I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

Chapter 87 confirms it!

Evening, training ground.

Sasuke stood in the middle of the open space, hands in his pockets, waiting for a long time. Naruto ran over from a distance, holding two kunai in his hands and half a rice ball in his mouth.

"Sasuke! You were looking for me?"

"Practice it."

Naruto paused for a moment, then grinned. "Alright! You won the last match, but I'm going to win this time!"

Sasuke didn't answer, instead assuming a fighting stance. Naruto also stopped smiling, tossed the rice ball into his mouth, and clenched his fists.

On a distant rooftop, Minato, Sakugo, and Kakashi sat side by side. The setting sun cast long shadows of the three of them.

"Sasuke has grown a lot recently." Kakashi glanced at Sakugo and continued, "Naruto has grown a lot as well."

Shuoge nodded. Neither of them were ordinary people; a baptism of blood would be enough to help them grow.

Minato didn't speak, his gaze fixed on Naruto.

He paid too little attention to Naruto.

In a daze, Naruto had already become a genin.

Sasuke moved first. He was fast, and punched Naruto in the face.

Naruto dodged to the side and threw a punch back.

Sasuke didn't dodge—his Sharingan caught the subtle movement of Naruto's shoulder as he threw the punch. He turned his head ahead of time, and Naruto's fist grazed past his ear.

Sasuke's elbow strike landed on Naruto's chest, and Naruto took two steps back.

"Again!" Naruto gritted his teeth, forming hand seals. "Shadow Clone Technique!"

Bang bang bang! Three clones burst out of the white smoke, making a total of four with the original body, and they pounced on Sasuke from four directions.

Sasuke's Sharingan spun, capturing every movement—the clone's chakra was weaker than the original's, its footsteps were lighter, and its breathing was more rapid.

He found the original body.

He dodged the punches of the two clones by sidestepping and kicked the main body in the knee.

Naruto jumped to dodge, but Sasuke's fist was already waiting where he would land. The punch landed squarely on Naruto's shoulder, sending him flying and crashing to the ground.

"How come you always manage to hit me?" Naruto got up, rubbing his shoulder.

"Your movements are too predictable." Sasuke relaxed his stance. "Your shoulder moves before you punch, and your weight shifts before you kick."

Naruto, unconvinced, charged forward again.

This time he didn't use shadow clones, he just used pure physical techniques to attack randomly.

Sasuke dodged them all and counterattacked three times, hitting his target each time.

Naruto was forced to retreat repeatedly, and finally sat down on the ground.

"I'm not fighting anymore!" Naruto waved his hand. "Something's wrong with you!!"

Sasuke lowered his stance, and glanced at Sasuke? No, he looked towards the distant rooftops. He knew someone was there.

"Sasuke's control over the Sharingan is becoming more and more proficient," Kakashi said in a low voice.

"Sakugo's guidance is good. When will you teach Naruto too?" Minato glanced at Sakugo and asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Shuoge did not respond.

In terms of combat power, Minato is undoubtedly the No.0.1 in the current ninja world. Only Pain, controlled by Nagato, can rival him. If Minato were to find Nagato's true body, the outcome would be a foregone conclusion.

Minato's Rasengan also became Naruto's signature move.

There was absolutely no need for Shuoge to add anything unnecessary.

Moreover, as fellow Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Minato had more to teach Naruto.

"Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra is stable, without fluctuations," Sakugo changed the subject. "But his taijutsu is too rough. He relies entirely on shadow clones and brute force; he wouldn't last three moves against a truly skilled opponent."

Minato was silent for a moment. "He needs time."

Sakugo said no more. The Akatsuki organization had already begun its operation. Time was the least valuable thing, but also the most precious.

Shuoge turned and disappeared into the twilight.

Kakashi stood up too. "I'll go take them home."

"Um."

Minato sat alone on the rooftop, watching the backs of two children on the training field. Naruto was brushing the dirt off himself, while Sasuke had already turned and walked away. After watching for a while, he jumped off the roof and headed towards the Hokage Building.

Hokage's office, early morning.

-

-

Minato took a scroll from the drawer and pushed it in front of Kakashi.

"Rank C: Escort Tazuna, the bridge expert from the Land of Waves, back home. The mission details are on the form; the route, time, and reward are all clearly stated."

Kakashi unrolled the scroll, glanced at it, folded it, and stuffed it into his pocket.

Naruto stood behind, tiptoeing forward to try and see the words on the scroll.

"Rank C? Finally, Rank C has arrived!"

He clenched his fists, his eyes shining like two lamps.

Sakura Haruno also breathed a sigh of relief.

After three months of doing D-rank missions—catching cats, weeding, and picking up trash—she almost forgot she was a ninja.

Sasuke stood at the very back, his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless, but his eyes were brighter than usual.

"Mr. Tazuna is waiting for you at the village entrance." Minato glanced at Kakashi. "Let's go."

"Yes."

Kakashi led three students out of the Hokage Building, the sunlight shining on them.

Naruto walked in front, taking long strides, humming an unknown tune. Sakura followed behind, checking her ninja tool bag. Sasuke brought up the rear, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

In the distance, Sakugo leaned against a pillar of the Hokage Building, his mask tucked into his waistband and his sword hanging on his back. He watched Team 7's figures disappear around the street corner, then turned and walked towards the Anbu base.

At the secret hideout, Shuoge pushed open the door, and Shisui was already waiting.

The water has been stopped and the dark areas have been added.

Although he did not experience the Third World War, Shisui's talent is beyond doubt.

"For the mission to the Land of Waves, I need to follow Naruto." Sakugo took a scroll from the drawer and stuffed it into his ninja tool pouch.

As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Minato couldn't let Naruto leave the village easily; having only Kakashi by his side wasn't enough.

"What do you need me to do?" Shisui asked.

"Keep an eye on Itachi's situation; Akatsuki's been quite active lately. Also, I'm leaving the clan in your care."

Itachi Uchiha doesn't easily pass on information, but when he does, it's always a major event.

Zhi Shui nodded.

Shuoge put on the mask, slung the knife behind his back, and left through the back door of the secret police base. His figure disappeared into the morning mist, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, silent and unnoticed.

At the village entrance, Tazna was already getting impatient.

He wore a tattered cloak and a straw hat, his face was etched with deep wrinkles, and he had a tuft of beard on his chin. He carried a large bundle on his back and leaned on a cane, but his back was very straight.

"Just these few people?" Tazuna looked at the four Konoha ninjas, his gaze lingering on Naruto for a moment.

"A Jonin from Konoha and three excellent Genin." Kakashi's voice was calm. "Don't worry."

""

Tazner shook his head and said nothing more.

The team set off.

Kakashi walked in front, Tazuna in the middle, and Naruto, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke behind.

The road outside the village is lined with dense forests, the tree canopies blocking out the sky, and sunlight filters through the leaves, casting patches of light on the ground.

Naruto put his hands behind his head and looked around. "The Land of Waves is by the sea? Can I see the sea from there?"

"The Land of Waves is an island nation." Sakura Haruno pulled a map from her backpack. "It's surrounded by the sea and its economy is very underdeveloped. That's why a bridge needs to be built."

"How did you know?" Naruto leaned closer.

"I read it in a book," Sakura Haruno smiled.

Sasuke walked at the back, his eyes scanning the trees on either side. He felt something was off. It was too quiet. No birdsong, no insect chirping, not even a breeze.

"Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke said in a low voice.

"Um."

"Someone is following us."

Kakashi didn't turn around. "I know."

Naruto and Sakura both tensed up, their hands gripping their ninja tool pouches. Tazuna's expression also changed; he quickened his pace and walked to Kakashi's side.

"Who is it?"

"All you need to know is—" Kakashi's voice was soft. "They are the enemy."

In the distance, perched among the branches of a tree in the canopy, Sakugo's Sharingan behind his mask slowly rotating. He saw a puddle of water on the road ahead. Not ordinary water, but water created using ninjutsu.

The signature ninjutsu of Kirigakure—Water Release!

Zabuza was already lying in ambush there.

He didn't move. This battle didn't require his involvement. He was merely a spectator in this fight.

Ahead, a puddle lies across the middle of the road.

Kakashi stopped and raised his hand. Everyone stopped at the same time.

"Get out of the way!"

The puddle burst open, and a figure rushed out of the water, moving so fast that Naruto only saw a black shadow.

A huge cleaver came crashing down from above, heading straight for Kakashi's face.

Kakashi dodged to the side, the kunai resting on the back of the blade, the sound of metal clashing was ear-piercing.

"The rogue ninja from Kirigakure, Zabuza Momochi." Kakashi's voice was cold.

Who is the target?

Are they here for Naruto?

still----

Zabuza's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected to run into one of Konoha's twin swordsmen, Kakashi Hatake.

He drew back his broadsword and held it horizontally in front of him.

The fog began to rise from the ground, growing thicker and thicker. Visibility dropped to within a few steps; Naruto could no longer see Sakura Haruno, Sasuke, or even Kakashi, who was now just a blurry shadow.

"Everyone, form a circle and don't leave Mr. Tazuna!" Kakashi's voice came from the mist.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all stood back-to-back beside Dazuna, each holding a kunai. The fog grew thicker and colder, like an icebox.

"The first one." Zabuza's voice came from all directions, making it impossible to tell which direction it came from.

A kunai flew out of the mist, heading straight for Tazuna's head. Sasuke's Sharingan caught the trajectory, and the kunai flew out of his hand, knocking it away.

The sound of metal colliding is crisp and clear.

"The Sharingan?" Zabuza's voice held a hint of interest. "Uchiha brat."

"It's a pity it's too young!"

Sasuke remained silent. His eyes searched through the mist, his twin tomoe slowly rotating. He couldn't find Zabuza's location, only vague fluctuations of chakra, like a tangled mess.

Naruto's hands were trembling, not from fear, but from anxiety. He couldn't see or hear anything, only the sound of his own heartbeat.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted.

"Don't panic," Kakashi's voice was steady. "He'll come out on his own."

Zabuza did not make another move. The fog thickened.

In the distance, on a tree, Sakugo looked at the thick fog. His Sharingan pierced through the fog and saw Zabuza hiding in the tree, holding a large sword and observing Kakashi's reaction.

His gaze shifted further away. In another direction, a white-haired boy wearing a mask crouched on a tree branch, holding a senbon needle in his hand, his eyes fixed on Naruto. White.

Sakugo's Sharingan detected Haku's chakra—ice-blue, cold, like a river in winter. Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. He memorized it.

In the mist, Kakashi suddenly raised his headband, revealing his left Sharingan. The three tomoe slowly rotated within the red pupil.

"Zabuza, your Hidden Mist Technique is useless against me."

Zabuza remained silent. The fog thickened. Kakashi's figure vanished from his spot and reappeared behind Zabuza.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique—"

"Too slow." Zabuza's voice came from behind Kakashi.

Kakashi didn't turn around, but he smiled.

"Water Clone." Zabuza's sword struck Kakashi, who turned into a puddle of water and scattered on the ground.

Zabuza's pupils contracted. "You—"

—

"I copied your ninjutsu before you could strike me." Kakashi's true form emerged from behind the tree, a kunai in his hand. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet—"

A water dragon rose from the ground and crashed into Zabuza. Zabuza was sent flying and crashed to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The fog has lifted.

Naruto, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke saw Zabuza and Kakashi.

"Amazing!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sasuke didn't speak. His Sharingan was fixed on Zabuza, then on Kakashi. He was learning.

Zabuza got up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at Kakashi, then at the distance in that direction, where Haku was crouching in a tree, holding a senbon needle, ready to make his move.

Zabuza shook his head. Haku put away the senbon.

"That's all for today." Zabuza's figure disappeared into the mist.

Tazuna plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. Sakura Haruno helped him up. Naruto ran to Kakashi's side.

"Kakashi-sensei! You're amazing!"

Kakashi pulled down his headband. "It's not over yet. Zabuza will come back."

In the distance, Shuoge jumped down from the tree, his boots landing silently on the soft, damp earth.

He looked up in the direction where Zabuza had disappeared—the thick fog had not yet dissipated, and that tall figure had already vanished into the forest.

Looking in another direction, the branch where Bai had squatted was still swaying gently, but the person was gone.

On the surface, his mission was to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Uchiha orphan. Minato's instructions to him were simple and clear: keep an eye on them and make sure nothing happens.

But that was Watergate's reason, not his.

Shuoge came here for his own purpose—ice escape.

The bloodline limit of the Minazuki clan is a power that can instantly freeze water and manipulate ice crystals at will.

This bloodline is nearly extinct, and Bai may be the last one to possess it.

The chakra nature transformation of Ice Release has extremely high reference value for Sakugo's development of Wind Release; and Haku's combat awareness, loyalty and calmness also made him see a promising talent worth cultivating.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards Class 7.

The footsteps were very light, rustling on the fallen leaves, like the wind blowing.

He followed at a distance behind the group, maintaining a distance that allowed his Sharingan to clearly detect any movement ahead, yet without alerting anyone.

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