The port of the Land of Waves.
The sea breeze still carried a foul, fishy odor, but it was now mixed with the scent of spices and prosperity.
A massive freighter slowly docked amidst the blaring of its horn.
On the pier, hundreds of uniformed porters shouted rhythmic chants as they moved mountains of cargo into the warehouses.
Shops stood in neat rows on both sides of the street, the sounds of hawking vendors rising and falling.
Everyone's face glowed with a healthy, ruddy complexion.
It was the expression of people who were well-fed, securely employed, and full of hope for the future.
"Is this... really the Land of Waves?"
Tsunade stood on the bustling street, her eyes full of shock as she took in the scene before her—one even more lively than the Konoha of the past.
"Order brings stability, stability brings trade, and trade brings wealth."
Naruto walked ahead like a lord inspecting his territory, his tone calm.
"As long as people see hope in being rewarded for their labor, the productivity they burst forth with is astonishing."
Orochimaru looked at the orderly crowd around him, lost in thought.
Just then, a commotion broke the harmonious atmosphere.
"Hey, you white-haired brat! What are you doing!"
A booming shout rang out.
Suigetsu Hozuki stood in front of a fruit stall, holding an apple he had just taken a bite of, staring blankly at the woman before him who had her hands on her hips and eyes wide with anger.
"Huh? Me?"
Suigetsu pointed at himself and waved the fruit nonchalantly.
"I'm just eating a piece of fruit, what's the big deal?"
As a ninja who had grown up in the Village of the Bloody Mist and was later imprisoned as a test subject, he had almost never lived in the mundane world.
In his mind, there was no concept of buying and selling.
The strong take things from the weak—it wasn't even anything valuable—and you actually dare to object?
"What's the big deal? Pay up! Not paying is stealing!"
The woman was not at all afraid of the ninja sword on Suigetsu's back, shouting at the top of her lungs.
"Someone help! There's a robbery!"
"Tch, what a pain—"
Suigetsu's gaze turned cold as he intended to frighten the ignorant old woman.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three figures instantly leapt from the surrounding rooftops and the crowd, surrounding Suigetsu in a triangular formation.
They wore the dark gray security uniforms of the Foundation.
Although their chakra was only at the level of a chunin or genin, their movements were efficient, their eyes fierce, and their weapons immediately locked onto Suigetsu's vitals.
Clearly, they had undergone elite training from Zabuza.
"Daring to cause trouble here? Do you want to feed the fish at the bottom of the sea?"
The lead security member shouted sternly.
Suigetsu almost laughed out of pure anger.
"Ha? Just because of you small fry?"
He grinned and reached for the ninja sword on his back, ready to cause a scene.
However, in the next second, his movements froze.
It wasn't just those three ninjas.
The originally bustling passersby, the workers moving cargo, the passing vendors—
Everyone stopped what they were doing in that moment.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes stared fixedly at Suigetsu.
In those gazes, there was no fear and no retreat, only anger and rejection toward the rule-breaker.
It was as if Suigetsu hadn't just stolen an apple, but rather the stable life they had worked so hard to achieve.
That kind of immense social pressure—being universally condemned by everyone—made even the habitually lawless Suigetsu feel his scalp tingle.
"Hey—isn't this a bit much—"
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Suigetsu's forehead.
"I just took an apple—why look at me like I killed your family—"
He wouldn't be afraid even if he were facing thousands of troops, but these kinds of gazes truly made him feel embarrassed and cowed.
"Idiot!"
Smack!
A hand slapped hard against the back of Suigetsu's head, making him stumble.
Karin walked forward with a dark face, quickly pulled out a few coins, and stuffed them into the woman's hand.
She then pressed Suigetsu's head down while bowing frantically.
"Sorry, sorry! My brother has some problems in the head! Here's the money, keep the change!"
After saying that, she dragged Suigetsu back into the group like a dead dog.
Seeing this, the surrounding crowd finally withdrew their terrifying gazes.
After the security ninjas confirmed everything was fine, they instantly dispersed, and the street returned to its previous bustle.
"So scary—"
Suigetsu rubbed his neck with lingering fear.
"What's wrong with these people? They feel even more frightening than the Anbu in the village."
"This is the will of the people."
Naruto looked at the scene; instead of being angry at his subordinate's recklessness, he showed a satisfied smile.
"When everyone spontaneously maintains order, this country becomes indestructible."
Tsunade fell silent.
Looking at the departing backs of the security team, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
The Uchiha of the past had relied on violence and fear for law enforcement, and the result was destruction.
But here—
"Let's go, let's meet the manager here."
The group continued walking until they reached a new landmark building in the central area—the Mutual Aid Foundation Administrative Building.
Most people entering and leaving wore formal suits, rushing about with various documents in their hands.
"Halt! No unauthorized personnel allowed!"
Just as they reached the entrance, Naruto's group was stopped by the dutiful security guards.
Looking at the group in their strange attire, a security guard's hand had already quietly pressed onto the alarm.
Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses, preparing to use genjutsu to solve the trouble.
"Wait! Stop! Stop right now!"
A terrified cry came from inside the hall.
A man wearing a suit, though his walking posture still carried some ninja habits, came scrambling out.
He was one of the Hidden Mist rogue ninjas who had surrendered along with Zabuza back then, and he now seemed to be the security manager here.
He rushed in front of Naruto, cold sweat pouring down his face, and slapped the security guard.
"Idiot! This is the Big Boss! The founder of the Foundation! Didn't you memorize the photo I gave you?"
Then, he bowed respectfully to Naruto, his voice trembling slightly.
"Lord, why are you here? Lord Zabuza is upstairs; I'll take you up right away."
"Mm, lead the way."
Naruto said indifferently.
The top floor, CEO's office.
Inside the spacious and bright office, a huge floor-to-ceiling window faced the busy port and the magnificent bridge.
Behind the desk sat a man.
He wasn't carrying a large sword and oozing murderous intent as Suigetsu had imagined.
Zabuza Momochi, the former Demon of the Bloody Mist of the Hidden Mist Village, was now wearing a black suit, with a pair of black-rimmed glasses—the same style as Naruto's—perched on the bridge of his nose.
He was currently frowning as he held a fountain pen, quickly signing off on a mountain of documents with a cup of steaming coffee by his side.
The current Zabuza, to put it nicely, had the air of a CEO, but in reality, he looked like a hard-pressed office worker.
His once-iconic Kubikiribōchō was now leaning lonely against a coat rack in the corner, covered in a thin layer of dust and looking exceptionally desolate.
"How many times have I said that the Phase II project funds must be settled this week!"
"And why hasn't the shipping report been delivered yet? Do you want your head chopped off?!"
Zabuza roared into the phone without looking up, his murderous intent seemingly ready to scare the person on the other end to death through the phone line.
The group was momentarily stunned by the aggressive Zabuza, but then—
"Pfft—"
Suigetsu couldn't hold it back after all and burst out laughing.
"Who... who is this? Where is my Demon senior?"
Hearing the voice, Zabuza looked up abruptly.
When he saw Naruto at the door, his ferocious face froze for a moment before he quickly hung up the phone.
He rubbed his brow and let out a long sigh of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.
"You're finally here... Boss."