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"You're here."
Kiba and Akamaru erged from the thick mist and walked up to the group.
Akamaru nuzzled Naruto's pant leg and whined affectionately.
They hadn't tried to hide their presence; Kiba and Akamaru's keen noses had caught the familiar scent and co to et them.
"What's the situation?"
Kakashi asked, taking in Kiba's tired face.
"Teacher Kurenai's been hurt."
Kiba's expression was grave.
"Luckily Hinata's picked up so dical Ninjutsu over the years and gave first aid right away.
But Kurenai says she'll be out of action for at least three days."
Kiba gave a quick briefing: en-route they'd run into Disguised Assassins, exposed by Akamaru's nose; facing Zabuza Momochi they'd barely driven him off with a combo attack; Kurenai had taken a hit protecting the Client; all of Team Eight was now holed up in Tazuna's house to recover.
"That Zabuza guy is scary."
Kiba added, still shaken. "But his Hidden Mist Jutsu was useless against us, so he had to retreat."
The mist could hide him, but all three of them excelled at detection, so Zabuza's ambush failed.
Kiba and Akamaru relied on scent, Shino on his insects, and Hinata's Byakugan could see Zabuza's Chakra.
Against Team Eight the mist jutsu's interference was nullified.
In the end it was Kurenai's genjutsu that made Zabuza think twice and leave.
Naruto was surprised; in the story Kurenai had never seed Zabuza's equal.
"Then show us the way—now!"
Asuma was panting; the long trek had worn him out, but hearing Kurenai was safe eased his mind. Against the Demon of the Hidden Mist, injuries were expected.
"Right, follow ."
Kiba led them along a mist-shrouded path to Tazuna's house.
It was a crude wooden shack; sea breeze slipped through the gaps, carrying the damp scent of salt.
Tazuna jumped from his chair when he saw Kiba leading a crowd in.
He snatched a wooden stick, voice quavering as he barked, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Konoha reinforcents, old man."
Kiba growled; Akamaru bared his teeth in support.
Tazuna instinctively shielded his left arm, fear flashing across his face.
After he'd lied about the mission rank and Kurenai got hurt, an enraged Kiba had decked him and Akamaru had sunk his teeth into that sa arm—still sore.
"Ah, honored Ninja, please co in."
He set the stick down, flashed an apologetic smile, and stepped aside so quickly he nearly tripped.
Naruto noticed the blood-stained bandage on the old man's arm and, seeing Kiba's lingering anger, instantly understood.
Sasuke gave Tazuna a cold, contemptuous glance.
Inside, Hinata was tending Kurenai.
Shino stood silently by the window; behind his shades his eyes swept the street while Parasitic Insects crawled along his sleeve.
When Kakashi walked in, Kurenai managed a pale smile. "So the Hokage sent you guys."
"Kurenai."
Asuma stepped over and knelt to clasp her hand.
"I'm fine."
Seeing her lover so worried, Kurenai brushed his neatly trimd beard. "Asuma, don't let anger cloud your judgnt. Zabuza's strong—if you et him, be careful."
"Yeah, I will."
Asuma took a steadying breath, but still held her hand tight.
Seeing the couple like that, the others tactfully left the room.
Naruto kindly shut the door; Sakura and Ino exchanged knowing smiles.
Shino quietly released more insects, weaving a tight security net around the house.
Shikamaru leaned against the wall, rubbing his temples. "Looks like this mission's gonna be a pain."
Kakashi fixed Kiba with a cold, one-eyed stare that demanded obedience.
"Striking a Client breaches the Ninja code."
Ino started to defend Kiba, but Naruto gently caught her arm.
He shook his head, signaling patience.
"Still, circumstances are special."
Kakashi's tone turned icy. "When enemy Ninja appear, a Client who falsifies the mission rank forfeits protection. Nice hit, Kiba."
His right eye narrowed as he glanced at the terrified Tazuna in the doorway. "Your escort is over; you're coming with us."
Kiba blinked, then grinned in satisfaction.
Akamaru wagged his tail and growled at Tazuna's feet.
Tazuna's face paled; he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the floor in a perfect dogeza.
"Please save this country!"
When he lifted his head his blood-shot eyes were desperate.
In a trembling voice he told them of Wave Country's plight: the Shipping Magnate Gato's tyranny, the brutal suppression of all resistance, and how his own son-in-law Kaiza had been publicly executed for organizing a revolt.
"That bridge…"
Tazuna pointed at the half-finished structure veiled in mist outside the window. "It's our only hope. Once it's done, Wave Country can break Gato's Economic Chokehold. But Gato hired Zabuza to stop it!"
His voice cracked. "I know lying about the rank was wrong, but I couldn't afford an A-rank fee—please, have rcy and help us!"
Silence filled the room, broken only by the old man's sobs.
While the younger Ninja wavered in pity, Kakashi studied the man.
Then Naruto spoke up.
"So you couldn't scrape together the cash… or you drank it?"
Knowing the inside story, Naruto felt no sympathy.
His sharp gaze locked onto the fancy flask at Tazuna's waist.
"That sake isn't cheap."
Naruto said coldly, "yet this shack doesn't look like it could afford liquor that pricey."
Did the funds run out, or did your drinking habit burn through the cash before you realized what you'd done?"
Naruto stepped closer, voice low with anger.
"So you gambled on a C-rank fee, counting on Konoha Ninja to feel sorry for you and risk their lives against a powerful enemy to protect you anyway?"
Tazuna's face went white; he instinctively tried to hide the flask, only confirming the accusation.
The room fell silent.
Everyone stared at the kneeling old man.
No pity remained—only the fury of being deceived.
The old geezer had never treated Konoha Ninja as people at all.
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