My Name Is Naruto Namikaze

CHAPTER WORDS:- 1222

Chapter 19: One Night and the Plan

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The process was surprisingly simple.

So simple, in fact, that it felt no different from walking into his own house to retrieve something. The iconic architecture of the building made it easy to identify, and the Scroll of Seals, one of Konoha's most highly guarded secrets, was placed in plain sight.

Naruto found it in the Hokage's study without expending much effort. There was no one on guard, no signs of protective barriers, and no traps or mechanisms. The Scroll of Seals, this vital asset of Konoha, sat openly in the most conspicuous spot of the room.

This had to be the most straightforward and effortless infiltration into a Kage's residence in history—and even more absurdly, it ended with the theft of a top-secret scroll.

Naturally, on the surface, Naruto maintained an air of extreme caution.

He made it appear as though he was earnestly following his academy instructor's instructions, carrying out a classified mission to the best of his ability.

In the Academy, alongside theoretical lessons and combat practice with peers, mock missions simulating real shinobi operations—such as infiltration and theft—were often arranged to train students in the basics of being a ninja.

After locating the Scroll of Seals, Naruto even made a show of carefully inspecting it before securing it on his back. Following the prearranged route, he quietly left the Third Hokage's residence and sped toward the rendezvous point he had agreed on with Mizuki.

The first act of this farce had unfolded exactly as scripted; now it was time for the second act to begin.

Leaving the Third Hokage's residence, Naruto followed his plan, moving swiftly through the village while remaining hidden. He headed toward the designated meeting point but had no intention of arriving there directly.

Unlike in Canon, this time Naruto had employed a small stratagy. He had stolen the scroll earlier than planned and decided to deviate slightly from the predetermined route. While he fully intended to confront Mizuki later, it was essential to exploit this gap of unmonitored time for maximum personal gain.

Meanwhile, mere moments after Naruto departed with the Scroll of Seals...

Inside the Hokage's office

A spacious floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the village.

The Third Hokage stood before it, his signature pipe in hand, both arms clasped behind his back. His eyes, deep and contemplative, gazed out at the familiar nighttime scenery of Konoha—a view he had seen for decades. A peculiar glint flickered in his pupils.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a figure appeared behind the Third Hokage.

The newcomer wore the standard uniform of the ANBU, the elite shinobi directly under the Hokage's command.

Kneeling on one knee, head slightly bowed, the ANBU operative spoke with respect yet devoid of emotion:

"Lord Third, the Scroll of Seals has been confirmed to be in Naruto Uzumaki's possession."

The statement was succinct and unambiguous. Apart from the requisite deference, the ANBU operative's tone revealed no personal bias or emotion—a hallmark of their professionalism.

"I see. I know," the Third Hokage replied.

He remained facing the window, his gaze fixed on the night skyline of Konoha. He took a deep draw from his pipe, exhaled a smoke ring, and spoke in a calm tone.

With a slight wave of his hand, the Hokage dismissed the ANBU operative.

"Yes, Lord Third," came the soft reply.

In an instant, the operative's figure seemed to merge with the shadows, disappearing into the darkness.

"The Scroll of Seals..... Minato, Consider this a small recompense for Naruto. Let's see what he can manage to learn from it." The Third Hokage's eyes glossed over slightly, seeing the picture of the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze— hung on the Wall. Hiruzen sighed softly and muttered under his breath.

This had been part of his plan all along.

Upon learning of Mizuki's laughable scheme, the Third Hokage had quickly decided to use it to his advantage.

Judging from Naruto's progress over six years in the Academy, his growth aligned with the Third Hokage's expectations. Naruto yearned for recognition and aspired to become a great shinobi—qualities that had fueled his growth and determination.

As Naruto approached graduation, the Hokage had decided to use Mizuki's plot as an opportunity to provide Naruto with a small benefit. This was both a gesture of trust and a subtle test.

Of course, as a village leader, the Third Hokage would never leave such actions entirely unchecked. The Scroll of Seals was genuine; providing a fake would undermine the intended purpose of this exercise. However, the Hokage had made some adjustments to the scroll.

He had set barriers and traps to prevent access to the most dangerous techniques, ensuring that even if something went awry, the situation could be contained.

Moreover, this was all happening within Konoha's borders, which minimized potential risks.

Most importantly, the Third Hokage had taken one additional precaution.

"Kakashi."

Whoosh!

At the Hokage's call, another figure materialized—a man with gravity-defying silver hair, wearing the standard jōnin attire and a mask obscuring most of his face.

"Lord Third," Kakashi Hatake greeted, kneeling on one knee with respectful deference.

"As an added safeguard, follow Naruto's movements. Don't interfere unnecessarily; your focus should be on Mizuki. If the situation demands it, you have my permission to act independently," the Third Hokage instructed in a measured tone.

"Yes, Lord Third!" Kakashi replied with a slight bow of his head.

The next moment...

Whoosh!

With the Hokage's permission, Kakashi disappeared into the night.

After Kakashi left, the Third Hokage lingered a moment longer, casting another glance at Konoha's peaceful nighttime skyline. Then, he returned to his desk and resumed his paperwork.

Unbeknownst to Naruto, the Third Hokage had opted not to use the Telescope Technique to observe him this time. Nor was Naruto aware that the elder had tasked Kakashi Hatake with covertly monitoring the situation instead.

Of course, even if Naruto had known, it wouldn't have mattered much to him. This was, after all, merely a staged farce. He knew, The Hokage knew, and that's all there is to know about this situation.

The director was ready, the set prepared, and all the necessary actors were in place. All that remained was for everyone to follow the script—no chance of an unscripted moment.

After securing the Scroll of Seals, Naruto swiftly left the village and reached an area near the agreed-upon rendezvous point with Mizuki. There was still some time left before the appointed hour.

Naruto planned to use this window to learn as many techniques and secrets as possible. Be it forbidden jutsu or advanced techniques of common usage, he had no intention of being picky. With time, opportunity, and determination on his side, he would try to absorb as much as possible. His confidence in his memory, honed through both this life and the previous one, was absolute.

While the quantity of techniques a shinobi knew didn't directly equate to power, mastering and utilizing a variety of techniques undoubtedly enhanced one's abilities.

Moreover, studying these techniques could reveal their underlying principles, yielding valuable insights.

Naruto understood, of course, that jutsu weren't simply about memorizing hand signs. The essence of a technique lay in comprehending its core concept—especially for advanced or forbidden jutsu. If it were that easy, such techniques wouldn't warrant their classifications as secrets or taboos.

(End Of Chapter)

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