"Thank you, truly."
By the time they reached the bridgehead, the Tazuna family was already waiting—gathered to see Team 7 off.
The bridge hadn't officially opened yet, so the road was empty, not a soul in sight. Team 7 would be the first to cross.
With Hanabi's proposal in place, the Land of Waves would have a future to look forward to.
"Have you decided on a name for the bridge?" Hanabi asked, curious.
In the original story, this bridge had been named after Naruto—or more precisely, it nodded to Kishimoto's real-world reference, the Naruto Bridge. But things had gone differently here. What would they call it now?
Tazuna smiled faintly. "This country was once a land of heroes. But the people here—they didn't truly understand what that word meant. You showed us. So the bridge has a name now." He paused. "The Hero Bridge."
"Then we'll take our leave." Kakashi dipped his head toward Tazuna.
"Come visit anytime. You'll always be the most honored guests in the Land of Waves."
They said their farewells to the Tazuna family and made their way back to Konoha.
First order of business was the mission debrief—everything, including Zabuza and the matter of that peculiar dark deity.
As for the deity itself—turns out it could actually be looked up. Or rather, the Third Hokage knew a thing or two about it, because Hidan of the Akatsuki was a follower of that very cult.
The mission's final grade was still undecided: A-rank or B-rank, up in the air.
A-rank would bring slightly higher payment to Konoha, but it might also draw unwanted attention to Team 7—so there was a reasonable argument for keeping it quiet. B-rank, on the other hand, felt plainly inadequate. This mission had effectively helped Konoha "gain" the Land of Waves. That wasn't a B-rank outcome by any honest measure. If one went purely by impact, it could have warranted an S-grade—but that was out of the question as a public record, suitable at most for internal documentation.
In the end, whatever grade the higher-ups settled on, each member of Team 7 would log it as a completed A-rank mission in their personal records.
Once all of that was sorted, Hanabi finally had a moment to sit down with the Creation Workshop.
She ran a quick test.
All three slots required four-star purple-rarity items, but not just anything could go in—the constraints were stricter than they looked.
The Hourglass, for instance, had already been used once. A consumable item with limited charges: ineligible.
The Character Inheritance Card — Mai Shiranui was also out; she'd already activated it. The Void Songstress — Inori Yuzuriha reincarnation card, however, could be slotted in.
But that would have been a waste.
The Creation Workshop was a local system—bound to this world. She couldn't bring that "new account" into this world, but it was still a new account, and it would be a shame to burn it on nothing.
Character reincarnation cards had heavier restrictions than inheritance cards, yet they could open a new account entirely. From that angle alone, they were the rarer resource.
"So it comes down to these three."
The Gimestoltanty's Love. The Kuroe Kawaren. The Furisode Costume — Hanabi.
After one last review, Hanabi concluded these were her candidates.
First: all three qualified as wearables—items she could actually put on.
Second: the first two already formed a natural pair and could trigger an exploit in tandem.
And beyond that, the system had already hinted that synthesis would reduce the side effects. If the result could be taken off when needed, all the better.
"Reference item…"
Hanabi untied the rope wrapped around her body, coiled it neatly, and fed it into the reference slot.
"Synthesize!"
Three items dissolved into three beams of violet light, then converged at the spiraling center, slowly merging, filling—the reference piece vanished alongside them.
Then the violet light shifted to gold.
The golden glow faded, taking the Creation Workshop with it. What remained before Hanabi was a single golden card.
"This is…?"
On the card stood a girl with closed eyes. Rope wound around her body. Around her eyes.
Zhuixia.
Rarity: Five-Star.
Exclusive equipment for Hyuga Hanabi. Non-transferable.
If damaged, it will gradually recover. If lost, it will return over time.
"Exclusive equipment… oh my. An actual signature weapon."
Hanabi picked up the card, and it dissolved into a length of red rope.
Ability 1: Resuscitation
When equipped, any wound inflicted on the wearer will be healed. The greater the injury, the greater the cost.
Ability 2: Blood Rust
When equipped, the wearer's senses extend into the rope and wire, which respond to her will as though they were part of her own body. Maximum force output matches the wearer's own strength.
Ability 3: Asceticism
When equipped and the wearer is at rest, Zhuixia automatically constricts, restricting the wearer's body to ordinary human strength. During this state, the wearer's abilities will gradually improve; training while wearing it is more effective. Full mode works best.
Ability 4: Guardian (0/2)
Zhuixia can extend and coil around others, functioning as armor and protection. Resuscitation can be applied to others, though the cost is still borne by the wearer. Up to two secondary targets may be equipped simultaneously.
Ability 5: Carved Wound (Negative)
When equipped, after nightfall, the wearer will be bound by Zhuixia. Once Resuscitation's cost is extracted, the wearer will be continuously tormented and strangled. The equipment cannot be removed until the full cost has been paid.
Equipment Modes: Bare, Full, Red
Bare
Rope mode. Other performance costumes may be worn over it.
Full
Performance mode. Zhuixia unfurls into the furisode kimono — Hanabi's kimono. Attention gain increased by 20%.
Red
Combat mode. Attention gain +20%. All attributes +20%.
"Oh~"
The combined abilities were leagues beyond the pre-synthesis originals—and it no longer carried that original death-on-removal penalty.
"Let's give it a try."
Hanabi equipped it.
At once, the Zhuixia in her hands seemed to come alive. It began crawling up her arm, the rope's small bells ringing steadily as it climbed.
Zhuixia wound itself across her body, coiling layer by layer until it covered her entirely.
"So this is Bare mode."
Similar to before—but the rope felt unmistakably sturdier now, and the whole design, somehow, more considered.
Hanabi focused her attention, and a length of red cord extended from her hand as though it were part of her own body, drifting with an easy, living grace.
"The original functions are all there—and it's much more responsive."
Before, she'd controlled the ropes with chakra. Now they felt like extensions of her own body.
That felt right.
She drew a kunai and made a shallow cut on her hand. The wound closed almost immediately—comparable to Naruto's Nine-Tails healing factor, and Hanabi had the sense that if she wanted, it could go faster.
"With this, I can finally go rescue little Hikari."
And conveniently, that whole story could be filmed as an OVA…