When Ling returned to Tazuna's house, the mood was still somber, but the relief of having survived had eased it somewhat.
Naruto had already woken up and was grimacing as Sakura treated the cuts left by the senbon, along with... the wounds in his back where Haku had struck him when he saved Sasuke-the deepest and most dangerous of all. Although the leaking Nine-Tails chakra made his wounds heal faster than an ordinary person's, the pain and weakness from blood loss were all too real.
"Ow, ow, ow! Be gentle, Sakura!" Naruto wailed.
"Idiot! That's what you get for being so reckless!" Sakura scolded him while carefully disinfecting his wounds and applying medicine, her eyes still red.
Sasuke leaned against the wall, watching Naruto in silence. His left eye, which had evolved to have two tomoe, held a complicated look, while his other eye, still bearing a single tomoe, remained downcast. There was no telling what he was thinking. The sight of Naruto taking those strikes for him and Haku's death had shaken him far more than any previous battle.
After a brief rest and a Soldier Pill, Kakashi's color had improved somewhat. He was speaking with Tazuna and Tsunami, who had hurried over after hearing the news. When he saw Ling return, he gave him a questioning look.
"I've confirmed it. Zabuza is long gone. He headed toward the coast and probably left the Land of Waves using a summoned animal or some other means. I didn't find any signs of activity from Gato's remaining men in the area, either," Ling reported calmly, leaving out the details of his meeting with Zabuza.
Kakashi nodded, seeming relieved, though there appeared to be something else behind it as well. "That's good. This time... we really owe everyone a lot." He looked at his students, battered but all alive, and a barely perceptible trace of pride softened his visible eye.
Tazuna and Tsunami thanked them profusely. Tazuna in particular wept openly, repeating his thanks and promising that once the bridge was completed, he would offer Konoha the most favorable terms for trade. He would also pay them far more than the originally agreed C-rank mission fee, though it might still fall short of a B-rank payment.
A few days later, Naruto's injuries had mostly healed through the combined effects of Nine-Tails chakra and medical ninjutsu, and Sasuke's leg injury was no longer a serious concern. Kakashi had also recovered most of his chakra.
During that time, construction on the bridge accelerated considerably. Perhaps word of Gato's downfall had spread; the workers were no longer afraid and threw themselves into their work. Tazuna even decided to name the bridge that connected the Land of Waves to the outside world and brought it hope the "Naruto Bridge," in honor of the blond boy who had risked his life to protect him and his companions. Touched and embarrassed, Naruto scratched his head and grinned foolishly for a long time.
At last, the day of their departure arrived. The people of the Land of Waves came of their own accord to see them off. Though Inari was still awkward and standoffish, the initial hostility had vanished from his eyes when he looked at Naruto and the others, replaced by a hint of complicated curiosity and... a barely noticeable trace of gratitude.
The boat slowly pulled away from the coast of the Land of Waves. The magnificent, newly built Naruto Bridge gleamed in the morning light, a symbol of the country's rebirth.
Aboard the boat, however, Team 7's mood was not entirely relaxed.
Naruto watched the Land of Waves recede into the distance, unusually quiet, as though he was still processing Haku and Zabuza's story, along with his own brush with death. Suddenly, he turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei... that Haku, and Zabuza... were they bad people or good people?"
Out of habit, Kakashi looked in the direction of Konoha's Memorial Stone and sighed. "The ninja world isn't black and white, Naruto. Often, people simply have different allegiances and make different choices. Zabuza was a missing-nin who killed countless people, so of course he was our enemy. But between him and Haku... there may have been a bond we can't judge so easily. What matters is what you learned from this experience."
Naruto nodded, only half understanding.
Sasuke kept his eyes closed, resting, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. The evolution of his Sharingan, his lack of strength, his hatred for Itachi, and the inexplicable frustration he felt over Naruto risking his life to save him... all those emotions tangled together inside him.
Sakura glanced from one to the other, worry written all over her face.
Ling sat at the stern, seemingly admiring the ocean view, while actually reviewing the mission with Tobirama inside his mind.
[The Land of Waves mission largely achieved the expected objectives,] Tobirama concluded calmly. [Tazuna survived, the bridge was completed, and Konoha gained tangible benefits and potential influence. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Uchiha boy both grew through actual life-and-death combat, most notably through the evolution of the Uchiha boy's Sharingan.]
[You performed well,] Tobirama said, offering rare praise. [Your composure in battle, your decisions at critical moments, and your follow-up handling of the intelligence concerning Haku and Zabuza-acquiring Gato's wealth and steering Zabuza-were all commendable. In particular, obtaining the intelligence on Gato's wealth and handing it to the Anbu was an excellent move. You rendered a great service to the village while avoiding exposing yourself too early or getting entangled in trouble.]
"That intelligence... how will the village handle it?" Ling asked inwardly.
[Hmph. Those two old men, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, will naturally make the most of it,] Tobirama said with a cold chuckle. [Most of the wealth will flow into Konoha's treasury to bolster its military resources and development. A small portion may be allocated as additional mission pay, though Danzo might also divert some to his Root. None of that concerns us now, however. Having your contribution recorded is enough.]
[Next, once you return to Konoha, there are two things you need to be wary of.] Tobirama's tone grew serious. [First, Danzo. Your performance on this mission is bound to draw even greater interest from him. He may step up his attempts to approach or test you. Second, Orochimaru. News of the Uchiha boy's Sharingan evolving has very likely already spread through certain channels. That Sharingan-obsessed freak will never sit idly by. The Konoha Crush Plan has probably already entered its countdown.]
Ling's heart tightened, and he nodded silently. Peace was only a facade. The undercurrents within Konoha and the threats from outside had never ceased.
The boat sailed steadily along the sea route back to the Land of Fire. Sunlight spilled across the glittering water, as though the brutal battle had been nothing more than an illusion.
But everyone understood that some things had changed, both for the Land of Waves and for every member of Team 7.
And in the shadows beyond their sight, assessment reports on "Ling Hatake" had already traveled through special channels to land on the desks in the Hokage's Office and of Root's leader. More attention meant more opportunities, but it also heralded a greater storm gathering on the horizon.
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