tkworld Chapter 164 Mission Completed
Chapter 164 Mission Completed
After Gato was thoroughly purged by the long-resentful inhabitants of the Land of Waves in the most primitive and satisfying way, Team 7's escort mission also came to a true end.
After Cado's death, the bridge construction site was bustling with activity and activity. All the workers who had been frightened away by Cado's violence and threats and forced to leave had now returned to the site with their tools. The sorrow and fear of the past were no longer visible on their faces; instead, they wore genuine smiles, and their eyes sparkled with anticipation and hope for the future.
Logically, with Gato, the root cause of all the chaos, already defeated, Team 7's escort mission had been more than accomplished. However, the four decided to follow procedure and stay until the bridge was fully completed before returning to Konoha.
"Going through the motions" is just one of the seemingly legitimate reasons. Another, more practical reason is that Kakashi's condition is really poor.
The fierce battle with Zabuza Momochi, especially the subsequent need to maintain a high level of Sharingan alertness throughout to cope with the unprecedented psychological pressure and enormous chakra consumption brought about by Menma, almost completely drained him.
Even standing seemed a bit difficult; he desperately needed a few days of rest to recover his chakra and energy, and simply couldn't withstand the long journey.
Naruto originally planned to use these few days of rest to continue his training, but this plan was interrupted by Satsuki with an unusually firm attitude.
After seeing Naruto use that ominous crimson chakra, Satsuki's heart was in her throat, and Kakashi's warning that "that power is dangerous" kept echoing in her mind.
She completely disregarded Naruto's explanations that he was just a little tired and nothing serious, insisting that he, like Kakashi, must rest and completely relax, and absolutely not be allowed to engage in any form of training.
"What if he suffers from hidden injuries or hidden dangers that are hard to detect?!" Satsuki's tone was unusually stern, her concern for Naruto's physical condition bordering on overprotective.
Faced with Satsuki's almost overflowing concern and the deep unease hidden beneath her tough attitude, Naruto ultimately chose to compromise.
He abandoned the idea of secretly cultivating. Anyway, his clone [Menma] was still outside handling the organization's and Kakuzu's affairs, so a few more days of cultivation wouldn't make a difference. More importantly, he didn't want Satsuki to worry.
This compromise, to some extent, reflects a subtle yet profound bond between the two. Naruto and Satsuki are, in a sense, people who are "completely obedient" to each other.
Naruto is willing to accept and embrace all of Sasuke's emotions and concerns, while Sasuke puts Naruto above everything else.
However, because Naruto unconsciously raised Satsuki's affection level too high in the early stages, even to the point of being somewhat... abnormal, Satsuki's obsessive possessiveness, protectiveness, and intense emotions deep inside were forcibly suppressed beneath her calm exterior.
If Naruto had not responded to her concern with such a gentle, almost submissive attitude, but instead shown impatience or rejection, Satsuki's suppressed emotions, which had already become somewhat pathological, would have immediately erupted uncontrollably like a flood breaking through a dam. That would have been a scene Naruto would never have wanted to see.
Therefore, during these rare few days of rest, Naruto was happy to relax and obediently accompanied Kakashi, who needed to rest. He also enjoyed, or rather, was forced to accept, Sasuke's meticulous and somewhat tense "care," which allowed his body and mind to fully relax.
Sakura, on the other hand, took on the responsibility of caring for Kakashi, who was recuperating. She also diligently performed her security duties, remaining on guard near Tazuna's house and the bridge construction site. In her spare time, she would accompany Tsunami to the market to buy groceries.
Walking through the streets of the Land of Waves, Sakura could clearly feel that the atmosphere of the entire country had undergone a tremendous change.
The gloom and fear that once shrouded everyone's faces have dissipated, replaced by a light and hopeful atmosphere.
Even the security situation has improved considerably. She remembered that the last time she went out with Tazna, she had to be extra careful to avoid pickpockets, but this time, although the people around her were still not wealthy, those unsettling prying eyes had almost disappeared.
This obvious change made Sakura feel much more relaxed.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, who was resting in his room, was unable to move his body, but his thoughts were unusually heavy.
This mission was completely out of control, primarily due to the appearance of [Menma]. Kakashi almost wondered if he had awakened some kind of prophetic ability—no, he hadn't even said it aloud; he had only briefly considered the possibility of the [Jin] organization's involvement in his mind… and yet that terrifying figure had actually descended with overwhelming power?!
This coincidence left him feeling a deep sense of powerlessness and lingering fear.
After calm analysis, Kakashi deduced that [Jin]'s deployment this time had two main purposes. First, it was likely to recruit powerful rogue ninja, especially Haku's nearly extinct Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
Now that they have been rescued by [Menma], they have presumably become new members of the [Jin] organization.
Secondly, it's probably for funding. Robbing the incredibly wealthy Kado would undoubtedly provide their organization with a huge amount of operating funds. The eagerness of the other [Jin] organization member brought by Menma already says it all.
However, more than these strategic speculations, what unsettled Kakashi the most was the incredible "repairing" ability displayed by Menma.
That's not medical ninjutsu, absolutely not! Medical ninjutsu requires a process, precise chakra manipulation, and time for treatment.
What Menma does is instantaneous "restoration"! Forcibly pulling the dying back from the brink of death and repairing fatal wounds... Once this ability is proven and spread, it is enough to overturn the entire ninja world's structure and understanding! Its strategic value and impact on people's hearts may even be more terrifying than the pure destructive power of the Great Spiral Wheel.
This information must be sent back to Konoha immediately and as quickly as possible.
Despite his still weak body and his chakra far from being fully restored, he forced himself to sit up, bit his thumb, and used the little chakra he had just recovered to form hand seals.
After the summoning technique, a ninja dog was summoned. Kakashi, with utmost speed and conciseness, dictated key information to the dog regarding Menma's instant healing ability, the recruitment of Zabuza and Haku, and the elimination of Gato. He then ordered the dog to deliver the message back to Konoha as quickly as possible and personally hand it over to the Third Hokage.
Watching the ninja dog disappear with the encrypted scroll in its mouth, Kakashi collapsed back down, exhausted. He had done all he could, and only hoped that the village could respond to this as soon as possible.
During the next few days of rest, Naruto noticed something was wrong. He discovered that even Kakashi's favorite song, "Make-Out Paradise," seemed to have lost its former appeal.
Although Kakashi was still holding the small orange book, his gaze often wandered off, and he didn't turn a page for a long time. He was clearly preoccupied and lost in thought.
This absent-minded state is extremely rare for Kakashi.
This mission to the Land of Waves, especially the encounter with Menma, brought Kakashi an unprecedented shock. That feeling of powerlessness in the face of absolute power, that sense of insignificance where life and death were completely controlled by others, took deep root in Kakashi's heart.
He felt incredibly fortunate that Menma didn't seem to have any intention of attacking them at the time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. But as a Jonin, he understood one principle—a ninja must never entrust their own and their comrades' safety to the enemy's mercy or luck!
This time we were lucky, but what about next time?
If I were to encounter the same or even more dangerous situation again, and I were still in such a half-hearted state, unable to even cover the students' retreat, fight for their survival, or even perish together with the enemy...
After I die, what right do I have to see my teacher? What face do I have to see Obito, who sacrificed himself to save me?
The thought of that possibility filled Kakashi with intense self-loathing and anger. He felt a deep anger and shame for his years of wallowing in the past, living day to day, and numbing himself with laziness.
This feeling was so strong that he secretly made up his mind that once he returned to Konoha, he must make a complete change! He would make up for the time he had wasted and the training he had fallen behind in all these years!
He even had the unprecedented idea of going to find Might Guy to train in high-intensity physical techniques together—although just thinking about it made his muscles protest.
And so, beneath the seemingly peaceful atmosphere of recuperation, everyone was quietly harboring their own thoughts and ideas.
Several days passed quietly, and the bridge in the Land of Waves, a structure that embodies hope and sweat, was finally completed!
As the last plank of the bridge was firmly secured, a deafening cheer erupted from the crowd! The shadow of Kado was now a thing of the past; the bridge to the outside world, to a new life, was now unobstructed! The Land of Waves had finally truly held out until dawn!
Afterwards, Tazuna bid a final farewell to Team 7. He repeatedly expressed his inexpressible gratitude to them and solemnly promised that once he had settled the internal affairs of the Land of Waves, he would immediately head to Konoha to make up for and pay the full amount of the reward for this mission, according to the true mission standards.
Thus, the mission to the Land of Waves finally came to a successful conclusion, and the four of them embarked on their journey back to Konoha Village.