Because of Naruto's rambling nonsense, Sasuke's training progress got dragged down.
In the end, Kakashi-sensei couldn't stand it anymore and stepped in to give Naruto a punch.
...
Meanwhile, deep in the forest.
After making sure no one was around, Shinju began his own Wood Release training.
Just as he'd thought earlier—
Since Wood Release could be used to build houses, then in theory, it should also be able to construct a bridge out of an intricate network of wood.
"Wood Release: Great Bridge!"
Shinju crossed his hands into a seal and shouted.
In the next instant, countless wooden pillars burst up from beneath the ground, linking together to form a small arched bridge.
He tried stepping onto it—the load-bearing seemed fine.
But then he realized the Land of Waves was building a massive bridge across the sea. A few wooden beams alone wouldn't cut it—it needed reinforced concrete bridge piers...
While Earth Release could create the piers, the steel reinforcement would still need to be placed manually.
"What a pity I don't know any jutsu that can alter metal. If I could combine that with Wood Release and Earth Release, maybe I really could build an entire bridge."
Shinju muttered to himself.
...
That night.
Kakashi-sensei faced the members of Team 7 and announced something important.
"Now that Tazuna's returned home and resumed construction on the cross-sea bridge, that guy Gato definitely won't just sit back and watch. So, I've decided Team 7 will stay here for another month to protect Tazuna."
After speaking, Kakashi's right eye swept over the three members of Team 7.
Shinju had a thoughtful look, clearly deep in his own mind about something.
Naruto and Sasuke, on the other hand, were visibly eager to help Tazuna, nodding their agreement.
After dinner, Shinju, still eager to learn, pushed open the door to Kakashi's room.
"Sensei, there's something I don't understand," Shinju said.
Kakashi already had a good guess about his question, but still gestured for him to go ahead.
"Tazuna lied to us from the start—so why are we protecting him for so long?" Shinju asked.
Kakashi didn't hesitate to answer.
"The Fourth Hokage once said: 'To see what's right and not act is not courage.'"
Shinju nodded. "So as shinobi, we should have a sense of chivalry—when we see injustice, we should draw our blades and help?"
Kakashi gave him an approving glance.
"That's about right. But the prerequisite for doing what's right… is being able to protect yourself first."
"Got it, Sensei! I understand now!"
Shinju's eyes lit with realization.
So being a shinobi didn't mean working only for your own village's interests—
You also had to have a personal code you were willing to uphold.
...
The next day.
While Naruto and Sasuke continued their tree-climbing training, Shinju, with nothing else to do, took on the job of staying close to protect Tazuna.
It was then he met Tazuna's grandson, Inari—the same kid who had shouted "Heroes are the stupidest thing" when Team 7 first arrived.
Shinju noticed the boy seemed to have something buried deep inside.
Last night, while heading to bed and passing by Inari's room, Shinju had seen him holding a framed picture and crying.
So, with time on his hands, Shinju strolled over to Inari and started chatting with him like a friend.
Maybe it was because the boy was lonely, or maybe because Shinju naturally had a warm and approachable presence—
Either way, he soon managed to coax the boy into talking about his past.
It turned out Inari once had a stepfather, the hero of the island.
But after Gato set his sights on the Land of Waves, the first person he targeted was Inari's stepfather, killing him brutally in front of everyone.
From that day on, Inari's beliefs changed. He came to think being a hero was nothing but foolishness.
Shinju listened to the story, feeling both sympathy for Inari's stepfather and a deep sense of injustice.
"Heroes… protect what they hold dear," Shinju said.
That man had fought to protect the things he cared about. He was a true warrior.
Yet, when he was executed, so many stood by and watched—
And after his death, no one dared to take up his torch.
Even his own son, Inari, had become a coward, clutching a picture frame all day in tears.
Shinju raised his head, looking toward Tazuna on the bridge.
The old man had a towel draped over his shoulders, constantly wiping away sweat as he tirelessly carried construction materials.
Helping him were barely a dozen others.
The rest had chosen to give up or just watch, too afraid of Gato's power.
The thought that, once the bridge was complete, those same people might reap the rewards left Shinju feeling stifled.
He stood up with a sigh, scanning the surroundings for any potential danger.
Suddenly, one of the workers called out to him, pointing toward a shaded rest area nearby.
"Hey, kid! The sun's brutal right now—you and Inari should sit under that umbrella for a bit."
Shinju's eyes trembled.
Something stirred in his heart.
Though those who stood by and did nothing didn't deserve to set foot on the bridge—
Humanity was never short on good, honest people. Those people were worth it.
If the bridge was finished, these kind-hearted folks could finally break free from Gato's grip.
"It's fine, old man. I'm a shinobi, after all."
Shinju smiled back at him, then formed a seal. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
In an instant, over a hundred Shinju clones appeared on the bridge!
The workers stared, dumbfounded.
"So this is the power of a shinobi… one man worth an entire army!"
"Incredible—this is the kind of power only gods would have!"
"If a kid shinobi is this strong, then that adult ninja from Tazuna's house must be even stronger!"
"Just lending a hand," all hundred Shinju clones said in unison as they each hoisted construction materials from the shore and joined the work crew.
Tazuna was so moved he almost burst into tears.
For the past two days, he'd been stressing over their lack of manpower.
If it was only the dozen or so workers they had, the bridge wouldn't be done until the end of time.
But with all these shinobi clones, it was different—the progress instantly sped up!
Shinju and his clones threw themselves into the great bridge project.
Half an hour of work from them was equivalent to a full day's labor from Tazuna's original crew.
...
Not far from the bridge.
The short, stocky figure of Gato stood with a telescope, watching the mass of shinobi clones on the bridge. His face turned green with rage.
"At this rate, that bridge will be finished in less than two months."
With a crack, Gato slammed the telescope to the ground and pointed toward the bridge.
Beside him, a bodyguard carrying a long blade said,
"Boss, didn't you hire a rogue ninja from Kirigakure to kill Tazuna?"
Gato knew exactly who he meant—Zabuza—and his face twisted with irritation.
"Don't even get me started on that useless piece of trash. After his two lackeys failed, he went and got himself beaten too—nearly died in the process."
"It's time to give him a push. Can't just take our deposit and do nothing," another guard added.
Gato nodded, a cruel glint flashing behind his sunglasses.
"That arrogant bastard's been rubbing me the wrong way. Once he's done with Tazuna, I'll get rid of him too."
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