201-205

Chapter 201: A-Rank Mission—Save the Land of Waves?  

Click.  

The door opened.  

A bridge builder named Tazuna, clad in dark blue work clothes, a conical hat bearing the character for "sake" on his head, and a smoking pipe clenched between his teeth, stepped into the office under the expectant gazes of those present.  

So it really is Tazuna, Hikari noted silently. Good. The Land of Waves mission hasn’t been derailed by any unexpected twists.  

As she observed Tazuna, Team 7 also caught his attention.  

His eyes flicked first to the masked Kakashi, then swept over the trio of Naruto, Sasuke, and Hikari—all still short in stature. His expression visibly darkened.  

"This is your client for this mission, Tazuna-san," Sarutobi Hiruzen introduced formally.  

Kakashi, as the team’s instructor, stepped forward to negotiate.  

"Are you KIDDING ME?!"  

A furious roar echoed through the Hokage’s office.  

Tazuna ripped off his straw hat, storming up to the desk with bloodshot eyes, looking ready to strangle Hiruzen.  

The excited Team 7 flinched. Naruto and Sasuke instinctively moved to intervene—only for Kakashi to casually hold them back with a hand on each of their shoulders.  

"Kakashi-sensei…?" Naruto glanced up, confused, but Kakashi merely shook his head slightly. Stand down.  

Shinobi, even genin, were beings of a different order compared to civilians. A single low-ranked ninja could slaughter hundreds of ordinary people if unrestrained.  

To maintain clients' trust—and prevent them from fearing their own hired blades—Konoha Shinobi Code, Article 12 strictly forbade violence against employers. Violators could even be branded as missing-nin.  

Sasuke turned to Hikari, only to find her oddly detached, standing frozen as if stunned by the outburst.  

What’s wrong with her?  

Before he could ponder further—  

Shing!  

A blade flashed coldly.  

The ANBU stationed beside Tazuna—code name *"Suzaku"*—had drawn his tantō, the metallic whisper snapping Tazuna’s drunken bravado instantly.  

"Suzaku!"  

Hiruzen feigned reprimand, waiting until the ANBU sheathed his weapon before offering Tazuna a placating smile.  

"Tazuna-san, we understand your urgency. Please, calm down—"  

Decades as Hokage had honed his diplomacy. Desperate clients were common—especially those with time-sensitive missions.  

The near-death experience sobered Tazuna slightly, though his jaw remained clenched.  

"Hokage-sama, I spent my life savings to hire real shinobi. What’s the meaning of sending these brats?"  

"Hey! Who’re you calling a brat, old man?!" Naruto squirmed under Kakashi’s grip.  

Sasuke just scoffed.  

Hikari, meanwhile, remained eerily still.  

Tazuna ignored them, glaring at Hiruzen.  

"This is an A-rank mission—with enemy jonin involved! These kids’ll just get themselves killed!"  

"A-A-rank?!"  

Naruto and Sasuke stiffened. Fresh graduates, they’d only handled seven D-ranks so far. Skipping straight to A-rank?  

Kakashi raised a brow—not at the difficulty (he’d done countless S-ranks), but at Tazuna’s funds. Even the cheapest A-rank cost 150,000 ryō.  

This drunk’s loaded?  

Tazuna caught their shock, his hope dimming further.  

He’d pooled his village’s savings to hire Konoha’s best.  

But this squad?  

A lazy, one-eyed team leader.  

A grubby, cat-scratched blond idiot.  

A weaponless pretty boy.  

And—worst of all—a blind girl who hadn’t reacted to anything.  

Is Konoha scamming me?!  

"Hokage-sama, I need stronger shinobi—"  

"My apologies, Tazuna-san." Hiruzen’s gaze slid to Hikari, hidden among the "genin."  

"They are Konoha’s strongest."  

"…What?"  

Tazuna’s jaw dropped.  

"Hah! An A-rank? Piece of cake!" Naruto puffed up, instantly forgetting his anger.  

Sasuke and Kakashi edged away, mortified. Even Hikari—finally snapping out of her trance—took a discreet step back.  

"This is your strongest?!" Tazuna pointed at Naruto, aghast.  

"Huh? Who’s ‘this’?" Naruto blinked, oblivious.  

"Definitely not him," Hiruzen muttered, rubbing his temples.  

"Regardless," he continued firmly, "this team is best suited for your mission. If you refuse, we’ll refund you in full."  

Tazuna wavered.  

Returning empty-handed would doom his village.  

"…Fine. I’ll trust Konoha."  

"No need for reluctance."  

Kakashi clapped Tazuna’s shoulder.  

"This’ll be the best decision of your life."  

Konoha Main Gate.  

The massive arched doors creaked open as Team 7—plus Tazuna—prepared to depart.  

The gate guards barely glanced at their credentials.  

"Copy Ninja" Kakashi. 

"Nine-Tails Brat" Naruto. 

"Last Uchiha" Sasuke. 

"Blind Prodigy" Hikari.  

Their reputations preceded them.  

Tazuna, noting the guards’ deference, relaxed slightly.  

Maybe they’re legit?  

As they set off eastward, Hikari paused, looking back at Konoha’s towering walls.  

This road—this very path—was where she’d stumbled into the village six years ago, fleeing Kiri.  

Back then, she’d been a ragged refugee.  

Now?  

One of Konoha’s strongest.  

The Hokage’s prized student.  

The shadow leader of ROOT.  

And moments ago, her original self had finally perfected Wood Release, flooding this clone with fresh chakra and intel.  

Her earlier "daze" had been synchronization.  

Now, this shadow clone wielded five bloodlines.  

How far we’ve come.  

"First time leaving the village!" Naruto bounced ahead. "Hikari, you came from Kiri, right? What’s outside like?"  

"No idea. I was in a hurry."  

She’d taken backroads to avoid pursuers. The only city she’d entered was Hagoromo Port—where she’d nearly boarded that damned ship.  

"You’ve never been outside?!" Tazuna’s hope crumbled again.  

"Relax," Kakashi drawled.  

Sasuke ignored him, silently vowing to prove their worth at the first opportunity.  

But as night fell—with not even a wild animal attacking—their chances to impress dwindled.  

Around a campfire, chewing on ration bars, Team 7 lapsed into rare silence.  

Hikari used the lull to strategize.  

Despite Tazuna’s honesty (unlike canon’s C-rank deception), the mission’s core remained: Zabuza and Haku.  

And Haku was her target.  

With Wood Release now synthesized, Hikari’s original self had hit a research wall.  

New bloodlines required live samples—shinobi whose chakra structures she could dissect.  

Haku’s Ice Release was next on the list.  

Capture. Study. Replicate.  

Simple.  

As for Wood Release itself?  

It wasn’t an instant power-up.  

Unlike Obito—who’d stolen Hashirama’s cells—Hikari had created hers from scratch.  

Raw. Unrefined.  

It’d take time to master.  

But Haku’s ice?  

That might yield faster dividends.  

Staring into the flames, Hikari smiled.  

Let’s see what surprises you have for me, Haku. 

Chapter 202: The Injured Tazuna  

2 PM, Border Forest of the Land of Fire  

Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy like arrows, scattering shifting golden fragments across the mossy, damp forest floor. Deep in the woods, the interwoven branches formed an emerald curtain, leaving only scattered, dancing specks of light.  

"This is so boring!"  

Naruto, eyelids drooping, walked at the front of the group with his hands behind his head, his arms forming a perfect inverted triangle.  

Sasuke trailed slightly behind on the left, scanning their surroundings warily. Kakashi and Tazuna took the center, while Hikari—moving at a leisurely pace—brought up the rear.  

The five of them trudged along the bare, dusty path, all but Hikari glistening with sweat.  

"Why isn’t there even a single wild animal around?"  

Sasuke, walking along the wide forest trail, rubbed his arm guard in confusion.  

For days, there had been no sign of enemy ninja, bandits, or even beasts. This "escort mission" felt more like a picnic. The imagined thrills of an A-rank mission had given way to crushing boredom.  

He hadn’t even needed to draw his weapons. The forest was eerily silent—no beasts, hardly any insects. Even for a frequently traveled road, it was too clean.  

Kakashi, one hand in his pocket, squinted his droopy eye against the sunlight.  

He’d seen this phenomenon once before—three years ago.  

Stray cats and dogs near the Hatake compound had vanished overnight, not even a sparrow left behind. At the time, he’d suspected a jutsu, but his Sharingan revealed no traces of chakra. Baffled, he’d let it go.  

Now, though…  

He glanced back at Hikari, strolling gracefully behind them.  

Naruto and Sasuke definitely didn’t have this ability. Neither did he or Tazuna. This anomaly had to be her doing.  

"What’s the big deal? No danger is a good thing! Save your energy for beating the crap out of Gato’s thugs in the Land of Waves! If you can’t handle his ninja, I’m not paying!"  

Tazuna tipped his gourd upside down, a single drop of water clinging stubbornly to the narrow opening—maddening to watch.  

"Tch. You’re the worst, cheapest client I’ve ever met," Naruto muttered loudly.  

Tazuna ignored him. His liquor had run out long ago, and even the refilled water was down to this last drop. With a sigh, he broke formation and trotted over to Hikari, his usually defiant face breaking into a smile.  

"Lady Hikari, my gourd’s empty again!"  

No wonder the old man hadn’t argued with Naruto—he needed a favor. Hikari nodded and took the gourd.  

Holding the narrow opening skyward, the air around it rippled as moisture gathered like a spring.  

Gurgle, gurgle!  

The sound of clear water filling the gourd was torture to Tazuna’s parched throat.  

"You water-style ninja are so damn convenient!" he rasped, shaking his head.  

The Land of Waves, though called a "country," was just a lonely island between Fire and Water. Only those who lived by the sea understood the true value of creating fresh water on demand. Someone with this skill would be worshipped like a god aboard any ship.  

"You’ve met other water-style users?"  

Handing the refilled gourd back, Hikari raised an eyebrow.  

Nature transformation was common knowledge among ninja, but not something a bridge-builder from the Land of Waves should know. He must’ve encountered—maybe even befriended—a water-style ninja.  

"Our country once had its own ninja," Tazuna said after a deep swig, his aura flickering with pride and melancholy. "Without his help, the sea bridge would’ve been destroyed by Gato long ago. We’d never have scraped together enough to hire Konoha. But…"  

He trailed off, hesitating.  

"But what?"  

Hikari’s interest was piqued.  

The original story never mentioned a Wave ninja. And the sea bridge was built after the mission. This person had to be the reason the mission’s rank had increased.  

"Look out!"  

Sasuke’s sudden shout cut through the air.  

From the bare earth beneath their feet, two pitch-black figures erupted like eels bursting from sand.  

In an instant, they were at Tazuna and Hikari’s throats—curved blades gleaming like twin crescent moons under the sun, edges dripping with viscous poison.  

Tazuna froze, his gourd hitting the dirt with a dull thud.  

His pleading eyes darted to Hikari—the ninja he’d paid a fortune to protect him—only to find her just as motionless, as if resigned to her fate.  

Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke stood rooted, making no move to help.  

A wave of bitter regret crashed over him.  

He should’ve hired Kiri ninja instead.  

I’m dead.  

Seeing their targets paralyzed, the assassins’ eyes gleamed behind their masks. Their blades were inches from flesh—  

Bzzzt!  

A faint hum filled the air.  

Tazuna’s ears rang as an incomprehensible sound—like a swarm of enraged hornets—erupted around him.  

Then—  

BOOM!  

The two killers exploded into mist.  

Clang! Clang!  

Their curved blades and a pipe hit the ground. The steel was pitted like honeycomb, but the ordinary briarwood pipe was untouched.  

"Wh—what?!"  

Tazuna’s jaw hung slack, his nose filled with the metallic stench of blood. His stomach churned.  

That was mist.  

Flesh, bone, clothing—everything that made them human had been shredded finer than hair, drifting apart like dandelion fluff in a breeze.  

It was like watching a master chef’s finest tofu silk dissolve in water.  

"Don’t worry. We’ll protect you."  

Having annihilated the two fools with wind-style, Hikari patted Tazuna’s shoulder reassuringly—  

CRACK!  

A sickening snap echoed through the woods as Tazuna’s shoulder collapsed, his scream half-pain, half-terror.  

Hikari yanked her hand back like she’d touched lava.  

The trio up front rushed over, laying the writhing Tazuna on the ground. Kakashi’s silver hair was even messier than usual as he grimaced at the injury.  

"Were you trying to kill our client?"  

"I forgot."  

Hikari clasped her hands awkwardly. She’d just wanted to comfort him—but human contact was off-limits for her. Whether善意 (goodwill) or恶意 (ill intent), the result was always the same.  

She’d have to restructure her lifestyle—rely entirely on chakra for interaction.  

She’d already been doing that: using wind-style to open doors, earth-style to reinforce the ground as she walked, water-style to drink without cups.  

But it wasn’t enough. If she wanted to function in society, she’d need to be even more meticulous.  

"Agh—!"  

Tazuna’s groans weakened as adrenaline dulled the pain.  

"His injury’s too severe. Without a medic, he’ll be crippled," Sasuke said coldly. "We should return to Konoha."  

Naruto gritted his teeth.  

Failing their first high-rank mission because of this was infuriating—but Tazuna’s arm wasn’t something to gamble with.  

"Fine. We’re heading back."  

"Even Konoha might not be able to fix this," Kakashi muttered, examining the mangled shoulder. "We’d need a master medic just to prevent permanent damage—"  

"No!"  

Tazuna shot a terrified glance at the silver-haired demon before locking eyes with Kakashi. "The Land of Waves can’t wait! If we turn back now—"  

"If we don’t, you’ll never build bridges again."  

Kakashi’s blunt words hit like ice water.  

As a bridge-builder, losing his dominant arm meant the end of his career.  

Hikari studied Tazuna’s face.  

Though they hadn’t known each other long, the old man’s pride in his work was unmistakable. Losing that would break him as thoroughly as robbing Lee of his ninja dreams.  

"It doesn’t matter!"  

To her surprise, Tazuna didn’t hesitate. Struggling up with his good arm, he said, "The bridge was meant to save our country. If Gato destroys us, what’s the point? I know you’re strong now. Please—stop him!"  

"Tazuna…"  

Naruto’s fists clenched. Even after being maimed by Hikari, the old man bore no grudge—only begged for his country’s sake.  

"We’ll take down Gato!"  

"Team 7 won’t fail you!"  

"Gato’s dead!"  

The team’s fervent promises hung in the air as they rallied around their wounded client.  

"Um…"  

Hikari raised a timid hand, the awkward culprit amidst their righteous fury.  

"I might’ve forgotten to mention… I’m also a medical ninja." 

Chapter 203: False • Impure World Reincarnation  

Eastern Border Forest, Land of Fire.  

The barren, dusty road was littered with battered and broken kunai and curved blades. Two dense clusters of crimson threads, like willow catkins, drifted lightly in the breeze before catching on the trees lining the path.  

As the wind rustled the leaves, the bloodstained threads swayed among the branches, creating an eerie yet strangely beautiful contrast of red against green.  

Team 7 had no time to admire the scenery, however. They stood in a loose circle, watching with concern as Hikari treated Tazuna at the center.  

The gravely injured Tazuna lay on his back, his left hand clutching a straw hat over his face to shield himself from the scorching sun. His collapsed right shoulder was now encased in a layer of hardened earth—a makeshift "cast" molded perfectly to his injury, matching the color of the dirt road beneath him. Clearly, Hikari had used Earth Release to fashion it on the spot.  

A vibrant green glow emanated from Hikari’s hands, and Tazuna’s body immediately tensed. His left hand clenched the straw hat tightly, his veins bulging as he suppressed a scream. Though his face was hidden, his pain was unmistakable.  

None of them had ever seen Hikari use medical ninjutsu before, let alone knew how skilled she was. At this point, they had no choice but to trust her.  

The emerald chakra flowed like water, spreading across Tazuna’s shoulder as Hikari expertly guided the Mystical Palm Technique. With the precision of her Byakugan, she meticulously repaired the shattered bones.  

Since mastering the Eight Gates Reversal Technique, she hadn’t practiced medical ninjutsu much. Even the most refined skills could grow rusty with disuse.  

But mending bone injuries was child’s play for her. As an inheritor of the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), she was an undisputed authority in orthopedics—surpassing even Tsunade-hime in this field.  

As the healing glow faded, Tazuna’s body relaxed slightly. The team’s tension eased, and murmurs about Hikari’s medical prowess grew louder.  

"When did Hikari even learn medical ninjutsu?" Naruto elbowed Sasuke, his face scrunched in confusion.  

He’d never seen her train in it, nor had she ever visited Konoha’s hospital. She could invent other techniques on her own, but medical ninjutsu? That wasn’t something you just figured out.  

"She has Shadow Clones to help her train. One day for her is like a hundred for anyone else. It’s no surprise she picked it up," Sasuke muttered, eyeing the dense chakra in Hikari’s hands with envy.  

The Uchiha clan wasn’t lacking in chakra reserves, but compared to freaks like Hikari and Naruto, he always felt pathetically weak.  

Once, he’d tried using Shadow Clones to speed up his training. He summoned four at once, nearly draining himself dry. When they dispersed, the backlash of exhaustion left him bedridden for a week. In the end, his "efficient training" plan backfired spectacularly.  

The only upside? The extreme fatigue stimulated his brain, fueling negative emotions that accelerated his Sharingan’s evolution. Even without life-or-death battles, his eyes had progressed steadily—now at two tomoe, inching closer to three.  

Hearing their conversation, Kakashi shook his head.  

His students might be inexperienced, but he wasn’t.  

A healing technique this effective? That was the A-rank Mystical Palm Technique.  

And the way she wielded it so effortlessly? That spoke of mastery.  

In Konoha—the birthplace of medical ninjutsu—those capable of using the Mystical Palm were exceedingly rare. Among the already scarce number of medical-nin, Hikari stood out as one in a million.  

Her combat prowess was monstrous enough, but now she had medical ninjutsu on this level? Kakashi didn’t know if there was anything she couldn’t do. A true all-rounder.  

"How does it feel?"  

The green glow dimmed as Hikari withdrew her hands, careful not to touch Tazuna further. She let him test his newly healed arm himself.  

Tazuna lifted the straw hat from his face, his beard damp with sweat. Though his expression was no longer twisted in pain, the ordeal had clearly taken its toll.  

He moved his arm tentatively. A dull ache lingered in the joints, but compared to the agony of shattered bones, it was nothing.  

"It really doesn’t hurt anymore! Thank you, Hikari-san—you’re a miracle worker!"  

Tazuna’s voice trembled with gratitude. He’d been ready to sacrifice his arm for the sake of Wave Country’s peace, but fate had other plans.  

"No need to thank me. I’m the one who hurt you in the first place," Hikari waved him off. If she’d controlled her strength better, he wouldn’t have been injured.  

"No, no! Without you, I’d be dead. Forget my arm—those two would’ve killed me!"  

After witnessing Hikari’s terrifying power, Tazuna’s attitude had shifted drastically.  

That technique—the one that turned shinobi into minced meat in an instant—was beyond anything he’d imagined. His hopes now rested entirely on Team 7. Even if they demanded his life in exchange for protecting his family, he’d pay it without hesitation.  

"You killed them too fast, Hikari. I wanted to interrogate them for intel," Kakashi sighed, eyeing the bloodstained threads in the trees.  

Tazuna was just a civilian. He didn’t know how many enemies they were dealing with—only that their leader was a jōnin.  

But jōnin varied wildly in strength. In ninja battles, intel was everything. Charging in blind wasn’t Kakashi’s style.  

Too bad the enemies were already chopped into filling.  

"We can still ask," Hikari said casually as she finished bandaging Tazuna’s shoulder, tying the ends into neat bows.  

At nearly sixty, Tazuna’s vitality was fading. She’d only healed the critical bones and tendons—the rest would have to recover naturally.  

"You’re telling me you can resurrect the dead now?" Kakashi deadpanned, pointing at the gory "decorations" in the trees.  

Even the best medical ninjutsu couldn’t accomplish that.  

Hikari didn’t answer. Instead, she clasped her hands together dramatically, facing the spot where the two shinobi had died.  

"Secret Technique: Impure World Reincarnation!"  

BOOM!  

The ground trembled violently, rocks and dirt flying as a massive fissure split the road. A perfectly shaped earthen coffin rose from the depths.  

Tazuna yelped and scrambled to his feet, his injured shoulder forgotten in his panic.  

THUD.  

The coffin stood upright, its surface unblemished. Then—  

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"  

A muffled voice came from inside, followed by frantic pounding.  

"D-Did she really bring them back?!" Naruto shivered, goosebumps rising on his arms.  

"Idiot! Of course not!" Sasuke snapped, though his Sharingan was already active, scanning the coffin alongside Kakashi’s.  

With Hikari, anything was possible.  

Tazuna, a mere civilian, was even more terrified. A girl who could condense atmospheric moisture, turn men into shredded meat, and snap and repair bones at will? He took her very seriously.  

"Open!"  

With a sharp command, the coffin’s door slammed down, kicking up dust.  

Kakashi and Sasuke stared.  

Through the haze, they could see a figure inside—a shinobi in black, his chakra bright and alive.  

Had she actually resurrected them?!  

Impure World Reincarnation—a forbidden jutsu that revived the dead?!  

No sacrifices, no rituals—just hands together, and poof?  

This defied everything they knew.  

Hikari dispersed the dust with a gust of wind, revealing the coffin’s occupant.  

A bound shinobi, his limbs encased in yellow mud, a Rock headband on his forehead.  

Not one of the dead attackers—but a third accomplice, very much alive.  

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"  

The man thrashed, his mouth sealed shut by earth.  

"Who’s this?" Tazuna peeked out from behind Hikari.  

"Their teammate. He was hiding underground, waiting to ambush me. I sensed him and trapped him with Earth Release," Hikari explained, amused.  

Due to her inhuman weight, she always reinforced the ground before walking. This idiot had tried to ambush her from below, only to find the earth as solid as granite.  

Stuck and helpless, he’d have suffocated if she hadn’t "exhumed" him with her fake Impure World Reincarnation.  

"Tch. I actually thought you revived them," Sasuke and Naruto groaned.  

Kakashi’s eye twitched. For a second, he’d believed her. He’d even hoped—  

"Nice name, though. Very convincing," Kakashi muttered, stepping forward. His Sharingan spun, locking onto the trapped shinobi.  

"I never said I could revive the dead," Hikari shrugged.  

The real Impure World Reincarnation did exist—she just hadn’t learned it yet.  

She’d seen the Second Hokage’s notes in ROOT. The version recorded there was incomplete, producing resurrected beings with no combat ability.  

The jutsu’s original purpose wasn’t battle—it was for intel extraction. The overpowered version from the stories? That was Orochimaru and Kabuto’s handiwork.  

Once she returned to Konoha after this mission, the real technique would fall into her lap.  

Kakashi worked quickly. His Sharingan’s hypnotic glow locked onto the captive, whose struggles ceased as his eyes glazed over.  

Hikari removed the mud gag.  

"I ask. You answer," Kakashi said, his usual laziness gone.  

"...Yes."  

The man’s voice was hollow, his will utterly broken.  

Tazuna gulped and hid behind Hikari again.  

"Name. Affiliation."  

"Toya. Missing-nin from Iwagakure."  

"Why attack us? Mission details. How many under Gato? Who’s the jōnin leader? Intel on him."  

"And Wave Country’s situation!" Tazuna piped up.  

The man—Toya—paused, his drugged mind sluggish.  

"Gato hired us to kill Wave’s rebels. He insulted the boss... so he’s locked in a coffin for a funeral. The leader is... the boss. Black Lightning Raiga. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Specializes in Lightning Release."  

"Wave’s under his control. He formed the Black Lightning Gang. Anyone who disobeys... gets a coffin funeral."  

Kakashi’s expression darkened.  

He knew Raiga. A monster among the Seven Swordsmen—elite jōnin a decade ago. Now? He might be Kage-level.  

This wasn’t some small-time thug.  

"Huh. Not Zabuza and Haku?"  

Hikari’s eyebrow arched.  

Her main goal in Wave was Hyōton (Ice Release) chakra. But now the boss had changed?  

Where did that leave her plans?  

Chapter 204: The Hero’s Bridge  

"What have you done to Tsunami and the others?!"  

While Hikari was still pondering the whereabouts of the Ice Release, Tazuna, who had been listening behind them, suddenly lost his composure upon hearing that a funeral was being prepared for the people of the Land of Waves. He rushed forward, fear forgotten, and grabbed the edge of the coffin, demanding answers.  

"Locked inside the coffin. The funeral will be held in three days."  

The man’s response was dull and robotic, as if his mind were elsewhere.  

A funeral?!  

Tazuna’s vision swam. In this world, funerals were only for the dead. If they were planning one, that meant his family was likely already… Just the thought made his limbs go numb, his wrinkled face twisting in grief.  

"Tazuna, don’t panic yet," Hikari quickly interjected, seeing his blood pressure spike. "He said they were locked in the coffin—that means they’re probably still alive."  

If this old man keels over from a stroke, I’m not sure I can fix that. Medical ninjutsu works wonders on wounds, but brain hemorrhages and heart attacks? That’s out of my league.  

"Right. If they were dead, he would’ve said ‘placed’ in the coffin, not ‘locked.’ Your family must still be alive," Kakashi added, his tone measured.  

"We’re at the border of the Land of Fire. It’s less than a day’s journey to the Land of Waves. If the funeral is in three days, we have plenty of time," Sasuke reasoned.  

With their combined reassurances, Tazuna finally calmed down, though his face remained heavy with worry. He retreated behind Hikari, no longer interrupting.  

Once their fragile client was settled, Hikari turned to the rogue ninja, Souya, and asked the question weighing on her mind:  

"Among the ninja hired by Gato, were there two named Zabuza and Haku? Zabuza’s a vicious-looking man with a giant sword, and the other is a gentle, beautiful girl."  

Zabuza?  

Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist?  

Kakashi’s eye sharpened. He wasn’t familiar with the name Haku, but Zabuza was another story.  

Having spent years in ANBU, Kakashi was well-versed in elite ninja across the villages—especially the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.  

Raiga Kurosuki had been the first wielder of the Kiba blades, while Zabuza was the second owner of the Kubikiribōchō, the Executioner’s Blade. Both were former members of the Seven, both had defected from Kirigakure—if they were both in the Land of Waves, this mission just got a lot more complicated.  

Souya’s crimson eyes rolled upward in thought before he finally shook his head.  

"No, those two aren’t here. I think the boss mentioned Zabuza’s name once, but… I don’t remember much."  

So Zabuza and Haku really aren’t in the Land of Waves.  

Hikari clicked her tongue in disappointment. She’d been dying to get her hands on Ice Release.  

For days now, her main body and the Yang Release clone had been researching Wood Release and chakra seeds in ROOT, uncovering the profound mysteries of the Kekkei Genkai.  

She’d already theorized that a ninja’s soul and body influenced their chakra’s nature—hence why chakra signatures and patterns existed. But the reverse was also true: chakra could reshape the body and soul.  

Take the Yotsuki clan, for example.  

Skilled in lightning techniques, their descendants often inherited Lightning Release, their bodies developing resistance to electricity—even their temperaments growing more volatile.  

Thanks to her relentless training in the Raikiri pool, Hikari’s cells had adapted to Lightning Release, boosting her resistance.  

But ever since awakening Wood Release, her cells had undergone another bizarre transformation. The heart’s muscle cells, closest to the chakra seed, had changed the most.  

Plant-like cell walls had begun forming on their membranes, and in a few rare cells, she’d even found tiny, tendril-like growths—similar to Hashirama’s.  

They looked like the white roots sprouting from garlic soaked in water. Just looking at them made her skin crawl.  

She’d read the reports on "Tenzo"—though outdated, the records were well-preserved. They clearly stated that his cells hadn’t changed structurally, only becoming more robust.  

This plant-like mutation must be the key to Hashirama’s infinite cell division—something only possible with advanced Sage Body and Wood Release.  

That’s why she wanted to bring Ice Release back—to see if Wood Release was unique or if other Kekkei Genkai could also alter the body’s fundamental nature.  

More importantly, her main body and the clones had mapped out a complete path to Kekkei Tōta and beyond.  

• Water + Earth = Wood Release  

• Earth + Fire = Lava Release  

• Fire + Lightning = (Unknown, possibly Explosion Release)  

• Lightning + Wind = Magnet Release  

• Wind + Water = Ice Release 

By cycling through these five Kekkei Genkai and balancing them with Yin-Yang Release, it might be possible to synthesize a Kekkei Mōra—a fusion of all seven chakra natures.  

Wood Release was already secured. Lava Release could be obtained from Rōshi or the Four-Tails. Explosion Release? Deidara or Gari. Magnet Release? The One-Tail would deliver itself to her.  

Ice Release was the final piece.  

If the Yuki clan was truly extinct except for Haku, and he wasn’t in the Land of Waves… Well, there was always the Three-Tails. She’d sensed Ice Release chakra when absorbing its flesh, but for some reason, she hadn’t inherited it.  

Lost in thought, Hikari didn’t notice the strange look on Tazuna’s face when she asked about Zabuza and Haku.  

"Eh, who cares about some ‘Zabuza’? As long as we get to the Land of Waves and take down Raiga Kurosuki, we’ll save Tazuna’s home, right?!" Naruto pumped his fist, his blue eyes blazing. Despite their earlier clashes, Tazuna’s willingness to sacrifice his arm for his family had earned Naruto’s respect.  

Simple-minded as ever, he’d already categorized things:  

Tazuna and the Land of Waves = Good. Gato and Raiga Kurosuki = Bad!  

"I agree with Naruto," Sasuke said, unusually supportive. Since taking up kenjutsu, he’d developed a keen interest in master swordsmen.  

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were legendary. He didn’t know the specifics, but each of their blades was said to hold immense power. Raiga specialized in Lightning Release—his sword might be lightning-based. Maybe I can use it.  

Naruto didn’t use a sword. Kakashi had the White Light Chakra Blade. Hikari didn’t even carry weapons. Sasuke planned to use the mission’s reward to claim that blade for himself.  

"Tazuna, how’s your injury?" Kakashi asked, adjusting his forehead protector. Maintaining the Sharingan had already drained a tenth of his chakra.  

"Lady Hikari’s treatment was miraculous! I’m fine now!" Tazuna waved his right arm, eager to avoid being sent back to Konoha. After witnessing her cold-blooded efficiency, his earlier defiance had vanished.  

Kakashi nodded. "Then we move out immediately. We’ll reach the Land of Waves by dawn tomorrow."  

"Yes, sir!" the three chorused.  

Kakashi was a decent guy—when outsiders were around, they could afford to humor him.  

With a rumble, the earthen coffin sank into the ground. Hikari pressed her palms together, and the earth smoothed over, leaving no trace.  

(Though, out of basic human decency, they hadn’t buried him alive.)  

The five continued their journey, their figures shrinking into the distance until even Hikari, at the rear, disappeared from sight.  

Above, tree branches swayed in the wind, tangled with crimson threads that writhed like blood-red serpents hidden in the canopy.  

Unnoticed, a mist began to rise.  

The fog was thin but dense, swallowing the trees whole.  

By the next morning, Team 7 and Tazuna had arrived at the edge of the Land of Waves.  

Thick mist clung to the sea, the morning light filtering weakly through.  

The massive pillars of a bridge jutted from the water, their submerged halves casting eerie shadows. Standing at the shore, the group gazed at the structure stretching endlessly into the fog—like a path to another world.  

The salty tang of the ocean filled Hikari’s lungs, stirring memories of her brutal days in Kirigakure.  

"It’s huge!" Naruto hopped onto the bridge’s railing, craning his neck to peer into the distance. But the dense fog obscured everything beyond a white void.  

Sasuke and Kakashi stepped onto the bridge, taking in the vast sea. Having lived inland their whole lives, the ocean was a novelty.  

Kakashi, well-traveled from missions, was less affected. But Sasuke, despite his cool demeanor, was mesmerized by the rippling waves.  

"Heh! This is the bridge I built—the Hero’s Bridge!" Tazuna walked backward, arms spread proudly.  

"Pretty bold naming it after yourself, old man," Naruto muttered to Hikari.  

Despite respecting Tazuna’s resolve, the two still bickered constantly. The others found it entertaining, so no one intervened.  

"Foolish boy! The ‘hero’ isn’t me!" Tazuna huffed before launching into the bridge’s history.  

"The Land of Waves is an isolated island. We relied entirely on sea transport, which was slow and inefficient. Our resources and population were pitifully small. Calling it a ‘country’ is generous—it’s more like a town. Most young people left to seek opportunities elsewhere. I was one of them."  

His expression darkened.  

"Ten years ago, after decades abroad, I returned to retire. But I found that a ‘shipping company’ had taken over—run by Gato."  

At the name, Tazuna’s face twisted with hatred.  

Team 7 knew Gato was the villain here, but the details were new—even to Hikari, who only knew the broad strokes from the original story.  

"At first, he flooded the country with cheap goods. As a wealthy international businessman, he could afford to undercut local businesses. One by one, our shipping companies collapsed, leaving him with a monopoly."  

"Then he showed his true colors—skyrocketing prices, hoarding wealth, using the island as a hub for smuggling drugs between Fire and Water. He even blockaded our waters, acting as a pirate. Our already-weak nation grew even poorer!"  

"Bastard!" Naruto snarled. Kakashi and Sasuke clenched their fists—if this had happened to Konoha, Gato would’ve been bisected on the spot.  

"Exactly!" Tazuna pointed at the bridge. "To break Gato’s stranglehold, I convinced what remained of our government to gather our best engineers and design this bridge."  

"How did you build it?" Hikari asked. "If he controlled the sea, wouldn’t he have stopped construction?"  

"At first, yes. We only finished a third before Gato’s men halted it. But five years ago, everything changed!" Tazuna patted the railing, smiling.  

"My son-in-law, Kaiza, was forming a militia to resist Gato when they found a shipwrecked ninja."  

"The water-style user you mentioned?" Hikari recalled.  

"Him! After we saved him, he offered to repay us with one mission. Kaiza asked him to protect the bridge’s construction until completion. And right—here!"  

Tazuna suddenly grew excited, hurrying forward and pointing at the bridge beneath them.  

"This is where he slaughtered Gato’s hired ninja in seconds! Gato fled the country, too terrified to return. Thanks to him, we finished the bridge, shattered Gato’s grip, and freed our people from poverty!"  

"To honor his heroism, we named it the Hero’s Bridge!"  

Chapter 205: Thick Fog  

"The Bridge of Heroes, huh?"  

Team 7 followed Tazuna into the dense mist, listening to his story as they finally understood the significance of this massive sea-crossing bridge.  

A lone, stranded shinobi and a group of bridge builders had saved a nation on the brink of collapse—both were true heroes.  

The group silently admired the tale, but only Hikari stared at Naruto’s back with an unreadable expression.  

This bridge was supposed to be called the "Naruto Bridge." But due to the butterfly effect of her actions, it had been completed five years early and renamed the "Bridge of Heroes."  

"So, the Cardo gang has returned?" Kakashi asked skeptically.  

"Yes," Tazuna sighed, his head drooping. "After the bridge was finished, the Land of Waves’ economy recovered completely. Cardo’s gang tried to invade multiple times, but that shinobi always drove them back. We stopped worrying… until a week ago."  

His voice grew grim. "They claimed they’d hired powerful shinobi to take the Land of Waves by force. We thought our protector would stop them again… but then—he vanished."  

"V-Vanished?!" Naruto exclaimed. He had been eager to meet this legendary hero. Sasuke and Kakashi were disappointed but not entirely surprised—if the shinobi were still here, they wouldn’t have been assigned this mission in the first place.  

"Gone without a trace," Tazuna confirmed. "He left in a hurry—his belongings were still at home. The only thing missing was that massive sword he always carried."  

As he spoke, his eyes flickered toward Hikari, as if gauging her reaction.  

"So, what was his name?"  

Hikari had noticed Tazuna’s subtle glance. A suspicion had already formed in her mind, but she couldn’t quite believe it.  

Tazuna hesitated. The man had warned him not to reveal his name—it could bring trouble. But after spending days with these Konoha shinobi, he’d gotten a sense of their character.  

They’re not bad people.  

Swallowing his fear, he cautiously answered, "He called himself Zabuza… a rogue shinobi."  

"Zabuza?!"  

Naruto and Sasuke immediately recognized the name from Hikari’s questioning the day before—about the coffin shinobi and a girl named "Haku."  

Kakashi inhaled sharply. He never expected the mysterious savior of the Land of Waves to be Momochi Zabuza, the infamous missing-nin of Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen!  

A man who slaughtered his entire graduating class, forcing Kiri to change its team assignment system—a bloodthirsty monster. Yet after defecting, he’d somehow become a hero?  

But how did Hikari know about him?  

The group turned to her, baffled.  

"I met him once in the Land of Water."  

She couldn’t explain in detail, but when Tazuna mentioned Kaiza rescuing a water-style shinobi years ago, she’d already suspected. Who else could it be but Zabuza?  

Back then, after consuming the Three-Tails’ flesh, she’d planned to board the "Ship of Hope" to reach the Land of Fire—until she sensed two Kage-level chakra signatures onboard and noped out.  

Zabuza and Haku had boarded instead.  

Somewhere along the voyage, a cataclysmic battle must have erupted, destroying the ship. Zabuza, likely severely injured, drifted with the currents—only to wash ashore on the Land of Waves.  

Fate works in strange ways.  

The same man, the same place—yet the outcome was completely opposite.  

"Did he have a girl with him?" she pressed, still clinging to hope.  

Tazuna shook his head firmly. "No! He was alone when he washed up—half-dead from wounds and poison. If not for everyone’s efforts, he wouldn’t have survived. There was no girl."  

"I see."  

Her hope of obtaining Ice Release vanished once again.  

As they spoke, the group reached the midpoint of the bridge.  

Waves crashed against the pillars, the sound echoing endlessly.  

The mist thickened behind them, swallowing the path they’d come from. Ahead, the fog thinned slightly, revealing a massive black shadow lurking within—like a beast lying in wait.  

"Tazuna-san, are there any special entry requirements for the Land of Waves?" Hikari’s Byakugan was already active, her pale eyes piercing through the mist.  

"Huh? No, none at all," Tazuna replied, confused. "The bridge was built for trade. Anyone can cross freely—no fees, no restrictions."  

"Then the people ahead… don’t belong to your country." Her gaze sharpened.  

"What?!"  

Before anyone could react, rapid footsteps echoed from the fog.  

A dozen black-clad figures charged toward them, led by three who moved with terrifying speed.  

Their forehead protectors were slashed—missing-nin.  

No words were needed.  

These were the same men who had attacked Tazuna at the border.  

"It’s the Konoha shinobi Tazuna hired—three males, one female! Inform Blackmail Zabuza! The rest—attack!"  

The leader’s expression darkened upon spotting their headbands.  

Konoha’s reputation was well-earned. Underestimating children or women in the shinobi world was a quick way to die.  

"Yes!"  

One of the men turned to retreat into the mist—  

"Hyouki!"  

A familiar hum buzzed past Tazuna’s ear. He flinched, glancing at Hikari.  

She stood motionless, her lips barely parting as the mist twisted violently—  

"Ryouki!"  

A scream tore through the fog.  

The leader’s face paled as he watched his comrade continue walking—headless.  

The body collapsed, blood pooling on the bridge.  

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi were used to Hikari’s ruthlessness, but after five years of peace, they’d almost forgotten.  

Tazuna, however, was horrified.  

Thank god I never badmouthed her.  

"The girl uses Wind Release! Hardening Jutsu—now!"  

The two remaining shinobi activated Earth Release defenses, their skin gleaming like metal.  

The dozen black-clad followers froze at the sight of the decapitated corpse.  

"They’re not shinobi," Sasuke noted, his Sharingan flaring. Only the two leaders had chakra.  

"Naruto, Sasuke—handle the front. Hikari, protect Tazuna!" Kakashi ordered.  

Hikari had no interest in slaughtering civilians. She swallowed the wind chakra gathering in her mouth and took her position.  

"Leave it to us!"  

Naruto grinned, slipping on his brass knuckles as violent winds coiled around his fists.  

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"  

The bridge was instantly flooded with orange clones—some even perched on the railings.  

Sasuke unsheathed his sword, dashing into the crowd with ruthless efficiency.  

Tazuna watched in awe.  

Best money I ever spent.  

"The mist is too thick—my Sharingan’s range is limited," Kakashi muttered. "Blackmail Zabuza is a Kirigakure elite. He specializes in silent killing. Hikari, stay sharp—he might target Tazuna."  

"Don’t worry. The mist can’t hide from me."  

Her Byakugan scanned the area—until she paused.  

A patch of unnaturally dense fog clung to the bridge’s underside, resisting her vision.  

"What is it?" Kakashi tensed.  

"Nothing."  

She smiled faintly.  

That chakra… it was familiar.