Facing the sea, toward the Land of Fire.
Over the strait that Menma and the others had crossed yesterday, there stood an unfinished bridge. This was the bridge Tazuna had dedicated himself to, the bridge he hoped would bring courage and hope to the people of the Land of Waves.
After more than a year of work, construction had reached its final phase.
As long as this last section was completed...
The Land of Waves would be successfully connected to the Land of Fire.
This was something Gatō could not allow. However, the wealthy merchant's brain didn't seem to work too well—at least, that's how it appeared to Menma. There were plenty of ways to sabotage the bridge, and plenty of opportunities to kill Tazuna.
Yet this guy chose the most complicated and difficult method to implement.
It was a wonder he had become a wealthy merchant. One could only say his luck must have been incredible before this. Otherwise, with a brain like that, if his luck were even slightly worse, he would have been eaten alive without even bones left. But this played right into Menma's hands. If Gatō had been truly smart, it would have been troublesome.
Menma brought Naruto to the entrance of the bridge. From a distance, he saw Sasuke and Sakura standing guard on opposite sides. Kakashi was leaning leisurely against the trunk of a large tree, reading his "treasure book."
Noticing Menma and Naruto's arrival...
A flash of surprise appeared in Kakashi's eyes.
He gently closed the book, leaped down, and landed in front of them, asking first, "Menma, Naruto, you're back so soon. Have you found something already?"
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei. Here's what happened..."
Menma nodded and approached, then concisely reported the intelligence he had gathered to Kakashi.
After listening, Kakashi's eyes flickered slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
Originally, Kakashi had thought this situation was connected to the Land of Water and the Hidden Mist Village. Even though Zabuza was a missing-nin, who could say for sure what happened in the ninja world? Every village had its secrets. As a ninja who had been in the world for over twenty years, Kakashi understood this thoroughly.
Therefore, before anything was confirmed, Kakashi wouldn't make snap judgments. But now it seemed this mission really didn't have deep ties; it was just the result of a profit-driven merchant named Gatō.
"Is this 100% confirmed? Menma!"
Kakashi asked Menma with a slightly serious expression.
"Nine out of ten, Kakashi-sensei. Verification is simple. If the intel is correct, within an hour or two at most, we should see Mr. Gatō arrive personally with his men. If by that time..."
Menma nodded lightly. Just as he started speaking...
Wooooo!!
From the sea directly to the south, the sound of a relatively large ship approaching suddenly rang out.
Ordinary people might not hear it easily.
But as ninja, Kakashi, Menma, and the others had senses far sharper than average people. They could easily detect subtle changes.
Instinctively, they turned their gazes toward the sound.
"See? Isn't he here already? Kakashi-sensei."
Menma said with a smile.
Especially since he hadn't detected any chakra fluctuations within his sensory range, the smile in Menma's eyes deepened.
There really is such a stupid guy!
"He's quite punctual!"
Beside him, Naruto commented with slight surprise.
"Alright then. Let's go take a look."
Kakashi shook his head, seemingly amused.
Immediately after.
He led Menma and Naruto, speeding toward the direction of the approaching ship. Sasuke and Sakura, far away in the center of the bridge, also noticed the movement of the three.
"Eh? Where are Kakashi-sensei and the others going? Have they already confirmed Gatō's location? Or is it that ship?"
Sakura went to the railing on the left side of the bridge, leaning over and watching the three receding figures with curiosity.
Sasuke glanced over instinctively but didn't pay much attention. As mentioned yesterday, Gatō was just an ordinary person. No matter how rich he was, Sasuke wouldn't have any interest in him. Right now, he was only interested in getting stronger!
"Ehhhh?! How can Kakashi-sensei and the others walk on water? Huh? What kind of ability is that?"
However, in the next second, just as Sasuke turned his gaze away...
He was drawn back by Sakura's exclamation.
Turning his gaze back again...
This time, Sasuke lost his composure.
After all, at this stage, neither Sasuke nor Sakura had been exposed to tree-climbing or water-walking training. Seeing Kakashi—and even Menma and Naruto—sprinting across the water surface as if it were flat ground... Sakura's reaction aside...
A special light shone in Sasuke's eyes.
Watching the three completely disappear into the distance...
Sasuke didn't say anything, but he made up his mind internally: When Kakashi returns, I must ask him clearly about this!
Leaving the two behind...
Kakashi, Menma, and Naruto sped across the water, getting closer and closer to the rapidly approaching ship. Menma wasn't surprised at all that Naruto could sprint on water. Naruto's identity in this life was vastly different from the original story. Just because no one taught him in the original didn't mean no one taught him in this life.
As for Kakashi knowing Menma could walk on water, that was normal too.
Over the past twelve years, would Hiruzen Sarutobi not know what Menma was doing? As the Jōnin chosen by Hiruzen to lead Team 7, Kakashi would have been briefed on such intel beforehand.
Only Naruto seemed a bit demoralized.
"Ah? So you've finished tree-climbing and water-walking training too, Menma? I thought I was the only one who mastered it ahead of time."
Naruto spoke with a hint of discouragement.
He had thought he could finally pull ahead of Menma in something, but unexpected, Menma had already completed the training long ago.
"Yeah, just some little tricks from my past life... I mean, daily life."
Menma smiled faintly and replied.
"Eh? Daily life? That's..."
"Alright, enough chitchat. We're at the target location!"
Just as Naruto was about to ask curiously...
Up close...
The ship was now clearly visible to the three of them.
Kakashi interrupted Naruto immediately.
"Remember, primary objective: ensure the capture of Gatō, 100%. Understood?"
"Yes!"