Over the next few days, Team 7 adjusted quickly to life at Tazuna's humble home. Naruto diligently practiced the jutsu Kakashi had taught him, perfecting them in daily battle simulations. Sasuke remained surprisingly secretive, dedicating his time to perfecting a mysterious new technique. Whatever it was, it had improved Sasuke's mood, and Naruto silently wondered just what his rival had come up with. Hinata, meanwhile, had fully mastered Kakashi's water jutsu and now tirelessly refined her unique taijutsu style.

One evening, Naruto accompanied Tazuna to the bridge site, only to witness an unsettling confrontation. One of the bridge workers, visibly shaken and afraid, approached Tazuna nervously.

"I-I can't do this anymore," the worker confessed, eyes darting fearfully around him. "People have been disappearing lately… I don't want to be next."

Tazuna placed a comforting hand on the man's shoulder, his voice gentle yet firm. "We're so close to completing the bridge, we can't lose hope now. Soon we'll finally be free of Gato."

The worker shook his head, fear overtaking hope. "I'm sorry, Tazuna-san… I can't risk it," he murmured, before walking away dejectedly.

Tazuna sighed deeply, shoulders slumping in sadness. "This has been happening more and more," he confessed quietly, his voice heavy. "At this rate, we won't have enough workers to finish the bridge."

Naruto glanced at Tazuna thoughtfully, an idea forming quickly. "I can help, y'know."

Tazuna raised an eyebrow curiously. "How?"

Naruto grinned confidently, hands forming his signature cross seal. Instantly, shadow clones appeared around him. "Shadow clones, of course! They're perfect laborers—they don't tire easily and won't quit."

Tazuna blinked in astonishment, before cautiously asking, "How many can you create?"

Naruto shrugged lightly, scratching his head in thought. "Is two hundred a good number?"

"Two hundred?" Tazuna repeated incredulously. "That's more than enough!"

Naruto laughed heartily, dispatching his clones immediately. Later that day, while shopping for groceries with Tazuna, Naruto observed the village closely for the first time. Everywhere he looked, poverty was painfully apparent: families living in broken homes, worn faces begging silently for help. Naruto's heart clenched painfully as a little girl timidly approached him, eyes filled with desperate hunger.

"P-please, do you have any food?" she asked weakly.

Naruto instantly knelt, pulling out a packet of dried snacks from his pouch and handing it gently to her. "Here," he murmured softly, feeling a pang of sadness at her condition. The girl's eyes lit up with gratitude, offering a weak but grateful smile before quickly retreating.

Tazuna sighed sadly. "It's been like this since Gato arrived. Taxes keep rising, and now the people of Wave can barely afford to eat."

Naruto clenched his fists silently, anger simmering beneath his thoughtful gaze. I'll fix this, he silently promised. Gato won't keep terrorizing these people.

That evening, as Team 7 quietly enjoyed dinner, Hinata's eyes curiously landed on a family photo displayed prominently—though a portion had clearly been torn away. "Tazuna-san…why is part of this family photo missing?"

Tazuna sighed heavily, his expression darkening sadly. "That torn part used to show the 'Hero of the Wave.'"

Suddenly, Inari stood abruptly, tears already streaming down his cheeks. Without another word, he bolted up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him. Tsunami sighed sharply, giving her father a disappointed glance. "Father, you shouldn't talk about Kaiza in front of Inari."

Hinata lowered her eyes sadly, voice gentle. "Who was he?"

Tsunami hesitated before continuing quietly. "Kaiza was my husband. He rescued Inari once from drowning and ever since that day, they were inseparable. He always used to say, 'If you truly love something, protect it with both hands.' But when Gato came, Kaiza openly opposed him. He stood against Gato, giving people hope. So…Gato had him publicly executed to crush our spirit."

The room fell into solemn silence, heavy with grief and regret. Naruto stared at the table, fists clenched tightly as determination burned brightly within him. This place deserves better. They deserve hope, he thought fiercely, resolving quietly to himself, Kaiza's sacrifice won't be for nothing.

A week had passed quietly since their confrontation with Zabuza, yet there had been no sign of the rogue shinobi or the mysterious hunter-nin. The silence was tense, leaving Team 7 wary and cautious. Despite this, the atmosphere in Tazuna's home had grown steadily warmer, largely due to Naruto's constant cheerfulness and optimism. Tsunami, charmed by his enthusiasm, had even made ramen tonight at Naruto's eager request.

Naruto beamed widely, his bright smile lighting up the room as he eagerly inhaled his ramen, loudly praising Tsunami's cooking between mouthfuls. Tsunami giggled softly, shaking her head in gentle amusement at his excitement. "I'm glad you enjoy it so much, Naruto-kun," she said warmly, her cheeks dusted lightly with a faint blush.

As they all ate, Naruto's contagious enthusiasm filled the room, bringing smiles even to Sasuke's normally stoic face. But the fragile peace was soon shattered as Inari spoke up, his voice cold and bitter.

"Why are you all acting like everything's going to be okay?" Inari spat, his fists clenched tightly. "Nothing's going to change! You can't beat Gato or his thugs. You come from your privileged homes, acting without a care in the world. You don't know how hard life gets. You don't even understand what it means to suffer!"

A heavy, tense silence settled over the room, everyone's eyes turning toward the boy. Before anyone else could react, an intense, oppressive wave of killing intent suddenly filled the room, causing everyone to freeze. The temperature seemed to plummet drastically as all eyes widened, slowly turning toward the source—Naruto.

Naruto's usually bright blue eyes burned with fury, fists clenched tightly as his voice shook with barely-contained anger. "Shut up, Inari," he growled, his tone cold and merciless. "You think you're the only one who's suffered? You have a nice house, a mother and grandfather who love you, and food every day. What the hell do you know about true pain?"

He took a step forward, voice sharp, words dripping venomously. "Sasuke's entire clan was slaughtered in one night—by the brother he once adored. Kakashi-sensei's whole team and sensei died before his eyes when he was barely older than us. Hinata has been through things you wouldn't even begin to understand."

His gaze darkened further, voice lowering dangerously. "And me? I've been hated since birth for something completely out of my control. I grew up being beaten to near death by villagers who hated me for no reason. I've starved more nights than I care to count, and every time I woke up in the hospital, I wished that was the last."

He scoffed bitterly, eyes piercing Inari's shocked gaze. "But I'm still here. You've got a nice house, food on your plate every night, a mother and grandfather who love you deeply—things I've only dreamed of."

Naruto's expression twisted in disgust, voice cold and cutting. "Yet you sit there crying, calling us weak, and doing nothing to change anything. You're a coward, Inari."

Inari's eyes filled with tears, and he fled upstairs, sobbing uncontrollably. Tsunami stared in shock at Naruto, her hand over her mouth. Naruto turned sharply, heading toward the door without another word.

"I need some air," he muttered bitterly, slamming the door behind him, leaving heavy silence in his wake.

Hinata quietly stared at her lap, tears glistening in her eyes as Sasuke looked away, face shadowed. Kakashi sighed softly, eyes closing momentarily in pain.

Tsunami glanced hesitantly toward the jonin, her voice barely audible. "Kakashi-san… was Naruto-kun serious about what he said? Was his childhood really that… cruel?"

Kakashi opened his eyes slowly, sadness clear. "Yes," he said softly, voice heavy with regret. "Everything Naruto said was true. And he didn't even tell you half of it." His voice grew bitter, distant. "I was assigned to protect him often when he was younger. One night…one night, things went too far. He was nearly raped, and I barely stopped it. Even the thought still makes me sick."

Tsunami stared at him, eyes wide and horrified. "Oh…my god…Naruto-kun…"

Kakashi's gaze darkened further. "Naruto has every reason in the world to give up, to become hateful, to become like Inari—but he never does. That's his greatest strength."

Outside, Naruto stormed into the forest, anger boiling beneath his skin, raw and unchecked. Reaching a secluded clearing, he took a deep breath, his fingers forming a familiar seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu," he whispered furiously, chakra pouring outward.

Instantly, a hundred shadow clones surrounded him, their expressions equally fierce, eyes blazing in silent understanding. Naruto drew Crimson Tide, his sword shimmering ominously beneath the moonlight.

Without hesitation or mercy, he charged forward, unleashing his frustration in brutal, relentless combat. Each slash of Crimson Tide cut through his clones mercilessly, and every jutsu fired tore through the clearing, ripping through earth and trees with wild abandon.

He would never be like Inari.

On the Roof

Under the gentle glow of the moonlight, Kakashi stepped out onto the balcony and quietly approached the lonely figure sitting by the railing. Inari stared silently at the moonlit ocean, his eyes red and puffy from earlier tears. Without a word, Kakashi sat beside him, joining his quiet vigil over the tranquil waves.

They stayed silent for several minutes until Kakashi finally broke the stillness, his voice gentle yet carrying a weight of wisdom. "Inari, I know Naruto's words earlier seemed harsh, but you must understand something."

Inari glanced up cautiously, his voice barely above a whisper. "Understand what? That he thinks I'm a coward?"

Kakashi shook his head gently. "Naruto didn't say those things to hurt you, Inari. He spoke from his own pain. He knows what it's like to feel helpless—he spent his whole childhood being ignored, despised, and treated as though he didn't exist by nearly everyone around him."

Inari looked up in surprise, eyes wide. "But…he's always smiling, laughing, acting like nothing bothers him."

Kakashi nodded softly, his gaze far away. "Exactly. That's Naruto's strength. He never allowed himself to succumb to despair, no matter how bad things got. Do you know what his dream is?"

Inari shook his head, eyes wide and curious.

"He wants to become Hokage, the strongest shinobi of our village—not because he craves power, but because he wants to protect everyone and finally be acknowledged by the same villagers who rejected him." Kakashi paused, sighing softly. "In all my years watching over him, I've never once seen Naruto cry—no matter how much he suffered. He probably just got tired of crying, deciding he had enough of it, and chose to fight instead."

Inari stared silently down at his clenched fists, tears beginning to gather in his eyes once more. "But… how? How can he keep going after all that?"

Kakashi smiled gently beneath his mask, placing a comforting hand on Inari's shoulder. "Because Naruto is stubborn. He won't let anyone define who he is. No matter how many times he's been knocked down, he always gets back up. He's strong because he never gave in to despair. Whatever he told you, he's probably told himself the same thing over a thousand times." With that, Kakashi got up and left, leaving Inari to his thoughts.

Naruto POV

Naruto spent hours in the clearing, violently venting his frustrations against countless shadow clones. After exhausting himself physically and emotionally, he collapsed beneath a tree, slipping into restless sleep.

The morning sun had barely risen, casting faint golden rays over the open clearing. Amidst the misty calmness, a pretty young girl wearing a delicate pink kimono walked gracefully through the clearing. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing soft, delicate features that held a gentle warmth, masking the underlying sadness in her eyes. She knelt quietly, carefully plucking medicinal herbs that glistened in the morning dew.

Suddenly, she paused. Her eyes narrowed slightly, spotting a blond-haired boy sleeping peacefully in the middle of the grassy clearing. She recognized him immediately—the same boy who'd badly burned Zabuza-sama's arm in their previous encounter. Her gentle eyes hardened sharply, filling briefly with cold determination.

She stood slowly, silently approaching him, heart pounding as her fingers stretched out, reaching for his vulnerable throat. I could end this right here, she thought, eyes darkening.

Just before her fingers touched his skin, his eyes snapped open, and his hand shot out, firmly gripping her wrist. Haku froze, eyes wide in shock.

"If you're here to kill me," Naruto murmured sleepily yet with firm warning, "you're gonna have to try a lot harder than that."

Haku stared at him silently, heart pounding, then slowly allowed herself to smile softly, relaxing slightly. "I apologize," she said gently, easing her tense posture. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Naruto released her wrist, sitting up and stretching. He smiled, taking in her appearance before introducing himself casually. "I'm Naruto."

Haku relaxed a bit, sitting gracefully beside him and smiling gently in return. "My name is Haku."

She studied him quietly for a moment before softly asking, "Are you… a shinobi?"

Naruto nodded, a bright spark entering his eyes. "Yeah. I'm trying to get stronger, so one day I can protect my village as the Hokage."

Haku's smile deepened slightly, genuine warmth flickering in her gaze. "Then you must be very strong."

Naruto chuckled softly, scratching his cheek modestly. "I try. It's important if I want to protect those I care about."

Haku tilted her head thoughtfully, eyes softening with genuine respect. "You remind me of something important," she said gently, a soft smile gracing her lips. "I was taught that only when you have someone precious to protect, can you truly become strong."

Naruto smiled warmly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, that's exactly right." He paused, eyes suddenly sharpening as he glanced around. "But… you shouldn't be out here alone. Gato's men roam around. It's dangerous."

Haku smiled softly at his concern. "I'll be alright. I'm only here picking herbs to help my father. He's very sick."

Naruto stood quickly, stretching his arms. "Well, let me help then. I don't really know what to pick, but if you show me, I'll manage."

Haku blinked, surprised by his kindness, but nodded gratefully. Together, they gathered herbs quietly, occasionally exchanging small talk, their conversation gentle and warm.

After a while, Haku stood, brushing the dirt gently from her kimono. "Thank you for your help, Naruto. I appreciate it."

Naruto nodded warmly. Suddenly, his expression sharpened in concern as he noticed the faint sound of footsteps nearby. "Hey, you should probably be careful—if anyone working for Gato sees you…they might do something awful."

Haku smiled softly, shaking her head slightly. "Don't worry, Naruto. I'll be fine."

She started to walk away but paused, glancing over her shoulder with a soft, enigmatic smile. "Oh, by the way… I'm actually a boy."

Naruto's jaw nearly dropped in disbelief, eyes wide in shock. But his expression quickly shifted into skepticism, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips. "Nice try. But I'm not buying it. You're clearly a girl. Don't think I missed those bandages you wrap around your breasts."

Haku tilted her head curiously, amused by Naruto's bluntness. Naruto, now more focused, stepped forward, meeting her eyes seriously. "And there's something else… Your chakra. I've sensed it before. You're the hunter-nin from before, aren't you?"

Haku's expression instantly hardened, her gentle demeanor vanishing as she quickly dropped into a defensive stance, eyes wary. Naruto quickly raised his hands, showing he meant no harm.

"Relax. I have no intention to fight you now," Naruto assured calmly. "I just wanted you to know that I recognized you. We'll meet again, I'm sure."

Haku's eyes narrowed slightly, watching Naruto closely before lowering her guard slowly. She gave a slight nod, stepping backward gracefully into the mist.

"Next time," she warned softly, "I will not spare you."

Naruto smiled faintly as Haku vanished, her figure fading into the morning fog.

Naruto returned home late in the morning, the warmth of the sunlight gradually melting away the lingering tension from the previous night. As he approached Tazuna's home, Hinata spotted him first from the doorway. Relief instantly flooded her gentle eyes, and without hesitation, she hurried to greet him.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called out softly, relief evident in her voice as she quickly reached his side. Her cheeks flushed faintly pink, worriedly glancing at him. "Are you alright? We were worried when you didn't return last night."

Naruto smiled gently, warmth replacing the frustration he'd carried all night. "Sorry for worrying you, Hinata-chan. I just…needed some time alone."

Sasuke stood quietly by the doorway, arms crossed with a casual smirk on his lips. "You missed breakfast, Dobe. But we saved you some anyway."

Naruto chuckled softly, gratefulness evident in his eyes. "Thanks, Sasuke."

Inside, Tsunami gently fussed over Naruto as he settled down to eat, placing the still-warm bowl of food before him. "Naruto-kun," she gently chided, concern clear in her voice, "you shouldn't have stayed out all night—you could've gotten sick."

Naruto laughed softly, shaking his head confidently. "Thanks for worrying, Tsunami-chan, but trust me, I never get sick." He punctuated his statement by taking a huge bite, grinning broadly.

Tsunami sighed lightly, shaking her head but smiling fondly at his stubbornness. She returned to her tasks, quietly grateful that he was alright.

Meanwhile,

Deep within their hideout, Zabuza rested quietly on the bed, his bandaged body slowly healing. Haku knelt silently beside him, her gentle eyes watching his recovery with quiet concern.

Zabuza shifted slightly, wincing from the lingering pain before speaking softly. "Haku, I've contacted an ally. He'll be joining us soon to help against Kakashi's team."

Haku tilted her head curiously, eyebrows knitting slightly. "Zabuza-sama…do you really think that's necessary?"

Zabuza's gaze hardened. "They're no ordinary genin. We underestimated them once; we won't make that mistake again. Besides, after we're weakened, that midget Gato might try something foolish. We'll need an ace up our sleeve."

Haku nodded slowly, understanding but slightly uneasy. She hesitated briefly, almost mentioning her earlier encounter with Naruto, but decided against it. Zabuza didn't need that distraction now.

Before she could respond further, the door creaked open, revealing a shadowy figure standing casually in the darkness, leaning against the wooden frame. His voice was smooth and dangerously cheerful as he stepped forward, a confident smirk curling at the corner of his lips.

"Now, Haku-chan, you shouldn't underestimate your opponents," he drawled lazily, eyes glinting with twisted amusement. "After all, it'll take all three of us to give them a proper funeral."

Haku's expression immediately soured, eyes narrowing in clear dislike. "You…" she muttered bitterly.

The man chuckled softly, eyes gleaming cruelly. "Don't worry, Haku-chan. I'll make sure their funerals are memorable."

Zabuza smirked faintly, his eyes cold but satisfied. "Good to see you haven't lost your edge. Welcome aboard."

The newcomer's smirk widened further, eyes glinting with sadistic anticipation. "Always a pleasure, Zabuza."

Several days passed, filled with intense training and quiet preparations. Each member of Team 7 felt the growing anticipation; it was only a matter of time until Zabuza would return.

One morning, Naruto awoke later than usual, rubbing his eyes sleepily as he made his way downstairs. The house was unusually quiet, a fact that didn't immediately register in his still-drowsy mind.

"Kakashi-sensei? Sasuke? Hinata-chan?" Naruto called out lazily, voice echoing slightly through the empty halls. Silence answered him.

A soft shuffling behind him drew his attention, and he turned around, blinking in confusion as Tsunami approached him with a gentle but nervous smile. "Naruto-kun, everyone left early. Kakashi-san predicted you'd be exhausted today because of how intensely you trained last night. He specifically instructed everyone not to wake you.""

Naruto's eyes widened sharply, alarm immediately jolting him fully awake. " I heal really fast, Tsunami-chan. Kakashi-sensei should've known that. Wait—they left already?!" he demanded urgently, heart racing as realization slammed into him.

Tsunami hesitantly nodded, startled by Naruto's sudden shift in demeanor. "Y-yes, they're at the bridge right now."

Naruto groaned loudly, slapping a hand against his forehead in frustration. "Damn it! They always do this!"

At the Bridge

The thick morning mist hung ominously over the bridge, an unnatural silence blanketing the construction site. Kakashi stood tense, Sharingan already exposed, scanning the dense fog vigilantly. Sasuke and Hinata stood protectively near Tazuna, both alert and ready for battle.

Suddenly, from the dense fog, one of Tazuna's workers staggered forward, eyes wide with terror, his leg bloodied heavily as he stumbled desperately toward them.

"Help!" he screamed in agony, collapsing to his knees before them. "He—he's a demon!"

Team 7 immediately tensed, sensing danger approaching from all sides. Kakashi's voice cut through the thick silence, grim and firm.

"He's here."