"Mr. Zabuza, if you keep acting so recklessly, your injuries that could have healed won't improve!"
"Shut up. I know my own body best. Where's Kakashi? What's that guy been up to lately?"
"Kakashi has also been lying in bed resting lately."
"Do you understand? This is our last chance. If we fail again, you can find someone else!"
Gatō, followed by two bodyguards, said in a sarcastic tone to Haku and Zabuza.
These two guys aren't as capable as the rumors claim, and their tempers are even worse. I hope they can finally complete their mission successfully, or else...
Seeing Gatō's arrogant look, Zabuza picked up his Cleaver Sword and swept it horizontally, putting the blade to Gatō's neck.
"You... What are you doing..."
"You're so noisy. Just do your bit and leave the rest to us!"
Gatō has always been afraid of Zabuza. When a villain meets someone more vicious, he'll instinctively back down. That's exactly what Gatō did.
"I... I understand..."
After saying that, Gatō and his two bodyguards ran off without looking back. Only when he turned around did his sinister look show that he was in a very bad mood at the moment.
"Mr. Zabuza, this Gatō..."
"I know! That stinking guy in the gutter is just someone we're using. Once this is over, we'll get rid of him!"
"Yes, I understand, Mr. Zabuza."
Haku was smiling so meekly and gently, not looking like someone who was talking about ending a person's life at all.
"You're quite obedient."
"I only listen to you, Mr. Zabuza. Since the moment you picked me up, our fates have been tightly linked. I'd rather lose my life than betray you, Mr. Zabuza."
Zabuza stared at Haku's face and was silent for a long time.
This guy can really keep a straight face and blabber all these embarrassing things.
?(? ???ω??? ?)?
...................
"Mr. Tazuna, the radishes are so cheap today. Should we buy more?"
Sakura and Mr. Tazuna went out to buy groceries and were picking out the half - decent radishes from the few stalls.
"Oh~ They're really good. Then let's buy more!"
"Thud!"
The rickety wooden door of the vegetable store was kicked in hard, and a group of people rushed in menacingly.
"You... You're Gatō!"
Seeing Gatō, Mr. Tazuna stammered and stepped back quickly.
"Hey~ We're old acquaintances after all. You don't have to be so nervous when we run into each other."
"You bastard, what on earth do you want?"
"What do I want? I just want you to stop your bridge-building project. I'll give you a huge amount of money. Isn't it nice to live a rich life with your daughter and grandson with that money?"
Hearing this, Mr. Tazuna, who was a bit scared at first, burst into laughter.
"Haha~ Are you really that afraid of that bridge being built? The more afraid you are, the more I want to see your ugly face after the bridge is completed!"
"Damn it, You're being stubborn! If you don't accept my offer peacefully, you'll face the consequences! (Literal meaning: refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit) Grab them!"
With his face distorted, Gatō's bodyguards rushed in from behind and crowded into the small, dilapidated vegetable shop. They all looked like fiends, each holding a weapon.
Sakura immediately drew out a kunai from her pocket and stood in front of Mr. Tazuna to protect him.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What am I doing? Of course, I'm inviting you to come with me! You don't want me to hurt innocent people, do you?"
Gatō put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head slightly. Immediately, the bodyguards behind him dragged two kids in. Those were the kids she had given candies to before!
Gatō's subordinates put the blades of their weapons against the kids' necks. The kids' eyes were filled with fear and unease as they didn't know what they had done wrong and why they were being treated like this.
"Miss Ninja, you'd better think twice before you act!"
As Gatō spoke again, the blades got even closer to the kids' necks. The blades left a red mark on the delicate necks, and the kids started crying loudly in fear.
"You're such a despicable and shameless bastard!"
"Haha! I'll take that as a compliment. Take them away!"
..................
"Something terrible has happened! Tsunami, Mr. Tazuna and that young ninja girl have been taken away by Gatō's men!"
"Father!"
"Sakura!"
"Where are they? Where did they go?"
"Gatō told me to pass on a message to you when he left. He said to meet him at the bridge tomorrow morning. If you dare not go, he'll throw Mr. Tazuna and that girl off the bridge to feed the fish!"
"I got it!"
"Teacher Kakashi, Teacher Kakashi, shouldn't we go to save them right away?"
"Naruto, calm down. Since the enemy said they'll meet us at the bridge tomorrow, they won't hurt Sakura and Mr. Tazuna today. Besides, do you know where the enemy is hiding?"
"I..."
"Naruto, Kakashi is right. Don't be so impulsive all the time."
"Sasuke..."
"Liars, they're all liars! What nonsense about ordinary people should work harder. She worked so hard, but she still got caught. In the end, she'll end up like Dad, dead at Gatō's hands!"
"Inori!"
Tsunami wanted to scold Inori for talking nonsense at this time, but when she saw the child with tear - streaked face who was crying uncontrollably, she couldn't help but soften her heart.
"Inori hasn't done anything wrong, but fate is so unfair. He has to bear all these at an age when he should be playing happily."
"Inori, don't worry. Sakura and Uncle Tazuna will be fine. I know my teammate best. She's really strong!"
"But..."
Naruto squatted down to be at the same eye level as Inori. He held Inori's hand, warm and sincere.
"I promise you that I'll definitely bring Uncle Tazuna and Sakura back tomorrow. This is a promise between men!"
Inori's vision was blurred as she looked at Naruto, who was smiling brightly. For some reason, she thought of her father, and almost as if possessed, agreed.
"Naruto, please! I really can't afford to lose my grandpa. You've gotta bring those two back safe and sound."
"Then it's a deal!"
................
After Sakura and Tazuna were taken to a dark basement by Gatō's men, Sakura looked up at the dim surroundings and realized why they hadn't found Zabuza's hideout for so long - it turned out they were hiding underground.
................
<><><><><><><><>
~ 80+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
p-atreon.com/Tansnovel
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
~ Every 50 Powerstones = 4 Bonus Chapters on the weekend!