The Land of Wave Arc (波の国編, Nami no Kuni Hen) is the second arc of the Naruto manga series, but the first major arc following the Introductory chapters. Naruto is created by Masashi Kishimoto and was originally serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. This arc takes place between chapters 9-33, and were later collected within Naruto Volumes 2-4.
Plot Summary
Naruto and the rest of Team 7 are trusted with a C-Class mission to escort Tazuna, a bridge builder, back to his home in the Land of Waves. What seems like a standard guarding job takes a deadly turn as they are attacked by Hidden Mist Ninja targeting Tazuna. Tazuna then admits that he deceived them about the threats he was facing. Gato, a corrupt businessman, is trying to prevent Tazuna from finishing a bridge that will open his poor and suffering village to trade. They couldn't afford the cost of a higher ranked mission.
They elect to move on with the mission, but they're soon attacked by Zabuza Momochi, a demon of the Hidden Mist. In the fight, Kakashi reveals his hidden left eye holds the famous Sharingan, which grants him the ability to mimic any jutsu he sees. Naruto and Sasuke team up to free Kakashi from Zabuza's water prison. Just before Kakashi can win, Zabuza is seemingly killed by a young ninja from the Mist.
Back at Tazuna's home, Kakashi realize the young ninja from before hadn't killed Zabuza but saved him. After some time to heal, he would return. Kakashi decides to train his young squad to control their chakra with climbing trees exercise, and they learn more about terrors Gato has made Tazuna's village suffer under. In the past, Gato even killed Kaiza, the man Inari looked to as a father, for opposing him.
Zabuza soon returned to the bridge along with his young charge, Haku. Kakashi is so busy fending off Zabuza that he's unable to aide Sasuke against the deadly Ice jutsu of Haku. Naruto arrives to help after saving Inari and his mother from Gato's men, but he's also trapped along with Sasuke. Just as Sasuke awakens his own Sharingan, he soon sacrifices himself to save Naruto. Facing the death of his friend, the seal of the Nine-Tails begins to weaken. Naruto's rage and power is enough to overcome Haku's lightening fast speeds. Though before he can deliver the final blow, he discovered the masked boy is the person he had earlier met in the forest. Haku ultimately sacrifices his own life to save Zabuza by taking Kakashi's Lightning Blade attack to the chest. Seeing Zabuza treat his ally like a tool pushes Kakashi over the edge and her paralyzes both Zabuza's arms.
Before the fight can be finished, Gato arrives with a small army of thugs to kill them all, Zabuza included. Though, Naruto hasn't finished his fight with Zabuza. His words of Haku's loyalty drives the infamous ninja to tears. With one of Naruto's kunai in his mouth, Zabuza charges toward Gato. He suffers numerous stabs, but that doesn't stop him tom taking Gato's head.
Sasuke is discovered to still be alive, and Gato's army is scared off with the help of Inari inspiring the village to finally fight back. Kakashi takes the dying Zabuza to the body of Haku, and his final thoughts are a wish that he could go to the same place as his loyal companion. After some rest, Team 7 returns to Konohagakure, and Tazuna decides to name their new bridge after Naruto.
The story is continued in the Chūnin Exam Arc.
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