Here's how it all went down," Zabuza said, lying flat on the coffin used to seal Hidan, his body wrapped in bandages thicker than before. Hikari knelt beside him, healing his broken ribs while listening to his account of events from five years ago.
Zabuza, covered in severe burns, spoke with a complicated look in his eyes. Taking advantage of the brief pause in Hikari's treatment, he spilled everything that had happened.
Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke cleared away the scattered rubble and sat around the two, their necks craned like curious kids. Though they were very familiar with Hikari, her background and origins remained a mystery. All they knew was that she was a ninja from outside the village and had a nominal father-daughter relationship with Might Guy.
"Nominal" because Hikari never acknowledged Guy as her father. She called him "Guy" or similar peer-like terms, and she was the one making decisions, big or small, at home.
Hikari even seemed more mature than Guy in personality.
Out of curiosity, they'd once asked Guy about his real relationship with Hikari. But Guy, wearing an apron and cooking, had a bitter look on his face, waving them off without taking his eyes off the stove.
It felt like he'd lost something precious.
Guessing it might be some kind of emotional wound, they didn't press further.
It wasn't until yesterday, when Zabuza revealed Hikari's identity as a Kaguya clan orphan, that their questions were partially answered. But today, learning she could use Wood Release kekkei genkai, their curiosity surged again. They desperately wanted to know which clan Hikari belonged to and how the Senju clan's bloodline ended up with the Mist's Kaguya.
Unfortunately, Zabuza couldn't give them a clear answer.
"To save me, Hikari agreed to become Orochimaru's subordinate. If you want to find her, you'll need to track down Orochimaru first," Zabuza said, watching Hikari's expression with a hint of nervousness.
He'd traded Hikari's whereabouts to secure the Land of Waves' safety—a fair deal under normal circumstances. But with the unexpected arrival of Hidan and Kakuzu, the mission's difficulty had skyrocketed.
After all that effort, the information he provided was vague at best. It wouldn't be surprising if Hikari was dissatisfied.
"Orochimaru has a legendary treasure tied to the Sage of the Six Paths," Zabuza added after a moment's thought, tossing in another piece of intel for free. He'd spread the rumor about Orochimaru's treasure to anyone who'd listen, hoping to stir up trouble for his enemy.
Hikari only nodded.
She knew better than anyone what the so-called Six Paths treasure was and didn't care much about this belated clue.
As for Hikari's whereabouts, she already had her suspicions.
Knowing Orochimaru's personality, there was no way he'd pass up a rare Ice Release kekkei genkai. Where else could Hikari be but with him?
That worked out fine.
With the Land of Waves mission complete, Orochimaru's plan to collapse the Hidden Leaf was about to unfold. Hikari was likely to appear among the Sound Village team, giving her a chance to deal with both her and that Magnet Release raccoon in one fell swoop.
As they talked, a commotion erupted in the distance.
Kakashi and the others turned to see the people of the Land of Waves, having heard no activity for a while, rushing back with makeshift weapons in hand.
Clang! Clang!
The weapons dropped to the ground one by one as the villagers stared, dumbfounded, at the battlefield around Hikari.
"What… what happened here?"
"How could this be?!"
"The port, the plaza—it's all…"
Kaiza and Tazuna, clutching their weapons, pushed through the stunned crowd. They gazed at the plaza, riddled with cracks and craters as if trampled by a god, and the nearly obliterated coastline in the distance. Both men stood in a daze.
This plaza had been built with the entire nation's resources after the Land of Waves prospered from the Bridge of Heroes. The land itself wasn't the main cost; the materials—high-quality Mist Tide Stone shipped from the Land of Water—plus transportation and labor, had cost over six hundred million ryō. The Land of Waves couldn't afford it at the time and only cleared the debt to the Land of Water two years ago.
Now, it was all gone.
Hikari, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke saw the villagers' mournful expressions.
Zabuza, wary of angering Hikari, cautiously glanced at her, but she remained calm, continuing his treatment as if the destruction had nothing to do with her—ignoring the suspiciously missing footprints in the earth-style chakra ripples.
"Are we still getting the mission's final payment?" Naruto whispered, nudging Sasuke with his elbow, looking a bit awkward.
They'd hoped to earn a heroic title like Zabuza's, but now…
"Forget the payment!" Kakashi and Sasuke said in unison. "We're lucky if they don't make us pay for this."
They didn't know the plaza's exact value, but it was definitely worth more than their mission reward. This job might end up costing them money!
"Honored ninjas, have the enemies been dealt with? Wait—it's Mr. Zabuza!" Kaiza, the self-defense team leader, carefully navigated the cratered plaza to approach them.
His eyes first landed on Hikari, her hands glowing green with healing chakra, then shifted to Zabuza on the coffin, his tone turning excited.
"Yeah, Kaiza," Zabuza said, drenched in sweat but managing a greeting despite the pain. Hikari didn't use anesthetics, so enduring her treatment made him a true tough guy.
"You're… weren't you…? How'd you get so injured?" Kaiza asked, puzzled. Zabuza had been missing for years—how was he suddenly back in the Land of Waves, teamed up with Leaf ninjas?
At that moment, Tazuna, his right arm bandaged, jogged over with the villagers, realizing the danger was gone.
"It's Zabuza! Didn't he run away—"
"Is he the enemy?!"
"Nonsense!" Naruto shouted, unable to hold back. The two ninjas chasing Zabuza had been dealt with, and he wouldn't let a true hero be slandered.
"Mr. Zabuza went missing because…" Naruto's voice boomed, shaking the loose dirt on the ground. He spilled everything—why Zabuza had disappeared and the contributions he'd made during this mission.
"If Mr. Zabuza hadn't left, your country would've ended up like this!" he said, pointing at the ravaged port plaza, making the crowd flush with embarrassment.
The villager who'd accused Zabuza of fleeing stepped forward, bowing in shame to apologize.
The people of the Land of Waves were generally decent. Those of poorer character had joined Raiga's gang and perished in the aftermath of Hikari and Kakuzu's battle. Despite the intense fighting and tremors, these villagers had still grabbed their weapons and returned to the battlefield, proving their bravery.
Apologies and thanks filled the air.
With the misunderstanding cleared, Kakashi and the others smiled, but Zabuza, the man of the hour, remained expressionless. "It's fine. I was just carrying out the mission Kaiza gave me."
His words implied he didn't care what the people of the Land of Waves thought of him.
His cold response dampened the lively atmosphere, but the villagers, used to Zabuza's icy demeanor, didn't mind. They were caught up in the joy of Kado's defeat and their hero's return.
Only Hikari noticed the faint "happy" emotional sparks flickering above Zabuza's head.
Tch, what a tsundere.
"Achoo!" Sasuke, his hair still wet, sneezed suddenly. He glanced around suspiciously but found nothing unusual, chalking it up to catching a chill from the sea.
"All done," Hikari said as the green glow of her healing faded. She'd finished treating Zabuza.
His injuries were severe—seventy percent of his skin was burned, his heart and meridians were torn from being yanked, and there were even lingering toxins in his lungs from years ago. The broken ribs were the least of it.
Only someone like her could've healed him.
Zabuza felt much lighter, his chakra flowing through his heart without the previous sluggishness. "Thanks," he said sincerely, bowing his head to Hikari. "If you ever need anything, find me in the black market—assassinations, intel gathering, tracking, you name it. Better be quick, though. I don't know how long I'll last."
Hikari nodded in acknowledgment.
Clang!
Zabuza hoisted the Decapitating Carving Knife onto his shoulder and headed toward the coast.
"Wait, Mr. Zabuza!" Kaiza called out, stopping him. "Are you leaving again?"
At Kaiza's voice, Zabuza paused, the salty sea breeze tousling his short hair. The golden sunlight illuminated his figure, casting a striking silhouette.
The joyful chatter of the Land of Waves' people faded. They looked at the man standing in the golden glow, their eyes filled with hope, wishing their hero would stay to protect their nation.
"Kado's dead, and I've fulfilled my promise to protect the Land of Waves," Zabuza said.
"But…" Kaiza tried to persuade him, but Zabuza shook his head, cutting him off.
"Your families have been saved, but I still have someone important waiting for me out there. I have to find her."
Without another glance at the crowd, he carried his massive ninja blade toward the churning sea. His figure grew smaller, soon vanishing like a wisp of mist on the water.
Kakashi and the others exchanged heavy looks.
They knew what Zabuza was setting out to do, and it weighed on their hearts. Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, was no small fry. Zabuza's mission was likely a death sentence, but seeing the determination in his back, they all knew no one could stop him.
"It's fine. He won't find Orochimaru," Hikari said quietly, comforting the somber group. Based on the timeline, Orochimaru was likely hiding in the Land of Wind, preparing to assassinate the Fourth Kazekage. After that, he'd launch the Hidden Leaf collapse plan.
Until the Chūnin Exams ended, Zabuza had little chance of finding Orochimaru—unless his luck was that bad. Considering Zabuza had run into the zombie duo in the middle of the vast sea, Hikari suddenly wasn't so sure.
The villagers, though disappointed, understood Zabuza's need to save his family. Still, the worry in their eyes was unmistakable.
With the Land of Waves newly prosperous, Zabuza's departure left them vulnerable. Once these powerful Leaf ninjas left, another Kado might rise.
…
Kaiza, Tazuna, and a few Land of Waves officials who'd been captured by Raiga huddled together, discussing something. Soon, they nodded solemnly and approached Team 7.
"First, our thanks…" Their formal gratitude was polite but lacked substance. Hikari, noticing their hesitant glances, knew they likely had a request they were reluctant to voice.
"Just say what's on your mind," Kakashi said bluntly, eyeing the fidgeting officials. He could tell they were here with a purpose.
Kaiza and Tazuna exchanged a glance before stating their request. "The enemies have been dealt with, but the plaza's been destroyed—"
Here it comes.
Naruto and Sasuke's hearts sank. They'd defeated the enemy, but the destruction they'd caused was undeniable. By normal standards, they'd have to pay compensation. This mission might end up costing them a fortune.
"The enemies' ninjutsu were too powerful. We did our best to contain the damage. If we hadn't acted quickly, the entire Land of Waves might've been destroyed," Kakashi said smoothly, his blame-shifting skills masterful. He not only deflected responsibility onto the enemy but also took credit for their efforts.
He glanced at Hikari and the others as if giving a lesson in social maneuvering.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hikari gave him a thumbs-up, thoroughly impressed by their captain's finesse.
"Yes, yes, thank you for your help!" Tazuna and Kaiza nodded eagerly, then got to the point. "We plan to rebuild the plaza. To honor your contributions to the Land of Waves, we'd like to name it 'Konoha Plaza.' What do you think?"
They rubbed their hands, looking slightly embarrassed. Naruto and Sasuke couldn't hide their excitement—what teenager wouldn't want a heroic title?
But Hikari and Kakashi frowned.
The proposal sounded flattering, a tribute to their efforts by naming the plaza after them. But calling it "Konoha Plaza" carried clear implications.
Without Zabuza's protection, the Land of Waves was like a lamb awaiting slaughter. The name "Konoha" would be a powerful shield.
Anyone entering the Land of Waves' port would first see "Konoha Plaza," hearing tales of how Leaf ninjas heroically defeated enemies to protect the nation. Those crossing the bridge would learn of the legendary ninja heroes. It was a clever move.
But on second thought, wasn't this just the way of the weak?
If they had other options, who wouldn't want to protect their nation with pride?
"If it were our names, we could discuss it, but 'Konoha' isn't something we can decide," Kakashi said firmly, rejecting the idea.
Seeing their disappointed looks, Hikari offered a sliver of hope. "Send a representative with us to the Hidden Leaf. If you can get the Third Hokage's approval, you could not only use the name but even put the Leaf symbol on your bridge."
"Excuse us," Kaiza and Tazuna said, nodding apologetically before gathering with the other villagers to discuss.
Hikari knew they were likely debating what benefits to offer the Hidden Leaf for its protection.
Such dealings between nations involved massive sums and would take time, but they had little to do with ninjas like them.
With Raiga and Ranmaru dead, Kakuzu's consciousness destroyed, and Hidan captured, the Land of Waves had paid a steep price but now had a chance to gain the Hidden Leaf's protection.
With that, the Land of Waves mission was truly complete.
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