Piece of cake.
In fact, it was so easy it felt like walking into his own house to grab something.
The Hokage's residence, iconic and unmistakable. the Scroll of Seals, oversized and impossible to miss.
Naruto barely needed any time at all before he found it sitting in the Hokage's study—out in the open, no guards, not even a ripple of barrier chakra.
One of Konoha's greatest secrets, displayed in plain sight.
It had to be the simplest break-in of a Kage's residence in shinobi history.
Of course, outwardly Naruto acted cautious.
As if he were on a genuine covert mission, just as Mizuki had instructed.
It wasn't unusual—in the Academy, students often had mock assignments: infiltration, theft, escape drills. All part of shinobi basics.
Naruto played his role perfectly. He double-checked the scroll, slung it onto his back, and slipped out, retracing his "assigned route" toward the meeting spot.
The farce had gone according to script.
Now it was time for Act Two.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage stood before the wide window, pipe between his teeth, hands folded behind his back, gazing at the village he had watched for decades.
A flicker of light glinted in his eyes.
Whoosh!
A shadow appeared behind him, kneeling.
Standard ANBU uniform.
"Lord Third, the Scroll of Seals has been confirmed. Uzumaki Naruto has taken it."
The report was brief, respectful, and completely devoid of emotion—exactly what ANBU were trained to be.
"I know."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't turn. His eyes stayed on the village lights as he exhaled a puff of smoke.
He waved one hand.
"Yes, Lord Third."
The ANBU vanished, swallowed by the night.
Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured to himself.
"the Scroll of Seals, hm? Minato… consider this my small compensation to Naruto. Let's see how much he can grasp."
The image of the Fourth Hokage surfaced in his mind. A sigh escaped his lips.
This had always been his plan.
After learning of Mizuki's pathetic little scheme, Hiruzen Sarutobi had simply decided to make use of it.
Six years of observation told him Naruto's growth was real. His yearning for acknowledgment, his determination to be a great ninja—that was genuine.
So, at graduation's edge, the Hokage gave him this "benefit." A show of trust.
Of course, he wasn't careless.
The Scroll was genuine—otherwise, it wouldn't count as a true gift.
But safeguards had been placed. The truly dangerous techniques were sealed away from Naruto's reach.
And this was Konoha itself. There was no risk.
Still…
"...Kakashi."
Whoosh.
Another figure appeared at his side, kneeling.
"Lord Third."
"Just in case, follow them. Don't interfere with Naruto. Watch Mizuki. Act only if necessary."
Kakashi's visible eye flickered once.
"Yes, Lord Third."
And then he was gone.
The office grew quiet again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced once more at the night outside, then returned to his desk to handle his paperwork.
Naruto, meanwhile, had no idea.
Unlike the original timeline, he wasn't being monitored through the Hokage's crystal ball.
This time, the Hokage had dispatched Hatake Kakashi instead.
Not that it mattered.
Even if he knew, Naruto wouldn't have cared. This was just a play.
The director had set the stage. The actors merely needed to perform. There would be no retakes.
After taking the Book, Naruto left the village and settled in a clearing not far from the meeting point with Mizuki.
There was still time.
And he intended to use every minute.
The plan was simple: memorize as many techniques possible. Forbidden, secret, or even just advanced techniques—he welcomed all of it.
If he had the opportunity, he would take it.
In both lifetimes, his memory had never failed him.
Quantity didn't equal strength.
But mastery did. And every new technique was a potential weapon.
More importantly, through studying the jutsu, he could grasp their essence.
After all, ninjutsu wasn't just about memorizing hand seals.
The key was understanding the heart of the technique.
Especially with secret arts and forbidden jutsu.
If they were easy, they wouldn't be "secret" or "forbidden."