Half an hour later, at the entrance of Konohagakure.
The group of five set out on the road to Nami no Kuni.
"Wow, the air outside feels completely different!"
Sakura-chan, traveling far from home for the first time, was a bit excited and curiously took in the surrounding scenery.
Sasuke had his hands in his pockets, a cool expression on his face.
Yet, a hint of curiosity about the outside world flickered in his eyes.
Only Naruto, walking in the middle of the group, remained as calm as still water.
Behind the cover of his lenses, no one could see his gaze.
In reality, his sensory abilities were fully active.
This ability had begun to awaken back when he started practicing the breathing technique; after completing his elemental affinities—especially after awakening Yin Release Chakra—the world in his perception became even clearer.
By now, besides vaguely sensing others' emotions, Naruto could even detect Chakra fluctuations within a radius of several hundred meters.
As for Tazuna-san... the old man was clutching his backpack, looking around nervously as if an assassin were hiding behind every tree.
Clearly, Naruto earlier words had put him completely on high alert.
After walking for a while, the sky remained clear with the scorching sun overhead.
However, a puddle of water suddenly appeared on the road directly ahead.
Naruto felt somewhat speechless.
"A puddle suddenly appearing on dry ground on such a sunny day, and they didn't even bother with a visual genjutsu."
"It seems these wandering shinobi or nukenin usually deal with rookies or civilians; have they really become this lazy?"
Kakashi, walking at the very front, merely gave the puddle a casual glance without pausing his steps.
He continued walking as if he truly hadn't seen it.
Clearly, he wanted to use this incident to test his subordinates' powers of observation.
Just then, Sakura-chan, walking beside Naruto, suddenly reached out and lightly poked him in the waist.
She didn't speak, only gesturing toward the puddle ahead with her eyes and blinking.
She was subtly conveying to Naruto: there's something wrong with that puddle.
Naruto gave Sakura a somewhat surprised look.
Not only did she spot the trap, but she also didn't shout out in a panic, instead discreetly alerting her teammate.
"Not bad, her observation skills are up to par; the special training lately hasn't been in vain."
Naruto gave an almost imperceptible nod, indicating he understood.
Then, he cleared his throat to catch Sasuke attention to his front-right.
His fingers formed an extremely subtle hand sign:
"Enemies ahead. You lead the attack, we'll provide cover."
Sasuke gave a slight nod after seeing the signal.
He had noticed the puddle as well.
Thus, Sasuke quickened his pace, moving to the very front of the group by himself.
Though he appeared to be admiring the scenery, his hands in his pockets had already gripped two kunai.
His entire body tensed, instantly entering a combat-ready state.
Naruto and Sakura, one in front and one behind, quietly adjusted their positions, subtly shielding Tazuna-san behind them.
The moment the group stepped past the puddle, water erupted.
Splash!
The puddle instantly transformed into two figures wearing gas masks and wielding chained claws, bursting out from the water.
The Kirigakure nukenin duo, the Demon Brothers—Meizu and Gozu.
"The first one!"
The two coordinated perfectly, their chains lashing out instantly like venomous snakes to ensnare Kakashi, who was walking second.
With a powerful tug!
Splat!
Amidst a spray of mist, Kakashi appeared to be torn into pieces.
"The second one!"
Their movements were seamless, without the slightest pause.
Brandishing their chained claws, they lunged straight for Tazuna-san in the center of the group.
"Yah—!"
Although Sakura-chan had noticed them earlier, she was still startled when actually facing the murderous enemies.
However, her trained instincts moved faster than her thoughts.
She immediately pulled out a kunai and, along with Naruto, blocked the way in front of Tazuna-san, taking a defensive stance.
However, there was no need for them to act.
"Hmph."
A cold snort rang out.
Sasuke had leapt into the air at some unknown point.
A disdainful sneer curled on his lips as he threw a kunai.
Clang!
With a sharp metallic ring, the kunai accurately passed through a link in the chain, pinning it firmly to a tree trunk.
The Demon Brothers' fluid movements suddenly jerked to a halt.
In that instant, Sasuke-kun used the momentum to vault higher, bracing his hands on their shoulders and completing a graceful mid-air flip.
His legs lashed out like whips!
Bam! Bam!
Two powerful roundhouse kicks landed precisely on the Demon Brothers' faces.
"Ugh!"
The two Chunin cried out in pain and were sent flying, slamming heavily onto the ground.
Even their gas masks were kicked out of shape.
Before they could get up, Sasuke had landed.
He appeared behind them in a flash and delivered heavy knife-hand strikes to the back of their necks.
Thud.
Their eyes rolled back, and they passed out immediately.
From the start of the ambush to its conclusion, barely three seconds had passed.
Sasuke brushed the dust off his hands and turned his head, his tone arrogant:
"Too slow. Are these really Chunin from Kirigakure? Is this all they've got?"
Tazuna-san watched the scene, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
"This... it's already over? These kids are simply monsters!"
"Well done, Sasuke."
Kakashi stepped out from behind a tree, his tone relaxed.
"Your reaction was quick, and your movements were sharp."
"No, it's not enough."
Before Sasuke could fully savor the joy of victory, a voice broke the triumphant atmosphere.
Naruto suddenly moved.
He raised his hand and threw several shuriken.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Naruto shuriken pierced the Demon Brothers' wrists and ankles with cold precision, blood instantly staining the ground red.
"Aaah!!"
The intense pain jolted the unconscious duo awake, and they let out shrill screams.
"Naruto-kun!"
Sakura-chan's face turned pale at the bloody sight; she covered her mouth, her voice trembling:
"Why... why would you do that? They've already lost their ability to fight!"
Naruto stood straight, casting a cold glance at the two screaming on the ground before turning to the terrified Sakura.
He adjusted his glasses, his tone unnervingly calm:
"Sakura, put away that pointless mercy."
"If it were you lying on the ground, what do you think they would do?"
"Do you think they would spare you just because you lost the ability to fight?"
Naruto pointed at the assassins on the ground:
"No, they would only look at you with disdain, mocking your weakness while slitting your throat without hesitation."
"Mercy is reserved for comrades."
"As a shinobi, until safety is fully confirmed, any mercy shown to an enemy is an act of cruelty toward your teammates."
Naruto voice wasn't loud, yet it struck Sasuke and Sakura hearts like a heavy hammer.
Sasuke previously complacent expression softened significantly.
He looked at Naruto and nodded silently.
Sakura-chan bit her lip.
Though her mind was in turmoil, she understood that what Naruto said was the truth.
"Alright, interrogation time."
Kakashi stepped forward; not only did he not oppose Naruto actions, there was even a hint of appreciation in his eyes.
As the former "Cold-blooded Kakashi," he approved of Naruto perspective.
This mindset was the capital needed to survive in the shinobi world.
Subsequently, Kakashi used the Sharingan's genjutsu to easily extract the necessary information.
"Zabuza, huh..."
Kakashi brow furrowed.
This was a troublesome opponent—the Demon of the Mist of Kirigakure, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
A few minutes later, the interrogation ended.
"Dispose of them; they'll only be a burden if we bring them along."
Kakashi sighed and went to comfort the startled Tazuna-san.
Sasuke hesitated, but in the end, he didn't dare step forward.
Needless to say, neither did Sakura.
"Leave it to me."
Only Naruto took a step forward.
He looked at the two Kirigakure shinobi on the ground, their eyes filled with terror, and forced himself to keep his eyes wide open.
He wanted to remember this feeling.
Not for the pleasure of killing, but to overcome his instinctive resistance to it.
Whether as a shinobi or as a controller, this was a psychological threshold that had to be crossed.
Then, his hands formed seals as Chakra gathered in his throat:
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!!"
A massive ball of orange-red fire roared out, instantly engulfing the two on the ground.
Under the intense heat, the screams came to an abrupt halt.
A moment later, the flames dissipated.
Only a scorched patch remained on the ground.
The bodies, along with the blood, had all been turned to ash.
Naruto looked at the still-dazed Sakura-chan and said slowly:
"Giving the enemy a swift end—that is our greatest mercy."