[Land of Waves — Village Streets — Late Morning]
Naruto moved quietly through the streets of the Land of Waves.
His forehead protector was now sealed within a scroll — hidden from sight.There was no merit in flaunting loyalties here — not where eyes might serve unseen masters.
The late morning light bled thin through cloud-streaked skies. The mist had mostly lifted, leaving a damp chill clinging to stone and wood.But the clarity brought no comfort.
Naruto's cloak drifted softly behind him, his face calm, gaze sharp beneath lowered lashes.
The village had the look of one crushed slowly beneath an unseen weight.
The Land of Waves had been bled near dry.
The streets before him told no lies.
Vendors lined the roads with hollow eyes — voices weary, thin from days without true profit.
A mother with hollow cheeks crouched by a fruit stand — bartering with coin too small for what her children needed.
"Please… just enough to feed them… take what you can…"
Her eyes were hollow, hands trembling faintly.
Behind her — two thin children sat beneath a threadbare cloth, silent and watching.
Naruto slowed.
This is not war, he thought. It is slow strangulation.
Fear more insidious than blades.
He had known cruelty.But this slow erosion of a village's will — that was a subtler poison.
Ahead, voices rose — rough, jeering.
Naruto melted into shadow, slipping between the narrow beams of a sagging alley.
A cluster of armed men swaggered beneath the weight of stolen blades and cheap armor.
Gatō's goons.
They laughed as they dragged an elderly craftsman from his home — sacks of rice and battered tools clutched beneath greedy arms.
A woman's voice cracked with grief — unseen beyond the wreckage.
A younger man darted forward in protest — fists clenched.
One of the bandits struck him down with a lazy backhand — no urgency, no fear of retribution.
Naruto's fist clenched beneath the loose fall of his cloak.
Not yet.
He forced his breath calm — footsteps turning away.
His gaze swept the main road once more.
Villagers watched him sidelong — suspicion flickering beneath exhaustion.
No one trusted a lone stranger here.
But Naruto's stride remained measured — not rushed, not inviting.
A shinobi among civilians moved as water through stone — present, unnoticed.
Naruto turned once more toward the forest on the outskirts of the village — cloak trailing behind.
[Land of Waves — Tazuna's House — Late Evening]
The sky had long fallen into velvet blue by the time Naruto returned.
A faint ache ran through his limbs — earned in silence beneath the forest canopy, where he had trained alone after scouting.
No wasted motion.No wasted words.
Only the slow sharpening of blade and body.
Now the village lay quieter, lamps glowing in pale windows — but the tension in the air remained.
Naruto's steps were light upon the worn boards as he entered Tazuna's house.
Inside — familiar voices rose sharp against the calm.
[Tazuna's House — Main Room]
"—Sasuke-kun, you were so amazing against that Mist ninja! You're definitely the coolest!"Sakura's voice rang high with admiration, eyes sparkling.
"And so strong too!" Ino added quickly — cheeks faintly pink. Her gaze drifted toward Sasuke, waiting.
Sasuke sat against the far wall, arms folded — eyes half-lidded, mouth set in his usual faint scowl.
He said nothing.
But neither did he leave.
Naruto stood by the doorway for a moment — watching.
A small breath escaped him.
Some things don't change.
Sakura's eyes flicked to Naruto then — nose wrinkling faintly.
"Oh — it's you. Where've you been? Don't go sneaking off when we're on a mission!"
Ino chimed in as well, voice quick:
"Yeah! Acting all mysterious isn't going to impress anyone."
Naruto gave no reply.
He simply moved to the far side of the room, cloak falling in quiet folds as he settled cross-legged by the window.
Sakura huffed.
Ino glanced at Sasuke again — awaiting his reaction.
But Sasuke said nothing — gaze elsewhere.
Across the room, Shikako Nara watched this small drama unfold — arms crossed, eyes narrowed faintly in thought.
He doesn't even blink at it now.
Another small thread to add to the growing puzzle of Naruto Uzumaki.
[Dinner — Brief Respite]
The meal passed in relative quiet.
Tsunami served the plates with her usual gentle calm — small bowls of rice, pickled roots, and hot broth.
Even Chōji ate slower tonight — the strain of travel still in his bones.
Asuma sat near the head of the table — sharp eyes flicking between his team and the room's undercurrents.
Kakashi remained by the window, leaning against the frame — masked face unreadable.
Naruto ate with slow precision — every movement deliberate.
Conversation ebbed and flowed around him — Sakura's bright chatter aimed toward Sasuke, Ino quick to match it.
Shikako and Chōji spoke in lower tones, words more grounded.
Naruto said little.
But his gaze remained alert — every window, every shadow marked in quiet memory.
[After Dinner — Planning the Next Step]
As plates were cleared, Asuma spoke at last — voice level, commanding quiet.
"Tomorrow morning — you'll start focused training."
He glanced toward Kakashi — a faint nod passed between the two Jōnin.
Kakashi's eye curved faintly. "Tree walking."
"Tree walking?" Sakura blinked.
Kakashi folded his arms. "Chakra control training. Essential — and overdue."
Ino perked up, eyes wide. "Like running up trees without using your hands?!"
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly."
Sasuke's gaze sharpened at that — a small, eager glint breaking through his cool mask.
Naruto listened, calm.
Already mastered. Months ago.
He met Asuma's eye — no need to explain aloud.
Asuma spoke lightly, already knowing from Hayate about his profile.
"Good. Then you'll take watch tonight. Rest after."
Naruto inclined his head once — accepting.
He rose smoothly from his seat.
[Night Watch Begins]
The house dimmed — lanterns lowered, rooms falling into hush.
Naruto stepped out onto the worn porch — cloak settling in the cool air.
Stars stretched above, clear now after the day's earlier haze.
The village lay in uneasy sleep beyond.
Naruto breathed in once — slow, steady.
His gaze swept the shadows.
Tomorrow, they would climb trees.He would watch the night.
One task at a time.
No words wasted.
The blade waited still within its seal.
And dawn was far away.