The Land of Waves slept beneath a thick layer of fog. Silent. Still. Waiting.
Inside Tazuna's home, Naruto stood over the table with a rough, hand-drawn map of the bridge and surrounding area. His clones moved like soldiers across a battlefield diagram, setting makeshift markers and trap indicators with pebbles and leaves.
Sasuke and Sakura looked on, unsure at first — but increasingly focused.
Naruto's voice was firm. Confident. Controlled.
"We set up three lines of defense. First here—" he pointed to a narrowing in the road leading to the bridge "—with spike traps from sharpened stakes. Clone bait units will lure them into the funnel."
He looked at Sasuke.
"You'll be stationed here. High ground. Shuriken support and clone disruption."
Sasuke nodded without protest.
"Sakura, you stay near Tazuna. Focus on defense, observation, and supporting anyone injured. Use what Kakashi taught you — even if it's just slowing bleeding."
Sakura straightened. "Understood."
Kakashi, still recovering but alert, leaned on a crutch by the wall. "You've improved. Fast."
Naruto didn't smile.
"I have to. We all do."
---
> Quest Progress: Prepare the Battlefield
→ Spike traps (✔️)
→ Clone patrols (✔️)
→ Defensive formations (✔️)
+600 XP Gained
Skill Unlocked: Tactical Terrain – Beginner
→ You gain +10% efficiency in trap setups and ambush control
→ Clone detection radius increased by 5 meters in terrain you've prepared
---
As dawn crept through the mist, they took their positions.
The silence was unbearable.
Until…
Splash.
Footsteps in shallow water.
Figures emerged — two. One tall, cloaked in shadow, blade across his back.
The other small. Graceful. A hunter's mask hiding their face.
Zabuza and Haku.
Naruto's system buzzed in his head.
> BOSS ENCOUNTER: ZABUZA MOMOCHI (Round 2)
→ Ally Detected: HAKU
→ Combined Threat Level: A
Mission Objective: Protect Tazuna and neutralize enemy
Victory Bonus: ???
---
Kakashi stepped forward slowly, his Sharingan now exposed.
"I'll take Zabuza. Naruto — you and Sasuke handle the masked one."
Naruto nodded, already summoning clones to sweep around Haku's flanks.
But Haku moved like wind.
Without a word, he blurred forward — hands weaving signs faster than Naruto could track.
"Ice Style: Crystal Ice Mirrors!"
A dome of glowing mirrors surrounded Naruto and Sasuke instantly.
Sasuke spun. "What the hell?!"
Then — dozens of Haku reflections appeared, each with senbon in hand.
> Status Effect: Trapped
→ Escape chance: <5% without intervention
Perk Triggered: Adaptive Instincts (Lv. 1)
→ Clone coordination bonus increased by 10% when surrounded
System Alert: Combat Memory Sync Available
"Make clones," Naruto barked. "Now!"
Both boys formed Shadow Clones simultaneously.
> Naruto's Clone Network Active
→ Formation: Disrupt & Replace
→ Bonus: 15% increased dodge within 5 seconds of teleport
The first volley of senbon launched — blurs of silver.
Sasuke was hit in the shoulder, but Naruto's clones took the brunt. Still, the dome made it impossible to track Haku's real body.
"We have to break the mirrors," Sasuke shouted.
"They're absorbing too much chakra. It's ice chakra, not normal ice!"
Naruto's mind raced. His Gale Cutter could damage normal barriers — but this? He wasn't sure.
Then it hit him.
What if the key wasn't breaking them — but syncing his clones inside the dome?
> Tactic Devised: Internal Disruption Loop
→ Assign 3 clones to mimic Haku's speed inside the dome
→ Purpose: Echo Haku's movements and break formation
Success Chance: 41%
Confirm?
Confirm.
---
The clones moved in, mimicking Haku's blurs.
It was like a deadly dance — flashes of motion inside mirrored light.
One clone took a hit.
Two more vanished.
Then — Haku flinched.
The real one had been tagged. Barely.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Did you see that?"
Naruto didn't answer. He was already pushing chakra into his lungs.
"Wind Style — Gale Cutter!"
The slicing wind crashed against three mirrors.
Cracks appeared.
And Haku moved faster — angrier.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. His Sharingan had yet to awaken — but he could still see something. Patterns. Trajectories.
Then he was gone — lunging directly through one of the mirrors, shoulder-first.
It shattered.
---
Outside, Kakashi clashed with Zabuza again — the mist thick, blades singing through the air.
But Kakashi wasn't holding back anymore.
He moved with surgical precision, deflecting each of Zabuza's swings and countering with sharp bursts of lightning chakra through his kunai.
"I'm not the same shinobi you fought before," Kakashi said coldly. "And Naruto's not the same kid."
---
Back inside the ice dome, the mirrors faltered.
Sasuke was breathing hard, bleeding from dozens of senbon wounds, but standing.
Naruto's eyes locked on Haku's — the real one — emerging from a cracked mirror.
"You're fast," Haku said, his voice sad. "But you hesitate."
Naruto's fist clenched.
"I don't anymore."
He dashed forward with two clones in parallel, one high, one low.
Haku flickered to the left — right into Sasuke's flying kick.
CRACK.
Mask shattered.
Haku hit the ground hard.
> Sub-Boss Defeated: Haku (Critical State)
XP: +2,200
Naruto – Lv. 9 → Lv. 10
Perk Gained: Clone Instinct II
→ Clone reactions now sync with Naruto's base perception
Stat Points Earned: +6
Special Trait Gained: Empathy (Hidden)
→ Reacts during moral decisions, adds 5% XP to peaceful resolutions
But Naruto didn't finish it.
Haku lay there, bleeding, eyes still… kind.
"You're not like Zabuza," Naruto whispered. "Why do this?"
Haku smiled weakly. "Because he gave me purpose. And I… love him."
Naruto's hand trembled.
"I understand," he whispered.
---
Kakashi prepared the final blow.
Lightning surged through his palm.
"Raikiri."
But as he approached Zabuza—
Haku appeared.
Blocking the strike with his body.
The lightning tore through him.
"Why—!" Kakashi froze.
Zabuza's eyes widened. "Haku…"
The mist cleared.
And Naruto arrived just in time to see Haku fall — arms spread, peaceful smile on his face.
Zabuza said nothing.
Then slowly, quietly…
He broke.
---
Moments later, Gatō arrived with a small army of hired thugs. He mocked Zabuza, laughed at Haku's body, and ordered his men to kill everyone.
But Zabuza turned slowly, lifting his sword.
And without a word — he slaughtered them.
One by one.
In the end, bleeding and battered, Zabuza collapsed beside Haku.
He looked up at Naruto.
"Take care of your friends… brat."
Then closed his eyes.
---
> Major Mission Complete: Bridge Builder Escort – Phase Finalized
XP Gained: +5,000
Level Up! → Lv. 11
New Title Earned: System Shinobi – D-Rank Captain
→ Clone command limit increased
→ Leadership bonus expanded to Genin squads
New Skill Unlocked: Wind Step (Lv. 1)
→ Short burst of wind beneath the feet
→ Increases dodge chance by 20% for 3 seconds
→ Cooldown: 20 seconds
The next day, the villagers named the completed bridge The Great Naruto Bridge.
Naruto stood at its edge, wind in his hair, eyes on the sea.
"I'll get stronger," he whispered. "Strong enough to protect everyone."
His system pulsed in agreement.