Watching Mizuki's figure gradually fade into the thick night until he completely vanished from sensory range, a fleeting look of mockery flashed through Menma's eyes.
However, it was gone in less than a second.
On the surface, Menma still wore an expression of "excitement" and "anticipation."
Mizuki didn't know.
But Menma knew perfectly well that there were ANBU watching him from the shadows.
In fact, just minutes after Mizuki arrived, that vague sense of being watched had descended upon him again.
There was no doubt.
This was Hiruzen Sarutobi spying on him.
Using the Telescope Technique, as long as the target was within the Hidden Leaf and their chakra signature was known, Hiruzen could observe everything.
This was a critical moment in his performance.
Menma couldn't afford to break character.
Fighting back the urge to laugh out loud, he dutifully read through the "Exam Mission Scroll" Mizuki had given him.
After putting the scroll away, Menma returned to his room, changed his clothes, strapped on his ninja tools, and leaped out the window.
He headed straight for the mission location listed in the scroll—Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal residence!
Along the way...
None of the ANBU shadowing him made a move to stop him.
That practically confirmed everything.
The tension in Menma's heart eased significantly. Hiruzen clearly knew exactly what was happening but was choosing not to intervene.
That attitude spoke volumes.
Menma arrived outside the Hokage's residence, easily vaulted over the outer wall, and infiltrated the compound.
Still, no one stopped him.
At this moment, Menma let go of his last shred of worry. Just like in the original story, Hiruzen was intentionally allowing him to take the Scroll of Seals.
emboldened, Menma proceeded to the innermost part of the residence. Following Mizuki's instructions, he went straight to Hiruzen's study. Normally, a nobody like Mizuki shouldn't have known such sensitive intel, but Menma couldn't be bothered to figure out why.
He "boldly" infiltrated the study.
Without wasting any effort or time, he easily found the massive scroll sitting in the corner.
Really saving me the trouble, huh? Leaving it right out in the open for me to grab.
Menma shook his head internally with a smile.
He strapped the giant scroll onto his back.
With a leap, he exited the residence and flashed toward the rendezvous point Mizuki had specified.
Since he was already on stage, he had to see the play through to the end.
Otherwise, it would be hard to wrap things up.
He was still under the watchful eye of the Third Hokage, after all.
Hokage Tower.
The Private Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned over his crystal ball. Watching Menma make off with the Scroll of Seals, a faint smile appeared on his aged face.
As a Hokage who had ruled the village for nearly forty years, he wouldn't claim to know everything that happened. But an operation like Mizuki's? Unless the man never left the shadows, the moment he approached someone as special as Menma...
If Hiruzen didn't know about it, he didn't deserve to be Hokage.
Consider this a small compensation...
Hiruzen watched the speeding Menma and thought silently.
Of course, there was another thought hidden deeper in his mind: this was also a final, small test for Menma.
Hiruzen waited a while longer, giving Menma a head start, before issuing the order. He summoned a group of idle Chūnin and Genin, including Iruka and several other Academy teachers.
It was a theatrical "manhunt."
In reality, Hiruzen's elite ANBU guard was still trailing Menma from a distance.
These were the best of the best, handpicked by Hiruzen himself.
The weakest among them was stronger than your average elite Chūnin.
Forget one Mizuki. Even a handful of Mizukis wouldn't be a problem for them.
However, Hiruzen ordered the ANBU not to interfere lightly. The Scroll of Seals was a test and a gift for Menma, and the incident with Mizuki was intended as a trial by fire.
As an experienced ninja, Hiruzen knew that true strength could only be forged in blood and battle.
Mizuki, a standard Chūnin at best (and likely a bit weaker than that), was the perfect first opponent for Menma as he stepped into the ninja world.
Hiruzen had high hopes for Menma.
Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
That title alone was synonymous with power.
Plus, Menma was Minato and Kushina's child. Hiruzen firmly believed Menma would grow up to be a hero of the Leaf, just like Minato.
This wasn't entirely wishful thinking on Hiruzen's part. Menma's behavior over the past twelve years had given the Third Hokage ample reason to believe this. And in the original story, didn't things turn out exactly as Hiruzen hoped?
Unfortunately!
Menma was Menma.
He would never become the righteous "Naruto Uzumaki" of the original story—the boy who sought the villagers' approval, forgave the man who killed his parents, and tried to create world peace through mutual understanding.
Sorry.
That kind of hot-blooded idiocy was not Menma's life choice.
He just wanted to live.
To live freely and happily.
That was all.
Menma's life was destined to run completely counter to Hiruzen's expectations.
But right now, Hiruzen couldn't foresee that.
Following the Hokage's orders, the summoned Leaf ninja scattered in groups of two and three, their expressions grim as they searched for Mizuki and Menma.
Iruka was among them.
Unaware of the behind-the-scenes manipulation, Iruka's face was filled with anxiety.
The Scroll of Seals? Why would Menma steal that? What did Mizuki say to him?!
Six years of bonding had made Iruka firmly believe that Menma was a good kid—cold on the outside, warm on the inside. Sure, he had some resentment toward certain villagers, but that was reasonable given how he was treated. Being ostracized and hated would give anyone negative emotions.
Iruka could understand and accept that.
He had always believed Menma was fundamentally good.
But now... committing such a treacherous act? Yes, in Iruka's eyes, stealing the Scroll of Seals was treason.