The All Blacks' most difficult week in Edinburgh has finished in a 43-21 victory over Scotland thanks to a dominant second half from the visitors during which the Scots failed to score a point.
The seven-try bonus-point win for Dave Rennie's men keeps them level on Nations Championship competition points with the similarly unbeaten South Africa, although the 'Boks, who trashed Italy 66-7 in Rome before the All Blacks kicked off at Murrayfield, have a healthier points differential.
Scotland, who pushed the All Blacks all the way this time last year at the same venue, must have sensed they were in with a big chance to win their first ever test against New Zealand in their 34th time of trying when they trailed only by 24-21 at halftime.
The visitors' attack had looked promising, with Wallace Sititi going over from a neat early lineout move, Ethan de Groot crossing from close range, Codie Taylor scoring from a lineout drive and Beauden Barrett running a superb line for his 49th test try, but they conceded three tries to hooker Ewan Ashman and loose forward Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi had both gone to the sinbin.
The old discipline bugbear appeared set to haunt the All Blacks again but instead their utter scrum dominance and a far better defensive performance after the break squeezed the Scots and the home side, for all of their attacking spark in the first half, had no response.
Barrett celebrated his 50th test try after the break when he made the most of Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu's yellow card, with wing Josh Moorby crossing in the left corner and replacement hooker Asafo Aumua scoring an outstanding try on the blindside from an attacking lineout.
All of this was managed against the backdrop of grief: their security chief Logan Cadwallader's sudden passing early in the week making for a hugely challenging time so far from home.
"It took days to even contemplate playing a game of rugby," Barrett said afterwards of the death of a man who served in the New Zealand SAS.
"It took us days to be able to focus and lock in but super proud of how we did that and how strong this team is… you lose a soldier and you keep going to complete the mission and hopefully he would have been proud of what we did tonight."
Barrett added: "We were our own worse enemies at times but once we came together and found a connection we were unbreakable."
The All Blacks' tight five were responsible for much of that resilience and connectivity.
They were again a touch vulnerable to the lineout drive, with hooker Ashman scoring two of his tries there, but otherwise their accuracy, urgency and decision making was outstanding.
Remarkably, there was only one scrum in the first half, but, with midfielder Quinn Tupaea packing down on the side after Lakai's yellow card, the All Blacks set the tone (and got out of trouble) with a penalty.
Locks Fabian Holland and Scott Barrett were standouts, the former simply brilliant at receiving kick-offs and in the lineout, with Jordie Barrett and Tupaea winning two important breakdown penalties in the second half to snuff out Scotland's ambitions.
And then of course there was the calming presence of Beauden Barrett at the back doing what he has been doing for this team since his debut way back in 2012.
Head coach Rennie told Sky Sport afterwards: "It has been a tough week with a massive emotional toll. We prepared well but we were also concerned we might overplay and go a little over the top with how much we wanted it for Logan."
The All Blacks showed adaptability, deception and subtlety at times and for all of Scotland's attacking threat under head coach Gregor Townsend, their mercurial No.10 Finn Russell was well contained and then replaced halfway through the second half.
There were some defensive wobbles in that first 40 minutes and Jordie Barrett's departure in the second half for a head injury assessment after he collided with Blair Kinghorn's shoulder was not ideal considering what is to come - specifically a clash against England at Twickenham in a fortnight. Wing Will Jordan also left the field in the second spell.
But considering their week and the challenges of playing a modern-day Scotland at home, this was very much a job well done and they will look forward to playing Wales in Cardiff with a huge amount of confidence.
There will also be pride in their ability to honour their former protector in such an appropriate fashion.
As Beauden Barrett said - mission accomplished.
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