I am the most popular character in Naruto!

"Damn it, I thought you were really dead!"

"Alright, uncle, you're the only one in the whole room who didn't notice."

Sakura sighed and closed her eyes slightly as Sasuke dealt with the corpse.

She was no stranger to corpses, and she had enough psychological preparation for the passing of life, but Chiaki taught her to have reverence for life and strictly required her to maintain a sense of awe for every corpse she created, and Sakura did just that.

It has to be said that doing this made Sakura truly understand the importance of studying medicine. In order to prevent the person she cares about from lying there coldly, she naturally had to study hard.

"No, neither of the two assassins noticed it either."

Naruto put his hands behind his head and said something that didn't sound very pleasant. Kakashi slapped him and asked, "What's wrong? Feeling pressured?"

"No."

Naruto shook his head, looking at the corpse gradually turning to ashes in the flames with a strange gaze, and murmured, "If there were no war, no death in this world, and everyone could live together peacefully like family, how wonderful that would be..."

"...?"

Kakashi was slightly taken aback when he heard Naruto's murmur, but he quickly recovered and patted Naruto on the shoulder, saying, "That day will come."

"When?"

Naruto looked up at Kakashi, who turned to look in the direction of Konoha, paused, and then looked back at Naruto. "Perhaps, you can create a world like this too."

"Sister Qianqiu said that there is a prophetic child in this world, and maybe it is you."

"You're teasing me again, Kakashi."

Naruto glared at Kakashi, feeling displeased. He never thought he had the potential to be the protagonist.

As for Chiaki's doting affection for him, Naruto simply took it as his godmother's pampering.

"Who knows."

Kakashi squinted and smiled, then turned to Sasuke and called out, "Are you done yet? Is your Fireball Jutsu really that useless?"

"Okay! Stop rushing me! It's so annoying!"

Sasuke turned around, cursing, "So you can do it too? Wouldn't it be faster for you to do it?"

"I'm the captain, what I say goes."

Kakashi started acting like a scoundrel, and Sasuke couldn't do anything about it, so he could only look at him with disdain.

After dealing with the corpse, Kakashi and his three companions, along with the still-shocked Tazuna, continued on their way.

The journey wasn't very peaceful; they encountered at least five groups of ninjas, and even Kakashi, who hadn't paid much attention before, now had to take it seriously.

“Um, old man… no, Mr. Tazuna.”

After watching Sasuke, who was becoming increasingly skilled at handling corpses, consciously run off to collect the bodies, he said to Tazuna seriously, "After this period of fighting, I have clearly determined one thing: these ninjas are not exiled ninjas who ambushed you along the way, but assassins who came specifically to target you."

"Since the mission involves ninjas, it cannot be judged as a C-rank mission."

"The intensity of this mission is at least at level B or even level A."

“We could easily abandon this mission and go back to the village, or…”

"You have to pay more."

Tazuna's lips twitched. Wasn't he the one who went to Konoha to issue C-rank missions because he was broke? Who knew that Gato would be so ruthless, constantly sending assassins to deal with him?

"I have no money."

"Then there's no point in discussing it."

"We'll have it when we get to the Land of Waves!"

"No, you have to pay first."

"You Konoha people don't keep your promises!"

"You lied about the mission level first."

Tazna was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. Finally, he let out a long sigh and began to prepare to play the victim.

But before he could finish his sentence, Kakashi immediately called him back, "Stop talking nonsense, do you have any money?"

"No...no..."

"Collect the team."

Kakashi turned and left, and Sasuke followed him without saying a word. Sakura hesitated for a moment, then followed Kakashi's steps. Only Naruto stood there hesitantly.

"Little brother……"

Tazuna looked at Naruto gratefully, "Are you going to help me?"

"No, sir, I was just wondering if there's someone over there?"

Naruto rubbed his eyes and looked at a dark figure standing in a tree not far behind Tazuna.

Gradually, a thick fog rose up and enveloped Kakashi and his group.

Chapter 579 So you're Kakashi?

"Hmph... Konoha Technician, Hatake Kakashi."

A tall, thin man, standing on the tree like a ghost, snorted coldly. His chin was wrapped in bandages, and he looked rather frail, but upon closer inspection, one could see the smooth lines of his muscles.

In stark contrast to his physique was the enormous ninja sword he carried on his back.

Zabuza Momochi, one of the newest members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from the Land of Water, wields the fierce Executioner's Blade!

The Land of Water has been developing quite well during this period. Under the leadership of the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, the name "Village of the Bloody Mist" has been removed, and the people and ninjas of the Land of Water are now living a good life.

But no matter how good the times are, economic growth takes time, and the improvement of overall national strength is also gradual.

Given the Water Kingdom's previous bad reputation, and the fact that it is located on the ocean surrounding the entire continent, it receives far fewer missions and orders.

Therefore, in order to train the ninjas' strength and acquire more resources, the Land of Water has opened up many policies, such as setting up mission distribution points on the ninja continent and assisting civilians in establishing some freight companies. In short, Mei Terumi is willing to try anything that can expand the country's power.

Under these circumstances, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were dispatched to find their own missions.

But their only requirement is that they must maintain the reputation of the Land of Water and not let it become like before, neither human nor ghost.

Zabuza expressed his strong welcome to this policy.

He possessed an innate chivalrous spirit; otherwise, he wouldn't have fought so fiercely when he realized the Fourth Mizukage was problematic in the original story.

Much better than in the original work, under Mei Terumi's leadership, none of the bloodline limit families were lost, and the strength of the Land of Water was also stabilized.

Anyway, they can just keep quiet and make a fortune. But in terms of ninja strength, the Land of Water might be able to rank ahead of the Land of Wind. It's just that their national strength is a bit weaker. This is a mess left by the previous generation, and there's nothing they can do about it.

"Zabuza, there are rumors that Kakashi has already reached the Kage level. You need to be careful."

Standing next to Zabuza is Haku, a boy from the Minazuki clan.

The Minazuki clan was not destroyed. With their combined appearance and strength, they were practically the top bloodline limit holders in the Land of Water.

Mei Terumi valued the Minazuki clan highly. If it weren't for the fact that the entire clan were ninjutsu-oriented ninjas and had no one who could excel in taijutsu, she probably would have given them her ninja swords.

However, it's alright. Almost every member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has a ninja from the Minazuki clan as their partner. With the Ice Release bloodline limit, they can handle a considerable number of problems.

However, the proud and arrogant Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist do not seem to understand or support Mei Terumi's arrangement.

In their minds, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist always acted as a group of seven, and even if they split into pairs, it was a matter between their own people.

What kind of ninjas play with ice?

"Hmph, don't forget, you're just a tool to me, not my partner!"

Zabuza spoke coldly to Mizuki Haku, who helplessly pressed down on the mask on his face.

Although he had spent several months with Zabuza, Zabuza had maintained the same attitude throughout the journey. If it weren't for Mizuki Haku's good mentality, he probably would have already turned his back on him.

Seeing that Mizuki Shiro didn't offer any objections, Zabuza snorted coldly again, pressed down on his Executioner's Blade, and disappeared from the spot.

"Let's go. Don't come out unless it's absolutely necessary."

He left those words behind and threw down a thick fog towards Kakashi and the others' location.

Upon hearing Zabuza's words, Mizuki Haku's lips curled into a smile, and he concealed himself.

This guy may have a sarcastic tone, but he actually cares about others a lot.

As a member of the Hidden Mist Village clan from the Land of Water, how could Mizuki Haku not know the Hidden Mist Village's exclusive ninjutsu, "Silent Killing Technique"?

He watched as Zabuza raised one hand, and the fog gradually thickened. Mizuki Haku sensed the chakra within the fog and merged himself into it.

……

"Ninjutsu: Kirigakure no Jutsu!"

A deep voice rang in Kakashi and the others' ears, and then a thick fog enveloped them.

"There really is someone!"

Naruto's eyes widened, and he pounced on Tazuna.

After fighting for so long, he knew very well that everyone who came to deal with them was there to kill Tazuna.

In other words, as long as Tazuna is protected, the enemy will always appear.

He acted on his animalistic instincts and did indeed do the right thing.

Seeing Naruto's actions, Sasuke and Sakura also realized what was happening.

Regardless of whether it's thick fog or not, as long as they are enemies, they will always get close to Tazuna.

As long as you hold the key points, all other changes are meaningless.

Kakashi nodded in satisfaction as he observed the reactions of Naruto and the others.

Indeed, all those battles have paid off; these three little guys have gained a lot of practical experience.

Next, as long as we raise their strength, participating in the Chunin Tournament won't be a big deal.

Otherwise, how could they call themselves geniuses? The three little guys under them became Chunin in just three months. Tell me, which ninja class is stronger than these three?

Kakashi suddenly realized the joy of being a teacher, which might explain why Chiaki has been staying home as a teacher all this time.

"coming!"

Naruto, who was protecting Tazuna, felt his hair stand on end, his intuition screaming a frantic warning.