The Truth Wasn't That Important

Time flew by. Three months had passed since the evening the Third Hokage had personally come to visit Naruto.

Over those three months, Naruto had completely cleared Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.

The rewards were still awkward for him. He currently had no Chakra of any other nature, so he could only absorb their training experience.

Yet during this time, Naruto's Chakra had grown so much that even Minato Namikaze and Kurama were somewhat shocked. At the same time, he had fully mastered the Uzumaki Clan's sensory ability.

As a result, Kurama had become idle.

Naruto had discovered that his sensory range had already surpassed Kurama's, who was confined within the seal.

However, Kurama claimed that if it were not for this seal, it would show Naruto just how formidable true sensory abilities could be.

It was now May. After lunch, Naruto left home. He had not used the Transformation Jutsu today and had come directly to an area away from the village center. At this hour, no one else would come here.

As far as the eye could see were farmlands planted with crops resembling green wheat. Above was a deep blue sky, while gentle breezes blew by from time to time.

Naruto did not stop walking. Before long, a broad river appeared ahead of him. After crossing it by a wooden bridge and passing through several crisscrossing paths, he finally stopped in a patch of woods.

There was what seemed to be an abandoned training ground in the small forest. It had all sorts of equipment for Taijutsu training, but the most numerous were targets for practicing Kunai and Shuriken throws.

He had stumbled upon it yesterday while wandering around with Gekko Hayate trailing behind him.

After learning that the Third Hokage was personally watching him through the Crystal Ball, he had decided without hesitation to come here every day to temper his body and put on a show for those watching him.

The result was that he discovered his body was absurdly strong.

When he had first found this place yesterday, he had spent over two hours playing on parallel bars like the kind gymnasts used in his previous life.

Yet his face had not reddened, his breathing had not quickened, and he had not felt tired at all. His stamina was extraordinary.

Minato Namikaze explained that this was normal. Naruto's mother had once received the highest Taijutsu score in the entire academy. Even high-intensity training from dawn to dusk would not tire her out.

The Uzumaki Clan's constitution was simply like that. Their physical starting point was far higher than ordinary people's, so Naruto naturally was no exception.

Of course, Minato Namikaze had also emphasized that Naruto and his mother's powerful stamina was not solely due to the Uzumaki Clan's constitution. It also had much to do with the Tailed Beast Chakra of Kurama within their bodies.

After understanding this, Naruto felt there was no need to train Taijutsu for the time being. The people watching him were keeping too close an eye on him, so he could not expose the fact that he actually knew Taijutsu. There was no point playing at it like a child here, either.

Today, he wanted to try throwing Kunai.

However, as soon as he walked up to several targets, he realized something was not right.

The physical training equipment showed signs of having been maintained, and every target fixed to the tree trunks had been replaced with brand-new ones. Each bullseye bore marks of having been hit.

After sweeping his gaze around, he fixed his eyes on a stone platform. A bamboo basket that had not been there before now sat on it.

Naruto walked over to the stone platform, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The bamboo basket was actually filled with Kunai and Shuriken.

"Father, what do you think?"

Naruto touched the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist, which contained only six Kunai, then shifted his consciousness directly into the Sealed Space and asked.

After pondering for several seconds, Minato Namikaze said, "They were probably left behind by the original owner of this training ground."

Naruto nodded. "Then the owner must have noticed traces of my visit, but this does not look like a warning."

Kurama, lying nearby, suddenly spoke. "Naruto, that guy standing in the tree just left, and he seemed to be in a hurry."

"I know. But the three people farther away are still watching." Naruto had sensed them as well. He said calmly, "He probably hurried back to report to the Hokage. After all, so many Ninja Tools suddenly appeared here today, and judging by how hurriedly he left, he probably does not know who owns this place either."

"Does that mean I caused trouble for the original owner?"

Hearing Naruto say that, Minato Namikaze felt it really might be the case. He also knew that Gekko Hayate had been following Naruto. After carefully analyzing it for a while, he said, "How about we go back, Naruto?"

"Why should I go back?" Naruto spread his hands indifferently. "I only found this place after finally learning how to swim and crossing the river."

"And I think the owner left these Ninja Tools behind on purpose after training here. Otherwise, why were they not here when I came yesterday? Judging by the maintained equipment and targets, the owner does not seem to mind me using this place."

Minato Namikaze still felt a little embarrassed. He reminded Naruto, "Naruto, these are someone else's things, after all."

"Then I should not leave directly." As he spoke, Naruto casually picked up a Shuriken from the bamboo basket. "I need to meet the owner and apologize."

"And I have a feeling this owner is no ordinary person."

The moment he finished speaking, Naruto raised his hand toward a certain direction.

Bang!

The Shuriken struck the bullseye dead center.

Konoha's Hokage's Office.

"Lord Hokage! That is what happened. Those Ninja Tools definitely were not there when the target went yesterday! We do not know who put them there!"

The Third Hokage adjusted the Hokage hat on his head and said, "What was Naruto doing there today?"

"Cough... cough!" Gekko Hayate coughed, his face pale as he replied, "The target appears to have given up Taijutsu training. When he left today, he brought the six Kunai he had collected over the past few months. He was likely planning to practice his Kunai throwing."

"It also looks like the target will come here often in the future. Should we investigate the owner of that place, just in case..."

"No need!" The Third Hokage rose to his feet upon hearing this. He paced back and forth in front of his desk, then after a moment, his gaze sharpened. "I know who owns that place. Also, you no longer need to follow and watch Naruto whenever he leaves home. Continue monitoring and protecting the area around his house."

"Yes!"

Gekko Hayate accepted the new order without hesitation.

After returning to his seat, the Third Hokage mulled it over for a while. He first lit his pipe, then took out the Crystal Ball from a drawer. When he saw the image within it, the corner of his mouth curved slightly.

Back in the small forest.

"Naruto, what kind of move is that?"

Minato Namikaze's expression twitched slightly within the Sealed Space.

Just now, after discovering that the Shuriken he threw could easily hit the bullseye, his son had muttered something about the times calling out, then immediately started hopping and jumping around.

At first, Minato Namikaze thought Naruto was practicing some sort of Taijutsu move. But afterward, he realized it looked more like a dance he had never seen before.

A few minutes later, under Minato Namikaze's stunned gaze, Naruto's expression shifted and he stopped.

"Father, the people who were watching me have all left."

Hope appeared on Minato Namikaze's face. "The Third Hokage must have given them new orders. Perhaps you will not be watched anymore, Naruto!"

"That is impossible!" Naruto's eyes became especially bright and sharp.

"Father, do not be so naïve!"

Minato Namikaze's expression darkened. He understood this, really. It was just that he still held a trace of hope for the Third Hokage.

"From the moment I was born, they took everything from me, then spun all sorts of fabricated stories around me that made people avoid me."

"They have controlled my life for a long time."

Naruto carefully retrieved every Kunai and Shuriken he had thrown and returned them to the bamboo basket. His calm tone greatly alarmed Minato Namikaze.

"But they do not know that I am a very patient person."

"Patience will allow me to find the right time to take back everything that belongs to me."

Minato Namikaze opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he truly did not know what else he could say.

"Come to think of it, as long as I live in Konoha, perhaps it would not be so bad if most of the people here felt as though they were living beneath a terrifying shadow day and night."

Minato Namikaze's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly said to Naruto from within the seal, "Naruto, they do not know the truth."

"The truth is not important!" Naruto stepped toward home with an indifferent expression.

"Because from the most practical perspective, those who do not know the truth are the ones truly in the wrong!"