Return to Konoha

Naruto was no longer forcing himself to act tough. His voice was steady, his gaze resolute.

When had this guy changed so much?

Sasuke recalled Naruto's experiences in the Land of Waves: the terrifying Chakra that had erupted in the Ice Crystal Magic Mirror Formation and shocked even Haku; how Naruto had broken Haku's Ice Crystal Magic Mirror Formation alone after Sasuke lost consciousness; how he had intimidated the entire Gato Mercenary Group with fifty Shadow Clones after Zabuza's death.

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

Was this really the dead last he knew?

Sasuke said nothing, but his gaze 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 present, he happily announced in a loud voice:

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

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

Naruto nodded at this and rose to head for the dining table. Sasuke glanced at him and followed.

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

Naturally, she deliberately chose a seat as far from Naruto as possible.

After the meal, Tazuna laughed heartily and raised his cup again to announce something else. He solemnly expressed his gratitude for Naruto's constant protection of the bridge during this time.

He intended to rename the soon-to-be-completed bridge from the originally planned "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, practically begging for praise.

He had thought about that name for a long time.

Naruto waved his hand helplessly. "Old man, as long as you're happy."

Sakura's chopsticks, which had been picking food for Sasuke beside her, stopped. The sweet smile on her face froze for an instant.

Her pink eyes went wide as silent fury roared within her: Why Naruto Bridge?

Why couldn't it be Sasuke Bridge?

Sasuke nearly 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, no one knowing what he was thinking.

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 gathered at the bridgehead.

After being built for so long, the bridge finally received its last stone slab that afternoon.

When Tazuna personally pulled away the white cloth covering the stone monument at the bridgehead, the four large characters "Naruto Bridge" gleamed brightly under the sunlight.

The cheers shook the heavens.

Fishermen tossed their netted hats into the air, women wiped away each other's tears, and children shrieked as they ran 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, and no one would ever starve to death again.

Another day passed.

That morning, the 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 by the team leader and filed away.

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

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

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

The Land of Waves was too poor to offer any valuable gifts. If they could provide one extra meal's worth of rations, then that was one extra meal.

Then she stood at the doorway and bowed deeply to them.

Inari ran up to Naruto and looked up at him, his eyes brimming with tears that no longer held fear. In a voice thick with tears, he said, "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 kid who had once done nothing but hide behind his grandfather and cry. He fell silent for a moment, then bent down and patted Inari's shoulder.

"You're already very brave."

"That day, when you stood at the bridgehead holding that weapon, you were your grandfather's hero."

"Keep it up."

Inari bit his lip, clenched his two little fists tightly, and nodded heavily at Naruto.

Naruto straightened up and turned toward Kakashi and the other two, who were already waiting at the entrance to the town.

After he had taken 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 just like you!"

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

Kakashi walked at the front of the group with the same carefree stride. 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 even walked a kilometer.

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

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

Naruto walked at the very back.

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

It went without saying that the moment he stepped through Konoha's gates, ANBU watchers would latch onto him again before long.

With his identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, no matter how kind and approachable the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi acted, he could not truly let Naruto move freely through the village without concern.

Not to mention that Hiruzen Sarutobi possessed the Telescope Technique and could locate his Chakra whenever he wanted, watching him at will.

The scenes of him eating instant noodles in his apartment, sleeping in, and staring blankly at the wall had probably all been seen by the Third Hokage.

The thought made Naruto feel uncomfortable all over.

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

He could not show any sign that he had noticed the surveillance. A Genin who had only graduated from the Ninja Academy a few months ago should not have the ability to detect ANBU tracking him.

Nor could he suddenly change his daily routine.

Until Hiruzen Sarutobi died, he had to continue playing Naruto Uzumaki: someone who had grown a little more mature after being tempered by missions, yet was still fundamentally the same dead last.

This constricting feeling irritated Naruto, but he could only endure it.

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