Menma had initially planned to find a suitable opportunity after arriving in the Land of Waves to have an "offline meetup" with that wealthy merchant, Gatō. Now that it could be proposed openly, it saved him a lot of unnecessary trouble.
On the way back with Kakashi...
Menma was already calculating in his mind where to start tomorrow.
Gatō could control the Land of Waves for two reasons. First, his own forces were strong enough—at least stronger than the Land of Waves—making the people dare not speak out against him. Second, there were definitely traitors within the Land of Waves. Often, the best way to dismantle a group's power was to breach it from within.
So, Menma could totally start his investigation from this angle. After all, the Land of Waves wasn't big. Unless Gatō decisively abandoned his plans... but no matter how you looked at it, Gatō didn't seem like a particularly smart person.
Daring to threaten Zabuza to his face, and thinking that a bunch of gangsters could stand up to ninja...
Those were definitely signs of brainlessness.
"Oh! You're back, Big Brother Kakashi, Menma!"
Naruto, who had been waiting somewhat bored in the house just a short walk away, lit up when he saw the two returning.
Instinctively, he wanted to ask something, but seeming to remember something, he forcibly swallowed his words.
His expression looked somewhat constipated.
Seeing this, Kakashi shook his head inwardly with amusement.
"Starting tomorrow, the four of you will split into two groups. Menma will go investigate intelligence on the employer of our enemies—Gatō. As for the other three... two of you will protect Tazuna-san while he builds the bridge, and the other will assist Menma. You can rotate shifts. The specific order is up to you four to decide."
Kakashi crossed his arms and addressed Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
"Oh? Gatō? Are we taking the initiative to attack?"
A look of excitement appeared on Naruto's face, and he seemed eager to try.
Compared to passively waiting for battle, Naruto preferred taking the initiative. And again, Naruto wasn't stupid; he also considered that their group couldn't stay in the Land of Waves forever.
If that big bad guy named Gatō waited until they left before attacking Old Man Tazuna and the others, they would be too far away to help. But if they could deal with the source of the evil—Gatō—directly...
Naruto felt that the Land of Waves would definitely see a new dawn.
"Yes. We can't always be the passive ones."
Kakashi smiled and nodded.
"Oh oh oh! I understand, Big Brother Kakashi!"
Naruto nodded vigorously, clenched his fists, and replied with great momentum.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei."
Sakura chimed in from the side.
Sasuke just nodded slightly, his expression calm. Gatō was just an ordinary person; Sasuke couldn't care less about him.
"Ah? Kakashi-san, are you going to deal with Gatō? That's really... thank you all so much! But Gatō has many subordinates, so please be careful!"
Tazuna, who had just returned to the living room after helping his daughter prepare bedding for Kakashi and the others, heard the conversation. A look of pleasant surprise appeared on his aged face.
Originally, he had hesitated to make such a request. First, they were already going above and beyond to protect him. Second, Gatō was a very wealthy and unscrupulous merchant with countless men at his command.
Therefore, Tazuna had held back.
Now that Kakashi and the others had volunteered to search for Gatō, Tazuna was overjoyed but also worried. After all, his understanding of ninja was superficial. He genuinely thought that ordinary people, in large enough numbers, could threaten ninja.
This idea wasn't entirely wrong, but it depended on who the ninja were. Its applicability was very limited.
"Don't worry, Tazuna-san. We will deal with Gatō smoothly."
Kakashi smiled faintly, not explaining further.
"You can't possibly defeat Gatō! 'Deal with him smoothly'? That's just laughable, stupid talk! Heroes don't exist at all! You're just wasting your effort!!!"
Just as Kakashi finished speaking...
Suddenly.
From the hallway stairs.
A small figure appeared.
Shouting loudly and angrily, he looked at Kakashi, Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke with a gaze full of fury.
These unexpected words...
Caused everyone to freeze instinctively.
Tazuna, seeing the small figure, changed his expression abruptly and scolded him sharply.
"What are you saying, Inari?! That's very rude, do you know that? Apologize to the ninja-sama immediately!"
This small figure was Tazuna's grandson, Inari, only five or six years old. Tsunami, who had just finished preparing the bedding in another room, heard her son shouting and ran over, hugging him.
With deep apology, she bowed to Kakashi, Menma, and the others. "I am so sorry, ninja-sama. Inari is still young and doesn't know any better. Please forgive him. Inari! Apologize right now!"
The last sentence was directed at her son in her arms, her tone stricter than ever before.
"I'm not wrong! Why should I apologize?! They don't know how terrifying Gatō is! They're just showing off! Dad... Dad died just like that... These people are just talking big! In this world... in this world, there are no heroes!!"
Because he was young, and because he was ignorant, he was stubborn.
Even his mother and grandfather couldn't change Inari's mind. And remembering his dead father...
Inari's eyes filled with tears. As they rolled down his cheeks, Naruto and Sakura, who had been slightly annoyed, were stunned.
Sasuke frowned.
"Ah, this..."
Just as Kakashi was about to say something to diffuse the situation...
"What an ignorant and stupid brat. A brat should have the self-awareness of a brat. Want to cry? Then roll into a corner and cry by yourself. Seeing you here makes me sick, do you know that?!"
Menma turned around, looking at Inari with a gaze full of disgust, and spoke coldly.
A dense killing intent faintly emanated from him.
Inari felt a bone-chilling coldness wash over him. His eyes widened instinctively, and his body trembled uncontrollably. It was as if an invisible hand was choking him; his sobbing stopped abruptly, and fear flooded his heart.