In Konoha, they wiped out the Sarutobi clan at the start.

Chapter 89 Three Years Later, Kakashi's Team 7

Three years later.

The Land of Waves is located southeast of the Land of Fire, separated from it by a sea line approximately two kilometers long.

Although it is called a country, its area is less than one percent of the size of the Land of Fire.

Even the Rain Kingdom, nestled between the Fire, Earth, and Wind kingdoms, is considerably larger.

It is an island nation independent of the mainland.

Originally, this country, though not wealthy, should have had little problem maintaining basic needs.

But ever since a year ago, the Land of Waves has been targeted by the world-class tycoon, Kado.

The country then began to suffer from food shortages.

Gato employed a large number of subordinates and ninjas, and with the help of money and violence, he acted recklessly, instantly monopolizing maritime traffic and transportation, and controlling the sea.

While charging the people of the Land of Waves exorbitant shipping fees, they also drastically inflated prices within the Land of Waves, amassing wealth through rampant corruption.

This plunged this tiny country into dire straits.

In order to resist Gato's tyranny, the people of the Land of Waves, led by Tazuna, began to build a bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the mainland.

This is the Naruto Bridge that later became known as the Naruto Bridge.

At this time, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and a thick fog blanketed the coastline.

Beneath the still-unfinished Naruto Bridge, a small boat drifts steadily toward the Land of Waves.

Just like in the original story, Tazuna was pursued by Gato for building a bridge, so he asked the Konoha ninjas to escort him.

Kakashi Hatake, who had already left the Anbu, was among those on this mission.

His students were Team 7, who had already graduated from the Ninja Academy: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.

"Kakashi-sensei, there's someone ahead." Just as Kakashi was arguing with Tazuna about his falsely reported mission level and was subsequently morally blackmailed by him, Sakura's voice attracted the attention of everyone on the ship, including Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke.

Kakashi squinted his exposed right eye and, through the thick fog, saw two figures walking leisurely on the sea, appearing and disappearing in the mist.

As they got closer, Kakashi finally saw their exact appearance.

Both were dressed in red robes with black cloud patterns and wore bamboo hats with wind chimes on their heads, which covered their entire bodies, making it impossible to see their faces or whether they were male or female.

However, his ability to walk on the sea as if it were flat ground is enough to confirm his identity as a ninja.

Moreover, Kakashi's years as a ninja had taught him that the person before him was no ordinary being and was an extremely dangerous existence.

"Kakashi-sensei, we..." Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura swallowed hard.

At this time, they were just starting out. Although they had graduated from the Ninja Academy, the comfortable life in Konoha had left them completely ignorant of what a real ninja was.

They were visibly startled to see two people suddenly appearing on the sea, and looked at each other in horror.

"Don't panic. They're probably not enemies. I didn't sense any killing intent from them. Otherwise, they would have attacked us under the cover of the thick fog. Boatman, keep your distance from them and don't get close."

Kakashi truly lived up to his reputation as a "50/50" player. Even though he knew the two people in front of him were in danger, he quickly calmed down and came up with the best solution.

"Yes." The boatman obeyed and slowed down his rowing.

Seeing this, Sakura whispered, "Kakashi-sensei, are they even stronger than you?"

Upon hearing this, Naruto and Sasuke also leaned closer, casting curious glances at them.

"This world is vast, and I am not invincible in the ninja world. There are even those who are stronger than me and younger than you. Especially those who are dressed strangely and are hiding their true abilities, they should not be underestimated. They may very well be rogue ninjas from some country. Do not try to see their true faces, or you may easily lose your life."

Kakashi glanced at the two men in red robes and black clouds in front of him with a rather solemn expression, and then patiently explained to the three of them.

"No way? He's younger than us, yet stronger than Kakashi-sensei? How is that possible?"

Sakura scoffed, turning her head to look at Sasuke, her face flushed, and she smiled obsequiously, "Among our peers, how could anyone be more powerful than Sasuke?"

In this infatuated girl's eyes, given that they are not much different in age, only Sasuke, the newcomer who graduated first in his class from the Ninja Academy, is the most powerful.

"It's not true that there are people younger than us who are stronger than Kakashi."

However, before Sakura Haruno could finish speaking, Sasuke interrupted her, the image of Itachi Uchiha appearing in his mind.

Naruto, unusually serious, nodded in deep agreement, "Sasuke is right. There are indeed people in our age group who have surpassed Kakashi-sensei."

A figure also appeared in Naruto's mind.

A hint of loneliness and solitude unconsciously flashed across his eyes.

She was the first person who didn't discriminate against him, the first person who accepted him, and the first person who treated him to ramen.

He never believed that the other party would become a rogue ninja.

There must be some hidden story behind this.

This was Naruto's most immediate thought at that moment.

"How is that possible? Not only Sasuke, but Naruto too..." Sakura looked at the two of them in disbelief.

Kakashi knew who Sasuke and Naruto were referring to, and promptly interrupted, saying in a deep voice, "Alright, that's enough. We haven't confirmed whether they're friend or foe yet, so don't let your guard down, or you could easily lose your life."

"Yes." The three students from Class 7 nodded emphatically.

While Kakashi and his group were watching the two people on the sea, the other side naturally noticed them as well.

"That person looks like your Konoha's Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake, Lord Chiya. What do you plan to do? If they discover our identities, it might cause some trouble. Should we kill them?"

One of them spoke, uttering a voice as clear as jade beads; it was none other than Yekura, who had already joined the Akatsuki organization.

The other person was naturally Chiya, who had fully grown up.

For the past three years, Chiya has been wandering around the ninja world.

Aside from necessary spiritual practice and spending time with his wives and children.

In his spare time, he began to experience the local customs and culture of various places in the ninja world.

Soaking in a hot spring in the Land of Lightning;

The Land of Earth, accompanied by Deidara, shouted "Black Earth Leg Shadow";

The people of the Land of Water "stumbled" on Mei Terumi taking a bath. She chased them for three days and three nights with a large number of Kirigakure ninja. Finally, in the middle of the night, they sneaked into her room, gave her a pure gold ring, and took ten Senzu Beans from her. Only then did the matter end.

The Land of Wind. That godforsaken place, Chiya never went there.

Because of the agreement between Obito and Itachi, Pain wouldn't let him go to the Land of Fire; at most, he could only wander around places far from Konoha.

The only regret is that we couldn't find Tsunade.

A year has passed since their parting in Tanabata Street, and Chiya revisits the place. She discovers that Tsunade has long since left Tanabata Street, her whereabouts unknown.

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(End of this chapter)