Naruto spotted Inari squatting outside under the eaves, sobbing like his life depended on it.
'Yep. Just like in the original story—our resident crybaby is right on schedule.'
But Naruto had zero intention of playing therapist. He wasn't about to channel his inner big brother like the original Naruto did. He had bigger fish to fry. As a time traveler, he had long since decided that some things just weren't worth the effort.
After all, once his plan to establish a ninja village in the Land of Waves succeeded, the country's problems would fix themselves. No need for tearful heart-to-hearts.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Inari's mother had gone all out, preparing a feast fit for a festival. Every single edible thing in their home was on the table, all in honor of their ninja guests.
For Naruto, this was a rare experience.
For the first time, he sat at a table filled with food and people, eating and chatting together. A warmth spread through his chest—a foreign but welcome feeling.
Twelve years of loneliness flashed through his mind. Eating alone. Going to school alone. Spending entire days without a single person talking to him.
No one to share a meal with. No one to share his thoughts with.
Now? Everything had changed.
He had teammates. He had Hinata.
Sure, plenty of Konoha's adults still threw him cold glares whenever he walked by, but he was long past caring.
'You look down on me? Guess what? I don't even bother looking at you.'
'One day, I'll be so far ahead, you won't even matter.'
Dinner ended, and everyone slowly dispersed to wash up and rest for the night.
Only Zabuza and Kakashi remained in the living room, deep in conversation.
"Kakashi, about that plan of yours… You really think we can just wipe out Gato?" Zabuza suddenly asked.
Kakashi leaned back lazily, his single eye half-lidded. "That was the plan. Why? Having second thoughts?"
Zabuza shook his head. "It's not that simple. Gato's got numbers. A whole army of mercenaries and rogue ninja under his command. They're not strong, but they're plenty."
He had removed his mask earlier for dinner, revealing the long scar stretching from his cheek to the corner of his mouth. It made him look even more terrifying than usual.
So terrifying, in fact, that Inari caught sight of him and immediately burst into tears again.
"…Tch." Zabuza clicked his tongue and looked away. 'Brat's got no guts.'
Kakashi, meanwhile, chuckled at the sight.
"Numbers, huh? That's not much of a problem," Kakashi said with a sigh. "After all, we have Naruto."
Zabuza snorted. "That kid is something else."
He had to admit, Naruto was a freak of nature. He still wasn't sure how the brat had that much chakra, but it was enough to spam thousands of shadow clones like it was nothing.
"You Konoha guys sure know how to raise monsters," Zabuza added with a chuckle.
Kakashi smirked. "You have no idea."
For a while, the two just talked.
About the state of the ninja world. About their pasts. About all the strange things they had seen.
And the more they spoke, the more Kakashi realized Zabuza wasn't the heartless killer the world made him out to be.
The Next Morning
After breakfast, Tazuna led his workers to the bridge construction site.
Naruto and his team, along with Zabuza and Haku, stayed hidden in the shadows, waiting.
Zabuza had estimated that Kado had over a thousand underlings mostly low-life thugs and rogue samurai. A full-frontal assault on Kado's base would be a mess.
So, they settled for the smarter plan waiting for Kado to send goons their way instead.
This way, they could take out his forces without causing a massive bloodbath that would attract too much attention from other hidden villages. The last thing they needed was unnecessary trouble.
And, more importantly, Naruto needed Zabuza and Haku to stick around for his ninja village plan. If things got too hot, they'd have to flee again, ruining everything.
'Nope. Not letting that happen.'
As the morning went on, the rhythmic clang of hammers and tools echoed across the bridge.
"Alright, boys! Let's pick up the pace!" Tazuna barked, standing at the center of the construction site with his hands on his hips. "We finish this bridge in three months, you hear me?!"
"OOOHH!!" The workers cheered in unison; their spirits high.
Ever since word spread about Naruto's plan to establish a ninja village, the workers had been buzzing with excitement.
Their country had always been weak, defenseless against outsiders. But now? They had hope.
Then trouble arrived.
A group of men came marching toward the bridge.
Dozens of them. Maybe a hundred. Armed with steel pipes, machetes, and enough bad attitudes to make up for their lack of actual skill.
And leading them was him.
A short, bloated man, dressed in a fancy suit that did absolutely nothing to make him look respectable. His greasy, slicked-back hair was practically shining under the sun, and his beady little eyes scanned the workers with a sneer.
Naruto, hidden in the shadows, instantly recognized him.
'Bingo. Gato, the budget villain of the Ninja World.'
Tazuna's expression darkened as the man approached.
"Gato…" he muttered.
The businessman smirked. "Tazuna, you old fool. Still haven't learned your lesson, have you?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. 'God, he even talks like a low-tier mob boss.'
Tazuna clenched his fists but didn't back down. "I won't stop. This bridge will be completed. And you won't be able to control us any longer!"
Gato's expression twisted. "Oh? Is that so?" He turned to his men. "Boys, looks like we've got a rebellion on our hands. Teach them what happens when they don't follow orders."
The goons took a step forward, brandishing their weapons.
Naruto grinned.
'Alright, time to farm some Anger Points.'
(End of Chapter)