Enso had asked the question casually; after all, his Sensei, Kushina Uzumaki, was no longer a Jinchūriki. However, when he extended his senses using Mind's Eye of the Kagura, he was stunned by what he discovered — Kushina's chakra pool was even stronger now than it had been when she carried the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Previously, a significant portion of Kushina's chakra reserve had been occupied by the Nine Tails, with nearly seventy percent belonging to the beast's power — a force she couldn't freely access. Now, with the Nine Tails extracted, the remnants of its chakra had merged with her own, greatly enhancing her reserves beyond what they once were.
Although her overall chakra was nowhere near the overwhelming scale it had been as a Jinchūriki, Kushina now had more usable chakra than ever before, completely free from the Nine Tails' interference. This discovery left Enso amazed, further deepening his respect for her abilities.
Still having a few hours before dinner, Kushina decided to teach him another technique — this time, an A-rank sealing jutsu known as the Uzumaki Sealing Technique. Passed down through generations, it was a skill the Uzumaki clan had perfected, allowing them to seal living creatures into a scroll with ease.
To demonstrate, Kushina plucked a plant from her garden and effortlessly sealed it into an empty scroll. Her control over chakra was incredible; not a single drop of energy was wasted. She could adjust precisely the amount of chakra needed, whether sealing something as small as a flower or as large as a beast. Watching her in action was like watching a master painter at work — the outcome was flawless.
Enso learned the technique almost instantly after seeing it once. However, he intentionally pretended to struggle, hiding his Migeiko ability. He deliberately made a few mistakes, failed a couple of seals, and acted frustrated, all to keep his talents under wraps. It wasn't until just before dinner that he finally revealed he had mastered it.
That evening, Enso took charge of the kitchen, preparing a hearty meal of Chinese-style braised pork. The rich aroma of soy sauce, sugar, and slow-cooked meat filled the house, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere. After sharing a meal filled with light chatter and laughter, Enso bid his farewells and made his way home under the soft glow of the evening sky.
Once home, Enso didn't immediately head to bed. Instead, he continued his nightly routine, practising his Dynamic Blade Style for three more hours before finally allowing himself to sleep. His movements were fluid, each strike and block executed with precision as he pushed himself to fine-tune his technique.
Lately, he had deliberately reduced the amount of pure physical training. He had come to realise that his body, for his current age, had almost reached its full potential. No matter how hard he pushed, raw physical training wasn't making any progress. Instead, he focused his energy on improving his skills — his swordsmanship, chakra control, and combat strategy.
The Tyrant Dragon's Superior Adaptation ability was truly something special. It had evolved to the point where his muscles would automatically warm up on their own. Even without going through his usual daily routines, his body remained in a constant combat-ready state.
Over the next few days, Enso dedicated his time to sparring with Hayama Shirakumo, his Jonin Sensei. Their training sessions were intense and educational. Enso managed to defeat Hayama a few times during their bouts, each victory a testament to his growing prowess.
However, Enso also suffered countless defeats throughout their exchanges. Hayama's full capabilities were on display; he used the environment to his advantage, setting traps with ninja wire, creatively manipulating the terrain. His experience as a high-ranking Jonin made the battle far more difficult than Enso had anticipated.
Yet, every exchange, every clash of their blades, became a lesson for Enso. Hayama didn't hold back, sharing insights on combat, tracking, battlefield strategies, and subtle tricks that could turn the tide of a fight. Little by little, their relationship grew closer.
For the past twelve months, they had been completing D-rank missions assigned by the village. Initially, Enso's teammates had grumbled about the low-rank assignments, frustrated by what they saw as menial tasks.
Enso, however, had remained silent. He understood the value of patience. During those missions, he carefully observed his teammates, learning their habits, strengths, and weaknesses, all while quietly refining his skills.
However, after doing it for a full year, Enso had grown to hate such missions. They were unbearably boring and could hardly even be considered real missions. He couldn't believe that, despite their success, the village had kept his team stuck doing them for an entire year.
One month later, an opportunity has arrived.
Team 1 and Team 2 were summoned to the Hokage's office. Standing before the Hokage, the two teams listened carefully as the missions were announced.
Team 1's assignment was straightforward but critical: they were to oversee the transportation of weapon supplies from the Konoha Tool Research Facilities. Specifically, they were tasked with guarding Iō, a renowned inventor and weapons expert, on his delivery trip back to the village.
Meanwhile, Team 2 received an escort mission to the Land of Tea, where they would protect a group of merchants on their journey. Both teams were ordered to depart immediately without any delay.
Unlike his teammates, Enso didn't need to scramble to pack. He had prepared for this possibility long ago. With a few quick seals, he summoned scrolls containing spare clothes, medical equipment, and supplies.
He wore his two Wakizashi, strapping them securely across the back of his waist. He also sealed all his Shuriken into his custom Lightning Flash Blade Creation Seals, tattooed into the palms of both hands.
This mission would be a good test — not just of his skills, but of the practicality of his gear. He wanted to see if wearing the swords in this manner would restrict his mobility during a real mission. As he finished his final checks and tightened the straps on his weapons, Enso felt a spark of excitement. At last, a real mission.
...
It only took about three hours on foot to reach the outskirts of Konoha. The path was familiar, weaving through dense clusters of tall trees and winding dirt roads.
Hayama didn't say much along the way. His focus was sharp, his gaze constantly sweeping the surroundings. When asked, he simply said their first objective was to meet up with Iō at the Tool Research Facility. Everything else could wait.
Inari and Tokuma exchanged casual conversations, mostly wondering if the mission was going to be as easy as it sounded. It almost felt too simple. A supply run? Hardly the kind of thing they had been hoping for after months of training.
"I mean, c'mon," Inari muttered under his breath. "Feels like a delivery boy gig, not a real ninja mission." Tokuma chuckled but nodded in agreement. The two are still young after all, and their judgment will naturally be flawed.
But Enso didn't share their feelings. He remained silent, his eyes sharp and watchful. In the aftermath of the Nine Tails' attack, Konoha's stability was still fragile. Other villages were surely observing, probing for any sign of weakness.
On paper, the mission seemed low-risk, but reality was often far less forgiving. Bandits, Missing-Nin, even a foreign force might take advantage of these uncertain times.
After all, it had only been a year since that incident. The situation in the ninja world was ever changing, constantly shifting with new threats and uncertainties. Enso wasn't about to let his guard down. Not now.
As they travelled, Hayama took the opportunity to teach them some critical Shinobi field skills. He instructed them to constantly observe their environment — not just passively, but actively think about what they saw.
He explained in detail how to distinguish between marks made by animals and those made by humans. A snapped branch angled unnaturally, the absence of dew on certain grass blades, disturbed soil that didn't match the surrounding terrain — all small signs, but meaningful.
"Don't just look with your eyes," Hayama said, giving Tokuma a light tap on the head. "Little details make all the difference."
The lessons were simple yet insightful, making Enso realise how much he still had to learn despite his natural talents. He absorbed the information quietly, committing it to his memory.
From time to time, Enso lightly brushed the trees they passed, leaving behind faint chakra imprints. They were subtle — almost invisible — but if triggered, they would set off small explosive charges. It was a precaution, a quiet insurance in case they were ambushed on the way back.
Meanwhile, Tokuma showed his strength differently. He engaged Hayama in thoughtful conversation, asking sharp questions about tracking methods and battlefield signs. His natural intelligence shone through, and even Hayama seemed pleased.
Inari and Enso primarily listened, occasionally chiming in with questions or observations. Although it wasn't their strongest area, they recognised how vital these skills were for survival and necessary as a Shinobi.
Before long, the Tool Research Facility came into view — a low, solid structure. It sat quietly at the edge of the forest, guarded more by secrecy rather than force.
Inside, they found Iō waiting. He was a dishevelled man, his grey hair unkempt and thick goggles resting permanently on his forehead. As soon as his eyes landed on the three young Genin, his face twisted into a slight frown.
"They're too young," Iō said bluntly, turning to Hayama with a dubious look. "You sure about this? We've had bandit attacks in the area recently. And this shipment is too important to lose."
Hayama nodded, "I know," he said calmly. " Trust me — these kids are more capable than they look."
He gave a small glance toward Enso, a hint of quiet confidence in his expression. Iō still looked sceptical. But he'd known Hayama for a long time. If Hayama said they could do it, there was probably truth to it.
With a heavy sigh, Iō relented. "Alright. I'll leave it in your capable hands."
He led them toward the warehouse, explaining that they needed to move all the supplies out and prepare them for transport.
"There's a lot to handle," Iō added, "and we're on a schedule. So don't slack off."
Inari opened his mouth, about to make a smart remark about being treated like a labourer. But before he could say a word, Enso shot him a subtle warning look and shook his head slightly.
Recognising the signal, Inari grumbled under his breath but stayed quiet.
The three Genin immediately set to work. First, they hauled out boxes of empty scrolls, stacking them neatly by Iō's workstation. The scrolls were crisp, lined with sealing formulas, and would soon be filled with the precious cargo.
Next came the weapons.
One by one, they carried out heavy crates packed with kunai, Shuriken, swords, and even specialised chakra tools. The volume was impressive — far more than any ordinary shipment.
Enso furrowed his brow slightly. "Is this... normal?" he asked.
Iō, hearing the unspoken concern, simply waved it off.
"It's not normal, but the number is accurate. It's confirmed by the Fourth Hokage himself."
Without further comment, the Genin kept moving. It wasn't glamorous work, but Enso understood its importance. Once the equipment was sorted, Iō began sealing the weapons into the scrolls using the Enclosing Technique. Meanwhile, Enso observe Iō work intensely.
After a few minutes, he asked Tokuma and Inari to sort the weapons into categories—swords with swords, throwing weapons together—to speed up the sealing process. He then began to unfold an empty scroll and assist with the sealing process.
At first, Iō look doubtful. He narrowed his eyes slightly, unsure if the boy knew what he was doing. But when Enso began performing the sealing techniques with clean, efficient chakra control, Iō's doubts quickly evaporated. Their pace picked up significantly, earning the old man's approval.
The boy moved with a fluid precision that even some Jonin would struggle to match. His speed far surpassed Iō's, and his chakra flow was smooth and steady, without a hint of strain.
Many hours passed like this — the steady rhythm of sealing techniques, the thud of moving boxes, and the low murmur of occasional conversation.
Outside, the sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across the ground and turning the sky a rich, molten orange. Finally, the last scroll was sealed, packed carefully into a reinforced travel pouch. Enso handed them over to Hayama for safekeeping.
Enso wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, a sense of satisfaction settling in. Despite his skill, the amount of work was no joke. Still, it was far better than babysitting duties.
This was it. The preparations were done, and the easy part was over.
By the time they had finished their work, the sun had long set, and dinner time had long passed. Hayama decided that they would head out first thing in the morning. There was no need to rush tonight. After all, they had accomplished a big chunk of the mission.
Iō, understanding the need for rest, prepared a room for them.
Enso, feeling the hunger creep up on him, decided to enter the kitchen and make something for everyone. He pulled out the ingredients he had packed, along with whatever he could find in the kitchen. With a glance at the supplies, he began making simple yet satisfying sandwiches, doing his best to use up what was available. The sound of his knife slicing through bread and the soft sizzle of ingredients coming together filled the quiet kitchen.
After eating, Inari and Tokuma, exhausted from the nonstop work throughout the day, quickly found their beds and fell into a deep sleep. The weight of the day's labour had caught up with them, their bodies demanding rest to recover.
Enso remained alert, knowing that the night wasn't over yet. Hayama, too, was restless, and the two of them took turns patrolling the facilities. They set up a rotation, switching every three hours to ensure the area was well-guarded.
Enso had a question on his mind and asked Hayama, "What should I do if an intruder sneaks in?"
Hayama's response was cold and direct. " Just inform me if you notice any abnormalities. If you can't detain them, go straight for the kill."
Enso, taking his words to heart, nodded in silent understanding. It was an unavoidable reality in their line of work. Without another word, he set off to patrol the surroundings, his senses sharpened and fully alert.
The first hour of his patrol was uneventful, the quiet stillness of the night pressing in around him. But as the silence stretched on, something shifted. Enso senses someone approaching with his "Mind Eyes of Kagura", allowing him to detect the presence of two intruders sneaking toward the warehouse.
They appeared to be setting up a soundproof barrier around the warehouse, ensuring that no noise would escape. Enso frowned, his instincts sharpening. Whoever these intruders were, they were well-prepared. With their level of skill, these two were no ordinary Shinobi.