From Earth to Infinity: A Second Chance

As Sasuke and Sakura swiftly took down Gato and his men, the tension on the bridge eased, and a sense of calm began to settle over us. With Gato defeated, there was no longer any threat looming over the Land of Waves.

Sakura turned toward me, her brows furrowed, and a pout forming on her lips. "Naruto, since when did you get close with her? So that's why you kept sneaking out at night," she said, sounding both angry and a bit jealous.

I couldn't help but smile at her expression. The way her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes narrowed—it was adorable. I walked up to her and leaned in close, whispering softly in her ear, "You're cute when you're jealous, Sakura."

Her face immediately turned red as she stammered, "N-Naruto!" She tried to hit me with a punch, but I caught her hand and, before she could react, pulled her into a hug and kissed her gently.

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise before she slowly relaxed, her hands trembling slightly as she leaned into the embrace. The moment was brief, but it felt as if time had stopped. When I pulled away, she looked up at me, still a little flustered but with a hint of a smile on her lips.

"Let's go home," I said, holding her hand, as we turned toward the others.

I carefully picked up Haku, who was still unconscious from blood loss during our battle, and began heading back to Tazuna's home. Her breathing was shallow, but steady. I knew I had to make sure she recovered fully. As I turned to Tazuna, who stood there with tears in his eyes, I reassured him, "There's no need to worry anymore. With Gato gone, no one will interrupt the completion of your bridge. You can continue your work in peace."

Tazuna's expression softened, and he gave us a grateful smile, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you, all of you," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. It was clear that the burden he had carried for so long was finally lifted, especially considering the pain and loss Gato had inflicted on his family.

He took a moment to compose himself, then bowed his head in gratitude, overwhelmed by the realization that his village and his family could finally look forward to a future free from Gato's tyranny. The bridge, which had seemed like a distant dream, could now become a symbol of hope and new beginnings for the Land of Waves.

After we settled inside Tazuna's house, I gently carried Haku to a bed and made her comfortable. Once she was resting, I gathered Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura and told them everything I had learned about Zabuza and Haku's past. As I spoke, Kakashi and Sasuke listened without much visible reaction; they had both experienced horrors that had hardened them to stories of pain and suffering. However, Sakura's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to Haku's struggles, moved by the hardship that Haku had endured.

I placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder to comfort her. "Don't worry," I reassured her softly. "Haku will be with me from now on. She won't have to endure any more pain."She silently nodded.

Turning to Zabuza, I asked, "When do you plan to leave?"

"I'll be leaving once Haku wakes up," he replied, his tone rough but with a hint of concern. I could tell that, despite everything, he did care for Haku in his own way.

Before he departed, I made sure to heal the remaining injuries on both Zabuza and Haku. The next day, as the morning light filtered into the room, Haku slowly opened her eyes. She looked at me, then over at Zabuza, who stood near the door, ready to leave.

"Goodbye, Haku," Zabuza said, his voice low. It was clear that even though he didn't show it openly, parting ways was difficult for him. After giving Haku a final look, he turned and walked away, disappearing down the road.

Before Zabuza left, I handed him a communicator, a unique device I had received from Aurora. It resembled a modern mobile phone but operated through chakra, allowing communication between just two people. Zabuza looked puzzled at its appearance, but he didn't question it; he simply accepted it and left, knowing that this could be an invaluable tool for both of us.

Days passed, and Tazuna successfully completed his bridge without any interruptions. The village was finally free from Gato's oppressive rule, and they celebrated by naming the bridge "Great Naruto Bridge," a testament to our journey and the bonds we formed.

As we made our way back to Konoha, Haku was by my side. Over the past few days, she and Sakura had grown closer, sharing stories and experiences that forged a new friendship. Haku was fully healed now, her spirits lifted by the warmth of companionship.

As we neared Konoha, I decided to give Haku a special gift: a necklace. When I presented it to her, she looked confused at first, but then happiness lit up her face. I explained, "This necklace has a special function. It helps to restrict anyone from gauging your chakra; it will only show at a civilian level. It's a precaution."

Sakura watched us with a hint of jealousy, her expression a mixture of admiration and frustration. I chuckled to myself, knowing that her feelings were as complicated as ever. So, gave her another necklace but it didn't have any properties just plain jewelry.

Once we reached Konoha, everything went smoothly. Haku received permission from Hokage to enter the village, her chakra reading now at civilian levels due to the necklace's properties. It felt good to be back, but it was even better to know that Haku was safe and welcomed in my home. The future was bright, and I couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited us next.