"The Bridge of Heroes, huh?"
Team 7 followed Tazuna into the dense mist, listening to his story as they finally understood the significance of this massive sea-crossing bridge.
A lone, stranded shinobi and a group of bridge builders had saved a nation on the brink of collapse—both were true heroes.
The group silently admired the tale, but only Hikari stared at Naruto's back with an unreadable expression.
This bridge was supposed to be called the "Naruto Bridge." But due to the butterfly effect of her actions, it had been completed five years early and renamed the "Bridge of Heroes."
"So, the Cardo gang has returned?" Kakashi asked skeptically.
"Yes," Tazuna sighed, his head drooping. "After the bridge was finished, the Land of Waves' economy recovered completely. Cardo's gang tried to invade multiple times, but that shinobi always drove them back. We stopped worrying… until a week ago."
His voice grew grim. "They claimed they'd hired powerful shinobi to take the Land of Waves by force. We thought our protector would stop them again… but then—he vanished."
"V-Vanished?!" Naruto exclaimed. He had been eager to meet this legendary hero. Sasuke and Kakashi were disappointed but not entirely surprised—if the shinobi were still here, they wouldn't have been assigned this mission in the first place.
"Gone without a trace," Tazuna confirmed. "He left in a hurry—his belongings were still at home. The only thing missing was that massive sword he always carried."
As he spoke, his eyes flickered toward Hikari, as if gauging her reaction.
"So, what was his name?"
Hikari had noticed Tazuna's subtle glance. A suspicion had already formed in her mind, but she couldn't quite believe it.
Tazuna hesitated. The man had warned him not to reveal his name—it could bring trouble. But after spending days with these Konoha shinobi, he'd gotten a sense of their character.
They're not bad people.
Swallowing his fear, he cautiously answered, "He called himself Zabuza… a rogue shinobi."
"Zabuza?!"
Naruto and Sasuke immediately recognized the name from Hikari's questioning the day before—about the coffin shinobi and a girl named "Haku."
Kakashi inhaled sharply. He never expected the mysterious savior of the Land of Waves to be Momochi Zabuza, the infamous missing-nin of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
A man who slaughtered his entire graduating class, forcing Kiri to change its team assignment system—a bloodthirsty monster. Yet after defecting, he'd somehow become a hero?
But how did Hikari know about him?
The group turned to her, baffled.
"I met him once in the Land of Water."
She couldn't explain in detail, but when Tazuna mentioned Kaiza rescuing a water-style shinobi years ago, she'd already suspected. Who else could it be but Zabuza?
Back then, after consuming the Three-Tails' flesh, she'd planned to board the "Ship of Hope" to reach the Land of Fire—until she sensed two Kage-level chakra signatures onboard and noped out.
Zabuza and Haku had boarded instead.
Somewhere along the voyage, a cataclysmic battle must have erupted, destroying the ship. Zabuza, likely severely injured, drifted with the currents—only to wash ashore on the Land of Waves.
Fate works in strange ways.
The same man, the same place—yet the outcome was completely opposite.
"Did he have a girl with him?" she pressed, still clinging to hope.
Tazuna shook his head firmly. "No! He was alone when he washed up—half-dead from wounds and poison. If not for everyone's efforts, he wouldn't have survived. There was no girl."
"I see."
Her hope of obtaining Ice Release vanished once again.
As they spoke, the group reached the midpoint of the bridge.
Waves crashed against the pillars, the sound echoing endlessly.
The mist thickened behind them, swallowing the path they'd come from. Ahead, the fog thinned slightly, revealing a massive black shadow lurking within—like a beast lying in wait.
"Tazuna-san, are there any special entry requirements for the Land of Waves?" Hikari's Byakugan was already active, her pale eyes piercing through the mist.
"Huh? No, none at all," Tazuna replied, confused. "The bridge was built for trade. Anyone can cross freely—no fees, no restrictions."
"Then the people ahead… don't belong to your country." Her gaze sharpened.
"What?!"
Before anyone could react, rapid footsteps echoed from the fog.
A dozen black-clad figures charged toward them, led by three who moved with terrifying speed.
Their forehead protectors were slashed—missing-nin.
No words were needed.
These were the same men who had attacked Tazuna at the border.
"It's the Konoha shinobi Tazuna hired—three males, one female! Inform Blackmail Zabuza! The rest—attack!"
The leader's expression darkened upon spotting their headbands.
Konoha's reputation was well-earned. Underestimating children or women in the shinobi world was a quick way to die.
"Yes!"
One of the men turned to retreat into the mist—
"Hyouki!"
A familiar hum buzzed past Tazuna's ear. He flinched, glancing at Hikari.
She stood motionless, her lips barely parting as the mist twisted violently—
"Ryouki!"
A scream tore through the fog.
The leader's face paled as he watched his comrade continue walking—headless.
The body collapsed, blood pooling on the bridge.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi were used to Hikari's ruthlessness, but after five years of peace, they'd almost forgotten.
Tazuna, however, was horrified.
Thank god I never badmouthed her.
"The girl uses Wind Release! Hardening Jutsu—now!"
The two remaining shinobi activated Earth Release defenses, their skin gleaming like metal.
The dozen black-clad followers froze at the sight of the decapitated corpse.
"They're not shinobi," Sasuke noted, his Sharingan flaring. Only the two leaders had chakra.
"Naruto, Sasuke—handle the front. Hikari, protect Tazuna!" Kakashi ordered.
Hikari had no interest in slaughtering civilians. She swallowed the wind chakra gathering in her mouth and took her position.
"Leave it to us!"
Naruto grinned, slipping on his brass knuckles as violent winds coiled around his fists.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The bridge was instantly flooded with orange clones—some even perched on the railings.
Sasuke unsheathed his sword, dashing into the crowd with ruthless efficiency.
Tazuna watched in awe.
Best money I ever spent.
"The mist is too thick—my Sharingan's range is limited," Kakashi muttered. "Blackmail Zabuza is a Kirigakure elite. He specializes in silent killing. Hikari, stay sharp—he might target Tazuna."
"Don't worry. The mist can't hide from me."
Her Byakugan scanned the area—until she paused.
A patch of unnaturally dense fog clung to the bridge's underside, resisting her vision.
"What is it?" Kakashi tensed.
"Nothing."
She smiled faintly.
That chakra… it was familiar.
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