[Tazuna's Village — Dawn Approaching]
The first rays of sunlight had yet to crest the eastern hills — but the village was already stirring.
Lights flickered in the square. Doors opened. Word spread like wildfire.
The twelve women, once thought lost to Gatō's cruelty, had returned.
Led back under the protective escort of Naruto's shadow clones — the women had emerged from the trees just before dawn.
Some wept openly. Others clung to their rescuers. But one thing was certain:
The whole village was awake.
A crowd gathered, growing with each passing moment.
By the time Team 7 and Team 10 arrived — hastily summoned by the rising commotion — the square was packed.
[Team 7 & Team 10 Arrive]
Kakashi and Asuma moved through the crowd first — their teams trailing behind.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the sight of Naruto's clones still standing near the women — visible chakra signatures pulsing faintly.
"He sent clones?"Sasuke muttered.
Sai tilted his head, notebook in hand."Curious," he said softly. "No one ordered him to."
Sakura's gaze flicked toward the center of the square."He went alone?"
Meanwhile, Team 10 huddled near the front.
Shikako Nara sighed, rubbing the back of her neck."He really did it…" she murmured. "
Ino had her hands clasped."He saved them. I can't believe it."
Chōji stared, wide-eyed."...Naruto?"
[Voices of the Rescued]
It didn't take long.
The rescued women began to speak — voices raw but clear.
"It was Naruto-sama!""He cut them down like they were nothing!""A masked shinobi fought beside him — so fast, like ice!""Together — they saved us!"
The words rippled through the crowd — wonder and awe mixing with fear.
"But… will Gatō come back?" someone whispered."Are we safe?" another asked.
Murmurs spread — relief laced with lingering dread.
[Cue — Zabuza and Haku Enter]
And then — as if drawn by fate — a subtle shift in the crowd.
Two figures entered from the road leading to the port.
One tall, broad-shouldered — a great blade slung across his back, bandages wrapped around his lower face.Zabuza Momochi.
Beside him — slender, masked, robe dusted faintly with frost.Haku.
They moved with unhurried steps — no attempt to hide, no fear in their bearing.
The villagers parted instinctively — whispers rising.
"It's them—""The masked one—""That's Gatō's demon!"
But they did not draw steel.
Zabuza's single eye swept the crowd — cold, calculating.
Haku's gaze lingered upon the twelve women — masked still, but something softer beneath the veneer of frost.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed faintly."Well," he murmured, mostly to Asuma, "seems they're not here as enemies. Not today."
Asuma gave a slow nod, eyes wary but thoughtful."Tch. Naruto really changed the flow of the mission."
[The Scene Holds — Anticipation Builds]
The air hung tense.
The square was silent now — eyes shifting between the freed women, the strange masked shinobi, and the infamous Demon of the Mist standing beside him.
Yet one thread remained unfinished.
Where was Naruto?
[Footsteps — Arrival]
Then — from the northern road — a faint sound.
Footsteps.
Measured. Steady.
The villagers turned, breath caught in their throats.
Emerging through the thinning mist, beneath the first faint rays of dawn, came a single figure.
Naruto.
He moved with quiet purpose — no theatrics, no boast.
A charcoal-grey shinobi shirt hugged his frame, sleeves rolled tight beneath a light, dark-hooded cloak, its edges torn from the night's battle.
In one gloved hand, he carried a sack.
In the other — Gatō's severed head, neatly wrapped in cloth — no gruesome display, only a message.
His presence alone filled the square.
[Reaction — Shock and Awe]
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"That's—!""He caught him—!""Gatō is dead!"
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled faintly."Well. He certainly… made an entrance."
Asuma exhaled slowly."That kid's going to change the world someday."
Team 7 and Team 10 stood nearby — tense, watching.
Sasuke's fists tightened by his sides — jealousy burning low in his eyes."Tch... acting like some big hero."
He hated how easily Naruto had seized the spotlight — hated how powerful his chakra had felt even from afar.
Beside him, Sakura could only stare — torn between awe and disbelief.
Sai tilted his head."He seems… competent," he said flatly.
Shikako Nara stood silent at first — breath caught.
The entire night she had worried — heart twisting with every rumor that spread. Naruto gone alone into the dark, facing Gatō's entire compound—
Now, seeing him walk back alive, proud, bearing proof of victory—
Her chest loosened at last.
But her relief came tangled with something sharp.
When Naruto reached the center of the square, she caught sight of the masked shinobi walking quietly at his side — standing a little too close.
[The Wave — Relief, Joy, Hope]
Naruto raised the cloth-wrapped head high enough for all to see.
"Gatō is dead," he said — voice steady, carrying through the square."He will not return. His men are broken. His wealth will not fund another war here."
A pause."You are free."
For a heartbeat — silence.
Then — a roar.
Cheers erupted — raw, grateful.
Tears streamed down faces.
The twelve freed women stood together, proud — their eyes shining with gratitude.
Team 10 reacted — half-relieved, half-stunned.
Ino whispered, voice trembling."He… he did it…"
Chōji clapped softly."I knew he'd pull it off."
Shikako folded her arms — trying to calm her pulse."Tch... troublesome idiot… but amazing."
Yet her gaze kept flickering toward that masked shinobi standing close to Naruto.
[Unmasking — Jealousy Sparked]
As the cheers swelled, Haku turned toward Naruto quietly — and removed the mask.
Long black hair spilled free.
A soft, elegant face — fine-featured, almost delicate.
Too delicate.
To Shikako's eyes — unmistakably female — she seemed like girl, who Naruto was taking in the forest.
And standing far too close to Naruto.
Her eyes sharpened.
A hard glare fixed on Haku — unblinking, full of territorial jealousy.
Naruto glanced back — blinked in confusion."Eh…? Shikako…?"
Haku, sensing the intense glare, tilted his head — a faint smile touching his lips."I'm a boy," he said simply — voice calm as ever.
Naruto nearly stumbled."Wha—???"
He looked between Haku's serene face and Shikako's barely-contained scowl."Shikako— you're— jealous?!" he blurted without thinking.
Shikako stiffened — face flushing red."I—! No—! You idiot—!"
She spun sharply, arms crossed, trying to hide her burning cheeks.
Sasuke, scowling deeper from the side, clicked his tongue again."Tch. Stupid…"
[Zabuza & Haku — Conversation]
The cheering had not fully died down when two tall figures approached Naruto at the edge of the crowd.
Zabuza Momochi.Haku — mask now hanging loosely from his belt.
Both stood before Naruto — silent at first, unreadable.
Then Zabuza let out a low grunt.
"So… you're the one."
Naruto tilted his head, confused.
Zabuza's single uncovered eye narrowed."Uzumaki Naruto. The brat who killed Raiga Kurosuki."
A faint gasp rippled through the few villagers in earshot.
Naruto met Zabuza's gaze without flinching."He left me no choice," Naruto said simply.
Haku's voice was calm."It was said the one who defeated him fought like no genin." He looked at Naruto quietly."I should have guessed."
Naruto exhaled softly."I don't care about reputation. Only results."
[Invitation — Words of Peace]
Then — surprising both Zabuza and Haku — Naruto spoke again.
"You should go back to Kirigakure," he said quietly. "There's a new Mizukage. The blood-mist days have ended. Apparently they're working toward peace now."
Zabuza snorted faintly."Peace, eh?"
He glanced sideways at Haku."Sounds like a fool's dream."
But Naruto held his gaze."Maybe," he said. "But I think it's worth chasing."
A long silence followed.
Finally, Haku inclined his head slightly — eyes warm beneath the surface."I will consider it," he said softly.
Zabuza gave a low chuckle."You've got a tongue on you, brat. Alright. We'll see what this new Mizukage offers."
He straightened."But today… it seems I owe you and this land at least one less shadow."
He glanced to Haku."Come on. Time we moved."
[Parting — The First Friend]
As they turned to leave, Haku paused — looking at Naruto once more.
Softly — voice only for him:"I think… today, I made my first friend."
Naruto blinked — warmth flickering in his chest.
He smiled faintly."Me too."
With a final nod, Zabuza and Haku vanished into the mist — two figures bound for a new path.
[Public Donation — Naruto's Final Gift]
Soon after, as the village calmed, Naruto strode to the center of the square — cloak shifting with the breeze.
Before Tazuna and other elders, and before all watching eyes, he unsealed the large sack he had carried back.
He set it down — heavy with coin.
"I recovered this from Gatō's compound," Naruto said, voice clear."It's blood money."
He looked around — meeting the eyes of the villagers.
"It belongs to the people of the Land of Waves now."
He opened the sack — revealing five million ryō, neatly bundled.
A stunned hush fell.
Tazuna stepped forward — eyes wide, voice hoarse."Naruto… this is—"
Naruto raised a hand."No need for thanks," he said. "Use it to rebuild. To make sure no one like Gatō can ever take root here again."
The villagers were silent — moved beyond words.
Then — soft at first — they began to cheer.
Not for a shinobi.
Not for a killer of missing-nin.
But for a boy — barely older than their sons — who had given them hope.
[Scene — After the Crowd Disperses]
By late morning, the square had emptied.
Villagers returned to their homes — voices lighter, steps quicker than they had been in weeks.
Naruto stood alone by the bridge now, leaning on the battered wooden railing. The mist had thinned; sunlight danced on the waves below.
Behind him, light footsteps approached.
"Hey.."
He blinked — glanced sideways.
Shikako stood there — arms crossed, expression guarded.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, without looking at him, she said softly:"Next time you run off alone like that… I'm punching you."
Naruto smiled faintly."I'll try not to."
A pause. The breeze tugged at his cloaks.
"Haku…" she began, still not facing him."...is a boy."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head."Yeah… surprised me too when I met him."
At that, Shikako finally looked at him.
For just a moment — her eyes softened. A flicker of relief — quickly buried.
Then — she huffed, spun sharply away, arms still crossed.
Over her shoulder — the words came, sharp as ever:
"Tch. Don't make me worry again."
Naruto watched her walk away, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Guess… I really do have people who care now."
His grip tightened on the wooden railing.
Somewhere in the distance, the sea breeze carried faint sounds of hammers and saws — the first signs of rebuilding.
A new dawn, indeed.