Even though Naruto spoke with his usual spark of enthusiasm, the shadow in Tazuna's eyes lingered—a quiet sadness clinging to his face like mist to the sea.
Noticing the shift, Karin, ever the mood-lifter of the group, leaned in with a sweet smile. "Tazuna-san," she said playfully, "is there someone waiting for you at home? Maybe a wife? A lovely daughter?"
Tazuna blinked, caught off guard by the question. Then, slowly, a warmth returned to his weathered features.
"Yes," he said with a soft chuckle, the corners of his mouth finally curling upward. "My daughter, Tsunami… and my grandson, Inari. They're waiting."
Karin grinned. "You must love them a lot, huh?"
He nodded, and for the first time on the path home, Tazuna looked like a man with something to live for—like a man finally returning, not just from danger, but to family.
All of them smiled, seeing the old man's expression lighten—like a cloudy sky finally letting the sun peek through.
Tazuna lifted his hand, pointing ahead. "That's the way to my house," he said, his voice steady but tinged with a trace of something heavier.
As they walked, his gaze swept over the quiet homes, shuttered windows, and the lingering stares of fearful villagers. "Before Gato came here," he began, voice almost a whisper, "this village was full of laughter. We all lived like one big family. Now... look at them—scared, hollow, surviving, not living."
Naruto clenched his fists for a moment, then relaxed, walking a little closer.
"Don't worry, sensei," he said with a soft grin, voice both comforting and confident. "Gato's wallet won't save him this time. He already lost Zabuza. At best, he might get a few chunin thugs—but elite jonin? Not many of them would stoop that low for money."
He gave a thumbs-up. "And even if another jonin shows up, we'll handle it. You're not alone anymore."
Tazuna's steps seemed just a little lighter after that.
As they talked and walked, laughter fading into thoughtful silence, they finally reached Tazuna's house.
It wasn't grand or flashy—it didn't need to be. Just a humble home, tucked beside the water's edge, kissed by the mist and cradled by trees swaying gently in the breeze.
The wooden walls were weathered but strong, like they had stories to tell. A thick, slanted roof kept the rain at bay. Shoji-style sliding doors hinted at a warm, traditional interior. A wraparound porch circled the house like open arms, welcoming them in.
Naruto stepped up to the door, brushing off some leaves from his shoulder.
He raised his hand and gave the wooden frame a solid knock.
"Is anyone inside?" he called, voice casual but carrying that warm, inviting tone only Naruto could summon.
The group stood behind him, silent, waiting for the heartbeat of the home to answer.
The door creaked open slowly, revealing a young boy—around eight or nine years old—with curious eyes and a hesitant expression.
Naruto leaned down slightly, offering a gentle smile. "Hey there, is your mom home?"
The boy gave a small nod, then turned his head and called out, "Mom! Someone's here to see you!"
A voice echoed from inside the house, tinged with surprise and a bit of caution. "Inari, who is it?"
Inside, Tsunami was in the middle of preparing lunch—steam rising from the pot as she worked quietly in the modest kitchen. The voice at the door didn't sound familiar, which made her heart skip a beat. Wiping her hands on her apron, she quickly left the kitchen, concerned but curious.
As she stepped into the entrance, her eyes fell on Naruto, who stood politely just outside.
"Hello… who are you?" she asked, brows furrowed slightly as she took in the unfamiliar faces on her doorstep.
Naruto stepped back slightly, offering the woman a friendly smile. "Oh, hey there. You must be Tsunami, right? We're friends of Tazuna-san—he asked us to escort him back safely."
At that, Tazuna finally stepped forward from behind the group, his hand raised in a casual wave. "Oi, Tsunami! I'm home!"
Tsunami's eyes widened as her gaze darted from Naruto to her father. "Otosan!" she gasped, rushing forward and wrapping him in a tight embrace. Her relief was visible—shoulders slumping, breath hitching, eyes glistening.
"I was so worried," she said, pulling back and holding his face with both hands.
Tazuna chuckled, a little bashfully. "Told you I'd make it back, didn't I?"
Inari peeked from behind the doorframe, eyes locked onto his grandfather with a mix of awe and disbelief. "Grandpa… you're really back…"
"And I brought help," Tazuna added, stepping aside so she could see the others properly. "This is Naruto, Karin, Sasuke… and the guy sleeping like a log over there is Kakashi."
Tsunami's eyes softened as she looked at each of them. "Thank you. All of you… for bringing him back safely."
Naruto waved it off with his usual grin. "Hey, no big deal. That's what we do."
Karin leaned over to whisper, "You're really milking the 'hero' thing today, Nii-san."
Naruto shrugged playfully. "Hey, gotta keep the brand alive."
Sasuke rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Tsunami just laughed—a gentle, tired sound that still carried warmth.
"Well," she said, stepping aside, "you're all welcome to come in. Let me get something ready. You've had a long journey."
And with that, the door opened fully—welcoming them not just into the house, but into the heart of Nami no Kuni itself.
Sasuke gently laid Kakashi down on the futon that Tazuna had set up, making sure his sensei was comfortable before quietly stepping out of the room.
As he returned to the main hall, he found Karin and Naruto sitting cross-legged on the floor, chatting animatedly with Inari. The boy was beaming, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto called out with a grin, gesturing toward the young boy. "Guess what? This little guy says he wants to become a shinobi like us someday!"
Karin smirked and added, "He's got that fire in his eyes. Reminds me a lot of you when you were younger—super serious, always talking about getting stronger."
Naruto leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Yeah, except Inari smiles more."
Sasuke crossed his arms, looking at Inari. "Being a shinobi isn't easy. It's not just about fighting—it's about protecting. Even if it means getting hurt."
Inari nodded seriously, absorbing every word like a sponge. "I'll train hard. I'll be strong like you all!"
Naruto gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit, future shinobi of the Nami no Kuni."
Tsunami peeked in from the kitchen, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she listened to them. For the first time in a long while, her home was echoing with laughter again.
And outside, the mist that once blanketed the land in fear began to lift—just a little.
Tazuna returned from his room, dusting off his hands as he joined the lively conversation.
Naruto turned to him with his usual grin. "Sensei, when do we start work? I wanna learn how to build that bridge."
Tazuna chuckled, clearly pleased. "Tomorrow morning, bright and early. I'll show you the ropes."
Inari blinked in confusion and looked up at Karin. "Huh? What does he mean by 'learn'? Isn't Naruto a shinobi?"
Karin smirked, leaning closer like she was sharing a big secret. "He is. But now he's also your grandpa's apprentice. A shinobi who builds bridges, too—talk about a multi-class upgrade."
"What?! That's so weird…" Inari muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the idea of a ninja doing manual labor.
Just then, Tsunami entered from the kitchen with a warm smile, balancing a tray full of dishes. "Alright, everyone, lunch is ready. Come on and eat before it gets cold."
The homely scent of rice, fish, and vegetables filled the air, wrapping the room in comfort. One by one, they gathered around the table, laughter still echoing between bites.
All began settling down around the table, the clatter of plates and the aroma of home-cooked food filling the air like a warm blanket.
Tsunami moved around gracefully, serving everyone with practiced ease before finally taking her seat.
"Ittadakimasu," they all chorused, hands pressed together in gratitude.
Chopsticks clicked, and in moments the room was filled with the comforting sounds of people enjoying a well-earned meal.
Naruto took a big bite, his eyes lighting up. "Whoa—this is amazing!"
Karin nodded enthusiastically beside him. "Seriously, Tsunami-san, this is chef-level good!"
Tazuna let out a hearty laugh. "Didn't I tell you? My daughter's cooking is the pride of this household!"
Tsunami, caught between surprise and shyness, waved them off lightly, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Oh come on… You guys are gonna make me hide under the table."
They all chuckled, the tension of the past few days melting away like snow in sunlight, replaced by something simpler—something like home.