The battle raged on intensely. Our sensei, Kakashi, was beginning to gain the upper hand as the fight leaned in his favor. His movements were sharper, and Zabuza's once-imposing stance was now showing clear signs of fatigue.
Meanwhile, my clones moved across the battlefield, throwing ninja weapons and using various jutsus. Some went straight into hand-to-hand combat, applying taijutsu techniques to further pressure the enemy.
Zabuza, the feared Demon of the Hidden Mist, was visibly exhausted. His breathing was heavy, and his movements, less fluid. Victory seemed imminent for our side. However, before Kakashi could finish the fight, something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, the mist thickened — dense like wet cotton. A new presence could be felt: dark, cold, and eerily silent. A masked ninja, wearing the standard ANBU uniform of the Mist Village, emerged among us. Their mask was beautiful, with delicate and enigmatic lines, and their mere presence cast a deadly silence over the scene. It was a different aura than Zabuza's: while he radiated bloodlust and violence, the new ninja emanated a chilling and subtle threat — like a blade brushing the back of your neck, invisible until the final strike.
Kakashi instantly took a combat stance, though his voice remained calm — the voice of a seasoned veteran.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" he asked firmly.
We, young and still inexperienced, watched from a distance, trying to understand the movements of this new figure and prepare for a possible violent action.
"I'm from the Hidden Mist ANBU. I'm part of a group specialized in tracking and eliminating traitors," the masked figure replied. The voice was ambiguous, impossible to identify as male or female, but firm and assured.
Kakashi didn't answer. He simply watched closely as the figure knelt beside Zabuza, checking his vital signs.
"He's dead. I'll take the body with me," they stated, leaving no room for argument. With a swift and nearly invisible movement, they disappeared into the mist with Zabuza's lifeless body.
"Sensei… who was that?" Naruto asked, clearly confused.
"As he said, all villages have special units like that, trained to hunt down deserters and ensure that critical secrets don't fall into enemy hands. If someone betrays their village, it doesn't matter where they go — they'll be hunted to the end," Kakashi explained, his tone serious, carrying a slightly threatening edge meant more as a warning than intimidation.
We simply nodded in silence, absorbing those words. Without delay, we resumed our journey toward the true objective of the mission.
The path continued, cutting through lush natural landscapes until, in the distance, we saw the massive structure rising over the sea: a monumental bridge under construction, made of sturdy stone. Still incomplete, it was already impressive in scale. Its foundations connected separate pieces of land across a vast and wild ocean.
Even unfinished, that bridge seemed to carry a meaning far greater than its practical function. It conveyed deep emotions — longing, honor, resilience, and pride.
"This is the bridge we want to complete. A symbol of hope to protect our people and restore the dignity of our land," said Tazuna, the old builder, with a tired sigh. "But the businessman Gatō is trying to stop its construction. That's why I asked for help. His mafia-like influence reaches everyone here."
He rubbed his eyes, tired not just physically, but emotionally.
"For now, let's head to my home. My daughter Tsunami and my grandson Inari should be waiting for us."
Upon arriving at Tazuna's house, we were greeted by a young boy wearing a striking blue hat. He seemed a few years younger than us and stood with his arms crossed, looking at his grandfather with some annoyance.
"Inari, what are you doing outside?" Tazuna asked.
"Hey, grandpa… And who are these guys?" he said, eyeing our group with suspicion. His gaze landed on Naruto and, in a mocking tone, he added, "Especially the one with the yellow hair. Looks like a stray cat!"
"Hahahaha! Stray cat! Yellow-haired kid!" my brother laughed with his loud, over-the-top chuckle. But his expression quickly changed as he realized he was the only one with yellow hair in the group.
"ME?! You annoying brat!" Naruto lunged forward, furious, ready to fight.
I quickly stepped in, pulling him back.
"Behave yourself. We're in someone else's house," I muttered, giving my brother a firm look. He grumbled but calmed down.
Curiously, my words seemed to catch Inari's attention. He stared at me intensely, while his grandfather simply ignored the clash and moved on with the matter at hand.
"Let's go inside. There's room to rest and something warm to eat," said Tazuna, dragging his grandson by the hand.
However, contrary to what one might imagine — a fancy dinner with background music and waiters (clearly a fantasy, not reality) — what awaited us was a modest table accompanied by a tense atmosphere.
During the meal, arguments and family shouting broke out, and as always, Naruto's big mouth got us tangled in the mess. Offended and emotionally shaken, Inari ended up storming away from the table.
Tazuna then shared his story — marked by loss, such as the death of his son-in-law, and the symbolic and practical importance of the bridge he was trying to build. He also told us more about Gatō, the corrupt businessman whose actions resembled those of a ruthless mob boss.
After all these revelations, we retreated and had a well-deserved night of rest.
...
The Next Day
I woke up early. I had a simple breakfast — oatmeal porridge and toast — and left for my training.
In the bamboo forest that surrounded the region, I spread out several clones, organizing them into small groups. Some reviewed chapters of my martial art, while others trained ninjutsu, genjutsu, and fuuinjutsu. Sensory training was also being worked on intensively.
It was a constant effort to become stronger — strong enough to protect my brother… and everyone I love.
...
3 POV
While I trained, elsewhere in the forest, Naruto had a peculiar encounter. A beautiful woman, with a charming smile and a voice as smooth as honey, appeared in his path. He was instantly enchanted, like a silly little bunny hypnotized by a mysterious glimmer.
What he didn't know — and perhaps it wouldn't matter, or maybe it would — was that this woman was a trans woman, not a cis woman. A detail that would reveal itself in time, bringing future reactions and reflections — or maybe it wouldn't change anything at all.
But in that moment, to Naruto, she was just a dazzling vision that threw his heart and focus into chaos.