[Konoha — Morning]
The first light of dawn barely touched the streets when Naruto stood before his small mirror.
Long gone were the boyish orange garb.
Now he wore a full-length shinobi shirt, dark charcoal gray — sleeves down to his wrists, collar rising high to cover his neck. Fitted, flexible — meant for combat, not flash.
Over it, a sleeveless dark cloak hung light across his shoulders, secured with a simple clasp.
The forehead protector lay on the table before him — the familiar steel gleaming faintly.
For a long moment, he looked at it — a weight beyond metal.
With quiet purpose, Naruto wrapped it tightly around his right biceps, over the cloth sleeve.
A mark of Konoha — bound to his strength, not paraded as decoration.
Below it, unseen to the world, Binding Seal: Permanent Storage shimmered faintly on his inner right arm — the place where his chokutō slept in chakra seal.
A breath. A flex of will.
"Ready."
He reached for his pack — lean, efficient. No wasted weight.
The sword was no longer at his hip — no need. It would come when called.
Today was meant for training — Ground 11 awaited.
But the day had other plans.
A flicker of masked chakra.
An ANBU appeared by the open window, voice calm and clipped:
"Naruto Uzumaki — the Hokage requests your presence. Now."
Naruto met the gaze without flinching.
"Understood."
A final glance — cloak settled. Forehead protector bound firm.
Then he moved — swift as shadow.
[Hokage Tower — The Briefing Chamber]
The mission room was heavy with the scent of old wood and scroll ink.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the table, maps unfurled beneath his steady gaze.
At the side — already assembled — was Team 10.
Shikako Nara — arms crossed, posture deceptively relaxed. Eyes sharp beneath half-lowered lids.
Ino Yamanaka — bright gaze flicking between figures, reading each with quick intuition.
Chōji Akimichi — calm, solid presence. A nod of greeting when Naruto entered.
Their sensei — Asuma Sarutobi — leaned back with practiced ease, a single glance sizing Naruto up.
The change was clear — they noticed.
No sword at his hip. The headband bound on his right biceps. A shinobi's attire — quiet and prepared.
But none spoke of it.
And none knew of the scrolls he now carried in memory — Hashirama's vision, Tobirama's law — or the Daimyō's gift hidden within his seal.
That was for him alone.
[Hokage Tower — The Mission Unfolds]
The room settled.
Hiruzen stood before them, both hands braced upon the ancient table — the weight of the news clear in his gaze.
"You will understand the gravity of this before you move."
Naruto's eyes locked forward, steady.
Team 10 listened — Shikako's brows faintly furrowed, Ino standing straighter, Chōji's breath held silent.
The Hokage began.
"Team 7 was dispatched on an escort mission — to aid a bridge builder in the Land of Waves."
"The target: Tazuna, a key figure attempting to lift his land from the grip of criminal control."
A pause. Hiruzen's voice deepened.
"What was expected to be a C-rank mission escalated rapidly."
"On the bridge itself, they encountered a dangerous operative — Momochi Zabuza."
Even Shikako straightened now — sharp recognition flickering in her gaze.
"The Demon of the Hidden Mist," she murmured.
Hiruzen nodded grimly.
"Once of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Now a rogue shinobi for hire."
"His skills include mastery of Silent Killing, heavy use of Mist jutsu — and deadly swordsmanship."
Naruto's eyes narrowed — already picturing the flow of such an opponent.
"But he does not work alone."
The Hokage unrolled a secondary scroll — a painted likeness of a lithe figure in a mask.
"Accompanying him is an individual believed to be an accomplice — skilled in ice-based techniques and high-speed combat. Identity unconfirmed. Extremely dangerous."
"Both are in the employ of Gatō — a notorious crime lord with deep pockets and darker allies. He controls much of the Land of Waves through fear and blood."
The scroll closed with a soft thud.
"Kakashi Hatake and his team engaged Zabuza once already. They survived — but the threat remains high. Intel indicates a second encounter is imminent."
"Team 7 is holding position near the bridge. The mission is no longer an escort."
"It is a frontline engagement."
Hiruzen's gaze swept the room.
"Team 10, you will reinforce them immediately."
"Your orders: Assist in the defense of the bridge and neutralize threats as necessary."
"Maintain cohesion. Trust in each other — but remain wary. Zabuza and his accomplice are not opponents to underestimate."
His eyes flicked, just a beat longer, toward Naruto.
"And you, Naruto Uzumaki — trust your training. Trust your mind as well as your blade."
Naruto inclined his head, voice low.
"I understand, Hokage-sama."
Inside, Naruto's mind already moved — parsing Hashirama's cautions on the cycle of violence and Tobirama's words on rogue elements.
"A missing-nin drawn by greed. A child soldier bound to follow."
"This won't be a clean fight."
[Hokage Tower — After the Briefing]
The moment the Hokage dismissed them, Asuma turned sharp-eyed toward his team — and toward Naruto, standing just behind.
"Gear up. Ten minutes. Move fast."
"This isn't a drill — it's live combat. You'll prepare for extended engagement: food rations, extra kunai, wire, soldier pills, field bandages. Expect the worst."
Team 10 nodded — already moving.
Asuma's gaze lingered a beat longer on Naruto — as if silently weighing this addition to his squad.
"Naruto — with us. You've heard the level we're facing."
Naruto gave a crisp nod.
"I'll be ready."
[Naruto's Apartment — The Shinobi's Pack]
The door clicked shut behind him.
No time to waste.
Naruto moved with practiced economy now — no wasted motion, no clutter.
His eyes swept over his supplies — each item chosen with care.
Storage scroll — unsealed.
A smooth strip of fine paper marked with intricate seals, laid flat across the small desk.
Items gathered in order:
Reinforced kunai — ten
Shuriken — fifteen
Wire spool — one fine steel, fifty meters
Two soldier pills
Basic medical kit — bandages, ointments, disinfectant
One ration pack
One emergency flare
Two spare ink vials — for sealing
One sealing brush — fine tip
Fuinjutsu scroll — from the Capital — carefully sealed and stowed.
One final check — mind clear, steps steady.
With a practiced hand, he sealed the entire kit into the storage scroll — compressing the bulk of his field gear into the palm-sized parchment.
Then — the scroll itself folded once, twice, slid beneath the band of his left wrist guard — a familiar position for a fast draw.
One last look at the apartment — shadows stretching long across the floor.
Then he was out the door — cloak trailing lightly behind, footsteps sure.