Musashi watched as the people in front of him began to argue again, each trying to get a word in.
After a while.
Having not received a response from Musashi, the voices gradually died down as they waited for his reply.
Musashi: "Are you done?"
The people below looked at each other and said, "Done... for now. We'll add more later if we think of anything."
"Mn." The smile on Musashi's face vanished.
"If you're done... then shut your mouths!!"
Everyone: "..."
Musashi continued: "I'll say this one last time."
"This mission is not something we must do."
"If you agree, line up to sign!"
"If you don't agree, get out!"
"In the future, everyone walks on the bridge, you swim!"
"If the percentage of signatures isn't enough, we leave tonight. Konoha will no longer be involved in the bridge matter; solve it yourselves."
After speaking, ignoring everyone's reaction, he turned to Tazuna.
"To sign or not to sign, you decide for yourselves. Within one hour from now, I want to see the result."
Tazuna nodded hurriedly: "Rest assured, I understand."
"No need for an hour, half an hour is enough."
Musashi turned and left. "Bring the signed agreement to me yourself."
After he left, several leaders hurriedly gathered around.
"What do we do? Tazuna, I spoke just now according to your idea?"
"Yeah, thought a young man would be easy to talk to, why did he turn hostile at the slightest disagreement?"
"Enough." Tazuna looked dejected.
He regretted it a little; he shouldn't have tried to fight for more benefits for the Land of Waves at this time.
Now it's great, didn't get the benefits, but got into trouble instead.
He sighed: "I underestimated this young man. Everyone come one by one, sign and press your fingerprint."
Naturally, no one had any more objections.
The bridge was already half-built. Giving up the bridge to continue being poor, or sharing 30% of the bridge toll with Konoha as mission remuneration, even a fool knew what to choose.
Twenty minutes later.
Tazuna found Musashi with the agreement full of signatures and red fingerprints.
"Signed, in duplicate."
Musashi checked it and found no errors, then put away the agreement.
"Okay. Let's leave it at that for now."
"After we return to Konoha and Lord Hokage confirms the agreement, we will return one copy to you."
"Before that, we will ensure the smooth construction of the bridge. We will also help you deal with the people Gato sends."
Tazuna thanked him: "Thank you so much."
"If the Land of Waves can develop, it must be thanks to ninjas like you."
Musashi agreed: "Indeed, I think so too."
"Your gratitude is very reasonable."
Tazuna: "..."
"Um, one more thing. About the naming of the bridge."
"After the bridge is built, does Konoha have any ideas about the name, for example, Hokage Bri..."
Musashi interrupted him directly: "No need."
"Since the bridge is built with your funds, the naming is up to you."
Tazuna breathed a sigh of relief.
He had great expectations for this bridge. Whether the Land of Waves could become prosperous, whether the people's lives could improve, and the courage that had been lost... If the bridge ended up being called Hokage Bridge or Konoha Bridge, it would feel wrong.
But then he heard Musashi continue: "However... the name of the toll station built on the bridge will be decided by us."
Hearing this, Tazuna felt this was too easy.
A small toll station, let the Konoha people name it whatever they want.
He asked casually: "What name does Konoha plan to give the toll station?"
Musashi sat up straight, looking proud, and said word by word: "It will be called: Hiruzen Toll Station!"
Tazuna looked stunned.
Musashi's eyes were full of expectation and excitement: "As a witness to the friendship between Konoha and the Land of Waves!"
"I want Lord Hokage's name to still be resounding in the Land of Waves!"
"Presumably by then, everyone who passes the bridge and is charged a toll will have pure gratitude and respect for Lord Hokage!~"
Tazuna said uncertainly: "This... are you sure you want to do this?"
Musashi said without hesitation: "Of course!"
"At that time, the toll station must have the words 'Hiruzen Toll Station' written in bold characters."
"Moreover, such a small matter doesn't need to be reflected in the agreement. Let's give Lord Hokage a surprise!"
"How about it, great idea, right?"
Tazuna: "...Ah yes yes yes."
Musashi: "Your expression doesn't seem to mean that? What exactly do you want to say?"
Tazuna: "I want to say this idea is really great!"
---
Night.
In Tazuna's dining room, everyone enjoyed dinner.
Sasuke and Naruto, however, were eating like starving wild boars, devouring food crazily.
"Give me another bowl!" Sasuke reached out.
"Me too!" Naruto was unwilling to be outdone.
Bonk! Bonk!
"Ah!~ It hurts~"
Amidst their cries of pain, Musashi put down the chopsticks in his hand.
"If you're full, get lost!"
"People in the Land of Waves can't get enough to eat, and you two are wasting food here!"
Sasuke looked aggrieved: "Big Bro Musashi, I didn't waste food."
"Eating when you're full is waste!"
Naruto wiped the tears from the pain in the corner of his eyes and said: "Boss, I just want to eat more to get stronger as soon as possible."
"You can't get fat in one bite." Musashi said unceremoniously: "Do you think you are from the Akimichi clan?"
"Hurry up, finish eating and go out to digest. Miss Tsunami has to clean up later."
The two agreed weakly.
Bang! A rice bowl was slammed heavily on the table, making a harsh sound.
Everyone looked sideways; it turned out to be Tazuna's grandson, Inari.
At this moment, with his mouth flattened, he complained: "Why, why practice desperately! Why work so hard to this extent!"
"You are not Gato's opponents at all!"
"In front of real strong people, people like you will be defeated!"
Naruto quieted down.
He looked at Inari, who was holding his mouth and looking extremely suffocated. Although the other party was just a child much younger than him, that feeling of despair made him feel breathless.
"Hey, you are so annoying."
"We are different from you."
Inari shouted as if stimulated: "Shut up!"
"I get angry just seeing you! You don't understand this country at all! People in this country have no courage!"
"What you do will eventually fail."
"It will all fail, just like before..."
Naruto also got excited. He couldn't accept such pessimistic thoughts.
"So, you should feel like the protagonist of a tragedy, only able to cry and curse?"
Sakura couldn't help but say: "Naruto! Say less, that's too much."
"He's still a child."
Naruto glanced at Sakura.
So what if he's a child?
Who isn't a child?