Hinata came into my room and shook me awake.
"Naruto-kun breakfast is ready."
'Would be nice if she could wake me up every day like this'
"Thank you for waking me up I'll come down after washing my face."
"Okay, hurry. Everyone is waiting for you."
After she closed the door, my clone came in from the window. He handed me two scrolls. One is a stasis scroll containing Haku, and the other is a scroll that contains 100 million Ryō from Gato. He still has much more, but he needs to sell all his real estate first.
After eating breakfast, I went out for some training.
I arrived at the same mountainside as yesterday. I placed my finger on the mountain and channeled chakra through it. Removing my finger, I saw a hole going on for meters.
'I have perfected my lightning transformation.'
In these years I have already perfected my affinity nature transformation. Wind, lightning, and water. I got some help from the Hokage for the last two.
I should try to infiltrate some other villages for their techniques. Especially Kumogakure. The Raikage's technique to coat their body in lightning will make me much stronger. Nobody could penetrate the third Raikage's skin, except he himself.
After completing my training, I went back.
[1 week later]
"The bridge is finished and there is no sign of Gato or Zabuza."
"Do you think they ran away, sensei?"
"I find it hard to believe. Maybe that Hunter-nin wasn't a fake."
"I hope so. It will be a drag if he is still alive."
"Naruto, can you use your shadow clones to search for them? It will be a problem if they attack when we leave."
"Sure."
I summoned 200 shadow clones and sent them to scour the village. It's not like they'll find anything since I made sure to completely erase them from existence, except for Haku.
[3 hours later]
"Sensei, I couldn't find anyone."
"We can't keep guarding this village forever. We will let the Hokage deal with it when they come back. Go pack your stuff we will leave in an hour."
We were about to leave when all the villagers came to thank us. Inari looked like he was about to cry.
"What are you doing? People will laugh at me when they hear that my little brother is a crybaby."
He suddenly had an enormous smile on his face.
"This is the first time you called me little brother!"
"Well, don't get used to it. The next time I come here I want you to be someone I can brag about. So you better not let me down."
"Don't worry big brother, I'll make you proud."
I had a small smile on my face. One of the few genuine ones I've ever shown.
"Goodbye."
"Bye, big brother."
We made our way towards the Konoha.
"Didn't know you had such a big soft spot, Naruto."
"Shut up, Shikamaru. Don't think too much into it."
'Naruto-kun is really an amazing person. He is so kind, but I know that he also has a side that he doesn't want us to see. The side that is filled with darkness. I need to make sure he doesn't let that darkness take him over. I will help Naruto-kun, the person I admire the most and the one I Iove.'
"Father what should we name the bridge."
"I have a suggestion, mother."
"Oh, what is it Inari?"
"The Great Naruto Bridge!"
Everyone agreed with him and so they called the bridge that gives everyone in the village hope after Naruto.
We finally made it back to the village. Asuma went to the Hokage to report the mission, and Shikamaru and Hinata went home. I went into an alleyway and transformed into a random villager. I summoned a clone and sent him home. I started walking towards the forest.
I had my chakra sensing skill for the entire time. monitoring everything that happens around me. I used a seal that makes my clone seem like the real me. Not even Madara can see through it. Now I don't have to worry about Hiruzen monitoring me. the clone at home will keep my cover when I'm gone. As a jinchuuriki, it will cause distress if I suddenly vanished.
I arrived at a normal-looking tree. I checked the surroundings once again before touching the tree and injecting chakra inside of it. A staircase appeared next to the tree. I started walking down, and the entrance closed. Sensing me, the torches lit up the staircase. After walking for a couple of minutes, I arrived at a door.
Opening the door, I walked into a lab. This is where I have been doing some research. I managed to get some blood samples from Sasuke, Hinata, Shikamaru, and Minato.
I walked up to a cage and took out the stasis scroll. Unsealing it, haku's unconscious body came out. I changed him up and closed the cage. The cage got covered in seals that make it impossible for him to escape.
I shocked him with lightning chakra, making him immediately wake up. After he looked around for a couple of seconds, he understood what was going on.
"What happened to Zabuza-sama?"
"I killed him."
He looked sad for a couple of seconds before his eyes turned lifeless.
"Then why am I still alive? I'm supposed to be Zabuza's tool, but now that he is dead I have no reason to keep on living."
"Don't you want to be free for once in your life?"
"Why should I want freedom? My existence is unnecessary. No one needs me anymore. I'm better off dead."
"That isn't true. I need you. If you help me achieve my goals, I will show you how to enjoy life."
"What are your goals?"
"Right now, it is to become Hokage."
"And how do you want me to help you with that?"
"I want you to become my personal Anbu. But you don't have to worry, I will not make you kill anyone or hurt any innocent people. And if you ever want something, I will give it to you."
"But I'm too weak to be useful to you."
"You have amazing talent. I can train you to become as strong as a Kage, but if you don't have the right motivation, you will always stay weak."
"What is the right motivation?"
"That is something only you can find out. But you don't have to worry, I won't force you to do anything. If you don't want to follow me, I will let you leave."