Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

After finalizing their next route, Kakashi wasted no time. He executed the enemy ninja sent by Gato without hesitation, then led the group of five—himself, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna—to the ferry. There, they boarded a small boat and quietly crossed the waters toward the Land of Waves, which had been essentially locked down by Gato's forces.

As the boat drifted across the calm sea, Naruto sat quietly, lost in thought.

Honestly, Gato's an idiot, Naruto mused. Why spend a fortune hiring ninjas to kill Tazuna, when he could just wait until the bridge is built, then blow it up? Even if a few exploding tags couldn't destroy it, a few hundred definitely could.

Just keep blowing it up each time it's repaired—eventually, they'd stop fixing it. If he's worried about bad PR, he could just outsource it. Hell, if he pays enough, even Konoha's ninja might do it under a fake mission profile.

But no—he had to go and try to assassinate an old man building a bridge… and actually let him travel to Konoha to ask for help? How did this guy even become one of the richest men in the world?

While Naruto's gaze remained locked on the endless horizon, another pair of eyes was locked on him—Sakura's.

The sea breeze tousled his short golden hair as he stared into the distance. Something about his quiet profile, the way he sat so still, made it seem like Naruto wasn't just watching the ocean—he was part of it.

Sakura's heart fluttered. She couldn't deny it anymore: Naruto wasn't just strong now—he was also... handsome.

If someone had asked her months ago who she thought looked better—Sasuke or Naruto—she might've hesitated. But now? She couldn't picture anyone else but Naruto.

Just then, Sasuke, as if sensing something, sneezed.

He sniffed and glanced over at Naruto. "What are you thinking about?" he asked casually.

Sakura perked up, wanting to know too.

"I was wondering…" Naruto said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin, "if I could become the richest man in the world with my business sense."

Sasuke had expected something like "how to become stronger" or "how to beat enemies." His face instantly fell. "Tch. Boring."

Kakashi, however, chuckled in amusement. "But isn't your dream to become Hokage? Why the sudden ambition for wealth?"

Naruto shrugged. "I don't see a conflict. I can be both the Hokage and the world's richest man."

Spoken like Obito, Kakashi mused, half amused, half melancholy. Big dreams. Just like back then.

He nodded. "I suppose that's not impossible. But achieving both? Not easy."

Naruto smirked, But if I become the strongest in the world, no goal is out of reach. I could even destroy Konoha and rebuild it better.

He didn't say that part aloud.

"Why do you want to be the richest man, Naruto?" Sakura asked, genuinely curious.

Naruto grinned mischievously. "Why else? To satisfy all my desires. Three palaces, six mansions, seventy-two concubines, and a harem of three thousand beauties!"

"WHAT?!" Sakura's jaw dropped. She spun away in outrage. "Ugh! You jerk! I don't even want to talk to you!"

She faced the other way, cheeks burning.

Tazuna nearly burst out laughing at Naruto's boldness.

Kakashi covered his forehead with his palm. Obito… I'm sorry for comparing his dream to yours…

Sasuke scoffed. "Tch. That's such a shallow and idiotic dream."

Sakura, still fuming, backed him up. "Exactly! It's the lowest kind of ambition! One partner is plenty! Three thousand? What are you, an emperor?"

Naruto glanced sideways at both of them. "Isn't your dream to revive the Uchiha clan, Sasuke? That's not so different."

"That's completely different," Sasuke said, face serious. "Reviving my clan is my responsibility. I will do it."

Naruto smirked. "And you think you can rebuild a whole clan… with just your hands?"

Tazuna couldn't contain it anymore. He slapped a hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter.

Kakashi, whose reading list included Make-Out Paradise, turned red beneath his mask and laughed faintly, stealing a glance at Sasuke's hands.

Only Sasuke and Sakura remained clueless. Despite being a little mature for their age, their understanding of those kinds of things didn't go far beyond hugging and the occasional kiss.

Sakura made a mental note: Ask Mom about this later.

Meanwhile, Sasuke squirmed under the strange looks from Naruto and the adults. "Naruto, what did you mean by that?" he asked suspiciously.

Naruto just shrugged. "Exactly what I said."

Still confused, Sasuke turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei… what did he mean?"

Kakashi coughed awkwardly. "Ah, well... it's a grown-up thing. You'll understand when you're older."

Naruto chuckled quietly. This guy… almost thirty, never had a girlfriend, and he's out here lecturing Sasuke about "grown-up things"? You're just as clueless, bro.

Still, Naruto's jab had changed the mood for the better. The once-tense atmosphere lightened, and laughter filled the boat.

By the time they reached land, Sasuke was still confused.

Why did they all laugh at me? What does Naruto mean I can't do it with just my hands?

Isn't the revival of the Uchiha about my eyes… and strength?

But Naruto wasn't paying attention to him anymore. His eyes scanned the forest, sharp and calculating.

This is the moment, Naruto thought. Time to use the Demon Contract I've been saving.

Suddenly, he heard it.

The distinct whoosh of a blade slicing through the air.

"Get down!" Naruto shouted, kicking Tazuna to the ground. In a split second, he bent forward and hooked an arm around both Sasuke and Sakura, dragging them with him.

A massive cleaver-like sword flew overhead, slicing clean through the tree behind them.

A shirtless, bandaged figure landed smoothly on the weapon's hilt, standing atop it like a predator.

Kakashi's expression changed immediately.

No way. That blade…

He stepped forward, pushing the three genin and Tazuna behind him. "Get back. Protect Mr. Tazuna."

In a flash, Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan.

"The Demon of the Hidden Mist… Momochi Zabuza."

Zabuza smirked. "Well, well… the infamous Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi. Didn't expect to run into your Sharingan so soon."

Naruto raised a brow. Really? Do these guys have to announce their names and bios before every fight? What is this—an intro segment on a reality show?

He sighed. "If you're going to fight, just fight already. What's with all the family introductions? You two setting up a blind date or something?"

Before anyone could reply, Naruto vanished in a blur—activating the Body Flicker Technique using the Nine-Tails' chakra.

In the next instant, he reappeared in front of Zabuza with a glowing Rasengan in hand, slamming it toward the swordsman's face with full force.