Time passed quickly. A new year had already arrived.
"Heh… Shikaku, these past months your son's reports on Naruto have been very encouraging. I knew I was not wrong about that boy."
The Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, flipping through Shikamaru's detailed reports. His expression was filled with satisfaction.
Yet Nara Shikaku wore a troubled look. "Lately Shikamaru has often been together with Chōji and Naruto. Chōji is fine, but perhaps… we should speak with Chōza about it."
"Hm." The Hokage set the report down slowly. "So Chōza has spoken with you?"
"No," Shikaku shook his head quickly. "And… you should have seen it in Shikamaru's report as well. He told me too. Naruto has recently stopped seeking them out."
The Hokage's smile vanished. His face darkened. "I understand."
He recalled the details in the report. Naruto had always approached Shikamaru and Chōji under the pretext of training. His taijutsu was formidable, but when the two boys combined their clan techniques, Naruto would grow impatient.
Soon, Naruto would enter the academy. If this distance grew wider…
"Naruto, why have you stopped going to Shikamaru and Chōji lately?"
Inside the seal space, Minato asked quietly.
Naruto answered calmly, "Father, acting is exhausting. I am no professional. Shikamaru has suspected me for a long time, though he has no proof. And the longer I spend with them, the greater the chance I reveal something dangerous to myself. After all, Shikamaru was sent by the Hokage to observe me from the very start."
Naruto moved to the window of his small house. Snow was drifting down, silent flakes painting the world white. He pushed the glass open and caught two cold crystals in his palm.
"It is snowing again."
Because of the Five Elements Seal suppressing him, Naruto rarely left home. He only used Transformation Jutsu when he needed food or essentials.
Shikamaru, ever since introducing Chōji, had brought no one else. Naruto had no intention of humiliating himself by chasing companions like the Naruto of the original tale.
So he trained in the Mirror World instead, defeating puppet after puppet.
Finally, as the year turned, he gained something new from Chōji's data: Yang-natured chakra. Unexpected, but not unwelcome.
He sensed Moonlight Hayate shift his position, moving atop the balcony. Naruto's gaze turned cold. He picked up the wooden mallet lying on his desk, finely crafted, the words Xuan Neng carved into the handle.
He had found it last year, forgotten by the carpenter who repaired his home. The man's skill was excellent, even making him two sturdy chairs.
Naruto had once tracked the craftsman's address, but he was away working outside the village. Now, in midwinter, he should be home.
Naruto dressed warmly, mallet in hand, and stepped outside. Hayate, hidden, slid across the snow to keep pace. Naruto ignored him.
He crossed the bustling market streets, enduring whispers and stares, until he reached a dilapidated district of wooden huts. Turning a familiar corner, he found the carpenter's house.
Knock. Knock.
The door opened. An elderly man with cloudy glasses peered out. His face stiffened, eyes widening in disbelief.
"You… impossible… you are…"
Naruto's expression chilled. He placed the mallet on the ground. "This belongs to you, does it not?"
The old man's hands trembled as he picked it up. His entire being seemed to come alive, excitement burning behind his gaze.
Naruto hesitated. Why was this man not fearful, not disgusted like the rest of the villagers? He seemed… glad.
"Thank you, child. What is your name?"
Naruto's voice was even. "Uzumaki Naruto. I have returned what is yours. Goodbye."
"Wait!" The man stepped forward quickly, thrusting a finely carved wooden figurine into Naruto's palm. "Take this. Thank you, Naruto, for bringing my tool back!"
Naruto almost brushed him aside, but the system's voice echoed in his mind.
Data collection available.
The old man gripped Naruto's hand tightly, pressing the carving into it.
Data collected. Current integration 10%.
Authority updated. Uzumaki Naruto: Second-level World Master.
Synchronization function soon to unlock. Complete data required.
Naruto calmly pulled free, slipped the carving into his pocket, and left without another word.
Behind him, the old man's shoulders shook. Silent tears slipped down his face.
Inside the seal space, Minato spoke carefully. "Naruto, that old man… perhaps he mistook you for someone else."
Naruto shook his head. "I do not care about that. I care about who he really is."
In the Mirror World, a puppet stood ready: the old man.
"Xuan Neng, true name Xuan Weng, a jonin from the Village of the Scorching Sun in the Land of Mountains. Specialist in traps, espionage, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Expert in explosive tags."
Naruto's mind raced. He remembered now. In the original tale, Xuan Weng once planted explosives across Konoha. Enough to cripple the village, if not destroy it. Yet he abandoned his vengeance after meeting Naruto, who resembled his late son.
Naruto's eyes gleamed darkly. He pictured the explosives hidden within the Hokage Monument itself.
He turned back to Minato. "Father, you are certain the Third Hokage's crystal ball is unique? That there is only one?"
Minato nodded. "Yes. Second Hokage created it, using a rare crystal from the Daimyo. Only one exists."
Naruto's lips curved. "Good. Then I need only wait for the right moment."
"What do you mean?" Minato frowned.
Naruto extended his fist. Minato hesitated, then met it. A chill ran through him.
"Naruto, you must tell the Hokage about this immediately!" Minato cried out.
Naruto's gaze cut into him like a blade. "Father, you are loyal to Konoha beyond reason. Eternal, unquestioning. But what of me? If I tell the Hokage, and he captures Xuan Weng, how do I explain my knowledge? Do you want me to walk to my death?"
Minato was struck speechless.
Naruto's voice grew colder. "I will tell you clearly. I will detonate the traps myself."
Minato's eyes widened in horror. "Naruto, you are insane!"
Naruto's stare locked with his. His tone was calm, almost serene. "So what if I am? Once, I heard a saying. When others begin calling you a madman, it means you are close to success."
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