After purchasing everything he needed for his new home, Moyu sensed two familiar presences approaching from the street. Turning slightly, he saw Sasuke and Naruto walking toward him—not with their usual carefree gait, but with purpose in their steps. Their eyes were fixed on him.
Moyu instantly understood that they hadn't come just to visit. He shifted the bundles he was carrying, set them neatly on the ground, and spoke with an easy calm that made both boys straighten unconsciously.
"So," he said, voice relaxed yet carrying quiet authority, "you two show up here instead of training? Then make yourselves useful. Help me carry these things to my new place, and I'll give you a proper tour after."
The words were light, but his tone carried the sort of effortless command that made even the impulsive Naruto obey without argument. The two boys exchanged glances, shrugged, and quickly followed Moyu through the village streets.
When they arrived, Naruto's wide eyes immediately darted around the spacious compound. The walls gleamed in the afternoon light, and the open courtyard echoed faintly beneath their footsteps.
"Whoa!" Naruto exclaimed, running ahead to peer into the rooms. "You call this a house? This place is huge! And clean, too! You sure you don't need a roommate?"
Moyu smirked at the boy's enthusiasm. "You've got a lot of energy, kid," he said, leaning casually against the doorway. "Don't worry about the space. If you ever run short on pocket money, come find me. I'll lend you some."
Sasuke stood off to the side, his expression measured but curious. His dark eyes flicked briefly toward Moyu, gauging the man in silence while Naruto grinned from ear to ear.
"Deal!" Naruto declared, thrusting his thumb up. "But you said it yourself, Moyu! So next time I want Ichiraku ramen, I'm coming straight to you. Anytime, anywhere!"
The image of Naruto devouring bowl after bowl of ramen flashed across Moyu's mind, and his composure faltered for a heartbeat. If this kid kept his word, even a Shinigami's savings wouldn't survive the week. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, laughing under his breath.
Before he could reply, Sasuke finally spoke, his tone sharper and more serious. "We're not just here to visit," he said. "We came to ask you to train us. We're graduating from the academy soon."
Naruto's grin softened into determination. For all his usual bluster, the weight of what lay ahead was clear in his eyes. They were both products of a world at war, and once they stepped beyond the academy gates, real blood would stain their hands.
Moyu studied them for a long moment before nodding. He could see the fire that burned behind their youth—raw, untamed, but genuine. Setting down the last of his things, he folded his arms and said, "If that's the case, I'll take you along on a mission. The old man saw fit to promote me, and he's already assigned my first task."
Their eyes widened immediately. "A mission?" Naruto repeated, excitement bursting from his voice. Even Sasuke's calm façade flickered, the faintest spark of interest breaking through.
"Not just any mission," Moyu continued. "It's a Jōnin-level assignment."
To the boys, those words were lightning. Genin didn't accompany Jōnin into the field, not under normal circumstances. Even assisting on such a mission would be beyond their usual reach.
"The Hokage wants me to clear out several bandit groups hiding in the mountains around Konoha," Moyu explained. "They've been disrupting the trade routes for too long. Most of the capable fighters have already been sent to the front lines, which means the village's inner defenses have thinned. The task is simple—go in, find them, and erase the problem."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "But what interests me isn't the bandits themselves. It's how they've survived this long, clustered across five separate hills without being crushed by the patrols. That doesn't happen without support."
Naruto tilted his head. "You mean… someone's helping them?"
"Exactly." Moyu's gaze drifted toward the horizon where the mountain ridges rose like jagged teeth. "The Third Hokage didn't say it aloud, but this mission isn't just cleanup. It's a test. He's measuring how I handle something beneath the surface. And promoting me so quickly? That's not just generosity—it's a setup to see if I can manage these problems on my own."
Sasuke folded his arms, voice calm but curious. "Then why take us along? You could finish that mission alone."
Moyu smiled faintly, a glimmer of humor flickering behind his silver eyes. "Because, Sasuke, you and Naruto asked to be taught—and there's no better lesson than reality. If you want to understand strength, you need to see how the world moves when death is a constant presence."
Both boys fell silent. The air between them grew still, the hum of Moyu's spiritual pressure barely audible beneath his calm voice.
"So," he said at last, shouldering his weapon and turning toward the door. "Pack your things. We leave at dawn. I'll show you what real battle looks like—and what it means to carry strength that others can't comprehend."
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