121-125

Chapter 121: Clumsy Tactics  

"You’ve been following me for quite a while. It must’ve been hard on you…"  

Naruto suddenly stopped walking, taking a satisfying sip of milk.  

He glanced amusingly at the dead-end alley ahead, deliberately chosen for its isolation, and spoke in a calm tone.  

His voice carried a peculiar undertone.  

The Anbu, who had followed him all the way from his house, tensed up.  

This kid’s aura was disturbingly strange.  

...  

"Huh? Are you guys playing ‘Red Light, Green Light’?"  

Naruto slowly turned around, looking toward the darkness that seemed to swallow everything.  

"Did he really notice us?"  

The Anbu members felt uneasy, their confidence shaken under his gaze.  

Before they could react further, Naruto’s small figure shot forward like a cannonball.  

And his trajectory? Straight toward their hidden position.  

"Impossible! How could this brat detect our location?"  

...  

"So, this is what it feels like to grow stronger... I can feel my power increasing every second. It’s such a fascinating sensation…"  

Naruto’s figure disappeared into the darkness.  

"Move! His speed—"  

One of the Anbu members was still processing the situation when another shouted, unable to contain his fear.  

The shout boomed like thunder in the night, startling the surroundings.  

"Now that I’ve exposed you, do you really think you can escape?"  

Naruto’s small frame suddenly appeared behind the shouting Anbu.  

His voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling edge. Without hesitation, his hand formed a claw and drove into the Anbu’s lower back.  

Bang!  

To Naruto’s surprise, he didn’t pull out the man’s kidney as he expected. Instead, the Anbu turned into a block of wood.  

He frowned slightly but soon smirked.  

He had already locked onto the scent and energy fluctuations of his prey…  

Compared to before, his strength was terrifying, his speed was outrageous, and his sensory abilities were almost absurd. He was addicted to this newfound power.  

As for the chakra within him, he wasn’t entirely sure how to use it.  

The academy didn’t teach him much about that…  

At best, he could use it for basic techniques like the Clone Technique or enhancing his kunai’s power.  

As this thought crossed his mind, Naruto’s eyes lit up.  

Moments ago, it seemed like his subconscious had used chakra to boost his speed…  

...  

The remaining Anbu, startled by how quickly their comrade had been forced into using a substitution technique, bolted without a second thought.  

While running, one of them pulled out a signal flare from his pouch, preparing to launch it.  

Naruto observed their actions. Though he didn’t fully understand what the flare was, he had a rough idea of its purpose.  

Now that his strength was exposed, there was no way he could let these Anbu live.  

If they escaped, he’d have to consider how to leave this dark, miserable village altogether.  

The ground beneath him cracked as Naruto accelerated, creating a crater with the force of his step.  

His speed was even faster than the fleeing Anbu!  

...  

The Anbu who had used the substitution technique remained hidden, observing his partner distract the demon fox. Without hesitation, he bolted in the opposite direction.  

He had no intention of using a signal flare.  

The escalating noise of the battle in the village meant it was impossible for others not to notice.  

What use was a flare in such a situation?  

Running for his life was the better option…  

Naruto, effortlessly overtaking him, moved with an almost ethereal grace, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake.  

Hearing the commotion draw closer, the Anbu grew increasingly panicked, fumbling to pull the flare’s cord.  

The more he panicked, the harder it became to grasp it, as though the flare was mocking him.  

...  

Finally, he managed to grab hold of the cord that seemed to drift farther away with each passing moment.  

"Who designed this stupid flare?!"  

The Anbu cursed under his breath, both relieved and furious.  

"Demon fox, no matter what—"  

Before he could finish, a small hand pierced his flesh.  

"Huh?"  

Without hesitation, Naruto tore out the Anbu’s kidney and tossed it to the ground.  

He then let out a strange, questioning sound, as if to ask, "What were you about to say?"  

“Damn! My kidney!”  

The Anbu member looked at his kidney, which Naruto had just thrown to the ground, and hesitated before speaking.  

“Don’t worry, you won’t need it anymore…”  

As the Anbu, still in shock and about to respond, started to react, Naruto’s fingers came together and plunged into his chest.  

The earlier distance had been a hindrance, but now, with the two in close proximity, Naruto could reach him…  

…  

“You’re dead.”  

Feeling the heartbeat under his grip, Naruto whispered these words as his hand pierced the Anbu’s skin and grasped his heart.  

Without hesitation, he clenched tightly…  

“You…”  

The Anbu’s heart was crushed. His body fell backward, lifeless, as his eyes under the mask turned dull and empty…  

On the ground was the lifeless body of the Anbu, lying in a pool of blood.  

Even in his wildest dreams, he hadn’t imagined dying so pathetically— 

Killed by the Nine-Tails, a creature not even considered a ninja…  

Naruto’s senses picked up his prey’s figure, rapidly fleeing into the distance. Feeling a sense of frustration, he stopped in his tracks.  

Noticing other ninja closing in from all sides, Naruto realized it was too late to give chase…  

Even though his strength was growing quickly, his lack of combat experience was glaring.  

…  

“Don’t resist. I’m taking you back.”  

As Naruto hesitated about whether to flee the village, a calm and steady voice startled him.  

Before he could react, he was hoisted up.  

The next moment, he was being carried swiftly across rooftops, leaving the scene of the crime behind.  

As they passed the Anbu’s corpse, it suddenly exploded, lightning crackling across it until the body was charred and unrecognizable.  

“There was… one more person wearing a mask. He got away…”  

Naruto looked up at the silver-haired man wearing a mask, who carried him like one might carry a kitten.  

For some reason, being near this man gave Naruto a feeling of comfort he couldn’t get from anyone else.  

It was a warmth he couldn’t explain, something soothing.  

This feeling, along with a strange sense of familiarity, eased his tense and battered heart.  

“Someone else will deal with that. Don’t take on things you can’t handle. No one’s going to clean up after you.”  

Hearing Naruto’s voice, Kakashi felt a pang in his heart.  

Suppressing his inner turmoil, he spoke calmly yet coldly.  

This child had changed—so drastically that Kakashi could no longer understand him.  

One incident had turned him into someone unrecognizable. It puzzled Kakashi and left him with a deep sense of guilt.  

That guilt gnawed at him, tearing at his conscience.  

…  

A short while later, they arrived at Naruto’s home.  

“Big brother, why are you helping me?”  

Naruto sat on his bed, looking at Kakashi, who was preparing to leave, and asked softly.  

“I’m not helping you. No one can truly help you. Everything depends on you. Study hard. Train hard…”  

Hearing Naruto’s words, Kakashi paused for a moment before responding coldly.  

Naruto’s mindset was clearly off, and Kakashi knew he needed to find a way to help him.  

Until he could figure out a solution, he wanted to prevent Naruto from causing any more trouble. That’s why he spoke so bluntly.  

…  

“Thank you, big brother…”  

Naruto said softly, watching as Kakashi opened the door to leave.  

Kakashi was someone special—the only person, aside from the hypocritical Hokage, who had ever genuinely helped him.  

He had left an indelible mark on Naruto’s heart.  

Even though Naruto desperately wanted to know who Kakashi was and why he had helped him, he couldn’t bring himself to ask…  

“Naruto… This world still holds beauty. Don’t lose hope in it…”  

As Kakashi stepped out the door, he thought for a moment before leaving these words behind and closing it.  

…  

“Beauty…? You won’t even tell me why you helped me. You haven’t lived my life, so why try to comfort me?”  

Naruto stared at the closed door, muttering to himself with a complicated expression.  

After a moment, he seemed to remember something.  

He quickly looked down at himself, noticing spots of crimson blood, and felt annoyed, his gaze turning sharp.  

After some thought, he took off his jacket, tossed it into a bucket, added detergent and water, and prepared to destroy the evidence.  

…  

Chapter 122: Complex and Intricate  

Knock, knock, knock.  

Naruto froze in the middle of stomping on some clothes, hurriedly doing laundry.  

The knocking at the door filled him with a sense of unease. The milk he had spilled earlier in the living room was still all over the floor—it was a mess no matter how you looked at it.  

But now that someone was at the door, not answering would only seem more suspicious.  

Naruto's mind raced with thoughts. At just ten years old, his ideas weren’t perfect, but he tried his best to consider every detail.  

“Who is it?”  

Naruto decided against using sensory abilities. If the visitor was powerful, revealing his abilities might expose him. For now, he thought it best to keep playing the role of an ordinary kid.  

As he mulled over this, a sudden realization struck him.  

He thought of the two masked figures impaled on trees.  

When he had returned, those masked figures had been staring at him intently. It felt like he had been living under surveillance the entire time.  

“Why is this happening?”  

Anger flared in Naruto’s mind. He despised this feeling.  

Not knowing anything made him feel particularly powerless.  

Even though he had grown stronger, the more he uncovered the layers of mystery surrounding him, the more tangled and restrictive everything seemed. It felt like invisible chains were binding him.  

Strangely, the ignorant version of himself seemed to have lived a lighter, freer life.  

“It’s me…”  

As Naruto’s mind spiraled with thoughts, a young yet calm voice came from outside the door.  

Hearing the voice, Naruto froze for a moment.  

That voice…  

“Sasuke? What are you doing here so late?”  

Naruto opened the door, letting the dim light from inside spill into the world outside.  

“Got bored walking around, so I thought I’d stop by…”  

Seeing Naruto standing there in nothing but shorts, his upper body bare, Sasuke couldn’t help but feel speechless.  

Noticing the soap suds on Naruto’s arms, Sasuke quickly pieced together what he had been doing.  

In truth, the reason Sasuke was there was different. During dinner with Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage had abruptly stood up and called out Naruto’s name without explaining himself. After finishing dinner alone, Sasuke found himself unable to focus on reading. Worried about Naruto, he decided to check on him.  

Seeing the light on in Naruto’s room had been a relief, but since he was already there, he wanted to see Naruto in person to ease his mind completely.  

Naruto was the only friend Sasuke had at school. Compared to everyone else, he found Naruto’s slightly messy demeanor more interesting and approachable. Perhaps it was because they had similar experiences.  

“Come in and have a seat. I’m in the middle of washing clothes,” Naruto said softly, inviting Sasuke in after accepting his explanation.  

As someone with a naturally prideful personality, Sasuke rarely lied.  

But just now, he had spoken with a slightly flushed face and shifty eyes, a look Naruto knew all too well from his own past experiences.  

Naruto quickly realized the real situation: the Hokage must be among the people he had sensed earlier. Sasuke probably got scared being home alone in the dark and came to find this cool guy for help.  

Naruto grinned at the thought.  

Who would have guessed this cold, talented classmate had such a secret?  

“Uh… your place…”  

Once inside, Sasuke glanced around Naruto’s house, which looked like it had been ransacked by bandits. He was at a loss for words.  

But remembering that the Hokage had called Naruto’s name earlier, Sasuke’s clever mind quickly deduced that maybe Naruto’s home had been broken into by thieves—or even robbers.  

As for how Hiruzen knew, well, that must’ve been because he was powerful.  

In Sasuke’s mind, Itachi was the strongest, Fugaku second, and Hiruzen ranked fifth.  

Compared to Naruto, Sasuke’s reasoning was still a bit naïve. The knowledge he had gained so far was theoretical and untested.  

“A mischievous cat knocked some stuff over. Go sit on my bed. I’ll clean this up after I finish the laundry,” Naruto said, scratching his head.  

He figured Sasuke’s concern wasn’t as urgent as the evidence he was trying to destroy. That was clearly more critical right now.  

“Alright, but hurry up. It’s winter—you’ll catch a cold like this.”  

Sasuke gave Naruto a long, meaningful look before speaking.  

“Ah-choo!”  

Naruto hadn’t realized how cold it was until Sasuke mentioned it.  

The day’s ups and downs, the emotional rollercoaster—it had almost made him forget it was still winter.  

Even though his chakra kept him warm, his body was beginning to feel the chill.  

“Finish quickly. I’ll tidy up your room for you. We have class tomorrow, so let’s get everything done and go to bed early.”  

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, whose nose was running, feeling a bit disgusted. 

Then, he spoke faintly:  

"Helping others is a commitment; if you're going to start, see it through to the end...  

Since I'm already here, I might as well help this interesting deskmate of mine..."  

"Hehe, well, thank you, Sasuke~"  

For the first time, Naruto began to understand what the white-haired big brother meant by "beauty."  

This world didn't seem entirely filthy after all.  

The grief buried deep in Naruto's heart seemed to fade slightly, as something else quietly filled the void.  

In those moments, the memories of Sasuke and the white-haired big brother lingered...  

"Lord Hokage..."  

Sensing the commotion in the backyard, a group of people arrived at the site of the chakra disturbance.  

On the ground lay a charred corpse, along with a decapitated body that someone had brought in.  

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeply. For such an incident to occur in the Konoha under his rule—four Anbu killed in a single day—it was intolerable.  

His anger simmered, a storm brewing in his heart, but with no evidence, he had no outlet for his fury.  

"What happened?"  

Hiruzen's voice was stern as he addressed the kneeling Anbu ninja before him.  

"The shopkeeper from the nearby store is also dead, seemingly silenced after witnessing something. These two Anbu likely noticed something unusual, were drawn here, and got into a fight with the culprit. Unable to match their opponent, they were killed..."  

The Anbu squad leader explained softly, recounting the sequence of events.  

"Hah, hahahaha! Every year, we spend so much money on you lot, and this is what I get? This is your explanation? Useless! A bunch of useless fools! Investigate! I want a thorough investigation! Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find the culprit! If you don't, I’ll hold you personally responsible!"  

Hiruzen exploded upon hearing the squad leader's report. No information about the culprit, just a group of incompetents.  

His mind turned to Naruto.  

Without delay, he rushed toward Naruto's house, which wasn't far away, frustration weighing heavily on his heart.  

Fortunately, he sensed two presences inside the house, which calmed him somewhat. Otherwise, his fury would have boiled over entirely.  

"Wait, two? One of them is Sasuke? Why is he there?"  

Hiruzen's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. The situation was becoming increasingly complicated.  

He surmised that Naruto must know something, so he dismissed his doubts and hurried to Naruto's house to question him.  

The current conclusions left him bewildered.  

The two Anbu in the forest had undoubtedly been killed by a highly skilled ninja with exceptional chakra control.  

But Konoha didn't have many individuals of that caliber.  

Was this the work of someone from outside the village? Or was it an inside job?  

There was another mystery: Why was Naruto unharmed and back home so quickly? What exactly had happened?  

Why had the Nine-Tails flared up?  

And near Naruto's house, what transpired to kill two well-trained Anbu so swiftly? The bodies were far apart, making it unlikely that a single person was responsible.  

Why was the shopkeeper killed? Was it really to silence them?  

As for the corpse in the forest, reduced to a bloody mist, Hiruzen instinctively brushed it aside...  

All these questions formed an intricate puzzle.  

The only useful clue was the charred Anbu with his kidney and heart removed, killed with Lightning Release.  

This suggested the culprit was skilled in Lightning Release jutsu.  

The other body, killed with precise swordsmanship, pointed to someone highly skilled with a blade.  

The only person in the village who fit that profile, Kakashi, had been missing for a long time, with no news.  

Still, this didn't seem like the work of a single person.  

Otherwise, how could they have outmaneuvered everyone, leaving no trace behind?  

Chapter 123: The Dimming Light of a Hero  

Knock, knock, knock...  

Naruto was quickly washing his clothes, preparing to wring them out and find a place to dry them, while Sasuke was busy tidying up the room.  

A knock sounded at the door.  

“Who is it?”  

Naruto’s voice rang out from inside, tinged with confusion.  

Outside the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi's stern expression softened, replaced by a warm smile.  

“Naruto, it’s me,” he said, his tone brimming with kindness, like a caring grandfather.  

“Grandpa Hokage? I’ll open the door for you right away,” Naruto replied softly, his expression shifting slightly.  

However, he didn’t move, continuing to focus on his laundry, determined to finish before doing anything else.  

Sasuke noticed Naruto’s lack of urgency and felt a twinge of nervousness.  

Hiruzen had once asked him about his opinion of Naruto, and now here he was, standing at their door. It was frustrating, but Sasuke, resigning himself to the situation, walked to the door.  

With the calmness of someone facing an inevitable task, Sasuke gently opened it to avoid keeping Hiruzen waiting.  

“Grandpa, it’s pretty late. What brings you here to see Naruto?” Sasuke asked as soon as he saw Hiruzen’s familiar face.  

Hiruzen, startled by Sasuke’s proactive question, momentarily froze. That was exactly what he’d intended to ask Sasuke.  

But Sasuke had beaten him to it.  

“Something happened to Naruto today. I came to check on him and find out what’s going on,” Hiruzen said after a moment’s pause, stepping inside. He glanced at the broom in Sasuke’s hands and hesitated slightly before continuing.  

“It’s nothing too serious. No need to make it into a big deal,” he added, downplaying the situation.  

His main reason for visiting was to inspect the seal on Naruto’s stomach. Everything else was secondary.  

“Oh, Naruto’s still doing laundry,” Sasuke replied nonchalantly, losing interest in the conversation as he resumed cleaning.  

Hiruzen found it odd to see Sasuke doing housework but decided it wasn’t a bad thing for the boy to have such an experience.  

Taking a seat, Hiruzen resolved to wait until Sasuke finished his cleaning before sending him off so he could speak with Naruto privately.  

Today, Naruto had unintentionally leaked the power of the Nine-Tails but had remained conscious. To Hiruzen, this hinted at Naruto’s potential.  

An uncontrollable Nine-Tails was a ticking time bomb.  

But if Naruto could harness its power, he could become a formidable asset.  

Now, Hiruzen needed to consider how to shift the villagers’ perception of Naruto, should he decide to nurture him further.  

“Sasuke, you should head home. You have class tomorrow, and I need to have a private chat with Naruto,” Hiruzen said as Sasuke finished cleaning and Naruto wrapped up his laundry.  

“Fine. But come back soon, okay? You haven’t finished your dinner yet. I’ll ask the servants to reheat it for you,” Sasuke replied before turning to leave.  

“Thank you, Sasuke. I’ll be back soon,” Hiruzen said with a warm smile, genuinely grateful.  

His demeanor, gentle and kind, carried a depth of sincerity that set it apart from mere pretense.  

Bang.  

The door closed softly.  

Hiruzen, without speaking, quietly sensed Sasuke’s presence.  

Some things were better kept from the boy for now.  

This precaution ensured Sasuke wouldn’t eavesdrop.  

Once Sasuke’s presence faded, and the ANBU confirmed his safety, Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief.  

“Naruto, are you done?” he asked, turning his attention back to the boy.  

“Yes, Grandpa Hokage. What’s the matter, visiting me so late?” Naruto asked, his voice polite and obedient as he approached and sat on the bed, looking at Hiruzen expectantly.  

“I heard you had a rough day. Can you tell me what happened?” Hiruzen said gently, walking over to wrap a blanket around Naruto’s shivering form.  

It was cold, and with Hiruzen present, Naruto hadn’t dared to use chakra to keep warm. His shivering was genuine.  

“Well, Grandpa Hokage, I don’t remember everything clearly. After school, I went to practice the Shadow Clone Jutsu you taught me near the sewer. It’s quiet there, and no one bothers me. But then, I ran into a creepy old man. He looked at me like he wanted to eat me alive.  

He picked up a rock and tried to hit me, but his legs weren’t very steady. I managed to escape...” 

Naruto looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's pensive expression, feeling a slight sense of unease.  

Would this explanation be enough to convince Hiruzen Sarutobi?  

"And then?"  

Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the fishing device near the tree, his brows furrowing deeply.  

That fishing device was likely from the old man Naruto mentioned, but what did that strange old man look like? Why didn’t he take the fishing device with him?  

If someone couldn't catch up with Naruto, they should have appeared to be ordinary. The scattered bone fragments and blood on the ground likely belonged to that old man.  

So who was the real killer? Why use such a cruel method to kill the old man? 

Could there be a hidden force in Konoha protecting Naruto’s safety? Was it Minato’s people?  

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about how Naruto was unharmed and suddenly remembered what the intelligence bureau officer had said earlier. In the stack of documents, there were people Minato had worked with in the past.  

He became thoughtful, but the situation was still shrouded in layers of mystery, obscuring the truth from his sight.  

In his view, the Nine-Tails chakra surging out might have been an automatic protective response, triggered by Naruto being frightened. That was possible.  

As for the old man's death and the two Anbu members pinned to the trees, there was much more to that.  

But what about the incident near Naruto’s house?  

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like his head was about to explode.  

There wasn’t a single clue to be found.  

After circling around the issue repeatedly, all he could confirm was that the old man had turned into a bloody mist and shattered bones.  

Beyond that, he knew nothing. For something like this to happen in Konoha was utterly inconceivable.  

What troubled him most was that even the Inuzuka clan’s ninja dogs couldn’t pick up the scent of a stranger. Not only had the perpetrator evaded the senses of countless ninjas, but even the keen noses of the ninja dogs had been deceived. This went far deeper than he could comprehend—deep and unfathomable.  

He didn’t dare think further. Even shifting the blame to Minato’s former subordinates seemed implausible.  

He knew full well whether Minato had such capable people under him.  

…  

“There’s nothing more. I was so scared that I fell several times and ran back without looking back.”  

Naruto thought for a moment, then softly answered, his body trembling as if he were recalling the events of the afternoon, utterly terrified.  

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto with a complicated expression.  

Seeing that Naruto didn’t display any signs of the seal on his stomach and that he hadn’t sensed the Nine-Tails’ chakra all this time, Hiruzen sighed.  

“Good child, Grandpa will make sure the culprit is punished properly. You should get some rest now; you have school tomorrow. Don’t go to such desolate places again, understand?”  

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently patted Naruto’s head and spoke softly.  

This matter required more investigation. At the moment, he had no leads.  

“Okay, Grandpa Hokage,” Naruto nodded in response to Hiruzen’s words.  

…  

Walking out of Naruto’s house, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as if his head was about to split. His steps were slow as he walked under the night sky, his gait unsteady, exuding a strong air of old age.  

“Ah, I’m really getting old. My brain just doesn’t work like it used to…”  

Halfway along his walk, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the moon in the sky, his tone filled with helplessness and melancholy as he sighed.  

It was clear that this incident had taken a heavy toll on him.  

Chapter 124: Coincidence  

“Lord Asura, Lord Danzo has requested you to visit him. He mentioned it would be inconvenient for him to come to you, as it might cause you some trouble.”  

As Itachi returned to the mansion, preparing to wash up and sleep, a maid left by Danzo knocked on his door and entered to deliver the message.  

Itachi’s expression turned a little odd. He couldn’t quite understand why Danzo would summon him at this hour.  

After thinking for a moment, he nodded slightly.  

“Alright, I understand. You may leave now. Get some rest.”  

Itachi waved his hand, dismissing the maid, who had an alluring figure.  

“Yes, Lord Asura. I will take my leave now…”  

After watching the maid leave, Itachi put back on the clothes he had already started to remove. Without hesitation, he headed toward the door.  

Danzo wouldn’t summon him for trivial matters, especially not at this late hour.  

The consequences of doing so were something Danzo was fully aware of.  

Thus, this late-night summons must mean the matter was urgent.  

“Lord Asura, you’re here.”  

At the Root base, Itachi entered the room and closed the door behind him with a calm demeanor.  

Danzo, who had been sitting upright with an air of authority, immediately transformed into a subservient figure, bowing and scraping.  

Seeing Danzo’s behavior, Itachi felt a wave of disgust rise in his chest.  

“What’s the matter? Why did you call me here so late?”  

Suppressing his discomfort, Itachi spoke in an indifferent tone.  

“Lord Asura, there’s been a change in the situation. Initially, I fabricated impressive resumes for you and Aganzo, intending to ensure that you could smoothly join the ninja academy as teachers. However, I didn’t expect Hiruzen Sarutobi to suddenly, for some unknown reason, check the ninja registry…”  

Danzo looked at Itachi with apprehension, speaking softly.  

His tone was filled with unease, clearly fearing that a single misstep could cost him his life.  

This situation had escalated beyond what Danzo could handle discreetly. A wrong move could disrupt Itachi’s plans, so he had no choice but to report it.  

“And then? Keep going.”  

Noticing Danzo had stopped mid-sentence, Itachi’s gaze shifted from the distance back to him, speaking in a slightly irritated tone.  

What was this? Was his blade not sharp enough to keep Danzo speaking clearly?  

“Lord Asura, Hiruzen Sarutobi has summoned both you and Aganzo to meet him tomorrow. After thinking it over all night, I suspect he’s taken an interest in your fabricated civilian backgrounds and abilities. He might be planning to test you to assess your true capabilities… possibly to appoint you as official Jonin, publicly recognized in the ranks.”  

Seeing the displeasure in Itachi’s face and eyes, Danzo dared not hesitate any longer and quickly shared his speculation.  

Hearing Danzo’s words, Itachi was momentarily stunned.  

What kind of development was this? What a coincidence.  

However, his mind quickly began working. If Danzo’s assumption was correct, being recognized as a Jonin, despite the fabricated low-status background, would make them easier to manipulate. This could even lead to gaining credentials as a squad leader…  

That would make many things much more convenient.  

“Prepare a copy of the fabricated profiles for Aganzo and me. I want to study them.”  

After some thought, Itachi spoke softly.  

His interest had recently been piqued by Naruto. If things unfolded this way, it might align with his intentions.  

What was so great about being a teacher at the ninja academy, confined to the village?  

Becoming a squad leader Jonin, leading the next generation of shinobi, could be quite interesting.  

Especially for someone fascinated by the world of Naruto, this prospect filled him with a strange sense of anticipation.  

What if he could influence the paths of the “Konoha 12”?  

The thought made Itachi’s mind wander in peculiar directions.  

“Understood, Lord Asura…”  

Seeing that Itachi didn’t seem angry and even looked somewhat intrigued, Danzo let out a small sigh of relief.  

He had already prepared a backup plan in case Itachi was displeased.  

If necessary, these two fabricated identities could meet with a sudden and mysterious demise tomorrow…  

Although the process would be more complicated, it wouldn’t deviate much from the original intent.  

Before long, Danzo handed over two profiles detailing the lives of “Asura” and “Aganzo.”  

While the documents had minor flaws, they were relatively comprehensive.  

Anyone not digging too deeply wouldn’t find any issues.  

If someone did conduct a thorough investigation, Danzo had measures in place to cover things up.  

“Asura” and “Aganzo” were, without a doubt, native Konoha citizens…  

“Are these profiles really sufficient?”  

Looking at his fabricated backstory, Itachi couldn’t help but feel it was somewhat inadequate.  

A life so grand and extraordinary, summarized in just a few hundred words—wasn’t that absurd?  

If he were Hokage, promoting someone to Jonin, he would leave no stone unturned in his investigation.  

After all, Jonin represented the face of Konoha.  

This was far from enough detail.  

“Rest assured, Lord Asura. It’s more than enough. Just in case you forget, I’ve added a note in the latest version stating that you suffered memory loss due to an accident during a past mission. If you’re required to go through a review for promotion, my people will handle it and cover for you.”  

Hearing Itachi’s doubts, Danzo quickly reassured him, showcasing his resourcefulness.  

"I recall that most of Konoha's jōnin usually serve in the Anbu before their promotion. Could it be that you misunderstood Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions?" 

After hearing Danzo's words, Itachi felt utterly baffled. 

At the same time, he voiced his doubts. 

"You may not know this, sir, but many Anbu members are unsuited to working in the open. The missions they typically undertake are gruesome, leaving them emotionally numb. As a jōnin, however, one must uphold the image of Konoha's righteous ninja and practice restraint. The Anbu focuses more on assassination techniques. There are quite a few jōnin who advanced to chunin without ever serving in the Anbu. So your case isn’t exactly an exception." 

After listening to Itachi, Danzo explained softly. 

The jōnin presented openly were merely for show—to mislead other villages. 

In truth, how could a village have so few jōnin on the surface? 

Countless secrets were hidden in the shadows. 

"Alright, so my role is that of someone who has lost their memory. What about Aganzo? Does he also only have a single file?" 

Hearing Danzo’s words, Itachi said nothing more. He simply placed his file aside and began looking through Kakashi’s file, or rather, Aganzo’s. 

What met his eyes was a dense array of tiny text.  

Good grief… Itachi thought, inwardly astonished. 

"This still isn’t enough. Even with thousands of words documenting his life, there are bound to be omissions. What is he going to claim? That he has intermittent amnesia from a prior head injury during a fight?" 

Itachi raised Aganzo's file and addressed Danzo. 

"Lord Asura, no need to rush. This is just Aganzo’s summary file. The detailed records are still being duplicated," Danzo explained calmly. 

"Bring it in," Danzo suddenly called out to the people outside the door, interrupting Itachi’s train of thought. 

"Alright, you can leave now," Danzo said as soon as his subordinate placed a one-meter-tall stack of files on the table. 

As the subordinate exited, Danzo hunched his back once again. 

"Lord Itachi, these are the detailed records—all of Aganzo’s deeds from age three to the present," Danzo said with a drawn-out tone. 

Itachi had already been stunned when the subordinate entered. Now, after Danzo confirmed the situation, his emotions became even more complex. 

Suddenly, losing his memory seemed incredibly appealing. 

Looking at the towering pile of files, he couldn’t help but think, Good grief, just… wow.  

Silently, Itachi mourned for Kakashi for a brief moment. I wonder how someone like Kakashi, who loves to read and learn, will react to this?  

To be fair, Danzo’s efficiency left little room for criticism. 

Chapter 125: Kakashi in a Daze  

“You’re back, huh?”  

When Itachi returned home, he found Kakashi already there.  

Since Kakashi was in disguise, he didn’t return to his own house but stayed with Itachi instead. It would’ve been a hassle if someone had discovered him.  

Of course, Kakashi definitely wasn’t freeloading just to watch matches every day. Definitely not.  

Hearing the sound of the door, Kakashi opened it while speaking.  

“Yeah. I didn’t raise any suspicions, did I?”  

Noticing Kakashi in nothing but his sleepwear, ready for bed, Itachi asked softly.  

“Do you still not trust my work? It went smoothly. But I really hope you don’t use Naruto’s identity and unique circumstances to stir up trouble…”  

Hearing Itachi’s question, Kakashi first took the opportunity to boast a little before looking at Itachi seriously and speaking in a low voice.  

If Itachi didn’t agree, there wasn’t much Kakashi could do, but regardless, he felt it necessary to say his piece.  

“Don’t worry, I have no ill intent toward him.”  

Itachi gave Kakashi a long, deep look, as if trying to read his heart. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, turned to look at the night sky, and spoke softly.  

“Thank you, Itachi…”  

Hearing Itachi’s reassurance, Kakashi’s tone and expression softened slightly. Though his handsome face was concealed behind a mask, the relaxed muscles and easygoing air revealed that his mood had improved considerably.  

When Itachi showed no intention of continuing the conversation and instead resumed gazing deeply at the night sky, Kakashi reached for the door, ready to close it and head to bed.  

Itachi could stare into space for hours without moving. Kakashi figured he might as well get some rest instead of watching Itachi zone out.  

Just as the door was about to shut, Itachi stirred from his reverie.  

“Wait…”  

As the sliver of light streaming through the door narrowed to a thin line, Itachi called out.  

“Is there something else?”  

Reluctantly, Kakashi opened the door again. Not responding would’ve been a bit rude, especially since he was staying as a guest in Itachi’s house.  

Itachi didn’t reply immediately. He simply walked past Kakashi toward his room, signaling for Kakashi to let go of the door.  

Seeing Itachi’s serious expression, Kakashi furrowed his brow in confusion, unsure of what was coming next.  

Once Itachi entered the room, Kakashi closed the door.  

Then he noticed something peculiar: a stack of documents, at least three feet tall, had magically appeared on his desk.  

Kakashi was bewildered.  

“This is the life story of Akazo. You might not get any sleep tonight. Use a shadow clone to help. You don’t have to memorize it all, but at least make sure you’re familiar with the details. Tomorrow, we’re meeting with Hiruzen Sarutobi.”  

Itachi, struggling to suppress a smirk, maintained his stoic demeanor as he poured himself a cup of tea.  

His sharp eyes caught the dumbfounded expression on Kakashi’s face, and he found the scene incredibly amusing.  

“This… this much? In one night?” Kakashi stammered, staring at the towering stack of papers in disbelief.  

“Yes, in one night. Do your best not to mess this up. Don’t let my efforts go to waste. Compared to all the planning and brainpower I’ve invested in this, you’ve got it easy—just read and familiarize yourself with the material.”  

Itachi’s calm tone left no room for argument.  

After all, it wasn’t his sleepless night on the line.  

Deep down, Itachi couldn’t help but find it all hilarious.  

“Alright… fine.”  

Kakashi resigned himself to the task, recalling how Itachi meticulously fabricated Akazo’s entire life story step by step.  

Creating a fictitious persona out of thin air required not only imagination but also a network of collaborators to corroborate the narrative. The time and energy involved were staggering.  

“Good luck. I believe in you.”  

Itachi gave Kakashi an encouraging pat on the shoulder, his voice filled with mock sincerity.  

“I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”  

Hearing Itachi’s words, Kakashi forced himself to accept the challenge.  

“Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’m heading to bed now.”  

Satisfied, Itachi returned to his room, feeling triumphant. Tricking these younger comrades was far too easy.  

Back in his own room, Itachi could hear the faint rustling of Kakashi burning the midnight oil. With a contented sigh, he drifted off to sleep.  

Nothing builds character like a little suffering…  

The next morning, Itachi woke early, fresh and well-rested. After a quick wash, he made his way to Kakashi’s room.  

“How did it go?”  

Knocking on the door, Itachi was greeted by the sight of Kakashi, dark circles under his eyes and his face gaunt, as if he hadn’t slept for days.  

“Five years old… parents deceased… late wife, Yuriko… died seven years ago during childbirth… along with the unborn child…” Kakashi recited in a hollow voice, barely coherent.  

Faced with Itachi’s questioning, Kakashi muttered in a daze, almost as if he were reciting a textbook passage.  

Hearing Kakashi’s response, Itachi’s expression turned strange.  

The backstory Danzo fabricated for Kakashi was simply too tragic…  

However, after thinking about it for a moment, Itachi decided it wasn’t such a bad idea.  

If the fake background included close family ties, there would be no real emotional connection between strangers. That could easily lead to issues.  

A simpler background was much easier to gloss over.  

…  

“Alright, go freshen up. Just make sure it sounds familiar to you. Hiruzen Sarutobi isn’t going to question you too deeply about it.”  

Patting the poor kid Kakashi on the shoulder, Itachi offered some comfort.  

Whether or not he felt a bit smug about the situation, only Itachi himself would know…  

From his perspective, if Kakashi managed to read through this whole thing, he’d lose his mind.  

At most, Kakashi might flip through a couple of pages before giving up entirely.  

“Ah? Oh… okay…”  

Snapped out of his thoughts by Itachi’s pat on the shoulder, Kakashi nodded and scratched his head in response.  

…  

“Hurry up. Don’t be late, or you might cause unnecessary trouble,” Itachi said softly as he watched the now somewhat absent-minded Kakashi, who kept zoning out for no apparent reason.  

As for what was going through Kakashi’s mind right now, Itachi could pretty much guess…  

After all, Kakashi had been a terrible student back in the day.  

Whenever teachers assigned tasks that required memorization, Kakashi’s name was always on the list of those who had to stay behind until they’d finished.  

And he was the type to stick around until the teachers ran out of patience and let him go.  

Memorization was a matter of talent. Some people could read something a few times and remember it, while others… well, their struggles were hard to put into words.  

No matter how hard they tried—reading something dozens of times—they still couldn’t memorize it. And even if they finally managed to, they’d forget it in the blink of an eye. It was exasperating.  

…  

After the two finished breakfast together, Itachi left first.  

Kakashi planned to sneak out of the house a bit later. Although there wasn’t much going on originally, now that both of them had drawn Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attention, it was best not to hang out together too much.  

Danzo had even arranged a house nearby for Kakashi, but Kakashi refused to move in.  

As for why, Itachi had no idea.  

Still, the two lived close enough to each other that it wasn’t much of an issue.