As Naruto sat cross-legged in his dimly lit room, the soft hum of the village night filled the silence. His eyes lazily drifted toward the window when he suddenly felt it—a faint shift in the air, the quiet but distinct presence of someone standing above him.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. ' A rooftop watcher, huh?'
He sighed, running a hand through his messy blond hair. "Probably one of those Root guys ," he muttered under his breath.
Pushing himself up, he walked toward the open window, his movements calm but deliberate. With a light jump, he caught the edge of the shelter and pulled himself up to the roof in one smooth motion.
The night breeze brushed against his face as he stood up, scanning the area. The moonlight revealed nothing but empty rooftops and quiet streets. Whoever had been there was gone.
"Coward," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at the dark horizon.
Letting the tension fade, he sat down on the edge of the roof, his legs dangling over. The village below was peaceful—warm lantern lights glimmered through the streets, faint laughter echoed from a distant izakaya, and the Hokage Monument loomed proudly in the distance.
Naruto's gaze lingered on the carved faces. ' I should visit it when I come back,' he thought, a small nostalgic smile forming on his lips.
"Hey, Naruto!"
The familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned just in time to see a figure leap gracefully onto the roof beside him. Pink hair, green eyes, and that sharp, no-nonsense tone—Sakura Haruno.
"Yo, what's up?" he greeted with his usual grin, tilting his head slightly.
Sakura crossed her arms with a faint smirk. "Firstly, I'm surprised you're even awake. I thought you'd be snoring by now."
Naruto let out a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Heh, what will it take to show you I've actually changed, huh?"
She gave him a teasing glance before standing up. "Not sure yet. But we should get going—Lady Tsunade wants to send us on a mission." She brushed the dust off her skirt and stretched slightly.
Naruto sighed dramatically, but there was a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "Alright, alright. Let me get changed."
He hopped off the roof, landing lightly on his small balcony, and slipped back into his apartment.
A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Naruto stepped out, dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit with blue trims that shimmered faintly under the morning light. His headband was tied neatly across his forehead. He adjusted it with a grunt.
' They never mention how irritating this thing is,' he thought, tugging it into place.
Sakura, who had been waiting below, gave him a quick look and nodded. "You clean up nice, Naruto."
He smirked. "Thanks"
And with that, the two of them leapt from the rooftop, vanishing into the awakening village below.
Naruto and Sakura bounded across the rooftops, the cool morning air whipping against their faces as the village stirred awake beneath them. The rhythmic sound of their sandals striking tile echoed softly through the crisp air. The Hokage Tower loomed ahead—tall, proud, and bathed in the rising sunlight that gleamed off its red and white symbol.
They landed gracefully in front of the entrance, the guards nodding in recognition before letting them through. Inside, the familiar scent of scrolls and ink filled the air. Naruto and Sakura made their way down the hall to the mission room, where all assignments were distributed.
As they stepped inside, Naruto's face brightened when he spotted a familiar figure standing near the desk—Iruka-sensei.
"Yo Iruka-sensei!" Naruto called out with a grin.
Iruka turned, his eyes softening instantly. "Naruto! You've grown again, haven't you? It's good to see you back in one piece."
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. " Yeah same. You haven't changed a bit"
' He was pretty chill in the anime. Wish he had more screen time though. Such a vital character to Naruto's growth wasted' he thought.
Iruka chuckled, but before he could say more, the doors to the room slammed open.
A young kunoichi burst in, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "LADY FIFTH! BAD NEWS!" she shouted, her voice shaking with urgency.
Naruto's expression hardened slightly as he turned toward her. ' Right on time,' he thought grimly.
Tsunade, who had been sitting by the desk ready to hand out missions, turned sharply. Her amber eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
"The Kazekage—he's been taken! We just received the message from the Sand! They say the organization responsible is called the Akatsuki!"
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Gasps filled the room. Sakura's eyes widened, and even Iruka's usual calm broke into a look of alarm.
Tsunade's face tightened, her jaw clenching as she slammed a hand on her desk. "WHAT?!" Her voice echoed with authority, instantly silencing the chatter. "The Akatsuki again…"
Naruto stood quietly, his expression neutral, ' If I was stronger, i would have prevented them from removing his Jinchuriki, but I guess it is needed for the story'
Tsunade turned toward the group assembled before her. "Kakashi! Your mission has changed. You are to go immediately to the Hidden Sand. Find out the situation and relay it to the Leaf. After that, follow the Sand's orders and provide support. Do I make myself clear?"
Her voice left no room for argument.
"Yes, Lady Hokage!" Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto responded in unison, their voices firm.
"Good," Tsunade said, her tone softening for a brief moment. "Gaara is the Kazekage now—treat this mission with the utmost importance. Move out immediately."
Without another word, the trio turned and dashed out of the mission room. Iruka watched them go, worry flickering in his eyes. "Be careful, Naruto…" he whispered under his breath.
Outside, Naruto broke into a sprint, leaping across rooftops once again. The village flashed by in a blur of colors and motion. His mind was already focused ahead—on the Sand, on Gaara, and on the enemies they were about to face.
He landed in front of his apartment, swung the door open, and quickly began gathering his gear—kunai, rations, and his scroll pouch. He strapped on his pack tightly, glancing around the small, cluttered space he called home.
"I'll be back soon," he murmured, as if speaking to the room itself.
Before leaving, he crouched by the wooden floorboards near his bed, lifted one up, and slipped his key underneath. He found it while cleaning so he decided to use it as a place to hide his key.
As he straightened up and stepped toward the door, he muttered with a smirk, "I wonder if I can get the Flying Raijin… that'd make things a lot faster."
Locking the door behind him, Naruto leapt out onto the balcony and vanished across the rooftops once more—his resolve hardening with each step toward the desert.
After a few minutes, the team gathered at the village gates. The morning light had brightened into a soft gold, illuminating the worn wooden doors of Konoha's entrance. A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh leaves from the surrounding forest. Villagers moved about in the distance, unaware that one of the most dangerous missions in recent memory was about to begin.
Naruto stood with his pack slung over his shoulder, his eyes fixed ahead. Sakura adjusted her gloves beside him, and Kakashi idly flipped through his ever-present book, though his visible eye betrayed focus and alertness.
"Alright," Naruto said, breaking the silence. His tone was steady but filled with an unmistakable spark of determination. "Time to go, guys."
Just as they were about to take their first step forward, the air suddenly shifted. A wave of chakra pulsed faintly through the air—then, with a swirl of dust and smoke, a tall figure appeared before them.
"Yo!"
Naruto blinked, startled. "Ero–sennin?"
Jiraiya grinned, one hand resting on his hip, his white hair glinting under the sunlight. His usual carefree expression was there, but something about the way his eyes studied Naruto made the air feel heavier.
"On your first mission since you got back, huh? Well, good luck, kid," Jiraiya said, his voice casual yet laced with seriousness. He crossed his arms. "But before you go, listen carefully. The Akatsuki are after you, remember? Don't take any unnecessary risks."
His gaze sharpened, the joking tone slipping away. "And one more thing—remember, you're forbidden to use that jutsu. Got it?"
Naruto blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "Uh… sure," he said hesitantly.
Inside, his thoughts were a jumble. ' The hell's he talking about? Last I checked, he's never even taught me some 'forbidden jutsu'... Oh well.'
Jiraiya smirked faintly, as if sensing his confusion but deciding not to explain. "Alright then," he said, turning to Kakashi. "He's your responsibility now. Make sure this knucklehead doesn't do anything stupid."
Kakashi closed his book and gave a slight sigh, lowering his headband just enough to meet Jiraiya's gaze. "Yeah, I know. He's all yours again when we get back."
Jiraiya chuckled softly, the tension easing for a moment. "Fair enough."
He stepped aside, giving Naruto one last look—one that carried both pride and unspoken warning. Then, with a swirl of his cloak, he disappeared as suddenly as he came, leaving only a faint ripple of chakra in the air.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Kakashi straightened, his tone calm but firm. "Let's move."
In an instant, the three shinobi leapt forward, their movements a blur. They soared from branch to branch, the forest rushing past beneath them.
The leaves rustled in their wake as they accelerated—heading southwest, toward the endless desert and the Hidden Sand Village.
TO BE CONTINUED