diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index a771f8174..75fde0074 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -295,8 +295,8 @@ Even with `restrict_to_workspace: false`, the `exec` tool blocks these dangerous
 |------------|------|---------|-------------|
 | `tools.read_file.enabled` | bool | `true` | Enables the `read_file` tool |
 | `tools.read_file.mode` | string | `bytes` | Selects the `read_file` implementation: `bytes` or `lines` |
-| `tools.read_file.max_read_file_size` | int | `65536` | Maximum bytes returned by `read_file` and byte budget used by `read_file_lines` |
-| `tools.read_file_lines.enabled` | bool | `false` | Enables the separate line-oriented `read_file_lines` tool |
+| `tools.read_file.max_read_file_size` | int | `65536` | Maximum bytes returned by `read_file` and byte budget used by `read_file` |
+| `tools.read_file.enabled` | bool | `false` | Enables the separate line-oriented `read_file` tool |
 
 #### Mode: `bytes`
 
@@ -328,9 +328,8 @@ Behavior notes:
 
 * Binary-looking files are rejected with guidance to use `read_file`
 * Extremely long single lines are truncated rather than skipped
-* If truncation happens mid-line, the tool explicitly suggests falling back to `read_file` for byte-wise inspection
 
-Use `read_file_lines` when:
+Use `mode = lines` when:
 
 * The agent mostly reads text files
 * You want line-based pagination in prompts and tool calls
diff --git a/pkg/tools/filesystem.go b/pkg/tools/filesystem.go
index cb5921f4b..d40c44c8f 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/filesystem.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/filesystem.go
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ import (
 
 const MaxReadFileSize = 64 * 1024 // 64KB limit to avoid context overflow
 
-func validatePathWithAllowPaths(path, workspace string, restrict bool, patterns []*regexp.Regexp) (string, error) {
+func validatePathWithAllowPaths(
+	path, workspace string,
+	restrict bool,
+	patterns []*regexp.Regexp,
+) (string, error) {
 	if workspace == "" {
 		return path, fmt.Errorf("workspace is not defined")
 	}
@@ -328,7 +332,7 @@ func (t *ReadFileTool) Description() string {
 }
 
 func (t *ReadFileLinesTool) Description() string {
-	return "Read a UTF-8 text file from a specific line range. Uses 1-indexed line offsets and stops when the configured byte budget is reached."
+	return "Read a UTF-8 text file from the filesystem. Output always includes line numbers in the format `LINE_NUMBER|LINE_CONTENT` (1-indexed). Supports partial reads via `start_line` and `max_lines` for large text files."
 }
 
 func (t *ReadFileTool) Parameters() map[string]any {
@@ -638,18 +642,18 @@ func (t *ReadFileLinesTool) Execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *T
 	switch {
 	case lineTruncated:
 		header += fmt.Sprintf(
-			"\n[TRUNCATED - line %d exceeded the %d byte read budget and was cut mid-line. Use read_file for byte-wise inspection of the remaining content.]",
+			"\n[TRUNCATED - line %d exceeded the %d byte read budget and was cut mid-line.",
 			endLine,
 			t.maxSize,
 		)
 	case byteBudgetTruncated:
 		header += fmt.Sprintf(
-			"\n[TRUNCATED - byte budget reached. Call read_file_lines again with offset=%d to continue at the next line.]",
+			"\n[TRUNCATED - byte budget reached. Call read_file again with offset=%d to continue at the next line.]",
 			startLine+linesRead,
 		)
 	case !reachedEOF && limit > 0 && linesRead >= limit:
 		header += fmt.Sprintf(
-			"\n[PARTIAL - more content remains. Call read_file_lines again with offset=%d to continue.]",
+			"\n[PARTIAL - more content remains. Call read_file again with offset=%d to continue.]",
 			startLine+linesRead,
 		)
 	default:
@@ -822,7 +826,11 @@ type WriteFileTool struct {
 	fs fileSystem
 }
 
-func NewWriteFileTool(workspace string, restrict bool, allowPaths ...[]*regexp.Regexp) *WriteFileTool {
+func NewWriteFileTool(
+	workspace string,
+	restrict bool,
+	allowPaths ...[]*regexp.Regexp,
+) *WriteFileTool {
 	var patterns []*regexp.Regexp
 	if len(allowPaths) > 0 {
 		patterns = allowPaths[0]
@@ -875,7 +883,9 @@ func (t *WriteFileTool) Execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolR
 
 	if !overwrite {
 		if _, err := t.fs.Open(path); err == nil {
-			return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("file: %s already exists. Set overwrite=true to replace.", path))
+			return ErrorResult(
+				fmt.Sprintf("file: %s already exists. Set overwrite=true to replace.", path),
+			)
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/tools/filesystem_test.go b/pkg/tools/filesystem_test.go
index 289b44c7c..3290ce1d8 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/filesystem_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/filesystem_test.go
@@ -59,8 +59,13 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_ReadFile_NotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Should contain error message
-	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "failed to open file") && !strings.Contains(result.ForUser, "failed to open") {
-		t.Errorf("Expected error message, got ForLLM: %s, ForUser: %s", result.ForLLM, result.ForUser)
+	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "failed to open file") &&
+		!strings.Contains(result.ForUser, "failed to open") {
+		t.Errorf(
+			"Expected error message, got ForLLM: %s, ForUser: %s",
+			result.ForLLM,
+			result.ForUser,
+		)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -78,7 +83,8 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_ReadFile_MissingPath(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Should mention required parameter
-	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "path is required") && !strings.Contains(result.ForUser, "path is required") {
+	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "path is required") &&
+		!strings.Contains(result.ForUser, "path is required") {
 		t.Errorf("Expected 'path is required' message, got ForLLM: %s", result.ForLLM)
 	}
 }
@@ -297,7 +303,12 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_WriteFile_OverwriteSandboxed(t *testing.T) {
 		"content":   "replaced in sandbox",
 		"overwrite": true,
 	})
-	assert.False(t, result.IsError, "expected success in sandbox mode with overwrite=true, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
+	assert.False(
+		t,
+		result.IsError,
+		"expected success in sandbox mode with overwrite=true, got: %s",
+		result.ForLLM,
+	)
 
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(workspace, testFile))
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -325,7 +336,8 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_ListDir_Success(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Should list files and directories
-	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "file1.txt") || !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "file2.txt") {
+	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "file1.txt") ||
+		!strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "file2.txt") {
 		t.Errorf("Expected files in listing, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "subdir") {
@@ -349,8 +361,13 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_ListDir_NotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Should contain error message
-	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "failed to read") && !strings.Contains(result.ForUser, "failed to read") {
-		t.Errorf("Expected error message, got ForLLM: %s, ForUser: %s", result.ForLLM, result.ForUser)
+	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "failed to read") &&
+		!strings.Contains(result.ForUser, "failed to read") {
+		t.Errorf(
+			"Expected error message, got ForLLM: %s, ForUser: %s",
+			result.ForLLM,
+			result.ForUser,
+		)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -397,7 +414,8 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_ReadFile_RejectsSymlinkEscape(t *testing.T) {
 	// os.Root might return different errors depending on platform/implementation
 	// but it definitely should error.
 	// Our wrapper returns "access denied or file not found"
-	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "access denied") && !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "file not found") &&
+	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "access denied") &&
+		!strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "file not found") &&
 		!strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "no such file") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected symlink escape error, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
 	}
@@ -416,10 +434,20 @@ func TestFilesystemTool_EmptyWorkspace_AccessDenied(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	// We EXPECT IsError=true (access blocked due to empty workspace)
-	assert.True(t, result.IsError, "Security Regression: Empty workspace allowed access! content: %s", result.ForLLM)
+	assert.True(
+		t,
+		result.IsError,
+		"Security Regression: Empty workspace allowed access! content: %s",
+		result.ForLLM,
+	)
 
 	// Verify it failed for the right reason
-	assert.Contains(t, result.ForLLM, "workspace is not defined", "Expected 'workspace is not defined' error")
+	assert.Contains(
+		t,
+		result.ForLLM,
+		"workspace is not defined",
+		"Expected 'workspace is not defined' error",
+	)
 }
 
 // TestRootMkdirAll verifies that root.MkdirAll (used by atomicWriteFileInRoot) handles all cases:
@@ -653,7 +681,10 @@ func TestWhitelistFs_BlocksSymlinkEscapeInAllowedDir(t *testing.T) {
 	patterns := []*regexp.Regexp{regexp.MustCompile(`^` + regexp.QuoteMeta(allowedDir))}
 	tool := NewReadFileTool(workspace, true, MaxReadFileSize, patterns)
 
-	result := tool.Execute(context.Background(), map[string]any{"path": filepath.Join(linkPath, "secret.txt")})
+	result := tool.Execute(
+		context.Background(),
+		map[string]any{"path": filepath.Join(linkPath, "secret.txt")},
+	)
 	if !result.IsError {
 		t.Fatalf("expected symlink escape from allowed dir to be blocked, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
 	}
@@ -1012,9 +1043,6 @@ func TestReadFileLinesTool_TruncatesSingleLongLineAtByteBudget(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "was cut mid-line") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected explicit mid-line truncation warning, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "Use read_file for byte-wise inspection") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected byte-tool guidance for long line, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
-	}
 	if strings.Contains(result.ForLLM, "second line") {
 		t.Fatalf("did not expect second line after truncation, got: %s", result.ForLLM)
 	}