Land of Waves

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The Land of Waves is an island nation off the coast of the Land of Fire.

This land possesses no ninja village due to its natural protection from the sea. It is now connected to the mainland by the great Naruto Bridge built by the Master Bridge Builder. The bridge was a necessity due to the take over of the shipping routes by industrialist turned crime lord Gato. Gato repressed the people of the Land of Waves to the point where they lost all hope and courage; however, on his way back to the Land of Waves, Tazuna, the bridge builder, asks for standard, C-rank protection on the way home. Fate was at work because it was for this very mission that the Third Hokage made an exemption and allowed the genin of squad seven to perform a C-rank mission with so little experience.

As squad seven and Tazuna made their way to the Land of Waves, they were attacked by a rogue assassin from the Village Hidden in the Mist. After two battles with Zabuza, the rogue hired by Gato, and Haku, squad seven was nearing victory when Gato intervened. Irritated by Zabuza's price, Gato fired him and ordered his death. When Zabuza's sympathy and compassion were stirred by Naruto, he attacked Gato. With Gato and Zabuza dead, the mob of criminals hired by Gato decide to take their payment from the village. To the surprise of all on the bridge, Inari, changed by Naruto's words and actions, managed to wake the village's courage and get them to the bridge. The sheer numbers of villagers, combined with Naruto and Kakashi's shadow clones, drove the attackers away.

This is how Naruto Uzumaki managed to return hope, courage, and a hero to the Land of Waves. Shortly before the departure, just after the bridge was complete, Tazuna informed Kakashi of the bridge's name. He claimed that the name Naruto brought courage to the village and stated that the "Great Naruto Bridge" would stand for a long time and be known throughout the world.