Chapter 110: The White Dove Takes Flight
Thick fog rolled in. The Land of Waves was an island nation shrouded in mist all year round.
A fleet of boats moved across the sea with great fanfare, slowly heading toward Tazuna's group...
Seeing such a conspicuous display, Tazuna widened his eyes in alarm. "Are you all crazy? Why make such a huge commotion?"
The captain of the lead wooden boat laughed as he replied, "Relax, Tazuna. Gato's people haven't come to cause trouble for many days now!"
"What?!"
Tazuna stared in shock, muttering in disbelief, "How is that possible? That greedy bastard actually just gave up like that?"
Hearing this, Kakashi couldn't help frowning. "Mr. Tazuna, what exactly is going on here?"
Ten minutes later...
Just like in the original story, Tazuna told them the full truth about the Land of Waves. However, unlike the original plot...
Before Team Seven had even made a move, Gato seemed to have already given up!
"I'm very sorry for deceiving you."
With an apologetic expression, Tazuna bowed deeply to everyone in Team Seven. "To show my apology, please come to my home and let me properly treat you!"
Clearly, Tazuna was still uneasy. He feared this might just be one of Gato's delaying tactics!
"Hahaha, old man, don't worry!"
Naruto proudly patted his Konoha forehead protector and laughed foolishly. "That Gato guy must've heard the name of us Konoha ninjas and gotten so scared he ran off!"
"Let's hope so..."
Tazuna's eyes grew a little moist. The people of the Land of Waves had already sacrificed far too much for this bridge.
But...
"Will things really be that simple?"
Walking at the very back, Li Jiexuan couldn't help curling his lips into a faint smile. "Sometimes, things always end up heading in the worst possible direction."
Just like in the original plot, Tazuna brought Team Seven back to his home and told them the story of how his son-in-law was brutally killed for resisting Gato. This earned Team Seven's sympathy, and they all vowed to protect Tazuna until the bridge was completed!
The crafty old Tazuna had been taking advantage of Naruto and the others' compassion. Yet what no one expected was that the days that followed were eerily peaceful...
No ninja battles, no conspiracies—there wasn't even a single street thug in sight.
Another calm day. At the dinner table in Tazuna's house...
"So boring!" Naruto bounced around nonstop, refusing to stay still like a monkey.
Kakashi, who was reading Icha Icha Paradise, shook his head helplessly. "Naruto, have you already mastered the tree-climbing exercise I taught you a few days ago?"
"Oh, right—tree climbing!"
Naruto suddenly turned his head toward Sasuke. "Sasuke, wanna compete?"
"Who wants to compete with trash like you?"
Sasuke curled his lip in disdain. Yet five minutes later, deep in the chakra forest, two boys with completely different temperaments were sprinting wildly up towering trees...
Tsundere really was a chronic illness of the Uchiha clan!
"Has the plot started?"
Li Jiexuan sneered inwardly and gently tugged at Bai's sleeve. "Sis, I scraped my arm..."
Kakashi cast a casual glance and saw that Li Jiexuan's fair little arm was indeed red and swollen...
"I've got some ointment here!"
Tazuna smiled as he took it out, but Bai smiled and waved her hand, lifting a basket instead. "I'll go gather some medicinal herbs."
Since the Li siblings usually didn't like to trouble others, Tazuna didn't think much of it...
But Kakashi's dull, dead-fish eyes flicked toward Li Jiexuan. For some reason, he always felt that this child... was dangerous!
Still, a three-year-old child...
Kakashi shook his head, chalking it up to overthinking, and returned his attention to Icha Icha Paradise. At that moment, Bai stepped outside, gently raised his hand, and a white dove landed in his palm.
"Go. Proceed according to plan."
The white dove spread its wings and flew into the sky. Bai unconsciously tightened his grip on the basket of herbs...
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