Konohagakure no Sato :
Uzumaki Estate :
Uzumaki Naruto P.O.V. :
It was nearing 11:00 AM, and the vibrant sea of yukatas had ebbed away, leaving only the lingering scent of incense and expensive sake.
I stood in the courtyard for a long moment, watching the retreating backs of the Hyuga clan. Hinata had looked back once—a small, lingering glance that told me more than a thousand words ever could.
I breathed out a long, slow sigh, the tension finally bleeding from my shoulders. With a subtle flick of my wrist, I signaled Noma-san. The workers would eat their fill of the remaining banquet, and then the estate would be stripped of its festive facade, returning to the Home it was meant to be.
My mind drifted over the day's "investments."
Team 7 had been a study in contrasts. Kakashi was a ghost in his own memories; I'd caught him staring at the doorframes as if he expected a younger version of himself to walk through. his eye frequently glazing over as he stood in rooms that had once echoed with the laughter of his Sensei. He didn't voice his shock—Jonin of his caliber rarely did—but his silence was louder than words
I'd left him to Guy-sensei's "Youthful" energy—the only thing capable of snapping the Captain out of a trauma-loop.
Sasuke, surprisingly, hadn't been the brooding statue the village expected. He'd actually spoken quite a bit, his eyes lingering on the heavy training weights in the Dojo. We'd agreed to a spar; I could see the fire in him, the desperate need to measure his progress against mine.
And Sakura... she had been uncharacteristically quiet. The "Inner Sakura" was likely screaming in a corner of her mind, silenced by the sheer proximity of legends.
The civilian girl was clearly out of her depth. Between the presence of the Third Hokage and the overwhelming radiance of Tsunade-hime, Sakura had looked like a rabbit in a den of wolves. She hadn't shouted once; even when Sasuke arrived, her tone was tamed, almost reverent.
She looked at me not as a teammate,but definetly not some Orphan loser .
( I could tell she was re-evaluating every interaction we'd ever had. )
Up the stairs, my thoughts turned to the others. Genma, Raido, and Iwashi—the legendary guards. To find out the Fourth's elite were my literal neighbors was a A Suprising discovery.
It made perfect sense; the Hokage's protectors lived within a distance of the "Sun"s House .
The connections went deeper than I'd realized. Finding out Shizuka's father was the Hospital Dean's assistant—the man who had watched over my medical charts for years—made me realize the Third had woven a tighter safety net around me than I'd credited him for.
Even my friends from the civilian side were carving their paths: Gian aiming for ANBU, while Nobita was already in the Police Force, and Suneo in Administration. I'd made sure they were introduced to the right people today.
I'd even finalized a deal with Koga-sensei from the Sealing Corps. While I could likely draft the barriers myself, there was no need to alert the entire village to my true mastery of Fuinjutsu yet. Better to let the professionals handle it and keep the "blood pressure" of the village council at a manageable level.
( I am not that good in area wide fuinjutsu Barriers either )
As I stepped into the living room, the quiet dignity of the estate was shattered by a high-pitched wail.
"NOoo! Not again! This is impossible!"
I stopped in the doorway, my eyes twitching at the comical carnage. Tsunade-nee had slammed her cards onto the table, her face a mask of alcoholic despair as she chugged directly from a sake bottle.
( Gambling ...and losing ....Tsunade nee doesn't learn )
Shizune sat paralyzed, Tonton the pig staring blankly from her lap, while Karin was glaring at her own hand as if she could set the paper on fire with her mind. Ayaka-san was the only one laughing, a hand over her mouth.
Across the table sat the undisputed champion of the Uzumaki estate.
Simba, the orange ninken, sat regally on a cushion. He had his tongue lolling out in a canine grin, his paws delicately sliding a massive pile of Ryo and high-stakes gambling markers toward his side of the table. His cards—a perfect winning hand—lay splayed out for all to see.
I leaned against the doorframe, eyes twitching ,while gloating inside .
( Even with my System-granted gambling skills, I'd never managed to beat Simba in a game ....hehe much less you guys , especially that Sucker )
Tsunade looked up, her eyes slightly bloodshot with a competitive fire that would have intimidated Jonins "That dog is a cheating... I want a rematch! Shizune, get me more credits!"
"Simba thanks you for the donation to his premium jerky fund," I laughed, walking over to the table. As I approached, my Shadow Clone dispersed in a quiet puff of smoke, its memories of the morning's chaos merging with my own.
Shizune breathed a heavy sigh of relief, seizing the opportunity to regain control. "Alright, Tsunade-sama, it's time to leave. You've lost enough for one morning."
"But I want a rematch! One more hand!" Tsunade growled, reaching for the cards Simba was currently sniffing with a victor's smugness.
"Maybe we can simply take Simba away," Karin suggested with a small, practical smirk.
I chuckled, leaning against the back of the sofa. "You know you're welcome to stay as long as you want."
"No way," Shizune countered, firmly prying a fresh bottle of sake from Tsunade's grip. "You still have a lot of stuff to take care of after a party of this scale. We shouldn't disturb you any longer."
Tsunade grumbled, a sound like distant thunder, but she finally stood up. She swayed slightly, pointing a finger at Simba.
"This isn't over, fleabag. I'll be back for my ryo." Simba merely yawned, showing off his teeth, and began counting his pile of bills with a paw.
I followed them to the entrance, walking beside Karin. Out of the corner of my eye, I realized something I'd overlooked during the busy morning. Karin was tall—easily the tallest among our age group. If my own bloodline hadn't kicked my growth into high gear recently, she'd be looking me straight in the eye.
(Was Karin always on the taller side in the canon?) I wondered, my gaze lingering a second too long as I appraised her stature.
"Thanks for the help today, Karin," I said. "Truly."
"And... thank you for the hospitality," she replied.
"Haha, anytime."
"Really?" Karin stopped, her crimson eyes searching mine. Her face began to redden under my steady gaze, the flush creeping up past her glasses.
I realized I'd been staring and quickly cleared my throat. "Cough—Of course. Anytime."
"…Hmm. Then I will visit often," she whispered, her voice a mix of shyness and newfound determination.
We reached the main gates, and the final goodbyes were exchanged. I watched as the "Senju Platoon" disappeared down the road, Tsunade still arguing with Shizune about the probability of a dog hitting a straight flush.
Walking back through the courtyard, I saw the workers finishing their meals, chatting quietly amongst themselves. I gave Noma-san a respectful nod, signaling that she could take it from here.
Finally, I stepped back into the quiet of my home. The silence was blissful. I collapsed onto the plush living room couch, the weight of the last ten days—the D-ranks, the construction, the social engineering, and the "Aura Farming"—finally washing over me.
"Three years left ? or more ?" I murmured to the empty room, closing my eyes and letting the scent of lilac and cedar ground me. "But today... today is my holiday."
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Konohagakure no sato :
Konoha Outskirts :
The golden afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy of the Konoha outskirts, casting dappled shadows over the members of Team 7. It had been forty days since Naruto's housewarming party had been taken down, and fifty days since the team 7 Formed.
For nearly two months, they had existed in a relentless cycle of D-Rank missions.
To a civilian, it looked like chores; to Team 7 , it was something else
They had mapped every sewer line, reinforced every weak fence in the merchant district, and memorized the best patrol routes of the village through the guise of "delivery runs."
Kakashi had remained true to his word. He hadn't handed out flashy ninjutsu like candy. Instead, he had turned the mundane into a grueling boot camp.
He focused on physical conditioning, tactical spacing, Teamwork Coorperation and non-verbal communication. Under his watchful eye, even Sakura had begun to move with a more purposeful center of gravity, and the unspoken coordination between Naruto and Sasuke had sharpened .
They were no longer three students walking together; they were a unit moving in a rhythm.
And Today was another Day that Team 7 was compleating another D Rank mission
The static on the wireless radio was the only sound in the otherwise quiet clearing. For the past hour, Team 7 had been moving like a pack of wolves, their breathing synchronized, their movements silent.
Under Kakashi's relentless tutelage, even Sakura of two months ago had been replaced by a functional unit that understood the value of positioning.
"Sasuke here at Point B!"
"Sakura here at Point C!"
"Naruto here at Point A!"
The check-ins were crisp. Naruto crouched on a thick cedar branch,He could see Sasuke's silhouette through the foliage, the Uchiha's posture low and sakura behind a tree.
"Alright, the Seventh Squad... Hm??" Kakashi's voice crackled through the earpiece.
"What?" Sasuke hissed.
"The target has moved. Chased by Simba... Follow it, Team 7!"
Naruto's eyes sharpened. Above him, a flash of brown and orange fur blurred through the canopy.
( That's fast )
he thought, his "hound senses" picking up the faint scent of expensive feline shampoo and the aggressive, playful musk of Simba. The orange pup was doing his job well, flushing the target right into the kill zone.
Team 7 converged. They moved through the forest floor without snapping a single dry twig, a testament to the "boring" stealth drills Kakashi had forced them to repeat for fifty days.
They surrounded the target—a stout, disgruntled-looking cat now cornered between three trunks.
"What's your distance from the target?" Kakashi's voice was calm, almost bored.
"7 meters. I can go anytime," Naruto whispered, his muscles coiled like springs , his mood , playing around
"I am ready too," Sasuke confirmed.
"Me too...!!" Sakura added, her voice determined.
"Okay..." Kakashi paused for dramatic effect. "DO IT."
"OHH!"
The three blurred inward. The cat, sensing the trap, hissed and attempted to bolt through a gap toward the river, but Sakura was already there, her hands closing around the furball with a precision she didn't have two months ago.
"I got him!" Sakura shouted, holding the wriggling animal at arm's length to avoid the inevitable claws.
"Does he have a ribbon on his right ear?" Kakashi asked. "Are you sure it's our target, Tora?"
Sasuke leaned in, eyes scanning the terrified feline. "It's the target. No mistake."
Kakashi rose from a crouching position nearby, tucking his book away. "Alright. The mission to capture lost pet 'Tora' is complete."
Naruto adjusted his headset, his expression flat. He looked at the cat, then at his teammates, then at the Jonin who was already checking his watch. The adrenaline of the chase had faded, replaced by the familiar itch of ambition.
"Come on," Naruto's voice echoed through the intercom, sounding more like the Master of an Estate than a subordinate Genin. "Isn't it about time to tackle C-rank missions or something? "
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Hokage Office :
Mission Assignment Center :
" OH MY CUTIE TORA ! I was worried to death "
Team 7 watched The Cat Tora getting squished by the Sumo wife of the Daimyo with twitching eyes .
( I feel bad ) Sakura
( Serves him right ,That Stupid Cat ) Naruto
( No wonder the cat run away ) Sasuke
( Woof ) Simba
At this time The Hokage spoke up ,
" Now then , It's another complete mission for Team Kakashi , let's see An the next mission , An Errand for Baby sitter , A labor at construction site an--"
" Come On , Grandpa "
At this Time , Naruto spoke , he gathered attention of Team 7 and Hokage and Iruka Sensei
" Grandpa , and it's been near two months you know , Give some Exciting mission "
Hearing Naruto's lighthearted voice , Sasuke nodded while Sakura looked around to see if Captain or Hokage-sama doesn't get angry , her mind though
( I want to spend more time with Sasuke kun )
Kakashi also stood with lazy posture looking at his book while thinking
( he held it long enough )
But There was someone who spoke up
" You Fools , You are still bottome rookies , at the start everyone moves up by gaining experience from simple missions "
Naruto groaned
" Oh , come on , don't you think we are overqualified for this "
Naruto groaned and Kakashi spoke up
"I'm sorry for my team's lack of modesty, Lord Hokage," Kakashi chimed in, closing his book with a soft, definitive snap. "But... I happen to agree. I believe they're ready for the next step."
Hearing Kakashi, The Hokage took a drag from his pipe and Looked at Team 7 , he already knows their progress as a shinobi by constantly peepi- keeping an eyes on things , especially Naruto .
The Hokage breathes out a smoke and spoke up
" Okay "
" ohh " X3
" hmm " the Hokage exhaled, a cloud of grey smoke obscuring his face. "If you insist on testing your mettle, I shall assign you a C-rank. You will serve as bodyguards for a high-priority traveler."
Team 7 finally straigtened up , Kakashi also paid attention
" So who is it "
" I will intoduce you then ....Can you please come in"
The Hokage addressed his voice to the door and The Door creaked open , and under the Team 7 gaze came a sloppy Old man in 40s with a Sake Bottle in hand , who directly spoke up addressing the Genin
" What's this ? It's just a bunch of damn squirts "
" Huh ?? " X3
The Old man took a chug from the boottle and he pointed a shaky finger at Naruto,
" Especilly you sissy , Are You even a Real Ninja ? "
"...."
" .....hehe let's just bury him during the mission "Naruto
"Naruto," Kakashi warned, placing a heavy, grounding hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're supposed to guard the client "
The man took a defiant swig of sake. "I am Tazuna, a veteran bridge builder. You will guard me with your lives until I return to my land and finish my masterpiece. Try not to get killed in the first mile."
An hour later, the team gathered at the great timber gates of Konoha. Naruto looked up at the carved sigils of the village, a strange sensation stirring in his gut. For twelve years, these walls had been his world—both a sanctuary and a prison.
( finally out in the world )
"Excited?" Kakashi asked, appearing soundlessly at his side.
hearing the casual chat that kakashi comes up from time to time , Naruto replied
" Yeaa, It's my first time out of the village "
Hearing Naruto's words ,Behind them, Sasuke and Sakura shared a look of silent realization. This wasn't a training exercise in the back woods of the Academy; this was the start of their lives as true shinobi.
"Oyyyy!" Tazuna yelled from a few paces ahead. "How much longer are you going to stand there? Are we moving or are we waiting for the sun to set?"
hearing the client , Kakashi spoke up while walking
" we get all kinds of clients , just be patient like those babysitter missions"
Naruto nodded and slowly walked behind the team , his senses expanding , As they began to walk, Naruto's focus shifted. He expanded his sensory net, feeling the rhythmic pulses of his hidden ANBU guard—Yugao and her squad—trailing at a respectful distance.
But then, his brow furrowed. Near the gate, tucked into the high canopy of a nearby oak, he felt two other signatures. They were cold, suppressed, and stationary.
(How amateur,) Naruto thought, a flicker of genuine arrogance crossing his mind. (Ambushes at the front gate of a hidden village? Bold, but sloppy.)
Shaking his head , Naruto walked with Team 7
The team fell into a natural bodyguard formation: Naruto took the point, his eyes scanning the road; Sasuke and Sakura flanked Tazuna; and Kakashi brought up the rear, seemingly absorbed in his Orange Book.
"So, your country is the Land of Waves, right?" Naruto asked, glancing back at the mission scroll he had memorized.
"What of it?" Tazuna snapped, though his hand trembled slightly as it gripped his bottle.
Sakura looked toward Kakashi. "Sensei, the Land of Waves... does it have its own ninja village? I don't remember seeing a symbol for it in the texts."
"No," Kakashi explained, his eye crinkling. "Small nations often don't have the resources for hidden villages. They rely on alliances or, in some cases, hiring outsiders. But don't worry—C-rank missions rarely involve ninja confrontation. It's mostly bandits and wild animals."
Naruto tuned out the lecture , with his knowledge reserves honed by Archives and Academy , he knew a plenty , Naruto still let one Mind Partition to pay attention to the coversation , just in case.
He reached into his sleeves and, with a silent mental command, deactivated the 3000 kg gravity seals. The sudden absence of weight made him feel as though he might float off the ground.
( No need to risk my life , no matter how small of risk )
Naruto walked along the way as he heard the lecture ending
".....aah "
Tazuna also nodded while sweating , Soon the team moved between forests , bridge and streams , Naruto yawned while walking , Soon Team 7 came to a clearing with a small puddle in the way .
Naruto didn't stop, but his hand moved in a swift, sharp gesture behind his back—a signal refined over two months of D-ranks. Sasuke's posture shifted instantly; Sakura's hand moved to her kunai pouch. They moved past the puddle with the calculated indifference of professional killers.
Then, the world exploded.
Two figures erupted from the water, their forms blurred by speed. Massive, jagged chains whistled through the air, wrapping around Kakashi before he could even turn. With a violent jerk, the chains tightened, and the Jonin was shredded into gory chunks of flesh and fabric.
"KA-KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Sakura screamed, the sound tearing through the woods.
Watching the live buthchery for the first tine , Sakura and Sasuke froze , while Naruto tried to cope with Mindhub .
The two attackers—the Demon Brothers of the Mist—didn't stop. They moved with targets in mind, turning their sights on the "stunned" Genin. One lunged toward Sasuke, the other toward Naruto and the client.
But
Sasuke was a blur of motion. He leapt into the air, pinning the Demon Brothers' chain to a tree with a perfectly placed shuriken and kunai. He landed on their gauntlets, kicking them both in the face to break their momentum. It was a textbook maneuver, executed with Uchiha precision.
But the attackers were desperate. They detached their chains and split up. One headed for Sakura and the trembling Tazuna. Sakura, to her credit, stood her ground, a kunai raised in a shaking hand. "Stay back!"
The second brother lunged at Naruto, his poison-tipped claw extended. But Naruto wasn't there.
"Wha—"
"Wher—"
Before the two can complete sentences , Naruto reappeared between the two brothers, a flicker of yellow and black. His movement was so fast it left blur in the air.
He didn't use a jutsu. He used raw, unadulterated strength. He drove a fist into the first brother's solar plexus with the force of a falling star, then spun, his hand coming down in a brutal chop against the second brother's neck.
The first brother collapsed, clutching his gut, gasping for air that wouldn't come. Naruto stood over him, his face devoid of the warmth he showed in the village. It was an indifferent face
Naruto's foot rose and came down with a sickening, wet CRACK.
*crack*
He ground his heel into the kneeling shinobi's forearm, the bone snapping and protruding through the skin in a jagged white splinter.
Sasuke drew a sharp breath; Sakura turned away and vomited into the bushes. Even Tazuna paled, the alcohol in his system suddenly failing to dull the reality of the violence.
Naruto leaned down, his eyes boring into the quivering assassin. "Speak," he whispered, "Who sent you? "
From the shadows of a nearby tree, a very much alive Kakashi watched with a narrowed eye.
( .....This.... is different from what I thought )
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Author's notes :
Was The MC different from what you thought that he should act
But it's time to slowly drop the acting , and Naruto is not like the original one who is gonna look for the goodness even in enemies .
I am a fan of gore and stuff
but do you want me tone it down ?
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