While the Cloud and Mist villages were mobilizing, Konoha began to pick up the scent of trouble. As the strongest of the Five Great Nations, Konoha's intelligence network—a legacy of the Third Hokage's era that Minato had maintained—was still highly functional.
However, the spies embedded in the Mist were not high-level. While they detected a massive mobilization, they couldn't immediately pinpoint the cause.
In the Hokage's office, Minato called an emergency meeting with his inner circle.
"According to reports, Kirigakure has initiated a large-scale ninja deployment," Minato said, his voice calm but grave. "The number exceeds a hundred, and all are Chūnin level or higher. Take a look."
Hyuga Hiashi distributed the documents. The Intelligence Analysis Division had already broken down the data. They speculated on several possibilities: a border threat to the Land of Fire, a hunt for a high-level rogue ninja, or an attack on a smaller neighboring village.
Because Team 7's mission to the Land of Waves was known to only a few, the analysts failed to connect the dots to Hinata.
"Hokage-sama, I believe we must immediately reinforce the border and send scouts," Uchiha Fugaku suggested. His clansman, Shisui, was currently a captain in the border guards facing the Mist and Cloud. Fugaku didn't want him walking into an ambush.
Nara Shikaku tapped the table. "Beyond the border, we need a high-mobility task force. If the enemy bypasses our defenses or lands on our coast, we need to be ready to intercept and annihilate them before they cause structural damage."
The office fell silent as the leadership processed the limited data. Then, Hiashi spoke up.
"There is something you all should know," Hiashi said. "My daughter, Hinata, is currently in the Land of Waves. Due to... unique circumstances, she has not been branded with the Caged Bird Seal. Her Byakugan is 'live' and extractable."
The room went cold. Everyone knew that without the Caged Bird Seal, a Hyuga was like a child carrying a mountain of gold through a den of thieves.
"Furthermore," Hiashi continued, "Team 7 consists of the Raikage's targets, Fugaku's son, and your own son and student, Minato. Their identities alone make them a high-value target for any village looking to destabilize Konoha."
"Recall them," Shikaku said instantly. "They are too close to Mist territory."
"Recall them?" Minato murmured. To everyone's shock, he didn't look worried. "Actually, I have great confidence in Kakashi and Team 7. I was thinking... this might be the perfect chance for them to push into the Land of Water and gather intel on why the Mist is acting so strangely."
"What?!" The leaders stared at him. Sending a Jōnin and three Genin into the heart of the "Bloody Mist" sounded like a suicide mission.
Minato remained unfazed. He remembered Kakashi's early success as a young Jōnin. He believed that only the crucible of real battle could accelerate growth.
However, seeing the horrified expressions on the faces of his friends, he realized his wartime mindset was perhaps too aggressive for the current era of peace.
"Well, it was just a thought," Minato gave a small laugh. "I'll send the order for them to retreat to the border immediately."
The meeting ended with orders to organize a special task force. Minato looked at Hiashi. "Is Shinichi at home? If he's free, I want him to lead the task force. He's the only Jōnin in the village I'm certain can suppress an entire Mist army single-handedly."
The Mist Descends
The messenger hawks were fast, but the Mist was faster. Before the recall order could even reach the Land of Waves, the Mist vanguard had already crossed the sea. They hadn't just acted on rumors; they already had ninjas on the ground—Zabuza and Haku.
In the Land of Waves, it was a typical morning. Naruto and Sasuke had finished breakfast early and headed to the river to practice the Rasengan and Chidori. Kakashi had explained the theory, and now it was a matter of grueling repetition.
Hinata, after helping with the dishes, joined them a bit later. The riverbank had become their makeshift training ground.
By 9:00 AM, a thick, unnatural fog began to roll in. Team 7, accustomed to the humid weather, didn't think much of it at first—until Kakashi's instincts screamed.
Whizz—!
A black shadow flickered through the mist behind Kakashi. A blade flashed.
Poof!
A log was sliced into splinters.
"Hmm?" A soft, questioning murmur echoed from the white void as the attacker vanished back into the fog.
Meanwhile, Naruto was struggling with his Rasengan. "Come on! Work!" He slammed a swirling ball of chakra into the ground, but it only left a small pit.
Suddenly, a cold breeze swept past him. He didn't realize that several mirrors of shimmering ice had formed around him in a circle.
Then came the sound of whistling air. Thousands of senbon (needles) rained down from every direction. Naruto barely had time to throw his arms up to protect his face.
"Aaaagh!!"
The needles buried themselves into his arms, legs, and torso. Naruto collapsed to his knees, his body riddled with the stinging projectiles.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, but as he moved to help, a massive sword—the Executioner's Blade—descended from the sky, splitting the ground between him and his teammate.
Standing atop the hilt was Zabuza, his eyes cold and murderous.
"Your training," Zabuza growled, "is officially over."
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