Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 5: Training

The sun hung low over Tazuna's incomplete bridge, casting a warm golden light on the skeletal framework. Long shadows stretched across the water, the ripples shimmering like liquid gold. Workers moved with purpose, their silhouettes outlined against the horizon. Each hammer strike echoed in the quiet evening, a symphony of progress and hope. As the sun inched closer to the horizon, its rays pierced through the gaps in the bridge, a promise of connection and dreams yet to be fulfilled.

Team Seven, excluding Madara, stood on the bridge, observing the work. Kakashi and Naori admired the coordination among the builders, while Sasuke's mind wandered elsewhere. He silently questioned how Madara had grown so strong. If he had been in Madara's place, he surely would've perished.

Yet, Sasuke harbored hope. He acknowledged Madara's survival, not his victory. The gap between them wasn't insurmountable, but it was significant. To make matters worse, even Naori was stronger than him. He might win in close combat, but any distance would render him helpless against her wide array of powerful jutsu.

Where did she even learn such techniques? He'd have to ask later. From the end of the bridge, a loud clapping echoed, drawing the attention of everyone present. The clapping came from a short man surrounded by bandits.

He had shaggy brown hair and wore small, circular black glasses. His black suit with a purple tie and yellow shirt underneath his coat contrasted sharply with his menacing demeanor. "So, you killed Zabuza and Haku, huh?"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Gatō."

Gatō laughed. "Yep! I'm here to shut this little building party down!"

Naori scoffed. "If your men were so incompetent that you had to hire Zabuza, and he's dead, what makes you think they can do it?"

"Interesting, a talkative one. I'll make sure to use you well," Gatō sneered. "Kill them, boys! But bring the girl alive."

The bandits charged forward, and without a word, Sasuke followed suit, kunai in hand. He effortlessly cut them down, one by one, critically injuring all of them. He quickly reached Gatō and held the kunai to his neck.

Sweat poured from Gatō's forehead. "Wait, wait, wait! Don't kill me! I'll give you anything! Money! Power! Women! That girl over there, you like her, yes? I have people who will train her to do anything you say, just, please!"

Sasuke's face twisted with disgust. Without even realizing it, he slit Gatō's throat. It was an instinctive reaction to Gatō's words. He wasn't even bothered by Gatō's death, and neither was Naori. After hearing his words, the two had come to accept that some people deserved to die.

Kakashi sighed. "That's the reality of the shinobi world."

Naori nodded. "I'm kind of disappointed that I couldn't kill him myself."

Kakashi didn't respond. He walked over to the injured bandits and turned their bodies to ash with a katon jutsu. He did the same to Gatō's dead body, so the men could continue building their bridge.

-Tazuna's House-

Madara sat at the table, with the dead bodies of two bandits in front of him and Tsunami and Inari behind him. "This must mean Gatō made his move. I'm sure they handled it."

Tsunami nodded, and Inari shook his head. "That's... that's impossible!"

Madara ignored him. "Tsunami-san, could you assist me in carrying these bodies out back? I don't want to risk burning the house down."

Tsunami nodded, helping Madara drag the bodies into the backyard.

*A Week Later*

The bridge stood completed, a testament to hard work and determination. Team Seven and Tazuna gazed at the structure, the late afternoon sun casting a warm, golden hue over the scene.