The night was deep, yet Tazuna's house was brightly lit.
In the courtyard, two figures were engaged in what could only be described as self-torturing training.
"Bang!"
Another water balloon filled to the brim exploded in Naruto's hands, splashing icy liquid all over his head and face.
He wiped his face without looking, fished the next one from the bucket beside him, bloodshot eyes fixed dead on his palm as he continued channeling chakra.
Not far away, Sasuke wasn't faring much better.
He knelt on one knee, right hand braced against the ground. At his left fingertips, a faint electric arc sizzled, scorching a black mark on the earth before quickly extinguishing.
His body trembled slightly from chakra overexertion, sweat soaking through his dark blue clothes, yet he gritted his teeth and gathered chakra once more.
Under the eaves, Karin sat cross-legged. Before her lay a pitiful sea fish she'd pulled from the ocean—barely alive.
A gentle green chakra enveloped it. A small wound on the fish's body was healing at a visible speed.
Sora leaned idly against a pillar, watching his three students grinding themselves into oblivion, a peaceful feeling settling in his heart.
Watching them go full tryhard mode—my heart is truly content.
This is what youth should be.
Time passed in this oppressive yet highly efficient atmosphere for several more days.
The final section of the bridge was about to be joined. Hopeful smiles had begun to appear on the faces of the people of the Land of Waves.
However, on this day, the familiar thick mist once again enveloped the sea.
At the bridgehead, two figures stood like demons returned from hell.
Zabuza Momochi, bandages still wrapped around his face, held no Kubikiribōchō.
Beside him was the petite figure wearing the hunter-nin mask—Haku.
"Yo, you're here."
Sora was the first to step onto the bridge, followed by Class 7 with grave expressions.
He looked at the tragic pair across from him and inwardly voiced the heartfelt question of every transmigrator.
I really wonder what these people are thinking. You're already missing-nin—why still follow so many rules and restrictions?
If you'd just robbed Cardo and the two of you found a small island to live happily ever after, who could stop you? Why insist on playing this underworld house game?
But now, Sora had no interest in their thoughts.
He only wanted to, in front of everyone, kill these two dedicated actors in the most spectacular, most shocking way possible.
"Sensei..." Sasuke gripped his kunai tightly.
"Step back." Sora waved without turning. "The next scene isn't suitable for children. Just watch from the side."
"Today, I'm giving you an open class called 'Art Is Patrick Star.'"
Before his words finished, he vanished from the spot.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Zabuza and Haku.
"Ninjutsu: Hiding in Mist Technique!" Zabuza repeated his old trick; thick mist instantly swallowed everything.
"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"
With Haku's low shout, countless crystalline ice mirrors rose from the ground, trapping Sora inside in an instant.
In the mirrors, countless Haku figures appeared. Senbon rained down from all directions toward the center.
"Oh? The same move, trying it on me a second time?"
Sora stood amid the ice mirror encirclement, showing no panic. Instead, he looked like a child in an amusement park, curiously examining his surroundings.
[Ding! Rare bloodline limit 'Ice Release' detected. Energy fluctuation medium. Record?]
"Record."
Sora mentally confirmed. His body turned into an afterimage, strolling casually through the dense senbon rain.
Those lethal ice needles couldn't even graze his clothing.
"How is this possible!" Haku's incredulous voice came from the mirrors.
"Not bad bloodline, but..." Sora's voice echoed from every mirror simultaneously, "...your energy isn't pure enough, and your killing intent isn't resolute enough."
He extended one finger and lightly tapped the mirror in front of him.
Crack.
A soft sound.
Starting from his fingertip, spiderweb-like fractures instantly spread to all the ice mirrors.
Crash—!
The sky full of ice crystals shattered like a diamond rain.
Haku fell from mid-air, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, eyes filled with horror.
Zabuza roared, swinging a katana down in a fierce overhead strike!
Sora didn't even look, reaching back to grasp the blade's back with five fingers tightening.
Clang!
The finely forged steel blade let out an unbearable wail in his hand.
Sora kicked Zabuza in the abdomen, sending him flying backward.
The performance is over—time for the main course.
Sora slammed the Kubikiribōchō into the bridge, bit his thumb, and formed seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
Bang—!
A massive white cloud of smoke billowed skyward. A giant toad the size of a small mountain crashed onto the sea beside the bridge, sending up towering waves!
It was none other than the Great Toad Elder, Gamabunta!
Everyone on the bridge stared in stunned silence.
Naruto pointed at the pipe-smoking giant toad, stammering in excitement: "Toa... Toad! So huge!"
Sora flickered to the top of Gamabunta's head.
He slowly closed his eyes. When they opened again, orange perfect sage markings had appeared around them.
"Sage Mode."
A vast, majestic aura, as if fused with all of nature itself, descended with overwhelming terror!
Zabuza and Haku looked at the figure standing atop the toad, bathed in natural energy. For the first time—and the last—their faces showed an expression called "despair."
"Gamabunta."
"Got it, kid!"
Gamabunta took a deep breath and opened his massive mouth wide.
"Sage Art: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
A colossal volume of toad oil poured down like a waterfall, blanketing the sea where Zabuza and Haku stood.
Immediately after, Sora inhaled deeply. Blazing flames mixed with sage chakra erupted from his mouth!
Boom—!
Flames met oil, unleashing apocalyptic power.
Orange-red inferno instantly devoured everything.
In that moment, the entire sea was boiled.
Gurgle... gurgle...
Countless enormous bubbles surged from the depths, white steam blotting out the sky, the air thick with the charred fragrance of roasted protein.
Sora stood atop Gamabunta, looking down at the boiling ocean, his face expressionless.