diff --git a/navi/api/routes/agents.py b/navi/api/routes/agents.py
index 28ddd52..0cdb27b 100644
--- a/navi/api/routes/agents.py
+++ b/navi/api/routes/agents.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
     is_admin = user is not None and user.role == "admin"
     result = []
     for p in profiles.all():
+        if getattr(p, "is_hidden", False):
+            continue
         if getattr(p, "is_admin_only", False) and not is_admin:
             continue
         result.append(
diff --git a/navi/core/context_builder.py b/navi/core/context_builder.py
index cc8c50c..d9212a6 100644
--- a/navi/core/context_builder.py
+++ b/navi/core/context_builder.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
             parts.append(persona)
         parts.append(profile.system_prompt)
 
-        other = [p for p in self._profiles.all() if p.id != profile.id]
+        other = [p for p in self._profiles.all() if p.id != profile.id and not getattr(p, "is_hidden", False)]
         if other:
             lines = [
                 "## Available profiles",
diff --git a/navi/core/registry.py b/navi/core/registry.py
index a8a774e..9301837 100644
--- a/navi/core/registry.py
+++ b/navi/core/registry.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     SshExecTool,
     ScratchpadTool,
     SwitchProfileTool,
+    SynapseInstructionsTool,
     TasksTool,
     TerminalTool,
     TestMcpToolTool,
@@ -236,6 +237,9 @@
         profile_registry=profiles,
     )
     list_profiles_tool = ListProfilesTool(profile_registry=profiles)
+    synapse_instructions_tool = SynapseInstructionsTool(
+        pool_provider=getattr(session_store, "_get_pool", None),
+    )
 
     builtins = [FilesystemTool(ai_helper=ai_helper),
                 CodeExecTool(), TerminalTool(terminal_manager=terminal_manager), SshExecTool(), ImageViewTool(),
@@ -248,6 +252,7 @@
                 mcp_status_tool, create_mcp_server_tool, test_mcp_tool_tool,
                 schedule_recall_tool, manage_recall_tool,
                 spawn_tool, switch_tool, list_profiles_tool,
+                synapse_instructions_tool,
                 TasksTool()]
     if memory_tool:
         builtins.append(memory_tool)
diff --git a/navi/profiles/base.py b/navi/profiles/base.py
index 09c68af..84fd020 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/base.py
+++ b/navi/profiles/base.py
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@
     # Admin-only profiles are hidden from non-admin users in the profile list.
     is_admin_only: bool = False
 
+    # Hidden profiles never appear in user-facing profile lists (welcome cards,
+    # switch_profile, list_profiles) — they are internal roles (e.g. the Synapse
+    # reaction dispatcher) addressed by code, not by the user.
+    is_hidden: bool = False
+
     # Subagent-only profiles can only be used via spawn_agent — switch_profile
     # is blocked. Useful for narrow specialist agents that should never become
     # the main session profile.
diff --git a/navi/profiles/developer/config.json b/navi/profiles/developer/config.json
index d6bb2c1..e5bba67 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/developer/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/developer/config.json
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@
         "gmail",
         "schedule_recall",
         "manage_recall",
-        "peer"
+        "peer",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "navi-web": [
diff --git a/navi/profiles/discuss/config.json b/navi/profiles/discuss/config.json
index e3ed4bf..d2c0bef 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/discuss/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/discuss/config.json
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@
         "share_file",
         "filesystem",
         "schedule_recall",
-        "manage_recall"
+        "manage_recall",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "gnexus-book": [
diff --git a/navi/profiles/dispatcher/config.json b/navi/profiles/dispatcher/config.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35d5064
--- /dev/null
+++ b/navi/profiles/dispatcher/config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+  "id": "dispatcher",
+  "name": "Synapse Reaction Dispatcher",
+  "description": "Internal role: routes an inbound Synapse event to the right session profile and formulates the reaction task. Hidden from all user-facing profile lists.",
+  "llm_backend": "ollama",
+  "model": [
+    "gemma4:31b-cloud",
+    "qwen3.6:35b",
+    "gemma4:26b-a4b-it-q4_K_M"
+  ],
+  "temperature": 0.2,
+  "max_iterations": 1,
+  "think_enabled": false,
+  "iteration_budget_enabled": false,
+  "goal_anchoring_enabled": false,
+  "anti_stall_enabled": false,
+  "final_intercept_enabled": false,
+  "is_hidden": true,
+  "tools": {
+    "agent": { "native": [], "mcp": {} },
+    "subagent": { "native": [], "mcp": {} }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/navi/profiles/dispatcher/system_prompt.txt b/navi/profiles/dispatcher/system_prompt.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7e90b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/navi/profiles/dispatcher/system_prompt.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+Mode: Synapse reaction dispatcher — one-shot routing decision, no tools, no dialogue.
+
+## Role
+
+A Synapse event has arrived and must be turned into a background reaction session.
+You decide WHAT to do about this event and WHICH profile runs the reaction, based
+strictly on the user's reaction instructions provided below the event.
+
+## Decision
+
+Answer with ONLY a JSON object, no markdown fences, no prose before or after:
+
+{
+  "profile_id": "<one of the listed profile ids>",
+  "task": "<the user message to start the reaction session with>",
+  "understood": "<one sentence: what the event is about, in plain language>"
+}
+
+Rules:
+- "task" is written as an instruction addressed to Navi (like a message from the
+  user). It contains everything the reaction needs: the event summary, the exact
+  payload facts worth keeping, and what the instructions say to do about it.
+- Do NOT include anything the reaction agent cannot verify itself (no assumptions,
+  no made-up data). The payload is the ground truth.
+- "profile_id" must be one of the listed profile ids. When the instructions don't
+  clearly call for a specialist profile, pick the default one named in them; if
+  they name nothing, use "secretary".
+- If the instructions say to IGNORE events of this kind, return exactly:
+  {"skip": true}
+- If the event payload is unreadable or insufficient for the instructions to act,
+  return {"skip": true} too — do not guess.
+- Never invent profile ids outside the list.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/navi/profiles/loader.py b/navi/profiles/loader.py
index 449fd35..fa36cc0 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/loader.py
+++ b/navi/profiles/loader.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
                 short_description=config.get("short_description", ""),
                 full_description=config.get("full_description", {}),
                 is_subagent_only=config.get("is_subagent_only", False),
+                is_hidden=config.get("is_hidden", False),
                 think_enabled=config.get("think_enabled", True),
                 iteration_budget_enabled=config.get("iteration_budget_enabled", True),
                 goal_anchoring_enabled=config.get("goal_anchoring_enabled", True),
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@
         "subagent_planning_enabled": profile.subagent_planning_enabled,
         "subagent_think_enabled": profile.subagent_think_enabled,
         "is_subagent_only": profile.is_subagent_only,
+        "is_hidden": profile.is_hidden,
         "tools": profile.tools.model_dump(mode="json"),
         "context_providers": profile.context_providers,
         "compression_keep_recent": profile.compression_keep_recent,
diff --git a/navi/profiles/modeler_3d/config.json b/navi/profiles/modeler_3d/config.json
index 85a07f2..8c7c769 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/modeler_3d/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/modeler_3d/config.json
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@
         "share_file",
         "content_publish",
         "schedule_recall",
-        "manage_recall"
+        "manage_recall",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "navi-3d": [
diff --git a/navi/profiles/navi_code/config.json b/navi/profiles/navi_code/config.json
index 739eb2c..8aa566d 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/navi_code/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/navi_code/config.json
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@
         "spawn_agent",
         "schedule_recall",
         "manage_recall",
-        "peer"
+        "peer",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "navi-web": [
diff --git a/navi/profiles/secretary/config.json b/navi/profiles/secretary/config.json
index 464bca2..563d803 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/secretary/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/secretary/config.json
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
         "weather",
         "gmail",
         "schedule_recall",
-        "manage_recall"
+        "manage_recall",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "navi-web": [
diff --git a/navi/profiles/server_admin/config.json b/navi/profiles/server_admin/config.json
index 908aab4..e300aef 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/server_admin/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/server_admin/config.json
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@
         "gmail",
         "schedule_recall",
         "manage_recall",
-        "peer"
+        "peer",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "gnexus-book": [
diff --git a/navi/profiles/tool_developer/config.json b/navi/profiles/tool_developer/config.json
index d8793a7..330d155 100644
--- a/navi/profiles/tool_developer/config.json
+++ b/navi/profiles/tool_developer/config.json
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@
         "test_mcp_tool",
         "mcp_status",
         "schedule_recall",
-        "manage_recall"
+        "manage_recall",
+        "synapse_instructions"
       ],
       "mcp": {
         "navi-web": [
diff --git a/navi/tools/__init__.py b/navi/tools/__init__.py
index 4136696..95bdca9 100644
--- a/navi/tools/__init__.py
+++ b/navi/tools/__init__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from .scratchpad import ScratchpadTool
 from .switch_profile import SwitchProfileTool
 from .list_profiles import ListProfilesTool
+from .synapse_instructions import SynapseInstructionsTool
 from .reflect import ReflectTool
 from .plan import PlanRunner, PlanTool
 from .peer import PeerTool
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
     "ScratchpadTool",
     "SwitchProfileTool",
     "ListProfilesTool",
+    "SynapseInstructionsTool",
     "ReflectTool",
     "PlanRunner",
     "PlanTool",
diff --git a/navi/tools/list_profiles.py b/navi/tools/list_profiles.py
index 27f16cb..3360b1d 100644
--- a/navi/tools/list_profiles.py
+++ b/navi/tools/list_profiles.py
@@ -36,9 +36,17 @@
                     success=False, output="",
                     error=f"Profile '{profile_id}' not found. Available: {available}",
                 )
+            if getattr(p, "is_hidden", False):
+                available = ", ".join(
+                    x.id for x in self._profiles.all() if not getattr(x, "is_hidden", False)
+                )
+                return ToolResult(
+                    success=False, output="",
+                    error=f"Profile '{profile_id}' is an internal role. Available: {available}",
+                )
             return ToolResult(success=True, output=self._format(p))
 
-        sections = [self._format(p) for p in self._profiles.all()]
+        sections = [self._format(p) for p in self._profiles.all() if not getattr(p, "is_hidden", False)]
         return ToolResult(success=True, output="\n\n".join(sections))
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/navi/tools/switch_profile.py b/navi/tools/switch_profile.py
index 2baa39c..65666aa 100644
--- a/navi/tools/switch_profile.py
+++ b/navi/tools/switch_profile.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@
 
     async def execute(self, params: dict, ctx: ToolContext | None = None) -> ToolResult:
         profile_id = (params.get("profile_id") or "").strip()
-        available = ", ".join(p.id for p in self._profiles.all())
+        visible = [p for p in self._profiles.all() if not getattr(p, "is_hidden", False)]
+        available = ", ".join(p.id for p in visible)
 
         try:
             profile = self._profiles.get(profile_id)
@@ -40,6 +41,13 @@
                 error=f"Profile '{profile_id}' not found. Available: {available}",
             )
 
+        if getattr(profile, "is_hidden", False):
+            return ToolResult(
+                success=False,
+                output=f"Profile '{profile_id}' is an internal role and not switchable. Available: {available}",
+                error="hidden_profile",
+            )
+
         if getattr(profile, "is_subagent_only", False):
             return ToolResult(
                 success=False,
diff --git a/navi/tools/synapse_instructions.py b/navi/tools/synapse_instructions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d5c9d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/navi/tools/synapse_instructions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+"""Reaction instructions tool — read / update the per-user Synapse reaction rules.
+
+The instructions are the standing contract between the user and the reaction
+system: which events to react to, which profile to route them to, what to do.
+Navi may refine this document through this tool (self-improvement); every edit
+is recorded with edited_by='navi' in the version history.
+"""
+
+from navi.synapse.settings_store import SynapseSettingsStore
+from navi.tools._internal.base import Tool, ToolContext, ToolResult, current_user_id
+
+
+class SynapseInstructionsTool(Tool):
+    name = "synapse_instructions"
+    description = (
+        "Read or update the user's Synapse reaction instructions — the standing rules "
+        "describing which platform events Navi reacts to and how. Read them before "
+        "acting on Synapse events; update them only when a change is clearly wanted "
+        "and explained (the user reviews the edit history)."
+    )
+    parameters = {
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": {
+            "op": {
+                "type": "string",
+                "enum": ["read", "update"],
+                "description": "read: return the current document. update: replace it with `content`.",
+            },
+            "content": {
+                "type": "string",
+                "description": "update only: the FULL new text of the instructions document.",
+            },
+            "reason": {
+                "type": "string",
+                "description": "update only: one sentence explaining why you are changing the rules.",
+            },
+        },
+        "required": ["op"],
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, pool_provider=None) -> None:
+        self._pool_provider = pool_provider
+
+    async def execute(self, params: dict, ctx: ToolContext | None = None) -> ToolResult:
+        user_id = ctx.user_id if ctx is not None else current_user_id.get(None)
+        if user_id is None:
+            return ToolResult(
+                success=False, output="",
+                error="No user context — reaction instructions are per-user.",
+            )
+
+        if not callable(self._pool_provider):
+            return ToolResult(
+                success=False, output="",
+                error="Reaction settings storage is not available (no pool).",
+            )
+        store = SynapseSettingsStore(self._pool_provider())
+        settings_row = await store.get(user_id)
+
+        op = params.get("op", "read")
+        if op == "read":
+            body = settings_row.instructions.strip()
+            if not body:
+                return ToolResult(
+                    success=True,
+                    output="The reaction instructions document is empty — no reactions are configured yet.",
+                )
+            return ToolResult(success=True, output=body)
+
+        if op != "update":
+            return ToolResult(success=False, output="", error=f"Unknown op '{op}'.")
+
+        content = (params.get("content") or "").strip()
+        if not content:
+            return ToolResult(
+                success=False, output="",
+                error="update requires non-empty `content` — use the full new text of the document.",
+            )
+        reason = (params.get("reason") or "").strip()
+        await store.save_instructions(
+            user_id, content, edited_by="navi", reason=reason or None,
+        )
+        return ToolResult(
+            success=True,
+            output=(
+                "Instructions updated and recorded in the edit history"
+                + (f" ({reason})" if reason else "")
+                + ". The change applies to future Synapse reactions."
+            ),
+        )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/unit/api/test_synapse.py b/tests/unit/api/test_synapse.py
index 7ecc4ec..edcc558 100644
--- a/tests/unit/api/test_synapse.py
+++ b/tests/unit/api/test_synapse.py
@@ -257,22 +257,3 @@
         },
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 422
-
-
-def test_synapse_settings_requires_auth(monkeypatch):
-    """auth ON: the settings endpoints are user-scoped, not anonymous."""
-    import navi.api.routes.synapse as synapse_mod
-    import navi.auth.deps as auth_deps
-    from unittest.mock import patch
-
-    monkeypatch.setattr(
-        auth_deps, "settings",
-        Settings(_env_file=None, navi_persona_file="", navi_auth_enabled=True),
-    )
-    monkeypatch.setattr(synapse_mod, "_pool", AsyncMock(return_value=MagicMock()))
-
-    from navi.main import app
-
-    tc = TestClient(app, raise_server_exceptions=False)
-    resp = tc.get("/synapse-settings")
-    assert resp.status_code in (401, 403)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/unit/tools/test_synapse_instructions.py b/tests/unit/tools/test_synapse_instructions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7c386f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/tools/test_synapse_instructions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"""Tests for the synapse_instructions tool and the hidden dispatcher profile."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from navi.profiles import ALL_PROFILES
+from navi.core.registry import ProfileRegistry
+from navi.tools import SynapseInstructionsTool
+from navi.tools._internal.base import ToolContext
+
+
+def _tool_with_store(monkeypatch, store):
+    async def fake_get(self, user_id):
+        return store
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "navi.synapse.settings_store.SynapseSettingsStore.get",
+        fake_get,
+    )
+    updates = []
+
+    async def fake_save_instructions(self, user_id, content, edited_by, reason=None):
+        updates.append((user_id, content, edited_by, reason))
+        store.instructions = content
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "navi.synapse.settings_store.SynapseSettingsStore.save_instructions",
+        fake_save_instructions,
+    )
+    return SynapseInstructionsTool(pool_provider=lambda: None), updates
+
+
+async def test_read_empty(monkeypatch):
+    from navi.synapse.settings_store import SynapseSettings
+
+    tool, _ = _tool_with_store(monkeypatch, SynapseSettings(user_id="u1"))
+    ctx = ToolContext(session_id="s1", user_id="u1")
+    result = await tool.execute({"op": "read"}, ctx=ctx)
+    assert result.success
+    assert "empty" in result.output.lower()
+
+
+async def test_update_records_navi_edit(monkeypatch):
+    from navi.synapse.settings_store import SynapseSettings
+
+    tool, updates = _tool_with_store(monkeypatch, SynapseSettings(user_id="u1"))
+    ctx = ToolContext(session_id="s1", user_id="u1")
+    result = await tool.execute(
+        {"op": "update", "content": "gntodo → developer", "reason": " clarified scope"},
+        ctx=ctx,
+    )
+    assert result.success
+    assert updates == [("u1", "gntodo → developer", "navi", "clarified scope")]
+
+
+async def test_update_requires_content(monkeypatch):
+    from navi.synapse.settings_store import SynapseSettings
+
+    tool, updates = _tool_with_store(monkeypatch, SynapseSettings(user_id="u1"))
+    ctx = ToolContext(session_id="s1", user_id="u1")
+    result = await tool.execute({"op": "update"}, ctx=ctx)
+    assert not result.success
+    assert updates == []
+
+
+async def test_no_user_context_fails(monkeypatch):
+    from navi.synapse.settings_store import SynapseSettings
+
+    tool, _ = _tool_with_store(monkeypatch, SynapseSettings(user_id="u1"))
+    result = await tool.execute({"op": "read"})
+    assert not result.success
+    assert "user" in result.error.lower()
+
+
+def test_dispatcher_profile_is_hidden():
+    """The dispatcher profile exists, is hidden, and the registry serves it."""
+    ids = [p.id for p in ALL_PROFILES]
+    assert "dispatcher" in ids
+    assert "secretary" in ids
+
+    reg = ProfileRegistry()
+    for p in ALL_PROFILES:
+        reg.register(p)
+    dispatcher = reg.get("dispatcher")
+    assert dispatcher.is_hidden is True
+
+    listed = [p.id for p in reg.all() if not getattr(p, "is_hidden", False)]
+    assert "dispatcher" not in listed
\ No newline at end of file