TRANSCRIPT: PRESIDENT KEN URASHIMA, WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

May 5th, 1932

"My fellow citizens,

"A great deal of confusion and fear has arisen from the events of these past two weeks. Many of you have questions, and quite frankly, all of you deserve answers. It is for this reason that I have come before you tonight to deliver those answers.

"First of all is the situation regarding Wave Country, one of our closest allies. I am sorry to say that for the past few years we have been consumed in our own concerns, to the point we have ignored our ally Wave falling under a curtain of darkness. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, and we failed in our duty to ensure Wave remained free. The business tycoon Hiro Gato used his monopoly over the shipping industry and dock yards of Wave to ensnare and control our ally, and slowly it sank into a pit of darkness and despair.

"One man, however, was willing to break the silence. One man wrote out against Gato, wrote out against his puppets in the Wave government, and bravely pushed his countrymen to fight for their rights. That man, known as 'Hashi', worked to bridge the gap between the outside world and the plight of his people. Both literally and figuratively, as his public identity, I may now reveal, was Tazuna Go. Courageously, he sought out members of Konoha's ninja forces to bring back to his country. To show them to extent of the injustices inflicted upon his people. Poverty, abuse, crime, decay. He sought to shine a spotlight upon Wave, to shake us from our apathy.

"In retaliation, Gato cajoled his puppets in the government of Wave to lock down the country and hunt him down. He took control of Oshima Naval Station, not willing to allow word of Hashi's efforts escape the country. He was willing to push his nation to war, willing to sacrifice hundreds, possibly even thousands of lives, all for the sake of keeping a secret. This despicable man has been struck down, paid the ultimate price for his evil and his atrocities.

"Now, Wave is free. I am pleased to report that President Koshinuke has resigned, and is in prison pending a trial judged by his peers. Tazuna Go is free, and is even now spreading the good news via radio to his people. A new Hidden Village will be established in Wave, aided by our efforts, to grant Wave better means of defending itself. And it is all thanks to the efforts of our very own ninja, Team 7 from Konoha. I would like to acknowledge these brave men and woman for their work in bringing such tyranny to light, in freeing Wave from such darkness, and in their courageous efforts to avert a tragic war.

"I thus will be presenting all four members of Team 7, with the Rising Sun Medal of Honor, for outstanding acts of bravery and service above and beyond the call of duty. Jounin slash Colonel Kakashi Hatake, Genin Third Class Sakura Haruno, Genin Third Class Sasuke Uchiha, and Genin Third Class Naruto Uzumaki. These brave souls have done so much, for so many, that I cannot think of any better recognition for their deeds and services. Let their shining example be an inspiration to us all. Thank you, and God bless the Republic."

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Naruto's Journal

May 6th, 1932

The Marines have been here in force for about four days now. Bringing in food, blankets, medicine, water, all sorts of things for the people of the village. That new aircraft carrier, the Soenin, has been running planes back and forth, dropping supplies and bringing in nurses and the like.

Zabuza's happy about the prospect of making his own Hidden Village. He's planning on puttin' it right here in Tazuna's village, which makes Inari happy. He already wants to become a ninja, so, when I ain't been helping with the construction of the bridge, I've been giving him some basic training tips. Haku chimed in with some chakra control exercises. She says she's gonna stay here, help Zabuza make the new village. I certainly can't argue with that. Well, I tried. But I couldn't.

It stinks. I finally meet somebody who understands me, understands everything that I've gone through, the loneliness, the shunning... But she's staying here! At least she promises to write me often.

Another person I regret not coming with me, is Tsunami. She's made me feel right at home. Made me feel... Well... Special. Even loved. I can't... Get into all the details (otherwise Sakura'll kill me). Let's just say that everything that happened between us is going into a special journal o' mine.

We're gonna be getting medals for this. Medals of Honor even! Damn, not bad for our first A-Rank mission, huh? Sasuke sure is preening. Sakura nearly fainted when she heard (though she was exhausted at the time). And Kakashi? Well, he's as cool as you please. Ain't excited at all.

As for me... I am happy. Happy about the medal. Happy about the mission. But more than that, happy that everybody in the country is out from under the thumb of that goddamned bastard, and now, they all have the chance to be as happy and content as they please.

Now that should be what a Hokage is. To make sure the people he cares about are happy and free. You'd better believe it!

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Wave Country Arc... Concluded.