"Well, this is it. Just like I promised, kid... this bridge now bears your name. From this day forward, it is the Great Naruto Bridge!" Tazuna-san smiled warmly, resting a heavy hand on my shoulder. "I hope you fulfill that dream of yours. Become Hokage, and make our bridge famous across the entire world."
"Count on it! My goal is to become the greatest Hokage ever, believe it! Heh, thanks for everything," I replied with a smirk, offering my thanks to the old man and his family.
Tsunami-san and Inari had joined Tazuna to see us off. After crossing the bridge, we stopped at the edge of the Land of Waves to say our final goodbyes.
"No, thank you," Tsunami said softly. "You helped my father and brought hope back to our country."
"Naruto-aniki..." Inari's voice cracked, but his eyes were filled with resolve. "I want to become just as strong and determined as you are!"
"In that case, never lose hope again. Fight with everything you've got to protect it," I said gently. I stepped closer and gave his hair a playful ruff.
The kid didn't say a word - he just lunged forward and gave me a tight, fierce hug. Tazuna and Tsunami watched with misty-eyed smiles. We had known each other for less than three weeks, yet I had grown genuinely attached to them. I could feel the kindness radiating from them, and as much as I wanted to stay, the road was calling.
"Alright, I've gotta go, Inari. I promise we'll see each other again."
"Right!" He let go, a bright smile finally breaking across his face.
I turned back toward my team. Kakashi-sensei was smiling - even with his mask, his expression was easy to read. Sakura-chan had a soft smile of her own, though she looked slightly dazed, likely wondering how I had managed to bond so deeply with the client's family so quickly.
As for Sasuke... he was pensive. He wasn't looking at us. His gaze was fixed on Tsunami as she mothered Inari, adjusting his collar. For a brief second, something cold and painful flickered in his eyes before he expertly shuttered them behind his usual mask of indifference.
The journey back to Konoha took two days and passed without incident. Stepping through the familiar gates, I felt an involuntary wave of relief. The bustle of the streets and the peaceful atmosphere of the village stood in stark contrast to the misty, lethal shores of the Land of Waves. Without even stopping by our homes, we headed straight for the Hokage's Residence to deliver our official report.
The Old Man was in his office, as usual, buried under a mountain of bureaucracy. Several assistants were scurrying between his desk and the high shelves of the archives. Noticing us, he set his papers aside and offered a small smile.
"Ah, Team Seven. How did your first C-rank mission go? Did you run into any difficulties?" Hiruzen asked, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his pipe.
"It was an awesome experience, Gramps!" I declared, stepping up to his desk with a wide grin. "We had to face real rogue ninja, and when the bridge was finished, the villagers named it after me! Can you believe it? The Great Naruto Bridge!"
I deliberately focused on the highlights. I had no desire to mention, in front of the administrative staff, how I had personally ended Gato's life or how many mercenaries I'd left with shattered bones to ensure they'd never lift a blade against civilians again. That was the "dirty work." I trusted Kakashi-sensei would handle that part far more professionally, turning my actions into a clinical report on "threat neutralization." At least, I hoped so.
"Oh...?" The Third raised an eyebrow, taking a long drag from his pipe. His gaze shifted from my face to Kakashi's serious silhouette. "A bridge named after Naruto? That sounds quite distinguished. But judging by your expression, Kakashi, 'difficulties' might be an understatement?"
"You are correct, Hokage-sama," Kakashi stepped forward, and the room's atmosphere immediately turned professional. "The status of the assignment changed almost immediately. The mission effectively escalated to Rank A. We were forced to engage Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, and his partner who possessed an Ice-style Kekkei Genkai."
A heavy silence fell over the office. Even the assistants stopped rustling papers, casting stunned glances our way. Hiruzen exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing as he re-evaluated each of us.
"Hmm... Incredible. Very well, Kakashi. I expect your full, detailed report on my desk tomorrow morning - do not leave out a single detail. For now, you are all dismissed. You've earned your rest. You did well."
The Old Man's voice was solemn, but as his eyes lingered on me, I caught a unmistakable glimmer of pride.
Once we were back on the streets of Konoha, breathing in the fresh evening air, I broke the silence.
"Think we should celebrate, or what?" I looked between my teammates and Kakashi-sensei.
"Excellent idea, Naruto," Kakashi replied, his eye curling into a closed-smile. "You all performed exceptionally and deserve a reward. Any suggestions?"
"Ichiraku!" I shouted without a second thought.
Sakura hesitated for a moment, then gave a soft laugh. After the horrors of the Land of Waves, the familiar comfort of a small noodle shop sounded perfect.
"I'm in, Naruto. But is it really that good?" she asked curiously.
"Are you kidding? They serve the best ramen in the world, Sakura-chan!"
She nodded, her attitude toward me noticeably warmer. She no longer looked at me with the disdain from our graduation day; she saw a reliable teammate. Kakashi turned to our third member, who had remained silent.
"What about you, Sasuke? Any objections?"
Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets and gave a casual shrug. "I don't care where we go."
Short and to the point. That was Sasuke. But the fact that he didn't just walk away to train alone spoke volumes.
"It's settled then," Kakashi said. "Everyone head home, clean up, and drop off your gear. Meet at Ichiraku in one hour. Dinner is on me tonight, so don't be late."
Stepping into my apartment, I was hit by a heavy silence. It was a sharp contrast to the noise and warmth of Tazuna's home. The air felt stale and dusty. It was a painful realization: there was a family; here was only empty walls and solitude.
But I didn't let it drag me down. Unlike the "canon" Naruto, I had already earned far more respect and closeness from my team. I knew this loneliness was only a temporary phase.
Soon, I'll build my own 'family'—one of loyal friends and allies I can truly count on! I thought. I dropped my gear, grabbed a towel, and headed for the shower to wash off the dust of the road.
I arrived at Ichiraku earlier than the others. I didn't want to waste a single second.
"Old man Teuchi! Ayame-nee! I'm back!" I swept aside the curtains and stepped inside.
"Oh, Naruto!" Teuchi looked up from a massive pot and beamed.
"Welcome back, kid!" Ayame added, running over to the counter. "We were just talking about you. Well? How did your first C-rank mission go?"
"It went perfectly," I said with a smug grin, taking my usual seat. "We didn't just finish the job; we saved a whole country from a tyrant. And when it was over, they named the main bridge after me! The Great Naruto Bridge!"
I gave them a quick, bloodless summary. Teuchi listened with genuine joy, eventually slamming a hand down on the counter in excitement.
"A bridge with your name? Now that's what I call moving up in the world!" He laughed heartily. "Tell you what, hero - the first bowl is on the house!"
"Thanks, Old man Teuchi, but hold that thought," I said, shaking my head. "My teammates and Kakashi-sensei are coming. He promised to pay for everything, and I don't want to miss the chance to ruin his wallet."
Just as I finished, the curtains rustled and Sakura walked in, blinking in surprise at seeing me already there. Sasuke followed shortly after, giving a quiet nod before sitting on my other side. Finally, Kakashi appeared - fashionably late, as expected.
"Alright team, dig in," sensei said, folding his arms. "No limits tonight."
We ordered massive portions. Sakura, trying Teuchi's ramen for the first time, widened her eyes and admitted I hadn't been exaggerating. Sasuke ate in silence, but the way he focused on his bowl told me he was enjoying it. It was a rare, peaceful moment for Team Seven.
When we finally finished, Kakashi paid the bill (though he did give me a very pointed look at the stack of empty bowls next to my seat). We stepped out into the cool Konoha night, said our goodbyes, and I headed home.
PoV: Sarutobi Hiruzen
When the door closed behind the last administrator, silence finally returned to the office, broken only by the steady ticking of the clock. I pulled Kakashi's scroll back toward me. Every word I read made my brow furrow deeper, and the tobacco in my pipe tasted bitter.
The picture of what happened in the Land of Waves was clear, but one thing stood out. Of all of Team Seven, it was Naruto who first crossed the line, making the decision to kill. I remembered him as the loud child who painted the Hokage Faces just for a drop of attention. Now, a calculating shinobi looked back at me from the pages of the report.
Naruto had grown at a staggering rate, earning my involuntary respect. But what struck me most was that despite the blood on his hands, he had managed to keep the kindness I valued so much. Seeing his genuine smile earlier today, I realized he was still that bright young man - he had simply learned how to protect that light. In his actions, I saw the true spark of the Will of Fire.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. I didn't turn around; Kakashi's chakra was unmistakable.
"Come in, Kakashi," I said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
Kakashi entered silently. There was no trace of the relaxed mentor who had been joking with his students earlier. Before me stood an elite Jonin.
"Hokage-sama. You wished to discuss the details not included in the official report?"
"Correct. I gathered from the scroll that Naruto acted in a rather... unexpected manner. As his mentor, what can you tell me about his performance?"
"During these two weeks in the Land of Waves, Naruto demonstrated more than just remarkable insight," Kakashi began, his gaze becoming intensely serious. "He showed incredible synergy with Sasuke. Their training together in Konoha has paid off to the point where they stood on equal footing against two experienced rogue Chunin from the Mist, completely overwhelming them with teamwork."
I puffed on my pipe, listening intently. Naruto and Sasuke, working in perfect harmony? Their private training had clearly exceeded my expectations.
"But what impressed me most was his resourcefulness when I was caught in Zabuza's Water Prison," Kakashi continued. "Instead of panicking, Naruto took charge. He analyzed the situation instantly and developed a highly effective plan to free me. Later, he figured out how to use Shadow Clones for reconnaissance and accelerated learning, finding a way to efficiently manage his massive chakra reserves."
Kakashi paused, choosing his next words carefully.
With the Second Hokage's technique and that level of chakra... Naruto could master skills in a fraction of the time. To figure that out at his age... I didn't expect this, I mused.
"And then there was Haku," Kakashi added. "Naruto identified him without his mask based on nothing but his gait and minor details. Later, he proposed a daring strategy. Unwilling to fight the last survivor of the Ice Kekkei Genkai, Naruto suggested cutting the problem out at the root—Gato himself. I'll admit... in any other situation, I might have refused, but with Naruto... I'm starting to see his parents in him. He has Kushina-san's energy and fire, but he's inherited his father's efficiency and adaptability. Like them, Naruto doesn't try to avoid a fight out of cowardice, but he refuses to shed unnecessary blood when he feels a connection to his opponent."
I remained silent for a long time, watching the smoke drift toward the ceiling. A warm sense of pride swelled in my chest, tinged with the familiar sadness for lost friends. Naruto was truly becoming the man they had dreamed he would be.
"Excellent. Kakashi, your report also mentioned Naruto's initiative regarding new techniques?"
"Yes. Realizing his Shadow Clones allow him to learn at an accelerated rate, Naruto is determined to master elemental ninjutsu. But it isn't a blind lust for power," Kakashi explained. "He's stepping into a leadership role. He doesn't just train himself; he pushes Sasuke and Sakura, helping them break their own limits. He understands that the strength of the team is his strength as well."
I nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of those words. "I see... He has realized the value of bonds and responsibility. The Will of Fire is truly awakening within him."
"Indeed, Hokage-sama. He no longer seeks recognition with empty shouts. He is earning it with his actions."
"Very well. You are dismissed, Kakashi. I will see you tomorrow for the official debriefing."
I leaned back in my chair as the Jonin departed. I looked out the window at the sleeping village, then up at the stone faces of my predecessors. Minato, Kushina... your son is growing much faster than we ever imagined.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly to myself.
Well, Naruto... if you've decided to grow up this quickly, I won't stand in your way. On the contrary - I'll make sure you have everything you need for the path ahead. After all, you've earned it.