What if Naruto Had Lelouch's Mind-Reading Code, Not Command Geass?

The ancient seal inside Naruto Uzumaki's stomach burned with an unfamiliar heat.

Moonlight sliced through his apartment window as the twelve-year-old boy doubled over, clutching his abdomen. This wasn't the Nine-Tails acting up—this was something else entirely. Something that pulsed with otherworldly energy, sending electric currents racing through his chakra network.

"What's... happening?" Naruto gasped, collapsing to his knees.

The seal containing the Nine-Tailed Fox had always been a nexus of powerful forces, but tonight it was becoming something more—a cosmic intersection where two vastly different universes were bleeding into each other. Naruto's eyes widened as strange symbols appeared in his vision, floating and incomprehensible.

His mind exploded with images: a raven-haired boy with a glowing red eye, a green-haired immortal woman, a bird-like sigil that radiated power, massive mechanical warriors devastating cities, and a world at war that looked nothing like the Elemental Nations.

"Who... are you?" Naruto whispered, reaching out to touch the vision of the dark-haired youth whose penetrating gaze seemed to look directly back at him.

"I am Lelouch vi Britannia," the phantom voice answered, though its owner couldn't possibly be present. "And this—this is my Code."

Naruto's vision blurred, and a searing pain ignited in his forehead. The strange bird-like symbol that had appeared in his mind's eye was now burning itself into his flesh, just above his brow. Unlike the Geass power that Lelouch had wielded in life—the ability to command absolute obedience—what was transferring to Naruto was something far more fundamental: the Code of immortality that C.C. had once carried, but with a critical mutation.

This Code wouldn't grant Naruto immortality. Instead, it was adapting to the chakra-rich environment of his body, to the unique spiritual energy of the shinobi world, and to the presence of the Nine-Tails sealed within him. It was transforming into something that had never existed in either world before.

As Naruto lost consciousness, the Nine-Tails stirred within its cage.

"INTERESTING," the massive fox rumbled, its slitted eyes narrowing at the strange symbol now etched into its host's spiritual form. "THIS POWER COMES FROM BEYOND OUR WORLD. I WONDER WHAT CHAOS IT WILL BRING?"

When Naruto awakened hours later, the world would never be the same. The Code had taken root, granting him not the power to command others but something potentially far more dangerous—the ability to read minds, to see the naked truth of people's thoughts and memories whenever he made eye contact.

In a world of shinobi, where deception was a way of life, Naruto Uzumaki had just become the ultimate detector of lies.

And all the carefully constructed plots of the Elemental Nations—from Danzo's schemes to Obito's master plan, from Orochimaru's experiments to the Akatsuki's hunt for Tailed Beasts—were about to unravel.

Sunlight streamed through dusty blinds, striking Naruto's face with irritating persistence. His head throbbed with the most excruciating pain he'd ever experienced, far worse than any training injury or playground scuffle.

"What... happened?" he groaned, forcing himself upright.

The events of the previous night felt like a fever dream—bizarre visions, a voice calling itself Lelouch, and that strange bird-like symbol that had burned into his mind. Naruto stumbled to the bathroom mirror, expecting to see his normal reflection.

Instead, he jolted back in shock.

There on his forehead, partially hidden by blonde bangs but unmistakably real, was a crimson sigil—like a stylized bird in flight. Naruto traced it with trembling fingers, confirming it wasn't just paint or an illusion.

"This is real," he whispered. "But what does it mean?"

A flash of recognition sparked in his mind—memories that weren't his own, knowledge of something called "Code" from a world where massive mechanical warriors called Knightmare Frames battled across war-torn landscapes. He saw fragments of a life lived by someone else—a strategic genius named Lelouch who had wielded the power of absolute command and ultimately sacrificed himself to reshape his world.

But that wasn't the power Naruto had received. Something had changed in the transfer between worlds.

"Graduation exam today," Naruto suddenly remembered, panic flooding his system. "I can't show up like this!"

He frantically rummaged through his meager possessions until he found an old bandana, which he tied around his forehead to conceal the mark. It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do. Whatever this strange power was, he couldn't let it distract him from finally becoming a ninja.

The classroom buzzed with excitement as students prepared for their graduation tests. Naruto slumped in his seat, head still pounding with strange memories and sensations that weren't his own.

"What's with the bandana, loser?" Kiba Inuzuka sneered, leaning over Naruto's desk. "Trying out a new fashion statement? Won't help you pass the clone jutsu!"

Naruto opened his mouth for a retort when their eyes locked. Suddenly, his vision tunneled and his consciousness seemed to plunge forward, straight into Kiba's mind.

—can't believe this idiot thinks he'll be Hokage someday when he can't even perform a basic clone jutsu, but mom says I shouldn't pick on him because there's something about him that's dangerous, what did she mean by that?—

Naruto recoiled, gasping. He'd just... heard Kiba's thoughts? Not just surface impressions, but the actual streaming consciousness behind those feral eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" Kiba asked, genuinely confused by Naruto's sudden reaction.

"N-nothing," Naruto stammered, deliberately looking away. "Just leave me alone."

His heart pounded. This was the power? Reading minds? The foreign memories swirling in his head confirmed it—this was the Code, adapted to his world, mutated by his unique circumstances. Where Lelouch had commanded obedience with his Geass, Naruto could now see truth with his Code.

Iruka-sensei entered the classroom, silencing the chatter. "Alright everyone, today's the day! When I call your name, proceed to the testing room to perform the clone jutsu."

Naruto's stomach dropped. The clone jutsu—his worst technique. Even with this new power, he couldn't magically fix his terrible chakra control.

As names were called alphabetically, Naruto's anxiety mounted. He glanced around the room, accidentally making eye contact with Sakura Haruno.

—please let Sasuke-kun notice me today, I've been practicing this jutsu for weeks, unlike that idiot Naruto who's going to fail again, why does he even bother showing up?—

Naruto flinched, hurt by her dismissive thoughts. Looking away quickly, he found himself locking eyes with Sasuke Uchiha.

—everyone here is wasting my time, I need real training to kill HIM, not these childish academy exercises, especially that loud blonde idiot who doesn't understand what real pain is—

The bitter darkness in Sasuke's thoughts startled Naruto. He'd always known the last Uchiha was troubled, but the depth of his hatred was shocking.

"Naruto Uzumaki!" Iruka called.

With shaking legs, Naruto stood and walked toward the testing room. This new ability was overwhelming—he'd just learned more about his classmates in five minutes than he had in five years.

Inside the testing room, Iruka and Mizuki waited behind a table laden with forehead protectors.

"Whenever you're ready, Naruto," Iruka said kindly. "Demonstrate the clone jutsu."

Naruto formed the hand seals, concentrating hard. "Clone Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke revealed a single, sickly-looking clone that immediately collapsed into a shapeless heap on the floor.

Iruka's face fell. "Failed."

"Iruka-sensei," Mizuki interjected, "perhaps we could pass him conditionally? He did technically produce a clone..."

Naruto accidentally caught Iruka's gaze.

—I want to pass him, but how would that prepare him for the dangers ahead? I can't send him out there unprepared, it would be like sending him to his death, and I care about him too much to do that—

The genuine concern in Iruka's thoughts surprised Naruto.

Then he looked at Mizuki, whose smile didn't reach his eyes.

—perfect, the demon brat failed as expected, now I just need to manipulate him into stealing the scroll tonight and I'll finally have what I need to leave this pathetic village—

Naruto froze, shocked by the malevolence in Mizuki's thoughts. Demon brat? Stealing a scroll? What was happening?

"I understand, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said quietly, surprising both teachers with his calm acceptance of failure. "Thank you for being fair."

As he left the room, his mind raced. Mizuki was planning something terrible, and somehow Naruto was meant to be involved. The revelation left him with a sickening feeling, but also a sudden clarity—he had been given this power for a reason.

For the first time in his life, Naruto could see the truth behind the masks people wore. And the first truth he'd uncovered was that someone he'd trusted was planning to betray not just him, but the entire village.

The Code symbol pulsed beneath his bandana, as if acknowledging that his journey had truly begun.

Naruto perched atop the Hokage Monument, legs dangling over the Fourth Hokage's stone head as sunset painted Konoha in amber hues. His mind buzzed with the day's revelations—Mizuki's betrayal plot, Iruka's genuine concern, Sasuke's consuming hatred, and the dismissive thoughts practically everyone harbored about him.

"So this is what everyone really thinks," he whispered, a bitter edge to his voice.

The Code mark throbbed beneath his bandana, as if responding to his emotions. The foreign memories that had transferred with it provided context—this power was dangerous. In that other world, the one who had wielded it before him had used it to orchestrate revolutions and topple empires.

What would Naruto do with the ability to see everyone's truths?

"First things first," he muttered, standing resolutely. "Mizuki-sensei's planning something tonight, and I'm apparently part of it."

Rather than wait for Mizuki to approach him, Naruto made a decision. He would confront the Third Hokage directly. The old man had always shown him kindness—though now Naruto wondered if his kindness was genuine or another mask.

There was only one way to find out.

The Hokage's office smelled of pipe tobacco and old scrolls. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his paperwork, surprise evident on his weathered face.

"Naruto? What brings you here at this hour?"

Naruto hesitated, suddenly uncertain. If he revealed his new ability, would they take it from him? Seal it away? Or worse, would they see him as even more of a threat than they already did?

"I... failed the graduation exam," he began cautiously.

"I heard," the Hokage said gently. "There's always next year, Naruto."

Their eyes met, and Naruto was instantly pulled into the swirling current of the Hokage's thoughts.

—he looks so much like Minato it breaks my heart, I've failed him by keeping the truth from him, failed his parents, but how can I tell him who he really is when so many would kill him for it, this burden he carries without knowing, and now another failure that I couldn't prevent—

Naruto stumbled backward, overwhelmed by the depth and complexity of the old man's thoughts. Minato? His parents? What truth was being kept from him?

"Naruto? Are you alright?" The Hokage rose from his chair, concern furrowing his brow.

"I... I heard something," Naruto said, deciding to take a risk. "Mizuki-sensei is planning to trick me into stealing a scroll tonight. Something important."

The Hokage's eyes narrowed. "That's quite an accusation. How did you come by this information?"

"I overheard him talking," Naruto lied, avoiding eye contact. "He didn't know I was there."

For a long moment, the Hokage studied him, and Naruto feared he'd be asked to look the old man in the eye—a request that would expose his lie immediately.

"I see," the Hokage finally said. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Naruto. I'll have ANBU investigate the matter discreetly."

"Also," Naruto added, heart hammering in his chest, "I want to know about my parents."

The Hokage froze, pipe halfway to his lips. "What brought this on suddenly?"

"I'm tired of not knowing," Naruto said truthfully. "Everyone else knows where they came from. Why is it such a secret who I am?"

Again, their eyes met briefly, and Naruto caught a fragment.

—he's too young, the enemies his father made would hunt him to the ends of the earth, I promised Minato and Kushina I would protect him—

Naruto's breath caught. Names. He had names now.

"I can't tell you everything yet, Naruto," the Hokage said slowly. "But I promise you this—your parents loved you very much. They died as heroes during the Nine-Tails attack, protecting you and the village."

"Did they..." Naruto swallowed hard. "Did they seal the fox in me?"

The Hokage's shock was evident. "How did you...?"

"People call me demon brat when they think I can't hear," Naruto said, looking away. "I'm not stupid, old man. I figured it out."

The Hokage sighed deeply, suddenly looking every one of his years. "The full truth is complicated, Naruto. And dangerous. When you're older, strong enough to protect yourself, I promise I'll tell you everything."

Naruto nodded, though inwardly he seethed. More secrets, more waiting. But he had a new lead now—names. Minato and Kushina. His parents.

"I'll hold you to that promise," he said, turning to leave. "And about Mizuki—be careful. I think he really hates me... more than most people do."

As he walked out, he heard the Hokage's whispered response, so quiet it might have been meant for no one: "If you only knew how loved you truly are, Naruto."

Later that night, hidden in the shadows near the Hokage Tower, Naruto watched as ANBU operatives apprehended Mizuki just as he was attempting to break into the scroll repository. The silver-haired chunin fought viciously, revealing a level of skill he'd always kept hidden at the Academy.

"The demon brat!" Mizuki howled as they subdued him. "He must have told you! That monster!"

From his hiding spot, Naruto's hand trembled as he touched the mark beneath his bandana.

"I'm not the monster here," he whispered. "And now everyone can see that."

As ANBU dragged Mizuki away, Naruto made a silent vow. This power would be his tool to uncover the village's secrets—to learn who he truly was, why he'd been burdened with the Nine-Tails, and what other lies had shaped his life until now.

The Code pulsed in affirmation, connecting him briefly to foreign memories of a black-haired revolutionary who had also sought to tear down walls of deception.

"I won't make your mistakes, Lelouch," Naruto promised to the ghost of a person he'd never met. "But I will find my truth."

In the distance, thunder rumbled across Konoha, heralding a storm that would wash the village clean—or tear it apart.

Morning arrived with unexpected news—despite failing the clone jutsu, Naruto was being granted special consideration for graduation. The Hokage himself delivered this decree, citing Naruto's "exceptional situational awareness and village loyalty" in uncovering Mizuki's plot.

Standing in the Academy courtyard, Naruto adjusted his newly acquired headband over his bandana, effectively double-sealing the Code mark from view. Around him, families congratulated their children, proud parents hugging new genin.

Naruto stood alone, as always.

"Congratulations," came a quiet voice behind him.

Naruto turned to find Iruka-sensei, smiling genuinely. He carefully avoided direct eye contact, still uncomfortable with his automatic ability to read minds.

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei. I still don't know why they let me pass when I failed the test."

"The Hokage sees potential in you," Iruka said. "And after what happened with Mizuki... well, you showed the judgment of a true shinobi."

Naruto nodded, thinking of the names he'd glimpsed in the Hokage's mind. Minato and Kushina. His research in the public library had yielded nothing, which only confirmed his suspicion that his parentage was classified information. Who were they that their identities needed such protection?

"Team assignments are in an hour," Iruka continued. "Don't be late."

The classroom hummed with excited chatter as newly minted genin speculated about team placements. Naruto took a seat in the back row, determined to minimize accidental eye contact. He'd spent the night practicing looking at people's noses or foreheads instead of their eyes, but the concentration required was exhausting.

Sasuke Uchiha entered, his customary scowl firmly in place. A hush fell over the female students before they erupted in competitive greetings. The last Uchiha ignored them all, taking a seat two rows ahead of Naruto.

"Attention everyone!" Iruka called, entering with a clipboard. "I'll now announce the three-man teams."

Naruto half-listened as names were called, his thoughts drifting to the strange new reality he inhabited. Who could he trust with knowledge of his ability? Should he tell anyone at all? The foreign memories warned of isolation—Lelouch's power had ultimately separated him from almost everyone he cared about.

"Team Seven," Iruka announced. "Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno..."

Naruto perked up at hearing his crush's name paired with his.

"...and Sasuke Uchiha."

The blonde's momentary elation collapsed as Sakura cheered and most of the girls in class groaned with disappointment. Of course he'd be teamed with his rival.

"Your jonin-sensei will be Kakashi Hatake," Iruka finished.

As the remaining teams were announced, Naruto contemplated his situation. Being placed with Sasuke was irritating, but perhaps useful. The Uchiha's thoughts had revealed a darkness that concerned Naruto—a single-minded focus on killing someone. Was Sasuke dangerous? Would his hatred eventually turn against Konoha?

And Sakura—her thoughts had been shallow, focused entirely on Sasuke. But people were complex; there must be more to her than that superficial crush.

This team could work to Naruto's advantage. He could monitor Sasuke's potential instability while having regular access to a top jonin who might have known his parents.

"Teams will meet their jonin-sensei after lunch," Iruka concluded. "Good luck to all of you."

Three hours later, Team Seven still waited in the empty classroom. Sakura paced impatiently while Sasuke brooded by the window. Naruto had wedged an eraser in the door as a prank for their tardy sensei, though he doubted a jonin would fall for such a simple trap.

"He's not going to fall for that," Sakura said, echoing Naruto's thoughts while trying to sound impressive to Sasuke.

The door finally slid open, and remarkably, the eraser dropped directly onto a shock of silver hair. Their sensei—a masked man with his headband slanted to cover his left eye—looked remarkably unimpressed.

"My first impression is... I don't like you guys," he drawled.

Naruto's curiosity got the better of him, and he accidentally locked eyes with the jonin for a split second.

—they look just like their parents, especially the blonde one, Minato-sensei's son without a doubt, Kushina would punch me for being so late, and the Uchiha boy has Itachi's intensity, this is going to be complicated—

Naruto gasped audibly, breaking the connection before he could see more. Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly at Naruto's reaction, but he continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

"Meet me on the roof in five minutes."

As Kakashi vanished in a swirl of leaves, Naruto's mind raced. Confirmation! This jonin had known his parents personally—had been taught by his father! The casual mention of "Minato-sensei" implied a close relationship. And the name "Kushina" matched what he'd glimpsed in the Hokage's thoughts.

"What's with you, loser?" Sasuke asked, noticing Naruto's strange expression.

"Nothing," Naruto responded quickly. "Race you to the roof!"

Seated on the rooftop, Team Seven faced their enigmatic sensei. Kakashi leaned against the railing, projecting boredom.

"Let's introduce ourselves," he suggested. "Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams for the future. That sort of thing."

"Why don't you go first, sensei?" Sakura asked.

"Me? I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and dislike... I don't feel like telling you that. Dreams for the future... never really thought about it. I have lots of hobbies."

"That was completely useless," Sakura muttered. "All we learned was his name."

Naruto studied Kakashi carefully. The jonin was deliberately revealing nothing, maintaining an impenetrable persona. What was he hiding? And why cover his left eye? The foreign memories provided a possible answer—in that other world, Lelouch's Geass had manifested in the left eye. Could Kakashi somehow have a similar power?

"Your turn, pinky," Kakashi pointed to Sakura.

As Sakura gushed about liking "a certain someone" while glancing at Sasuke, Naruto contemplated his next move. Should he reveal that he knew Kakashi had connections to his parents? Or would that expose his mind-reading ability too soon?

"Broody boy next," Kakashi nodded to Sasuke.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha," the dark-haired boy stated coldly. "I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan, and kill a certain someone."

The intensity in Sasuke's voice made Sakura swoon despite the disturbing content. Naruto frowned, remembering the darkness he'd glimpsed in Sasuke's mind. The hatred there was all-consuming.

"Alright, blondie," Kakashi turned to Naruto. "Your turn."

Naruto hesitated, then made a split-second decision to test Kakashi's reaction.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he began. "I like ramen and people who are honest. I dislike the three minutes it takes to cook instant ramen and people who keep secrets about things I deserve to know." He paused, watching Kakashi carefully. "My dream is to become Hokage so everyone will acknowledge me... and to learn who my parents were and why they sealed the Nine-Tails inside me."

Sakura gasped at the casual mention of the Nine-Tails, while Sasuke's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Kakashi's visible eye betrayed nothing, but his posture had stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"Interesting," Kakashi said, his tone deliberately light. "Well, now that we've gotten to know each other, I should tell you about our first mission tomorrow."

"What kind of mission?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"Survival training. And before you complain that you've done this in the Academy, know that this is different. I'll be your opponent, and this test has a 66% failure rate. Those who fail get sent back to the Academy."

The revelation stunned the genin into silence.

"Bring all your shinobi tools tomorrow at 5 AM, and don't eat breakfast—you'll throw up. Dismissed."

As Kakashi vanished again, Naruto lingered on the rooftop, pretending to adjust his headband while waiting for the others to leave. Sakura attempted to invite Sasuke to lunch, was promptly rejected, and then both departed separately.

Alone, Naruto processed the information he'd gathered. Kakashi knew his parents well. The jonin was hiding something behind that mask and covered eye. And tomorrow's test would be crucial—not just for becoming a genin, but for securing a position close to someone who might hold answers about his past.

The Code mark pulsed beneath his bandana and headband, reminding him of its presence. With this power, he could expose any deception, uncover any secret. But he would need to be strategic. Careful.

"I'll pass your test, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto murmured to the empty rooftop. "And then I'll discover what you know about Minato and Kushina Uzumaki."

Little did he realize that in a hidden corner, Kakashi remained, watching his sensei's son with growing concern. The boy shouldn't know about his parentage yet—and definitely shouldn't be speaking so openly about the Nine-Tails. Something had changed in Naruto Uzumaki, and Kakashi needed to find out what.

The game of secrets had already begun.

Dawn had barely broken when Naruto arrived at Training Ground Three. Despite Kakashi's instructions, he'd eaten breakfast—the glimpse into the jonin's mind had revealed a calculating tactician, leading Naruto to suspect the "no breakfast" rule was merely psychological warfare.

The blonde had also spent hours the previous night researching Kakashi Hatake in public records. The results were impressive: former ANBU captain, son of the legendary White Fang, and possessor of a transplanted Sharingan eye from a fallen comrade—which explained the covered left eye. His nickname, "Copy Ninja Kakashi," suggested he'd mastered over a thousand jutsu.

Naruto was dealing with an elite shinobi who had deliberately hidden his connections to Naruto's parents.

"Morning," Naruto called to his teammates as they arrived separately. Sakura looked exhausted, while Sasuke appeared typically stoic.

"You seem chipper," Sakura mumbled, stifling a yawn.

"Just excited to become a real genin," Naruto replied, carefully avoiding eye contact.

The three waited in awkward silence as minutes turned to hours. Sakura's stomach growled loudly, and Naruto silently congratulated himself for ignoring Kakashi's breakfast prohibition.

At nearly 10 AM—five hours late—Kakashi finally appeared in a swirl of leaves.

"You're late!" Sakura accused.

"Sorry, a black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way around," Kakashi replied glibly, his visible eye curved in what might have been a smile beneath his mask.

Naruto studied their sensei, noting the casual posture that concealed a coiled readiness. Everything about Kakashi was deliberately misleading—the lateness, the aloof attitude, even the way he held his body to appear less threatening than he truly was.

"Let's get started," Kakashi announced, placing an alarm clock on a nearby stump. "This is set for noon." He held up two small bells that jingled softly. "Your task is simple—take these bells from me. Whoever doesn't get a bell by noon fails and returns to the Academy."

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

"Exactly," Kakashi's eye curved again. "At least one of you will fail. Maybe all three. You'll need to come at me with intent to kill if you hope to succeed."

Naruto frowned, his tactical mind—enhanced by the strategic genius of Lelouch's transferred memories—immediately recognizing the contradiction. Genin teams always had three members plus a jonin sensei. Why structure a test that would break up a team before it formed?

"Begin!" Kakashi announced suddenly.

Sasuke and Sakura immediately vanished into the surrounding forest. Naruto, however, remained standing in the clearing, staring directly at Kakashi.

"You know, compared to the others, you're a bit weird," Kakashi commented, pulling out an orange book.

"Not as weird as a jonin who pretends to read porn while testing genin," Naruto replied evenly. "Or one who deliberately sets his students against each other when the entire point of Konoha's system is teamwork."

Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly. "Oh? And how would you know the point of the test?"

"Because it makes no sense otherwise," Naruto shrugged. "Three-man cells are Konoha's standard. They wouldn't be broken up before their first mission."

Kakashi studied him carefully. "You're not what I expected, Naruto."

"I get that a lot," Naruto replied. "So who were they? My parents?"

The jonin stiffened almost imperceptibly. "This isn't the time—"

"It's exactly the time," Naruto interrupted. "Before I decide whether to trust you as my sensei, I need to know why everyone's been hiding my heritage from me."

"Who told you—"

"No one told me anything!" Naruto's frustration bubbled over. "That's the problem! I've been alone my whole life, treated like garbage by this village, with no explanation why! And you—you knew them personally, didn't you?"

Kakashi closed his book slowly. "How could you possibly know that?"

Naruto hesitated, then took a calculated risk. "I heard you were on a team with my father. That he was your sensei."

It was a bluff based on fragments he'd gleaned from Kakashi's thoughts, but the jonin's sharp intake of breath confirmed it was accurate.

"Naruto," Kakashi said quietly, "there are S-class secrets surrounding your birth. Secrets that protect you."

"From what?" Naruto demanded.

"From the enemies your father made," Kakashi answered carefully. "Very powerful enemies who would stop at nothing to harm his legacy."

Legacy. The word resonated in Naruto's mind. He wasn't just some random orphan who'd been burdened with the Nine-Tails—he was a legacy.

Before Kakashi could continue, a barrage of shuriken flew from the trees, forcing the jonin to dodge. Sasuke had joined the fray, apparently tired of waiting.

"We'll continue this discussion later," Kakashi said, disappearing in a blur of movement.

Naruto clenched his fists in frustration. More delays, more secrets. But he'd confirmed his suspicions—his parentage was significant enough to be classified as an S-rank secret.

Now he needed those bells. And for that, he needed his teammates.

Finding Sakura was easy—Kakashi had trapped her in a genjutsu, leaving her unconscious on the forest floor. Naruto shook her awake.

"Sasuke's hurt!" she gasped immediately.

"No, that was a genjutsu," Naruto explained. "Listen, we need to work together."

"Why would I work with you instead of Sasuke-kun?" she scoffed.

Naruto took a deep breath. "Because the real test is about teamwork. Three genin against one jonin is already unfair. Three genin competing against each other while trying to take on a jonin is impossible."

Sakura hesitated, her analytical mind processing his logic. "Then why only two bells?"

"To divide us. To see if we'll prioritize the mission over our teammates."

Understanding dawned in her eyes. "That's... actually smart, Naruto. But Sasuke-kun would never—"

"He might if we explain it right," Naruto interrupted. "Come on."

They found Sasuke buried up to his neck in the ground, victim of Kakashi's Earth Style jutsu. Despite his humiliating position, his glare remained fierce.

"Don't say a word," he growled as Naruto and Sakura appeared.

"We're not here to mock you," Naruto said, helping dig him out. "We're here to propose an alliance."

"I work alone," Sasuke replied coldly.

"How's that working out so far?" Naruto gestured to the hole.

Sasuke scowled but remained silent as they freed him.

"Look," Naruto continued, "none of us can beat Kakashi-sensei individually. He's a jonin, former ANBU captain, and possesses a Sharingan."

Sasuke's head snapped up. "A Sharingan? That's impossible. The Sharingan belongs to the Uchiha clan."

"He has a transplanted one," Naruto explained, recalling his research. "From a fallen comrade during the Third Shinobi War."

Sasuke's expression darkened with suspicion. "How do you know all this?"

"I did some research last night," Naruto replied evasively. "The point is, he's way beyond our individual abilities. But together, we might have a chance."

Sasuke remained skeptical, but Naruto could see the calculative look in his eyes. The Uchiha was nothing if not practical when it came to achieving his goals.

"What's your plan?" Sasuke finally asked.

Naruto grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."

Kakashi stood in the clearing, orange book in hand but senses alert. The genin had been suspiciously quiet for the past fifteen minutes, which either meant they'd given up or—more concerning—they were plotting.

"Dynamic Entry!" Naruto's voice rang out as dozens of shadow clones burst from the treeline, charging toward Kakashi from all directions.

"Shadow clones?" Kakashi mused, genuinely surprised. That was a jonin-level technique, not something a fresh Academy graduate should know.

As Kakashi dispatched clones with casual efficiency, he noticed they were herding him toward the forest edge. A trap, obviously, but he was curious to see what they'd devised.

Suddenly, a massive fireball roared from the trees. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke's voice called.

Kakashi dodged easily, but found himself directly in the path of another wave of Naruto clones. These ones didn't attack—instead, they detonated, creating a smokescreen.

Through the smoke came Sakura, chakra focused in her fist as she aimed for Kakashi's bells. He sidestepped her attack, only to find Sasuke descending from above, hands flashing through signs for another fire jutsu.

"Not bad," Kakashi commented, genuinely impressed by their coordinated assault. Still, he was a jonin for a reason. With precise movements, he countered Sasuke's attack and sent the genin tumbling back.

The real surprise came when Naruto emerged from underground—using the same Earth Style jutsu Kakashi had employed against Sasuke earlier. The blonde's fingers grazed the bells before Kakashi could leap away.

"You copied my technique?" Kakashi asked, eye widening.

"I'm a fast learner," Naruto replied with a fox-like grin.

The alarm clock rang before they could continue, signaling noon. Kakashi secured his bells with a sigh.

"Time's up," he announced. "None of you got a bell."

The three genin gathered before him, breathing hard from exertion but standing together.

"So," Naruto spoke first, "do we all fail, or did we pass the real test?"

Kakashi's eye curved upward. "The real test?"

"Teamwork," Sakura explained. "That's what you were really testing, right? Whether we could put aside individual goals for the good of the mission."

"We figured out that the bells were just to divide us," Sasuke added reluctantly. "A team that can't work together is worthless."

Kakashi stared at them for a long moment, then chuckled. "Well, well. It seems I've been handed the first team in five years to understand the true purpose of this exercise." His expression grew serious. "In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum... but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

Relief washed over Team Seven.

"Congratulations," Kakashi continued. "You pass. Team Seven begins official duties tomorrow."

As Sakura cheered and even Sasuke managed a satisfied smirk, Naruto locked eyes briefly with Kakashi. The fleeting connection gave him a glimpse:

—they figured it out so quickly, especially Naruto, he's nothing like the reports suggested, there's something different about him, something changed, I need to report this to the Hokage—

Naruto broke eye contact immediately, disturbed. Kakashi had noticed the change in him. The Code was already drawing attention. He would need to be more careful.

"Let's celebrate with lunch," Kakashi suggested cheerfully. "My treat."

As they walked toward the village, Naruto hung back slightly, mind racing. He'd confirmed Kakashi knew his parents, learned the jonin possessed a Sharingan, and successfully united his team despite their differences. Overall, a productive morning.

But the greater mysteries remained. Who exactly were his parents? Why was his heritage classified? And how long could he hide his new ability while using it to uncover these secrets?

The Code mark pulsed beneath his bandana and headband, reminding him that he now walked two paths—that of a Konoha shinobi, and that of a truth-seeker who could peer into the minds of friends and enemies alike.

Neither path would be easy.

Ichiraku Ramen buzzed with the animated conversation of Team Seven as they celebrated passing their genin test. Naruto slurped his noodles contentedly, pleased with how events had unfolded. Getting Sasuke and Sakura to work together had been challenging, but the fragments of Lelouch's tactical genius that had transferred with the Code had proven invaluable.

"So, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura asked between bites, "what kind of missions will we be doing?"

"D-rank to start," Kakashi replied casually. "Mostly chores around the village."

Sasuke scowled. "When do we get real missions?"

"When you're ready," Kakashi answered, somehow having emptied his bowl without anyone seeing his face. "Though I must say, your teamwork today was unexpectedly impressive."

His single eye focused on Naruto, who deliberately studied his ramen to avoid eye contact.

"Naruto's plan was surprisingly good," Sakura admitted reluctantly.

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, which Naruto interpreted as reluctant agreement.

"Speaking of surprises," Kakashi's tone remained light, but Naruto sensed the underlying scrutiny, "that Earth Style jutsu was quite advanced, Naruto. I don't recall that being taught at the Academy."

Naruto tensed. He'd impulsively used the technique after seeing Kakashi perform it, without considering how suspicious it would appear. The foreign memories had enhanced his ability to analyze and copy techniques—not like the Sharingan, but more like accelerated learning.

"I watched you use it on Sasuke," Naruto explained with a shrug. "Seemed useful."

"Watching once isn't usually enough to replicate a C-rank jutsu," Kakashi observed.

"I'm a kinesthetic learner," Naruto replied glibly. "I learn by doing."

Kakashi seemed unconvinced but dropped the subject. "Meet tomorrow at 8 AM for our first mission. Try not to be late."

The irony wasn't lost on anyone.

As they finished their meal and prepared to depart, Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "A word, if you don't mind."

Sakura and Sasuke left, leaving teacher and student alone outside the ramen shop.

"I haven't forgotten our conversation from earlier," Kakashi said quietly. "About your parents."

Naruto's heart raced. "Are you going to tell me about them?"

"Not yet," Kakashi replied, holding up a hand to forestall protest. "I need to consult with the Hokage first. These secrets aren't mine alone to share."

"More waiting," Naruto muttered bitterly.

"Naruto," Kakashi's voice grew serious, "something's different about you. The Academy reports described an impulsive prankster with abysmal chakra control and limited strategic thinking. Yet today I saw a genin who formulated a complex plan, united two reluctant teammates, and copied an advanced jutsu after seeing it performed once."

Naruto hesitated, uncertain how to respond. The Code mark seemed to burn beneath his bandana, a constant reminder of his new reality.

"People change," he finally offered.

"Not overnight," Kakashi countered. "Unless something significant happened."

Their eyes met briefly, accidentally, and Naruto caught a flash:

—could it be the Nine-Tails' influence? No, this doesn't feel like malevolent chakra, it's something else, something almost familiar—

Naruto looked away quickly. "I just decided to take being a ninja seriously. Is that so hard to believe?"

Kakashi studied him for a long moment. "I suppose everyone has hidden depths. Just remember, Naruto—whatever's going on, your teammates and sensei are here to help. Keeping secrets from your team can be dangerous."

The irony of Kakashi lecturing about secrecy wasn't lost on Naruto. "I'll keep that in mind, sensei."

As they parted ways, Naruto's mind churned with new questions. Kakashi had noticed the change in him. How many others would? And what had the jonin meant by "something almost familiar"? Did it have some connection to his unknown parents?

The following weeks fell into a predictable pattern. Team Seven completed mundane D-rank missions—finding lost pets, weeding gardens, painting fences—while gradually refining their teamwork. Naruto carefully maintained his new persona: more strategic, less impulsive, quietly observant rather than loudly demanding attention.

To his surprise, this subtle shift earned him growing respect from his teammates. Sakura stopped dismissing his suggestions outright, and even Sasuke occasionally acknowledged his tactical insights with a grunt of approval.

Yet Naruto remained isolated in a fundamental way. The Code had erected an invisible barrier between him and everyone else. Each time he accidentally made eye contact, he received unwanted glimpses into others' minds—Sakura's continued infatuation with Sasuke despite growing respect for Naruto; Sasuke's single-minded obsession with revenge against his brother; Kakashi's growing suspicion about Naruto's changed behavior.

These insights gave him advantages in training and missions but left him feeling increasingly alienated. Was this what Lelouch had experienced? This burden of seeing through everyone's masks?

After a particularly tedious mission capturing the daimyo's wife's cat for the third time, Naruto found himself sitting alone on top of the Hokage Monument, gazing over the village as sunset painted the buildings in gold.

"Beautiful view," came a voice behind him.

Naruto turned to find the Third Hokage approaching, pipe in hand.

"Old man," Naruto acknowledged, careful not to make direct eye contact. "Spying on me?"

The Hokage chuckled. "Just taking my evening constitutional. Though I admit, I've been meaning to speak with you."

"About what?" Naruto asked cautiously.

"Kakashi tells me you've been... different since graduation. More focused. Less impulsive."

Naruto shrugged. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No," the Hokage replied, sitting beside him. "Just unexpected. He also mentioned you've been asking about your parents."

"Wouldn't you? If you didn't know who they were?"

The Hokage sighed deeply. "Naruto, there are things I've kept from you for your own protection."

"So everyone keeps saying," Naruto replied bitterly. "But no one will tell me what I'm supposedly being protected from."

Their eyes met briefly, and Naruto caught a flash:

—the Yellow Flash's son asking about his heritage, Minato would be proud of the shinobi he's becoming, but if Iwa learned who he was, their assassins would never stop hunting him—

Naruto looked away quickly, pulse quickening. Yellow Flash? The name stirred something in his memory—a legendary shinobi from the last war.

"I'll make you a deal," the Hokage said suddenly. "Continue showing this new maturity in your missions and training. When Kakashi deems you ready for a C-rank mission, I'll tell you about your mother."

"And my father?" Naruto pressed.

"One step at a time," the Hokage replied. "Your father's identity is... more complicated."

Naruto considered the offer. It wasn't everything, but it was progress. "Deal."

The Hokage nodded, satisfaction evident in his weathered features. "Good. Now, I should return to my paperwork."

As the old man departed, Naruto remained on the monument, processing what he'd learned. The Yellow Flash connection was significant—he'd need to research that name in the library.

Unbeknownst to Naruto, his conversation had been observed by a figure hidden in the shadows of a nearby tree. Danzo Shimura, leader of the covert Root organization and the Hokage's longtime rival, had taken a particular interest in the Nine-Tails jinchuriki's sudden change in behavior.

"Most interesting," the bandaged elder murmured to himself. "Hiruzen's weapon is developing more quickly than anticipated. Perhaps it's time we conducted a more thorough evaluation."

With a subtle hand signal, the Root agent observing with him vanished to carry out new orders. The jinchuriki would be watched more closely from now on.

In the quiet of his apartment that night, Naruto stood before his bathroom mirror, examining the crimson sigil on his forehead. The mark of the Code pulsed gently, seeming almost alive in the dim light.

"What exactly are you?" Naruto whispered, tracing the bird-shaped symbol.

The foreign memories provided fragmented answers—in that other world, the Code had granted immortality to its bearers, allowing them to transfer Geass powers to others. But here, in a world of chakra and tailed beasts, it had mutated into something different.

Mind-reading was only the beginning. The memories suggested the Code's power might evolve, especially in conjunction with his unique chakra and the Nine-Tails sealed within him.

As if responding to his thoughts, the mark flared with crimson light, and Naruto found himself pulled into a familiar mindscape—the flooded chamber where the Nine-Tails was imprisoned.

"SO, THE VESSEL FINALLY VISITS," the massive fox rumbled from behind its cage.

Naruto approached cautiously. This was only his second time consciously entering this space. "You know about this mark, don't you?"

The Nine-Tails bared its teeth in what might have been a grin. "THE FOREIGN POWER? YES. IT REEKS OF ANOTHER WORLD, ANOTHER REALITY."

"What's it doing to me?"

"CHANGING YOU, OBVIOUSLY," the fox replied. "MERGING WITH YOUR CHAKRA, WITH MY CHAKRA. BECOMING SOMETHING NEW."

Naruto stepped closer to the cage, emboldened. "And you're just letting this happen?"

The Nine-Tails' massive eyes narrowed. "INTERESTING THINGS HAPPEN AROUND YOU, VESSEL. YOUR SUFFERING AMUSES ME. AND THIS NEW POWER..." The fox paused, considering. "IT MAY MAKE YOU USEFUL ENOUGH TO KEEP ALIVE."

"I don't need your approval to stay alive," Naruto retorted.

"BRAVE WORDS FROM A CHILD WHO KNOWS NOTHING OF HIS HERITAGE," the fox chuckled darkly. "NOTHING OF THE CHAINS THAT BIND ME—CHAINS FORGED BY YOUR OWN BLOOD."

Naruto froze. "What do you mean? Did my parents... were they the ones who sealed you inside me?"

The Nine-Tails merely grinned wider, revealing rows of massive teeth. "ASK YOUR PRECIOUS HOKAGE ABOUT THE RED-HOT HABANERO AND THE YELLOW FLASH. ASK HIM WHY THEIR SON BECAME MY PRISON."

Before Naruto could press further, he was ejected from the mindscape, gasping as he returned to awareness in his bathroom. His reflection stared back at him, blue eyes wide with shock, the Code mark pulsing rhythmically.

"The Red-Hot Habanero and the Yellow Flash," he whispered, committing the names to memory.

Two more pieces to the puzzle of his identity. And tomorrow, he would begin searching for answers.

The game was changing, and Naruto was no longer just a pawn.

Two months of D-rank missions had tested Team Seven's patience to its limits. Even Sakura, usually the most rule-abiding of the three, had begun sighing heavily whenever they were assigned another menial task. Sasuke's brooding had intensified to alarming levels, and Naruto—though outwardly more patient than before—was inwardly seething.

He needed a C-rank mission to unlock the Hokage's promised information about his mother.

The library had yielded limited results in his research. "The Yellow Flash" was identified as a legendary Konoha shinobi from the Third Shinobi War whose speed and power had decimated enemy forces. Most details about him were classified. "The Red-Hot Habanero" yielded nothing at all in public records, suggesting his mother's identity was even more heavily restricted.

"Team Seven reporting for mission assignment," Kakashi announced as they entered the Hokage's office, his nose buried in his ever-present orange book.

The Hokage surveyed them over steepled fingers. "I have another D-rank. The daimyo's wife's cat has—"

"No," Naruto interrupted firmly. "With all due respect, Hokage-sama, we're ready for something more challenging."

Iruka, who was assisting with assignments, frowned. "Naruto, you can't simply—"

"He's right," Sasuke interjected unexpectedly. "D-ranks are wasting our training time."

"We've completed twenty-seven D-rank missions successfully," Sakura added, her analytical mind providing the statistics. "That's more than most rookie teams before promotion."

Kakashi looked up from his book, eye curved in apparent amusement. "Seems my cute little genin are in agreement for once. I can vouch for their improved teamwork and combat readiness."

The Hokage studied them silently, his gaze lingering on Naruto. Their eyes met briefly:

—they've certainly earned a C-rank, and I did promise Naruto information about Kushina once he was ready, though I didn't expect it to be this soon—

Naruto looked away quickly, heart racing at the confirmation of his mother's name. Kushina.

"Very well," the Hokage conceded. "I do have a C-rank escort mission. Send in the client."

The door opened to reveal an older man carrying a bottle of sake, his face flushed from drinking. "These are my protectors? They're just kids! Especially the short one with the stupid face."

Naruto bristled but remained calm—another change his teammates had noticed since graduation. The old Naruto would have exploded at the insult.

"I assure you, Tazuna-san, Team Seven is more than capable of protecting you on your journey home," the Hokage stated. "This is a simple escort mission to Wave Country, protecting our client from bandits while he completes a bridge."

Kakashi nodded. "We'll depart tomorrow morning. Pack for two weeks."

As they filed out of the office, Naruto lingered behind.

"A moment, Hokage-sama?"

The old man smiled knowingly. "Ah yes, our agreement. Successful completion of this C-rank mission, and I'll tell you about your mother."

"Kushina," Naruto said quietly, watching the Hokage's surprise at his knowledge of the name. "That's her name, isn't it?"

The Hokage's eyes narrowed slightly. "Where did you hear that?"

"Dreams," Naruto lied smoothly. "I sometimes hear a woman's voice calling me by name. Lately, I've been hearing others call her Kushina."

The explanation seemed to satisfy the Hokage, his expression softening. "Your mother had the most beautiful voice. Complete this mission successfully, and I'll tell you everything about her that I can."

Naruto nodded, determination filling him. This mission was more than just a step up from D-ranks—it was his key to unlocking his past.

The journey to Wave Country began uneventfully. Team Seven escorted Tazuna along the road, maintaining a standard formation with Naruto creating shadow clones for advance scouting—a tactic Kakashi had approved with mild surprise at Naruto's initiative.

"How much longer to Wave Country?" Sakura asked, wiping sweat from her brow as the morning sun intensified.

"We should reach the coast by nightfall," Tazuna replied. "Then it's a short boat ride to the island."

Naruto noticed the bridge builder's nervous glances at the surrounding forest and the way he clutched his sake bottle like a lifeline. There was more to this mission than a simple escort.

As they passed a small puddle on the road—conspicuous given it hadn't rained in days—Naruto tensed, sensing danger. Kakashi's subtle nod confirmed his suspicions.

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said quietly, "that puddle—"

Before he could finish, two ninja erupted from the water, razor-sharp chains connecting their gauntlets. They wrapped the chains around Kakashi, apparently shredding him to pieces.

"One down," one of the attackers growled.

"Protect the bridge builder!" Naruto shouted, instantly creating shadow clones to surround Tazuna.

Sasuke reacted with impressive speed, launching a shuriken that pinned the attackers' chain to a nearby tree, followed by a kunai to secure it. With their primary weapon immobilized, the enemy ninjas detached the chain and split up, one heading for Tazuna while the other engaged Sasuke.

As the attacker neared Tazuna, Sakura stood protectively in front of the client, kunai ready despite her visible fear. Naruto intercepted the ninja, using his clones as distractions while he prepared a counterattack.

When their eyes met briefly in combat, Naruto got a flash:

—the demon brothers never fail, Zabuza-sama will reward us well for killing the bridge builder, these Konoha brats are no match—

The information gave Naruto a crucial advantage. "Sasuke!" he called. "They're after Tazuna specifically! And they're working for someone named Zabuza!"

Sasuke nodded, not questioning how Naruto knew this as he launched a fireball jutsu that forced his opponent to dodge directly into Naruto's trap—a hidden clone that emerged from the ground, using the Earth Style technique he'd copied from Kakashi.

Before the battle could conclude, Kakashi reappeared, effortlessly subduing both attackers with precise strikes to the neck.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura exclaimed. "You're alive!"

"Of course," Kakashi replied casually, gesturing to a pile of logs where his "body" had been. "I needed to see who their target was."

His gaze shifted to Naruto, curiosity evident in his visible eye. "Though I'm curious how you knew their names and target before they revealed it themselves."

Naruto thought quickly. "One of them mentioned 'Zabuza-sama' when they were whispering to each other. And they went straight for Tazuna, ignoring easier targets."

Kakashi seemed skeptical but turned his attention to their client. "These are the Demon Brothers, chunin-level missing-nin from Kirigakure. This is no longer a C-rank mission—we're facing at least B-rank threat levels."

Tazuna hung his head. "I... I couldn't afford a B-rank mission. Wave Country is poor, controlled by a shipping magnate named Gato who's bleeding us dry. The bridge I'm building is our only hope of economic independence, which is why he wants me dead."

"You deliberately misled Konoha about the mission parameters," Kakashi stated flatly. "Protocol dictates we should return immediately."

"Please," Tazuna begged. "Without this bridge, my country is doomed. My daughter and grandson will be devastated if I die."

Naruto caught Kakashi's eye accidentally:

—this is far more dangerous than they're ready for, but turning back means abandoning Wave Country to Gato, and I can't help remembering another mission where abandoning the client led to tragedy—

"We should continue," Naruto said firmly, startling his teammates.

"It's more dangerous than we expected," Sakura pointed out, though without her usual dismissal of Naruto's ideas.

"That's exactly why we should help," Naruto argued. "We're shinobi of Konoha—we don't abandon those in need just because a mission gets difficult."

Sasuke nodded. "I agree. This is finally a real mission. I'm not turning back."

Kakashi sighed dramatically. "Well, it seems my team has made their decision. Tazuna-san, consider yourself fortunate. But understand—next time we encounter enemies, they'll likely be jonin-level."

Naruto exchanged glances with his teammates, a silent agreement passing between them. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

What none of them realized was that their next opponent was already watching from the shadows, having observed the entire encounter through the eyes of a hidden water clone. Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Mist, smiled wickedly beneath his bandaged face.

"Kakashi of the Sharingan and three brats," he murmured. "This should be interesting."

Dense mist rolled across the water as a small boat carried Team Seven and Tazuna toward Wave Country. The boatman propelled them silently, oars carefully dipping into the water to minimize noise.

"We're approaching the bridge," the boatman whispered. "Gato's men patrol these waters regularly."

Through the mist, an enormous incomplete structure gradually materialized—Tazuna's bridge, stretching from the mainland toward the still-distant island.

"Impressive," Kakashi commented quietly.

"It will change everything for Wave," Tazuna replied, pride evident despite his whispered tone. "When it's finished, Gato's shipping monopoly will end."

As they navigated around the massive concrete pillars, Naruto's mind raced with strategic possibilities. If Zabuza was their next opponent—a jonin-level missing-nin according to the foreign memories he'd glimpsed—they would need every advantage.

The boat finally touched shore on a secluded beach rather than the main port.

"This is as far as I go," the boatman said nervously. "Good luck, Tazuna."

As they continued on foot toward Tazuna's village, Naruto remained hyperalert, creating shadow clones to scout ahead silently. The technique's utility had proven invaluable—not just for combat but for reconnaissance.

Suddenly, one of Naruto's clones dispelled, sending a memory flash back to him—movement in the trees ahead, a massive sword, a figure with bandages covering the lower half of his face.

"Everyone down!" Naruto shouted just as a massive blade spun through the air where their heads had been moments before.

The sword embedded itself in a tree trunk, and atop its handle appeared a muscular, shirtless man with his lower face wrapped in bandages and a Kirigakure headband tilted sideways on his head.

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi identified, pushing up his headband to reveal his Sharingan eye. "Demon of the Mist and A-rank missing-nin."

"Kakashi of the Sharingan," Zabuza replied, his voice deep and menacing. "No wonder the Demon Brothers failed. Hand over the bridge builder, and I might let your brats live."

"Protect Tazuna," Kakashi ordered, moving into a defensive stance. "This one's beyond you."

What followed was a display of jonin-level combat that left the genin in awe. Zabuza disappeared into a dense mist, using the Silent Killing technique that made him lethal even to sensory-type shinobi. Kakashi countered with his Sharingan, anticipating attacks before they came.

As the two jonin clashed, Naruto organized his teammates into a defensive formation around Tazuna. "Sasuke, front. Sakura, right. I'll take left and rear with my clones."

To his surprise, neither teammate questioned his instructions, immediately moving into position. Their teamwork had evolved significantly in the past months.

The clash of titans continued until Kakashi made a crucial error—fighting Zabuza near water. The missing-nin trapped Kakashi in a Water Prison Jutsu, leaving the genin to face a water clone of Zabuza.

"Run!" Kakashi shouted from within his liquid prison. "His water clone can't go far from his real body! Take Tazuna and escape!"

"Not happening," Naruto replied, creating twenty shadow clones that surrounded the water clone. "Sasuke, I need a distraction!"

Understanding immediately, Sasuke launched a fireball jutsu that forced the Zabuza clone to dodge. In that moment, Naruto transformed one of his clones into a large shuriken and passed it to Sasuke.

"Demon Wind Shuriken!" Sasuke announced, launching the disguised clone at the real Zabuza.

The missing-nin laughed, easily catching the projectile. "A shuriken won't work on me!"

The transformed clone suddenly poofed back into Naruto, kunai in hand as he attacked from point-blank range. Zabuza was forced to release the Water Prison to avoid the strike, freeing Kakashi.

"Clever brats," Zabuza growled.

"Thank my students for the rescue," Kakashi said, water dripping from his uniform as he regained his footing. "Now, shall we continue?"

The battle resumed with new intensity, Kakashi now fully engaged and using his Sharingan to copy Zabuza's water techniques. The psychological effect was devastating—Kakashi completed the same hand signs simultaneously, making Zabuza hesitate with uncertainty.

Finally, Kakashi caught Zabuza in a powerful Water Dragon Jutsu that slammed the missing-nin against a tree. As Kakashi prepared to deliver the finishing blow, several senbon needles suddenly pierced Zabuza's neck, apparently killing him instantly.

A masked figure appeared on a nearby branch. "Thank you for your assistance. I've been tracking Zabuza for weeks."

"A Kirigakure hunter-nin," Kakashi identified, noting the mask. "Here to collect the bounty?"

"Yes," the masked ninja replied, lifting Zabuza's body easily despite the significant size difference. "I must dispose of the body immediately to protect village secrets. Farewell."

As the hunter-nin disappeared with Zabuza's body, Naruto frowned. Something felt wrong about the encounter, but before he could voice his concerns, Kakashi collapsed from chakra exhaustion.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura cried as they rushed to support him.

"I've overused the Sharingan," Kakashi explained weakly. "Need to rest... Tazuna's house..."

As they carried their sensei toward the bridge builder's home, Naruto's mind pieced together what had bothered him. Hunter-nin typically destroyed bodies on-site to protect village secrets. This one had taken Zabuza's body intact. And those senbon had struck precise points in the neck—points that could induce a death-like state rather than actual death.

Zabuza was still alive, and they would face him again. But this time, Naruto would be prepared.

The Code mark burned beneath his bandana and headband, almost as if in agreement.

Tazuna's home was modest but comfortable, situated near the water with a view of the incomplete bridge in the distance. His daughter, Tsunami, had prepared a room for Kakashi, who remained bedridden from chakra exhaustion.

Team Seven gathered around their sensei's futon the morning after the battle with Zabuza, concern evident on their faces.

"I've been thinking about the hunter-nin," Naruto began carefully. "Something wasn't right."

Kakashi nodded weakly. "I've come to the same conclusion. Hunter-nin dispose of bodies on-site."

"And those needles struck specific points in the neck," Sakura added, her academic knowledge proving useful. "They could have induced a temporary death-like state."

"Exactly," Kakashi confirmed. "Zabuza is almost certainly alive, and will likely attack again once he's recovered. We have about a week to prepare."

"Then we train," Sasuke stated firmly.

"Indeed," Kakashi agreed, struggling to sit up. "Starting today, I'll teach you chakra control exercises that might make the difference in our next encounter."

The forest clearing echoed with the frustrated grunts of Team Seven as they attempted to master tree-walking—channeling precise amounts of chakra to their feet to adhere to vertical surfaces. Sakura, with her excellent control, mastered it almost immediately. Sasuke made steady progress with grim determination. Naruto, however, struggled.

"Still having trouble?" Sakura asked, perched on a high branch as Naruto picked himself up after another fall.

"My chakra reserves are larger," Naruto explained, recalling Kakashi's earlier assessment. "Makes fine control harder."

What he didn't mention was that the Code seemed to be interfering with his chakra network in subtle ways, creating fluctuations that made precision techniques even more challenging.

"Try visualizing a specific amount," Sakura suggested, her tone lacking its former condescension. Their shared battlefield experiences had softened her attitude toward her blonde teammate.

Naruto nodded gratefully and tried again, focusing intently. This time he made it several steps up the trunk before the bark cracked beneath his feet, sending him tumbling backward.

As evening approached, Naruto remained in the clearing long after his teammates had returned to Tazuna's house. His frustration mounted with each failed attempt, the Code mark pulsing with strange energy beneath his bandana.

"Why can't I get this?" he muttered, striking the tree trunk in frustration.

"Because you're fighting yourself," came a soft voice.

Naruto whirled around to find a beautiful young person in a pink kimono gathering herbs in a nearby basket. Long black hair framed delicate features, creating an image of serene grace.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, instantly on guard despite the stranger's non-threatening appearance.

"Your chakra is at war with itself," the stranger replied. "I can sense it from here—two distinct energies struggling for dominance."

Naruto's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Few people could sense chakra with such precision, and even fewer would mention it so casually to a stranger.

"Who are you?" he asked cautiously.

"My name is Haku," the stranger smiled softly. "I'm gathering medicinal herbs for a friend who was injured."

Their eyes met briefly, and the Code activated:

—he doesn't recognize me without the mask, good, I need these herbs for Zabuza-sama's recovery, but this boy... his chakra is unlike anything I've sensed before, and that strange energy in his forehead, what is it?—

Naruto controlled his reaction with effort, breaking eye contact quickly. This delicate-looking herb gatherer was the hunter-nin who had saved Zabuza!

"I'm Naruto," he replied, deciding to play along. "A shinobi from Konoha."

"I could tell from your headband," Haku nodded. "Are you training? It's quite late."

"I'm struggling with chakra control," Naruto admitted, seeing an opportunity. If he could learn more about this mysterious nin, they might gain an advantage in the upcoming rematch.

"Perhaps I could help?" Haku offered. "I have some experience with chakra techniques."

"You're a shinobi too?" Naruto feigned ignorance.

Haku hesitated. "I have some training. Nothing formal."

Another lie. Naruto decided to push further. "Why would you help me? We're strangers."

"Because," Haku said softly, "I believe people become truly strong when they're fighting to protect someone precious to them. Do you have someone precious you wish to protect?"

The question caught Naruto off guard. Despite knowing this person was an enemy, the sincerity in Haku's voice felt genuine.

"I do," Naruto admitted, thinking of his teammates, of Iruka-sensei, of the Hokage. "Several people, actually."

Haku smiled, and Naruto saw real warmth there. "Then you will become strong. Here, try focusing your chakra like this..."

For the next hour, Haku guided Naruto through chakra visualization exercises, explaining how to harmonize conflicting energies. Surprisingly, the advice worked—Naruto made more progress in that hour than he had all day.

"Thank you," Naruto said sincerely as Haku prepared to leave with the now-full basket of herbs.

"You're welcome, Naruto-kun," Haku replied, then paused. "When we meet again, we may be enemies. I serve someone precious to me, as you serve those precious to you."

So Haku knew that Naruto had recognized them. The admission was both a warning and a strange gesture of respect.

"It doesn't have to be that way," Naruto offered. "Gato is just using Zabuza. Once the bridge is complete, Wave will be free."

Haku's expression saddened. "Some of us don't have the luxury of choice. Farewell, Naruto-kun."

As Haku disappeared into the forest, Naruto's mind raced with new information. The bond between Zabuza and Haku seemed deeper than master and tool. There was genuine devotion there—a potential weakness they could exploit, or perhaps something else entirely.

He needed to tell his team about this encounter, but how much should he reveal? If he admitted to recognizing Haku immediately, they would question how he knew. The Code's secret would be at risk.

"I met someone interesting in the forest last night," Naruto told his teammates over breakfast the next morning, Kakashi now well enough to join them at the table. "A person gathering herbs who helped me with chakra control."

"Oh?" Kakashi's visible eye showed mild interest.

"Yeah," Naruto continued carefully. "They mentioned serving someone precious to them, and when I described Zabuza, they reacted... oddly. I think it might have been the hunter-nin."

"And you're just mentioning this now?" Sasuke asked incredulously.

"I wanted to be sure before raising alarms," Naruto shrugged. "Besides, they weren't hostile. Actually gave me good advice about harmonizing conflicting chakra."

Kakashi's eye sharpened with interest. "Conflicting chakra?"

"That's how they described my problem," Naruto explained. "Said my chakra was 'at war with itself.'"

"Interesting description," Kakashi mused. "Though not inaccurate, given your... unique circumstances."

The oblique reference to the Nine-Tails wasn't lost on Naruto, though Sakura looked confused. Sasuke's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, putting pieces together.

"This confirms Zabuza is alive and recovering," Kakashi concluded. "We should expect another attack within days. Continue your training—Sasuke and Naruto with tree-walking, Sakura, you'll begin water-walking since you've mastered the first exercise."

As they dispersed for training, Naruto felt Kakashi's hand on his shoulder.

"A word, Naruto?"

Once alone, Kakashi fixed him with a penetrating stare. "How exactly did you recognize this person as the hunter-nin? The mask would have concealed most distinguishing features."

Naruto had prepared for this question. "The voice was similar, and the way they moved—too graceful for a civilian. Plus, they had advanced knowledge of chakra theory."

"Hmm," Kakashi didn't seem entirely convinced. "You're becoming quite observant lately. Almost... unnaturally so."

Naruto tensed, feeling the Code mark pulse beneath his bandana. "Is that a bad thing for a shinobi?"

"No," Kakashi admitted. "Just unexpected." After a pause, he added, "The Hokage informed me of your agreement. Information about your mother in exchange for completing this mission."

"He told you that?" Naruto was surprised.

"I asked him directly after our encounter with Zabuza," Kakashi explained. "I felt I should know, given I'm responsible for your safety on this mission."

"Did you know her?" Naruto asked carefully. "My mother?"

Kakashi's visible eye softened slightly. "Yes. Kushina Uzumaki was... quite something. She helped train my team occasionally, including during my promotion to jonin."

Naruto's heart raced. This was the most direct confirmation of his mother he'd ever received.

"What was she like?" he asked, unable to keep the eagerness from his voice.

"Fierce. Loyal. She had a temper that matched her red hair, but a heart bigger than anyone I've known." Kakashi's eye crinkled in what might have been a smile beneath his mask. "You have her spirit."

Red hair. Another detail to add to the growing picture of the woman who had given him life.

"Thank you for telling me," Naruto said sincerely.

"Complete this mission successfully, and there will be more to tell," Kakashi promised. "Now, back to training. I suspect we'll need every advantage against Zabuza and his accomplice."

As Naruto rejoined his teammates in the forest, a new determination filled him. He would master tree-walking today. He would help defeat Zabuza. And he would earn the right to learn about Kushina Uzumaki, the red-haired kunoichi who had been his mother.

Little did he know that the upcoming battle on the bridge would change everything—not just for Team Seven, but for the future of the Code itself.

A dense fog rolled across the massive incomplete structure of Tazuna's bridge, unnatural in its thickness. Workers lay unconscious—or worse—scattered across the concrete expanse. In the center stood Zabuza Momochi, fully recovered and radiating killing intent, with the masked Haku at his side.

"Right on schedule," Kakashi muttered as Team Seven escorted Tazuna onto the bridge, immediately taking defensive positions. "Naruto, Sasuke—handle the masked one. Sakura, guard Tazuna. I'll take Zabuza."

The past week had transformed Team Seven. Naruto and Sasuke had mastered tree-walking, while Sakura had progressed to advanced water-walking exercises. More importantly, their coordination had reached new levels through daily sparring and tactical drills.

"Be careful," Naruto warned Sasuke as they faced Haku. "I've seen their techniques—they're fast and use ice-based jutsu."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "How would you know that?"

"The herbs they were gathering—they're used in treatments for cold-related training injuries. Plus, their chakra felt cold."

The excuse was flimsy, but there was no time for Sasuke to question further as Haku attacked with blinding speed.

"I don't wish to kill you," Haku stated calmly, senbon needles appearing between each finger. "But I will fulfill Zabuza-sama's wishes."

"You don't have to serve him," Naruto argued, creating shadow clones to flank their opponent. "Gato's just using both of you!"

"I am Zabuza-sama's tool," Haku replied, the mask hiding any emotion. "That is my purpose."

The battle escalated quickly. Haku's speed exceeded even Sasuke's, though the Uchiha was gradually adapting, his eyes tracking the movements more effectively with each exchange. Naruto's clones provided diversions and occasional openings, but Haku remained formidable.

When Sasuke finally managed to land a solid kick, sending Haku skidding backward, something changed. The temperature dropped dramatically.

"You are worthy opponents," Haku acknowledged. "I must end this quickly. Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors!"

Water from the morning mist condensed into floating ice panels that arranged themselves in a dome around Naruto and Sasuke. Haku stepped into one mirror, their reflection appearing in all of them simultaneously.

"What is this?" Sasuke demanded, kunai ready.

"My kekkei genkai," Haku answered, voice echoing from all directions. "Within these mirrors, my speed is unmatched."

A barrage of senbon needles struck from every direction, faster than either genin could track. Naruto created clones for protection while Sasuke attempted a fireball jutsu to melt the mirrors, but the flames barely warmed the ice surface.

"We need a new strategy," Naruto called, wincing as needles pierced his shoulder.

Sasuke nodded grimly, his movements becoming more precise with each exchange. "I'm starting to see it—their movement pattern."

Naruto glanced at his teammate and gasped. Sasuke's eyes had changed, black giving way to red with a single tomoe in each iris.

"The Sharingan," Naruto breathed. "You've awakened it!"

With his newly activated bloodline, Sasuke began tracking Haku's movements between mirrors. It wasn't enough for complete defense, but they were taking fewer hits.

Meanwhile, Naruto struggled with a different problem. The Code mark was reacting to the battle, pulsing with increasing intensity beneath his bandana. Foreign memories warned of evolution—in moments of extreme stress, powers like these could transform.

As a particularly vicious senbon barrage left both genin bleeding from dozens of shallow wounds, Haku paused.

"You fight well together," the masked ninja observed. "But this ends now. I'll target vital points next."

Their next attack focused on Naruto, perhaps recognizing his shadow clones as the greater threat to their technique. Dozens of senbon flew toward the blonde's vital points—throat, eyes, heart.

"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, moving with newfound speed.

What happened next would forever change their relationship. Sasuke intercepted the barrage, his body becoming a human shield. Senbon needles pierced him in multiple locations as he collapsed into Naruto's arms.

"Why?" Naruto gasped, supporting his fallen teammate.

"My body... moved on its own," Sasuke replied weakly. "I hated you, you know..."

"Don't talk like you're dying," Naruto ordered, though fear gripped his heart as he saw how still Sasuke was becoming.

"My brother... I wanted to kill him... but now..." Sasuke's voice faded as his eyes closed.

Something snapped inside Naruto. The Code mark flared with crimson light, burning through his bandana and headband, fully visible for the first time since its appearance. Simultaneously, the Nine-Tails' chakra responded to his rage, red energy swirling around him in violent tendrils.

The two powers—the Code and the Nine-Tails—merged in that moment of extreme emotion, creating something entirely new.

"What... is this power?" Haku whispered from within the mirrors, witnessing the transformation.

Naruto's eyes changed—not to the Nine-Tails' slitted red, but to something different. The Code's bird-like sigil appeared in his irises, glowing with an inner light that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. The whisker marks on his cheeks darkened, and his entire body radiated a combination of crimson chakra and the Code's otherworldly energy.

"You killed Sasuke," Naruto growled, his voice layered with power. "My friend... my brother..."

With speed that defied comprehension, Naruto moved—not toward one of the mirrors, but toward all of them simultaneously. The Code had expanded his perception, allowing him to see the minute chakra fluctuations that preceded Haku's movements. The Nine-Tails' chakra enhanced his physical abilities beyond human limits.

His fist connected with the mirror Haku occupied, shattering it completely. As Haku leapt to another, Naruto was already there, as if anticipating the exact location.

"Impossible," Haku gasped as Naruto grabbed their masked face through the mirror itself.

Their eyes met, and the Code's power surged to new levels. Naruto wasn't just reading surface thoughts anymore—he was diving deep into Haku's mind, seeing memories, emotions, the entirety of their being.

A small boy with a kekkei genkai in a village that feared bloodlines... parents dead, one by his own father's hand... living on the streets until Zabuza found him... "Your blood is special, just like mine. Come with me, I'll make you a weapon."... Years of training, of devotion, of finding purpose as Zabuza's tool... The dream of helping Zabuza achieve his ambition of overthrowing the Mizukage...

Naruto pulled Haku physically through the mirror, the ice technique collapsing as its user's concentration shattered. With one powerful punch, he sent Haku flying across the bridge, the mask cracking and falling away to reveal the face Naruto had seen in the forest.

"You," Naruto breathed, the rage momentarily checked by recognition.

"Kill me," Haku requested softly, blood trickling from their mouth. "I've failed Zabuza-sama. A broken tool has no purpose."

The words penetrated Naruto's fury. The combined power of the Code and Nine-Tails receded slightly, enough for reason to return.

"You're not a tool," Naruto stated firmly. "You're a person. And Zabuza knows that, even if he pretends otherwise."

Haku's eyes widened in surprise. "How could you know—"

"I saw it," Naruto tapped his forehead where the Code mark glowed. "In your memories. He saved you because he saw himself in you, not just because you were useful."

Before Haku could respond, they both sensed a spike of chakra from where Kakashi was fighting Zabuza. The sound of chirping birds filled the air—Kakashi's Lightning Blade technique, aimed at Zabuza's heart.

"No!" Haku gasped, disappearing in a blur of movement.

Naruto's enhanced perception allowed him to see what happened next in terrible clarity. Haku appeared between Kakashi and Zabuza, taking the Lightning Blade directly through the chest. Blood sprayed across the bridge as Haku smiled one last time at Zabuza.

"I was useful... in the end..." Haku whispered before the light faded from their eyes.

Zabuza, momentarily shocked, quickly recovered his cold demeanor. "Well done, Haku. Useful to the very end."

The callous words triggered another surge of the Code's power in Naruto. He appeared beside Zabuza with impossible speed, eyes blazing with the sigil.

"You don't mean that," Naruto stated, voice resonating with certainty. "I can see the truth in your mind, Zabuza Momochi. Haku wasn't just a tool to you."

Their eyes met, and Naruto plunged into the depths of the Demon of the Mist's consciousness:

A younger Zabuza finding a broken child with incredible power... initial interest purely practical... years passing... pride in Haku's growth... the strange warmth when the child smiled... the closest thing to a family either had known... "Stay close to me, Haku. I'll protect you."... The unspoken fear of showing attachment in a world where emotions were weakness...

"Get out of my head, brat!" Zabuza roared, swinging his massive sword despite his injured arms.

"He loved you like a father," Naruto declared, dodging the wild swing easily. "And you cared for him too. You're just too afraid to admit it!"

Zabuza froze, his fearsome facade cracking. "What are you?"

Before Naruto could answer, slow clapping interrupted the confrontation. At the far end of the bridge stood a short man in an expensive suit, flanked by dozens of mercenaries.

"How touching," Gato sneered. "The great Demon of the Mist, defeated and now getting lectured by a child. I was going to wait until you killed the bridge builder, but this works better. I never planned to pay you anyway."

"Gato," Zabuza growled. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Isn't it obvious? Hiring missing-nin is expensive. Killing them after they're weakened in battle is much more cost-effective." Gato walked forward and nudged Haku's lifeless body with his cane. "And this one—broke like the worthless tool he was."

Something dark and primal crossed Zabuza's face. He turned to Kakashi. "Our contract is terminated. I no longer have any reason to fight you."

"Agreed," Kakashi nodded, watching Naruto cautiously. The visible Code mark and changed eyes concerned him deeply.

Zabuza turned to Naruto. "Boy with the demon eyes. Give me a kunai."

Understanding immediately, Naruto tossed him the weapon. Despite his severely injured arms, Zabuza caught it in his mouth and charged into Gato's forces like a true demon, cutting through mercenaries with terrifying efficiency.

He reached Gato at the bridge's edge, blood-soaked and riddled with wounds but unstoppable in his fury. The kunai plunged into Gato's heart even as spears and swords impaled Zabuza from all sides.

"I'm coming, Haku," Zabuza murmured as he and Gato toppled over the bridge's edge into the waters below.

The remaining mercenaries, leaderless and faced with Naruto's still-glowing form, retreated in disarray. The battle for the bridge was over.

As the adrenaline faded, Naruto suddenly remembered Sasuke and rushed back to where his teammate had fallen. To his shock and relief, Sasuke was sitting up, removing senbon needles from his body with Sakura's help.

"You're alive!" Naruto exclaimed.

"The hunter-nin—Haku—they used the same technique as on Zabuza," Sakura explained. "Precision strikes to induce a death-like state."

Sasuke stared at Naruto with newfound wariness. "What happened to you? Your eyes... and that mark on your forehead..."

Naruto reached up, touching the fully manifested Code sigil. The secret was out now—there would be no hiding what he had become.

"It's complicated," he began, before noticing Kakashi approaching with grave concern evident in his visible eye.

"Naruto," the jonin said carefully, "I think it's time you explained what's really been happening to you since graduation."

The Code mark pulsed in response, as if acknowledging that the moment of truth had arrived. For better or worse, Naruto's carefully maintained secret was about to be exposed.

The journey back to Konoha was tense with unspoken questions. After the battle on the bridge, Naruto had reluctantly covered the Code mark with a fresh bandana, but the damage was done—his team had seen it, along with his transformed eyes during the fight.

Kakashi had surprisingly postponed any detailed questioning until they returned to the village, insisting that such matters were best discussed in secure surroundings. This granted Naruto a brief reprieve to gather his thoughts, to decide how much to reveal about the otherworldly power he'd inherited.

They had remained in Wave Country just long enough to see Tazuna's bridge completed—now named "The Great Naruto Bridge" in honor of the young shinobi who had inspired the villagers to stand against Gato's remaining forces. The name had embarrassed Naruto, though secretly he felt pride at having truly made a difference.

As the gates of Konoha appeared on the horizon, Naruto felt the Code mark pulse beneath his bandana. The power had changed since the battle on the bridge, deepened somehow through its interaction with the Nine-Tails' chakra. His mind-reading ability had expanded—he could now access deeper memories with briefer eye contact, and the foreign memories from Lelouch's world had become clearer, more accessible.

"We'll report directly to the Hokage," Kakashi announced as they approached the village entrance. "Sakura, Sasuke—you're dismissed afterward. Naruto will remain for a private debriefing."

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, his newly awakened Sharingan momentarily visible as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "I want to know what happened on the bridge too."

"In due time," Kakashi replied firmly. "For now, this is a matter for the Hokage."

The Hokage's office was silent as Kakashi finished the mission report, detailing their encounters with Zabuza and Haku, the battle on the bridge, and finally—with careful emphasis—the transformation Naruto had undergone.

"A mark appeared on his forehead," Kakashi explained, "bird-shaped and glowing crimson. His eyes changed as well, displaying the same symbol. And his abilities... he moved with speed beyond genin level, perhaps beyond jonin level. He also seemed to know things about Zabuza and his companion that he couldn't possibly have learned through observation alone."

The Hokage's weathered gaze shifted to Naruto, who stood uncomfortably under the scrutiny.

"Remove your bandana, Naruto," he requested gently.

With reluctance, Naruto untied the cloth, revealing the Code mark—still visible, though no longer glowing as it had during the battle. The sigil's crimson lines stood in stark contrast against his skin, an unmistakable symbol of something foreign and powerful.

"How long have you had this?" the Hokage asked.

"Since the night before graduation," Naruto admitted. "It appeared suddenly... with memories that weren't mine."

"Memories?" Kakashi's visible eye sharpened with interest.

Naruto nodded slowly. "From another world. A place with different powers, different wars. A place where this mark—they call it a Code—granted specific abilities."

"What kind of abilities?" the Hokage pressed.

This was the moment of truth. Naruto took a deep breath. "I can read minds. When I make eye contact, I see thoughts, memories, the truth behind people's words."

The revelation landed like a physical blow. Kakashi stiffened visibly while the Hokage's pipe slipped from his fingers.

"That's how you knew about Mizuki's plan," the Hokage realized. "You read his mind, not overheard him."

Naruto nodded.

"And my knowledge of your parents," Kakashi added. "You glimpsed it when our eyes met."

Another nod. "I've been... careful about eye contact since it happened."

"This explains much," the Hokage murmured, retrieving his pipe. "The sudden changes in your behavior, your strategic insights, your knowledge of things you shouldn't know."

"Am I..." Naruto hesitated. "Am I in trouble?"

The Hokage exchanged glances with Kakashi. "No, Naruto. You've done nothing wrong. But this power—it presents certain complications."

"Security concerns," Kakashi clarified. "A mind-reading ability could access classified information, village secrets."

"I wouldn't—!" Naruto began to protest.

"We know you wouldn't intentionally compromise the village," the Hokage assured him. "But others won't be so trusting. If word spreads about your ability, you'll face fear, suspicion, perhaps even danger from those with secrets to protect."

The implications sank in. Naruto already faced isolation as the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. This would only worsen his standing.

"There's more," Naruto said quietly. "During the battle, when I thought Sasuke was dead... something changed. The Code reacted with the Nine-Tails' chakra somehow. They merged, became something different."

The Hokage's expression grew grave. "Describe it."

"It was like... seeing everything at once. Not just thoughts, but possibilities, movements before they happened. And physically, I was faster, stronger."

"The seal should have prevented such interaction," Kakashi noted with concern.

"The Fourth's seal remains intact," the Hokage confirmed after examining Naruto's stomach seal. "This Code mark seems to have created a... bridge of sorts, allowing controlled interaction without compromising the main seal."

"Is it dangerous?" Naruto asked, voicing his deepest fear. "Could it free the Nine-Tails?"

"I don't believe so," the Hokage said after careful consideration. "But we should consult Jiraiya when he returns to the village. He's our foremost seal expert."

"What do we do until then?" Kakashi asked.

The Hokage contemplated silently, smoke from his pipe curling toward the ceiling. "We keep this classified. S-rank secret, known only to those in this room for now. Naruto will continue with Team Seven, but must exercise extreme caution with this ability."

He turned to Naruto. "I understand this is a heavy burden, especially for one so young. But I must ask you to be vigilant. This power could be as dangerous to you as it is to others."

"I understand," Naruto replied solemnly.

"Now," the Hokage continued, his expression softening, "I believe I owe you information about your mother, as promised for completing your C-rank mission—which, I might add, evolved into an A-rank mission."

Naruto perked up immediately, previous concerns temporarily pushed aside.

"Kushina Uzumaki was a kunoichi from the Land of Whirlpools, the last of the royal line of Uzushiogakure before its destruction," the Hokage began. "She came to Konoha as a young girl to..." he hesitated briefly, "...to train in our Academy."

This hesitation didn't escape Naruto, who suspected there was more to the story, but he remained silent, eager for any information.

"She was known as the Red-Hot Habanero for her fiery temper and equally fiery red hair. Her skill with special chakra chains made her one of our most formidable kunoichi. She was also..."

"The previous jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails," Naruto finished, recalling fragments from the Nine-Tails' own memories.

Both the Hokage and Kakashi looked startled.

"How did you know that?" the Hokage asked.

"The fox told me," Naruto replied simply. "It mentioned 'chains that bind me—chains forged by your own blood.' I figured she must have been its previous host."

The Hokage nodded slowly. "Yes, Kushina was selected as the Nine-Tails' vessel after the first jinchuriki, Mito Uzumaki, grew too old. The Uzumaki clan had special chakra perfectly suited to containing the beast."

"What about my father?" Naruto pressed. "I know he was the Yellow Flash, Kakashi-sensei's teacher."

The Hokage sighed deeply. "That information remains classified for your protection, Naruto. Your father made many enemies who would target his son for revenge."

"I could just read your mind," Naruto pointed out boldly.

"You could," the Hokage acknowledged with surprising calm. "But you won't, because you respect the Will of Fire too much to compromise village security for personal gain." His eyes twinkled knowingly. "Besides, I suspect you've already pieced together most of it."

Naruto grinned sheepishly. Indeed, the clues had formed a clear picture: the Yellow Flash, Kakashi's sensei, a man powerful enough to seal the Nine-Tails, whose enemies would hunt his son relentlessly... there was really only one person it could be.

"When you're ready," the Hokage promised, "when you're strong enough to protect yourself from your father's enemies, we'll make it official. Until then, focus on mastering both your shinobi skills and this new ability."

As the meeting concluded, Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "This doesn't change anything for Team Seven. You're still my student, still part of our unit."

"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied gratefully. "But what about Sasuke and Sakura? They saw the mark, saw what happened."

"Tell them what you feel is necessary," Kakashi advised. "They're your teammates—trust will be essential moving forward."

That evening, Naruto found himself at Ichiraku Ramen, absently stirring his noodles while contemplating the day's revelations. The information about his mother warmed his heart—he now had a clearer image of Kushina Uzumaki, the Red-Hot Habanero with fiery hair and an equally fiery temper. And the unofficial confirmation of his father's identity answered questions he'd had his entire life.

Yet the matter of the Code remained troubling. The power was still evolving, still changing him in ways he didn't fully understand.

"Mind if I join you?" came Sasuke's voice, surprising Naruto from his thoughts.

"Since when do you voluntarily seek my company?" Naruto asked with genuine curiosity.

Sasuke took the adjacent stool, ordering a simple miso ramen. "Since you turned into something else on that bridge and saved my life."

The directness was pure Sasuke. Naruto sighed, glancing around to ensure they were alone at the counter.

"I have a... kekkei genkai that awakened recently," he explained, using the simplest terminology. "It gives me certain abilities."

"Like what?" Sasuke pressed.

"Enhanced perception," Naruto replied carefully. "I see things others don't."

Sasuke's newly awakened Sharingan briefly flashed in his eyes. "Like my eyes?"

"Similar in some ways," Naruto nodded. "Different in others."

They ate in silence for a moment before Sasuke spoke again. "When I was... unconscious on the bridge, I felt your chakra change. It wasn't just unusual—it was inhuman."

"That was something else," Naruto admitted. "Something I can't really talk about."

"The Nine-Tails," Sasuke stated flatly.

Naruto nearly choked on his ramen. "How did you—"

"I'm not stupid," Sasuke interrupted. "The whisker marks, the village's treatment of you, your massive chakra reserves. After what I saw on the bridge, it was the only logical conclusion."

The casual way Sasuke discussed the village's most guarded secret left Naruto speechless.

"Does it bother you?" Naruto finally asked.

Sasuke considered this. "No. Power is power, regardless of its source. You used it to protect your teammate—that's what matters."

The pragmatic acceptance was so typically Sasuke that Naruto had to smile. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Sasuke replied, returning to his ramen. "Besides, we both have our secrets now."

"Your Sharingan," Naruto nodded.

"And my goal," Sasuke added darkly. "To kill my brother."

"Itachi," Naruto said without thinking.

Sasuke's chopsticks froze halfway to his mouth. "How do you know his name? I've never mentioned it."