In the following days, Yoruha, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura split into two-person teams, taking turns protecting Tazuna as he worked on the bridge's construction.
During that time, Zabuza never reappeared.
Kakashi stayed with the team directly guarding Tazuna. After all, Tazuna was the target of their mission, and Kakashi couldn't rest easy unless he watched over him personally.
Within just a few days, Yoruha had already mastered dozens of ninjutsu techniques. He had even completely mastered Raikiri/Lightning Cutter.
Now, he was studying sealing arts under Kakashi.
Yoruha's learning speed astonished Kakashi— even after having already witnessed his terrifying rate of growth before. At this point, Yoruha had learned enough jutsu to qualify as an elite jōnin. His raw strength alone already placed him at that level— the only thing he lacked was battlefield experience.
Yoruha valued real combat very highly.
But Kakashi didn't quite agree. In his view, even with limited combat experience, Yoruha already possessed elite jōnin-level power. Facing such a fighter, even another elite jōnin would have a hard time defeating him.
After several peaceful weeks, one evening, Yoruha returned from training in the back mountains.
The moment he stepped through the gate of Tazuna's house, he sensed that something was wrong.
He stopped at the doorway, his hand hovering midair before touching the door.
"…So quiet," he murmured to himself.
Then he took a step back.
Whoosh—
In the next instant, Yoruha vanished from where he stood like a ghost.
Almost simultaneously, he appeared on the second floor—in the room they had been staying in these past few days.
He entered silently through the balcony, chakra gathered under his feet, his steps soundless against the wooden floor.
The room looked perfectly tidy, just as usual. Yoruha turned and made his way downstairs.
It was quiet— unnaturally quiet.
No Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, bustling about the kitchen. No Inari running through the halls.
Sakura was nowhere to be seen either.
From the second floor down to the first, there wasn't a trace of Tsunami, Inari, or Sakura.
Then, on the dining table, Yoruha spotted a letter.
After a moment's hesitation, he formed chakra around his hands—golden chakra wrapping his palms like gloves.
He opened the envelope carefully. His expression darkened as he read.
"…So it really happened. Looks like someone's set a trap—obvious enough to invite me right in."
Indeed, it was a ransom note.
The kidnappers had taken Sakura, Tsunami, and Inari hostage, demanding that Yoruha come to the back mountain alone.
If he failed to appear before sunset, they would kill all three of them.
Without further hesitation, Yoruha sped toward the designated location.
He didn't go to warn Kakashi— there wasn't enough time.
As he raced through the forest, his face was grim.
They knew exactly when I'd return from training… they must've been watching for days, he thought. Their goal is to stall me. Their real target must be Tazuna. Zabuza and his allies are probably already attacking Kakashi.
Yoruha's mind worked quickly.
He knew that after their last battle, Zabuza had learned his lesson—Kakashi and Yoruha together were too much for him to handle.
So kidnapping Sakura and the others was just a way to delay Yoruha's return.
That would leave Zabuza free to strike at Tazuna. With only Kakashi to face, his chances of success rose sharply— especially if he had help.
Even understanding that, Yoruha had no choice but to take the bait.
Unless he was willing to abandon Sakura and the others— which he wasn't.
Before long, he arrived at the meeting spot mentioned in the letter.
Deep within the forest stood a small wooden cabin.
Inside, Sakura, Tsunami, and Inari were bound to wooden stakes—each covered in explosive tags.
In front of them sat three rogue ninja from Kirigakure.
The one in charge had long green hair and sharp, pointed teeth— the mist-nin known as Kurosuki Raiga, once one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Behind him stood two chūnin from the same village.
After learning of Yoruha's strength—comparable to that of a jōnin—Zabuza had sought out Raiga for help.
Gatō, their employer, had even paid an additional S-rank bounty for it. Painful as the cost was, he was willing to spend it if it meant killing Tazuna and stopping the bridge construction.
Raiga looked at the three captives before him with a cold smile.
"Don't worry," he said. "Once that brat arrives, I'll send you all to the afterlife together. And after you're dead, I'll even hold a grand funeral for you! Hahaha!"
He broke into manic laughter.
Sakura struggled against her bindings and shouted angrily, "You green-haired freak! You won't get away with this! Once Kakashi-sensei and Yoruha get here, they'll take you down!"
"Hahaha! Foolish little girl," Raiga sneered. "By now, Kakashi is probably dead at Zabuza's hands.
"As for that brat Yoruha… I'll admit he's strong."
He leaned forward, eyes glinting. "But I've got the three of you right here. That idiotic 'comrade bond' you Leaf shinobi love so much will make sure he can't ignore your safety.
"No matter how fast he is, he can't move faster than the explosion tags on your bodies."
He grinned, voice filled with mock pity. "A shame, really. That kid's a true prodigy… yet he's going to die just to save a foolish little girl like you. What a waste."
For days, Raiga and his subordinates had been secretly observing Yoruha.
He knew exactly how much the boy had improved.
If not for having Sakura as a hostage, Raiga wasn't confident he could kill Yoruha outright.
But with three hostages in hand— and from what he'd seen, Yoruha and Sakura seemed close— Raiga was certain Yoruha would come running.
That was his confidence.
And with the Thunder Swords: Fang in his possession, his power rivaled any elite jōnin. He was far stronger than the average jōnin, especially with two chūnin to back him up.
He couldn't imagine losing.
Inari, meanwhile, trembled as he listened to Raiga's words. His thoughts flashed back to his father— who had died in a similar way.
He remembered what Naruto had told him that day, but now, despair swallowed him whole.
"…So heroes really don't exist," he muttered through tears. "Anyone who tries to be one is just a fool. They all die."
"Overestimating themselves… people are always like that."
His voice was hollow.
The spark of hope Naruto had kindled in him days ago had been completely extinguished.
Tsunami's face was pale.
She understood what Raiga's words meant— they were going to die.
To her, Yoruha and the others were just children. How strong could they possibly be, no matter how talented?
Kakashi was probably occupied elsewhere by now.
Her father might already have been killed by other assassins.
Having lost both her husband and now perhaps her father, Tsunami fell into despair, unable to say a word.