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"When you're in danger, don't force yourself."
"Okay."
—
Along the way, the two walked one behind the other, chatting back and forth.
Hyuga Huahuo said a lot to him. Summed up simply, it was one thing: be careful, be careful, and be careful.
Just as they were about to reach Konoha's main gate, Ye Dou suddenly stopped.
He turned around and asked, "What do you like?"
Hyuga Huahuo let out a surprised "Eh?"
Ye Dou added, "As a graduation gift."
As Might Guy (Metkay) once said, graduation from the Ninja Academy is one of the most important milestones in a ninja's life. It marks the step from being a student to officially becoming a genin, stepping into a world full of danger and uncertainty — dancing with death from then on.
Thus, on the day of graduation, many students exchange gifts to commemorate their friendship, fearing there might never be another chance once the real missions begin.
Hyuga Huahuo was stunned for a moment. Then she smiled brightly and said, "I'll like anything you give me!"
"I see. I'll deliver it when I get back," Ye Dou nodded, then resumed walking toward the Konoha Gate.
"Have a safe journey!" Huahuo called out.
Only when Ye Dou's figure completely disappeared into the distance did Hyuga Huahuo slowly lower her waving hand, a soft smile lingering on her lips as she turned to leave.
—
At the village gate, after seeing Ye Dou off, a brief exchange could be heard:
"What was that all about?"
"None of your business!"
"Tch, acting all mysterious!"
—
Beyond Konoha's gates, Team 7 (Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Ye Dou) quickly fell into formation to protect their employer, Tazuna, on the escort mission.
The Land of Waves (Country of Waves) was different from the Land of Fire. While Konoha was surrounded by lush mountains and fertile plains, the Land of Waves was a small island nation, surrounded by sea and dependent on fishing and maritime trade for survival.
From the map, it was clear: the Land of Waves' territory was less than 30% the size of the Land of Fire. Naturally, to reach it, their escort mission would require traveling by water.
As expected, Naruto Uzumaki — someone who could never sit still — kept sneaking glances at Ye Dou's package along the way, sniffing curiously.
Unfortunately for him, Ye Dou didn't seem inclined to share anything.
"Stay alert, everyone. This is a mission, not a sightseeing tour," Kakashi Hatake said lazily, although his single visible eye was sharp.
No matter the rank of the mission, taking it seriously was the basic duty of a shinobi.
—
[The Land of Waves Incident Begins]
In the dense forest along the road, everything was eerily quiet.
After the initial excitement of leaving the village, even Naruto calmed down and maintained a rare serious vigilance.
The ninja world was dangerous; the richness of ninjutsu and the cunning of enemies often meant even the smallest detail could become a deadly trap.
Team 7 traveled in tactical formation:
Sasuke Uchiha led at the front, scouting.
Kakashi stayed in the center, acting as the pivot and able to support any direction immediately.
Ye Dou brought up the rear, a placement decided by Kakashi himself, recognizing Ye Dou's excellent combat ability — crucial for guarding against surprise attacks from behind.
The group moved silently, fully entering mission mode.
Meanwhile, Tazuna grew quieter, guilty about having lied about the true danger of their escort mission — he had only requested protection for a "simple" journey, concealing the real threat.
According to Tazuna himself, he was a master bridge builder, the best in the Land of Waves. In theory, a man with such important skills should have been wealthy.
After all, the Land of Waves, being an island nation, needed many bridges — bridges were vital to daily life and commerce.
But reality was harsh. Despite his talent, Tazuna lived in poverty because the Land of Waves was a destitute country, its economy crippled.
Tazuna's hope was to change this by building a great bridge connecting their country to the mainland, opening routes for trade and improving the lives of his people.
Their plan was right: by connecting to the outside world, the Land of Waves could stimulate trade, create jobs, and expose its citizens to broader cultural exchanges — an essential step for national growth.
However, fate was cruel.
They had crossed paths with Gato — called "Cardo" in some translations — a wealthy and ruthless shipping magnate.
In the manga, Gato is portrayed briefly but clearly: a brutal man running a legitimate shipping company as a front for his criminal empire — smuggling, black-market trade, and violent extortion.
His choice to set up in the Land of Waves was deliberate:
The Land of Waves was surrounded by sea, perfect for a shipping-based empire.
The country had no Hidden Village, no ninja military, making it easy to dominate.
The small, isolated population had no way to resist.
Gato swiftly took over the shipping routes, choking the Land of Waves' only economic lifeline.
With maritime trade under his control, the entire nation was effectively enslaved — the people forced into poverty, helpless against his rule.
Thus, Tazuna's bridge represented hope. If completed, it would break Gato's monopoly, reconnect the Land of Waves to the outside world, and revitalize its economy.
But for Gato, it was an intolerable threat.
Thus, he dispatched mercenaries and assassins — such as Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist — to stop Tazuna at any cost.
The mission that Team 7 had accepted, believing it to be a simple C-rank escort, was about to escalate into a deadly confrontation that would test their very limits.
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