Everyone's Questions

After taking care of everything, Naruto didn't linger. He turned and headed outside, his figure soon vanishing into the night.

Gazing at Naruto's retreating back, Zabuza stood rooted to the spot, his emotions in turmoil.

He was amazed by Naruto's decisive and efficient actions. In just one night, he had beheaded Gato and taken control of the situation with a detailed plan.

Even more astonishing was the accuracy and detail of the intelligence Naruto possessed.

It was almost frightening. Even the professional intelligence organizations of the Five Great Shinobi Villages might not have information this detailed.

Then there was his grand goal of unifying the shinobi world.

At the same time, a hope he hadn't felt in a long time quietly stirred in Zabuza's heart.

He didn't know whether this seemingly unbelievable young man before him could unify the shinobi world.

But he could certainly help Zabuza return to the Hidden Mist one day and put an end to the fate of the Bloody Mist Village.

Thinking of this, Zabuza unconsciously tightened his grip on Kubikiribōchō.

Deep in his eyes, the fighting spirit that had been extinguished for years after his failed assassination of the Fourth Mizukage quietly flared to life once more.

By the time Naruto returned to Tazuna's home without a sound, it was already the latter half of the night.

Everything had gone according to plan.

The Shadow Clone Naruto had left behind earlier had carried out the actions his real body needed it to take.

After finishing training with Sasuke, it had returned to Tazuna's home and then "gone to sleep," waiting for the escort mission the next day.

Only after the Shadow Clone lay quietly in bed and sensed Naruto's return did it slip out to a secluded corner outside.

The instant it met with Naruto, it went "poof," turning into a cloud of white smoke as it dispelled itself.

A slightly tired expression crossed Naruto's face. He rubbed his temples, then went back to the room and carelessly pushed open the door.

He deliberately let the old door creak softly as it opened, then flopped down onto the temporary bedroll and fell asleep almost at once.

Early the next morning, before dawn, a succession of sounds began stirring in the house.

Tazuna's daughter was already preparing breakfast.

The sounds of everyone else getting up made Naruto open his eyes at once. He then swiftly sat up.

Kakashi leaned against the wall, holding the ever-present Icha Icha Paradise. His eyes never left the words on the page.

"Alright, once we've finished breakfast, we'll escort Mr. Tazuna to the bridge." Kakashi lazily swept his one visible eye over his three students, who were ready to go, and gave his instructions in his usual drawl. "I doubt Gato will give up so easily. He might send his samurai or whatever gang members he has left to cause trouble."

As Sakura tidied her hair, she couldn't help asking curiously, "Then... what about you, Teacher Kakashi? Aren't you coming with us?"

"Me?" Kakashi's eye curved into a smile. Even with most of his face hidden behind his mask, it was clear he was grinning. His voice took on a deliberately mysterious tone. "I have more important things to take care of, of course."

Naruto watched it all expressionlessly, unmoved.

He knew all too well what those "more important things" were.

Most likely, Kakashi would find a comfortable, secluded spot where he could soak up the sun and keep reading his trashy novels, while monitoring the mission from afar.

After all, Naruto had shown enough strength to make his teacher feel that watching over them in person was somewhat unnecessary.

But Naruto couldn't be bothered to call him out. For now, their unspoken understanding made things easier.

They sat together with Tazuna, his daughter, and his grandson, Inari, and ate a simple breakfast.

Inari was unusually quiet at the table, keeping his head down as he ate.

He was a far cry from the rebellious child from Naruto's first life, who had lashed out at others.

Naruto knew why. In his first life, Inari had come home as usual and, despairing over the memory of his father sacrificing himself to protect the bridge, had taunted the Konoha Ninja staying with his family.

But yesterday, Naruto and Sasuke had changed what had happened in his first life by choosing to leave.

So Tazuna and Kakashi had both talked to and comforted Inari. That was why he was so quiet today.

It had clearly worked.

Naruto thought it was a good thing, too. At the very least, it saved him a lot of time.

Though the Land of Waves was nominally called a "country," it had little territory and few resources.

Based on Naruto's experience from his first life and countless cycles, Tazuna would take everyone home for lunch each day rather than bring food with them.

On the way to the bridge, they passed through a small market.

Naruto calmly surveyed the market, which he knew better than he knew himself.

It looked as run-down as ever. The merchants at the stalls on either side, whether they sold fish or vegetables, had pitifully little stock. Their eyes were vacant and numb.

The occasional passersby, adults and children alike, were mostly gaunt and ragged, their faces showing scarcely a trace of energy or hope.

The Land of Waves was certainly poor, but it shouldn't have been reduced to this.

Naruto knew that the root of it all was the man called Gato and the brutal rule and economic exploitation he had brought with him.

But ever since last night, things had already begun to change.

They would probably continue to change over the next few days.

When they reached the magnificent, unfinished bridge, Tazuna immediately got to work, directing the workers as they set about their tasks.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura could only wait around on the sidelines, bored. They were supposedly there as guards, but in practice they had nothing to do.

At this stage, there truly couldn't be any danger, especially after Naruto had personally dealt with Gato the night before with decisive force and arranged for Zabuza to take over his forces.

Sakura leaned against a pile of lumber and gave a small yawn. Her eyes drifted now and then toward the silent Sasuke beside her as she listlessly kicked at a pebble. "Honestly, I thought Gato would really send people to interfere with the bridge... but nothing's happened. And this is supposed to be some rich guy?"

"Yeah... it's way too quiet. From what Tazuna told us, Gato shouldn't have given up so easily."

Sasuke folded his arms and kept a sharp eye on their surroundings. Still on guard, he agreed with Sakura.

After returning the previous night, Sasuke had heard a little about the history of the Land of Waves.

To control the Land of Waves and intimidate its people, Gato had even killed someone in broad daylight—inari's father.

Yet the daimyo of this country hadn't dared to say a word.

It had been left to a commoner like Tazuna to find a way forward, and in the end, he had resorted to deception to hire shinobi from Konoha.

But now the shinobi he'd hired had arrived, and Gato still hadn't made a move. It was strange.

Naruto leaned back against the bridge, relaxed, and gazed at the distant horizon where sea and sky met. "Maybe Gato ran into some other trouble."

In his heart, he thought, Of course he did.

After all, Naruto himself had arranged that "trouble" the night before.

From now until the bridge was finished, Gato wouldn't be able to do anything.