Naruto: Mixed Heritage(Rewrite)

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting its silvery light across the quiet village. The Hokage's office stood as a bastion of authority and vigilance, its windows glowing faintly from the lanterns within.

Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, leaned back in his chair, pipe in hand, exhaling wisps of smoke that spiralled lazily upward. The room was steeped in an air of gravity, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional crackle of the lantern flame.

Before him stood Renjiro, now a black-haired ANBU operative clad in a grey cloak that blended seamlessly with the shadows. His white mask gleamed under the soft light, its simplicity belying the complexity of the shinobi beneath it. Beside Hiruzen stood Jiraiya, arms crossed, his usual flamboyance muted in the face of the weighty conversation.

Hiruzen's gaze, sharp as ever, fixed on the masked figure. "You'll be heading to Kumogakure for your rank-up mission," he announced, his voice calm but resolute. As he spoke, he released a puff of smoke, the scent of tobacco lingering in the air.

Behind his mask, Renjiro furrowed his brows. 'Kumo again?' The thought flickered through his mind like a reflex. Though his face betrayed no emotion, a subtle tension gripped him.

Kumogakure. The very name stirred unease. It was a village steeped in hostility, its history with Konoha marred by bloodshed and mistrust. Renjiro's mind drifted briefly to the stories he had heard and knew before he came to this world—of the infamous Gold and Silver Brothers, Ginkaku and Kinkaku, whose treachery had ended the life of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju during the first shinobi war.

The enmity had only deepened during the Second Shinobi War, the most recent one, when Hiruzen, then a young leader, avenged Konoha by killing the First Raikage in battle. Whatever hope there had been for diplomacy had been extinguished long ago, replaced by a cold animosity that persisted to this day.

Jiraiya stepped forward, his usually carefree expression replaced by a rare seriousness. "Listen closely, Renjiro. This isn't just another mission. It's a critical operation." His tone was firm, his words chosen carefully. "Kumogakure has always been ambitious when it comes to harnessing the power of their tailed beasts. Unlike us, they don't shy away from pushing the limits to control them. They've been working on this for years, but recently, they've made breakthroughs."

'What breakthroughs?' Renjiro wanted to ask but held himself. If it was important to know, then they would undoubtedly inform him.

'Or are they referring to the perfect jinchuriki mode that Killer Bee had in the future, the knowledge could have been passed down.' Renjiro thought.

Hiruzen nodded, taking another puff from his pipe. "The information we've gathered indicates they are developing new methods to weaponize the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. If they succeed, it could tip the balance of power significantly in their favour. Your mission is to infiltrate their research facility, obtain the data, and destroy it. We cannot allow them to continue."

'He makes it sound so easy,'

Renjiro thought as his posture straightened and the details sank in. "What's the estimated level of resistance?" he asked, his voice steady and professional.

Jiraiya glanced at Hiruzen before responding. "Heavy. The facility is likely guarded by elite shinobi and possibly even jinchūriki. The Raikage wouldn't leave something this important undefended."

Hiruzen exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. "This mission is not without risk, but your skills have been proven time and time again. You are to move swiftly and leave no trace of your involvement. If possible, avoid prolonged combat, but do not hesitate to neutralize anyone who stands in your way."

Renjiro gave a curt nod, the wheels of his mind already turning. "Understood. What about extraction?"

Jiraiya smirked faintly. "You're on your own for that. Get in, complete the mission, and get out without drawing attention. If something goes wrong…" He trailed off, shrugging. "Improvise."

Behind his mask, Renjiro fought the urge to sigh. 'Typical ANBU work,' he thought wryly.

Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, his voice taking on a more personal tone. "This mission is of the utmost importance, Renjiro. Do not underestimate the stakes. Success here could prevent countless casualties in the future."

Renjiro nodded again. "Understood, Lord Third."

As he turned to leave, Jiraiya's voice broke the silence. "Good luck out there. You're gonna need it."

Renjiro didn't respond, his focus already shifting to the task ahead. His footsteps echoed softly against the wooden floor as he exited the office. Once the door closed, Jiraiya turned to Hiruzen, his brows furrowed.

"Do you think he can handle it?" Jiraiya asked, his voice laced with concern.

Hiruzen took another slow puff of his pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Renjiro is one of our most capable operatives. He's young, but his resolve and skill are unmatched. If anyone can succeed, it's him."

Yet, despite his confident words, a shadow of doubt lingered in the Hokage's mind. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in his chest since assigning the mission. Forcing himself to dismiss the ominous premonition, he inhaled deeply, letting the familiar ritual of smoking calm his nerves.

Moments later, another ANBU flickered into the room, his arrival marked by the faintest whisper of air displacement. Silver hair peeked out from beneath his mask, and his posture was relaxed yet alert. Kakashi Hatake stood at attention, ready to receive his own mission briefing.

The village was silent under the cover of night, the streets bathed in pale moonlight. Renjiro moved like a shadow through the quiet lanes, his grey cloak blending seamlessly with the darkness. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets were the only sounds accompanying him as he made his way to the forest's edge.

Once clear of the village, Renjiro picked up speed, his movements a blur as he darted through the trees. The wind rushed past him, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and pine. Each leap and flicker brought him closer to the Land of Lightning, his thoughts focused entirely on the mission.

The journey was long and arduous, but Renjiro's resolve remained unshaken. His mind replayed the details of the briefing, each piece of information carefully analyzed and stored. The stakes were high, and failure was not an option.

As he sped through the dense forest, his sharp senses suddenly picked up on something—a faint, unfamiliar presence lingering to his right. He came to an abrupt halt, his feet landing softly on the ground as leaves spiralled into the air around him.

His hand instinctively moved to his weapon pouch, fingers brushing against the cool steel of a kunai. The air felt heavy, charged with an undercurrent of tension. Renjiro's eyes narrowed behind his mask as he scanned the area, both with his eyes and chakra field, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike.

Without hesitation, he made a hand sign, his voice a low murmur in the stillness. "Great Annihilation Flame."

With a sharp inhale, he expelled a massive wave of fire from his mouth. The flames roared to life, their brilliance illuminating the dark forest as they surged forward, consuming everything in their path all around him. The crackling of burning wood and the whoosh of the inferno filled the air, drowning out all other sounds.

Renjiro stood firm, his gaze unwavering as he watched the flames consume the forest cover around him. Behind his mask, Renjiro's lips curved into a small, satisfied smirk.

"Perfect," he murmured, the word barely audible beneath the chaos of the flames. His Sharingan, active and alert, scanned the surroundings, catching even the faintest movement beyond the veil of flickering firelight.

Raising his voice above the cacophony, he shouted,

"Your cover is gone! It's better you reveal yourselves now so we can end this quickly." His tone was sharp, laced with authority, leaving no room for doubt that he was in control of the situation.

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