Zabuza and Haku didn't understand what Namikaze Minato had said, but they could only follow him and Uchiha Fugaku. After all, a single glance at those two legends was enough to stir caution in even the fiercest shinobi. Behind them, silence reigned—only the faint sounds of the waves rolling over the shores of the Land of Waves accompanied them as they made their way forward.
Meanwhile, back home, Tazuna wasted no time. With the path cleared of threats for now, he began immediate preparations for constructing the Konohagakure Bridge. He knew this project was more than just infrastructure—it was the symbol of unity and freedom for his people. And now, it would stand as a monument of Konoha's protection, etched with the weight of a newly signed alliance.
Minato, Fugaku, Zabuza, and Haku didn't linger. Without any fanfare, the four of them arrived at Gato's base camp. The stench of luxury and corruption lingered in the air—fitting for a man who ruled through coin and cruelty. Gato was no warrior. He was an ordinary man draped in silk and guarded by swords, his sense of power stemming only from wealth and his hired samurai.
As soon as Gato caught sight of Zabuza and Haku, his face lit up with arrogance and contempt.
"Hahahahahahaha... Zabuza! Have you completed my mission?! Has that old man Tazuna been dealt with?! I paid you for this, remember?!"
Zabuza's eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure how Minato planned to handle the greedy tyrant, so he stayed neutral, shaking his head.
"Sorry. Mission not completed."
"What did you say?!" Gato's tone turned venomous. "You damn failure! I gave you ryo! You call yourself Zabuza the Demon? One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Bah! You're nothing but trash in a cloak!"
The insult stung. Zabuza's fists clenched as Gato continued his tirade.
"You can't even handle a simple bridge builder?! What's the point of keeping you around? Guards! Kill them! Kill them all!!!"
At once, the room erupted in chaos. Dozens of sword-wielding samurai surged forward, surrounding the intruders with bloodthirsty intent.
Minato only smiled—an unnervingly cheerful, sunny grin.
"Well, I know you're in a hurry, but before we go further... could you tell me where your money is, Gato?"
Gato blinked, baffled. "What?! You dare ask for my money?! Bastard! Zabuza, you brought robbers here?! I'll kill all of you! Kill them now!"
The samurai lunged, swords flashing under torchlight. But before a single blade could find flesh, Minato vanished in a blur of golden light.
One second. Two.
In a breath's time, every last samurai in the room collapsed, unconscious or dead. Yellow streaks flickered and faded as Minato reappeared behind Gato, spinning a kunai around his finger like a harmless toy.
"Ah... now, where were we? Oh right—your money. Hahahahahahaha..."
Gato stumbled backward, face pale, spine trembling. "W-who are you people?!"
"You don't need to know that," Minato replied cheerfully. "We're just here for the ryo. And I'm sure a smart man like you would be more than willing to buy back his life, right?"
He turned toward Zabuza.
"By the way... Zabuza, you should know how much our friend here is worth, yes?"
Zabuza smirked, arms folded. The humiliation from earlier now flipped into satisfaction.
"Of course. Gato is the wealthiest tycoon in the Land of Waves. Hundreds of millions in ryo... He's sitting on a treasure pile."
Minato's smile widened. "Hahahahahahaha... that's excellent. Well then, Gato. Bring out the money."
Trembling, Gato had no choice but to comply. A hidden vault was dragged open, revealing stacks upon stacks of silver coins. More than 860 million ryo spilled out—his life's fortune, now reduced to a bribe for survival.
Gato stared at Minato with wild eyes. "Here! Take it! You have what you want! Will you let me go now?!"
Minato nodded. "Of course. A ninja keeps his word. I won't kill you."
But then his voice turned slightly colder.
"However... you did insult Zabuza. And he's not the forgiving type. Especially not someone who's walked the path of rebellion. Whether he lets you live or not... isn't my business."
The chill in Minato's tone froze Gato's blood. He turned to Zabuza in horror, only to find the rogue ninja grinning, his massive beheading sword now resting lightly on his shoulder.
"You—you liar! You said you wouldn't kill me!"
"I won't," Minato replied without turning back. "But I already died once. Trust me, dying isn't as peaceful as people think."
As Minato and Fugaku calmly exited the base, pockets filled with ryo, Zabuza stepped forward. No words were needed. The sword came down in a clean arc.
Poof!
Gato's head rolled, a trail of blood marking the fall of a tyrant.
With the base cleared and the money secured, the next step fell to Minato—negotiating with the Land of Waves. The Konohagakure Bridge would now be protected under an official alliance. It was no longer just a bridge; it was a strategic asset. Konoha's influence extended with every plank laid across that river.
But while the Hidden Leaf made gains, the Akatsuki faced growing unrest.
Not long ago, the organization's treasury had been emptied. The culprits? Only two names remained: Dahuang and Xiaohei. No one knew who they were, and they vanished without a trace. For an organization powered by wealth and secrets, it was a disgrace.
Kakuzu—ancient, ruthless, and obsessed with money—had donated all his hard-earned ryo to the Akatsuki. Centuries of savings, lost in a night.
"It wasn't my money that was stolen," he had growled. "It was the organization's."
But the fury remained personal.
Now, he and Hidan, the immortal zealot, were dispatched to find their missing comrades—Uchiha Itachi and Kisame, who had vanished after a mission to Konoha. No word. No trace. No bodies.
"I thought we were going to the Fire Country to look into Konoha," Hidan muttered. "Why are we detouring to the Land of Waves?"
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed. "There's a tycoon here. Gato. Rich. Perfect for rebuilding the treasury."
"Well, whatever... being in the Akatsuki is boring anyway. Hey, Kakuzu, you ever think about joining the cult of the Evil God? Eternal life guaranteed."
"Not interested. Money is my only god."
"Boring..."
Thus, while Konoha's agents secured new wealth and territory, Kakuzu and Hidan marched toward the same place, unaware that Gato was already gone—and that someone else had looted the treasure chest before them.