Chapter 8

Once again, I have to thank you for reading my work, it makes me so happy to see others enjoying my stories, and it urges me to continue. So, here is the next chapter!

The boat slowly drifted over the misty water as squad seven made their way to the Wave Country. The mission was now into its second day, and tensions had grown high after the attack by the two enemy ninja. Even now, when no other boat was in sight, everyone was on the lookout for "unusual" occurrences. As the group neared the cluster of islands, the two boatmen, who had kindly agreed to take them to the Land of Waves, cut the onboard motor and started to use oars instead. Soon, a large shape loomed out of the fog and the young genin couldn't help but gasp as the magnificent, yet only half completed, bridge appeared before their very eyes.

Tazuna glanced around the boat, chuckling to himself at the open-mouthed Naruto and the awed Max. Even Sasuke, the boy who almost never smiled, looked impressed.

"This is it! This is the bridge I'm trying to build. If it is ever finished, it'll join Wave Country to the mainland and the people living here will finally be able to get a better hold on their income."

Kakashi turned to Tazuna with a quizzical expression (if you could call it that, what with half of his face covered up), and beckoned for Tazuna to join him at the front of the boat. When the bridge builder had seated himself, Kakashi finally voiced his thoughts.

"For a mission to be ranked "C", there cannot be an encounter with enemy ninja. Yesterday, we were attacked by two, and they were chunin as well. While I was hiding, I noticed they always tried to get to you, meaning they were sent to stop you personally. I have a feeling you probably knew this would happen, and that more attacks will happen soon. This mission should be at least "B" ranked, and now you've put my squad into danger."

Tazuna looked down, ashamed of what he had done. Whispering so that the others couldn't hear him, he explained his reasons.

"As I have already said, the Wave Country is a financially unstable land. The majority of the population is barely able to buy groceries, let alone pay for a ninja mission. I had to ask people to donate what money they could to just buy the timber for the bridge, and now I've almost used up my own savings to keep the construction workers paid. There is also a company, owned by a tyrant named Gatou, who leeches all the money out of this community and keeps us poor to stop us from overthrowing him. He's the one who probably sent the ninja after me, as he did with all the others who tried to stop him. I cannot let him kill me, otherwise all hope of creating a better way of life for the common people will be lost."

Kakashi sighed.

"Tazuna, while I now understand why you acted the way you did, it doesn't excuse the fact you nearly got my team mates killed. However, I will continue to keep my team on your mission, if only so that the bridge is completed and your community will be given a chance to become better off." Kakashi stood and turned to move to the opposite end of the boat, only to glance back. "Oh, and one more thing: if any of us die, I will hold you personally responsible"

And with that, the jonin walked away.