The first month of Team 7's missions was a lesson in frustration for Naruto and Sasuke. They spent their days finding lost cats, weeding the daimyo's gardens, and cleaning up trash in the Naka River.
Naruto was at his breaking point. "Dad! This is a joke! I'm the Hokage's son! I should be fighting S-Rank criminals, not chasing Tora the cat for the hundredth time!"
Minato Namikaze sat behind his desk, a small, knowing smile on his face. He looked at Ren, who was leaning against the wall, eyes closed. "The basics are the foundation of greatness, Naruto. But... perhaps you're right. You've shown excellent teamwork."
He pulled out a new scroll. "This is a C-Rank mission. You are to escort a master bridge builder, Tazuna, back to the Land of Waves. There have been reports of bandits and rogue ninjas in the area."
Naruto cheered, and even Sasuke looked relieved.
But Ren felt a cold ripple in his **Jogan**. He didn't need to open his eyes to know that Danzo was watching this conversation from the shadows.
*A C-Rank mission? No.* Ren thought. *This is an assassination plot. Danzo has already leaked our route to Gato and hired Zabuza. He wants to kill the 'Uchiha Ghost' outside the village where Minato can't protect me.*
As Team 7 gathered their gear and met Tazuna at the village gates, Ren pulled out his new **System Store** item: **Communication Earring (Pair).**
He handed one to Shisui, who appeared in a swirl of leaves from the pocket dimension (invisible to everyone else).
"Shisui, follow us from the shadows," Ren whispered. "Danzo is moving. If Zabuza appears, don't interfere unless I give the signal. I want to 'extract' his Demon Spirit."
"As you wish, Ren-sama," Shisui's voice echoed in Ren's mind.
The team set off, walking down the sun-drenched road toward the border. Tazuna, an old man smelling of sake, looked at the three children with skepticism. "Are you kids really supposed to protect me? You look like you're going to a summer camp."
"Don't worry, old man!" Naruto shouted, pointing at his headband. "I'm gonna be the Hokage!"
Ren stayed at the back of the group, his **Jogan Stage 2** scanning the horizon.
Suddenly, he saw them.
Two small puddles of water on the dry road ahead. The Demon Brothers of the Mist. But behind them, several miles away, was a massive, swirling vortex of dark chakra.
Zabuza Momochi. And something else... something cold and clinical.
*ROOT ANBU are already in the Land of Waves,* Ren realized. *This isn't just a mission. It's a war.*
Ren touched the goggles over his eyes, a dark, cold anticipation filling his chest.
**[New Quest Triggered: The Blood of the Mist.]**
**[Objective: Neutralize Zabuza and Haku. Extract 'Ice Release' and 'Demon Spirit'.]**
**[Bonus Objective: Kill the ROOT assassins without Kakashi noticing.]**
**[Reward: +50,000 Points & Bloodline Limit: Ice Release!]**
"Team," Ren said, his voice cutting through Naruto's shouting. "Get ready. We have company."
The Uchiha Ghost was ready to hunt.
---
**Author's Note:**
Volume 1 is COMPLETE!
Ren has the **Purple Lightning**, the **Jogan Stage 2**, and a **Dead-but-Alive Shisui** as his general. The Wave Mission is no longer a C-Rank—it's a battlefield.
Thank you for following the journey of Ren Uchiha. If you want to see him dominate Zabuza and Haku, please support the story with a **Power Stone**!
Volume 2: coming soon!