Vol no. 2: The Worst Client

Hatake Kakashi told the trio that they failed because they lacked teamwork. However, he gave them another chance after lunch but in one condition: they must not give Naruto any food. Kakahi seemed to punish Naruto who tries to steal food earlier during the time they had first attempted to get the bells from Kakashi. But, Sasuke and Sakura defied Kakashi’s order as the two of them agreed that the next attempt will be futile if one of them is hungry. Kakashi heard this, and happily informed them that they passed. The three of them couldn’t believe it,but Kakashi emphasized that team’s cohesion is more important than just following orders. 

Naruto was bored by the D-rank mission assigned by the Hokage and demanded for a more adventurous one. Personally, I think that searching a cat can be done by any local villager which makes it impractical to hire ninja to do that. I never thought that it has been part of the ninja's task for D-rank mission to catch a pussycat. It’s very funny. The Hokage agreed and gave them a C-rank mission and that is to escort Tazuna, a bridge builder, to his home in Wave Country. When they leave from Konoha, two ninjas from Hidden Mist Village, the Demon Brothers, ambushed Kakashi. 

Kakashi was still alive and was able to defeat the Demon Brothers. Knowing that someone wants to kill Tazuna, Kakashi decided to return home as his companions are only genins and they’re no longer dealing a C-rank mission. Naruto stubbornly refused with the idea and wants to continue the mission. 

Tazuna confessed to them why did he lie about the mission. He said that he cannot afford to pay for a B-rank mission. I believe the reason why Team 7 helped him is because of his good intention for connecting his place to the mainland through the bridge he’s making. He also revealed that Gato, a syndicate, oppressed their land for a long time. In this volume, it also features a preliminary battle between Kakashi and Zabuza, a missing nin from Hidden Mist Village. The former used sharingan to defeat his foe. It was a tough battle, but when the time comes that Kakashi is about to kill Zabuza, the latter was saved by the masked boy that soon to be named Haku.

Kakashi overused his sharingan, so the Team 7 went to Tazuna’s house to rest. Meanwhile, Zabuza is also recuperating under Haku’s care. Haku only pretended to kill Zabuza by darting needles accurately to some parts of his neck. But, this leads to an undesirable effect that will need him to rest for a considerable amount of time to gain his original strength. 

The time came when Kakashi realized that Zabuza is alive as the masked boy did not intend to kill the latter but saving him instead.

Photo credit: Cool guyz @ flickr.com