Kakashi's footsteps pounded against the damp earth as he sprinted back toward the bridge, his mind racing faster than his body. Haku. He had brought the young man into his fold, but Kakashi knew Haku would only ever be a peripheral member of his growing organization. A useful ally, no doubt, but ultimately, he lacked the drive and potential that Kakashi sought. Kakashi needed people who could think beyond their immediate circumstances, people who could help him shape the future—who could become more than just pawns in his scheme. But most of those people were already long gone.
The streets of Konoha had already claimed their fair share of talented ninjas, and Kakashi's time in the Hidden Leaf Village had proven one thing: even the strongest were often consumed by their own desires or limitations.
He slowed down momentarily, his thoughts drifting to his own long-term goals. The Wave Country—he had underestimated the potential it held. As he glanced at the distant bridge coming into view, Kakashi allowed himself to think about the toll he had established. The 100 ryo tax from anyone entering or leaving the country was merely the beginning. It was a small fee, but if he could get everyone on board with the idea, it would accumulate quickly. How many people would be traveling to and from Wave each month? How many businesses, how many travelers? Hundreds, thousands? Kakashi couldn't help but smile inwardly. A steady stream of income was exactly what he needed to fuel his plans.
The vision of multiple bases across the region formed in his mind. Each one would be self-sufficient, with its own resources, its own network of loyal followers. There were plenty of isolated locations across the country that could be used as outposts, and with the toll system in place, the money would flow in. But how many bases would he need to truly establish a foothold? How many people did he have to recruit to make it viable?
Kakashi shook his head slightly, forcing himself to focus on the immediate task at hand. He couldn't get too ahead of himself. For now, he needed to play it smart and keep everything low-profile. But his thoughts kept drifting back to the numbers—how much he would make. Even if just a few hundred people paid that toll each month, it would amount to a substantial sum. And that wasn't even considering the potential businesses he could extract money from. If he played his cards right, Wave could easily be a gold mine.
Before Kakashi knew it, the bridge was right in front of him. He slowed his pace and finally came to a stop. Sasuke and Naruto were still there, standing side by side, watching the bridge with the intensity of those who had yet to realize the full scale of what was happening around them.
Kakashi exhaled deeply, his mind snapping back into focus. The plans, the tolls, the organization—it all had to be put on hold for now.
He looked at Sasuke and Naruto with a brief but meaningful expression. They hadn't seen much action today, and he wasn't about to drag them into another fight, especially not after everything that had already happened.
"Alright, you two," Kakashi said, his tone authoritative. "Head back to the village. I need you to stay away from the bridge for now. Don't worry about anything else. You've done enough today."
Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a brief look, their expressions a mixture of confusion and reluctance. Naruto was the first to speak up, as expected.
"Wait, we just got here! What about the mission? What's going on with Zabuza? And—"
"Just go back to Tazuna's house," Kakashi interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "We'll handle things here. Your part in this mission is done for now. I'll take it from here."
Naruto hesitated for a moment longer but then gave a reluctant nod, glancing at Sasuke before walking off, hands shoved deep into his pockets.
Sasuke didn't say anything at first. He was quieter than Naruto, but there was a sharpness in his eyes—one that spoke of his growing awareness of the situation. He was still a little unsure of Kakashi's methods, but he was also learning.
"I'll be back when I'm ready," Kakashi said, more to Sasuke than to Naruto, though Naruto could probably hear him too.
Sasuke gave a brief nod, his eyes still fixed on Kakashi as if waiting for something else. But Kakashi said nothing more. Instead, he turned and walked toward the bridge's edge, his thoughts drifting once again to the bigger picture. Sasuke's potential was there—Kakashi could see it. The boy had ambition, but was he willing to break free from the chains of his past? That remained to be seen. Kakashi didn't plan to push him too hard, but when the time was right, he would use Sasuke's hatred for the Uchiha massacre to his advantage. He had to. It was the only way Sasuke would ever get strong enough to truly survive in this world.
Kakashi glanced back at the distant figure of Tazuna's house, the soft glow of the lights visible through the trees. There was still a lot of work left to do, and it was only a matter of time before everything fell into place.
But for now, he needed to be careful. The future was still wide open, and Kakashi wasn't going to rush into it. Not yet.
He would take the time to let things develop on their own.