The next morning,
Team 1 and Team 2 were called to the Hokage's office to receive their first official mission.
Everyone was buzzing with excitement. Whispers and eager glances filled the corridor as the young Genin stood waiting.
Except for Itachi and Enso, the two prodigies stood still and composed. Their faces were unreadable, like calm lakes untouched by the storm of excitement swirling around them. After all, Shisui had warned them not to expect too much from their first mission.
It would be very different if Konoha were at war and needed manpower, but with the peace treaty in place, Genin were no longer sent out to die.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, assigned both teams a simple D-rank mission. It was hardly glamorous, just as Shisui had warned, yet it marked the beginning of their journey as official Shinobi.
Minato didn't go into details, instead handing the scroll to Hayama and Yūki Minazuki, giving them a subtle wink. He sent the Genin teams off, asking their Jonin to brief them on the mission details along the way. Enso's mouth twitched slightly, noticing their sneaky behaviour.
On the way out, Hayama decide to brief the team on their mission, killing the mood instantly. Inari launched into a loud string of complaints, grumbling about the lack of action and how unfair it was for talented ninjas like them to be given such menial tasks.
He spoke so much and so fast that even Tokuma, usually quiet and patient, had to suppress a sigh. Being from one of the Great Clans, Tokuma naturally had a better understanding of how the mission system worked — but he remained silent, letting Inari vent.
Enso, finally fed up with Inari's nonstop rambling, spoke up. "If you complete all the low-rank missions," he said, his voice calm but firm, "you'll naturally be given higher-ranked quests." Inari huffed but quieted down, knowing deep down that Enso was right.
Their first mission was straightforward: helping a villager find a lost pet. A typical team-building exercise, designed to strengthen bonds and promote teamwork among fresh Genin.
Thanks to Tokuma's Byakugan, it barely felt like a challenge. With his all-seeing eyes, he could probably find a dinosaur if asked — let alone some random cat or dog. They located the missing pet within minutes and completed the mission easily.
Over the next few days, Team 1 made remarkable progress. They tackled D-rank missions at a rapid pace, often completing more than one in a single day if the assignments were simple recovery tasks.
After the first few missions, Enso realised something important — as long as it was D-rank, their missions would mostly keep them within the village. Internal work, low-risk tasks. Nothing dangerous.
Naturally, Enso found a way to maximise his time. Discreetly, he deployed shadow clones to handle the paperwork and menial follow-ups while his real self returned to his training spot—a trick he had used back in the Ninja Academy. He created a shadow clone with half of his chakra reserve, fooling even the all-seeing eyes into thinking he was still present.
The truly tedious missions — like babysitting squabbling children or working on farms — were the ones that annoyed him the most. But they were unavoidable rites of passage. Team 2 achieved similar success, though they weren't able to match Team 1's speed and efficiency. Completing two missions a day had almost become the norm for Enso's team.
Tokuma Byakugan was too effective for this kind of basic mission. Not to mention Enso's strategy and arrangement.
Still, this kind of mission was taking away their precious time for personal training. Recognising the need for further improvement, Enso proposed a new plan: after completing their missions each day, they would train together to sharpen both their skills and their teamwork.
Though reluctant at first, Inari was eventually drawn into the regimen. Enso didn't propose it out of goodwill, but now that they were stuck together as a team, it was better to have a capable group than to be held back by those who would slow him down in the future.
Enso implemented a gruelling "Cliff Climbing" exercise, forcing Inari to scale the rocky outcrops three times a day under Tokuma's watchful eye. Afterwards came a round of Taijutsu sparring, where Enso would oversee and correct their techniques. Injuries were inevitable, but Enso used his medical ninjutsu to heal everyone after each session.
During these practices, Enso noticed a significant flaw in Tokuma's fighting style. "The Gentle Fist techniques you use are too defensive," he pointed out one afternoon, demonstrating by pressing through Tokuma's guard with little effort. "You rely too much on upper body movement, and your legs are only for balance. You're wasting half your potential."
As a Hyuga prodigy, Tokuma wasn't the type to easily accept advice on Taijutsu—especially not from someone else. But that changed after Enso defeated him three days in a row, effortlessly exploiting every weakness and opening he had. Enso kept beating him up until Tokuma had to swallow his pride and accept his guidance.
Enso taught them the basics of low kicks, checks, and sweeping leg attacks — essential skills that were often overlooked. He also taught Inari how to properly punch and kick, drilling the fundamentals of the jab, cross, and roundhouse kick into him. Although Inari had picked up a few moves here and there, his bad habits were obvious to a master like Enso.
Sparring sessions became an almost daily ritual. Most of the time, it wasn't so much a contest as it was Enso training them, beating out bad habits — especially their tendency to lower their hands while striking. It took time, patience, and countless repetitions, but little by little, they improved.
A year passed. The team's growth was undeniable.
Team 1 completed their D-rank missions so quickly and efficiently that they practically emptied the village's supply of available tasks. Eventually, the Fourth Hokage had to reserve some D-rank missions specifically for other Genin teams. Their mission quality had significantly upgraded, transitioning from finding lost pets to subduing and chasing away wild beasts that were destroying the villagers' farms.
Recognising their progress, the Hokage called Hayama in for a private meeting.
"Please oversee their training for a month," Minato said, his tone serious. "If you feel that their skills and teamwork have reached a satisfactory level, I'll approve them for C-rank missions."
The news spread quickly to Team 1. Excitement burst through the group — even Enso couldn't hide the small flicker of anticipation in his eyes. He was tired of D-rank missions. Tired of mindless errands. He craved real challenges.
Tokuma and Inari jumped up and gave each other an enthusiastic high-five, grinning ear to ear. Enso, ever composed, simply motioned for the two to calm down. Then he stepped forward, bowed deeply to the Hokage, and expressed his heartfelt thanks.
Inari and Tokuma quickly followed suit.
In that moment, Enso's position as the leader of Team 1 was completely solidified — not because of any official title, but because he had earned their trust, their respect, and their admiration. He wasn't just stronger than them; he had helped them grow. And together, they would continue climbing higher.
Hayama gathered his Genin team at Training Ground 7 for a quick sparring session. The purpose of this exercise was not just to test their combat abilities but also to evaluate their growth and identify areas for improvement. Hayama knew that sparring with his students one by one would give him a much clearer picture of where they stood, so he began with Inari, followed by Tokuma, and finished with Enso.
Inari had shown noticeable improvement in both his Taijutsu and his ability to control his chakra during the fight. Though still rough around the edges, his skills were now solid enough to earn Hayama's praise. Inari was proving to be a reliable and versatile asset to the team, especially when it came to infiltration and stealth operations.
Tokuma was next. Hayama observed him with a keen eye, noting how Tokuma's overall physical condition had drastically improved. His ability to maintain steady composure during combat, along with his growing mastery over his chakra, had caught Hayama's attention. Tokuma still relied heavily on close combat but had made strides in his endurance and strategic approach.
But when it came to Enso, the sparring session took a different turn. Hayama had already heard stories of Enso's exceptional abilities, but seeing them in action was something else entirely. As a skilled Kenjutsu user, Enso was already formidable, but his Sealing Jutsu prowess put him in a league of his own. The intricate traps and seals Enso laid down during their fight were a sight to behold, and Hayama realised that Enso lived up to his fame as a prodigy.
What stood out most was Enso's speed. Hayama had never seen anyone move that fast without using chakra. Enso darted around the training ground like a blur, his movements almost supernatural in their fluidity. Even more impressive was his stamina — despite their fight lasting over thirty minutes, Enso showed no signs of fatigue.
After the sparring session, Hayama knew there were adjustments to be made. For Inari, Hayama decided that his training would need to expand beyond just Taijutsu. Although Inari's skills in physical combat were adequate for infiltration-type missions, his lack of Genjutsu knowledge was a clear weakness. Inari only knew one technique from the Demonic Illusion series, and his transformation techniques were limited in usefulness for direct combat. Hayama requested the Fourth Hokage to provide Inari with the Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique and Ephemeral to help him enhance his versatility.
As for Tokuma, Hayama felt that his reliance on close combat needed to be addressed. Tokuma had the raw power and skill to hold his own at close range, but Hayama could see the lack of a mid-range option. With that in mind, Hayama urged Tokuma to learn the Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm, a technique that would give him a much-needed range attack.
Enso, on the other hand, didn't need to hold his teammates back for further training. They both had their new assignments, and Enso could already sense something else was stirring within him— and it wasn't directly related to his recent performance on the field.
The memory of the Nine Tails' attack flashed through his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had awakened something during that chaotic time, something that extended beyond his mastery of Kenjutsu and Sealing Jutsu.
To understand what had happened during the attack, Enso began to sift through his memories of that day. He couldn't remember how he had located Kushina's secret labour room; it was as though his body had moved on its own, guided by instinct rather than reason. After some careful reflection, Enso suspect that he had awakened a new sensing technique, other than the 'Vajra Chain', during those incidents. It seemed as though his body had activated it out of sheer desperation to find his mother.
Determined to uncover the truth, Enso rushed to Kushina's house to inquire about the hidden powers of the Uzumaki clan. Although Enso knew his mother was highly knowledgeable, she wasn't the holder of the Uzumaki clan's scrolls; he had heard of Kushina's training under Lady Mito—the legendary figure who had once held all of the clan's sealed knowledge.
Enso recalled how the Uzumaki clan had once sent many of their Jonin to Konoha to study Sealing Jutsu and gain experience. The bond between the Uzumaki clan and the Hidden Leaf was deep, with most members considering Konoha their second home. The Uzumaki emblem on Konoha uniforms was a symbol of their longstanding friendship. Many legendary Konoha ninjas, such as Sakumo Hatake, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Dan Kato, had also traveled to Uzushiogakure to gain further knowledge from the Uzumaki clan when they were still thriving.
The Uzumaki clan used Hashirama's fame to protect their Sealing Jutsu. After all, if the clan were ever destroyed, they wanted to ensure that their unique techniques wouldn't fall into the hands of their enemies. Later, that vision became a reality. Although many Uzumaki had lost their homes, no one had managed to acquire their unique Jutsu, despite the efforts to destroy them.
Kushina led Enso to a storage room where she retrieved an ancient scroll detailing the unique abilities of the Uzumaki clan. She explained that the technique Enso had instinctively used was known as the 'Mind Eye of Kagura,' a rare ability that allowed the user to sense others without them being aware. It was on par with the 'Adamantine Sealing Chain,' a technique Enso had already mastered. This was an ability only a select few Uzumaki were born with, and it was something Enso had unknowingly tapped into.
Although Kushina herself didn't possess the power of the Mind Eye of Kagura, she had inherited the scroll from Lady Mito that outlined its use, as well as various other unique techniques. The scroll also contained a method for Chakra Suppression, something Enso found intriguing. Enso's affinity for Sealing Jutsu made it clear that he was in tune with the clan's ancient arts, so the suppression techniques were of little use to Kushina herself.
The scroll explained that those born with this ability simply needed to clear their minds to activate the Mind Eye of Kagura. Once activated, they could focus on any area they wished to sense. Beginners were advised to close their eyes to help clear their minds, but with practice, they could maintain the technique even with their eyes open. The scroll also included a diagram showing the Chakra Flow needed to activate the technique. No wonder he couldn't use it at will before; now he understood that there was a correct method and diagram to activate it properly.
Enso, now more focused than ever, began to experiment. He closed his eyes, using his advanced chakra control to adjust his heart rate and breathing, bringing them both to a steady rhythm. In his mind's eye, he saw a black-and-white image begin to form. As his concentration deepened, the range of his vision extended from 500 meters to a full kilometre in an instant.
When he finally opened his eyes, he could see two worlds—one in vivid colour, the other in shades of black and white. The sensation was strange but exhilarating. Enso realised that he had successfully activated the Mind Eye of Kagura. The implications were enormous. This ability allowed him to spy on others without detection, a remarkable advantage in reconnaissance and stealth missions.
The scroll also described advanced applications of this power. Users could learn to manipulate objects from a distance using Chakra, almost like telekinesis. By leaving a trace of Chakra on an object, they could control it remotely using Sealing Jutsu as a medium. Another ability described in the scroll was similar to 'Soundless Transmission,' allowing users to communicate by projecting messages directly into the minds of others. Users could even copy their memories and share them, creating a powerful form of communication.
Enso grinned with excitement. "I've succeeded, Kushina-sensei. Thank you so much for sharing this with me."
Kushina smiled warmly, stroking his head affectionately. "It's nothing much. There's still so much more I have to teach you. After all, you are my successor."
Enso, a little caught up in the moment, asked, "Sensei, what's your dream?"
Kushina thought for a moment before responding, her voice soft and sincere. "I used to dream of becoming Hokage. But after Minato took on that role, my dream changed completely. Now, I just want to be the best mother I can be for Naruto."
At that moment, Naruto crawled forward, hearing his mother mention his name. He clapped his hands excitedly and raised his arms, a gleam of joy in his eyes as he reached out for a hug.
Please read today's Author Note, I got a deal for you all.