Chapter 5: The Benevolent Plague Doctor

Just as everyone was lost in thought, an image appeared on the light screen.

However, upon seeing this image, the pupils of everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village trembled violently.

Within the light screen.

On a small path, three half-grown children, an elder, and a middle-aged man—a group of five—were walking slowly.

This party was Team Seven, undertaking their first C-rank mission: escorting a bridge expert.

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, their teacher Kakashi, known for fighting anyone to a standstill, and the bridge expert they were protecting.

Watching Naruto and his group appear on the light screen, the Third's pupils instantly began to quake.

"Quick! Dispatch all jonin to rescue Naruto and the others! Hurry!"

To the Third, Naruto was far more than just a lowly ninja.

He was the child of the Fourth, a jinchuriki, someone the Third regarded as his own grandson.

This was precisely why, when Naruto asked the Third for a mission, the Third had indulgently assigned him a C-rank task.

Moreover, to ensure the safety of Naruto and his companions, the Third had specifically arranged for their teacher, Kakashi, to accompany them.

Along the way, he could also provide instruction to Naruto and the others.

Although this mission was no secret, why would an organization never heard of before know about it?

And how could they appear before the group without being detected, as if by ghosts?

One must remember that Kakashi was reputed to be capable of fighting anyone to a standstill.

Inside the Hidden Stone Village, seeing the scene displayed on the screen, Onoki whispered softly:

"Kakashi? That thing managed to appear right before him without being detected; matters are becoming increasingly bizarre."

Beside him, Kurotsuchi looked at Kakashi on the screen, her eyes filled with shock.

How could Kakashi appear inside this light screen?

And yet he hadn't sensed anything at all?

Could it be that the Plague Doctor mentioned by the light screen is coming to attack Kakashi and the others?

At this moment, after some time walking, Kakashi and the others arrived beside a harbor.

Upon reaching the harbor, Kakashi and his group saw a tall figure clad in a black robe standing on the shore with his back to them.

Apparently hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, the person in the black robe turned around to look at Kakashi and the others walking toward him.

When everyone caught sight of the figure's appearance, they all gasped sharply.

This person in the black robe was actually wearing a bird-beak mask.

A black robe, a bird-beak mask, and a tall stature.

Wasn't this exactly the Plague Doctor mentioned in the previous light screen display? Could what the screen said be true?

Does such a thing truly exist in this world?

Then, does that mean the abilities of this Plague Doctor introduced on the screen are also real?

"Damn, a bird-beak man? Is this actually real?"

"If we go by what's written up there, isn't Kakashi and his group done for?"

"What are you saying? Kakashi is a jonin! How could he lack any ability to resist?"

"It's true that Kakashi is a jonin, but Naruto and the others are still genin, and it seems Naruto has an injury on his hand."

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village.

Thinking of this, the Third drew in a sharp breath.

He immediately turned and roared at his assistant behind him with a voice like a howl:

"Hurry! Tell the Anbu to speed up!"

Watching Naruto and the others drawing nearer, the Third could now only pray in his heart that the Plague Doctor would not do anything to them.

At this moment, Naruto and his group were also startled by the Plague Doctor's attire.

Before Naruto or the others could say anything, the Plague Doctor spoke first, greeting them:

"Hello there."

Then, the Plague Doctor shifted his body and pointed to a small boat before him, saying to the group:

"Um, I don't know how to row a boat; do any of you know how?"

Seeing the Plague Doctor greet them, Naruto and the others politely responded in kind.

Immediately afterward, noticing the boat behind the Plague Doctor, the eyes of the few who were preparing to cross the sea to the Land of Waves instantly lit up.

Upon learning that the Plague Doctor was also heading toward the Land of Waves, the group boarded the boat together with him to journey there.

Witnessing this scene, the people of the Naruto world began discussing fervently.

"They actually got on the same boat? Is the atmosphere really this good?"

"Could it be that this Plague Doctor is a good person, and everything introduced above was just nonsense?"

"I didn't expect this guy to not make a move against Kakashi and them?"

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village, watching the few individuals chatting enthusiastically on the boat, many question marks appeared on the Third's head.

"Uh... Lord Hokage, should we call the Anbu back?"

His assistant asked upon seeing this scene.

But immediately after, the Third punched his assistant directly on the head, causing a large bump to instantly rise on the assistant's forehead.

"Call them back? Call them back for what! How do you know that thing isn't just pretending!"