Chapter 71: 66. Saving Gato
"Sensei, there are two ninjas 2km ahead. One has Jonin level chakra, the other has Chunin level chakra."
In front of Karin's sensory abilities, the two assassins from Kiri were revealed.
Two chains came from her back, and Naruto made 20 shadow clones with each protecting me.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan, ready for battle.
I took out my sword, ready to use Rasengan from my gauntlet at a moment's notice.
Only Sai and Hinata stood in front of Tazuna to protect him.
As we continued forward, as soon as Karin gestured towards a direction, Naruto threw Kunais with Wind Chakra.
With a thud, someone fell from the tree about 400m from us.
But before we could determine who it was, a sword came flying towards us.
"Duck!"
Yugao-sensei and Kakashi helped us duck in time, while Naruto used a kunai to precisely stop the Executioner's sword by putting it into its hole.
The sword spun with Naruto's kunai as the anchor, and as someone approached, Kakashi was suddenly surrounded by lighting and a long spear was formed.
Zabuza was killed.
No. It turned out to be a water clone.
"That guy is escaping with the person Naruto hurt! To the left!"
As Karin pinpointed the location, Naruto was about to pursue, but was stopped by Kakashi.
"Don't pursue recklessly. There could be more than one Jonin. That's Zabuza, one of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist."
"So, can I let my Shadow Clones do the scouting?"
"Sure."
Naruto made several Shadow Clones, and they went to scout, following the trail of blood.
Haku must have gotten injured...
"Naruto, don't kill them. Capture Gato if you can first so that we can negotiate. It will also help you in developing stealth."
Which Naruto is incredibly bad at. Having so much chakra does have some cons.
Anyway, Haku is more valuable than Zabuza. His ice release can be used as a very efficient freezer for perishable goods.
Zabuza's only value is his sword and some of his jutsus, like water prison and Hiding in the Mist. His sword is with us now.
I immediately drew a contract seal and slapped it on the sword, and cut off any previous summoning. Now, Kiri can't summon back this sword.
"Kakashi-sensei, it's Naruto's spoil, isn't it?"
"Do as you wish."
I sealed it in a scroll, and handed it to Naruto.
While the big sword doesn't fit my or Naruto's style, maybe Karin or Sakura would like it? Or Tenten?
Well, what I want from this sword is it's ability to regenerate with blood.
How does it do that? Is it a special metal? Some sort of Fuinjutsu?
And let's say if we break it into two pieces, will both pieces regenerate to form two swords altogether? Or is the regeneration is limited to automatic maintenance and filling the cuts?
Is it even possible to create a sword with its properties?
Well, these things are worth researching.
While thinking about these things, we started walking towards Tazuna's house while Naruto and some shadow clones of Karin using transformation jutsu to look like Naruto went to scout.
By the way, it seems that Kakashi has developed new variations of Chidori.
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(3rd PoV)
Naruto and Karin's Shadow Clones disguised themselves as ordinary, poor, malnourished people and started scouting the island.
After searching through the entire island, they came to a conclusion.
"There is only one Jonin in the enemy's side, and a Chunin who was injured. It will be more accurate to say that there are only two ninjas besides our teams.
Gato is staying in the Waves' Daimyo's palace, surrounded by his goons."
Karin's scouting ability is even better than many Hyugas' Byakugan. Currently, she has a range of 2 kms, and can even detect warm and cold chakras, signifying good and evil in an abstract sense.
Naruto's shadow clones nodded, and they decided to capture Gato, loot his wealth and documents about his shipping company.
Naruto, disguised as a poor malnourished mother with a child, knocked on the Daimyo's door.
"Please give some food... for my daughter atleast. I will do anything!"
A good opened the door and looked the woman up and down. Gato-sama has told him that if the woman is beautiful, bring her. If not...
Well, the woman certainly isn't beautiful-
Before he could finish his thoughts, he was knocked out and a Shadow Clone with his face took his place.
The shadow clone transformed from a malnourished woman to a sickly beauty.
The 'goon guard' started taking her and her kid to Gato-sama, but along the way, all goons were knocked out and replaced by Naruto's Shadow Clones disguised as them.
When they reached Gato, Gato came out from his room in a bathrobe, surrounded by women. And looked at the new woman's face.
"Hmm, not bad. You will do 'anything' for your child huh?"
The 'woman' hesitated for a bit, but was soon determined.
She attacked Gato, faster than his remaining guards could react.
"Protect me!"
He shouted, and suddenly, Naruto appeared and killed the 'woman'.
"I am short on money. Can you give me some?"
Naruto said with a smile.
Suddenly, all of Gato's goons launched an attack on him, but were swiftly knocked out by Naruto.
"I will get put these traitors colluding with Zabuza in prison. You can personally torture them.
So, how about you hire me? 50 million."
Gato, shocked by the betrayal from his trusted goons, hurriedly nodded.
"You are hired!"
Naruto smiled and shook hands with Gato.
Shiori-chan has already told him beforehand about Zabuza and Haku, about their personalities, and why they are important to recruit.
So, it's his job to recruit them by thinking of a plan himself.
And well, he has a plan. And it starts by 'saving' Gato.