Return to Konoha

Naruto's tone was steady now, his gaze resolute, without a trace of forced bravado.

When had this guy become like this?

Thinking back on Naruto's experiences in the Land of Waves—how he had unleashed that terrifying chakra within the Ice Crystal Magic Mirrors, shocking even Haku; how, after he himself had lost consciousness, Naruto had shattered Haku's Ice Crystal Magic Mirrors alone; how, after Zabuza's death, he had intimidated the entire Gato Mercenary Group with fifty Shadow Clones.

And now, even the way he spoke was different from before.

Was this still the dead last he knew?

Sasuke said nothing, but the way he looked at Naruto was more serious than ever before.

Just then, Tazuna emerged from the kitchen carrying a large platter of freshly steamed rice balls. Seeing that everyone was gathered, he happily announced in a loud voice:

"Honored ninja, good news—the bridge will officially be completed tomorrow!"

Tazuna paused, allowing his words time to sink in, then said in a booming voice, "That means your mission will officially end by the day after tomorrow at the latest!"

Naruto nodded at that and got up to head for the dining table. Sasuke glanced at him and followed.

Sakura immediately put on a radiant smile and eagerly sat down beside Sasuke.

Of course, she deliberately chose the seat farthest from Naruto.

After the meal, Tazuna raised his cup again with a hearty laugh to announce another matter. He solemnly stated that, to thank Naruto for protecting the bridge all this time—

He intended to rename the soon-to-be-completed bridge from the original "Land of Waves Bridge" to "Naruto Bridge."

Naruto was drinking soup and nearly choked on a mouthful of miso soup when he heard that.

He set down his bowl and looked up to see Tazuna's smug expression that practically said, "Hurry up and praise me."

He had thought about that name for a long time.

Naruto helplessly waved a hand. "Old man, whatever makes you happy."

The chopsticks Sakura was using to serve Sasuke food stopped in midair, and the sweet smile on her face froze for an instant.

Her pink eyes widened round as her heart let out a silent roar: Why Naruto Bridge?

Why wasn't it Sasuke Bridge?

Sasuke almost died!

Why give the bridge Naruto's name instead of Sasuke's?

Sasuke said nothing. He merely turned his head to look out the window, lost in thought.

Kakashi quietly slipped a hand into his ninja tool pouch, secretly pulled out Make-Out Paradise, and opened it.

The next day

Nearly every man, woman, elder, and child in the Land of Waves flocked to the bridgehead.

The bridge, which had taken so long to build, finally had its last stone slab laid that afternoon.

When Tazuna personally tore away the white cloth covering the stone monument at the bridgehead, the four large characters "Naruto Bridge" reflected a brand-new gleam beneath the sunlight.

Cheers shook the heavens.

Fishermen tossed their fishing-net hats into the air, women wiped away each other's tears, and children ran screaming back and forth across the brand-new bridge deck.

They knew that from this day onward, the Land of Waves would no longer be an isolated island cut off by the sea.

They could connect with the outside world. Their children could live good lives. No one would ever starve to death again.

Another day passed.

That morning, sunlight warmed the newly paved bridge deck.

Kakashi and Tazuna completed the final step of the mission handover in the small living room of Tazuna's home.

A standard Konoha protection mission completion confirmation form was signed and thumbprinted by the client, then signed and filed by the team leader.

When Tazuna pressed his thumbprint into the signature field, the calluses on his hand even rubbed away a layer of ink.

After signing, Kakashi rolled up the confirmation document and put it away in his ninja tool pouch, then called Naruto and the others to pack their things and prepare to return to the village.

As they packed the last of their personal belongings, Tsunami, who had been washing their clothes and cooking for them, specially wrapped several extra rice balls in oil paper and tucked them into Sakura's backpack.

The Land of Waves was too poor to offer any precious gift. If they could provide even one more meal's worth of rations, they would.

Then she stood at the doorway and gave them a deep bow.

Inari ran up to Naruto, looked up at him with eyes brimming with tears that no longer held fear, and said through a thick nasal voice, "Big Brother Naruto, you gave me courage."

"Someday, I'll be as brave as you and protect my family and this bridge!"

Naruto looked down at the little brat who had once only known how to hide behind his grandfather and cry. He fell silent for a moment, then bent down and patted Inari on the shoulder.

"You're already very brave."

"That day, when you stood at the bridgehead with it in your hands, you were your grandfather's hero."

"Keep it up."

Inari bit his lip, clenched his small fists tightly, and nodded firmly at Naruto.

Naruto straightened up, turned, and walked toward Kakashi and the others, who were already waiting at the edge of town.

After he had walked more than a dozen steps, Inari's voice rang out behind him with all his strength. "Big Brother Naruto, someday I'll definitely become a ninja like you!"

Naruto did not turn back. He merely raised his right hand and gave a casual wave.

Kakashi walked at the very front of the group, still moving with that lazy, carefree gait. His hand had already slipped back into his ninja tool pouch and found the corner of Make-Out Paradise. He would probably secretly pull it out to read before they had walked even a kilometer.

Sakura followed close behind, chattering as she trailed Sasuke about what desserts they would eat after returning.

Sasuke walked in the middle of the group, expressionlessly dealing with Sakura's endless chatter. After walking for some time, he tilted his head slightly and glanced from the corner of his eye at Naruto at the very back of the group.

Naruto walked at the back of the group.

He was thinking about what would happen after returning to Konoha.

There was no need to say it. The moment he stepped through Konoha's gates, it would not be long before the ANBU's eyes were glued to him again.

With his status as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, no matter how kind and approachable the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, acted, he could not possibly truly allow Naruto to move freely through the village without paying any attention to him.

Not to mention that Hiruzen Sarutobi had the Telescope Technique, which allowed him to pinpoint Naruto's chakra whenever he wanted and watch him whenever he pleased.

The scenes of him eating instant noodles in his apartment, sleeping in late, and staring blankly at the wall—there was a good chance the Third had seen all of them.

The thought made Naruto feel uncomfortable all over.

But at this stage, there was nothing he could do.

He could not show any sign of noticing the surveillance. A genin who had graduated from the Ninja Academy only a few months ago should not possess the ability to detect ANBU tails.

Nor could he suddenly change his usual routine.

Until Hiruzen Sarutobi died, he had to keep playing Naruto Uzumaki—the dead last who had matured slightly after being tempered by missions, but was still essentially the same old dead last.

Naruto hated this feeling of being hindered at every turn, but he could only endure it.

He only hoped the Chūnin Exams would arrive soon. Once the Konoha Crush Plan began, Hiruzen Sarutobi died within the Four Violet Flames Formation, and Tsunade took over as the Fifth Hokage, his circumstances would be completely different.

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