The sun rose as usual, evening glow kept arriving, and time quietly slipped away from Natsuhi's ice-pop-holding fingertips.
Before anyone knew it, many people had already finished seven or eight ice creams in a day. That was how time silently passed by everyone.
Meanwhile, more than a month had passed since Mei Terumi proposed the cross-sea bridge project. Not only Kirigakure and Konoha, but renowned craftsmen from across the entire Shinobi World had been gathered in Konoha.
On the eastern coast of the Land of Fire, dozens of expert craftsmen had assembled. Tazuna, the famed bridge builder from the Land of Waves, and the other craftsmen all wore troubled expressions. Their dark skin was continually dampened by the humid seaside air, and sweat unknowingly soaked through their clothes.
Every so often, they wiped the sweat from their faces with towels draped over their shoulders.
"Tazuna, we've already finished the bridge plans, and we have enough materials to keep us working for several months."
"And quite a few ninja proficient in Earth Release have come to help with this project. Can't we start construction now?"
"After all, Konoha and Kirigakure are offering double our usual wages. We can't just take their money for nothing."
One craftsman from the Land of Water looked rather anxious. The bridge project was difficult, sure, but the pay was incredible!
He did not want to lose this job because of idling around.
Tazuna hesitated for a while, but ultimately nodded.
"Is that what everyone thinks?"
The others nodded one after another. Seeing this, Tazuna could no longer keep putting it off. As the chief engineer of the cross-sea bridge, he would have to figure some things out himself—or discuss them with Konoha and Kirigakure.
Over this period, he had gathered all the data and ultimately discovered