During last night's conversation, Kakashi and the others learned that a local tycoon named Gato did not want the bridge to be built and had sent people to interfere before. To prevent anything from happening to Tazuna, Kakashi decisively stayed behind, intending to leave after the bridge was completed.
Early in the morning, Tazuna got up and went alone to the site where the bridge was being built. Naruto and the other two secretly protected him. Meanwhile, Kakashi took out a book unsuitable for children and read it with rapt attention. But that was only an outward appearance. Tazuna's every move remained within his sight.
The bridge foundations had already been laid, and a short stretch of the bridge had been built. Since the bridge was already underway, why had they escorted Tazuna back? Naruto could not figure it out no matter how hard he thought. There was a little standing water on the ground, showing that a light rain had fallen that morning. Tazuna gazed at the bridge and said happily, "The hope of the Land of Waves rests on this bridge. The Land of Waves is poor—even the daimyo is poor. This money was all donated by the people. This mission should originally have been a B-rank mission. But I didn't have that much money. So... I'm sorry."
"What a failure! Even Mr. Tazuna noticed us." Naruto walked out with a disappointed look on his face. The other two followed.
"No, no, it would have been impossible for me to notice the three of you. I only said that because I knew you would be protecting me at all times. Thank you all very much. Konoha truly deserves to be called a ninja village brimming with talent," Tazuna said.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—" The sound of a spinning object