At night.
Karot lay on his bed.
"It's so comfortable lying in my own bed!"
To be honest, Karot hasn't been able to sleep soundly away from home for years; he's a bit picky about which bed to sleep in.
"This feels so good!"
After yawning, Karot said, "I woke up feeling refreshed and clear-headed. Before I knew it, it was noon. This was something Karot hadn't expected. At home Karot found peace of mind."
"Young Master Karot, you're awake. Shall I prepare lunch for you?"
The servant saw Karot come downstairs and asked.
"Sure, I'm a little hungry. By the way, where did Father and my friend go?"
Karot asked this question because he didn't sense the presence of Hatake Sakumo and Kakuzu at home.
"The patriarch has gone fishing. Young master, your friend told you to tell him he went out to find ways to make money after you wake up."
The servant replied respectfully.
"Then you should prepare lunch first!"
"Yes, please wait a moment."
The servant went to prepare Karot's lunch, knowing full well how much his young master ate.
"Father has taken up fishing; I wonder if he'll come back empty-handed!"
"Kakuzu is really something, doesn't he know how to take a break? You can never earn all the money in the world."
The sound of servants serving food interrupted Karot's thoughts. Karot really wanted to slap himself; how could he be distracted while enjoying a meal! So unprofessional.
While Karot was leisurely enjoying his time, Kakashi was enduring the grueling life of raising a child and working hard. He was injured but still had to oversee his students' training. Today was also the last day of their mission; once the bridge was completed, they could go back, and Kakashi could finally end this period of torment.
"Kakashi-sensei, will that ruthless Zabuza show up today?"
After hitting Sakura with his big forehead, he asked, "Zabuza really gave me a huge shock that day."
"They're bound to appear. Those bounty hunter ninjas won't give up until they complete their mission."
Kakashi had complete faith in his own deductions.
Hearing Kakashi's words, Sakura looked hesitant, while Naruto and Sasuke seemed eager to try. This was understandable, as Sakura was a young girl who had been traumatized by the threat of death. She could only overcome this trauma through sheer strength.
"Slow down, slow down."
"Boom."
With the final sound fading, the bridge was completed.
"Great! We finally have our own bridge!"
The citizens of the Land of Waves built the bridge embraced each other once again, celebrating this joyous moment.
"Aren't you celebrating a little too early?"
An untimely voice rang out at that moment.
"Gato."
The people of the Land of Waves treat Gato like mice see a cat.
"You think you can escape my control just because this bridge has been built? You're too naive. Today, this bridge will sink into the sea. Who's in favor? Who's against?"
Although Gato was short, his words were so powerful that they made the people of the Land of Waves feel breathless.
"Tazuna, what should we do now?"
The bridge builders from the Land of Waves were led by Tazuna, and this bridge was their only way to escape Gato's control. They never expected Gato to appear here and shatter their hopes.
"This..."
When Tazuna saw his companions cowering in fear, he didn't blame them. Gato had brought so much suffering to the country, and the people trembled in fear of him. His son-in-law had also lost his life for rebelling against Gato.
"If you want to destroy this bridge, you'll have to step over my dead body first."
Tazuna stood before Gato, ready to protect his bridge with his own life and awaken the people's resistance with his courage.
"It's you? I remember you. Why don't you enjoy your retirement in peace and instead follow in your son-in-law's footsteps? What a pity."
"Kill him."
Gato gave orders to the warriors he had hired. Gato would not tolerate anyone defying him; if such a tendency arose, he would suppress it. His Gato was inviolable.
The samurai drew his katana, ready to cleave Tazuna in two with a single strike. Since his boss had given the order, he had to do it properly; after all, samurai made their living this way, and would do anything for money. And Gato of money, if not a lot.
"Bite."
"I can't just stand by and watch my employer get killed in front of me."
Karot blocked the katana with a kunai in his hand and said.
"Ninja?"
"I'll give you double what Tazuna offered, as long as you just stand by and do nothing."
Gato said confidently, believing that his financial power would be invincible.
"It really makes my heart flutter!"
Gato laughed when he heard Kakashi's words; he knew he had succeeded. However, Kakashi's next words turned his laughter into anger.
"However, my professional ethics do not allow me to do that."
Kakashi shrugged helplessly.
"You..."
Gato knew Kakashi was playing a trick on him.
"Kill him, kill them all."
"Gato gave the order," he said.
"Stop for a moment."
Kakashi shouted.
"Now you know you should stop? Too late, you're all going to die."
"Gato said arrogantly."
"You've misunderstood. Zabuza call Zabuza out; we're going to fight anyway."
Kakashi said to Gato, "After all, it's the opponent who's always in the shadows who's in danger."
"That Zabuza went on a mission to kill Tazuna and hasn't come back. He took my money but didn't do anything for me."
Gato harbors a deep resentment towards Zabuza; how dare he cheat me out of my money!
"Huh? What's going on?"
Kakashi was immediately taken aback; Zabuza hadn't returned to report. What had happened?
Gato wouldn't give Kakashi time to react. With a wave of his hand, all his samurai rushed forward. "It's just dealing with one ninja. We have so many of us, the advantage is on our side."
"Kill."
The samurai charged toward Kakashi in unison.
"Kakashi-sensei, we're here."
Naruto went to support their teacher.
"Tazuna, what do we do now?"
Gato started fighting with the ninjas, and he had no idea what to do.
"What other choice do we have? Of course, we have to fight them. This is our only hope. Without this bridge, our descendants will only become slaves of Gato."
"If the ninja fails the mission, he can still go back, but we have no way back."
After saying that, Tazuna took the weapons used to build the bridge and joined the battle.
"Yes, we have no way out."
Seeing Tazuna charging forward without hesitation, the people of the Land of Waves followed Tazuna, for Tazuna was right; they had no way back.
Kakashi was gratified to see the people of the Land of Waves begin to rebel. If the Land of Waves hadn't rebelled, Kakashi would have only protected them from harm this time, Kakashi wouldn't have interfered afterward, because a country can only stand up by itself.