The scent of blood, mixed with the metallic tang of rust and the stench of fear, lingered in the damp mist.
When Tazuna led a group of villagers, trembling and armed with hoes and fishing spears, onto the great bridge, silence had already fallen. Their eyes swept across the bridge, which was covered with corpses, and the heavy smell of blood made some of the younger villagers gag, covering their mouths.
The blond youth standing coolly with his hands behind his back at the head of the bridge was like a demon emerged from hell; only, this demon was on their side.
There were no signs of fierce battle, no ruined buildings, only neatly fallen bodies, their ability to resist instantly stripped away.
Zabuza knelt on one knee, his massive kubikiribōchō plunged into the ground beside him, Kado's blood still dripping from its blade.
"Th-this… this…" Tazuna's lips trembled, unable to form a complete word.
Behind him, the villagers' "weapons" clattered to the ground.
Naruto paid no attention to the minor commotion.
He turned to face his squad.
"Medic," he said coldly, his words precise.
"Begin post-combat treatment procedures."
Sakura's body instinctively straightened.
"Treat Sasuke first, then Zabuza," Naruto commanded indifferently.
Sakura's mind went blank for a moment, then a strange emotion overshadowed her fear.
She didn't ask why, nor did she cry, but quickly opened her Ninja tool pouch and took out medical bandages and ointment.
"Yes!" she responded loudly, her movements so decisive that she herself was surprised. Unconsciously, she had grown accustomed to this tone of command.
Kakashi hesitated, feeling it difficult to discern Naruto's true intentions now.
Was this chilling, rational coldness merely a protective coloration? Or was it his true nature?
If it was just a protective coloration, Naruto would still be the same Naruto, only all his actions would serve efficiency and results. Although his behavior often defied common sense, it would still ultimately lead to a positive outcome.
But what if it was his true nature? Kakashi shook his head; he dared not think further.
"I really wish you'd go paint the Hokage Rock again, Naruto," Kakashi muttered to himself in a low voice.
After treating Sasuke, Sakura ran to Zabuza.
Haku stood in front of him, watching Sakura warily.
"Let her treat me," Zabuza said hoarsely.
He looked at the blond youth's back not far away, and the arrogance of a strong individual within him had been completely crushed, reassembled into a new form.
Awe.
And… obedience… Several days later.
The bridge celebration was bustling with people.
The Land of Waves, a country shrouded in shadows for too long, finally welcomed the sunlight.
Tazuna stood on the makeshift platform, his face flushed with excitement.
"Fellow citizens! We have won!"
"We drove away Kado, and we now have this bridge that connects us to hope!"
The villagers erupted in thunderous cheers.
Tazuna took a deep breath and looked in the direction of Team 7 below the stage, his expression becoming incredibly solemn.
"We must not forget the heroes who brought all of this about! It was Konoha's Ninja who saved us!"
"Especially that young man…"
Everyone's gaze focused on Naruto.
It was a complex emotion, a mixture of gratitude, admiration, and deep fear.
"To commemorate this order and hope, I have decided to name this bridge, the future of our country—"
"Naruto Bridge! The magnificent Naruto Bridge!"
The cheers, like a tsunami, swept across the entire coast.
"Naruto Bridge! Naruto Bridge!"
People shouted his name, as if it could bestow power upon them.
Sakura Haruno excitedly grabbed Sasuke's arm, and Sasuke, for once, didn't shake her off.
Kakashi, on the other hand, wore a helpless expression that suggested, "My student seems to be quite something."
Only Naruto, standing at the center of all the cheers, showed no change in expression.
He didn't smile, didn't wave, and didn't even look at the fervent crowd.
For him, it was merely a result.
[Regional stability increased.]
[Public support reached its peak.]
["Uzumaki Naruto" personal prestige established, possessing a model effect.]
[Land of Waves pilot project, evaluation result: perfect.]
Wave after wave of cheers surged towards him. Naruto's clothes were pulled and tugged by the people, who finally lifted him and tossed him into the air repeatedly.
Naruto looked at the many cheering, joyful faces and, for the first time in a long while, entered a brief state of daze. He suddenly remembered a bright, cheerful smile from a long, long time ago, under the sun.
"I, Uzumaki Naruto, am the man who will become Hokage!"
"My Ninja Way is to never go back on my word!"
That voice carried an air of fearlessness, loud and clear, as if it would shake the ceiling down.
Was that me?
After a brief hesitation, he gave a wry smile, then showed the exact same smile.
"A full smile can move people's hearts, leaving a friendly impression, and when contrasted with my previous cold image, it creates a strong contrast that can further win the favor of the masses."
Naruto shouted, "Everyone, I will be back!"
...The night before departure.
Naruto stood alone in the center of the Naruto Bridge.
The sea breeze ruffled his clothes. Haku agilely appeared before him, knelt on one knee, and reported his duties.
"Lord Naruto, Lord Zabuza and I have, according to your 'Kindling Plan,' already left Konoha's detection range and found a way to return to the Land of Water."
"Very good," Naruto said to the air, "Remember your mission."
"Phase one, dormancy. Gather intelligence on all factions within the Hidden Mist Village, especially a list of forces dissatisfied with the current Mizukage."
"Phase two, infiltration. Utilize your past identities to approach targets that can be 'won over.'"
"Phase three, await my command. Do not expose yourselves before the final 'purification' begins."
"Understood," Haku replied respectfully, "All for the new order you envision."
Naruto nodded, turned to face the sea, his view expansive, the sound of waves stirred by the evening breeze echoing in his ears.
He calmly conducted his final review.
This mission validated the effectiveness of the "Thought Imprint" on specific targets.
Powerful individuals like Zabuza, who were betrayed by the old order, and "weapons" like Haku, who possessed firm beliefs but lacked proper guidance, were the "resources" with the highest conversion rate.
This model was reproducible.
His thoughts drifted from the small island of the Land of Waves to the broader continent.
"The identity of 'Konoha Political Commissar' is the perfect protective coloration at this stage. As long as I express no desire to become Hokage, the indecisive Third Hokage won't be in a hurry to purge me."
Inside him, a voice calmly narrated.
"It can soothe the sentimental heart of the Third Hokage, granting me maximum freedom of action."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi needs a loyal guardian to inherit his antiquated 'will of fire'; I will play this role."
"But he will never understand."
"True guardianship is not about patching up a tattered, riddled ship."
"Rather, it is to completely dismantle it, and use the recycled timber and new steel to build a fearless battleship capable of withstanding any storm."
"A unified, powerful, steel empire, devoid of all emotional infighting, governed by absolute reason."
"This, and only this, is the sole path for human civilization when facing the erosion of 'chaos' and 'heresy.'"
"The Land of Waves is merely the first cornerstone."
Naruto turned around, his back to the sea, facing the direction of the Land of Fire.
In his vision, the map of the entire Ninja world slowly unfolded.
It was a vast territory awaiting integration, purification, and assimilation into a singular will.
He took a step, walking off the bridge, leaving behind the monument named after him, and his laughable childhood, together.
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