Click.
The door opened.
A bridge builder named Tazuna, clad in dark blue work clothes, a conical hat bearing the character for "sake" on his head, and a smoking pipe clenched between his teeth, stepped into the office under the expectant gazes of those present.
So it really is Tazuna, Hikari noted silently. Good. The Land of Waves mission hasn't been derailed by any unexpected twists.
As she observed Tazuna, Team 7 also caught his attention.
His eyes flicked first to the masked Kakashi, then swept over the trio of Naruto, Sasuke, and Hikari—all still short in stature. His expression visibly darkened.
"This is your client for this mission, Tazuna-san," Sarutobi Hiruzen introduced formally.
Kakashi, as the team's instructor, stepped forward to negotiate.
"Are you KIDDING ME?!"
A furious roar echoed through the Hokage's office.
Tazuna ripped off his straw hat, storming up to the desk with bloodshot eyes, looking ready to strangle Hiruzen.
The excited Team 7 flinched. Naruto and Sasuke instinctively moved to intervene—only for Kakashi to casually hold them back with a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Kakashi-sensei…?" Naruto glanced up, confused, but Kakashi merely shook his head slightly. Stand down.
Shinobi, even genin, were beings of a different order compared to civilians. A single low-ranked ninja could slaughter hundreds of ordinary people if unrestrained.
To maintain clients' trust—and prevent them from fearing their own hired blades—Konoha Shinobi Code, Article 12 strictly forbade violence against employers. Violators could even be branded as missing-nin.
Sasuke turned to Hikari, only to find her oddly detached, standing frozen as if stunned by the outburst.
What's wrong with her?
Before he could ponder further—
Shing!
A blade flashed coldly.
The ANBU stationed beside Tazuna—code name "Suzaku"—had drawn his tantō, the metallic whisper snapping Tazuna's drunken bravado instantly.
"Suzaku!"
Hiruzen feigned reprimand, waiting until the ANBU sheathed his weapon before offering Tazuna a placating smile.
"Tazuna-san, we understand your urgency. Please, calm down—"
Decades as Hokage had honed his diplomacy. Desperate clients were common—especially those with time-sensitive missions.
The near-death experience sobered Tazuna slightly, though his jaw remained clenched.
"Hokage-sama, I spent my life savings to hire real shinobi. What's the meaning of sending these brats?"
"Hey! Who're you calling a brat, old man?!" Naruto squirmed under Kakashi's grip.
Sasuke just scoffed.
Hikari, meanwhile, remained eerily still.
Tazuna ignored them, glaring at Hiruzen.
"This is an A-rank mission—with enemy jonin involved! These kids'll just get themselves killed!"
"A-A-rank?!"
Naruto and Sasuke stiffened. Fresh graduates, they'd only handled seven D-ranks so far. Skipping straight to A-rank?
Kakashi raised a brow—not at the difficulty (he'd done countless S-ranks), but at Tazuna's funds. Even the cheapest A-rank cost 150,000 ryō.
This drunk's loaded?
Tazuna caught their shock, his hope dimming further.
He'd pooled his village's savings to hire Konoha's best.
But this squad?
A lazy, one-eyed team leader.
A grubby, cat-scratched blond idiot.
A weaponless pretty boy.
And—worst of all—a blind girl who hadn't reacted to anything.
Is Konoha scamming me?!
"Hokage-sama, I need stronger shinobi—"
"My apologies, Tazuna-san." Hiruzen's gaze slid to Hikari, hidden among the "genin."
"They are Konoha's strongest."
"…What?"
Tazuna's jaw dropped.
"Hah! An A-rank? Piece of cake!" Naruto puffed up, instantly forgetting his anger.
Sasuke and Kakashi edged away, mortified. Even Hikari—finally snapping out of her trance—took a discreet step back.
"This is your strongest?!" Tazuna pointed at Naruto, aghast.
"Huh? Who's 'this'?" Naruto blinked, oblivious.
"Definitely not him," Hiruzen muttered, rubbing his temples.
"Regardless," he continued firmly, "this team is best suited for your mission. If you refuse, we'll refund you in full."
Tazuna wavered.
Returning empty-handed would doom his village.
"…Fine. I'll trust Konoha."
"No need for reluctance."
Kakashi clapped Tazuna's shoulder.
"This'll be the best decision of your life."
---
Konoha Main Gate.
The massive arched doors creaked open as Team 7—plus Tazuna—prepared to depart.
The gate guards barely glanced at their credentials.
"Copy Ninja" Kakashi.
"Nine-Tails Brat" Naruto.
"Last Uchiha" Sasuke.
"Blind Prodigy" Hikari.
Their reputations preceded them.
Tazuna, noting the guards' deference, relaxed slightly.
Maybe they're legit?
As they set off eastward, Hikari paused, looking back at Konoha's towering walls.
This road—this very path—was where she'd stumbled into the village six years ago, fleeing Kiri.
Back then, she'd been a ragged refugee.
Now?
One of Konoha's strongest.
The Hokage's prized student.
The shadow leader of ROOT.
And moments ago, her original self had finally perfected Wood Release, flooding this clone with fresh chakra and intel.
Her earlier "daze" had been synchronization.
Now, this shadow clone wielded five bloodlines.
How far we've come.
"First time leaving the village!" Naruto bounced ahead. "Hikari, you came from Kiri, right? What's outside like?"
"No idea. I was in a hurry."
She'd taken backroads to avoid pursuers. The only city she'd entered was Hagoromo Port—where she'd nearly boarded that damned ship.
"You've never been outside?!" Tazuna's hope crumbled again.
"Relax," Kakashi drawled.
Sasuke ignored him, silently vowing to prove their worth at the first opportunity.
But as night fell—with not even a wild animal attacking—their chances to impress dwindled.
Around a campfire, chewing on ration bars, Team 7 lapsed into rare silence.
Hikari used the lull to strategize.
Despite Tazuna's honesty (unlike canon's C-rank deception), the mission's core remained: Zabuza and Haku.
And Haku was her target.
With Wood Release now synthesized, Hikari's original self had hit a research wall.
New bloodlines required live samples—shinobi whose chakra structures she could dissect.
Haku's Ice Release was next on the list.
Capture. Study. Replicate.
Simple.
As for Wood Release itself?
It wasn't an instant power-up.
Unlike Obito—who'd stolen Hashirama's cells—Hikari had created hers from scratch.
Raw. Unrefined.
It'd take time to master.
But Haku's ice?
That might yield faster dividends.
Staring into the flames, Hikari smiled.
Let's see what surprises you have for me, Haku.