"What kind of pattern is this?" Dazuna asked, puzzled.
"It's Konoha's symbol, the Uzumaki Clan's crest, the Uchiha Clan's insignia, the Haruno family emblem, and my Celestial Society trademark. With these five patterns together, it's like telling everyone this territory is under our protection. It can also intimidate those with ill intentions!"
Sakura said, tapping her fingers on the table, "Once I return, I'll send people over to the Land of Waves. You'll be in charge of receiving them and figuring out how to reasonably develop and utilize the resources here. As far as I know, the Land of Waves currently depends mostly on fishing for a living. In the future, the fish caught here can be sold to restaurants under the Haruno Corporation. I'll give instructions on that. Anyway, you all better start organizing things here quickly so I can have someone come over to discuss business soon!"
"Really? Thank you! Thank you so much!" Upon hearing Sakura's words, Dazuna's eyes immediately filled with tears. Before Sakura's arrival, Gato had run the show completely. Every industry was under his control, and no one could earn decent money. Now Sakura's appearance brought true hope to the Land of Waves. As long as people were willing to come here to do business, life would surely improve.
"Don't bother thanking me; business is business. Do you really think I'd waste my time giving a damn about your lives if there wasn't anything in it for me?" Sakura glanced at him. His earlier expression had been full of fear for his own safety, yet now he was overflowing with gratitude. Truthfully, Dazuna wasn't less afraid of her—he simply let his fear be overshadowed by potential gain.
With the Daimyo of the Land of Waves leading the whole nation in a warm farewell, Sakura and her companions slowly rode off into the distance. Behind them stood the Bridge, engraved with the two characters meaning 'hope,' surrounded by the five patterns mentioned earlier. From this day forth, the Land of Waves welcomed new hope and rebirth.
They made it back to Konoha quickly—without Dazuna slowing them down this time, there was no need to rush less.
A kunai had been stabbed into the wooden stake by Konoha's main gate. After glancing at the departure note underneath the kunai, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane—the two guards on duty—simply greeted Kakashi before continuing their job to inspect others.
"Let's go first to see the Hokage to sort out matters regarding these two," said Kakashi while looking toward Zabuza and Haku hiding beneath black cloaks behind him. He could already feel a migraine coming on just remembering how he must've been out of his mind to agree to bring them back to Konoha.
"Hey, you silver-haired masked creep, why are you giving us that look? Do you realize how lucky Konoha is to have me joining it?!" Zabuza was angered by Kakashi's disdainful gaze and almost wanted to pull out his Cleaver Sword to strike him.
"Zabuza-sama, please don't be so temperamental—it's not our land after all," Haku smiled gently, yet instantly silenced Zabuza. Even Kakashi subtly edged sideways slightly. "If we happen to provoke someone, who might then retaliate personally under the guise of public duty, using power unjustly or scheming against us, that would be rather unfortunate."
Kakashi, referred to as "someone": "..."
It almost sounded like he *was* the kind of guy who enjoyed using his power for revenge.
"Ahem, ahem... Let's just head to the Hokage Office!" Kakashi coughed a couple of times, slightly embarrassed. At first, he had assumed this girl named Haku was gentle like water, but who could have guessed that this seemingly soft bun on the outside actually hid surprises inside? Zabuza had now become surprisingly obedient—so compliant it was unbelievable. Where had his former domineering aura gone?
"By the way, are you sure the Third Hokage will accept me? My reputation isn't exactly great," Zabuza still felt uneasy. After all, he'd once attempted to assassinate the Mizukage, and after becoming a missing ninja, he hadn't stopped committing murders and arson. Given such a past, would Konoha truly accept him?
"Don't worry, Grandpa Third will accept you!" Sakura appeared very calm.
"Why are you so certain? Is it because of your own status and all your companions?" Zabuza asked curiously. No matter how influential she was, Konoha ultimately belonged to the Third Hokage.
"No, this has nothing to do with background—and even having one wouldn't make a difference anyway!" A slight smirk curled on Sakura's lips. "The reason I'm so confident is simply because of me personally. Since it was my suggestion to let you stay in Konoha, Grandpa Third will definitely agree!"
"You really hold that much sway?" Zabuza asked, surprised.
"How should I put it… From a certain perspective, the main reason Lord Third listens to Sakura is because he fears she might just lose her temper and blow up Konoha entirely."
Kakashi added casually from beside them, "You remember that standoff years ago at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning?"
"Yeah, I remember. Back then, supposedly after a meteor shower, the Land of Lightning suddenly withdrew their troops. Some said it was because the Land of Fire made wishes upon those meteors! If wishes actually worked, why would anyone bother working hard? They'd just wait for shooting stars all day long," Zabuza almost wanted to laugh thinking about this ridiculous rumor.
"In reality, the Land of Lightning withdrew because all those meteors landed in their territory—almost wiping out their whole army!" Kakashi's eyes grew distant, as if reliving that moment. "And the one responsible for that storm of fireballs… was none other than Sakura!"
Chapter 151: The Cunning Fox Kakashi [Mid]
"You've gotta be shitting me!" Zabuza looked at Sakura, who wore an innocent, harmless expression, then shot Kakashi a skeptical glance.
"I don't have time to mess around with you," Kakashi replied calmly. "I saw everything with my own eyes during that whole thing. Sakura used some unknown technique to pull several small meteors down from the sky. Under her control, they all landed safely in uninhabited border areas of the Land of Lightning—nobody got hurt!"
Kakashi didn't take offense, instead patiently explaining. "After that, the Cloud ninjas were so frightened they retreated themselves. And the swords Sakura wields and the one Sasuke uses were forged from meteoric iron collected during that event!"
"Damn… never saw that coming! You can summon meteors?!" Zabuza wore an expression full of astonishment, looking at her like she was some rare exotic creature.
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