In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed.
Thanks to Naruto and Kakashi's help during this time, Tazuna's bridge construction had progressed much faster.
In just over ten days, the bridge was already nearing completion.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke had been training almost nonstop these past days—barely sleeping at all.
That night, the excited duo pushed open Kakashi's door.
"Kakashi-sensei! We finally did it—we can climb all the way to the top of the trees now!"
Kakashi's expression softened with satisfaction as he reached out to ruffle the two kids' hair approvingly.
"The bridge is about to be finished. Since the two of you have completed your training, tomorrow you'll both join me in guarding Tazuna-san, and let Shinju have a day to rest."
Sasuke and Naruto had no objections to that.
They knew full well that during their ten-plus days of training, Shinju had been the one handling the protection mission.
That guy even helped the villagers with the bridge work every day.
These days, he was so exhausted that the moment he got home, he collapsed straight into bed.
Tired as he was, they could tell he seemed genuinely satisfied.
This must be what Kakashi-sensei meant by "doing what's right, while tempering yourself."
"Don't worry. Tomorrow, just let Shinju rest easy. Sasuke and I will take full responsibility for Tazuna-san's safety."
Naruto grinned wide, flashing his bright teeth, his confidence plain in his voice.
With training complete, his control over chakra felt like it had reached a whole new level.
He was practically hoping something would happen to Tazuna-san tomorrow so he could show off.
"Mm."
Kakashi nodded and shooed them out.
...
The next day.
After more than ten days of hard labor on the bridge, Shinju was ordered by Kakashi to rest.
When Kakashi first told him, Shinju refused.
Helping the villagers had been exhausting, yes—but also deeply fulfilling.
And it wasn't as though he had neglected his training; in the process of working, he'd gained new insights into taijutsu control and chakra usage.
It was only after Kakashi's firm insistence that Shinju reluctantly agreed and went back to sleep.
But not long after he drifted off again, loud noises from downstairs woke him.
He got up, headed down, and found Tazuna's daughter struggling against two samurai…
...
A few minutes earlier.
Two samurai had barged into Tazuna's home, cursing and demanding a hostage.
Their eyes fell on Tazuna's daughter, and they tried to drag her outside.
Then one of them noticed Inari.
The two discussed whether to kill the kid—after all, one hostage was enough.
Before they could act, Tazuna's daughter threatened them with her own life, declaring that if they dared hurt her son, she'd bite through her tongue and leave them with no hostage at all.
Unwilling to complicate things, the samurai settled for taking the woman away.
Inari, hiding behind the door, had seen everything—clear as day.
But paralyzed by fear, he hadn't said a word.
All he could do was watch his mother being dragged away.
By the time Shinju came downstairs, she was already gone, taken by the samurai, while Inari knelt behind the door, sobbing from fear and guilt.
Just as Shinju was about to ask what happened, Inari suddenly stood, fists clenched.
He remembered what Shinju had told him days before.
"A hero protects what he holds dear."
"This time… I won't run away."
With that, Inari dashed out the door.
Shinju stood behind him the whole time, a genuine smile tugging at his lips.
It seemed Inari had finally inherited his stepfather's will—no longer shrinking back in fear.
Of course, Shinju didn't actually believe Inari could rescue his mother from two armed samurai, so he decided to follow and help.
...
In the forest outside Tazuna's home.
Inari's small frame stood blocking the path of the two burly samurai.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you take my mother."
His voice trembled with fear, but his stance and eyes were unwavering.
Seeing her son like this, Inari's mother felt as if she were looking at a stranger… yet for a brief moment, she saw her husband's shadow in him.
Then, her eyes dimmed—she knew full well what fate had awaited her husband.
"Inari… you've become just like your father."
"Hey, brat! We were gonna let you off, but since you're looking for death, don't blame us for not holding back!"
One samurai drew his katana, the blade's tip pointing at Inari.
The woman tried her earlier tactic, shouting, "If you dare harm my son, I'll bite my tongue and end my life without hesitation!"
The other samurai, who was holding her, simply struck her in the back of the neck, knocking her unconscious.
"Women are such a nuisance."
The two moved in on Inari.
Step by step, the boy retreated, trembling as he watched the bloodthirsty samurai approach.
The one in front twirled his gleaming blade, eyes full of cruel amusement.
"Relax, brat. I won't kill you in one strike. I'll take your arms first… then your legs… so you can—"
The samurai described his butchery in sickening detail, savoring the thrill of holding someone's life in his hands.
Hearing it, Inari shook like a leaf in the wind.
"You'd better not touch me! There are ninja protecting my grandpa—if they find out, you're dead meat!"
He forced his voice to sound steady.
The samurai sneered. "Ninja? Hah… just a bunch of shady rats! Let him come—I'd like to see if he can last two moves against my blade!"
Before he could finish, Shinju appeared behind Inari, holding a kunai.
The two samurai startled, stepping back.
Noticing the forehead protector on the red-haired boy, they realized his identity.
Then, seeing he was just a kid, their arrogance returned.
"So you're the 'ninja' this brat was talking about? With that red hair, you look like a damn tomato."
Shinju's brow twitched. "Tomato? (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)"
"Oho, angry now? Then watch me slice a tomato in half!" one of them jeered, flashing forward with his blade.
Shinju raised his kunai in his right hand, meeting the sword head-on.
Clang!!
With one hand, he stopped the samurai's slash.
His other hand blurred through hand seals.
At the same time, the second samurai came charging in, katana raised high.
Shinju tilted his head up.
The sunlight glinted off his forehead protector, flashing into both their eyes.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!!"