"Naruto-niichan!" Inari greeted happily, then hurried over to him and grabbed him by his left arm, "C'mon! You promised to spend the day with me and the other kids after you were done with whatever you had to take care of with your neechan!"
Naruto wasn't given a chance to reply as Inari dragged him towards the front door.
"But you're not taking this with you!" Honoka said as she managed to take away Naruto's Icha-Icha Paradise book.
"But Neechan, I need that! I just came across a shocking plot twist and I have to find out more!" Naruto complained.
"Naruto-otouto, be a role model and don't read this inappropriate material around children," Honoka rebuked before Inari pulled a whining Naruto through the front door. Satisfied with her work, Honoka was about to hide Naruto's book somewhere until she realized that it was no longer in her hand.
"I'll see to it that Naruto's book is taken care of," Kakashi said with his one eye glued to the open book as he made his way upstairs, with a blush and a few perverted giggles leaving his mouth.
"That book must be a good read. Perhaps I ought to buy myself a copy or two," Tazuna chuckled, only for Tsunami to smack him across the back of his head in annoyance.
(Ten Days Later)
It's been eleven days since the fall of Gatō. The passing days were spent working on the bridge. All the workers came back, and helped with the repairs on the bridge. The funding Naruto managed to force out of Gatō's treasury helped greatly with buying the rest of the needed materials for the completion of the bridge's construction and paying all of the workers. With all of their ports returned to the locals, fishermen and other sailing businesses were able to rebuild their businesses and livelihood again. Some of the locals also repaired the main road and removed the cut down trees that were hit from Naruto's Wind Release: Nine Spiraling Guillotines attack days ago as some of cut down trees blocked the main road to the bridge.
During the passing days, Honoka and Naruto went to check up on Haku and Zabuza. Honoka continued treating their injuries and changing their bandages for clean ones. Naruto and Honoka also spent the time getting know each other. Though Zabuza wasn't very talkative, he did say some things about himself and his time in Kirigakure.
At the end of the week, Zabuza and Haku came to meet up with everyone back at Tazuna's house. Everyone stood outside of the house where they spoke to the two Kiri nin as they explained what they decided to do.
"Are you guys really sure about not wanting to go with us back to Konoha? I'm sure something could be worked out," Naruto said.
"We appreciate the offer kid, but we still have some unfinished business to settle elsewhere," Zabuza said.
"Will you guys at least stay for the festival celebrating the completion of the bridge and Gatō's defeat later today?" Naruto requested.
Zabuza answered flatly, "I don't like parties, but I do enjoy expensive sake and liquor."
"I'm sure Gatō had some imported ones locked away in his office. We could take a trip over there now to check for ourselves," Naruto suggested.
"Accepted. Let's go," Zabuza agreed.
"Mind if I tag along?" Tazuna asked eagerly.
"Just don't slow us down old man," Zabuza warned as he and Naruto started walking off to Gatō's old office building with Tazuna following.
"Almost two weeks ago, Zabuza tried to kill my grandpa and you guys. Now he's walking with my grandpa and Naruto-niichan as if the three of them are old buddies," Inari commented as he and the group looked at the awkward scene.
Haku giggled, "Zabuza-sama may not say it, but he respected Tazuna-san's brave spirit in defying Gatō and risking his life for his people. He also admires Naruto-kun's adept skills with the sword, wishing he could have taken Naruto-kun as his successor."
Sasuke kept his cool, though he didn't like how Naruto was getting so much praises from everyone, and that even one of the Seven Swordsmen wanted to have him be his successor rather than his an apprentice.
(That Evening)
The festival was held in the central part of the town. Nobody was dressed in rags or looked like they lived in poverty. During the lasted ten days, new clothes and footwear were ordered and shipped to the locals, reestablishing the morale of the community as the era of depression and tyranny was over.
There were fireworks of many kinds, and everyone was smiling, laughing, eating, drinking, and having a good time. Music was being played loudly, and many got up to dance and sing. Zabuza only wanted to enjoy his liquor and kept to himself for the most part. Haku was approached by several teen boys who complimented her beauty and sought to start a conversation with her.
During the party, Naruto became a huge celebrity and hero among the people for freeing them of Gato's tyranny, though Naruto said that it was through the effort of him, Honoka, and his team together. Even though Naruto didn't allow the praises of the locals to go to his head, Sakura was heavily annoyed at how many girls were flirting and throwing themselves at Naruto, who was blushing and giggling as if he was living out a harem scene from one of his favorite books.
Elsewhere, Jiraiya sneezed, and felt that somehow he ought to be very proud of someone right now for succeeding at something he failed at as a young teen.
While Naruto was being surrounded by all those girls, Honoka was getting some looks from guys. A couple of them walked up to her, wanting to talk to her and some wanted to dance with her. A smaller group of girls approached Sasuke, but moved to Naruto when Sasuke treated them like he usually treated his fangirls back in Konoha. The only girl willing stay by Sasuke despite his behavior was Sakura.
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