was usually the Mist ninjas who gave up the mission. This was an unwritten practice.
However, sometimes Konoha also had to consider the little brother's attitude. The alliance between Konoha and the Mist was very close, and they had sent a letter to Konoha stating that a wanted criminal had fled to the Land of Fire…
Clearly, this Gato was a big problem…
A mere B-rank mission, how could it be more important than their relationship with the Hidden Mist!
Moreover, Konoha's Fifth Hokage, Itachi Uchiha, and the highest authority in the Hidden Mist, Kisame Hoshigaki, had a very good relationship…
"Since it's Team 7 that took the mission…"
Tsunade glanced at Kakashi and waved her hand. "Forget it. For such a troublesome matter, I'll just pass the intelligence directly to them and let them make their own decision!"
When you run into trouble, just push it back!
She couldn't be bothered to deal with this kind of problem!
"Hey, Tsunade, stop!"
Hiruzen suddenly stood up. "This is not a small matter. We must discuss it properly. You can't decide so rashly!"
"…Alright, alright!"
"Old man, just enjoy your golden years in peace!"
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