Return to the Village

The mission in the Land of Waves was completed perfectly.

Gato, the culprit who had once plunged the Land of Waves into despair and chaos, finally received his just punishment. His fall was like removing a long-standing dark cloud that had shrouded the sky, allowing light to once again shine upon this land.

The construction of the bridge, a project that had stalled due to Gato's interference, could now finally proceed.

Workers bustled about once more, the symphony of hammers and nails echoing along the riverbank, heralding the future prosperity and hope of the Land of Waves.

Tazuna, the aged yet steadfast bridge designer, gazed at the gradually taking shape bridge before him, his eyes filled with relief and gratitude.

To commemorate this victory and to honor the young ninjas who had fought bravely to protect the Land of Waves, he decided to name the bridge "Naruto Bridge," thus memorializing Naruto and his companions' courage and selflessness.

Of course, it might also have been that Tazuna had once mocked Naruto, and now, seeing Naruto's strength, he wanted to mend their relationship.

But none of that mattered anymore; from now on, this bridge was called Naruto Bridge.

When the news spread, the entire village of the Land of Waves erupted in excitement.

They organized spontaneously, sending off the four heroes—Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura—in the simplest and most sincere way.

Flowers, applause, and tears of gratitude intertwined, forming a moving tableau.

Children surrounded Naruto and his team, their eyes sparkling with dreams and aspirations for the future, as if they saw a brighter tomorrow for the Land of Waves in these figures.

Amid the villagers' reluctant gazes, Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura set off on their return journey.

Back in Konoha, Kakashi quickly disbanded the team and, without a moment's delay, headed straight for the Hokage's building.

Pushing open the heavy door of the Hokage's Office, Kakashi saw the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at his desk, brows furrowed yet exuding an undeniable authority.

"Kakashi, you're back." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was gentle and deep, carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. The mission is complete. Gato has been defeated, the bridge in the Land of Waves will continue construction, and they have decided to name it 'Naruto Bridge.'" Kakashi reported the mission results concisely, though his tone betrayed a particular emphasis on one detail.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly surprised by the name "Naruto Bridge," then his gaze sharpened: "It seems Naruto performed remarkably during this mission."

Kakashi nodded, his expression serious: "Lord Hokage, I must report to you that Naruto's strength and growth during this mission far exceeded my expectations."

"In battle, Naruto displayed extraordinary power." Kakashi's voice carried a hint of awe. "He showed no fear when facing Momochi Zabuza, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and single-handedly defeated Zabuza and his companion Haku. Moreover, he tapped into the Power of the Nine-Tails during the fight. Naruto's strength is now on par with mine."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed an expression of disbelief, which then shifted to deep contemplation.

He was well aware that Naruto had the Nine-Tails sealed within him, but he also understood the instability and risks that came with that power.

The conversation between the two then continued for a long time. As for what exactly was discussed, perhaps only Kakashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi knew.

But one thing was certain: from that moment on, Naruto's status and future in Konoha had subtly and profoundly changed.

Back in Konoha, Sasuke appeared troubled, deeply shaken by this mission.

Though he had awakened the Sharingan, Sasuke was acutely aware of the vast gap between himself and Naruto, which filled him with an unprecedented sense of urgency. So, he rushed to the training ground, determined to close that gap through even more rigorous practice.

Sakura, on the other hand, wanted to take this opportunity to treat Naruto to a meal, both to celebrate the mission's completion and to get to know him better.

However, when she extended the invitation to Naruto, he politely declined.

Naruto said he wanted to go home and rest as soon as possible.

In Naruto's memory, Sakura had never been kind to him, so he had no interest in the invitation.

Following his memory, Naruto walked home alone.

Just then, he noticed a familiar figure trailing behind him, occasionally stealing glances his way.

Curious, Naruto turned around and finally recognized the girl—it was Hinata from his class.

"Hinata, what are you doing here?" Naruto greeted with a smile.

But the moment Hinata's eyes met Naruto's, her cheeks flushed a vivid crimson, like a freshly bloomed cherry blossom, delicate and radiant.