The sharp crack of training echoed across the clearing—Sasuke's kunai deflecting Naruto's with a flash of sparks, Sakura circling wide, her chakra pulsing through her fists. Kakashi watched them from the edge of the field, hands in his pockets, posture as relaxed as ever despite the flurry of movement before him.

"Better," he called, eye narrowing slightly. "But Naruto, your guard drops every time you go in with your right—"

A sudden pressure shifted in the air.

Before any of them could react, a figure landed silently beside Kakashi, the long shadows of the forest wrapping around the newcomer like a second skin. Pale porcelain mask. Dark armor. The symbol of the ANBU black ops etched into their shoulder.

Naruto practically exploded with excitement. "WOAH! No way—that’s ANBU, right?! That’s definitely ANBU! I read about them in the ninja almanac—they're like super elite shadow ninjas, right?!"

Sakura, panting from exertion, slowed her steps and stared, more composed but no less curious. "They don’t usually show up during training missions…"

Kakashi tilted his head, unbothered. The ANBU handed him a folded letter—parchment sealed with the Hokage’s mark—and nodded their head in greeting.

Kakashi turned the letter over in his hand, the corner of his eye crinkling with amusement. "Well," he said, almost to himself, "this must be serious."

He slid the letter into his vest pocket, still smiling faintly behind the mask. Whatever it was, it had clearly amused him more than alarmed him.

Naruto bounced on his toes. "Sensei, what was in it? Was it a secret mission? Is it about enemy ninja? Do you have to go undercover again?!"

Kakashi just raised a hand, lazily motioning them back into position. "Let’s finish the drills first. The Hokage can wait… a little."

But even as they resumed, the curiosity hung in the air like static—especially because Kakashi never looked that amused over a Hokage summons.