The Land of Waves Arc is the second arc of the Naruto series.
Arc Length: Chapters 9-33
Short Summary
After completing a number of menial, D-rank "missions", Naruto complains that he wants something more challenging. So his team is given a C-Rank mission. Their job: escort a builder to the Land of Waves. However it turns out the builder wasn't entirely truthful about the details of his bodyguard needs, as he's being targeted for assassination. Team 7 soon find themselves contending with a dangerous rogue ninja, and they become embroiled in the land's struggle for freedom against a tyrannical mob boss who wants to stop the builder from completing a bridge that could threaten his operations.
Long Summary
We cut to Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi on a mission, as they seem to trying to catch a monster. Said monster turns out to just be a cat, owned by the Daimyo's wife. Apparently, these types of missions are the norm for brand-new Genin like Team 7. Naruto, however, is annoyed by the missions, complaining that they are just chores. The Third Hokage proceeds to provide an Exposition Dump and tells Team 7 (and the audience) that missions are given to the village and divided into 5 ranks: D, C, B, A and S. Missions are assigned based on the rank and capabilities of the ninja in question. As Team 7 are fresh out of school, they are given D-ranked missions so they can train in relative safety. Naruto refuses to take on any more of these missions, and is persistent enough that the Third gives in and assigns them a C rank mission, asking for Tazuna to come in. The Third tells that their mission was to bring Tazuna back to his home in the Land of Waves and protect him as he builds a bridge. When they start the mission, Sakura asks if there are Ninja in the Land of Waves. Kakashi informs her that while there are many different ninja villages, none exist in the Land of Waves. Out of nowhere, two ninja attack and appear to kill Kakashi, turning then to attack Naruto and Tazuna. Sasuke interferes, but is unable to completely stop them. When it looks like they are doomed, Kakashi revealed he only pretended to be dead and easily defeats the enemies. Kakashi then asks Tazuna why ninja were after his life, as such danger would make this mission at least B-Ranked. When Tazuna reveals that they were indeed after him, Kakashi criticizes him, noting that this is a breach of contract and Team 7 has the right to simply return to the village over this matter. Deciding to tell them the whole truth, Tazuna tells them of Gato, the owner of a large corporation has effectively taken control of his land, and who is pretty much a gang boss. He has drained the Land of Wave's economy to suit his own purposes, so Tazuna didn't have the money for a B-ranked mission, and the only thing that can break his hold on the country is the bridge Tazuna is building.
The Land of Waves Arc has the following tropes
- Affably Evil: Despite being an assassin that works for Zabuza, Haku is always calm and polite toward others; even to those that he intends to kill.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: At the beginning of the arc Naruto complains to the Third Hokage about how dull the D-Rank missions are and asks for Team 7 to be given something more exciting. He gets more then he bargained for when the supposed C-Rank mission is revealed to be far more dangerous then they expected due to their client lying about the dangers with Kakashi noting that it would be closer to A-Rank, far too high for a team of Genin fresh out of the academy.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Zabuza and Haku, though they're acting more as dragons to Gato.
- Big Damn Heroes: Naruto pulls one of these when he comes back to save Inari and his mother from two of Gato's thugs.
- Broken Bird: Inari and Haku. Inari gets better thanks to Naruto, but Haku ends up dying to save the man who gave his life meaning.
- Darker and Edgier: This arc ends more more violently then earlier chapters, especially Kakashi stabbing Haku with Raikiri through his chest and Zabuza cutting off Gato's head. The anime would actually edit both these scenes to remove some of the blood.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Again, Inari and Haku.
- Disney Death: Sasuke when it seemed Haku had killed him.
- Due to the Dead: At the end of the arc, Team 7 builds a memorial for both Zabuza and Haku even leaving Zabuza's Executioner's Blade as a sign of respect.
- Grew a Spine: At the beginning of the arc the villagers of the Land of Waves have been so beaten down by Gato and his men that they can't bring themselves to fight back anymore with Tazuna being the only one willing to complete the bridge by himself. After seeing Team 7 put their lives on the line for them the villagers all grab weapons and drive Gato's remaining men out of their land after his death.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: This happens to Kakashi in his first fight with Zabuza. Though it turns out to be a clone.
- Heel–Face Turn: Zabuza was finally convinced by Naruto that he indeed cared for Haku at the very end, and goes out his way to kill off Gato using Naruto's weapon.
- Off with His Head!: In the manga, this is how Zabuza kills Gato. The anime tones it down to just a fatal stabbing.
- Earlier, Gato has Inari's stepfather beheaded to scare the people into submitting to his tyrannical rule.
- One-Winged Angel: The first time Naruto uses the fox demon's power.
- Redemption Equals Death: Zabuza who uses the last of his strength in killing Gato.
- Snow Means Death: It starts snowing as Zabuza dies, wishing he could be with Haku in the afterlife.
- Sympathy for the Devil: Despite being enemies Naruto and Kakashi both show sympathy for Zabuza and Haku for the lives they lived and their devotion to each other. When Zabuza is dying he asks Kakashi to place his body next to Haku so he can be with him when he dies. Afterwards Team 7 bury the two overlooking the sea before they depart.
- Together in Death: Defied by Zabuza who notes that considering the type of person he was in life there is no way he will see Haku again when he dies. Though he wishes he could.
- Wake-Up Call Boss: Zabuza serves as this for the beginning of the arc as being the first major antagonist that poses a significant threat to Team 7 even giving Kakashi a lot of trouble.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Gato tries to pull this on Zabuza after he's severely injured by Kakashi from their fight. Zabuza proves how bad a mistake that was, injuries or no.
