Black Ops: Anbu Naruto

Behind him, Tamako giggled, watching how quickly Naruto switched into mission mode.

Yugito realized this was actually Naruto's usual state after leaving Konoha.

Tsunade quickly slipped into her Hokage persona, her hands clasped before her face, staring seriously at Naruto.

"Your next mission is a very important VIP escort mission. I know it's not the kind of mission you were hoping for during wartime, but it's extremely important for you, Naruto. An S-rank VIP escort mission."

"As long as you chose me, I won't refuse no matter what it is. You know I'll never turn down a mission you assign, especially if you believe I'm the right person for the job," Naruto replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, who am I escorting and where to?"

"Well… I knew he'd accept. Looks like she gave me this mission specifically to make sure he'd take it on." Tsunade thought to herself before shifting her gaze toward Yugito, signaling her to continue the briefing.

Understanding the cue, Yugito stepped forward between Naruto and Tsunade.

"Naruto-kun, you'll be escorting me back to Kumogakure," she said. "It's time I returned to Kumogakure. I've done all I can to strengthen relations between our villages, and now I must go back. I am Kumogakure's strongest kunoichi."

"She requires your protection," Tsunade added, with Yugito nodding in confirmation toward Naruto. "I think it's a good idea. Our village has been stretched thin lately, so we've been sending shinobi to the frontlines for various operations. However, this mission is especially dangerous—you'll have to pass directly through the Rain Country, which is now under enemy control. After safely escorting Yugito back to Kumogakure, you'll also accompany Konoha's envoy back here."

Naruto frowned slightly, arching an eyebrow in concern.

"That's the most dangerous frontline, right? Isn't there another route we can take around it?"

He knew the enemy had avoided a direct assault on Konoha, instead choosing to block Konoha's forces using an impregnable defensive line while simultaneously keeping Kumogakure occupied on the other side.

This tactic had proven extremely effective because the narrow strip of land between those two bodies of water had become so constricted that Konoha's forces struggled to break through that choke point.

"That's exactly right," Tsunade said, fully aware of just how terrifying that place was. "Would you like to reconsider whether or not you take this mission?"

She had experienced war firsthand—witnessing her lover die in that hellish battlefield, a deathtrap.

She absolutely did not want Naruto going anywhere near that cursed place. Fate was impartial, and she certainly didn't want the same tragedy repeating itself with Naruto.

He was neither Jiraiya nor Dan. Wishing otherwise would only invite disaster.

"No, I won't back out of the mission, though I don't know much about that area—I've only heard rumors coming from the northwest frontline."

And none of those stories were good ones. Letters arriving from the northeastern battlefield never brought good news either.

"If I'm taking Yugito through that area, then I need a detailed briefing."

Advancing blindly into unfamiliar territory without understanding the terrain or the enemy would be tantamount to walking into certain death. Too many had already died that way—no one wanted to repeat it again. Only Konoha's most elite shinobi were deployed there. No rookies would ever be sent to such a place.

"You'll receive all the intelligence regarding the terrain and enemy movements. I've gathered all the intelligence I could get."

As she spoke, Tsunade handed the mission scroll to Naruto. "Once you find Jiraiya, make sure he stays safe."

Naruto's eyes lit up when he heard Jiraiya was leading the mission.

"I'll be sure to pass that along."

Yugito shrugged slightly before turning to bow to Tsunade.

"I believe it's time for me to leave. Thank you for Konoha's hospitality over these past few months—I'm truly grateful."

"Don't mention it," Tsunade replied with a warm smile. "When you return, please send my greetings to Lord Raikage. Naruto will safely escort you back."

******

In the Land of Rice—Otogakure's hidden base—an unknown Otogakure ninja stood before a sealed lab door, reporting:

"Kabuto-sama, Konoha's forces have finally caught on to our attacks on their reinforcements and supply convoys near the Snow Country border."

Inside the lab, Konoha's rogue ninja Kabuto was deep in his work. This had once been his office and research station.

"Their reaction time is laughably slow," Kabuto muttered with a mocking tone. "Since they stationed troops there, how many prisoners have we captured?" He mused.

Heavens, probably over a hundred by now. Konoha ninja kept arriving like clockwork for reinforcement, and his ambush teams had become increasingly skilled.

"What are your orders?"

"Do nothing until they actually start moving against us," Kabuto answered casually, clearly indifferent to his subordinates' fates. He only needed them—as test subjects—for his ongoing research.

Once this war ended, he would create the most powerful and perfected ninjutsu in history.

He would surpass even Orochimaru's wildest dreams about ninja potential—and become the true legend of the ninja world.

No one could match him—perfectly evading everyone's notice while building his own empire.

Even the shrewd Danzō would envy how subtly Kabuto amassed great power, both in politics and ninjutsu.

Orochimaru's approach was flawed from the start. He could have accessed all forms of ninjutsu—there was no need whatsoever to track and copy them using the Sharingan.

Never mind modifying his body to gain advantages in specific jutsu.

That way, he never would have made enemies with Akatsuki over hunting Itachi Uchiha—or ended up dying at the hands of his so-called apprentice, Sasuke Uchiha.

He could have had everything years ago... including the 'Immortal Body' he sought after.

Now, all of this belonged to Kabuto.

"Lord Orochimaru... You might have been brilliant, but you were shortsighted, never realizing the answer was right in front of you." Kabuto murmured, smirking coldly as he sensed his imminent success. "You already possessed the perfect ninjutsu capable of fulfilling both your wishes—and now, so do I. The difference is, I have the mind to piece all these clues together."

Orochimaru was overly fixated on ninjutsu itself, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each individual technique too meticulously, yet never considering how simple it could be to combine them.

But Kabuto thought of it. He planned to fuse Orochimaru's two most powerful ninjutsu into a single technique.

However, Madara Uchiha remained a problem.

Just thinking about that masked man made Kabuto burst into laughter.

He thought he was manipulating Kabuto, believing he had the upper hand in their so-called "cooperation" to destroy the ninja world.

He was certain that when the time came, he would effortlessly seize everything he wanted, using Kabuto like a mere pawn.

What a fool. Kabuto never intended to destroy the ninja world, nor did he want to rule it.

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