Ninja Recruitment System - Chapter 420
Zhang Miao suddenly had everyone retreat two miles away, not because he was being irrational. He suddenly thought of something upon seeing the nearly completed bridge in the Land of Waves.
“When I left Konoha Village, Naruto and Sasuke had already celebrated their tenth birthdays. After that, I stayed in Kumogakure for two years. Considering the time, Naruto and the others should have graduated by now!”
Thinking this, Zhang Miao glanced again at the nearly completed bridge on the Kusanagi Coast and grinned.
“If the plot hasn’t changed, Naruto’s first mission outside the village should be to escort Tazuna. I wonder if they’ll encounter Zabuza and Haku. If they do, it will be interesting, heh heh!”
According to the original plot of Naruto, the Land of Waves became very poor after the evil merchant Gato took control of its economy. The people lived in extreme hardship.
To change this, the bridge-building expert Tazuna built a bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire, freeing the Land of Waves from Gato’s control and bringing prosperity.
However, Gato wouldn’t allow Tazuna to do this. He hired rogue ninjas and mercenary samurai to kill Tazuna, aiming to maintain his economic control over the Land of Waves.
Tazuna, needing protection to survive Gato’s attacks and complete the bridge, went to Konoha to hire ninjas. The ninjas he hired were from Team 7, led by Kakashi.
Team 7 consisted of Jonin Kakashi and Genin Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. The four of them escorted Tazuna back to the Land of Waves, only to encounter Zabuza Momochi, who had been hired by Gato.
Zabuza was a rogue ninja from Kirigakure and one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He wielded the giant sword known as the “Executioner’s Blade.” Known as the “Demon of the Hidden Mist,” he was mighty. He had also adopted Haku, who possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, making him even more formidable.
Several fierce battles ensued between the two sides. After several struggles, Team 7 ultimately triumphed. Haku died protecting Zabuza, and Zabuza, influenced by Naruto’s “Talk no Jutsu,” regained his humanity and died alongside Gato.
This plot marked the beginning of the Naruto story, featuring thrilling battles and profoundly moving emotional bonds. Zhang Miao remembered it vividly.
“If possible, I’d like to witness this battle firsthand, just to relive Naruto. But I wonder if this battle will still happen.”
Zhang Miao’s concern was valid. Due to his influence, the Land of Waves now had its ninja village and had become very powerful and prosperous, unlike the poor and backward country in the original plot.
Moreover, the Gato Group was now controlled by Danzo, whom Zhang Miao had recruited. Therefore, Gato had no reason to hire rogue ninjas to attack Tazuna, meaning Team 7 might not encounter Zabuza as initially planned.
The more Zhang Miao thought about it, the more he believed this possibility. To avoid waiting in vain, he immediately called Hatake Hanmoto over.
“Hanmoto, it’s safe here now. Go to the village and gather information on two things: First, any news about Kuro (Danzo’s codename) and any special actions from Gato; second, whether the person building that bridge is named Tazuna and where he is now.”
Hanmoto knew Kuro was Danzo’s codename, so he replied as soon as Zhang Miao finished speaking.
“Boss, there’s no need to go back to the village. I already know what you want to ask!”
“Ah?”
Hearing this, Zhang Miao was stunned and then laughed.
“Haha, I almost forgot you’re in the village’s ANBU. Of course, you’d know these things. Alright, since you know, tell me everything!”
“Yes, boss!” Hanmoto nodded and began to explain.
“A month ago, Kuro sent a message saying that someone was targeting the Gato Group. To prevent anyone from discovering the connection between the Gato Group and the Land of Waves, which could tarnish our reputation, he decided to eliminate the Gato Group quickly.”
When Zhang Miao first established power in the Land of Waves, he desperately needed money. He sent Kuro to control the Gato Group, opening a “financial road.”
However, the Gato Group was not a legitimate entity. If the connection was discovered, its ill-gotten gains could damage the reputation of the Land of Waves.
Most importantly, the Land of Waves was now self-sufficient. It was time to sever ties with the Gato Group.
Thinking this, Zhang Miao nodded.
“Alright, I understand. Did Kuro mention how he plans to deal with the Gato Group?”
“Yes!” Hanmoto nodded again. “He said he plans to set a trap, using someone else’s hand to eliminate Gato. Once Gato is dead, he will take advantage of the chaos to sell off the Gato Group’s assets and destroy what can’t be sold, then secretly bring the money back to the Land of Waves. Kakuto-sama has already agreed to this!”
“Using someone else to eliminate Gato?” Zhang Miao frowned. “Did he specify how?”
“No!” Hanmoto shook his head as soon as Zhang Miao finished speaking.
Seeing this, Zhang Miao clicked his tongue in frustration and waved his hand.
“Alright, never mind. By the way, Kakuto is your son. Stop calling him ‘sama.’ It sounds weird… Now, about the bridge builder. Is it Tazuna?”
“Yes!” Hanmoto nodded. “The bridge builder is indeed Tazuna, but he’s currently in the Land of Fire!”
“He’s in the Land of Fire?”
Zhang Miao’s eyes widened as a guess formed in his mind.
“Tazuna is in the Land of Fire, and Kuro plans to use someone else to eliminate Gato. According to the plot’s momentum, could that ‘someone else’ be from Konoha?”
Thinking this, Zhang Miao immediately called Shino Aburame over and gave him a command.
“Shino, I know you’re good at scouting. I need you to investigate along the road from the Land of Waves to Konoha and see if there’s any sign of Tazuna. If there is, report back to me immediately. Also, don’t act rashly no matter what you encounter. Go!”
“Yes!” Shino answered and quickly set off.
Watching Shino’s departing figure, Zhang Miao squinted.
“I want to see if the momentum of the plot, or rather the will of the world, is as strong as I think!”
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