Flipping through the examination files, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow suddenly twitched with realization.
He rubbed his temples, abruptly remembering that Danzo should have written that apology letter and delivered it to Naruto by now.
For the sake of proper verification, Hiruzen decided to confirm the details. He called for his shadow secretary. "Has Danzo gone to see Naruto personally?"
The shadow secretary hadn't been informed about the apology letter situation yet. She responded professionally, "I'll investigate immediately, Lord Hokage."
The secretary departed the Hokage's office to check Danzo's daily schedule. Halfway through her investigation, she suddenly remembered the medical report sitting on her desk. The infirmary doctor had sent word that Hayate Gekko showed no signs of infectious disease. His persistent cough stemmed from a minor lung condition. Should they release him from isolation?
I'll report about Hayate after finishing Lord Hokage's request, the shadow secretary decided. She redirected her attention toward investigating Root's activities.
Ten minutes later, she returned to the Hokage's office with her findings. "Lord Hokage, I've confirmed that Lord Danzo remained at Root headquarters all day without leaving. However, he dispatched a Root operative approximately thirty minutes ago to deliver a message to Naruto's farm."
"That FOOL!" Hiruzen immediately stood, his anger flaring with genuine intensity. I'm not afraid of enemies sabotaging my plans. I'm afraid of allies being completely incompetent!
If Danzo didn't apologize in person, how would Naruto possibly perceive any genuine sincerity?
"Leave me." Hiruzen suppressed his fury with visible effort, addressing the secretary with forced calm.
The shadow secretary turned to depart. Before she reached the door, Hiruzen spoke again. "Wait. Send someone to invite Naruto here. Make the request polite but clear."
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
After the secretary left, Hiruzen collapsed back into his chair. He rubbed his forehead with both hands, frustration mounting with every breath. Danzo's operational choices are genuinely suffocating. Now I can only rely on myself to increase Naruto's favorable impression and demonstrate genuine goodwill.
The burden of damage control fell entirely on his shoulders.
Naruto had just finished his work, preparing all necessary ingredients for lunch. He was about to begin actual cooking when another Konoha shinobi approached. The messenger spoke with careful politeness. "Naruto, I'm staff from the Hokage Building. Lord Hokage requests your presence for an important discussion. Please come now if possible."
First Danzo, now Hiruzen. What kind of performance does each of them plan to stage?
Naruto glanced at Nine-Tails and Sasuke, both busy with food preparation. "You two continue working. I need to visit the Hokage Building for something."
He addressed the Konoha messenger directly. "Let's go."
In the hotel, Orochimaru woke leisurely from unconsciousness. He touched his head gingerly, remembering the punch Naruto had delivered moments before everything went dark.
This boy is genuinely difficult to seduce.
However, that difficulty made perfect sense. After all, this research targeted immortality itself. No matter how challenging the approach became—even if repeated ten thousand times—Orochimaru would persist with absolute determination.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Orochimaru rose from the bed, starting toward the entrance. Suddenly he glanced downward. He wore absolutely nothing, his body completely exposed. Moving with hasty embarrassment, he quickly turned back to don his silky pajamas before opening the door properly.
"Lord Orochimaru." Outside stood Kabuto Yakushi, greeting him with quiet respect.
"Come inside." After Kabuto entered, Orochimaru questioned him with obvious concern. "Didn't you specifically state that Konoha's shinobi were monitoring you? You said future messages would be transmitted through dead drops exclusively. Why have you come here in person again?"
"I believe this news carries tremendous importance for Lord Orochimaru's plans. The information warranted direct delivery." Kabuto's expression remained earnestly serious. "However, please rest assured—I confirmed no surveillance tail followed me here. Please read this intelligence from Sunagakure, received just moments ago."
Kabuto extracted a small folded note from his pocket, extending it with both hands.
Orochimaru accepted the paper, unfolding it carefully. words appeared on the surface: "Rasa hasn't given up."
After reading the message, Orochimaru's eyes gradually sharpened into something predatory. It seems Rasa still harbors ambitions toward the Konoha Crush plan.
Currently, Orochimaru wanted Konoha maintained in a quiet, peaceful environment. That stability would enable him to implement his comprehensive series of actions targeting Naruto without interference.
Rasa's refusal to abandon designs on Konoha would directly interfere with Orochimaru's carefully constructed plans.
It appears Rasa must die. A trace of killing intent flickered through Orochimaru's consciousness. He addressed Kabuto with cold dismissal. "Leave me now. I understand the situation."
Kabuto withdrew respectfully, closing the door behind him.
Orochimaru settled back on the bed's edge, his mind immediately beginning to formulate strategies for assassinating the Fourth Kazekage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't wait long. Within ten minutes, knocking sounded at his office door. Hiruzen knew instinctively that Naruto stood outside. A smile spread across his aged features, wrinkles multiplying until his face resembled a chrysanthemum bloom.
The door opened. The shadow secretary led Naruto into the office.
"Naruto! You've finally arrived! Please, come sit down and talk comfortably. Bring Naruto some tea immediately." Hiruzen greeted Naruto with enthusiastic warmth, personally moving a stool and fussing over hospitality arrangements.
"Third Hokage Grandpa, I can manage myself." Naruto smiled in return, his expression carrying a hint of flattered surprise that seemed perfectly genuine.
"Why be so formal with Grandpa?" Hiruzen's smile widened. After tea was served and the shadow secretary departed, Hiruzen seated himself directly opposite Naruto.
"Third Hokage Grandpa, what did you need from me? I'm quite busy currently. I need to care for tens of thousands of cattle and sheep." Naruto's tone carried polite concern.
"Ah, Naruto, you've grown up in what feels like the blink of an eye." Hiruzen's voice took on wistful quality. "I remember when you first entered the Ninja Academy. I personally escorted you to school that day. In what seems like moments, not only have you graduated, but you've become an excellent chūnin already."
His eyes gazed at Naruto with apparent kindness, warmth radiating from every wrinkle. The emotional manipulation had begun.
"Yes, time passes quickly." Naruto played along smoothly. "I still cherish the backpack Grandpa gave me that day. I told you then that I'd definitely become a strong person. I haven't disappointed your expectations, Third Hokage Grandpa. I'm already strong now."
Since Hiruzen was performing this nostalgic routine, Naruto would cooperate appropriately. That cooperation allowed the scene to develop naturally toward its intended conclusion.
"Naruto hasn't disappointed me at all. Grandpa feels tremendously surprised by your strength, and deeply gratified as well." Hiruzen's smile suggested he genuinely celebrated Naruto's growth with grandfatherly pride.
"Third Hokage Grandpa, I just received a letter earlier. Can you guess who sent it?" Naruto suddenly shifted the conversation toward Danzo's apology.
"Oh? A letter? What kind of letter?" Hiruzen's face transformed into curiosity, as though he possessed absolutely no prior knowledge.
Regarding the old actor's performance skills, Naruto wouldn't expose the deception. He simply stated factually, "It's an apology letter from Shimura Danzo, Root's commander. He apologized to me, saying he unintentionally leaked information about me being the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"Oh... that Danzo actually took initiative to apologize to you?" Hiruzen's expression shifted to surprise mixed with approval. "Hmph, even without his apology, I was planning to demand he apologize to you within days. Back when he accidentally leaked your information, by the time I learned about it, everyone already knew. The damage was irreversible."
Guilt painted itself across Hiruzen's features with theatrical precision. "Naruto, Grandpa feels terrible about this situation. As Hokage, Grandpa was simply too busy during that period."
Seeing Naruto's expression remain neutral, Hiruzen continued smoothly. "Actually, I called you here specifically to discuss your identity."
"Regarding your identity, Naruto—I believe you already know the truth?"
Watching Naruto nod confirmation, Hiruzen proceeded with calculated revelation. "That's correct. You are indeed the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. The child of a hero."
"As a hero's child, Naruto, I've actually been watching over you constantly. Except during one particular period when responsibilities overwhelmed me completely. It was precisely during that period that Danzo accidentally leaked your information, which caused considerable trouble for you."
Hiruzen's face arranged itself into an expression of profound satisfaction. "However, looking at the situation now, that bit of trouble actually served as valuable life experience for you, Naruto. The current you has undoubtedly grown stronger through enduring that hardship."
The toxic positivity hung in the air like poison disguised as medicine.
Will you drink this chicken soup? Hiruzen's eyes seemed to ask. Will you accept that your suffering was actually beneficial?