As Kakashi and his team walked back to Tazuna's house, the cold mist of the evening air hung heavy, adding to the sense of finality that seemed to cling to the aftermath of the battle. The fight was over, and the fate of the bridge was now in the hands of those who survived. Kakashi had dealt with Gato, his organization crumbled, and he had made sure the most important assets were secured.
As he entered the house, the scent of warm food greeted him, and the presence of Tazuna's family filled the rooms, a stark contrast to the chaos they'd just endured. Kakashi's mind wasn't on the food or the comfort of Tazuna's home; he was already thinking ahead, to the next steps.
"Team 7, gather up," Kakashi called, his voice calm but carrying a certain weight. He motioned for Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura to meet him by the doorway, and they obeyed without question.
When the three of them were assembled in front of him, Kakashi wasted no time in delivering the news.
"Gato is dead," he said simply, watching as his team's faces shifted, processing the information. "His empire has crumbled, and there's no more need for us to stick around here."
Naruto's eyes widened, and he immediately asked, "What happened to the rest of his men? What about all those thugs?"
"They've scattered," Kakashi replied with a shrug, though he could feel the weight of his words. "I took care of the rest of them, but the real work will be left to the people here. They need to rebuild, and I'm sure they will."
Sakura looked at him with a mix of disbelief and awe, "So... it's really over? No more fighting?"
"For now," Kakashi said, giving a small nod. "But that doesn't mean things are done for good. Things might settle here for a while, but who knows what the future holds?"
The weight of that hung in the air for a moment before Naruto broke the silence with a grin. "So, does that mean we're done here? Can we head back to the village already?"
Kakashi thought for a second, then gave a brief nod, though his mind was already thinking about the next steps. "Yes. We'll leave in the morning. The mission is complete."
The group gathered their things, and Kakashi made his way over to Tazuna, who was sitting at the table with his family. "Tazuna, it's time for us to go. You've made it through the worst of it. The bridge will stand."
Tazuna stood, his eyes still filled with gratitude but tinged with sadness. "Thank you, Kakashi... all of you. You've done more than I could have ever asked for."
Kakashi didn't respond immediately. Instead, he simply gave a nod, acknowledging the old man's thanks. He wasn't here to get recognition. He wasn't here for the glory. He was here to make sure things went according to his plans—and to make sure Wave had the foundation to stand on its own.
After a brief pause, Kakashi turned to his team. "Alright. Rest up tonight. Tomorrow, we head back to the village."
Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura gave him brief nods, each of them processing the day in their own way. Sasuke had been quiet, his usual aloofness even more apparent after the battle. Naruto, on the other hand, seemed to be trying to suppress the excitement of getting back to familiar ground. Sakura was still digesting everything that had happened, but she seemed more confident now, more capable than when they had first arrived in the Wave Country.
That night, the group ate together, their meal much quieter than the nights before. Tazuna's family tried their best to offer warmth, but the team couldn't help but feel the weight of their mission. With the death of Gato, the country could begin its slow crawl toward rebuilding. Kakashi knew it wouldn't be easy, but at least the people here could begin to live without fear. That, at least, was something.
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, Kakashi gathered his team. "Time to head out," he said, the sound of his voice cutting through the morning fog.
Team 7 nodded, and together, they began the trek back to the Hidden Leaf Village. The journey was long, but this time, it was a little different. They were returning as a stronger team, having survived and learned more than they could have anticipated.
As they moved away from the bridge and began walking through the misty path that would lead them home, Kakashi's mind turned back to his plans. The toll system. The future. The people he would recruit, the organization he would build. All of it was still far off, but today had been another step toward it.
With each step, the weight of the mission lifted from his shoulders, and the reality of his future, one shaped by both strength and money, became ever clearer.
It wasn't about completing the mission anymore. It was about what came next.
And as Team 7 walked on, Kakashi knew one thing for sure: this mission had been just the beginning.