Perception Isolation Barrier, Everyday Missions

Adamantine Sealing Chains were suppression-type seals mainly used against tailed beasts and chakra entities. The Four Symbols Seal was suited for reinforcing existing sealing structures. The Fire Sealing Method was a formula seal designed specifically for Fire Release. There were also some small-scale barrier formulas suitable for temporarily isolating a space.

As he flipped through the pages, Naruto's gaze stopped on an inconspicuous but highly practical sealing technique.

Perception Isolation Barrier.

The principle behind this barrier was simple: construct a layer of chakra shielding within a designated space, blocking all external sensory techniques from probing inside.

Whether it was the Byakugan, the Sharingan's visual penetration, or the Third Hokage's Telescope Technique through his crystal ball, as long as the barrier remained intact, no one outside could discover what was happening within it.

Maintaining the barrier required a continuous expenditure of chakra. The larger the range, the faster the chakra was consumed. If it were only kept within a small area for personal training, the consumption would not be particularly high.

Naruto carefully read through the Perception Isolation Barrier's formula structure and casting essentials twice from beginning to end. Then, using the foundational principles of sealing techniques Kushina had left behind, he made several deductions and additions before organizing and filing away the entire plan in his mind.

This sealing technique was what he needed most right now.

With it, he could disappear for a while right under the Third Hokage's nose and secretly train his ninjutsu and chakra without worrying about being caught by the Telescope Technique.

But he could not use it at home. If the chakra in his room suddenly vanished from the Third Hokage's crystal ball, even an idiot would know something was wrong.

He needed to find somewhere outside that no one would pay attention to, leave a Shadow Clone at home as a substitute, and have his real body go out to train.

But he had not found a suitable training location yet.

There happened to be no missions during these two days off, so he could not just run around. It would be best to use his next mission as an opportunity to observe whether there were any suitable places around Konoha.

The two days passed quickly.

Naruto did not waste his days off.

On the first day, he spent the entire morning continuing to study the details of the Perception Isolation Barrier. He memorized the sequence of every hand sign and the routes for chakra guidance, then simulated the casting process roughly twenty times in his mind until he could construct the barrier pattern precisely even with his eyes closed.

That afternoon, he went out to Konoha's public training grounds for some basic taijutsu training.

Mostly running laps, push-ups, and shuriken throwing.

This kind of training would not attract anyone's attention, because the old Naruto had often trained alone at the grounds until he was drenched in sweat, throwing shuriken. The difference was that he had once thrown them wildly, whereas now he adjusted the angle and force of his wrist with every throw.

That night, he continued grinding away at sealing techniques and broke down the basic structure of the Four Symbols Seal.

His schedule on the second day was much the same, with only one extra task. He made a trip to Konoha's ninja tool shop and used his share of the reward from the previous mission to buy two new kunai and a roll of special rune paper for sealing techniques.

Rune paper was an unpopular item in ordinary ninja tool shops. The shopkeeper spent quite a while searching before finding a roll in the corner of the storeroom. When she handed it to him, she gave him an extra look, probably wondering what a genin needed such a thing for.

Naruto casually said it was for schoolwork, paid, and left.

Did he think things would go that smoothly with Naruto's identity?

Of course not. He had transformed a Shadow Clone into the appearance of a student to buy it. Otherwise, would the shopkeeper have sold it to him?

On the morning of the third day.

Naruto woke before his alarm went off.

He washed up, changed into a clean set of ninja clothes, and straightened his forehead protector in the mirror.

The blond boy in the mirror looked quite spirited. The whisker-like markings on his face appeared a little clearer than before in the morning light.

"I should dress up when I have the time!"

Naruto shook his head. Unfortunately, he could not do anything too attention-grabbing right now. He then headed out toward the small bridge where Team 7 usually gathered.

The meeting time was eight in the morning. Naruto had deliberately arrived ten minutes early, but by the time he got there, two people were already standing by the bridge.

Sasuke leaned against the bridge railing with his hands in his pockets and his chin slightly raised, still wearing that unapproachable expression.

Sakura stood beside Sasuke with her hands behind her back, her body tilted slightly toward him. Naruto had no idea what she was saying, but even though Sasuke did not respond, she kept talking without getting discouraged.

When Naruto approached, he gave them a simple nod. "Morning."

One word, no more and no less.

Sasuke glanced at him and gave a faint grunt through his nose.

When Sakura saw Naruto take the initiative to greet them, she froze for a moment. Then she remembered her resolve to absolutely ignore Naruto, quickly turned her head away, huffed, and lifted her chin high.

Naruto did not care. He walked to the other side of the bridge and stood there. The three of them waited in silence.

Sakura was a little surprised.

Shouldn't Naruto ask why I'm ignoring him?

Eight o'clock arrived.

Kakashi did not.

Eight ten.

Eight twenty.

Eight thirty.

Naruto was not in a hurry. He leaned against the railing with his eyes closed, still reviewing sealing formulas in his mind.

Sasuke could maintain his pose at first, but as time dragged on, his brows began to furrow as well.

Sakura had started pacing in place from the eighth minute. By the twentieth minute, she had already entered a state of fury.

Her fists clenched with cracking sounds, veins faintly bulging on her forehead as she roared inwardly, "Kakashi-sensei is late again! Kakashi-sensei is late every time! This time, I'm definitely going to make him pay!"

At five past nine, a leisurely figure finally appeared at the end of the road.

Kakashi held Make-Out Paradise in one hand and kept the other in his pocket as he slowly strolled toward the bridge, wearing a smile that showed absolutely no awareness of time.

"Ah, good morning, everyone. The morning fog was a little thick today, so I got slightly lost on the road of life."

Sakura's fist nearly flew straight at him, but Naruto quietly shifted sideways and blocked it.

Kakashi did not care. He closed Make-Out Paradise and put it into his ninja tool pouch, then said in an even more casual tone than usual, "Today, we have a simple D-rank mission. We'll help an old lady on the outskirts of the village clear the weeds from her fields."

"Weeding again?"

Sakura's face immediately fell. Sasuke remained expressionless, while Naruto merely nodded without speaking.

The mission site was beside a stretch of farmland at the southern edge of Konoha.

The owner of the fields was an old woman in her seventies. Her back was badly bent, and she spoke slowly. After handing each of them a hoe, she went to sit beneath the shade of a tree and drink tea.

The weeds in this field really had grown wildly. In the densest patches, the grass was taller than a person's knees.

Naruto carried his hoe, pulling weeds while quietly observing the surrounding environment.

The farmland was not far from the village. Several farming households were scattered nearby, children ran about along the ridges between the fields, and people farther away were drying rice.

There was neither too much nor too little foot traffic, but the view was far too open. It was unsuitable.

Naruto crossed this area off in his mind, then lowered his head and continued cutting weeds efficiently.