The morning of the sixth day of training arrived, and laying prone on the ground fast asleep, Naruto snored lightly. He was unaware of the morning birds that hopped all over him, curious by his actions. Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched by a curious bystander, one he'd faced before inadvertently. A young boy who had seen the defeat of his master in the woods approached the sleeping form, curious.
"Wake up, you'll catch cold."
Naruto woke to see a nubile face smiling at him, struck by the kind eyes that shook him awake.

Elsewhere, Sakura stretched in a deep yawn, rubbing her sleep laden eyes as she approached the table where her teammates were eating breakfast. All of them except Naruto. Tazuna looked around with a hearty chuckle.
"Naughty Naruto stayed out all night again, didn't he?"
"Ever since you told us that story, he's been in the trees training all alone, night after night! If he exhausts his chakra, he could kill himself and be lying dead somewhere right now." Sakura frowned.
Tsunami placed a clean plate before the kunoichi, but her brows knit in worry.
"I hope he's all right. It's not good for a boy to spend night after night alone outside."
Kakashi waved her concern aside with an easy shrug.
"There's nothing to worry about. Naruto's a goofy kid but he's also a full-fledged ninja."
Sasuke was especially moody that morning, his eyes firmly avoiding the others. But he couldn't help speaking under his breath, worry stitched under the indifference in his tone.
"Is it possible, could he have killed himself? That bonehead!"
Nishira pressed her lips together to stiffen the knowing smile to the moody boy's concern.

On the seventh day, Kakashi, still on his crutches, and Sakura went to the forest clearing to see the boys' progress. Nishira was at the bridge, keeping a watch on Tazuna, grateful for a day off the hard labour, although the change was visible. She smiled more, laughed more. Rani apparently had been forgiven for his prank, since she helped him up the last step of a platform with a genuine warm expression, gripping his weathered hand with both of hers and steadying him gently as he stood. He said something that was snatched in the wind and Nishira's mouth opened in a genuine laugh, the skin around her eyes crinkled with amusement. Kakashi's hand drifted to his chest, thinking of that smile directed at him. He'd caught her glances that trailed him when she believed he wouldn't notice. Those same glittering eyes watched the rest of team seven, taking in their complexities like a sentient guardian. He watched her too. He couldn't help it. He was attuned to every movement she made in his peripheral, attracted to it like a sunflower turning to the radiant sun.

Sakura and Kakashi looked for any sign of the other shinobi around the town and at the bridge. Meanwhile, Naruto's absence was noted almost every night and Sasuke ducked out right after breakfast, not returning until Nishira would leave for the night. The team fell into an easy step as the bridge continued to form and take shape, a physical representation of the hope building in the Land of Waves.

As Kakashi and the kunoichi of team seven entered the familiar clearing, their attention was caught by a steel ringing of a kunai knife thrown into the ground at their feet. Looking up, they spotted Naruto high up in the tree, dead tired and laying on a branch to rest his weary body. He called down to them.
"Well? Did you see? Lookit how high I can go!"
Naruto tried to stand up on the branch, but his foot slipped from under him.
NO! If he falls from that height! Kakashi cursed his crutches, cursed his slow healing. Naruto planted his feet under the branch and hung upside down with a cheeky grin!
"PSYCH! Hah! Gotcha suckers!"
Sakura yelled from the ground, promising to beat him later with a mighty shake of her tiny fist. Naruto's feet lifted off the branch, and Kakashi eyes went wide.
"TWICE IS TOO MUCH NARUTO! STOP MESSING AROUND!"
Naruto's face was etched with instant regret as he stared at the long plummet he was about to endure, the spectators on the ground helpless to grab him. A black blur came and snagged his ankle. Sasuke held his teammates leg in a firm grip, his feet securely planted where Naruto's had lost grip.
"You bonehead!"
Kakashi smiled up at his students, a sense of pride welling in his chest. They were all making excellent progress.

Inari sat in the window well of his house that overlooked the river, staring at his coveted photo, the edges worn from the oils in his hands and thought about the loud-mouthed jerk Naruto. Resentment burned in his chest at the stupidity of being able to break the hold of the gangster who had taken his father from him. Below in the living room, Kakashi was finishing up his single fingered push-ups, counting out loud with ease, as Tazuna and Sakura sat on his back adding extra resistance. Tazuna looked at the man who had been injured during an attack on his life.
"I keep meaning to ask you. You know I duped you about how dangerous this mission was to get you to come here, so why do you stay?"
" 'To know what is right and choose to ignore it is an act of a coward.' 'Like master, like man!' those are the teachings of some of our previous Lord Hokages. This is the shinobi way of life. True shinobi do not merely dance to the tune of whoever pays the piper."
Kakashi looked at his hand, fatigued from the work, but almost back to his full strength.

The moon hung high in the inky sky, dimly illuminating Naruto and Sasuke's way back to the house. Naruto's arm was heavy on Sasuke's back, and he helped drag his colleague into the warm light. Tazuna looked on like a proud grandfather.
"So, you're finally back! Looking like something the cat dragged in!"
Both looked worn and exhausted, Sasuke had a particular frown at the inconvenience of carrying Naruto, who just chuckled, one eye shut, the other looking at everyone who was still awake, which was everyone except Nishira.
"Heh… both of us… we made it to the top of the tree."
Kakashi nodded.
"Naruto, Sasuke, starting tomorrow, you two help Sakura protect Mr. Tazuna."
"Yes sir!"
Tazuna smiled.
"Whew! Well, I'm dirty, sweaty, and real worn out from all of the work on the bridge today, but construction is almost complete. And bossy pants over there is threatening to take over as foreman! She's been a big help at the site!"
Kakashi looked over to the futon where Nishira was dead to the world. A light snore escaped her lips, obsidian strands of hair fanned on the pillow, but their laughter didn't disturb her. The bridge work had been a great team activity, Tazuna had reported to him that his wayward student had worked hard learning a new job and jumped in to help against the physical dangers of building the bridge. Kakashi sighed as the old man had nudged him, insinuating with his overgrown eyebrows something inappropriate. Tsunami came in with some plates for the boys, saving him from answering.
"Father, you, and Naruto are alike. Please don't work yourself to death!"
Naruto rested his weary head on the table, grateful for the food he was about to inhale. Inari looked with a frown that deepened by the second. His eyes welled up with stubborn tears that couldn't be blinked away, so he turned his head down. Naruto looked at the boy, whose mouth was puckered in anger.
"What's wrong?"
"Why do you wear yourself out trying? No matter how hard you train, you'll never be a match for Gato's thugs! You act all cool and you talk all tough! But big strong guys like that are always too much for people weaker than they are. They'll destroy you!"
Inari slammed his hands on the table as he yelled blindly at Naruto, whose anger was rising with every word that came from Inari, bubbling dangerously.
"Shut up! I'm not you, and I'm not gonna lose!"
"Just watching you ticks me off! You go running your mouth when you don't know a thing! This isn't your town! And you don't know a thing about me. You're always clowning around and having fun. You don't know a thing about suffering or loneliness or what my life is like!"
Naruto's eyes flashed.
"So," he snarled. "You figure it's noble to star in a melodrama and treat everyone around you like guests at your pity party? It takes a really big man to sit around and cry… you brat! You big baby!"
A sob escaped from Inari's throat. In a pregnant pause, that still did not wake Nishira, Naruto stood to walk away, prompting Sakura to scold him. Kakashi observed this exchange silently.

Inari sat on the edge of the walkway above the water. Kakashi approached quietly, asking if Inari minded if he sat with him. After a beat.
"You know, Naruto's kind of a brat, but he wasn't trying to be mean or hateful. He just lacks finesse."
Inari didn't respond.
"Mr. Tazuna told us what happened to your father. Naruto grew up without a father, same as you. Actually, without any parents. He doesn't remember either one of them. Or have a single friend. His whole life is one big painful memory." Kakashi reflected on his shortest student. "And in all the time I've known him, I've never seen him cry, or use his troubles as an excuse to sulk or be a coward, not once. He always tries his hardest, hoping someone will notice and give him a kind word or pat on the back. That's his dream, and he's risked his life for it. I think one day he must have just gotten fed up with crying. He understands what it means to be strong. He knows what it costs and what it's worth, just as your father did. Naruto probably understands you and knows how you feel better than any of the rest of us."
"What?"
"He can't leave you alone, because you've gotten under his skin." Inari's face widened in renewed curiosity.

Nishira slipped from the house after putting away her bedding quietly in the dark, the sun not yet risen. She snagged an apple and a bun from the kitchen to have for breakfast and then snuck away in the early dawn light. She had been skeptical when Kakashi had told her to work on the bridge. She didn't have those kinds of skills, and she had grumbled when he pointed out that was the best place for her to guard the bridge builder while the others trained. Nishira begrudgingly agreed to continue working at the bridge as Kakashi had overly leaned on his crutch, emphasizing his weakened state, appealing to her guilt. Nishira had called him on the ploy but agreed. A week had passed and while her bridge building skills may not be up to their standards to get a job offer, Nishira was delighted to find she was actually having a good time.

The first few days she had awkwardly hung around like a fungus, only speaking when spoken to. But one of the workers, Nino, had approached her with a hearty laugh and basically introduced her around with a strong arm thrown around her shoulders like a rope pulling her along. Everywhere she turned, Nino would have a big wide smile for her imbedded in a worn face with a deep dimple in his chin. He'd tell her a story about how he had screwed up the way she had just done. He'd patiently instructed her and demonstrated how the tools work, encouraging like a loving parent, and Nishira felt deeply indebted to him and the others who had taken Nino's cue.

There was a moment that Nishira truly felt part of the bridge team, they were attaching a slab to the foundation pillar, but the crane sputtered and began to slip towards the edge. With a few shouts, the teams moved and slung ropes over the crane and pulled. Nishira pulled until her hands bled from the rope burn, but she was surrounded by the will and determination to see the project to fruition. Motivated by their spirit and Nino's encouragement, they managed to bring the heavy machinery back and land the slab safely on the solid part of the bridge. Workers began shaking hands and celebrating their success. Nishira turned away to pick up her discarded chisel when Nino draped an arm over her shoulders.
"Bunch of the boys and I are going to a place in town when we're done. Beer's shit but its cheap and does the job. You should come."
Nishira's face lit up with a truly happy smile and hugged the old man who patted her back.
"I'd love to."
"Easy there, kid, my wife has claim on these goods."
Nishira laughed with him and laughed until her belly hurt that night with the other bridge workers.

After a while, Nishira finally understood. She understood what Kakashi had wanted her to learn. On this job, she'd relied on the others for her safety, and them on her for theirs. Together, they made a single entity that built the bridge faster and better when cohesive than when apart. The most surprising part was the warmth Nishira felt jogging up to meet the early crew. She suspected Nino would bring her some delicious pastries from his wife as he had the last few days and was genuinely looking forward to a refreshing morning working as the sun rose. As she sauntered up the bridge, through the morning mist, she saw a figured and haled it with her hand.
"Good morning!"
The figure did not respond. As she continued to approach, Nishira observed the stillness and silence that permeated in the mist. As she approached further though, the wind blew the saturated mist, revealing two figures. Zabuza stood with his sword, and the masked boy from before.
"YOU!"
Nishira leapt backwards, reaching for her ninjato tucked into the strap of her bag. A hearty voice called from behind her.
"Nishi! Good morning!"
Nishira looked over her shoulder to see a group of men approaching with their work bags, Hizawa, Yamakite, and Nino.
"Run! Get Tazuna and the other shinobi! Go! NOW!"
They halted at her words, realizing the feared danger of their work was now before them, before Hizawa and Yamakite turned to heed her words. Ditching their bags and equipment and running.
"Haku. Go."
"Yes."
Before they reached ten steps from their starting point, Haku appeared before them, armed to fight. Nishira turned to defend them, but caught sight of Zabuza leaping into the air, sword raised to bring it down on her. His shadow swallowed her, announcing his arrival. She rolled out of the way, but she heard a man cry out behind her. Zabuza landed onto the bridge surface with a thundering boom, dust swirled into the air from where the blade, meant for her, had landed. Nishira risked a glance to see them swinging whatever they could get their hands on, while Hizawa clutched his arm, red blood pooling around his hand. Her distraction cost her, as the flat end of the sword rammed into her, sending her tumbling to the rail on the bridge. As Zabuza made his way towards her, Nino stepped in hands wide to shield her.
"Leave her alone!"
Nishira reached out to stop Nino from standing in the way, afraid that he would be killed instantly. Zabuza just laughed. Behind them, the other men were being herded back to the unfinished end of the bridge, as Haku outmaneuvered them easily.
"Nino! Run! You won't win!"
"I can't run. I won't let him hurt a friend!"
Nishira stood, stepping in front of him.
"No Nino, you are my friend, which means I have to do this for you. Go and get my team." She stood in between them. "I will hold him off. I need you to do this for me, I am depending on you. Just as I will need them to defeat him."
"Right."
Zabuza watched the exchange with a grin.
"I will kill you, then I will kill them, and then I will kill the rest of your team."

Nishira didn't respond, just held out the ninjato, before signing the rooster sign, and vanishing from sight. Before Zabuza could react, a blade sliced at his arms and legs, in rapid succession, superficial cuts only. With an unimpressed chortle, Zabuza waited for the next cut to come, holding out his hand and swiped at the air, successfully grabbing Nishira by the throat. She reappeared in sight, clawing at his hand, kicking out her feet. Nino ran as fast and he could, and Nishira was glad for it. She used the swinging momentum of being off the ground, and booted Zabuza in the face. He snarled and tossed her. Nishira tumbled like a rag doll from the force, her ninjato lay at Zabuza's foot. He simply kicked it away. Nishira looked down to see a concrete splitting chisel. She picked it up in one hand, and got ready, throwing a glare at Zabuza. He simply made a sign and generated 3 clones of himself, each with a copy of his deadly sword.

Nishira heard another cry of pain coming from the end of the bridge, making her grit her teeth in frustration. She took her new weapon, swinging it a few times to feel the weight of it, before leaping into action. She weaved and dodged, and popped in and out of view, evading the powerful swinging of his weapon. She managed to dispose of two of them easily, finding an opening under the ribs, and in the other's neck. The chisel could not act as a blade, but more like a spear. They dissolved into water at her feet, and she turned to take out the third one, but instead felt the searing hot rip of flesh, from a sword cutting up her back. Instantly winded, she faced the attacker, the real form of Zabuza, who moved to swing again, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Weaving to miss his sword, she was about to lunge in with an attack, when the smaller masked shinobi appeared behind her completing a series of hand movements to cast a jutsu.
Art of the Ice Prison
A thick sheath of water enveloped Nishira completely in a round prison, much like the one Kakashi had been caught with in their previous interaction, but this one hardened into ice, freeing the caster from needing to maintain it. The concrete chisel clattered to the ground. Nishira banged on it, yelling venomous curses, muffled through the impenetrably thick wall.
"Good work, Haku."
The boy just nodded. Zabuza turned to look at his prisoner.
"I should kill you now. No. I think I will wait for Kakashi and them to arrive before I do it. I have you right where I want you."
Nishira struggled ineffectually, her teeth grit and she grunted.
"When I get out of this, I will kill you!"
Her words were only an unintelligible muffled droning. Zabuza turned to the two men, laying injured from Haku's efficient attacks. He turned to his prodigy.
"Go find the last one, I want to surprise Kakashi."

Nishira watched helplessly as the duo left to finish off the bridge workers. The cold assaulted her skin, prickly and sharp, she tried huddle away from it as it began to burn at her skin, her clothes meant for a hot day's work was poor protection from the bite. Nishira was beaten and all she could do was wait for her team, or for Zabuza to finish her off.