97: Chapter 97 Suspicious Points! The Reality of the Ninja WorldThe newcomer released Tazuna, letting him walk alone towards Team 7.Tazuna, like a frightened bird, scrambled and stumbled as he ran towards Kakashi and the others.
At the same time, his figure moved like a ghost to Zabuza's "corpse" in an instant, easily carrying the tall body on his back.
His cold gaze swept over the 7th Squad, who were on high alert a hundred meters away, the warning clear—if there was any unusual movement, he would not hesitate to kill Tazuna from a distance.
Suppressing their resentment and anger, Team 7 could only watch helplessly as the newcomer, carrying Zabuza's "corpse," vanished completely into the depths of the dense forest in a few flashes.
"Whoa—!"
Tazuna finally collapsed at Kakashi's feet, his body limp, tears streaming down his face."I'm.I'm saved.I'm finally saved.I thought I was going to die."
Seeing Tazuna's disheveled state, and then looking at Naruto still indignantly clutching his sword, Sasuke's furrowed brows, and Sakura's helpless expression, Kakashi sighed and began to calm everyone down:
"Alright, this is the mission, this is the ninja world, this is reality."
Many times, we have to make compromises, at least…
He paused, looking in the direction of the Land of Waves, "Our main threat—Zabuza—has been 'dealt with,' and the next mission should proceed smoothly."
"Besides, we did get something out of it.Naruto, didn't you already get the Executioner's Blade you wanted most?" Kakashi cleverly shifted the focus.
"Hehe!That's true!"
Naruto lowered his head and stroked the massive blade, his face instantly brightening from gloomy to cheerful.He rubbed it proudly, "I told you, it's now called the Naruto Greatsword!My sword!"
Amidst Naruto's renewed silly grin, Team 7 mustered their strength, helped the weak-legged Tazuna, and set off once again for his home.
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Another part of my journey home has passed.
"Hey?Kakashi-sensei, why are you stopping?"
Naruto was excitedly brandishing his large sword when he suddenly noticed Kakashi had stopped, his brows furrowed, and his sharp eyes scanning the silent forest around him.
Kakashi stood there, his Sharingan beneath his headband seemingly burning faintly: "No.something's not right."
"…Something's not right?" Sasuke immediately became alert, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.
"We had already 'defeated' Zabuza, the strongest threat, and… I even watched him 'die' with my own eyes and personally examined and confirmed his 'body'…"
Kakashi's voice trailed off, filled with deep doubt, "But.why do I have this lingering unease?Could that Gato.possibly summon an even more powerful ninja assassin than Zabuza?"
This is illogical; it's already the limit for a merchant to be able to persuade Zabuza in a short period of time.
"Hmph!Who cares how many more come!"
Naruto confidently brandished his "Naruto Greatsword," declaring, "Nothing can withstand one of my strikes!"
"No, Naruto, that's not the problem."
Tazuna couldn't help but interrupt, "Hey, hey, what nonsense are you ninjas talking about?"
That terrifying eyebrowless monster, wasn't it already killed by you guys and taken away by that masked guy?
"Hasn't this already been resolved?Why are you all even more nervous now?"
Kakashi calmly turned his gaze to Tazuna, his voice carrying an undeniable certainty:
"Mr.Dazner, I'm afraid things aren't that simple."
Based on my assessment, Zabuza Momochi.is very likely still alive.
"Wh.what?"
"Kakashi-sensei, what are you saying?" Sakura exclaimed in shock, her face filled with disbelief."Didn't you personally check his pulse and pupils to confirm that he was dead?"
Tazner nodded repeatedly: "Yes!You confirmed it yourself!"
"That's right," Kakashi nodded, but his eyes were sharp."I confirmed that he did not have any vital signs at the time… but it was very likely a state of suspended animation created using medical ninjutsu."
He looked at the bewildered crowd and explained in detail: "The weapon that masked boy used was Senbon—very small flying needles."
This weapon, unless it precisely hits vital organs such as the brain, heart, or spinal cord, has very limited lethality.
It was originally even developed as a medical device for acupuncture treatment.
He paused, his tone becoming even more serious: "And every member of the Hidden Mist's pursuit team is an expert who knows the human body structure like the back of his hand."
This allows them not only to kill with precision, but also to use specific acupoints and techniques to temporarily block vital signs and create a near-realistic state of suspended animation!
To deceive me, he even deliberately stabbed Senbon deep into the skin, simulating a fatal wound.
Kakashi concluded unequivocally: "The only reasonable explanation is that the masked boy's true purpose was not to kill Zabuza, but to save him!"
He took the 'body' with him to find a safe place to end his suspended animation and heal Zabuza!
"That can't be!"
Tazuna still found it hard to accept and tried to argue, "Maybe.that's just that kid's personal habit?"
For example, is he a germaphobe who dislikes cutting off human heads?Or does he simply like using needles?These are hardly any irrefutable pieces of evidence!
Mr.Kakashi, you're just being too anxious and overthinking things!
Sakura nodded, agreeing with Tazuna's assessment: "Yeah, Kakashi-sensei, isn't it a bit.a bit.based solely on these two points?"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Faced with the doubts, Kakashi's eyes became extremely serious, and his voice carried a deep, resolute quality honed through countless life-and-death experiences:
"No!Sakura, and Naruto and Sasuke, listen carefully, this is exactly what I want to warn you about."One of your ninja ironclad rules:
If any suspicious activity is discovered, even the slightest bit, it must be treated as the worst-case scenario!
We must be fully prepared before things get to the point of no return!It's better to be suspicious than careless!
A single misjudgment can often cost you your life!
Kakashi's words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
A burning fighting spirit instantly ignited in Sasuke's eyes, and a hint of excitement curled at the corner of his lips:
'I couldn't ask for more!'
He had been overshadowed by Naruto, that loser, in the first two battles, and he was holding back his temper.
'If I continue to live such a comfortable life, how will my strength grow?How will I achieve my goal of revenge?Zabuza will return alive?Perfect!'
"Hmph!So what!"
Naruto, carrying the enormous "Naruto Greatsword," casually swung it around."Hey, you old man without eyebrows?"
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