Zabuza felt a breath of fresh air after sending down Gatô.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Haku had cleaned up about half the crew upon which an arrow landed between Haku and the other men.
All of them turned to see the entire village had arrived with Knives and pitchfork led by a small boy in the front who had a crossbow.
"Inari!" Naruto shouted.
Inari showed a brilliant smile as he said
"Heroes always arrive on the scene, late!"
"Inari….You.. guys….." Tazuna said as he had tears come out of his eyes seeing his grandson regained his former smile, while the villagers their former courage.
"Let's retreat" one of the men screamed as he ran towards the rope ladder at the side of the bridge that led to the ship, only to be almost pushed off by the others who followed trying to run away now that they were no match even in numbers.
Naruto then ran towards Tazuna and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Don't worry….. Leave that part to me….." Tazuna reassured as he turned towards the villagers.
"Everyone, The bridge was saved by the entire group especially these two..." He pointed towards Zabuza and Haku.
"Now, these two do not have a home to go to….. I think they should live with us in the village..."
"What do you all say?" He asked as he faced the crowd.
"They are welcome!" A man screamed from behind followed by everyone who started to cheer.
Zabuza started to tear up at this moment and walked towards Kakashi.
"I'm glad we could fight with you"
"Umm" Kakashi nodded.
"Right at this time, both me and Haku would be lying cold over there…." Zabuza pointed towards the spot where both he and Haku passed away before time had reset.
"I don't know, what happened back then, as it is something beyond a human's power. However I am glad that it happened. Because now I know, what I would have regretted back then..." Zabuza said.
"I am glad for you Zabuza….." Kakashi replied.
"Haku!" Naruto called out.
"What is it?"
"I want you guys to forget your past and live peacefully with the people here. I have already prepared names for you two….."
"All right then, give me the names….."
"Your name will be Hajime and Zabuza's name will be Arata. Both signifying rebirth and beginning."
"Thank you….Naruto!" Haku nodded.
"This is..." Sakura stretched her hand out and looked towards the sky…
"It's snowing…." Everyone stared at the falling snow.
Zabuza discarded his blade at a hill creating two fake coffins to put an end to the duo's past.
The duo then started living amongst the villagers. They worked during the day on the bridge and helped out in Team 7's training during the night.
Another week had passed after which the bridge had finally been complete.
A group was seen standing at the entrance of a bridge which was surrounded by the villagers.
"Thanks to you the bridge was safely completed ,"
"But we will miss you very much….." Tazuna said being thankful to Team 7.
"Take care" Tsunami said.
"Thank you for everything" Kakashi smiled back.
"Now, now…. We'll come back for a visit again, Old man Tazuna!" Naruto reassured
"Really?" Inari asked almost wanting to cry.
"Inari!, You're gonna miss us aren't you?" "It's all right to cry."
"Go ahead and cry!" Naruto encouraged almost crying himself.
"Its All Right!" Haku stepped in as he patted Inari's head upon which Inari started to cry, while Naruto had turned back and cried a bit as well.
"Sasuke!" Haku called out, to which Sasuke turned back
"Let us fight again soon!"
"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted as he started walking with the group again.
Zabuza witnessed all this from the back of the group as he started walking into the village.
Meanwhile,
"That boy changed Inari's mind…..and Inari changed the mind of the people."
"That boy created a bridge linking us to hope,"
"A bridge called courage." Tazuna said as he watched the team's departing backs.
"Speaking of bridges, we need to name this bridge, don't we?" A man in the crowd asked..
"Thats true…"
"In that case, I have a perfect name for this bridge." Tazuna said
"Yeah, what is it?"
"The Great Naruto Bridge!?" "How's that?"
"That's a good name…isn't it Hajime-kun?" Tsunami asked.
"I couldn't have thought of a more fitting name…." Haku smiled as he looked towards the team's disappearing silhouette.
"And someday, it'll be the name of a very famous bridge…"
"A name heard around the world…."
"That's truly what I hope…." Tazuna said.
Back at the Hokage's office….
(knock!)
(knock!)
(knock!)
"Come in.." Hiruzen said.
A man with white hair appeared
"Kakashi….!"
"I am here to report some details on the C-Rank mission you had given."
"C-Rank?" Hiruzen was surprised.
"Usually I would not even accept reviewing a B-Rank work immediately, but since it is you, I am pretty sure that you have a very reasonable explanation to your appearance here…."
"Yes….. regarding the mission, it was completed successfully, but there are some details that I am unable to explain…"
"You can start by explaining everything in order…"
"Okay…. So the mission...." Kakashi explained everything he had seen from start to finish.
Hiruzen stood up abruptly as he said
"You had a feeling of the time being reversed, and the other rogue ninja, he had the same sensation too….." Hiruzen asked feeling completely puzzled.
"Kakashi, did you notice anything else out of the usual…"
"As, I said before, other than this one, there is nothing of concern to me…."
"You said something about Naruto defeating one of that rogue ninja, one of the 7 swordsman of the mist with one punch…"
"That did happen, lord Hokage….."
"Hmmm…."
"All right you are dismissed, also I would like to reward you some extra money as a compensation since this mission was a B-Rank mission instead of a C-Rank….."
"Thank you" Kakashi bowed and then left the office.
Meanwhile Hiruzen sat down as he contemplated deeply,
Naruto surpassed all record, became strong, even defeated a black listed ninja who was an elite jonin while being a mere Genin of 14....
Hiruzen looked towards the ceiling and made a gesture, to which a person in a uniform wearing a mask dropped down (ANBU)
"Bring Naruto here"
(Aaaahhhh!) Naruto yawned as he woke up, Looking towards the window.
He felt etremely lazy as he got up and stretched a bit.
After stretching, he wore his weights and sat down for breakfast.
(knock!)
(knock!)
(knock!)
Naruto looked towards the door, as heard a muffled voice come in,
"Please wear your dress, and come to the Hokage office. Lord Third wants to see you…"
Naruto frowned
("Did sensei tell him something regarding the time reversion?") He thought as he quickly chewed on some bread and got ready.
Naruto then walked to the Hokage's building and reached the door.
(knock!)
(knock!)
(knock!)
"come in" Hiruzen said.
"old-man, you wanted to see me?" Naruto asked as he stepped to the center of the room.
"Naruto, I heard from Kakashi on how much of a good fighter you were…"
"…" Naruto was silent.
(cough)
"Naruto, I have decided to grant you the ability to take a test for a direct promotion to become a jonin…." "What do you say….?"
("It is something that would be convenient for me, but not right now, since the upcoming chuunin exam is important because that is where I need to stop Orochimaru before he injects Sasuke with the curse mark thingy…..") Naruto thought.
"Are you willing to take it?" Hiruzen asked once again.
"I'll pass on that old man…" Naruto said as he walked towards the door.
"Why?" Hiruzen asked.
"I don't feel like it..." Naruto said as he closed the door and went.
"He doesn't feel like it?" Hiruzen was dumbfounded.
He then grabbed his smoke pipe as he inhaled the smoke and blew it out with a smile.
("What does he plan to do…..") He thought as he looked out the window.