The moment Fujimoto Tōma agreed, Naruto's eyes lit up like fireworks.
He spun around and slammed his palm on the Hokage's desk.
"Then give us the mission already!"
The Third Hokage jumped, rubbed his temples, and wordlessly slid the mission scroll across. Naruto whooped and bounced in place like he'd already won.
Iruka could only sigh from the side. This was his student. Truly. Still… with Kakashi and Tōma around, even if Naruto caused chaos, things should stay under control.
The drunken old man squinted at Tōma, then grinned.
"Hey, this one looks way more reliable than those brats."
He leaned closer, sniffed, then muttered,
"So… when do we leave? I need to get back quickly."
Kakashi glanced at the Hokage, received a subtle nod, checked the time, and said,
"We depart immediately."
"Yes! Mission start!" Naruto shouted.
The journey began quietly.
Tōma kept his perception stretched wide, though not because he was worried about the mission itself. A C-rank task with two jōnin was absurd on paper. The real reason was Naruto.
After loosening Naruto's seal, there was a nonzero chance of leakage. If Naruto lost control, Tōma needed to be there instantly. That was his true assignment.
At the same time, Tōma was experimenting.
Kurama's chakra had been… distinctive. Dense, malignant, saturated with will. If chakra carried intent so clearly in a tailed beast, then what about humans? Ninja chakra was formed from physical and mental energy. That mental component had to leave traces.
If he could read that, his sensing would change completely. Not just "strong" or "weak," but who.
So far, progress was nonexistent.
He did occasionally sense faint traces of Kurama's chakra from Naruto, which suggested some sort of agreement had already formed. How Naruto managed that, Tōma honestly didn't know.
Still, if he cracked this problem, he'd never confuse identities again.
And then—
Two concealed presences brushed against his perception.
Tōma paused, glanced at Kakashi. Kakashi met his eyes. No words were needed.
Moments later, Tōma casually excused himself, saying he'd catch up. Kakashi approved immediately.
Once Tōma vanished, the hidden figures waited. Then they struck.
Chains flashed.
Kakashi was "cut apart."
"Sensei!" Naruto screamed.
Sakura shrieked at the blood.
"Sakura, protect the client!" Sasuke barked, snapping into motion.
Sakura reacted instantly, kunai raised, positioning herself in front of Tazuna.
Naruto glared at the two men, fury blazing.
"They killed Kakashi-sensei!"
"He's not dead," Sasuke said quickly. "He's stronger than even Tōma."
Naruto hesitated, then clenched his fists.
"Still—let's go!"
Sasuke smirked. This level didn't require the Sharingan.
Both charged.
"You really sold that a bit too hard," Tōma remarked dryly beside Kakashi.
Kakashi shrugged. "It worked."
He was more surprised by Naruto. In the past, Naruto froze here. Now he hadn't.
Watching below, Kakashi felt satisfied. Sasuke and Naruto handled the attackers cleanly. Sakura held her position perfectly. Their coordination was crude but solid.
The so-called Demon Brothers were dispatched far faster than Kakashi expected.
When it was over, Kakashi checked the time.
"Tōma, per the Hokage's instructions, avoid stepping in unless necessary."
"Understood," Tōma nodded. "This is their training."
Kakashi returned to the field.
Tōma watched the scene align with memory, a faint smile forming.
Which meant only one thing.
Soon, they'd meet him.
Momochi Zabuza.
A shinobi who could clash evenly with Kakashi, even with distractions. And with him, Haku. Ice Release. Dangerous talent. Wrong temperament.
Tōma remembered Haku's fights vividly. Naruto and Sasuke had been pushed to the brink. Too close. Far too close.
Some of those senbon placements were… lethal.
Sometimes Tōma wondered if they had died, briefly. And then lived again.
He shook the thought away. It didn't matter anymore.
With him here, it wouldn't happen again.
Below, Kakashi confronted Tazuna. The truth came out. The mission continued anyway, thanks largely to Naruto.
Naruto and Sasuke asked about Tōma, wondering when he'd show up. Kakashi brushed it off. "He's busy. He'll catch up."
They didn't quite believe him, but let it go.
Sakura watched the two of them silently.
Sasuke being strong made sense. Naruto being this capable didn't.
Was she… the weakest now?
The thought lingered. Then she clenched her fists.
She'd work harder.
She had to.
From above, Tōma frowned slightly.
Sakura's talent was real. He knew that. But it bloomed late. Too late. After Sasuke left.
If her motivation stayed chained to Sasuke alone, she might never reach that version of herself.
…Had his presence changed that path?
Tōma sighed. Some things couldn't be forced.
Then his perception sharpened.
A presence surged forward. Heavy chakra. Murderous.
Tōma smiled.
Finally.
"Momochi Zabuza," he murmured. "You're on cue."