Half a month later.
Hongshi and the others stood before Zabuza and Haku's graves, their heads lowered in silent mourning.
Kakashi sighed. "Ninja cannot seek a reason for their own existence. They are merely tools of great importance to their nations. Even we are no exception."
Sakura said, "If we do, will we end up like Zabuza and Haku?"
Naruto said, "If that's what a true ninja is, I don't want it! I don't want to be like that!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto with some surprise. "Naruto, you think so too?"
Haku smiled. "Even ninja can seek their own identities!"
Hieimon nodded. "Right, big sis is right."
Hongshi said, "...Zzzz."
Kakashi said, "(╬•᷅д•᷄╬) You idiot, at least show some respect for the dead!"
Hongshi said, "Oh, Zabuza! Haku! You died such terrible deaths! (˘̩̩̩ε˘̩ƪ)"
Ignoring Hongshi, Kakashi continued, "Actually, ninja all live troubled by this issue without even realizing it."
Naruto looked at Kakashi, his expression resolute. "I! Naruto Uzumaki! Will follow my own ninja way from now on!"
Haku gave Hongshi a long look. "Me too!"
Hongshi smiled. "Peace is fine. Nuclear peace is fine too."
After the bridge was completed, it was named Hongshi Bridge.
The Lord God said, "Isn't that way too forced?!"
Suddenly, a Ninja Hawk flew down from the sky. Its markings showed that it had come from Konoha, and it carried an encrypted letter.
Kakashi removed the envelope and read its contents. "Hmm! Lord Third has approved Yuhan and Hieimon's entry permits. From now on, you're people of Konoha!"
Hieimon was delighted. "Yay!"
Kakashi continued, "The combat abilities you two have displayed during these two weeks of training have been quite impressive. Yuhan's Water Release, in particular, has earned the approval of Konoha High Command. So Hongshi, Yuhan, and Kamiaka Hieimon have been granted special permission to form an additional team, Team 13. Your Jonin instructor will be Goshi Hyuga of the Anbu."
Hongshi said, "The Anbu..."
Kakashi sounded a little gleeful at his misfortune. "Don't be like that. Anbu instructors may be stern, but they're very strong."
Hongshi said, "I refuse. Yuhan, Hieimon, how about you two just don't go to Konoha?"
"???"
"???"
Kakashi covered his mouth and laughed. "Then you'd be missing-nin."
Hongshi said, "Why do I suddenly feel like you really need a beating?!"
"Yuhan, Hieimon, ignore this idiot. Let's go. We still need to hurry back to Konoha to report in."
Kakashi and the others ignored Hongshi and went on their way. Unfortunately, Hongshi moved too slowly...
Another week passed.
Hongshi and his two companions returned to Konoha and successfully became the students of Team 13.
Perhaps Konoha High Command had arranged it deliberately, but Goshi Hyuga only accompanied them on missions as their instructor. Hongshi handled the teaching.
Hongshi was perfectly happy with that. After all, everyone present was a weakling.
The three of them were standing on the training grounds.
Hongshi used his Rinnegan to sense two ninja nearby keeping him under surveillance. "Hmm, Danzo's methods may be dark, but ultimately, he wants what's best for Konoha."
Everything Danzo did was for Konoha. His methods were simply extreme, with no regard for losses. The Third and Danzo, one in the light and the other in the dark, had created Konoha's golden age (after dropping from Challenger).
The Lord God said, "Just waiting for you to eat those words."
Yuhan and Hieimon were outsiders, after all. Danzo would not overlook even the slightest suspicion, and had dispatched Root members to watch them day and night.
So Hongshi did not dare be too conspicuous either...
The Lord God said, "Dude, you're already invincible, okay?"
Hongshi said, "Playing the pig to eat the tiger is fun, okay?!"
Every day, after casting Mental World on Yuhan and Hieimon once, Hongshi would flop down and sleep. Thus, the Anbu's report to Danzo read:
"He seems to have contracted some strange form of hypersomnia. He starts dozing off as soon as training begins."
Yuhan possessed wind- and water-nature chakra, with above-average chakra reserves and very refined control. Hieimon, meanwhile, possessed water-nature chakra and Lightning Release Chakra, but his reserves were far below average, and his control was downright awful. His only interest was in mechanical devices, and he spent all day researching strange contraptions.
"Hey! Big sis Yuhan!"
Hearing someone call her, Yuhan saw that it was Naruto and his two teammates. All three wore backpacks and were preparing to head out on a mission.
Yuhan covered her mouth and chuckled, a breathtaking sight. "You're full of energy again today, Naruto-kun!"
Naruto laughed loudly. "Haha, I accelerate to Mach Five every day!"
Hieimon was tinkering with a mechanism nearby and paid Naruto and the others no attention. Hongshi, unsurprisingly, was still asleep.
Seeing Hongshi, Sakura went over and shook him. "Hey, Hongshi, why are you always sleeping? You'll catch a cold out here."
Sasuke remained as taciturn as ever, his Show-off Release activated. "Tch. How can he train like that?"
Just then, Hieimon suddenly stood up with an iron rod in his hand. "Yuhan, come look at my new invention!! Huh? Naruto-kun, what brings you here?"
Naruto looked at the iron rod in Hieimon's hand. "What?! Isn't that just an ordinary iron rod?!"
Hieimon shook his head. "I installed a mechanism on it and engraved a jutsu formula. Just channel chakra into it, and it can change shape directly!"
With that, Hieimon channeled Lightning Release Chakra into the iron rod. Stable Lightning Release Chakra began extending from one side, gradually taking the shape of a katana.
"‼(•'╻'•)꒳ᵒ꒳ᵎᵎᵎ Oh! What an amazing invention! This could save a lot of chakra in battle!"
Before long, however, the chakra on the katana faded. Hieimon scratched his head sheepishly. "Hehe, that's all the chakra I have. It still needs work. Oh, Sasuke-kun, you have Lightning Release Chakra. Give it a try."
Sasuke was very interested in the iron rod. He had not expected Hieimon to hand it straight to him. Without a word, he took it and channeled chakra into it.
Hiss! People really were different. Sasuke had much more chakra than Hieimon, and the lightning blade on the iron rod looked far more distinct. Naturally, its power was also considerable.
Naruto's eyes shone as he stared at Sasuke.
Seemingly noticing Naruto's gaze, Sasuke met his eyes...
"(°ー°〃) Hmph!"
"Hmph! (´ﾟωﾟ)"
"???"
Sakura said, "(-ι_-) They've been acting weird ever since we got back from the Land of Waves. This is so awkward. Kakashi-sensei, please hurry up and get here."
After everyone spent five awkward minutes together, Sasuke returned the iron rod to Hieimon. "What's this thing called?"
Hieimon scratched his head. "I call it the Adaptive Five Release Chakra Blade, or the Five Release Blade. But so far, I've only made this one lightning-nature version, and it's still very crude!"
Sakura said, "I never knew you were so talented at making mechanical devices, Hieimon!"
Sasuke thought for a moment. "I want one... S-s-sorry for the trouble... Could you make one for me?"
Sasuke was actually asking someone for a favor!
Hieimon could hardly refuse. "I'll do my best to improve it."
Naruto said, "I want one too! Me too!"
Hieimon nodded in agreement.
At some point, Hongshi had woken up. "What are you talking about? I want one too."
Hieimon looked thoroughly unimpressed. "Master, if you've got nothing to do, could you just stay out of the way?"
Hongshi said, "???"
"Yo, here you all are. Sorry, I got lost on the road of life again."
"Kakashi-sensei, you're late again! Come on, could you at least put some sincerity into your lies?!"
"Kakashi-sensei, all our missions lately have been simple ones. Could you give us a few that let us really show our stuff?!"
"Oh! What an interesting ninja tool!" Kakashi took the iron rod from Hieimon's hand and channeled a large amount of Lightning Release Chakra into it. Lightning surged from the rod, reaching a full three meters in length and condensing until it seemed solid.
"Amazing!"
Bang! Just then, the formula on the iron rod cracked, unable to withstand so much chakra, and the lightning blade dissipated into the air.
"Hmm. So it can only support Chunin-level chakra." Kakashi looked at the cracked iron rod through half-lidded eyes. "You'll need to strengthen it a little more."
Hieimon hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes."
Sakura said, "Sensei, isn't it wrong to just casually break someone else's things like that?!"
"Hmm?" Kakashi was about to speak when he spotted a Ninja Hawk flying overhead and stopped.
"Everyone, let's call it a day. I still have to submit my mission report in a bit!" With that, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Naruto, however, was furious. "Kakashi-sensei is the worst!"
Sakura looked shyly at Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, since we have time, why don't we go discuss teamwork..."
Sasuke said, "Why are you acting just like Naruto?"
Sakura said, "(ﾟ⊿ﾟ)ﾂ What?!"
Sasuke said, "If you've got time, go practice your Ninjutsu. Honestly, you're not even as good as Naruto!"
Sakura said, "Σ(°Д°; I-I-I'm not as good as Naruto?!"
Hongshi sighed. "Sasuke, oh, Sasuke. You're staying single through sheer skill."
Yuhan covered his mouth and laughed. "What adorable children."