In the end, Gato died cleanly.
Naruto had left him a whole corpse—no external wounds, no visible damage. Just a brain that had been reduced to paste inside an intact skull. It was almost merciful, in its way. Quick. Painless.
Naruto stood over the body for a moment, then glanced back at Sasuke and beckoned him over.
Sasuke understood immediately. He crossed the bridge without a word and began the practical work of corpse disposal.
Three bodies remained mostly intact on the bridge: Gato, the squatting samurai, and the standing samurai. Everything else—all the other warriors who'd charged—had been erased by Thousand Buddhas Ascend to Heaven, leaving not even ash behind.
Sasuke moved efficiently, dragging the two samurai corpses over to stack them with Gato's body. Then his hands went to work, patting down pockets, checking belt pouches, removing anything of value. Coins clinked into his own pouch. A surprisingly nice tanto went into his weapon holster. Some jewelry from Gato himself—probably worth quite a bit.
Waste not, want not, Sasuke thought pragmatically. Money is money, and I need all I can get.
Only after the corpses had been thoroughly searched did he step back and form hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu."
The flames engulfed all three bodies at once, burning hot and clean. Sasuke maintained the technique until nothing remained but fine ash and the smell of charred bone.
Then he scooped up the ashes—still warm—and scattered them over the side of the bridge into the water below. The current caught the gray powder and pulled it away, dispersing it into the vast river.
Gone. As if they'd never existed at all.
Sasuke dusted off his hands and returned to where Naruto stood waiting.
"Problem solved, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto turned toward his sensei with a bright smile, as if the last few minutes hadn't involved multiple deaths and a casual display of overwhelming force.
Kakashi looked at him with an expression too complicated to name. The technique Naruto had just used—Thousand Buddhas Ascend to Heaven—had radiated such overwhelming killing intent that even Kakashi, veteran of countless battles, had felt genuine terror.
The certainty of death, approaching like a tidal wave.
But now that same boy was smiling like the sun had come out, acting like everything was perfectly normal.
Behind them, a soft thump drew everyone's attention.
Tazuna had collapsed. His legs had finally given out completely, and he sat on the bridge planks with his back against a support beam, his face still the color of old parchment.
"Sakura, come with me to check on the workers." Kakashi gestured toward the unconscious bridge builders scattered across the construction site. "We need to make sure they're all right."
"Wait." Zabuza's rough voice stopped them. Haku was supporting him now, keeping him upright despite his own injuries. "Kakashi, those workers are fine. We just knocked them out. Our goal was only Tazuna, so we saw no reason to hurt innocent people unnecessarily."
His tone carried a wry, bitter quality. Ever since he'd learned about Naruto's true strength, he'd been very careful about his actions. Choosing not to harm civilians was partly mercy, but mostly pragmatism—staying on the right side of history, ensuring that if he ever encountered Naruto again, he wouldn't have a reputation as someone who killed indiscriminately.
It was about leaving yourself options for the future.
Kakashi understood the subtext immediately. With Gato dead and the contract voided, Tazuna was no longer Zabuza's target. There was no conflict between them anymore.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, "why don't you and Sakura check on the workers anyway, just to be safe? Sasuke and I will take Uncle Tazuna home. He doesn't look like he can walk right now."
Kakashi considered, then nodded. "That's fine. Be careful."
Naruto crossed to where Tazuna sat slumped against the beam. "Uncle Tazuna, can you stand?"
"No." The bridge builder's voice was hoarse. His hands were still shaking, adrenaline and terror warring in his system. "Give me a minute. Maybe two. Or ten."
"Sasuke, help him up."
But before Sasuke could move, another voice cut through the morning air.
"Zabuza-sama." Haku's tone was flat, empty. "I'm useless to you now. I couldn't complete the mission you gave me. I failed you completely." His face showed nothing but guilt and self-loathing. "I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama. I can no longer serve you."
His hand moved in a blur.
Kunai appeared in his grip, the blade angling toward his own abdomen, the trajectory perfect for a killing blow—
Metal rang against metal.
Haku's eyes went wide. He looked down to see Naruto's hand wrapped around his wrist, holding it immobile. The kunai's point pressed against Naruto's palm, but instead of piercing skin, it made the sharp ting of steel striking steel.
The blade hadn't even scratched him.
"Naruto..." Haku's lips barely moved, his voice a whisper.
Naruto looked at Haku, then at Zabuza, then back to Haku. His expression was serious, but not unkind. "Hey, you two. You're my captives now. Your lives belong to me, which means you don't get to just die whenever you feel like it."
Zabuza's visible eye widened. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly at a loss for words. But after a moment, reality settled in. He was in Naruto's hands—in the hands of a Konoha genin who could probably kill him with a sneeze. There would be no escaping this boy's pursuit if he tried to run.
Better to accept it with whatever dignity remained.
"I understand, Naruto." Zabuza's voice carried the weight of defeat, but also a strange kind of relief. "I'm at your disposal."
"I see." Haku's kunai clattered to the wooden planks. He smiled, but it was tired and sad. "Then my life is yours, Naruto-kun. Do with it as you will."
Sasuke's eyes lit up. He immediately darted forward, scooped up the dropped kunai, and tucked it into his own pouch.
That's a perfectly good weapon, he thought. Can't just leave it lying around. Kunai cost money.
"All right then." Naruto placed one hand on each of their shoulders—Zabuza on his left, Haku on his right. "Let's go, Sasuke. Back to Tazuna's house first."
"Wait, what are you—"
Naruto activated Instantaneous Movement.
The world lurched.
Zabuza felt his entire body trying to tear itself apart, the speed creating forces his physical form wasn't meant to withstand. Haku made a strangled sound beside him, his face going pale.
Naruto felt their distress immediately and slowed down, adjusting his technique to account for passengers who weren't conditioned for this kind of movement. The strain eased, and both missing-nin could breathe again.
Close one, Naruto thought. Almost killed my future farm employees before they even started working.
Sasuke grabbed Tazuna's shoulder, his Flying Thunder God mark glowing briefly. "Hold on, old man."
They vanished in a yellow flash.
Seconds later, both groups materialized in front of Tazuna's house.
"Inari!" Naruto called out. "Come help your grandfather!"
The door burst open. Inari had been in the kitchen helping his mother prepare the wild boar Naruto had brought back, but at Naruto's shout, he dropped everything and rushed outside.
His eyes found his grandfather being supported by Sasuke, and worry flooded his young face. "Naruto-niisan, what happened to Grandpa?"
"He's fine," Naruto assured him. "Just weak from shock. He needs to rest for a while, that's all."
Inari nodded seriously, absorbing Naruto's words like they were scripture. Ever since Naruto had protected his mother and shown him what real strength looked like, the boy had transformed. His dream now was to train with Naruto-niisan, to become strong enough to protect people too.
Which meant being obedient and helpful whenever possible.
His curious gaze drifted to Zabuza and Haku—the tall, intimidating man wrapped in bandages and the delicate-featured youth beside him—but he said nothing. If Naruto-niisan had brought them, they must be okay.
"Come on, Grandpa." Inari took Tazuna's other arm, helping Sasuke guide the old man toward the house. "Let's get you to bed."
They disappeared inside.
"Sasuke," Naruto said, "get Zabuza and Haku settled somewhere they can rest. I need to go take care of something."
Before Sasuke could respond, Naruto vanished.
One moment he was there. The next, only empty air remained.
Zabuza stared at the space Naruto had occupied, his mind churning. "That technique he just used... what was that? The speed—it's not slower than Flying Thunder God. Might even be faster."
Sasuke's expression immediately soured at hearing someone praise Naruto's speed over his own technique. But he answered anyway, pride making him correct the misconception. "It's a type of taijutsu, not ninjutsu. Mine is Flying Thunder God."
"You're admitting it?" Zabuza's eye widened. He looked at Sasuke with new understanding, pieces clicking together in his head. "So you really are using the Fourth Hokage's technique. I didn't expect that the Fourth's son wouldn't look like him at all."
He continued, his tone becoming thoughtful. "I've seen portraits of the Fourth Hokage in the history books. Azure blue eyes, golden hair—that's why they called him the Yellow Flash. But you..." He gestured at Sasuke's appearance. "Long black hair, Uchiha features. Unless—" His face showed dawning comprehension. "Could it be that the Fourth had an affair with—"
"What did you just say?"
Sasuke's voice was ice.
His fists clenched at his sides, and his Sharingan blazed to life, three tomoe spinning with barely contained rage. The temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees.
Oh no. Zabuza's brain caught up with his mouth. I just insulted his clan. And probably his parents. And definitely pissed him off.
He bent at the waist immediately, dropping into a perfect ninety-degree bow. "I'm sorry, Uchiha! I was completely wrong! I spoke without thinking!"
The speed of the apology was impressive. Years of survival instinct at work.
Sasuke blinked, his anger disrupted by the sheer familiarity of the gesture.
That immediate, shameless capitulation. That instant apology the moment things looked bad.
It reminded him of... himself. Every three days, challenging Naruto. Every three days, losing within seconds. Every three days, apologizing immediately to avoid getting beaten worse.
The recognition made his eye twitch.
Then his fist moved.
"Wait, I already apologized—"
WHAM.
Sasuke's punch caught Zabuza square in the face, right where the swelling was worst. The missing-nin's head snapped back, and he staggered.
WHAM. WHAM. WHAM.
Three more rapid strikes, each one landing on already-bruised flesh. Zabuza's face, which had just started to look slightly less like a purple balloon, immediately returned to maximum swelling.
Haku watched in horrified silence as his master got beaten up for the second time in an hour.
Finally, Sasuke stepped back, breathing slightly harder, a strange expression on his face.
Huh, he thought. That actually felt... good. Really good. No wonder Naruto keeps beating me up. There's something satisfying about landing hits on someone who can't effectively fight back.
It was a disturbing realization.
He shook his head, trying to clear the thought, and gestured toward the house. "Come on. You two need rest and medical attention. I'll find you somewhere to sleep."
Both Zabuza and Haku followed without protest.
Before they entered, Sasuke paused and formed a quick hand seal. His chakra flared briefly, and he touched both of them—Zabuza on the shoulder, Haku on the back of his hand.
Two Flying Thunder God marks burned into place, invisible to normal sight but clear as day to Sasuke's Sharingan.
"I just marked you both," he said flatly. "Don't try to run. Even if you escape to the other side of the world, I'll find you instantly. Understand?"
"My life belongs to Naruto-kun now," Haku said quietly. His face was serious, resolved. "Please don't worry, Uchiha-kun. I won't run away. Life and death are his to decide."
Zabuza's expression was more complicated—a mixture of reluctance, resentment, and grim acceptance. He wanted to escape. Desperately wanted to escape.
But he didn't dare.
Not with that blonde monster potentially waiting to hunt him down.
Sasuke studied them both for a moment, then nodded. The warning had been delivered. Time to check on the others.
He formed the seal for Flying Thunder God, targeting the mark he'd left on the bridge during the fight.
The world inverted.
He materialized back on the construction site, right where he'd been standing minutes before. Sakura and Kakashi were still moving among the workers, checking pulses, helping the conscious ones sit up and drink water.
Several workers had woken already, groaning and rubbing their heads but otherwise unharmed.
Sasuke looked around, scanning for blonde hair and a tall frame.
Nothing.
"Kakashi-sensei," he called out, crossing to where his sensei knelt beside an unconscious carpenter. "Where's Naruto? Have you seen him?"
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