Shadow of the Sun

The sky over Konoha wept, sheets of rain cascading down from a steel-gray firmament that seemed to mirror the mood within the Namikaze household. Thunder cracked overhead, a fitting backdrop to the tension simmering behind closed doors.

Ten-year-old Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze pressed his back against the wall outside his father's study, his small frame practically melting into the shadows. Inside, voices rose in excitement—his parents and Jiraiya-sama discussing his siblings' progress yet again.

"Mito channeled the Kyuubi's chakra for nearly thirty seconds today," Kushina exclaimed, her voice brimming with maternal pride. "Her control is unprecedented for someone her age!"

"And Menma's wind release is developing beautifully," Minato added. "He's already attempting combination jutsu with Mito's water techniques."

Naruto's fingers curled against the cool plaster. The familiar knot in his stomach tightened. His twin siblings—blessed with portions of the Nine-Tails' chakra, blessed with their parents' undivided attention, blessed with destiny.

"They're exactly as the prophecy described," Jiraiya's gravelly voice carried through the door. "The sun and the moon, working in tandem. The Children of Prophecy who will bring about a revolution in the shinobi world."

Naruto bit his lip until he tasted copper. The Children of Prophecy. Never the child—always children. Plural. And yet, somehow, that plurality had never extended to include him.

The rain intensified, pounding against the roof like a thousand senbon needles. Naruto pushed himself away from the wall, padding silently down the hallway toward his room—the smallest in the Namikaze compound, tucked away in the corner like an afterthought. Just like him.

He paused at the doorway to the family room, where framed photographs lined the mantelpiece. Family portraits—Minato with his arm around Kushina, Mito and Menma grinning between them. Training snapshots—Kushina teaching Mito the basics of sealing arts, Minato demonstrating a wind jutsu for an enraptured Menma.

And there, nearly hidden behind a larger frame, a single photo of Naruto as a toddler. Alone. Always alone.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the room in stark white for a split second. In that heartbeat of clarity, Naruto made a decision. If he couldn't earn his parents' acknowledgment through their love, he would command it through his power.

His hand closed around the door handle to his room, twisting it with newfound resolve. Inside, scrolls were strewn across his small desk—academy texts he'd read cover to cover, supplementary materials he'd begged from Iruka-sensei, tattered manuscripts "borrowed" from his father's lesser-used shelves.

The village might see him as nothing more than the forgotten offspring of the Yellow Flash and the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, the unremarkable shadow to his siblings' brilliance. His family might view him as the child who hadn't inherited the prophesied power, who couldn't contain the Nine-Tails' chakra.

But Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze knew better. There was more than one path to strength. More than one way to force the world to acknowledge your existence.

The thunder growled its approval as he pulled a blank scroll from his drawer, dipping his brush in ink with steady hands.

If they won't teach me, he thought, I'll teach myself.

Across the village, in a dimly lit office tower, the Third Hokage stood at his window, watching the storm rage. Behind him, an ANBU operative knelt, mask gleaming in the low light.

"The boy was watching them train again today," the ANBU reported. "From the forest edge. The parents didn't notice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, the weight of decades of leadership heavy in his bones. "And how did he look?"

A moment of hesitation. "Hungry, Hokage-sama."

The Third nodded, understanding the meaning that transcended physical appetite. "Continue to watch him. Discreetly."

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

As the ANBU vanished in a swirl of leaves, Hiruzen turned back to the storm-lashed village. Somewhere out there, a boy with sunshine hair and ocean eyes was being eclipsed by prophecy and expectation.

"Minato, Kushina," he murmured to the empty room, "your greatest treasure may be the one you've forgotten to polish."

Morning arrived in Konoha with the gentle persistence of sunlight filtering through storm-cleansed air. The Namikaze compound stirred to life, scents of breakfast wafting through hallways, cheerful voices calling out greetings.

Naruto's alarm clock buzzed at precisely 5:30 AM, a full hour before the rest of the household would rise. He silenced it with a practiced motion, already halfway out of bed. Early mornings had become his sanctuary—the only time the training ground behind the house stood empty, the only opportunity to practice without inviting unwanted comparisons.

He dressed quickly in faded training clothes that had once belonged to Menma, now passed down with barely a thought. The fabric hung loose on his smaller frame—another reminder of the differences between them. Naruto tied his hitai-ate—earned just last week, alongside his classmates—around his forehead with a fierce determination.

Genin at last. A step toward recognition.

The mirror reflected a face that seemed older than its ten years—blue eyes that held a sharpness beyond childhood, whisker marks that stood out starkly against skin that rarely saw enough sun. Unlike Menma and Mito, whose whisker marks were badges of the power they held, Naruto's were merely... decoration. Birthmarks without purpose.

He slipped through the house like a ghost, practiced feet avoiding every creaking floorboard. The kitchen was empty, but a pot of rice kept warm from last night's dinner sat on the counter. Naruto helped himself to a small bowl and a single umeboshi plum. He ate standing up, gaze drifting to the family calendar prominently displayed on the refrigerator.

Today's date was circled in red: "Mito & Menma - Special Training with Jiraiya-sama." Below it, in smaller print: "Team Assignments at Academy - 9 AM."

No mention that it was Naruto's assignment day too.

The rice turned to paste in his mouth. He swallowed with difficulty and rinsed his bowl, placing it on the drying rack with barely a sound. Then, slipping on his sandals at the back door, he vanished into the pearl-gray dawn.

The training ground behind the Namikaze compound bore all the hallmarks of frequent, intensive use. Target posts riddled with kunai marks. Ground scarred by powerful ninjutsu. Training dummies in various states of destruction.

Naruto moved to the farthest corner, where the trees grew closer together and the underbrush had been allowed to encroach. His corner. The forgotten corner for the forgotten child.

He began with basic katas, moving through the Academy-taught forms with fluid precision. Then he transitioned to the modifications he'd developed—adjustments that accommodated his shorter reach, that leveraged his lighter weight, that played to the natural agility he'd discovered during those solitary training sessions.

Sweat began to bead on his brow as he increased his speed, pushing himself harder, faster. A sequence of kicks, a roll, three shuriken launched in rapid succession—all striking their targets with deadly accuracy.

Yet it wasn't enough. It was never enough.

Naruto reached into his pocket and withdrew a crumpled piece of paper—chakra testing paper he'd saved up his meager allowance to purchase. He'd been delaying this moment, partly from fear of disappointment, partly from the desperate hope that someone—his father, his mother, anyone—would offer to help him discover his nature.

No one had.

With a deep breath, he channeled his chakra into the paper. For a heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. Then, the paper crinkled sharply—before splitting down the middle.

Wind and lightning. Just like his father.

A bitter laugh escaped him. All this time, he'd carried Minato's elemental affinities, and no one had bothered to check. Would it have made a difference? Would his father have made time for him if he'd known they shared this bond?

"You're up early."

Naruto whirled, dropping into a defensive stance before recognizing the silver-haired figure perched on a nearby tree branch. "Kakashi-san."

The jōnin's visible eye crinkled in what might have been a smile beneath his mask. "Maa, so formal. Just Kakashi is fine." He hopped down, landing silently. "Impressive elemental test. Dual nature is rare."

Naruto quickly tucked the torn paper away, uncomfortable with the praise. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, actually." Kakashi slouched, hands in pockets, the picture of nonchalance. "Thought I'd wish you luck on team assignments today."

The words were casual, but something in Kakashi's tone made Naruto look up sharply. "You know which team I'm on."

It wasn't a question.

Kakashi's eye curved again. "Perhaps."

"And?"

"And that would be telling." The jōnin reached out, ruffling Naruto's hair before the boy could dodge. "Academy at nine, right? Don't be late."

With that, he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving Naruto with more questions than answers and the lingering sense that something significant had just occurred—though he couldn't quite grasp what.

The sun had fully risen now, golden light spilling across the training ground. Inside the house, Naruto could hear movement—his family beginning their day. Soon, Mito and Menma would burst outside, eager to warm up before Jiraiya arrived.

Naruto gathered his weapons and slipped away, taking the path that skirted the compound wall. No need to cross paths. No need to see the moment when his parents' faces lit up at the sight of their prophesied children while sliding past their firstborn as if he were merely a shadow.

Today was team assignment day. Today, he would take another step toward proving his worth—not as the child of prophecy, but as himself. Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze. The boy determined to forge his own destiny from the scraps others had left behind.

As he walked toward the Academy, his resolve hardened with each step. One day, they would all look at him—really look at him—and see not what he lacked, but what he had become despite it all.

One day, he would step out of the shadow of the sun and cast a light all his own.

The Academy classroom buzzed with excitement, newly-minted genin clustered in animated groups as they awaited their team assignments. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, dust motes dancing in golden shafts that cut across the room.

Naruto slipped through the door with minutes to spare, instinctively seeking the shadows. He claimed a seat in the back corner, away from the most boisterous clusters of students. Not hiding—never hiding—but strategic. Observant.

"Naruto!"

A flash of pink caught his peripheral vision as Sakura Haruno bounded up the steps toward him, her forehead protector gleaming against her vibrant hair. Behind her, more sedately, followed Sasuke Uchiha, hands in pockets and face set in its perpetual scowl.

"Heard anything about the teams?" Sakura asked, sliding into the seat beside him with a familiarity that still caught Naruto off-guard sometimes. "My mom says they try to balance abilities, but I think that's just what parents tell you."

Sasuke grunted as he took the seat on Naruto's other side. "It's politics. Clan alliances. Power plays."

Three years ago, these two wouldn't have given Naruto a second glance. Sakura had been too busy trailing after Sasuke, and Sasuke had been too consumed by his rivalry with Menma to notice the quiet boy who excelled academically but never drew attention to himself.

Then came The Incident.

Naruto's gaze drifted to the scar on Sasuke's forearm—a pale line barely visible against his already fair skin. A reminder of the day Menma's control slipped during a training exercise, when Nine-Tails chakra had lashed out wildly in the Academy training yard. The day Naruto had shoved Sasuke aside and taken the brunt of the caustic chakra, earning himself a week in the hospital with burns that even Kyuubi-chakra offspring shouldn't have been able to survive.

The day Minato and Kushina had visited exactly once, their faces pale with shock—not that their forgotten son had been injured, but that he had displayed such resilience to the Nine-Tails' power.

Tests had followed. Theories. Hushed discussions outside his hospital room that they thought he couldn't hear.

But no answers. And no change in how they saw him.

For Sasuke, though, something had shifted. The proud Uchiha heir had visited every day, sitting in awkward silence that gradually gave way to conversation. Sakura had come too, initially to see Sasuke, then increasingly for Naruto himself—bringing notes from classes he was missing, smuggling in ramen when the nurses weren't looking.

"Earth to Naruto," Sakura waved her hand before his face. "You in there?"

Naruto blinked, pulling himself back to the present. "Sorry. Thinking."

"About team assignments?" She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I heard from Ino who heard from her dad that they're breaking tradition this year. Something about 'exceptional circumstances.'"

Before Naruto could respond, the classroom door slid open with a bang. Menma and Mito Uzumaki-Namikaze strode in, their presence immediately drawing every eye in the room. They moved with the easy confidence of those who had never questioned their place in the world, matching red hair gleaming, their hitai-ate polished to mirror brightness.

Unlike Naruto, who had inherited Minato's coloring, the twins were carbon copies of Kushina—except for their eyes. Menma had their father's piercing blue, while Mito's were a stormy gray that seemed to shift color with her moods.

They were beautiful, charismatic, and absolutely radiating power. Even at ten, their chakra presence filled the room like a physical force.

Naruto felt Sasuke stiffen beside him, saw his hand unconsciously move to cover the scar.

"Breathe, Uchiha," Naruto murmured. "They're not worth the blood pressure."

Sasuke shot him a glare but removed his hand from his arm.

Across the room, Mito's gaze swept over the class and landed on their group. For a brief moment, her eyes connected with Naruto's—and there it was, the flicker of... something. Not quite recognition, not quite dismissal. The look of someone trying to place a vaguely familiar face.

His own sister, and she had to think to remember him.

Naruto held her gaze steadily until she looked away, turning to respond to something Ino Yamanaka was saying. He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Gods, they're insufferable," Sakura whispered. "Did you see what Mito said to Hinata yesterday? The poor girl was in tears for hours."

Before Naruto could answer, Iruka-sensei entered, calling for quiet with the unique vocal projection that only Academy instructors seemed to master. The room settled almost instantly.

"Today marks your transition from Academy students to genin of Konohagakure," Iruka began, pride evident in his voice as he surveyed the room. His gaze lingered briefly on Naruto, a small smile softening his scarred face. "The path of a shinobi is never easy, but you have all proven yourselves worthy of taking the first step."

Naruto straightened slightly. Of all the adults in his life, Iruka-sensei had been the one constant—the one who saw him, truly saw him, not as an extension of his famous parents or as the lesser shadow of his siblings, but as Naruto.

"Now, for the team assignments," Iruka continued, lifting a clipboard. "As you know, you will be placed in three-man cells under the guidance of a jōnin instructor. These teams are designed to balance your strengths and provide the best environment for your continued growth."

He began reading off names, each announcement met with a mixture of cheers, groans, and whispered commentary. Naruto noticed that his siblings were unusually quiet, exchanging glances that suggested they already knew something the rest of the class didn't.

"Team Seven," Iruka announced, "Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze."

A ripple of interest passed through the room. Traditionally, the Hokage's children were placed on teams with specific political alignments. For Naruto to be assigned to Seven—historically the team given the most challenging missions—was unexpected.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke gave a small nod of satisfaction. Top of the class paired with second-highest scores. Logical.

"And Sakura Haruno."

Sakura let out a small squeak of delight, grabbing Naruto's arm. "We're together! All three of us!"

"Your jōnin instructor will be Kakashi Hatake."

Whispers erupted across the classroom. The Copy Ninja himself, assigned to a genin team? Naruto recalled their brief encounter that morning. So that's what Kakashi had known.

"Team Nine," Iruka continued after the murmurs subsided, "Mito Uzumaki-Namikaze, Menma Uzumaki-Namikaze—"

More whispers. Siblings were rarely placed on the same team.

"—and Hinata Hyūga. Your instructor will be Kurenai Yūhi."

Naruto shot a glance at the quiet Hyūga heiress, who had gone pale. Poor Hinata—stuck between the prophesied twins and their egos. But perhaps Kurenai-sensei, known for her genjutsu expertise and no-nonsense approach, would keep things balanced.

As Iruka finished the assignments, he added, "Your jōnin instructors will arrive after lunch. Use this time wisely." His eyes twinkled as he glanced at Naruto's group. "Some of you may want to get to know your teammates better."

The classroom erupted into motion and chatter as students sought out their new teams. Naruto remained seated, processing what had just happened. He'd expected to be placed on a team far from his siblings—the Hokage's way of ensuring his unremarkable firstborn didn't embarrass the family name. Instead, he'd been assigned to the traditionally prestigious Team Seven, with two people who might actually be friends, under the instruction of his father's former student.

It didn't make sense.

"Lunch on the roof?" Sakura suggested, already standing. "I brought extra onigiri."

Sasuke nodded. "I'll grab drinks from the vending machine."

They looked at Naruto expectantly. He felt a strange warmth spread through his chest—the novel sensation of being included, wanted, expected.

"I'll be right there," he said. "Need to ask Iruka-sensei something first."

As his teammates headed out, Naruto approached the front desk where Iruka was organizing papers. The instructor looked up with a smile. "Congratulations on Team Seven, Naruto. I think you'll find it's a good fit."

"Why?" Naruto asked bluntly. "Why that team? Why Kakashi?"

Iruka's smile faltered slightly. "The Hokage makes the final team assignments."

"My father doesn't make decisions about me without a reason," Naruto pressed. "Usually the reason is to keep me as far from anything important as possible."

Iruka sighed, setting down his paperwork. "Naruto... not everything is what it seems. Your father—"

"Save it," Naruto interrupted, suddenly regretting the question. "It doesn't matter. I'll make it work regardless."

As he turned to leave, Iruka called after him. "Naruto. Your test scores this year were the highest theoretical marks we've seen in a decade. Your practical skills have improved dramatically. Whatever else you believe... you earned your place on Team Seven."

Naruto paused in the doorway, not turning around. "Thanks, Iruka-sensei." Then, more quietly, "For everything."

He didn't wait for a response before heading to the roof, where Sasuke and Sakura were already spreading out lunch in a sunny spot sheltered from the breeze. As he approached, he could hear them debating the merits of having Kakashi as their instructor.

"My brother says he's always at least two hours late to everything," Sasuke was saying. "But that once he actually shows up, he's brutally efficient."

"I heard he's never passed a genin team," Sakura countered, arranging onigiri on a cloth. "Something about a special test he gives."

They both looked up as Naruto joined them. Sakura immediately handed him a rice ball filled with pickled plum, his favorite. The simple fact that she remembered sent another wave of that strange warmth through him.

"So," Sasuke said after they'd eaten in companionable silence for a few minutes, "are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You mean the fact that the Dead Last, the Top Rookie, and the Smartest Kunoichi got placed together instead of the traditional balancing act?"

Sakura snorted. "You haven't been the Dead Last since first year, Naruto. You're second in practical scores now, right behind Mr. Perfect here."

"And I heard your written scores beat even Shikamaru's," Sasuke added. "So drop the self-deprecation. It's annoying."

Naruto blinked, genuinely surprised. When had Sasuke started paying such close attention to his academic standing?

"I think," Sakura said slowly, "we got placed together because we already work well together. I mean, the practical exercise last month? We had the fastest completion time in class history."

"That was mostly luck," Naruto demurred.

"That was mostly you," Sasuke corrected. "Your strategy. Your coordination." He hesitated, then added more quietly, "Your willingness to take a hit for the team."

The unspoken reference to The Incident hung in the air between them.

Sakura broke the tension by reaching into her bag and pulling out three small packages. "I was going to wait until we officially passed whatever test Kakashi-sensei has for us, but... well, here."

She thrust a package at each of them. Naruto accepted his with surprise, carefully unwrapping the simple brown paper.

Inside lay a set of fingerless gloves, similar to those worn by many chūnin and jōnin. But these were unique—crafted from supple black leather with reinforced knuckles and subtle navy blue accents. A small spiral symbol—the Uzumaki crest—had been carefully tooled into the wrist of each glove.

"Sakura..." he breathed, running his fingers over the craftsmanship.

"My uncle's a leatherworker," she explained, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "I've been apprenticing with him on weekends. Sasuke helped with the design."

Naruto looked over to see Sasuke examining his own pair—identical except for the Uchiha fan emblem in place of the spiral.

"I noticed your hands were always getting torn up from extra training," Sakura continued. "These are treated to channel chakra efficiently, and the reinforcement should help with your taijutsu strikes."

The thoughtfulness of the gift struck Naruto like a physical blow. When was the last time anyone had noticed something he needed? When was the last time anyone had given him something made specifically for him, not handed down or repurposed?

He slipped them on, feeling the leather conform to his hands as if they'd been made from a mold. Perfect fit.

"Thank you," he managed, his voice unexpectedly rough. "Both of you."

Sasuke, looking equally moved by his gift though trying desperately to hide it, cleared his throat. "We should make a pact," he said suddenly. "Right now, before we meet Kakashi. Before whatever test he has."

Sakura nodded eagerly. "A Team Seven pact."

Naruto looked between them, these two people who had somehow become important to him without him quite realizing when or how. "What kind of pact?"

Sasuke extended his hand, palm down, in the center of their little circle. "No matter what happens—with the test, with missions, with..." he glanced at Naruto, "...family politics. We stick together. We have each other's backs. Always."

Sakura placed her hand atop Sasuke's without hesitation. "No matter what," she agreed.

They both looked at Naruto. He hesitated only briefly before adding his newly-gloved hand to the stack.

"No matter what," he echoed, feeling something shift and settle into place within him—a foundation being laid for something he'd never dared hope for.

As their hands broke apart, a shadow fell across their circle. They looked up to find Kakashi perched on the water tower above them, orange book in hand, visible eye creased in amusement.

"My first impression of you three," he drawled, snapping his book shut, "is that you're going to be far more trouble than you're worth."

But Naruto caught the hint of approval in the jōnin's gaze as it lingered on their matched gloves, on their unified posture, on the remains of their shared lunch.

Perhaps Team Seven would be different from everything he'd expected. Perhaps here, finally, was a place where being Naruto would be enough—where he could step out of the shadow of prophecy and forge his own path alongside people who saw him clearly.

Perhaps, for the first time, he wasn't alone.

The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly on Training Ground Three, its rays reflecting off the three wooden posts that had stood as silent witnesses to generations of genin trials. The memorial stone gleamed darkly at the edge of the clearing, names of fallen heroes etched into its polished surface—a somber reminder of the path they sought to walk.

Team Seven stood in a loose triangle, watching their new sensei with varying degrees of wariness. Kakashi Hatake lounged against the center post, seemingly absorbed in his orange book, but Naruto wasn't fooled. The occasional flick of the jōnin's visible eye toward them betrayed his attention.

"So," Kakashi finally drawled, not looking up from his page, "I suppose we should do introductions."

Sakura straightened eagerly. "Like names, things we like, things we hate, dreams for the future?"

"Mm. If you insist." Kakashi turned a page. "You first, Pinky."

Sakura's eye twitched at the nickname but she composed herself quickly. "I'm Sakura Haruno. I like medical texts, crafting, and..." she glanced at her teammates, "...spending time with friends who actually appreciate intelligence. I dislike bullies and people who judge others based on appearance or background." Her green eyes flashed with determination. "My dream is to become a combat medic-nin who can protect her team both on and off the battlefield."

Naruto blinked in surprise. When had Sakura's dream shifted from "marry Sasuke and restore the Uchiha clan" to something so... substantial?

Kakashi nodded slightly. "Broody. You're up."

Sasuke scowled at the moniker but complied. "Sasuke Uchiha. I like training, tomatoes, and quiet. I dislike unnecessary noise, fan girls, and people who abuse power." His dark eyes narrowed. "I have two ambitions: to surpass my brother and to restore my clan's honor—not through vengeance, but by proving our worth through service to the village."

Another surprise. The last time Naruto had heard Sasuke discuss his ambitions had been after the Uchiha Incident, when Itachi's loyalties had been questioned and the clan placed under suspicion. Back then, Sasuke had spoken only of proving his clan's innocence and making certain parties "pay." This new direction seemed... healthier.

"And finally," Kakashi turned his eye toward Naruto, "Whiskerwhistler."

Naruto's hand instinctively rose to the marks on his cheeks before he caught himself. He shoved his hands—now protected by Sakura's gloves—into his pockets.

"Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze," he began, and even after ten years, the name still felt awkward on his tongue—a reminder of the family that wasn't really his. "I like ramen, learning new jutsu, and people who keep their word. I dislike propaganda, empty promises, and being underestimated." He paused, considering how to frame his dream. "My ambition is to become a shinobi worthy of acknowledgment—not because of my name or my family, but because of what I can accomplish with my own two hands."

He felt rather than saw Sasuke and Sakura shift slightly closer to him—a subtle show of solidarity that didn't escape Kakashi's notice.

"Hmm." The jōnin finally tucked his book away, fixing them with a more serious look. "Well, now that the warm fuzzies are out of the way, let me explain something important: You're not genin yet."

"What?" Sakura blurted. "But we passed the Academy exam—"

"The Academy exam determines which students might have the potential to become genin," Kakashi corrected. "The actual decision lies with the jōnin instructor assigned to each team." His visible eye curved in what might have been a smile beneath the mask. "And I have a reputation to maintain. Of the twenty-seven graduates placed on teams this year, only nine will actually become genin. The rest will be sent back to the Academy."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. This explained Iruka-sensei's cryptic comments. Despite being assigned to teams, two-thirds of their classmates would fail whatever test Kakashi and the other jōnin had prepared.

"What's the test?" Sasuke demanded, tension evident in his voice.

Kakashi reached into his pocket and produced two small bells on red strings. They jingled softly in the afternoon breeze. "The objective is simple: get a bell before sunset. Whoever doesn't get a bell fails and goes back to the Academy."

Naruto's mind raced. Two bells. Three genin. The math was unmistakable.

"But sensei," Sakura protested, "there are only two bells!"

"Very observant." Kakashi's eye crinkled again. "This ensures at least one of you fails. Of course, all three of you might fail, depending on your performance."

A test designed to pit them against each other after they'd just pledged to stick together. Naruto glanced at his teammates, seeing his own suspicion reflected in their expressions. Too convenient. Too calculated.

"You have until the sun touches the horizon," Kakashi continued, tying the bells to his waist. "Come at me with the intent to kill, or you won't stand a chance." He pulled out a small alarm clock, setting it on the center post. "Begin when I give the signal."

Team Seven tensed, ready to spring into action.

Kakashi raised his hand dramatically, then dropped it with a casual, "Start."

Sasuke and Sakura immediately vanished into the surrounding forest, concealing their presence with the stealth drilled into them at the Academy. Naruto, however, remained rooted in place, studying the jōnin with narrowed eyes.

"You know," Kakashi remarked, pulling out his book again, "you're supposed to hide."

"Why?" Naruto challenged. "So you can hunt us down individually? Divide and conquer?"

Kakashi turned a page. "Ma, so suspicious. And here I thought the Hokage's son would be more trusting."

The barb hit its mark. Naruto felt his cheeks flush with anger, but he held his ground. "I'm not here as the Hokage's son. I'm here as a member of Team Seven."

"A team with only two bells," Kakashi reminded him. "Tick tock, Naruto. Your friends are already plotting how to leave you behind."

The doubt flickered for only a moment before Naruto squashed it. No. He'd seen the truth in their eyes during the rooftop pact. Whatever this test was really about, it wasn't going to break what they'd just built.

With deliberate calm, Naruto turned his back on Kakashi and walked toward the treeline.

"Bold move, turning your back on an enemy," Kakashi called after him.

Naruto paused, glancing over his shoulder with a small, confident smile. "Who said you were the enemy, Kakashi-sensei?"

Then he disappeared into the forest, leaving a slightly perplexed jōnin behind.

"It's a trick," Naruto declared as soon as he reached the small hollow where Sasuke and Sakura had concealed themselves. "The whole test is a trick."

Sakura nodded vigorously. "I've been thinking the same thing. The Academy teaches three-man cells for a reason. It's the standard unit for all village missions."

"And Kakashi was part of a three-man team under my father," Naruto added. "He knows the value of teamwork better than most."

Sasuke leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed. "So the bells are a distraction. The real test is whether we'll turn on each other."

"Exactly," Naruto confirmed. "He's testing our ability to see underneath the underneath."

"But even if we work together, there are still only two bells," Sakura pointed out. "One of us would have to sacrifice."

Naruto's expression hardened. "Then I'll be the one without a bell."

"No," Sasuke and Sakura said simultaneously.

"We made a pact," Sasuke reminded him. "We stick together or not at all."

Sakura's eyes brightened suddenly. "What if... what if we get both bells, but refuse to decide who gets them? Force Kakashi-sensei to either pass all of us or fail all of us?"

A slow smile spread across Naruto's face. "Call his bluff."

"It's risky," Sasuke cautioned. "He might actually fail all three of us."

"Better than betraying each other," Naruto said firmly. "Besides, I doubt my father would let his prized student fail the Last Uchiha."

Sasuke scowled. "I don't want special treatment."

"Neither do I," Naruto replied with a pointed look. "But we can use the village's political machinations to our advantage, just this once."

Sakura clapped her hands softly. "So we're agreed? We work together to get the bells, then refuse to choose between us?"

Naruto nodded, then hesitated. "One thing—Kakashi's no pushover. We'll need a solid strategy."

"I've been watching him," Sasuke said. "He keeps that book out as a distraction, but his awareness never drops. Standard ambush tactics won't work."

"Then we need to be unpredictable," Naruto suggested, a gleam entering his blue eyes. "And I think I know just how to do it." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Here's the plan..."

Kakashi was getting bored. Nearly an hour had passed since the test began, and none of the genin had made a move. The forest around the clearing remained suspiciously still.

Perhaps I was too intimidating, he mused, turning another page in his book. Wouldn't be the first time.

A rustle to his left caught his attention. Ah, finally.

Naruto burst from the underbrush, hands already forming seals. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly as twenty identical Narutos flooded the clearing. Shadow clones? That's a jōnin-level technique. His surprise quickly morphed into curiosity. Interesting.

The clones charged from all directions, forcing Kakashi to pocket his book and engage. He dispelled them systematically, each puff of smoke revealing the limited combat experience of their creator. Yet, there was undeniable skill in the coordination, the clone formations unlike anything he'd expect from a fresh Academy graduate.

"Not bad, Naruto," Kakashi called, dispatching another trio of clones with a sweeping kick. "But shadow clones won't be enough against me."

"They don't have to be," Naruto's voice responded from somewhere in the trees. "They just have to keep you busy."

The ground beneath Kakashi's feet suddenly liquefied as a water jutsu struck, courtesy of Sakura who appeared at the forest's edge, completing her hand seals with textbook precision. Simultaneously, a barrage of shuriken whistled through the air from the opposite direction, forcing Kakashi to leap upward to avoid both attacks.

Exactly as planned.

"Gotcha," Sasuke's voice came from above as he descended from a tree branch, hands already grasping for the bells.

Kakashi twisted midair, narrowly evading Sasuke's reach. Coordinated attacks from three directions. Not what I expected from freshly minted genin with supposedly no teamwork training.

As he landed, he found himself surrounded again—this time by a mix of Naruto's shadow clones, Sakura approaching with kunai drawn, and Sasuke charging with a fire jutsu already gathering in his lungs.

The next ten minutes became a complex dance, with Team Seven's attacks growing increasingly synchronized. Kakashi found himself genuinely having to try, especially when Naruto began using his shadow clones not as direct attackers but as launching platforms for Sasuke and distractions for Sakura's surprisingly accurate weapon throws.

They've practiced together before, Kakashi realized, deflecting a particularly clever combination attack. This isn't improvised teamwork—they have established patterns.

The sun was sinking toward the horizon when Kakashi decided to escalate. Time to see how they handled real pressure.

He caught Sakura in a simple genjutsu, causing her to collapse. In the momentary distraction this caused, he swept Sasuke's feet from under him and pinned him with a knee to the chest, kunai at his throat.

"Choice time, Naruto," Kakashi called to the real Naruto, who stood ten paces away, panting heavily. "Save your friend or grab the bells while I'm occupied."

Naruto's eyes darted from Sasuke's prone form to the tantalizingly exposed bells at Kakashi's waist. For a moment, indecision flickered across his whiskered face.

Then he straightened, blue eyes hardening with resolve. "Neither."

Before Kakashi could process this response, Naruto's hands formed a seal. "Release!"

Kakashi felt a pulse of chakra pass through the clearing—a dispelling technique, but far stronger than a genin should be capable of. To his surprise, the Sakura lying unconscious dissolved into smoke—a transformed shadow clone—while the "real" Sakura burst from the ground at his feet, hands latching onto the bells.

Simultaneously, the Sasuke pinned beneath him pushed up with unexpected strength, creating just enough space for the real Sasuke to dive in from behind, his fingers brushing the bells at the same moment as Sakura's.

The jingle of success echoed in the sudden silence of the clearing.

Kakashi found himself kneeling in the dirt, both bells gone, surrounded by three panting but triumphant genin. The "Sasuke" he'd been pinning dissolved into another shadow clone, leaving the real Team Seven standing before him with identical expressions of determination.

They saw through my strategy, Kakashi realized. Used Naruto's clones transformed as his teammates to set up the real attack. Chunin-level tactics at minimum.

"Well," he said, rising and dusting off his pants, "it seems you got the bells. So, who gets to pass?"

Sasuke and Sakura both held one bell, having managed to grab them simultaneously in the final assault. They exchanged glances, then, in perfect unison, extended their hands toward Naruto, offering him both bells.

"We all pass," Naruto stated, making no move to take the bells, "or none of us do."

"That wasn't the deal," Kakashi reminded them. "Only those with bells become genin."

"Then we fail together," Sakura said firmly, dropping her bell to the ground. Sasuke followed suit, the small metal orbs landing in the dust with a finality that hung in the air between them.

Kakashi studied the three children before him—the Hokage's forgotten son, the last loyal Uchiha, and a civilian-born girl with perfect chakra control. Each with their own reasons to prioritize individual success, yet each willing to sacrifice it for the others.

His visible eye crinkled into what they were learning to recognize as a smile.

"You pass," he announced. "All of you."

Silence, then—

"What?" Sakura squeaked.

"The purpose of this test was never about the bells," Kakashi explained, gesturing for them to sit as he leaned against the center post. "It was about teamwork. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."

He glanced toward the memorial stone gleaming in the last rays of the setting sun. "Every name on that stone belongs to a hero of this village. Many of them died because someone prioritized the mission over their teammates." His voice softened. "Including my best friend."

Naruto followed his gaze to the stone, wondering which name there belonged to Kakashi's friend. How many others had fallen because of rigid adherence to rules over human bonds?

"Team Seven has always been different," Kakashi continued, his usual laziness returning to his posture. "Traditionally, it's comprised of the top rookie, the top kunoichi, and..." he looked directly at Naruto, "...the student with the most potential. Not the lowest scores, as many assume."

Naruto felt a warmth bloom in his chest at the backhanded compliment. Most potential. Not a failure. Not a disappointment. Not the shadow of his siblings.

"Starting tomorrow," Kakashi concluded, eye curving happily, "Team Seven begins its official duties." He stood, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Meet at the bridge at 7 AM. Don't be late."

With that, he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving the three newly-minted genin alone in the fading light.

For a moment, they sat in stunned silence. Then, almost simultaneously, identical grins broke across their faces.

"We did it," Sakura whispered, then more loudly, "We actually did it!"

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Was there ever any doubt?"

Naruto picked up the discarded bells, holding them up so they caught the last golden rays of sunlight. "Team Seven," he said softly, rolling the unfamiliar title around his tongue. It felt right. It felt like belonging.

Sakura jumped to her feet, pulling both boys up with her. "We should celebrate! Dinner at Ichiraku's—my treat!"

"Your treat until the bill exceeds your mission allowance," Sasuke corrected dryly. "Then it becomes Naruto's treat."

Naruto laughed—a genuine, unguarded sound that surprised even him. "Deal."

As they walked toward the village, the last light of day fading behind them and the first stars appearing overhead, Naruto couldn't help but feel that something fundamental had shifted in his world. For the first time, he'd been part of something greater than himself, yet had been valued for exactly who he was.

Team Seven. His team. His place.

Whatever came next—whatever missions or challenges or family politics lay ahead—he would face them not alone, but with Sasuke and Sakura at his sides. And somehow, that made all the difference.

Across the village, in the Hokage Tower, Minato Namikaze looked up from his paperwork as Kakashi appeared in his office window.

"I assume since you're entering through the window rather than the door, this is an unofficial report?" Minato asked, setting down his brush.

Kakashi dropped into the room, his posture deliberately casual. "Your offspring are officially genin."

Minato's eyes widened slightly. "All three of them passed their tests?"

"Mito and Menma had Kurenai, correct? I haven't heard, but I assume they had no trouble." Kakashi paused, then added meaningfully, "Team Seven passed with flying colors."

A complex emotion passed across the Hokage's face—pride mingled with something that might have been regret. "Naruto did well, then?"

"He was the linchpin of their strategy," Kakashi confirmed. "The shadow clone technique you left in that scroll for him to 'find' came in particularly handy."

Minato's gaze dropped to his desk. "He wasn't supposed to discover that for another year. I underestimated him."

"With respect, Hokage-sama," Kakashi said, his tone sharpening slightly, "you've been underestimating him for years."

The Fourth Hokage didn't deny it. Instead, he asked, "The seal?"

"Stable. No sign of chakra leakage or influence." Kakashi studied his former sensei carefully. "You know, he thinks you assigned him to my team to keep him out of the way."

"It's safer that way," Minato replied, but the conviction in his voice wavered. "Until we understand why—"

"With respect," Kakashi interrupted again, more firmly this time, "your son believes his parents see him as worthless compared to his siblings. Whatever your reasons, that perception is doing real damage."

Minato flinched visibly. "It's complicated, Kakashi."

"It always is." The jōnin straightened, preparing to depart. "But children rarely understand complicated. They understand presence or absence. Attention or neglect." He moved toward the window, then paused for a parting shot. "He's built himself a new family in Team Seven. You might want to consider what that means for his original one."

With that, Kakashi vanished, leaving the Fourth Hokage alone with thoughts heavier than the mountain of paperwork before him.

Minato opened his desk drawer, withdrawing a small photograph—Naruto at age five, grinning widely with a training kunai clutched proudly in his small hand. Before the distance had grown so vast. Before prophecy and fear had driven a wedge between father and son.

"I'm trying to protect you," he whispered to the frozen image. "But I'm not sure I remember how to be your father anymore."

He returned the photo to its hiding place, closed the drawer, and returned to his work—the village's needs once again taking precedence over the persistent ache in his heart.

Dawn painted Konoha in gentle watercolors of pink and gold, the village slowly awakening to the promise of a new day. Birds called from the forest canopy surrounding the village walls, their songs mingling with the distant sounds of markets opening and early risers beginning their routines.

Naruto stood on the small bridge that had become Team Seven's designated meeting spot, watching the sunrise reflected in the lazily flowing stream below. He'd arrived nearly an hour early—a habit born of a lifetime of seeking solitude before facing the day's inevitable disappointments.

But today felt different. Today, he was a real genin. A member of Team Seven. Someone with a place and purpose beyond being the forgotten Namikaze.

He adjusted his hitai-ate, fingers brushing the cool metal of the Konoha symbol. Then he tugged at his new outfit—a practical ensemble he'd purchased from his mission savings: navy blue pants with reinforced knees, a black high-collared shirt with the small Uzumaki spiral embroidered at the nape, and a sleeveless navy jacket with multiple pockets for scrolls and weapons. No orange jumpsuit like Menma favored. No red like Mito and his mother wore. Colors that were his own choice, practical for stealth but still distinct.

"Plotting world domination?" Sasuke's voice broke into his thoughts as the Uchiha approached, hands in pockets and a paper bag tucked under one arm.

Naruto smiled slightly. "Just enjoying the quiet before Sakura arrives."

"I heard that!" Sakura called, appearing at the opposite end of the bridge with a mock scowl. Despite her indignant tone, she looked pleased to see them both already there.

Like Naruto, his teammates had also updated their appearances for their new genin status. Sasuke wore dark blue and black like Naruto, but with the Uchiha fan prominently displayed on his back. Sakura had traded her civilian dress for practical kunoichi attire—dark green shorts beneath a split skirt, with a sleeveless crimson top and mesh armor visible at her collar and wrists. Her pink hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, her forehead protector worn as intended rather than as a hairband.

Sasuke tossed the paper bag to Naruto, who caught it reflexively. "Breakfast," the Uchiha explained. "My mother insisted."

Naruto blinked in surprise as he peered into the bag, finding three perfectly formed onigiri and what appeared to be tamagoyaki wrapped in bamboo leaves. "Mikoto-san made this? For me?"

"For all of us," Sasuke corrected, not meeting Naruto's eyes. "She said something about team nutrition being important."

But Naruto understood the unspoken truth. Mikoto Uchiha, unlike most of the village's adults, had always shown him small kindnesses—a smile here, a treat there. After the Uchiha Incident, when suspicion had fallen on the clan and Fugaku had been subjected to intense scrutiny, most of the clan had withdrawn from public life. But Mikoto had maintained her gentle presence, perhaps understanding what it meant to live under a cloud of others' expectations and fears.

"Tell her thank you," Naruto said simply, passing an onigiri to Sakura before taking one for himself.

They ate in companionable silence as the sun cleared the horizon, casting long shadows across the bridge. By unspoken agreement, they saved the third portion of each item for their perpetually late sensei.

"So," Sakura eventually broke the silence, "what do you think our first mission will be?"

"Something appropriately demeaning, I expect," Sasuke replied dryly. "Weeding gardens. Chasing cats. Painting fences."

"D-ranks are a rite of passage," Naruto pointed out. "Every genin team has to do them."

"Even the sacred Team Nine?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow.

Naruto's expression clouded slightly at the mention of his siblings' team. "Especially them."

"Why would the Hokage's children get special treatment?" Sakura asked innocently, then immediately regretted it as both boys gave her identical looks of disbelief. "Okay, stupid question. But seriously, wouldn't it look bad if they got preferential assignments?"

"They won't get preferential assignments," Naruto explained, breaking his onigiri into smaller pieces and focusing on the task with unnecessary intensity. "They'll get the same D-ranks as everyone else. They'll just complete them with 'unprecedented skill and efficiency' and be 'ready for C-ranks faster than any team in village history.'"

The bitterness in his tone was unmistakable.

"You don't actually know that," Sakura pointed out gently.

Naruto looked up, a sad smile tugging at his lips. "Ten years of watching the pattern, Sakura. Trust me, I know."

An uncomfortable silence fell. Sasuke, surprisingly, was the one to break it.

"Then we'll just have to be better," he stated, as if it were the most obvious solution in the world.

Naruto and Sakura both turned to him with questioning looks.

"If Team Nine is going to be elevated regardless of actual merit," Sasuke continued, "then Team Seven will have to be so undeniably superior that even preferential treatment can't close the gap."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting we try to outdo the Hokage's ch—" she caught herself, glancing at Naruto, "—Team Nine?"

"I'm suggesting we focus on becoming the best version of Team Seven possible," Sasuke corrected. "What other teams do is irrelevant."

Naruto studied his teammate, recognizing the strategy for what it was—Sasuke's attempt to redirect Naruto's bitterness into something productive. And despite himself, Naruto felt the approach working. The idea of focusing on Team Seven's potential rather than constantly measuring himself against his siblings was... liberating.

"You're right," Naruto agreed, feeling something tight in his chest loosen slightly. "Team Seven's path is our own."

"And speaking of Team Seven," Sakura interjected, pointing to a distant figure approaching along the path, unmistakable silver hair catching the morning light, "our sensei is only two hours late today. Must be a special occasion."

"Yo," Kakashi greeted as he reached the bridge, visible eye curved in his signature smile. "Sorry I'm late. A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way around."

"Here," Naruto said, tossing him the remaining breakfast portions. "Fuel for your creative excuses."

Kakashi caught the package with a look of genuine surprise, which quickly morphed into something softer. "Ma, so thoughtful." He tucked the food away for later—they'd yet to see him eat anything, his mask remaining firmly in place at all times.

"So, sensei," Sakura prompted, practically vibrating with excitement, "our first mission?"

"Ah, yes," Kakashi eye-smiled again. "I thought we'd start with something special."

The three genin perked up instantly.

"Teamwork exercises," he finished triumphantly.

Their faces fell in perfect unison.

"But we already proved our teamwork," Sasuke protested. "That was the entire point of the bell test."

"The bell test proved you can work together under pressure," Kakashi corrected. "Now we need to refine that teamwork until it's instinctive." He pulled out three strips of cloth from his pocket. "Blindfold training. You'll take turns navigating obstacle courses while completely reliant on your teammates' instructions."

Sakura groaned but accepted a blindfold. "How is this helping us become better ninja?"

"Communication is the foundation of successful missions," Kakashi replied, suddenly serious. "In the field, you'll often operate with incomplete information, requiring absolute trust in your teammates' observations and guidance."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully, fingering the blindfold Kakashi had handed him. The exercise made sense, especially considering their individual strengths: Sakura's analytical mind, Sasuke's visual prowess, and his own improvisation skills. Learning to integrate those strengths would make them exponentially more effective.

"This exercise," Naruto realized aloud, "it's not just about communication. It's about learning to function as a single unit with specialized parts."

Kakashi's eye crinkled approvingly. "Precisely. Now, who wants to go first?"

Over the next four hours, Team Seven stumbled, cursed, laughed, and eventually conquered increasingly complex obstacle courses throughout Training Ground Three. They discovered Sakura had an uncanny spatial memory, able to guide her blindfolded teammates through terrain she'd observed only briefly. Sasuke, unsurprisingly, gave the most precise directions, his natural eye for detail translating into clear instructions. Naruto, to everyone's surprise including his own, excelled at describing sensory input beyond the visual—warning his teammates about changes in air currents that signaled moving obstacles or slight ground vibrations indicating unstable footing.

By midday, sweaty and somewhat bruised but undeniably more cohesive, they gathered again at the bridge. Kakashi produced bento boxes seemingly from nowhere, distributing them with a casual, "Lunch break. You've earned it."

As they ate, Kakashi leaned against the bridge railing, orange book open but eyes occasionally drifting to his team. "After lunch," he announced, "we'll head to the mission assignment desk. I think you're ready for your first official D-rank."

Sakura pumped her fist in triumph while Sasuke tried (and failed) to look unaffected. Naruto merely nodded, but the light in his blue eyes betrayed his excitement.

"Just remember," Kakashi added, "D-ranks are about building fundamentals. They're not glamorous, but they're essential."

"We understand, sensei," Naruto assured him. "Every mission has value."

Kakashi studied him for a moment, then nodded approvingly. "Good. Because your first mission involves a certain cat with an escape habit..."

The Hokage Tower's mission assignment room buzzed with activity, various ninja teams coming and going as they received or reported on missions. Team Seven entered with varying degrees of dishevelment—Sakura's once-neat ponytail now resembled a bird's nest, Sasuke's shirt bore several conspicuous rips, and Naruto sported an impressive collection of scratches across his forearms and face. Between them, secured in a special carrier, a large brown cat with a red ribbon on its ear hissed malevolently.

"Ah, Team Seven," the chūnin at the desk greeted, barely suppressing a smirk at their appearance. "I see you've successfully captured Tora."

"'Captured' is a generous term," Sakura muttered, brushing leaves from her hair. "More like 'survived an encounter with a demon disguised as a housecat.'"

"Mission accomplished, regardless," Kakashi stated, handing over the mission scroll for verification. "Team Seven's first D-rank, completed in..." he checked the position of the sun through the window, "just under three hours."

The chūnin's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's... actually impressive for a first attempt. Most teams take at least five."

Naruto exchanged surprised glances with his teammates. Had they really done well? Or was the chūnin just being kind?

"The Madame will be pleased," the chūnin continued, stamping the mission scroll. "She's been waiting in Reception Room 3 for over an hour." He gestured for a nearby genin to take the carrier. "Your payment will be processed by tomorrow. You can collect it from the mission office."

As the cat carrier was whisked away, Team Seven's posture collectively relaxed—though they all winced slightly at the piercing yowl that echoed from down the hallway, followed by cries of "Tora-chan, my precious baby!" and increasingly desperate feline protests.

"Now I understand why this mission comes up so often," Sasuke remarked. "I'd run away too."

"Well," Kakashi closed his book with a snap, "since you completed that so efficiently, we have time for one more mission today."

The genin straightened eagerly, their fatigue temporarily forgotten.

The chūnin rifled through a stack of scrolls. "Let's see... we have garden weeding at the Yamanaka compound, stock inventory at the weapons depot, or trash collection along the river."

"We'll take the inventory," Kakashi decided before his students could voice preferences. At their questioning looks, he explained, "Familiarizing yourselves with various weapons and their storage classifications will be useful for future missions."

As the chūnin prepared the scroll, the door to the assignment room swung open. Naruto tensed instinctively as familiar voices filled the space.

"—can't believe they assigned us dog-walking as a D-rank," Menma's voice carried clearly across the room. "We're the Children of Prophecy, not pet-sitters!"

"Now, now," a female voice responded—Kurenai-sensei, presumably. "All genin start with these missions. Even your father did."

"Yes, but father wasn't housing the Kyuubi's chakra," Mito's smoother tones chimed in. "Surely our training time would be better spent developing our unique abilities."

Team Nine entered fully into the room, stopping short when they spotted Team Seven at the assignment desk. For a moment, surprise flickered across the twins' faces—whether at seeing their brother or at seeing his team already completing a mission was unclear.

Naruto met their gaze steadily, his expression carefully neutral. Beside him, he felt rather than saw Sasuke and Sakura shift subtly closer, a protective formation they'd naturally adopted during their morning exercises.

"Team Seven," Kurenai greeted professionally, her crimson eyes taking in their disheveled state. "Tora mission?"

"Completed," Kakashi replied with deceptive casualness, not looking up from his book.

Kurenai's eyebrows rose slightly. "On your first day? Impressive."

"Luck, probably," Menma commented, flicking a piece of lint from his bright orange jacket. His blue eyes—so similar to Naruto's yet somehow sharper, more calculating—scanned Team Seven dismissively. "Tora was probably tired from outrunning better teams all week."

Hinata Hyūga, standing slightly behind the twins, winced visibly at her teammate's comment. Her pale eyes met Naruto's briefly, an apology in their depths.

"Actually," the chūnin at the desk interjected, apparently unable to resist, "Team Seven captured Tora in record time for a rookie team this year. Three hours flat."

Mito's gray eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that so? Well done, brother," she added, the acknowledgment sounding mechanical, an afterthought. "Though I suppose with Sasuke-kun on your team, you had an advantage."

The subtle dismissal—crediting their success to the Uchiha rather than acknowledging Team Seven as a whole—made Naruto's jaw tighten. Before he could respond, however, Sasuke stepped forward.

"Naruto was actually the one who developed our capture strategy," he stated coolly. "My role was secondary."

Surprise flickered across the twins' faces, quickly masked. Naruto felt a surge of gratitude toward his teammate, coupled with an unexpected warmth at the public acknowledgment.

"Well," Kurenai broke the awkward silence, "we should get our mission assignment. Good seeing you, Kakashi, Team Seven."

Kakashi merely hummed in response, accepting the inventory mission scroll from the chūnin. "Team Seven, we're heading to the weapons depot. Let's move out."

As they turned to leave, Naruto heard Mito whisper to Menma, just loud enough to be overheard, "Do you think father knows his team is already taking missions?"

"Does it matter?" Menma replied, equally audible. "It's just D-ranks. Anyone can do those."

Naruto kept his gaze forward, his steps measured as he followed Kakashi from the room. But inside, something shifted—a resolve hardening into determination. Let them dismiss Team Seven now. Let them underestimate what he was building here, with people who actually saw his worth.

Their ignorance would be their disadvantage, and one day, their loss.

The weapons depot mission proved more educational than any of them had anticipated. Located in a secure building near the village wall, the depot housed everything from standard-issue kunai to specialized weaponry used only by ANBU operatives. Team Seven's task involved counting inventory, updating logs, and reorganizing shelves according to a new classification system.

What could have been tedious busywork became an opportunity for exploration. Sakura discovered a section devoted to medical tools designed for field surgeries. Sasuke was drawn to a collection of foreign blades acquired during previous wars. Naruto found himself fascinated by the specialized tags and seals used for containment and transportation of dangerous materials.

Kakashi, lounging against a support beam with his book, occasionally offered insights about particular weapons or tools, each comment revealing depths of knowledge that reminded them their seemingly lazy sensei was actually one of Konoha's elite jōnin.

"Sensei," Sakura called from between tall shelves, "what are these?" She held up what appeared to be standard senbon, except for the unusual coloration of the metal.

"Ah," Kakashi eye-smiled, "poison-channeling senbon. The grooves are nearly microscopic, but they allow toxins to be delivered more efficiently than standard coating methods."

"How do you prevent the poison from affecting the user?" she asked, examining them more closely.

"Excellent question. That's where these come in." He pointed to a rack of specialized holsters. "The protective sheaths are treated with a neutralizing agent. You'd need specialized training before being cleared to use those, though."

Sakura carefully returned the senbon to their place but made a note in her small notebook—something Naruto had noticed her doing throughout the day whenever she encountered items of particular interest.

"Find anything good, dead-last?" Sasuke's voice came from behind Naruto, the old Academy nickname now used with a hint of irony rather than malice.

Naruto held up a scroll with complex sealing arrays. "Transport scrolls for volatile materials. The seal work is fascinating—see how they've modified the containment matrix to accommodate pressure changes?"

Sasuke blinked, clearly not having expected such a technical response. "Since when are you a sealing expert?"

Naruto's expression closed slightly. "I'm not. Just... interested."

The unspoken hung between them: that as an Uzumaki, sealing should have been part of his birthright, his heritage. That his mother, a sealing master herself, had never offered to teach him, focusing her expertise on Mito instead.

Sasuke, with unusual perceptiveness, changed the subject. "Found some interesting wire techniques in the special jōnin section. Thought they might work with some of your trapping ideas."

Naruto's mood lightened immediately. "Really? Show me."

By the time they completed the inventory, darkness had fallen over Konoha. The four members of Team Seven exited the depot, Kakashi locking up behind them with a specialized key.

"Good work today," he told them, pocketing the mission scroll. "Two D-ranks completed efficiently on your first day. Not bad."

"When do we start training, sensei?" Sasuke asked as they walked toward the village center. "Real training, not just teamwork exercises."

"Maa, so impatient," Kakashi sighed dramatically. "Training starts tomorrow, 6 AM, Training Ground Three. Bring all your equipment and enough supplies for a full day."

Despite their fatigue, all three genin straightened with anticipation.

"What kind of training?" Sakura asked eagerly.

Kakashi eye-smiled mysteriously. "The kind that will make today seem like a vacation." With that ominous pronouncement, he vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving his students staring at the empty space where he'd been.

"Show-off," Sasuke muttered.

"We should get some rest," Naruto suggested, calculating the few hours remaining before their early call time. "Tomorrow's going to be intense."

They parted at a crossroads, Sakura heading toward the civilian district while Sasuke turned toward the Uchiha compound. Naruto lingered for a moment, watching his teammates disappear into the evening crowds.

For a brief moment, he considered heading straight to his room at the Namikaze compound—slipping in through the window to avoid potential encounters with his family. But something in him rebelled against ending such a good day with the familiar cold silence of his home.

Instead, he turned toward the heart of the village, letting his feet carry him to Ichiraku Ramen. The small stand glowed with warm light in the gathering darkness, the savory aroma wafting through the street like a beacon.

"Naruto-kun!" Teuchi greeted as he ducked under the noren curtains. "Haven't seen you in days! The usual?"

"Yes, please," Naruto confirmed, settling onto a stool with a genuine smile. Ichiraku had been his sanctuary for years—one of the few places in the village where he was just Naruto, not a shadow of the Namikaze legacy or the forgotten sibling of the prophesied twins.

"Coming right up," Teuchi promised, already reaching for fresh noodles. "Ayame! Our favorite customer is here!"

Ayame emerged from the back, her face lighting up. "Naruto! Dad was starting to worry." She leaned over the counter conspiratorially. "He made extra chashu pork yesterday just in case you showed up."

Naruto felt the warmth of belonging wash over him—such a simple thing, being remembered, being expected, being missed. Yet it meant everything.

"I was busy becoming a genin," he explained, adjusting his hitai-ate proudly.

"That's wonderful news!" Ayame clapped her hands. "This calls for a celebration. First bowl on the house!"

As Teuchi prepared his ramen with the practiced efficiency of decades of experience, Naruto found himself recounting the day's events—the teamwork exercises, the missions, even the brief encounter with Team Nine. These were stories he might have once hoped to share with his parents, in another life where they listened. Here, at least, he had an audience that cared.

"Sounds like you've got good teammates," Teuchi observed, sliding a steaming bowl of miso ramen with extra pork across the counter. "That's important, you know. More important than almost anything else."

Naruto nodded, breaking his chopsticks apart. "I think we could be something special, given time."

"Team Seven, huh?" Teuchi mused. "That's the same team number your father had, you know. And later, your mother too."

Naruto paused mid-bite. "I didn't know that."

"Oh yes," Teuchi continued, unaware of the impact of his casual revelation. "Different generations of Team Seven have always been noteworthy in village history. There's something about that number..."

Naruto absorbed this new information, turning it over in his mind. His parents had both been members of Team Seven in their time. Was that why his father had placed him on this team? Not to sideline him, but because of some tradition he wasn't aware of?

The thought was both comforting and confusing—hinting at connections and considerations he'd assumed didn't exist.

"Your team sounds promising," Ayame added, refilling his water. "The Uchiha boy and the civilian girl with perfect chakra control, right? People are already talking."

Naruto looked up sharply. "Talking? About what?"

Ayame seemed surprised by his reaction. "About how unusual the team composition is. Three top students instead of the traditional balance. Some jōnin at the counter yesterday were betting on whether Kakashi would actually pass a team this year."

So people were watching Team Seven already. Measuring them, speculating about them. The knowledge settled uncomfortably in Naruto's stomach.

"Don't look so worried," Teuchi chuckled, misreading his expression. "It's good attention. People expect great things from your team."

Great things. Expectations. Prophecies. The familiar weight began to descend on Naruto's shoulders again.

"Seconds?" Teuchi offered, noticing his empty bowl.

Naruto nodded, pushing aside his darker thoughts. Tonight was for celebrating small victories—two successful D-ranks, teammates who stood up for him, a place where he belonged. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. For now, the warm glow of Ichiraku and the simple pleasure of his favorite meal were enough.

By the time he paid his bill (after three bowls, despite Teuchi's insistence the first was free), the streets had grown quiet. Naruto took the long way home, savoring the peaceful night air and the gentle chorus of crickets. As the Namikaze compound came into view, he instinctively slowed his pace, the familiar knot of tension forming in his stomach.

Lights still burned in several windows—his parents were awake. Would they notice his absence? Would they ask where he'd been, what missions he'd completed, how his first day as a genin had gone?

He shook his head, dismissing the foolish hope. Ten years of evidence suggested otherwise.

As expected, when he slipped through the back door and navigated the dim hallways to his room, no one called out to him. No one asked about his day. The house was quiet except for murmured voices from his father's study—discussing the twins' progress, no doubt.

Inside his small room, Naruto methodically unpacked his gear, checking each weapon for damage or wear before storing it properly. He laid out fresh clothes for tomorrow's training, set his alarm for an ungodly early hour, and finally dropped onto his bed, exhaustion catching up with him all at once.

On the edge of sleep, a strange thought drifted through his mind: what if the reason his father had placed him on Team Seven wasn't tradition or coincidence, but something else entirely? What if, in some small way, Minato Namikaze had actually been thinking of his firstborn son's welfare when making team assignments?

The thought was too dangerous to entertain for long. Hope was a luxury Naruto had learned to live without. Better to focus on what he could control—his training, his team, his own path forward.

Yet as sleep claimed him, the question lingered like a stubborn ember refusing to die: what if?

Dawn found Team Seven already assembled at Training Ground Three, sleep still clinging to their eyes but determination evident in their postures. True to form, Kakashi was nowhere to be seen, despite his own instructions to meet at 6 AM sharp.

"Did we really expect anything different?" Sakura yawned, dropping her overstuffed pack beside one of the three training posts.

"He's testing our patience," Sasuke theorized, already stretching to warm up his muscles against the morning chill.

Naruto completed a circuit of the training ground's perimeter, checking for traps or surprises their unpredictable sensei might have left. Finding nothing obvious, he rejoined his teammates. "Might as well use the time productively."

Without further discussion, they fell into the routine they'd established during their Academy days—Sasuke leading them through a series of increasingly complex stretches, followed by Sakura guiding chakra control exercises, and finally Naruto organizing a light sparring rotation. By the time the sun had fully cleared the horizon, all three genin were warmed up, alert, and marginally less irritated by their sensei's tardiness.

"My adorable students are so self-motivated," Kakashi's amused voice came from directly behind them, causing all three to startle. "How did I get so lucky?"

"You're late," they accused in unison.

"Am I?" Kakashi eye-smiled, completely unrepentant. "I could have sworn I said 9 AM."

Before they could protest further, he clapped his hands briskly. "Today we begin your real training. I've spent the past day evaluating your individual strengths and weaknesses, and I've designed a program to address both."

The genin straightened attentively, their irritation forgotten in the face of promised advancement.

"Shinobi training has three fundamental pillars," Kakashi continued, holding up three fingers. "Physical conditioning, chakra development, and tactical thinking. Most genin teams focus on one area at a time, building a progressive foundation."

He paused, his visible eye sweeping over them with sudden intensity. "Team Seven will be different. We will attack all three pillars simultaneously, at an accelerated pace."

Naruto exchanged glances with his teammates. Was this standard procedure, or was Kakashi pushing them deliberately? And if so, why?

"For the next month," Kakashi explained, "our schedule will be as follows: Mornings dedicated to physical training and fundamental combat skills. Afternoons for chakra exercises and basic ninjutsu development. Evenings for mission assignments and tactical studies. Six days a week, sunrise to sunset."

"And the seventh day?" Sakura asked warily.

"Recovery," Kakashi replied. "You'll need it."

With that ominous statement, he produced three small slips of paper from his pocket. "But first, let's establish your baseline. Channel your chakra into these."

Chakra testing paper. Naruto recognized it immediately, having performed the test on his own just days earlier. Nonetheless, he accepted the paper alongside his teammates, curious to see their reactions to his dual affinity.

Sasuke went first, focusing his chakra with practiced precision. The paper immediately crinkled, then burst into flame at the edges before turning to ash.

"Fire and lightning," Kakashi noted, unsurprised. "Traditional Uchiha primary with a secondary that's quite useful. Good combination."

Sakura hesitated, her expression betraying her nervousness. "I've never done this before."

"Just channel your chakra as if you were performing a basic jutsu," Naruto encouraged. "The paper does the rest."

Nodding, Sakura focused. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the paper darkened with moisture before crumbling away like dirt.

"Water and earth," Kakashi stated, his eye widening slightly. "Uncommon combination, especially for someone of civilian heritage. Interesting."

Sakura beamed, clearly pleased to have surprised their sensei.

"Naruto?" Kakashi prompted, though his tone suggested he already knew what to expect.

Naruto channeled his chakra, watching as the paper once again split down the middle before crinkling sharply.

"Wind and lightning," Kakashi confirmed. "Like your father."

The last three words hung in the air uncomfortably. Naruto said nothing, though he felt Sasuke and Sakura's eyes on him. Of course Kakashi would mention the connection to Minato—perhaps testing Naruto's reaction, perhaps simply stating fact.

"Most shinobi develop one primary elemental affinity," Kakashi continued smoothly, tucking away the remains of the papers. "Some eventually develop a secondary with years of training. All three of you displaying dual affinities from the start is... statistically improbable."

"Is that a problem?" Sasuke questioned.

"On the contrary," Kakashi eye-smiled. "It gives us more options." He reached into his vest, withdrawing three scrolls which he distributed to his students. "These contain basic elemental manipulation exercises for your respective affinities. I expect you to begin practicing during your personal time."

Naruto unrolled his scroll partially, recognizing the first exercises for wind manipulation—cutting a leaf using only chakra. It was already familiar to him from his self-study, though he'd made limited progress without guidance.

"Now," Kakashi continued, suddenly all business, "physical conditioning. Five laps around the training ground perimeter. Go."

What followed was the most grueling morning of physical training any of them had ever experienced. After the run came strength exercises with progressively heavier weights. Then speed drills that left them gasping. Flexibility training that pushed their bodies to new limits. Combat forms practiced until muscles burned and sweat soaked through their clothes.

Throughout it all, Kakashi observed with critical precision, correcting forms, adjusting stances, pushing them just to the edge of their capabilities without quite crossing into injury territory.

By midday, when Kakashi finally called a break for lunch, Team Seven collapsed onto the grass in various states of exhaustion.

"I can't feel my legs," Sakura groaned, her face nearly as pink as her hair.

"Be grateful you can still feel your arms," Sasuke muttered, flexing fingers that trembled from the strain of the last set of exercises.

Naruto lay spread-eagled on the grass, staring up at the clouds drifting overhead. Despite the exhaustion, a curious sense of satisfaction coursed through him. This was real training—the kind he'd craved for years, the kind his father had never offered.

"Eat quickly," Kakashi advised, settling against a tree trunk with his orange book. "Chakra exercises begin in thirty minutes, and you'll need your strength."

Lunch consisted of the onigiri and fruit they'd packed, consumed with the desperate efficiency of the truly famished. Naruto had just finished his last rice ball when a familiar chakra signature approached the training ground.

He tensed, recognizing it immediately. Jiraiya.

The Toad Sage appeared at the edge of the clearing, his massive frame unmistakable even at a distance. He spotted their group and raised a hand in greeting, ambling toward them with his characteristic swagger.

"Kakashi! Thought I'd find you here," Jiraiya called. "Mind if I borrow you for a moment? Village security matter."

Kakashi closed his book with a sigh. "Take fifteen more minutes to rest," he instructed his team. "Start on the chakra control exercises on page one of your scrolls when you're ready. I'll return shortly."

As the two jōnin moved to the far side of the training ground, heads bent in conversation, Naruto tried to appear unconcerned. But his heightened awareness didn't escape his teammates' notice.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked quietly.

"Nothing," Naruto replied automatically.

Sakura snorted. "Your 'nothing' face needs work. Who is that man?"

"Jiraiya of the Sannin," Naruto explained reluctantly. "My father's former teacher. Current mentor to my siblings."

Understanding dawned in his teammates' expressions.

"He's probably just here about a mission," Sakura suggested, though her tone lacked conviction.

Naruto shrugged, pretending an indifference he didn't feel. Jiraiya had been a semi-regular presence throughout his childhood—appearing for birthdays or special occasions, always with grand stories and gifts for the twins. He'd shown polite interest in Naruto at first, but as the years passed and the prophecy focused more specifically on Mito and Menma, the Sage's attention had narrowed accordingly.

The last time Jiraiya had addressed Naruto directly had been nearly two years ago—a passing comment about how he was growing to look like his father. Not a conversation, not training advice, just an observation before turning back to the twins' progress.

Across the field, Jiraiya's booming laugh carried on the breeze. Naruto deliberately turned his back, unrolling his scroll fully. "We should get started on these exercises."

His teammates exchanged glances but followed his lead, recognizing his need to focus on something else. Soon they were absorbed in the first basic chakra manipulation exercises, Naruto guiding Sakura through the leaf-sticking technique while Sasuke attempted to make his leaf crinkle with lightning chakra.

They were so engrossed that they didn't notice Jiraiya approaching until his shadow fell across their training spot.

"Well, well, if it isn't the new Team Seven," the Sage commented, his voice jovial but his eyes sharp as they assessed the three genin. "Kakashi tells me you've had quite the impressive start."

Naruto continued focusing on his leaf exercise, deliberately not looking up. Beside him, he felt Sasuke stiffen slightly while Sakura straightened, clearly intimidated by the legendary shinobi's presence.

"Two D-ranks on your first day," Jiraiya continued, undeterred by the lukewarm reception. "And the bell test completed in record time, from what I hear."

"Did you need something, Jiraiya-sama?" Sasuke asked with forced politeness when it became clear Naruto wasn't going to respond.

The Sage's bushy eyebrows rose slightly at the Uchiha's directness. "Just checking in on my former student's team. Professional curiosity." His gaze lingered on Naruto, who was now splitting his leaf in half with wind chakra—a technique well beyond the basics outlined in the scroll. "Impressive control, kid."

The casual praise, so rare from this particular source, finally made Naruto look up. "Thank you," he replied neutrally.

Something unreadable passed across Jiraiya's features—a fleeting emotion quickly masked behind his usual bombastic persona. "Well, I won't interrupt your training further. Just passing by on my way to work with Team Nine."

And there it was—the inevitable comparison, the reminder of where his true interest lay.

"Please don't let us keep you," Naruto said quietly, returning his attention to his leaf.

Jiraiya hesitated, as if wanting to say something more, but ultimately just nodded. "Keep up the good work," he offered to the team at large before departing with a casual wave.

Silence fell over the trio as they watched the Sage's retreating back.

"You okay?" Sakura asked softly after he'd gone.

Naruto realized he'd shredded his leaf completely, tiny fragments scattered across his lap. "Fine," he replied, brushing away the evidence of his lapse in control. "Let's get back to work before Kakashi-sensei returns."

But the damage was done—his concentration broken, his mind now filled with images of Jiraiya training the twins, showing them techniques, praising their progress, fulfilling the mentor role that should have belonged to their father. While he sat here with borrowed scrolls and basic exercises, trying to teach himself what others received freely.

The familiar bitterness threatened to rise, but Naruto fought it back. He had something the twins didn't—Team Seven. Sasuke and Sakura, who noticed when his mood darkened. Kakashi-sensei, who pushed him to his limits because he believed Naruto could meet them.

It wasn't the family he'd been born into, but perhaps it was the one he needed.

"Naruto," Sasuke's voice broke into his thoughts. "Show me that wind technique again. I think I'm doing something wrong with my lightning manipulation."

Grateful for the distraction, Naruto moved closer to his teammate, demonstrating the proper chakra flow. By the time Kakashi returned, they were fully immersed in their exercises once more, the interruption seemingly forgotten.

If Kakashi noticed the lingering tension in Naruto's shoulders or the protective way Sasuke and Sakura had positioned themselves around their teammate, he made no comment. Instead, he launched directly into the next phase of training—chakra expansion exercises designed to increase their reserves while improving control.

The remainder of the afternoon passed in a blur of exhausting repetition. They walked up trees until their legs gave out. They balanced kunai on fingertips using only chakra. They practiced molding specific amounts of energy for basic jutsu, then did it again while Kakashi created distractions.

By the time they reached their evening D-rank mission—clearing debris from a section of the village wall damaged in a recent storm—Team Seven moved with the synchronized exhaustion of soldiers after battle. They completed the assignment efficiently but silently, too drained for their usual banter.

As the sun set over Konoha, Kakashi finally dismissed them with instructions to meet at the same time tomorrow. "Rest well," he advised as they gathered their gear. "Tomorrow will be harder."

The three genin exchanged disbelieving looks. Harder than this?

"Before you go," Kakashi added, his casual tone belying the importance of his next words, "I want to be clear about something. What happened today—Jiraiya's visit—was not a coincidence."

Naruto froze in the midst of shouldering his pack. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that people will be watching Team Seven more closely than most genin teams," Kakashi explained. "Some out of curiosity. Some looking for weaknesses. Some comparing you to... other teams."

The implication was clear.

"Why are you telling us this?" Sasuke demanded.

"Because forewarned is forearmed," Kakashi replied simply. "And because I want you to understand why I'm pushing you so hard. The standards applied to Team Seven will not be the same as those applied to your peers."

"Because of who's on the team," Sakura surmised. "The Hokage's son. The last loyal Uchiha."

"And the kunoichi with perfect chakra control and dual elemental affinity," Kakashi added pointedly. "Never discount your own significance, Sakura."

She blushed, ducking her head slightly at the unexpected acknowledgment.

"The point is," Kakashi continued, "you will be measured against an unfair standard. People will expect more. Demand more. Criticize more harshly." His visible eye swept over them. "My job is to ensure you exceed those expectations so dramatically that the critics are left speechless."

Something stirred in Naruto's chest at those words—a warmth that pushed back against the day's accumulated frustrations. A sensei who believed in them. Who saw the target painted on their backs and responded not by sheltering them, but by arming them to face it head-on.

"We won't let you down, sensei," he promised, speaking for all of them.

Kakashi eye-smiled. "I know you won't. Now go home before you collapse. I need you functional tomorrow."

As they departed, Naruto felt the weight of the day's training in every muscle—a deep, satisfying ache that spoke of boundaries pushed and limits tested. Whatever game the village was playing with Team Seven, whatever political currents swirled around their formation, one thing was becoming clear: Kakashi intended to forge them into something extraordinary.

And for perhaps the first time in his life, Naruto felt truly seen for his potential rather than measured against someone else's prophecy.

The pattern established that first day continued for two grueling weeks. Each morning brought new physical challenges, each afternoon new dimensions of chakra manipulation, each evening tactical puzzles disguised as D-rank missions. Kakashi drove them relentlessly, identifying weaknesses with uncanny precision and designing exercises specifically to address them.

Sakura's stamina improved dramatically under the specialized conditioning program Kakashi created for her. Sasuke's tendency to rely too heavily on his natural talents was checked by exercises that specifically disadvantaged him. Naruto's erratic chakra control stabilized through meditation techniques Kakashi introduced.

They completed twenty-six D-rank missions in those two weeks—far outpacing any other genin team, including the vaunted Team Nine. The missions themselves were unremarkable—gardening, delivery runs, pet retrieval, fence repair—but Kakashi turned each one into a tactical exercise, imposing artificial constraints that forced them to develop creative solutions.

Paint a fence without using hands. Retrieve a lost pet without being seen by civilians. Deliver packages while maintaining a specific formation at all times. Simple tasks made challenging through carefully designed limitations.

Through it all, Team Seven's coordination improved exponentially. They developed shorthand communication, anticipating each other's movements, compensating for individual weaknesses automatically. Sakura's analytical mind complemented Sasuke's technical precision and Naruto's unpredictable creativity in ways that made the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

By the end of the second week, they moved like a single organism with specialized components—exactly as Kakashi had intended.

The morning of their fifteenth day as Team Seven dawned clear and cool, a perfect early summer day in Konoha. As had become their habit, the three genin arrived at the training ground well before the appointed time, using the hour before Kakashi's inevitable late appearance to warm up and practice their individual exercises.

Naruto had just completed his two-hundredth pushup when he sensed an approaching chakra signature—but not Kakashi's familiar presence. This chakra was warmer, more substantial, yet carefully controlled.

He looked up to see the Third Hokage walking toward them, pipe in hand, his weathered face creased in a gentle smile.

"Old Man!" Naruto called, using the familiar address that had earned him scoldings from his parents on multiple occasions. But the Third had never minded, seeming to find the informality refreshing after the deference he received from most villagers.

Sasuke and Sakura immediately abandoned their exercises, bowing respectfully to the former village leader.

"Hokage-sama," they greeted in unison.

"Please, no need for formality," Hiruzen chuckled, waving them back to ease. "I'm just an old man taking a morning walk these days."

But Naruto knew better. Sarutobi Hiruzen never went anywhere without purpose, and his appearance at their training ground was deliberate.

"What brings you here, Old Man?" Naruto asked, grabbing a towel to wipe sweat from his face.

"Curiosity," the Third replied, taking a seat on one of the training posts. "I've been hearing interesting reports about Team Seven's progress. Thought I'd come see for myself."

Naruto exchanged glances with his teammates. More scrutiny, just as Kakashi had warned.

"We're just doing what Kakashi-sensei asks of us," Sakura explained modestly.

"Hmm." The Third puffed on his pipe thoughtfully. "And what has he been asking of you, exactly?"

"Everything," Sasuke stated bluntly.

The Third chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yes, that sounds like Kakashi. He never does anything by halves."

"You knew he would push us this hard," Naruto realized, studying the older man's face.

Hiruzen tapped his pipe thoughtfully. "I suggested to your father that Kakashi might be the right match for this team. A recommendation he ultimately followed, though not without consideration."

This was news to Naruto. The Third had influenced his team placement? Why would the retired Hokage take such an interest?

"Sarutobi-sama," Sakura ventured hesitantly, "may I ask why you're really here?"

The old man's eyebrows rose at her directness, then he smiled appreciatively. "Perceptive. Yes, beyond simple curiosity, I came with a purpose." He reached into his robes and withdrew a scroll bearing the official Hokage seal. "I've been asked to deliver this to Kakashi. It seems your sensei is being... elusive... regarding official communications."

Naruto snorted. That sounded like Kakashi alright.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked, eyeing the scroll with undisguised interest.

"A mission assignment," Hiruzen replied candidly. "C-rank, from what I understand."

The three genin exchanged excited glances. After two weeks of D-ranks, the prospect of a C-ranked mission—their first opportunity to leave the village—was electrifying.

"But since Kakashi isn't here yet," the Third continued, tucking the scroll away, "perhaps you can indulge an old man's curiosity. Show me what you've been learning these past weeks."

It wasn't a request, despite the gentle phrasing. Naruto recognized the evaluative gleam in the former Hokage's eyes. This was a test—another set of eyes gauging Team Seven's progress.

"Of course, Hokage-sama," Sakura agreed, immediately falling into a ready stance. "What would you like to see?"

"Why don't you three demonstrate a combat sequence?" Hiruzen suggested, leaning back comfortably. "Something that showcases your teamwork."

Naruto caught Sasuke's eye, a silent communication passing between them. "Formation Delta?" he suggested.

Sasuke nodded. "With the variant we practiced yesterday."

Sakura took position between them, all business now. "On your mark, Naruto."

They spaced themselves triangularly across the clearing, each focused on an imaginary enemy position. Naruto took a deep breath, centering himself, then called out sharply, "Mark!"

What followed was three minutes of precisely coordinated movement—Naruto creating shadow clones that served as both attack units and launching platforms, Sasuke executing aerial maneuvers with wire techniques and pinpoint shuriken throws, Sakura manipulating the terrain with earth jutsu while providing covering fire with senbon.

The routine incorporated elements of all they'd learned—chakra control, tactical positioning, complementary jutsu application, and above all, seamless teamwork that required minimal verbal communication.

As they completed the sequence, freezing in their final positions—Naruto and his clones forming a perimeter, Sasuke in an elevated sniper position, Sakura at the defensive center—they were breathing hard but satisfied. This particular drill had taken days to perfect, and they'd executed it flawlessly.

Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with approval. "Impressive," he acknowledged, tapping ash from his pipe. "Particularly the shadow clone applications, Naruto. Creative use of a high-level technique."

Naruto ducked his head at the praise, pleased despite himself. "Kakashi-sensei helped refine the concept."

"And the earth manipulation, young lady," the Third continued, nodding to Sakura. "Quite advanced for a genin of your experience level."

Sakura blushed. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I've been practicing the exercises Kakashi-sensei assigned religiously."

"It shows." The Third's gaze shifted to Sasuke. "Your wire techniques remind me of another Uchiha I once knew. Precision work."

Sasuke's expression flickered at the mention of another family member, but he inclined his head respectfully. "The technical scrolls in the clan library have been... educational."

"I imagine so." Hiruzen rose from his seat, surveying the three genin with renewed interest. "Well, I can see why the reports caught my attention. Team Seven is developing rather remarkably."

"What reports?" Naruto asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

The Third smiled enigmatically. "The village has ways of tracking promising shinobi. Let's just say your team's mission completion rate and training progress haven't gone unnoticed."

Before Naruto could press further, a swirl of leaves announced Kakashi's arrival—only an hour late today, practically punctual by his standards.

"My cute little genin, I hope you've been— Oh." Kakashi paused, noticing their visitor. "Hokage-sama. What an unexpected honor."

"Kakashi," Hiruzen greeted warmly. "I was just getting acquainted with your students. Impressive work you've done with them in such a short time."

Kakashi's visible eye curved in his signature smile, though Naruto detected a wariness beneath the casual exterior. "They're quick studies."

"Indeed." The Third produced the mission scroll once more. "The current Hokage sends his regards, along with this. Apparently you've been difficult to locate through normal channels."

"Maa, I've been busy with training," Kakashi demurred, accepting the scroll with studied nonchalance. Only those who knew him well might notice the slight tension in his posture as he broke the seal and scanned the contents.

Naruto watched his sensei carefully, heart racing with anticipation. A C-rank mission would be their first real test outside the village—their chance to prove what Team Seven could really do.

Kakashi rolled the scroll closed, his expression unreadable behind his mask. "Well, this is interesting timing."

"Oh?" Hiruzen prompted innocently, though something in his tone suggested he already knew the scroll's contents.

"Team Seven has been assigned escort duty," Kakashi announced, looking at his students. "C-rank mission to the Land of Waves. Departure tomorrow morning."

Excitement coursed through the three genin, though they maintained professional composure in the former Hokage's presence.

"The Land of Waves?" Sakura repeated, her academic mind already retrieving relevant geographical and political information.

"Yes. We'll be escorting a bridge builder back to his home country and providing protection until his current project is completed." Kakashi tucked the scroll into his vest. "Pack for at least two weeks. Details at the mission briefing, 0800 tomorrow, east gate."

The Third nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Well, I won't keep you from your training. I've seen what I came to see." He inclined his head to the team. "Good luck on your mission, Team Seven. I'll be interested to hear how it unfolds."

With that, he departed, leaving a contemplative silence in his wake.

"Sensei," Naruto finally broke the silence, "the Old Man said there have been reports about our progress. Who's watching us?"

Kakashi sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "Everyone and no one, Naruto. As I warned you, Team Seven attracts attention by its very nature."

"But a C-rank already?" Sasuke pressed. "Most genin teams do D-ranks for months before their first C-rank."

"Most genin teams haven't completed nearly thirty D-ranks in two weeks with perfect efficiency ratings," Kakashi countered. Then, more seriously, "And most teams don't have the political considerations that accompany this one."

The unspoken hung in the air between them. Team Nine—the twins' team—had received their first C-rank mission the previous week, a fact that had been announced with considerable fanfare throughout the village. The Children of Prophecy, taking their first steps beyond Konoha's walls, fulfilling their destiny.

And now, Team Seven would follow. Coincidence? Unlikely.

"Is this mission legitimate?" Naruto asked bluntly. "Or is it just for appearances?"

Kakashi studied his student, noting the tension in his shoulders, the wariness in his blue eyes. So much like Minato in appearance, yet carrying burdens his father could scarcely comprehend.

"The mission is legitimate," Kakashi assured him. "The timing may be political, but the assignment itself is real. A bridge builder named Tazuna has requested protection from bandits while he completes a project in Wave Country."

"Standard C-rank parameters," Sakura mused. "Possible combat with untrained adversaries, but no expected shinobi opposition."

"Correct," Kakashi confirmed. "Though as with any mission, we prepare for contingencies." His eye swept over his three students, assessing. "Which brings us to today's training. Given tomorrow's assignment, we'll focus on combat drills and protocols for protection detail."

The rest of the day passed in focused preparation. Kakashi drilled them on escort formations, threat assessment, and field communication methods. They practiced scenarios ranging from simple bandit encounters to evacuating civilians under fire.

By sunset, Team Seven had a clear understanding of their roles for the coming mission—Sasuke as advance scout utilizing his superior visual acuity, Sakura as tactical support positioned near their client, Naruto using shadow clones for perimeter security, and Kakashi overseeing the entire operation while ready to engage any threat beyond genin capabilities.

"One last thing before we part," Kakashi said as they gathered their gear in the fading light. "Pack as if you expect this mission to go wrong."

The three genin exchanged glances.

"Is there something you're not telling us, sensei?" Sasuke asked directly.

Kakashi eye-smiled. "Not at all. Just good shinobi practice. Hope for the simple escort mission in the mission brief, prepare for everything else." He paused. "And perhaps pack some extra weapon scrolls. Just in case."

With that cryptic advice, he dismissed them. As they walked together toward the village center, an unusual tension filled the air between them—excitement mingled with apprehension.

"Our first real mission," Sakura said softly. "Outside the village walls."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted. "About time."

Naruto remained silent, his mind working through the implications of the day's events. The Third's personal delivery of their mission assignment. The suspicious timing following Team Nine's departure. Kakashi's warning to prepare for complications.

Something didn't add up.

"You're overthinking," Sasuke commented, reading Naruto's expression with unnerving accuracy. "Even if there are politics involved, it doesn't change our job."

"Sasuke's right," Sakura agreed. "Whatever game the village is playing with team assignments doesn't matter once we're in the field. We do the mission, protect the client, come home safe. Everything else is just noise."

Naruto looked between his teammates, appreciation warming his chest. They understood his concerns without him having to voice them.

"You're both right," he acknowledged. "Mission first."

As they reached the crossroads where they would separate, Sakura suddenly reached out, grabbing both boys' hands. "Promise me something," she said, her green eyes intense. "Both of you. Promise you'll be careful tomorrow. No unnecessary risks. No heroics."

Sasuke looked startled by the physical contact but didn't pull away. "Worried about us, Haruno?"

"Yes," she answered simply. "I am."

The straightforward admission silenced Sasuke's teasing.

"We'll watch each other's backs," Naruto promised, squeezing her hand gently before releasing it. "That's what Team Seven does, right?"

Sakura nodded, seeming reassured. "See you both at the gate. 0800 sharp."

As they parted ways, Naruto found his steps leading not toward home but toward the Hokage Tower. A familiar compulsion drove him—the need to know if his father had any part in this mission assignment, if this was another test, another measurement against his siblings' achievements.

The tower windows glowed against the deepening twilight, evidence of the never-ending work of village administration. Naruto approached with practiced stealth, not sneaking exactly, but not drawing attention either. Years of existing in the shadows of his more brilliant siblings had taught him how to move through the village unnoticed when he chose.

The Hokage's office was on the top floor, accessible through official channels or, for family members, a private staircase at the rear of the building. Naruto hesitated at the base of these stairs, second-guessing his impulse. What would he even say if he confronted his father? What answers was he seeking?

Before he could decide, the choice was made for him.

"Naruto."

He turned to find his father standing behind him, having apparently just exited a meeting in one of the lower offices. Minato Namikaze looked tired, the weight of the Hokage's responsibilities evident in the subtle lines around his eyes. But his gaze was sharp as ever as he studied his firstborn son.

"Father," Naruto acknowledged stiffly. It had been weeks since they'd spoken directly, despite living in the same house. Such was the nature of their relationship—ships passing in the night, acknowledgment without connection.

"Were you looking for me?" Minato asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Naruto hesitated, then nodded. "I wanted to ask about our mission assignment."

"Ah." Something flickered across Minato's face—caution, perhaps. "Team Seven's C-rank to Wave Country."

"Yes." Naruto met his father's gaze directly. "I wanted to know if there's something we should be aware of. Kakashi-sensei seemed... concerned."

Minato's expression shifted subtly. "Kakashi tends to look underneath the underneath, sometimes to excess. The mission is as described in the brief—escort duty, potential bandit interference, standard C-rank parameters."

It was the official answer, diplomatic and unrevealing. Naruto had expected nothing less.

"I see," Naruto replied, preparing to take his leave. He'd learned nothing, confirmed nothing. Business as usual between them.

But as he turned to go, Minato's voice stopped him. "Naruto." A pause, laden with unspoken complexities. "Your team's progress has been... remarkable."

Naruto froze, processing the unexpected comment. Was that... pride in his father's voice?

"Kakashi reports that your shadow clone applications are particularly innovative," Minato continued, his tone carefully neutral yet somehow softer than usual. "And your wind manipulation is progressing faster than average."

Naruto turned slowly, studying his father's face for any hint of mockery or comparison to his siblings. Finding none, he responded cautiously, "Kakashi-sensei is a good teacher."

"Yes, he is," Minato agreed. Then, with what appeared to be genuine curiosity, "How are you finding Team Seven? Is it a good fit?"

The question was so unexpected, so uncharacteristically personal, that Naruto temporarily lost his composure. "It's... yes. It's good. Sasuke and Sakura are..." he searched for words that wouldn't sound sentimental, "...committed to our development as a team."

Minato nodded, seeming satisfied with this assessment. "Good. That's good." He hesitated, then added, "Be careful on this mission, Naruto. C-ranks can be unpredictable."

The concern, however formulaic, was more direct attention than Naruto had received from his father in months. He didn't know how to respond, caught between his habitual defensiveness and a desperate, childish desire to believe the concern was genuine.

"We will be," he finally replied. "Goodnight, Father."

"Goodnight, Naruto."

As Naruto walked away, the weight of those simple words—the first normal exchange they'd had in longer than he could remember—left him unsettled. Had something changed? Or was this merely the Hokage checking on a shinobi team before their first C-rank mission?

By the time he reached home, the rest of the family had already retired for the night—his mother and siblings having returned from their own activities while he was training. The house was quiet, lights dimmed, a note on the kitchen counter indicating that food had been left for him in the refrigerator.

A cursory gesture of maternal care, likely Kushina's doing—remembering her eldest son's existence just enough to ensure he wouldn't go hungry. Naruto ignored the covered plate, opting instead for a quick sandwich that he could eat while packing for the mission.

In his room, he methodically sorted through his equipment, selecting weapons, scrolls, and supplies with careful consideration of Kakashi's warning. Extra kunai. Specialized tags he'd crafted himself. Three soldier pills tucked into a hidden pocket—emergency reserves. A small medical kit Sakura had insisted each team member carry.

As he worked, his father's unexpected attention replayed in his mind. The mention of his shadow clone technique. The acknowledgment of his wind nature progress. Small things, insignificant to most. Yet coming from Minato Namikaze, they were extraordinary breaks in the pattern of indifference that had defined their relationship for years.

Naruto shook his head, focusing on his preparations. Whatever game his father might be playing, whatever shifting political winds might be affecting his sudden notice of his forgotten son, they mattered less than tomorrow's mission. Team Seven was his priority now. His place. His chosen family.

Still, as he finally laid down to sleep, a treacherous whisper of hope curled through his consciousness: what if things could be different?

He pushed the thought away, closing his eyes against the darkness. Hope was a luxury he couldn't afford—not with his siblings' shadow looming so large, not with prophecy and politics dictating his worth in his parents' eyes.

Tomorrow, Team Seven would step beyond Konoha's gates for the first time. Whatever awaited them in Wave Country, Naruto would face it alongside people who saw him clearly, valued him genuinely. That certainty was worth more than all the fleeting paternal attention in the world.

With that resolve firmly in place, he surrendered to sleep, dreaming of mist-shrouded shores and a path that led away from prophecy's crushing weight.

Morning mist clung to Konoha's eastern gate, the first rays of sunrise struggling to penetrate the pearly haze. Birds called from the surrounding forest, their songs muted in the cool, damp air. The massive wooden gates stood partially open, early merchants and travelers already beginning their journeys along the well-worn road that led away from the Hidden Leaf.

Naruto arrived precisely at 0745, pack secured across his shoulders, weapons checked and rechecked during his pre-dawn preparations. His stomach fluttered with a mixture of excitement and apprehension—his first steps beyond the village since infancy, his first real mission as a shinobi.

Sasuke was already there, leaning against the gatepost with affected nonchalance that didn't quite mask his own anticipation. The Uchiha acknowledged Naruto with a slight nod, dark eyes alert despite the early hour.

"Sleep well?" Sasuke asked, a hint of irony in his tone.

"Hardly," Naruto admitted, rolling his shoulders to adjust his pack. "You?"

"Hn." A non-answer that conveyed everything. Neither of them had slept much, too keyed up for what lay ahead.

Sakura joined them moments later, her pack neatly organized with medical supplies visible in side pouches for quick access. Her determined expression matched their own, though dark circles beneath her eyes testified to a restless night.

"Morning," she greeted, stifling a yawn. "Any sign of our client? Or Kakashi-sensei?"

"Not yet," Naruto replied, glancing toward the village interior. "Though I expect the client will arrive before our perpetually late sensei."

As if summoned by the conversation, a figure appeared through the mist—an older man with weathered skin and a gray beard, walking with the rolling gait of someone who'd spent considerable time at sea. A large straw hat shaded his face, and a towel draped around his neck. Most tellingly, a bottle swung from his fingers, its contents sloshing with each step.

"That must be Tazuna," Sakura murmured as the man approached.

Naruto nodded, cataloging details with the assessment skills Kakashi had drilled into them. Civilian clothing, well-worn. Calloused hands suggesting manual labor. The slight unsteadiness in his walk hinting at early-morning drinking rather than professional alcoholism. A builder indeed, and seemingly unremarkable.

"You're the ninja team?" Tazuna asked gruffly as he reached them, squinting through glasses that had seen better days. "Bunch of kids? Where's your teacher?"

"Kakashi-sensei will be here shortly," Sakura assured him with professional politeness, though Naruto caught the slight tightening around her eyes at the dismissive assessment. "We're Team Seven, assigned to escort you to Wave Country and protect you until your bridge is completed."

Tazuna snorted, taking a swig from his bottle. "Doesn't inspire confidence, sending children to guard the super amazing bridge builder responsible for Wave's future."

Sasuke's posture stiffened almost imperceptibly. "I assure you, we're fully qualified for this mission," he stated, his tone cooling several degrees.

"We'll be under Kakashi Hatake's command," Naruto added, watching Tazuna's reaction closely. "Copy Ninja Kakashi. Perhaps you've heard of him?"

Recognition flickered across the builder's face, followed by what might have been relief. "The Copy Ninja, eh? Well, that's something at least."

Interesting. The client had recognized Kakashi's reputation immediately, suggesting he was more concerned about security than a standard C-rank might warrant. Naruto filed the observation away, exchanging a brief glance with Sasuke, who had clearly noted the same thing.

"Ah, my adorable students and esteemed client are all prompt," Kakashi's cheerful voice broke through the tension as he appeared beside them in a swirl of leaves. "How refreshing."

"You're on time," Sakura remarked, clearly suspicious of this unprecedented development.

"Maa, it's a special occasion." Kakashi eye-smiled, then turned to Tazuna with a more professional demeanor. "Kakashi Hatake, jōnin of Konoha and leader of Team Seven. We'll be providing your security detail to Wave Country."

Tazuna nodded, seeming somewhat reassured by the jōnin's presence. "Tazuna, master bridge builder of Wave. I'm building a bridge that will change our country's future. I expect top-notch protection until it's completed."

"Of course," Kakashi agreed easily. "We should depart. The road to Wave Country is long, and we want to make good progress before nightfall."

With minimal ceremony, Team Seven passed through Konoha's gates, stepping onto the wide road that would take them first through Fire Country's forests, then to the coastal regions, and finally to Wave Country itself. Naruto couldn't help glancing back at the massive gates as they receded into the distance, at the village walls that had defined his entire existence until this moment.

"First time outside?" Sakura asked quietly, falling into step beside him.

Naruto nodded. "You?"

"I've been to neighboring towns with my parents for trading," she replied. "But never this far, and never as a shinobi."

Ahead of them, Kakashi led their small party, seemingly absorbed in his ever-present orange book while Tazuna walked beside him, occasionally taking swigs from his bottle. Sasuke had naturally assumed the rear guard position, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings with the vigilance that had been drilled into them over the past weeks.

They settled into the standard diamond formation they'd practiced—client at center, Kakashi leading, Sasuke bringing up the rear, Naruto and Sakura flanking the sides. A comfortable silence fell as they made their way deeper into the forests of Fire Country, the well-maintained road making for easy traveling.

Around midday, they paused for a brief rest near a small stream. As Sakura refilled their water containers and Tazuna stretched his legs, Naruto pulled Sasuke aside.

"You noticed it too, right?" he asked in a low voice. "Tazuna's reaction to Kakashi-sensei's name."

Sasuke nodded. "Relief. Like he was expecting serious protection." His dark eyes narrowed. "Not typical for a C-rank concerned about random bandits."

"And he keeps looking over his shoulder," Naruto added. "When he thinks we're not watching. That's not the behavior of someone worried about ordinary road thieves."

"You think he lied about the mission parameters?" Sasuke's tone was carefully neutral, but Naruto could see the calculations running behind his eyes.

"I think it's a possibility we should consider," Naruto replied. "Either way, we maintain heightened awareness."

Sasuke nodded in agreement. "I'll tell Sakura. Discreetly."

As they resumed their journey, Naruto created a shadow clone that transformed into a small bird, sending it ahead to scout the path. A precaution Kakashi had taught them—using transformed clones for reconnaissance without alerting potential observers to their true nature.

The afternoon wore on without incident, the forest growing thicker around them as they ventured further from Konoha. Kakashi maintained a casual demeanor, but Naruto noticed how his sensei's attention never truly left their surroundings, his relaxed posture belying a constant state of readiness.

It was approaching late afternoon when Naruto's scouting clone dispelled, sending a rush of information back to him. Two figures hiding near the road ahead. Chakra signatures suppressed but detectable. Weapons ready.

Naruto tensed, using the hand signals Kakashi had taught them to relay the information to his teammates. Two hostiles ahead. Ninja. Ambush position.

Kakashi's almost imperceptible nod confirmed he'd received the message, though his outward behavior didn't change. Sasuke and Sakura shifted subtly, hands drifting closer to their weapons pouches while maintaining conversation with Tazuna to avoid alerting him to the danger.

They continued forward, every sense heightened as they approached the ambush point. Naruto created more shadow clones, keeping them transformed and hidden in the surrounding foliage as backup. The road curved ahead, trees pressing close on either side—a perfect spot for an attack.

As they rounded the bend, Naruto spotted the subtle signs—a puddle on the road despite no recent rainfall, the faintest ripple of chakra distorting the air above it. A water-based concealment technique, and not a particularly sophisticated one.

Kakashi had obviously seen it too, yet he led them directly past the puddle without reaction. A strategic decision—allowing the attackers to reveal themselves while pretending ignorance.

Everything happened in a blur of motion after that. Two figures erupted from the false puddle—shinobi wearing breathing masks and Rain village headbands with slashes through the symbols, marking them as missing-nin. Massive gauntlets connected by a serrated chain glinted in the dappled sunlight as they surged toward Kakashi.

"One down," one of them growled as the chain wrapped around Kakashi, constricting with lethal force.

To the untrained eye, it appeared the jōnin was caught by surprise, his body shredded as the chain tightened. But Team Seven knew better—had trained too extensively with their sensei to believe he would fall so easily. The "body" that disintegrated was obviously a substitution, though they maintained their shocked expressions for the benefit of both the attackers and their client.

"K-Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura cried convincingly, moving to shield Tazuna as they'd practiced for scenarios just like this.

The attackers turned toward the remaining targets, chain swinging menacingly between them. "Two down," they promised, charging toward Naruto.

But Team Seven was ready.

Sasuke launched into action, a shuriken whistling through the air to pin the attackers' chain to a nearby tree trunk. He followed it instantly with a kunai that drove through the center of the shuriken, securing the chain firmly and limiting the enemies' mobility.

Naruto didn't hesitate, creating a half-dozen shadow clones that swarmed the first attacker while he engaged the second directly. The missing-nin were clearly surprised by the coordinated defense from genin, having expected easy targets after neutralizing the jōnin.

"Get behind me!" Sakura ordered Tazuna, her voice steady as she drew a kunai and established a defensive position. Though not engaging directly, her role was crucial—client protection above all else.

The fight was brief but intense. The moment the attackers detached their chain to regain mobility, Sasuke engaged one in taijutsu while Naruto and his clones overwhelmed the other with coordinated strikes.

Just as Naruto delivered a decisive blow to his opponent's solar plexus, Kakashi reappeared, casually restraining both attackers with embarrassing ease.

"Good work, Team Seven," he praised, binding the unconscious missing-nin with specialized restraints. "Excellent coordination. Textbook protection formation."

"You faked your own death," Tazuna accused, his face pale beneath his weathered tan.

"I needed to see who they were targeting," Kakashi replied mildly. His eye hardened as he turned fully toward the bridge builder. "And it seems we need to have a conversation about the true nature of this mission, Tazuna-san."

The builder swallowed visibly, his earlier bravado evaporating under Kakashi's steady gaze.

"Those were the Demon Brothers of Kirigakure," Kakashi continued, gesturing to the bound attackers. "Chūnin-level missing-nin known for their assassination work. Not the random bandits a C-rank mission would entail."

Naruto watched Tazuna carefully, noting how the man's hands trembled slightly around his bottle. "You knew," he stated flatly. "You knew ninja would be targeting you."

"I... I couldn't afford a B-rank or higher," Tazuna admitted, his shoulders slumping. "Wave Country is poor. We've been bled dry by Gatō and his shipping company. The bridge I'm building is our only hope of economic independence, but Gatō wants to maintain his monopoly. He's hired ninja to eliminate me before the bridge can be completed."

"Gatō?" Sakura questioned. "The shipping magnate?"

"The same," Tazuna confirmed bitterly. "To the world, he's a legitimate businessman. In Wave, he's a tyrant who controls our ports, our commerce, our very lives through violence and intimidation."

Kakashi sighed, his expression unreadable behind his mask. "This changes the mission parameters significantly. This is now potentially a B-rank mission, possibly higher depending on what other ninja Gatō has hired."

The implication hung in the air between them. By rights, they should abandon the mission. Genin weren't cleared for assignments above C-rank without special authorization. Protocol dictated they return to Konoha, file a mission parameter violation report, and allow a more experienced team to take over.

"What happens to Wave Country if we turn back?" Naruto asked quietly.

Tazuna seized the opening with the desperation of a drowning man. "Without the bridge, Wave has no future. Gatō will maintain his stranglehold, and our people will continue to suffer. I'm not just building infrastructure—I'm building hope."

His appeal was calculated to induce guilt, but the desperation behind it seemed genuine. Naruto exchanged glances with his teammates, reading their thoughts in their expressions. Sasuke's determined nod. Sakura's resolute gaze. They were thinking the same thing he was.

"The decision is yours, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, speaking for the team. "But Team Seven is prepared to continue if you deem us capable."

Kakashi studied his three students thoughtfully, weighing their demonstrated skills against the increased danger. "You handled the Demon Brothers efficiently," he acknowledged. "But if Gatō has hired those two, he likely has more dangerous shinobi in his employ."

"All the more reason not to leave Wave Country defenseless," Sasuke argued quietly.

Sakura nodded in agreement. "We've trained for scenarios beyond standard C-rank parameters. And we have you, sensei."

Kakashi's gaze lingered on each of them in turn, measuring their resolve. Finally, he sighed. "Very well. We'll continue the mission." He fixed Tazuna with a stern look. "But no more secrets, Tazuna-san. Full disclosure about what we might be facing."

Relief washed over the builder's face. "Thank you. My grandson and daughter will be grateful too."

"Save your gratitude until we've successfully completed the mission," Kakashi advised dryly. "For now, we need to secure these two and send word back to Konoha about the change in circumstances."

As Kakashi summoned a ninken to carry a message back to the village, Naruto helped Sasuke drag the unconscious missing-nin off the road. They secured them thoroughly to a tree, where Konoha retrieval forces would find them based on the coordinates in Kakashi's message.

"You okay?" Sasuke asked quietly, noting a shallow cut on Naruto's hand from the brief fight.

"Fine," Naruto assured him, wiping the blood away. "Their chain grazed me, but it's already healing." Indeed, the small wound was closing before their eyes, the accelerated healing Naruto had always possessed already doing its work.

Sasuke nodded, though his gaze lingered on the rapidly healing cut with something like curiosity. "You really want to continue this mission," he observed. "Even knowing it's more dangerous than advertised."

Naruto shrugged, watching as Sakura gently admonished Tazuna while checking him for signs of shock. "Wave Country is suffering. We can help. Isn't that what being a shinobi of Konoha is supposed to be about?"

Sasuke studied him for a moment. "That's unusually idealistic, coming from you."

"Maybe," Naruto admitted. "Or maybe I just think everyone deserves a chance to break free from circumstances controlling their lives."

Understanding flickered in Sasuke's dark eyes—recognition of the parallel Naruto was drawing to his own situation. He nodded once, a gesture of solidarity. "Then we make sure this bridge gets built."

When they rejoined the group, Kakashi had finished sending his message and was reviewing the new security protocols with Sakura and Tazuna.

"We'll continue to Wave Country with heightened alert status," he informed them. "If we encounter jōnin-level opposition, I'll reassess. But for now, we proceed."

They resumed their journey with a new seriousness, the earlier relaxed pace replaced by vigilant efficiency. Kakashi no longer pretended to read his book, his visible eye constantly scanning their surroundings. Naruto maintained transformed shadow clones in scouting positions, changing their locations frequently to avoid detection patterns.

As the sun began to set, Tazuna led them to a secluded cove where a boatman waited—a nervous man who spoke in whispers about Gatō's patrols and the risk he was taking transporting them.

The small boat slipped silently across the water as darkness fell, the boatman using a pole rather than the motor to avoid detection. Mist closed around them, thick and obscuring, a natural phenomenon in this region but also perfect cover for potential attacks.

"The bridge isn't far now," Tazuna murmured, breaking the tense silence. "Once you see it, you'll understand why it's so important."

As if on cue, a massive shadow loomed through the mist—the partially constructed bridge, its skeletal framework stretching across the water toward the mainland. Even unfinished, it was an impressive feat of engineering.

"You built this?" Sakura asked, genuine admiration in her voice.

"With my team," Tazuna confirmed, pride momentarily overcoming his fear. "When it's completed, ships will be able to come directly to Wave. We'll no longer be dependent on Gatō's shipping company."

"And that's why he wants you dead," Sasuke concluded. "Your bridge threatens his monopoly."

Tazuna nodded grimly. "Exactly."

They continued in silence, the boatman steering them toward a small, hidden inlet rather than the main harbor. "Gatō's men watch the primary docks," he explained in hushed tones. "This way is safer."

After disembarking, Tazuna led them along overgrown paths that wound through sparse woodland toward the island's interior. The landscape here was different from Fire Country's dense forests—more open, punctuated by water channels and marshy areas, the vegetation salt-stunted and hardy.

"My home is on the outskirts of the main village," Tazuna explained. "Not far now."

Naruto felt it first—a subtle shift in air pressure, a faint disturbance in the mist that hinted at rapid movement. He tensed, hand moving to his kunai pouch as he swept his gaze across their surroundings.

"Duck!" Kakashi suddenly commanded.

The team reacted instantly, Naruto and Sasuke pulling Tazuna down as a massive blade whirred through the space where their heads had been moments before. The sword embedded itself in a tree trunk with a solid thunk, and a figure materialized atop its handle—a tall, muscular man with his lower face wrapped in bandages and a slashed Kirigakure headband.

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi identified, his voice hardening as he shifted into a combat stance. "Demon of the Hidden Mist."

Naruto's blood ran cold. Even genin knew that name—an A-rank missing-nin, former member of Kiri's elite Seven Swordsmen, master of the silent killing technique. This was far beyond the Demon Brothers' threat level.

"Kakashi of the Sharingan," Zabuza returned, his voice a low growl. "No wonder the Demon Brothers failed. Hand over the bridge builder, and I might let your little genin live."

"Manji formation," Kakashi ordered crisply. "Protect Tazuna at all costs."

Team Seven moved instantly into position, surrounding Tazuna with weapons drawn while Kakashi stepped forward to face Zabuza directly. With deliberate motion, he raised his hitai-ate, revealing his left eye—a fully-developed Sharingan, its three tomoe spinning slowly against a blood-red background.

"Stay back," Kakashi instructed them. "This one is beyond your level."

What followed was a battle unlike anything Team Seven had witnessed—two elite jōnin moving at speeds that strained perception, wielding jutsu of devastating power. Water clones, substitutions, a suffocating killing intent that threatened to paralyze the watching genin.

Naruto gripped his kunai tightly, fighting the instinct to intervene despite knowing Kakashi was right—Zabuza was beyond their current capabilities. Instead, he focused on the protection formation, using his shadow clones to create a second defensive ring around Tazuna while keeping his senses alert for any sign of accomplices.

The battle moved from land to water, Zabuza demonstrating mastery of water-style jutsu that transformed the landscape into a deadly battlefield. Kakashi matched him technique for technique, the Sharingan allowing him to counter each move almost before it was executed.

Then catastrophe struck. Zabuza managed to trap Kakashi in a Water Prison Jutsu—a sphere of dense liquid that immobilized the Copy Ninja completely. With his primary hand maintaining the prison, Zabuza created a water clone to deal with the genin and their client.

"Run!" Kakashi ordered from within his watery prison. "Take Tazuna and escape! The water clone can't travel far from the original!"

But Team Seven stood their ground, exchanging determined glances that conveyed an entire strategy session without words. They had trained for this—operating without their sensei, adapting to unexpected threats, transforming disadvantage into opportunity.

"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto called, his hands already forming the shadow clone seal. "Team Seven doesn't abandon comrades."

A dozen Naruto clones burst into existence, charging the water clone in a coordinated attack pattern designed to distract rather than defeat. Simultaneously, Sasuke launched a massive fireball toward the real Zabuza, forcing him to choose between maintaining the water prison and avoiding a direct hit.

Sakura, meanwhile, used the moment of chaotic distraction to pull Tazuna to safer ground, placing explosive tags in strategic positions around their fall-back point.

Zabuza chose to maintain the prison, using his free hand to direct his water clone to disperse Naruto's attack while allowing the fireball to dissipate against a hastily raised water shield. His confidence was clear—mere genin posed no real threat to a shinobi of his caliber.

But Team Seven was just getting started.

As the water clone engaged Naruto's shadow clones, Sasuke executed a sequence of hand seals. "Lightning Style: Electric Current!"

The technique—one they had practiced relentlessly under Kakashi's guidance—wasn't particularly powerful, but it wasn't meant to be. Instead of targeting Zabuza directly, Sasuke directed the jutsu into the water surrounding the missing-nin, creating a conductive field that threatened to electrify the water prison itself.

Zabuza's eyes widened at the unexpected tactic. Electricity and water were a deadly combination, and while the jutsu wasn't strong enough to seriously harm a jōnin, it would certainly disrupt the water prison's stability.